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Question: In 1943, when I was 4, my parents moved from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to Fairbanks, Alaska, where adventure was never very far away. We arrived in the summer, just in time to enjoy the midnight sun. All that sunlight was fantastic for Mom's vegetable garden. Working in the garden at midnight tended to throw her timing off, so she didn't care much about my bedtime. Dad was a Railway Express agent and Mom was his clerk. That left me in a mess. I usually managed to find some trouble to get into. Once I had a little Are going in the dirt basement of a hotel. I had tried to light a barrel of paint but couldn't really get a good fire going. The smoke got pretty bad, though, and when 1 made my exit, a crowd and the police were there to greet me. The policemen took my matches and drove me Mom and Dad were occupied in the garden and Dad told the police to keep me, and they did! I had a tour of the prison before Mom rescued me. 1 hadn't turned 5 yet. As I entered kindergarten, the serious cold began to set in. Would it surprise you to know that I soon left part of my tongue on a metal handrail at school? As for Leonhard Seppala, famous as a dog sledder , I think I knew him well because I was taken for a ride with his white dog team one Sunday. At the time I didn't realize what a superstar he was, but I do remember the ride well. I was wrapped heavily and well sheltered from the freezing and blowing weather. In 1950, we moved back to Coeur d'Alene, but we got one more Alaskan adventure when Leonhard invited us eight years later by paying a visit to Idaho to attend a gathering of former neighbors of Alaska. What happened when the author was 4? A. He learned to smoke. B. He was locked in a basement. C. He was arrested by the police. D. He nearly caused a fire accident. Answer: D. He nearly caused a fire accident. Question: Owen, the owner of Greenacre, a tract of land, mortgaged Greenacre to ABC Bank to secure his preexisting obligation to ABC Bank. The mortgage was promptly and properly recorded. Owen and Newton then entered into a valid written contract for the purchase and sale of Greenacre, which provided for the transfer of "a marketable title, free of encumbrances." The contract did not expressly refer to the mortgage. Shortly after entering into the contract, Newton found another property that much better suited her needs and decided to try to avoid her contract with Owen. When Newton discovered the existence of the mortgage, she asserted that the title was encumbered and that she would not close. Owen responded by offering to provide for payment and discharge of the mortgage at the closing from the proceeds of the closing. Newton refused to go forward, and Owen brought an appropriate action against her for specific performance. If the court holds for Owen in this action, it will most likely be because A. the mortgage is not entitled to priority because it was granted for preexisting obligations. B. the doctrine of equitable conversion supports the result. C. Owen's arrangements for the payment of the mortgage fully satisfied Owen's obligation to deliver marketable title. D. the existence of the mortgage was not Newton's real reason for refusing to close. Answer: C. Owen's arrangements for the payment of the mortgage fully satisfied Owen's obligation to deliver marketable title. Question: Any day we wish;we can discipline ourselves to change it a11.Any day we wish;we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge.Any day we wish;we can start a new activity.Any day we wish;we can start the process of life change.We can do it immediately,or next week,or next month,or next year. We can also do nothing.We can pretend rather than perform.And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable,we can remain as we are.We can choose rest over labor,entertainment over education,delusion over truth,and doubt over confidence.The choices are ours to make.But while we complain about the effect,we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed,"The fault is not in the stars,but in ourselves.''We created our circumstances by our past choices.We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth .They need the whole truth .And the responsibility to ks5unothing but the truth. We cannot allow our errors in judgment,repeated every day,to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out.And then we must make the very choices that will bring life,happiness and joy into our daily lives . And if I may be so to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life--If you don't like how things are,change it !You're not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life -- and it all begins with your very own power of choice. In the author's opinion,if. you want a good life,what you need most is _ . A. self confidence B. good choices C. strong wills D. the truth Answer: B. good choices Question: In Germany there are different kinds of high schools. Some prepare students for workers, others prepare them for college. All schools are great places for making friends and learning German. Short days Most high schools in Germany begin at about 8:00 a.m. and end at about 3:30 p.m. This means your morning will be busy with classes. You will have time to do homework and take part in private clubs after school. Formal setting In Germany, teachers and students' relationship is more formal than you might be used to. Teachers are _ and students must use the formal "Sie(,)" when talking to teachers. Getting to school Most students take public transport to school or ride a bicycle. Some areas have school buses. It is not common for parents to drive students to school. Private clubs In many countries, schools offer official sports and after-school activities. This is less common in Germany. After-school activities are usually organized through private clubs. There are clubs for things like soccer, dance, choir, theatre and almost everything else. Once you are in Germany, ask around at school and talk to other students to find out what private clubs are in your area and meet your interests. Different states, different schools Each of Germany's 16 states has its own slightly different school systems. The school system in Brandenburg will be a little different from the system in Bavaria for example. Where you live, your knowledge level and your age will decide what school you can attend. From the passage, we can learn that in Germany _ . A. all kinds of high schools are for college B. age is not important for attending schools C. students can take part in after-school activities from 8:00 a. m .to 3:30 p.m. D. students can join private clubs to meet their interests by themselves Answer: D. students can join private clubs to meet their interests by themselves Question: It was Sunday yesterday. Tom and his mother were at home. Tom woke up late and sat on the bed watching TV. And he ate much chocolate. Then it was noon. Tom had to get up. Mother and Tom sat at the table. They were having their lunch. "The soup is not good. I don't want to have it," said Tom and put down his spoon . Mother said nothing and took it away. After lunch, Mother and Tom worked in the garden There was much work to do, so Tom was tired and felt hungry soon. His mother gave him nothing to eat. In the evening, mother gave a bowl of soup to Tom "Oh, how delicious !" said Tom. "it's the same soup, Tom," said Mother with a smile. Tom _ in the morning. A. ate nothing B. worked in the garden C. cooked the soup D. watched TV Answer: D. watched TV
Pollution's great effects on the environment have become more obvious in recent years, resulting in a movement to make best use of energy, depend less on fossil fuels, and to cut down air and water pollution. Most scientists agree that such changes are necessary to protect our environment from further harm. The construction industry uses up a large quantity of energy and resources and creates a huge amount of pollution. In the United States, building takes up 39% of the country's total energy use, 12% of total water use, 68% of total electricity use, and 38% of carbon dioxide emissions , according to the Environment Protection Agency. Green buildings use less energy, water, create less waste, and are healthier to live, work, or go to school in than standard buildings. Green buildings use resources more properly during the entire building cycle than traditional building. The environmental benefits of building green include the protection of ecosystems , improved air and water quality, less waste flowing into streams, and the protection of natural resources. Green buildings can also result in lower operating costs because they use less energy and materials and improve indoor air quality, which improves the health of those who live in such buildings. The process of building green includes technical and aesthetic planning with nature protection in mind. Building designs often mirror the surrounding environment and natural resources and use building materials that can be reused. In addition, recycled resources that are found locally are used for green buildings, diminishing the cost and air pollution related with transporting materials over long distances. Careful selection of the building place is important to reduce human effect on the surrounding environment. For example, placing a structure in an area that allows it to take advantage of cool wind and sunlight can reduce energy use and expenses. More energy and expense are needed for larger buildings as well, so it is important to build small. Besides, green roofs can be built to reduce energy use and cost. These roofs are partly or completely covered with vegetation, which helps reduce heating and cooling costs, prevent storm-water runoff, and so on. Other advantages of green buildings often include energy and water saving, recycling, and waste reduction. What's more, energy sources such as solar power and wind power are used for heat and electricity, which reduces costs and the effect on the environment. What is the writing purpose of the passage? A To present arguments about green building. B To show different styles of green building. C To introduce the effects that pollution causes. D To encourage the application of green building. Answer: D. To encourage the application of green building. The 51st Golden Horse Awards Ceremony was held in Taipei, Southeast China's Taiwan, on Nov. 22, 2014. Actor Chen Jianbin walked away with the best new director, the best actor and best supporting actor awards . Actress Chen Shiang-chyi was awarded the best lead actress and actress Wan Qian won the best supporting actress. Lou Ye-directed film Blind Massage won best feature film, best new performer, best adapted screenplay, best cinematography, best sound effects and best editing. The annual Golden Horse Awards are one of the most important film honors in the Chinese-speaking world. It was founded in 1962 and held annually in Taiwan. The 51st Golden Horse Awards Ceremony was held _ . A in Hong Kong, in 1962 B in Taipei, in 2014 C in South China, in 2014 D in Southeast, in1962 Answer: B. in Taipei, in 2014 The world lost one of the most respected leaders. Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, passed away on Dec. 5, 2013. The whole world felt sorry about the death of Mandela, a great man of history. Mandela is mostly remembered for his efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. Mandela was born in 1918. In South Africa, there are both black and white people. But at that time, Black people couldn't live or travel where they wanted. They didn't have the right to vote, either. Mandela didn't think that was right. He organized many activities against it, but he was sent to prison for 27 years. Under international pressure, the government set Mandela free in 1990. Great changes in the law began to end apartheid. At that time, Mandela chose to forgive his enemies. He shook hands with the people who wanted him dead. He also encouraged black people to forgive the whites. Because of his forgiveness, Mandela is remembered as a moral model by the whole world. In1993,Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize. A year later, he became the first black president of South Africa. Both black people and white people voted. Apartheid ended. In 1999, Mandela left office at the highest point of his power. In 1993, Mandela won the Nobel Prize for _ . A physics B peace C chemistry D literature Answer: B. peace There are over one million superstitions ,and most people believe at least one or two of them. Many people are superstitious about numbers. They think that there are lucky numbers and unlucky numbers. The number 13 is often considered unlucky. In some parts of the world, buildings have no 13th floor and streets have no houses with the number 13. In Japan,"4"is considered unlucky because in Japanese the word"four"is pronounced the same as the word"death". The Japanese never give gifts of four knives, four napkins, or four of anything. What are the lucky numbers? Seven is a lucky number in many places, and"8"is considered a lucky number in Japan and China. In China, businesses often open on August 8,and many couples register to get married at eight past eight on August 8. Superstitions about numbers are so widespread that some people--called numerologists--make a living giving advice about numbers. In 1937,when the Toyoda family of Japan wanted to form a car company, they asked a numerologist if"Toyoda"would be a good name for the company. The numerologist said it would not be. He explained that"Toyota"would be a better name for the company. The family took his advice. As a result, millions of people drive"Toyotas"and not"Toyodas. " There are many other kinds of superstitions. There are superstitions about eating, sleeping, sneezing and itching. There are superstitions about animals and holidays and horseshoes. There are even superstitions about superstitions. Those superstitions tell people how to _ bad luck. When the Japanese bump heads, they immediately bump heads again. According to a Japanese superstition, the first bump means their parents will die, but the second bump "erases" the first bump. To reverse bad luck in general, people turn around three times, turn their pockets inside out, or put their hats on backwards. It can be inferred that superstitions about numbers are _ . A popular all over the world B accepted by many people in the world C valuable to businessmen D dangerous to common people Answer: B. accepted by many people in the world What does a four leaf clover need to feed itself? A Irish B luck C the sun D ibex Answer: C. the sun
On April 18,the 100-day countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games in London began. For this year's Games' slogan,the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games has chosen the phrase "Inspire a Generation" .It is expected to inspire athletes to do their best,and common people to do better in their daily lives. The Games are also inspiring lots of tourists to come to London.But if you go there,you'd better try your best to follow British manners and customs.Otherwise,you'll end up in a right mess! Expert William Hanson has given the Associate Press a few tips for tourists on how to act while in the UK.Let's have a look: Don't talk about money.According to Hanson,British people hate talking about money and it is considered rude to do so.In particular,never ask anyone about their salary. Afternoon tea.The traditional view of the British sitting down for an afternoon tea is not exact.Few people keep the tradition nowadays. Give tips--but not in an obvious way.The British favor a quiet "thank you" gift for good service rather than the rigid 16-20%tip Americans always give.In fact,many British waiters will not feel anxious and nervous if you decide not to tip at all. Greeting with a kiss.The British are not like their _ neighbors in France. Many prefer a handshake or a pat on the back to say "hello". Conversation tip.If you want to be friendly,end a sentence with the word "mate"* British people think it rude to _ . A. have tea in the early morning B. ask others about their salary C. give a 10%tip to a waiter D. shake hands with friends Answer: B Energy goes from one plant or animal to another. A food chain shows how this energy moves. Each time an animal gets eaten, its energy is passed onto the animal that eats it. The food chain is very important because it keeps the balance of nature. If one part of the food chain disappears, it can affect all the other plants and animals. Any threat to the food chain is a threat to the environment's biodiversit . The food chain helps keep animal populations in balance. However, if something happens to increase or decrease one of the links in the food chain, that balance is broken. If one animal becomes endangered, it puts all the animals above it at risk. Some of the threats are natural, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, floods and so on. But the biggest threats to the food chain come from you and me. These threats include overhunting, overfishing, logging, farming, development, pollution, etc. The food chain is endangered anywhere humans have had an effect on the natural environment. A recent study shows that the overfishing of large sharks is damaging the food chain along the US Atlantic coast. Canadian and American scientists say sharks are being killed in great numbers for their meat and fins . Now, not enough sharks are around to eat the cownose ray. The ray's population has increased and they have eaten up the shellfish to the point where it has hurt commercial fishing. Many of us disturb the natural environment in our own backyards. It's up to us to take care of the environment and try not to disrupt the natural food chain. If we don't act responsibly, animals will start disappearing. We can infer that the writer wrote this passage mainly to _ . A. explain what the food chain is B. tell us something interesting about Nature C. suggest that we stop eating meat to save animals D. suggest that we not disrupt the natural food chain Answer: D John is a good boy. He studies hard and is never late for school. He has a lot of friends. And he often helps them and they like him. But he always thinks himself the cleverest in his class and looks down upon others. This term a new student, Fred, comes to his class. He's thin and short and never talks with the boys. So no children know him well. And John laugh at him.But he doesn't mind it at all. One day John goes to Mike's birthday party. He sings, dance and show all his talents to the children. After that he says to Fred, "What are you going to show us, my friend?" "I'm not clever," says Fred."Can you guess some of my riddles ?" "Certainly, I can,"says John. Fred tells some riddles, but John can't guess any.At last the boy says,"Now I'll tell the easiest riddle. Listen to me carefully. You'll guess it this time. An animal has two heads, six legs, a long nose and a short nose. Can you tell me what it is?" John thinks hard and hard, but can't guess it. His face turn red and says,"What's it?" "It's a man riding an elephant!" John doesn't say anything any longer at the party. No children know Fred well because _ . A. he doesn't answer any questions in class B. he comes from a village C. he's often late for class D. he never talks with others Answer: D The English language is changing fast, thanks to the rapid progress of technology. We all have a rapid choice: we can either bury our heads in the sand and spend the rest of our lives wishing Shakespeare were alive and well. Or we can embrace the new English, and enter into the spirit of the Internet age called Weblish. "You can't avoid it, for the simple reason that whenever a new variety of language comes along, it inevitably impacts on the language as a whole ." Says Dr. David Crystal, honorary professor of linguistics at the University of Wales in Bangor, whose book "Language and the Internet" has just been published. The trouble with keeping up with the new English is not so much that there are so many new words but that the old words no longer mean what we thought they did. In the past, if someone said they did not have Windows, you would have to suppose they lived in a cave. These days, it is probably because they use a Mac(which is a computer, not a rain coat). Spam is as disliked as it ever was, but whereas it once meant an unappetizing canned meat. It now stands for unwanted "junk" email. Spellings are changing, too. Not only is text-messaging playing "hvc wth vrbs" (havoc with verbs), but the conventions of email communication place little emphasis on "perfect speaking". Weblish loves to see nouns happily become verbs ("please bookmark this site"), and verbs become nouns ("Send me the download"). Verbs and prepositions are regularly thrown together to become new nouns or adjectives (dial-up, Logon, Print-on, Pull-down, upload), while others are created from simply pairing nouns: Cyberspace, Etl, emit Internet, hyperlink, metatag, netspeak. The best title of this passage would be_. A. Keep Up with the Latest Weblish B. Keep Up with the Latest Development in English C. Newly Invented English Words D. Technology and English Answer: A The city can seem a cold, mean place. In the middle of so many people hurrying about their own business, a person can feel alone among the millions of others. There is a popular view that in cities, strangers are less likely to help an elderly person cross a street or call the police when they see a bike being stolen. Recently, a New Yorker named Casey Neistat did an experiment. He chained up his bike in several public places, then "stole" it in a number of obvious ways, such as using a hacksaw . He filmed everything to see whether other New Yorkers would try to stop a shameless bike theft. The result? People just walked on by. Is this evidence of an immoral, selfish urban society? Not necessarily. According to another recent study, the way city people mind their own business is about other factors besides morality . This is called the Bystander Effect, the theory that city people do not react because of the urban enviromnent they live in. Psychologist Dr. Harold explained why people did not involve themselves in Neistat's bike theft experiment with the Bystander Effect. First, people who live in cities are surrounded by so much activity that they stop noticing what is going on around them. Second, they are less easy to surprise and assume every activity has a logical explanation. "The third is that people notice it, but they don't know what to do," he continued. "And the fourth is fear -- they know they should do something, but they're afraid to challenge someone with a hacksaw." A lack of concern is only a small reason why people don't take action, concludes Dr. Harold. Despite the results of Neistat's experiment, there is also evidence of a sense of team spirit that connects people in cities. All it takes is a funny joke or a shared interest to start a conversation with someone at a bus stop. When city folk are in trouble, they come together for support -- famously in New York on City society is different, but that doesn't mean it's cold or mean -- it just means it's busy! Casey Neistat fihned everything in the experiment with the purpose of _ . A. proving that he was not the thief B. telling people that bike theft was immoral C. finding out who had a sense of right and wrong D. making his experiment well-known to the public Answer: C
A surprisingly high number of city citizens in China suffer from poor health and many die at an early age. Poor health with no sign of any identified disease, a condition known in China as "sub health," is on the rise. Sub health is marked by general weakness, low energy levels and a poor immune system. A survey held in 16 cities with over 1 million population showed high proportions of urban Chinese have been suffering sub health problems. The numbers are particularly high in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, with 75.31, 73.49, and 73.41 percent respectively of residents in poor health, the survey showed. The problem happens mostly among senior and middle-level managers, clerks and other white-collar workers with high education levels, said the website of the Red Cross Society of China. "The sub health condition, found in most cases among groups of people with a high educational level, will have bad effects on China's long-term development and progress if not dealt timely and properly," the website warned. A survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows that the average life of Chinese intellectuals is 58 years, 10 years lower than the nation's average. This early death phenomenon may be increasing. Among Chinese people with high education in the 25-59 age group, the death rate for women is as high as 10.4 per cent. For men it is even higher: 16.5 percent. A report published by the China Sub Health Academic Seminar said the country's health is going through a transitional period and many long-term diseases have taken the place of infectious diseases such as SARS and flu as the main cause of death. "Bad working habits, poor disease prevention knowledge, not enough governmental investment and lack of health education are the main reasons," said Yang Xiaoduo, a healthcare expert with a local health association, who said China should race against time seeking measures to solve the sub health problem. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true? Answer: I was brought up in the British, stiff upper lip style. Strong feelings aren't something you display in public. So, you can imagine that I was unprepared for the outpouring of public grief at a Chinese funeral. My editorial team leader died recently after a short illness. He was 31. The news was so unexpected that it left us all shocked and upset. A female colleague burst into tears and cried piteously at her desk. Somehow we got through the day's work. The next day was the funeral. Our big boss stepped forward to deliver a eulogy and was soon in tears. She carried on, in Chinese of course, but at the end said in English: "There will be no more deadlines for you in heaven." Next came a long-term colleague who also dissolved in tears but carried on with her speech despite being almost overcome by emotion. Then a close friend of the dead man paid tribute, weeping openly as he spoke. Sorrow is spreading. Me and women were now sobbing uncontrollably. Finally, the man's mother, supported between two women, addressed her son in his coffin. She almost collapsed and had to be held up. We were invited to step forward to each lay a white rose on the casket. Our dead colleague looked as if he was taking a nap. At the end of the service I walked away from the funeral parlor stunned at the outpouring of emotion. In the UK, families grieve privately and then try to hold it together and not break down at a funeral. Here in China it would seem that grieving is a public affair. It strikes me that it is more cathartic to cry your eyes out than try to keep it bottled up for fear of embarrassment, which is what many of us do in the West. Afterwards, a Chinese colleague told me that the lamenting at the funeral had been restrained by Chinese standards. In some rural areas, she said, people used to be paid to mourn noisily. This struck me like something out of novel by Charles Dickens. But we have all seen on TV scenes of grief-stricken people in Gaza and the West Bank, in Afghanistan, Iraq and the relatives of victims of terrorist bombings around the world. Chinese grief is no different. I realized that it's the reserved British way of mourning that is out of step with the rest of the world. At the funeral, _ . Answer: Recently,scientists attending a meeting in Chicago presented new studies showing how food and its production affect global warming.They offered some suggestions for how to eat in a more environmentally friendly way. For many years,scientists have warned us that our planet is getting warmer.If current trends continue,animals may start to die off and life could get very difficult for everyone.The temperature is rising because humans have been releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,which surround the planet and keep heat from escaping.One of these gases is carbon dioxide. Most carbon dioxide we produce comes from the process of making and eating food,the scientists reported in Chicago.The production of meat contributes to a lot of carbon dioxide.And much of meat's contribution comes from beef,which is responsible for releasing even more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The process of making a hamburger,for example,requires a lot of energy.A cow has to be fed and raised,and cow's wastes are a major source of greenhouse gases.After the cow is killed,the meat has to be processed and shipped to a consumer,which takes fuel.And most of the cow won't even be used for meat people eat. By the time a hamburger finally lands on a dinner plate,it has taken a heavy toll on the environment.It is believed that the process of making a halfpound allbeef burger adds about 19 times the weight of hamburgers in carbon dioxide. The message is clear:We can greatly reduce the production of greenhouse gases by eating less beef.Other kinds of meat like pork and chicken do less harm to the environment--at least in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases released.Nathan Pelletier,a scientist at Dalhousie University in Canada,reported that if everyone in industrial countries ate chicken instead of beef,we would cut the Earth's greenhouse gases by more than half. All kinds of meat,the scientists reported,are harder on the planet than vegetables.To grow and eat a pound of potatoes,for example,sends less than one quarter pound of carbon dioxide into the air.So shifting our diet to less meat and more vegetables may do the world some good. The text mainly tells us _ . Answer: Some couples spend every waking minute together. Others fill their hours with personal hobbies,outside interests and even part-time jobs, just to keep their distance from each other! "There should be private time and couple time," suggests Dr. Stephen Treat at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia."You don't want your latter years to turn into a process where two people unite as one. If you hold too tightly to your partner, it's going to cause resentment and anger. If you're completely separate, you'll both be lonely and disconnected. You need balance. So you have to talk about how you'll achieve that." The right balance? It's different for every couple. "Having a conversation about time can be difficult,but it's important for both partners to process those feelings out loud," Dr. Treat says. "You should not be accusing and act as a judge--ask the difficult questions, but do it in a loving way. You could say something like, 'How are we going to be as individuals and how are we going to be as a couple?' " Barbara and Chris Christensen have achieved the balance that works for them. In addition to daily routines that keep them close--including about 10 minutes for a daily check-in and about a half hour of relaxation time--they each maintain separate interests and friendships. "We have found that we need time apart," Barbara says. "I have a group of women friends that I have known for the last 30 years. We have dinner out once a month. We women also have parties and weekend or weeklong vacations as a group at a beach or somewhere. Chris, a former fighter pilot, has many aviation-oriented groups and friends and also a poker-playing group of our friends. I may be with him during the poker night, but I don't play, and the wives usually watch a chick flick' DVD or something while the poker group has an evening of fun. We have found it important to have separate time as well as together time." Barbara and her friends do the following EXCEPT _ . Answer: Mike Myers is a teacher at Chauncey Rose High School in Terre Haute, Indiana. Last year, he taught his students about the world's rain forests. They learned that rain forests are important because the plants and animals of the rain forest give us food, wood, and medicine. Destruction of the world's rain forests is a serious problem. Unluckily, rain forests are disappearing at a rate of 80 acres per minute! As part of a class project, Myers' students bought three acres of rain forest in Costa Rica. They paid $25 per acre. The students hope that the land they bought will be protected and not destroyed. The students became so interested in rain forests that they decided to get a closer look at a real rain forest. So last June, Myers and four of his students took a boat ride down a river. They saw alligators and crocodiles. In the middle of the week, a guide took Myers and his students into the rain forest. "The monkeys were not happy that we were in their forest. They broke small branches off the trees and threw them at us," one of the students said, "It was a great learning experience for all of us," said Myers. Each student chose something specific about Costa Rica to study involving the plants, animals, food, and culture. During the last few days the group had time to do fun activities. They went whitewater rafting and horseback riding, and visited Costa Rica's active volcano. Myers hopes to make the trip every year with a different group of kids. When the monkeys saw Myers and his students, they _ . Answer:
When a close friend dies, it often forces you to consider your own death. The more you have in common with the friend, the more his death will make you wonder about your own. Sometimes you will naturally say to yourself, "It could just as easily have been me." Such a death has a way of reminding us how fragile life is, and it may cause you to reassess the direction of your own life. Jack's story is a good example. A successful businessman making a lot of money, Jack didn't spend as much time with his family as he wanted. His job required him to work long hours. But three years ago one of his best friends, a man who worked in the same office, had a heart attack. He died while celebrating his daughter's eighteenth birthday in a restaurant. He was only fifty years old. Not long after his friend's death, Jack started to have a chest pain. Finally he had a good physical check-up. _ . But the chest pain continued. He kept thinking of the death of his friend. Jack thought about how much his friend missed in life and he saw how hard it was for his friend's family to manage after he passed away. Jack realized that he didn't want to end up his life that way. He talked his feelings over with his wife and children, and decided to change his way of life. The family moved to a small town where he started a simple life. Now he is running a small art gallery . He is relaxed, and says he has never been so happy in his life. And he has got no more chest pain. His friend's death made Jack _ . doubt his way of life Online Communication In an age when technology moves faster than most can keep up with, a small group of people still remain in the time of old-fashioned letter. Frankly speaking, I was once certain that traditional letters could never be replaced by other means of communication. But a story about online communication changed my mind. An old man, who suffered a lot from Parkinson's disease, was not able to talk clearly and could hardly write his name. Living totally alone, he managed to keep in touch with nearly all the members of his family. How did he achieve this? He clicked out words on his computer keyboard. I, therefore, managed to get an E-mail box as soon as the opportunity came. My life changed. E-mail, and all online communication, is something truly different. It has capabilities that few other products can match. E-mail is convenient. It takes less time with its fast speed and 24-hour connection. The slow postal service is no match. If you wouldn't want to have a face-to-face talk with your manager, you might talk with him through E-mail even if you are in the same office. Naming all the good things about online communication is not easy. But wait. E-mail can be inconvenient. It can waste time and energy. Just think what may happen when you take a short vacation and return to find your e-mail box filled with 200 unread messages. You could easily spend half a day clearing _ ads. Then, online communication will keep us staying at our computer while it connects us to distant strangers. Once we throw ourselves into the machine, we may forget the human touches we once held so dear. I'm sure there is and always will be a place for the old-fashioned letter, phone call, and face-to-face meeting... even in the world of modern communication. As I listen to the sound of the modem , I was excited at stepping out to the outside world but, at the same time, I sensed a loss of control over something valuable in my personal life. How did the sick old man keep in touch with his family members? With the help of his computer. Several weeks ago, kidsPost did a story on "The Art of Video Games" at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition has created debate with some people saying that as fun as video games are ,they are not works of art. Other people say that videos games may be a new form of art and that they belong to in museums. We asked readers for their opinions on the topic. Here are a few of the letters we received. A video game is like a painting on a screen. In order to make a video game, you have to think of something original to reach the players. This is the point of Art. ---Mary Pottanat,13 I believe video games are not a form of art. Art should be a visual and creative expression of feelings. Although it is arguable that video games are visual ,they do not express feelings in any way. ---Prannab Kirshnan,12 However exciting video games are, they are not art. Painting is art, but not video games. Art has beauty and culture that no technology could ever compare to. Even though you can create art in some video games, the " Mona Lisa" wasn't painted with Nintendo. ---Caroline Kaplan,10 Art is a way of communicating ideas to the public in a way that is fun to them. The "public", who in this case are kids and adults, are finding these video games from different time periods interesting. Video games would not have been art if it had not been for the kids and adults attracted by "the art of video games". ---Ryan Puthumana,10 We can learn from the text that _ . Caroline Kaplan disagrees with Mary Pottanat. Man has a big brain. He can think, learn and speak. Scientists once thought that men are different from animals because they can think and learn. They know that animals can learn--dogs, rats, birds can learn. So scientists are beginning to understand that men are different from animals because they can speak. Animals cannot speak. They make noises when they are afraid, or angry, or unhappy. Apes can understand some things more quickly than human, one or two have learnt a few words. But they are still different from us. They cannot join words and make sentences; they cannot think like us because they have no language. They can never think about the past or the future. Language is a wonderful thing. Man has been able to build a modern world because he has language. Every child can speak his own language very well when he is four or five--but no animal learns to speak. How do children learn? What happens when we speak? Scientists do not know. They only know that man can speak because he has a big brain. What is the suitable topic for this passage? Man's brain and Language. Most recently, it's very common in students who need a parent present for job interviews. Naturally, it's easy to blame the students in these situations, but the bigger problem is us. We--as parents--are so eager to shelter our kids that we fail to realize that this in itself is harming them.As the mother of two young sons, I have to remind myself constantly that the biggest responsibility I have as a parent is to help them develop the skills needed to live in, to live without me.So, I'll let them fail. I'll let them fail because as long as they are safe and warm inside their comfort zones, they will never grow.And failure -- along with loss, heartbreak, disappointment, etc.-- will be part of growth for them.Call me the anti-tiger mom, but leaving them alone, is my way of helping them become equipped to fit in this world as we know it today.From terrorism and seemingly endless natural disasters, to our national debt and beyond, if we expect the next generation to stand up to the very real problems of our time, we need to stop feeding them and start teaching them how to fish. My children now are becoming little masters of compromise, but they try to negotiate everything now.It's a small price to help them learn a skill they'll use for the rest of their lives, including when I don't accompany them on job interviews. Which of the following might be the best title for die text? Let Your Kids Fail
Many of us use them several times a day without really noticing. And yet the way we behave in lifts, or elevators as they are known in the US, reveals a hidden anxiety. Passengers seem to know instinctively how to arrange themselves in an elevator, like the dots on a die. With each additional passenger, the bodies shift, going into the open spaces. On your own, you can do whatever you want--it's your own little box. If there are two of you, you take different corners, creating the greatest distance. When a third person enters, you will unconsciously form a triangle. And when there is a square, with someone in every corner, a fifth person is probable going to have to stand in the middle. Why are we so awkward in lifts? "You don't have enough space," says Professor Babette Renneberg, a clinical psychologist at the Free University of Berlin. "Usually when we meet other people we have about an arm's length of distance between us. And that's not possible in most elevators, so it's a very unusual setting. It's unnatural." But perhaps there is more to it than just social awkwardness. "In the back of our minds we are a little anxious," says Nick White, an officer in New York who was unfortunate enough to be trapped in a lift for 41 hours. "We don't like to be locked into a place. We want to get out of the elevator as soon as possible, you know, it's a frightening place to be." During his terrible experience, he began to think of another enclosed space--a tomb. Dr. Lee Gray agrees that a sense of powerlessness is the main cause of lift anxiety. "You're in a machine that's moving, over which you have no control. You cannot see the elevator engine, you don't know how it's working." he says. Professor Babette Renneberg believes people feel uneasy in lifts because _ . A. they can't move themselves B. they cannot talk with one another C. they are afraid of accidents D. they have to stay too close together Answer: D _ , or housewives, who have crowded into gold stores across China, buying up 300 tons of gold over the past two weeks. No wonder gold prices have steadied after taking a dive. During the May Day holiday, gold stores were crowded with mostly female customers. Most of them are middle-aged "Chinese housewives". This group of buyers has risen to fame recently. They are big spenders and are desperate to get their hands on a bargain. "I bought some gold jewellery and kept them as a gift for my son when he gets married," said a buyer from Shanghai. The gold business is skyrocketing. "Our sales are growing by the day. Yesterday we sold more than ten million yuan of gold products," a gold store salesperson said. The gold rush in China started about two weeks ago thanks to a decline in global gold prices. Media reports suggest that Chinese housewives have spent about 100 billion yuan, or about 16 billion US dollars, purchasing 300 tons of gold since mid-April. That has helped support gold prices. "Gold prices depressed since the middle of last month but have risen gradually. That is mainly due to the strong demand from Asian markets," said foreign trader Zhang Chen from Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. "Some people even joked that Chinese housewives have beaten Wall Street analysts." For Chinese people, with limited investment options, the only thing better than buying gold is buying gold at discount prices. We can infer about the gold rush in China from the passage? A. The Chinese housewives are most willing to spend money in buying gold .. B. China's "Da Ma" crowded into stores to get gold as the best gifts for sons when they get married. C. China's "Da Ma" are bigger spenders and cleverer than global financial big dogs. D. China's "Da Ma" become the largest gold buyers due to a decline in global gold prices. Answer: D 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 13yearold 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 travelling 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." Why was Uesbeck very happy when he got the information of the 24 years' message bottle? A. Because he could have a new friend. B. Because the two boys could surf the Internet together. C. Because he finally got what he had lost. D. Because he could have a positive influence on a life of a young person. Answer: D Science can't explain the power of pets, but many studies have shown that the company of pets can help lower blood pressure and raise chances of recovering from a heart attack, reduce loneliness and spread all-round good cheer. Any owner will tall you how much joy a pet brings. For some, an animal provides more comfort than a husband/wife. A 2002 study by Karen Allen of the State University of New York measured stress levels and blood pressure in people - half of them pet owners -while they performed 5 minutes of mental arithmetic or held a hand in ice water. Subjects completed the tasks alone, with a husband/wife, a close friend or with a pet. People with pets did It best .Those tested with their animal friends had smaller change in blood pressure and returned Most quickly to baseline heart rates .With pets in the room ,people also made fewer math mistakes Than when doing in front of other companions. It seems people feel more released around Pets, says Allen, who thinks it may be because pets don't judge. A study reported last fall suggests that having a pet dog not only raises your spirits but may also have an effect on your eating habits. Researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital spent a Year studying 36 fat people and were put on a diet-and-exercise programs; a separate group of 56 fat people without pets were put on a diet program. On average,people lost about 11 pounds, Or 5% of their body weight .Their dogs did even better,losing an average of 12 pounds,more then 15%of their body weight .Dog owners didn't lose any more weight than those without dogs but ,say Researchers,got more exercise overall -mostly with their dogs -and found it worth doing. We learn from the text that a person with heart disease has a better chance of getting well if _ A. he has a pet companion B. he has less stress of work C. he often dose mental arithmetic D. he is taken care of by his family Answer: A Instagram is containing so many photos of food--now a pop-up diner in London is taking advantage of this new trend by letting people settle the bill for their meals simply by uploading photos of their dishes to social networks. I always thought people's taking pictures of their food was kind of silly, but at this new pop-up restaurant in the UK, I'd probably do it too. 'The Picture House' is the world's first pay-by-photo restaurant--you order, click a photo of the food, share on Instagram and eat for free! The restaurant belongs to frozen food giant Birds Eye, who came up with the idea to cash in on people's addiction with photographing food and sharing the pictures online. They conducted a survey and found out that more than half of the British population regularly took pictures of their meals. So they realized it was a better way to advertise their new dining range. The pop-up diner was open in Soho, London for three days in May, and is now moving to other major UK cities. They serve two-course meals that customers don't have to pay for, if they photo and Instagram it. The restaurant is a part of Birds Eye's 'Food for Life' campaign, a new marketing project that aims at changing the way people look at frozen food. "Taking photos of food enables people to show off and to share their mealtime moments--from the everyday to the special," said marketing director Margaret Jobling. The reaction to The Picture House has been great so far. And the pay-by-picture concept has proven to be an effective way. Alternative payment methods are actually gaining popularity among a lot of businesses. Last year, in a cafe in Germany customers pay by how much time they spend there, not by what they eat. Instagram probably is _ . A. a restaurant free of charge B. a campaign of "Food for Life" C. a new marketing project D. a program used to share photos Answer: D
In many homes, divorce is caused by the "battle between the sexes." To understand the problem, one must remember that the modern American woman is freed. During childhood and adolescence , the American girl is given freedom and education which is equal to a boy's. After completing school, she is able to get a job and support herself. She doesn't have to marry for financial security. She considers herself an independent, self-sufficient person. She wants a husband whom she can respect, but she doesn't want to be dominated by him. She wants a democratic household in which she has a voice in making decisions. When a husband and wife are able to share decisionmaking, their marriage is probably closer, stronger, and more satisfying. Otherwise, the couple is likely to wind up in the divorce court. When a couple gets divorced, the court usually requires the man to pay his former wife a monthly sum of money. If the couple has children, they usually remain with the mother, and the father is expected to pay for their support. Although divorce is quite common in the United States, 80 percent of those who get divorced remarry. The remarriages allow thousands of people, especially children, to enjoy family life again, but at the same time many troubles have arisen. A well-known American joke tells of a wife calling to her second husband, "Quick, John! Come here and help me! Your children are beating up our chidlren!" What kind of marriage can be successful? Answer: It is a familiar scene these days: employees taking newly laid-off co-workers out for a drink for comfort. But which side deserves sympathy more, the jobless or the still employed? On March 6, researchers at a conference at the University of Cambridge heard data suggesting it's the latter. Brendan Burchell, a Cambridge sociologist, presented his analysis based on various surveys conducted across Europe. The data suggest that employed people who feel insecure in their jobs show similar levels of anxiety and depression as those who are unemployed. Although a newly jobless person's mental health may"bottom out" after about six months, and then even begin to improve, the mental state of people who are continuously worried about losing their job "just continues to get worse and worse", Burchell says. Evolutionary psychologists support this theory by arguing that human beings feel more stress during times of insecurity because they sense an immediate but invisible threat. Patients have been known to experience higher levels of anxiety,for example, while waiting for examination results than knowing what they are suffering from-even if the result is cancer. It's better to get the bad news and start doing something about it rather than wait with anxiety. When the uncertainty continues, people stay in a nonstop "fight or flight" response, which leads to damaging stress. But not every employee in insecure industries has such a discouraging view,Burchell says. In general, women get on better. While reporting higher levels of anxiety than men when directly questioned, women scored lower in stress on the GHQ 12, even when they had a job they felt insecure about losing. As Burchell explains, "For women, most studies show that any job-it doesn't matter whether it is secure or insecure-gives psychological improvement over unemployment. " Burchell supposes that the difference in men is that they tend to feel pressure not only to be employed, but also to be the primary breadwinner, and that more of a man's self-worth depends on his job. What is most likely to cause a "fight or flight" response? Answer: How to Order Ordering from BooksFirst is easy and safe. Selecting Your Books When you have found a book you would like to order, just click on Add to Basket and it will be added to your shopping basket. To make it easy to keep track of the books you've selected, My Shopping Basket will display your choices wherever you are on the site. When you're ready to place your order, select View Basket. View Basket This is where you select the postal destination for your order, indicate whether you would like Next Day Delivery in the UK and choose gift-wrapping. You can also amend the contents of your basket by making any changes and then selecting Update Basket. Overseas customers ordering three or more books can also request reduced airmail charges here. When you're happy with the contents of your shopping basket, go to the Secure Checkout. The Order Form After you've completed the order form, you will receive an on-screen acknowledgment. This will be followed by an email confirming the details of your order. We will then inform you when your order has been sent. If this is your first order, we will also inform you of your personal BooksFirst account number. Your First Order We'll send you a personal account number after you have placed your first order. For following orders all you need to do is enter your personal account number and email address. Returning Customers If you have ordered from us before, online, by mail or telephone, you will have already owned a personal account number. You then only need to complete the full order form. Using your account number allows us to find your details from our records (they are not accessible online). However, you do not need your BooksFirst personal account number to place an order--simply present all the required details on the order form. If you don't have a note of your account number just Contact us so that we can supply it to you. The purpose of this advertisement is _ . Answer: Mr. Knight was the manager of a hotel. One weekend all of the hotels in the city were full because there was a large meeting. On Friday, three men came into the hotel and asked for rooms. Mr. Knight said there were no rooms ready because of the meeting. The men were unhappy. Mr. Knight wanted to help them. He remembered that Room 418, a small room, was empty. He asked them if they could share a room. The three men said they would. Mr. Knight said the room would be thirty dollars; ten dollars for each person. Each man gave him the money and then went up to the room. Mr. Knight soon began to feel sorry. "Thirty dollars is a lot to ask as a price for that small room." he thought. He called his assistant over and said, "Here is five dollars. Take it to the men in Room 418. I asked too much for their room." The assistant took the money. While he was on the way there, he started to think, "How can three men divide five dollars? I'll give them each only one dollar and keep the two dollars for myself. The men will be happy to get something back. And Mr. Knight will never know." So the assistant returned one dollar to each man. Each man had at first paid ten dollars. After the assistant returned them one dollar each, each had actually(in fact) paid nine. There were three men. $9 3="$27." The assistant kept$2. $27+$2="$29." Where is the missing dollar? Where is the missing dollar? Answer: "But what if I break my arm again?" my 5-year-old daughter asked. I knew how much she wanted to learn to ride. Yet ever since she'd fallen off her bike and broken her arm, she'd been afraid. "Oh honey," I said. "I don't think you'll break another arm." "But I could, couldn't I?" "Yes," I admitted, and found myself struggling for the right thing to say. "I don't think I want to ride," she said and got off her bike. We walked away and sat down beside a tree. "Don't you want to ride with your friends?" I asked. "And I thought you were hoping to start riding your bike to school next year," I added. "I was," she said in a low voice. "You know, honey," I said. "Most everything you do comes with dangers. You could break your arm at gymnastics. Do you want to stop going to the gym?" "No, of course not!" she replied. And with a determined spirit, she stood up and agreed to try again. I held on to the back of her bike until she found the courage to say, "Let's go!" I spent the rest of the afternoon at the park watching a very brave little girl overcome a fear, and congratulating myself for being an independent single parent. As we walked home, pushing the bike as we made our way along the sidewalk, she asked me about a conversation she'd overheard me having with my mother the night before. "Why were you and Grandma arguing last night?" "It's nothing." I told her. She shrugged . "Grandma said she just wanted you to find someone to love." "What Grandma wants is for some guy to break my heart again," I snapped. "But Mom ..." "You're too young to understand." I told her. She was quiet for the next few minutes. Then she looked up and in a small voice said, "So I guess love isn't like a broken arm." Unable to answer, we walked the rest of the way in silence. When I got home, I let go and agreed to meet a man called Steve. Steve was the man for me. We married less than a year later. It turned out my mother and my daughter were right. What can we infer from the passage? Answer:
IMAGINE that your parents have bought you the most advanced robot. He looks like a real person. He talks to you and plays with you. He can even think for himself and figure out what you need. It may feel as if you have a considerate new brother who keeps you company all the time. But come to think of it, can you really trust him? Ever since the first robot was created decades ago, scientists have kept thinking about the task of making robots more like humans. However, as they have gotten closer to that goal, doubts have grown. According to the BBC, Japanese robot designer Masahiro Mori argues that the more lifelike robots become, the more humans feel a connection to them. But once they become too similar to humans, people begin to feel uncomfortable. This theory is what led to the creation of a brand new robot in Switzerland earlier this month. Roboy, as the new machine is called, has various human-like abilities such as hand-shaking and bicycle-riding, but instead of a skin-like covering, Roboy is wrapped in shiny white armor that clearly shows its robot status. "As long as people can clearly see that the robot is a machine, even if they project their feelings into it, then they feel comfortable," Rolf Pfeifer, the creator of Roboy from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, told the BBC. But the problem that people have with robots is not just with the way they look. It also has to do with the roles that they play in our lives. A survey last year of European Union countries showed that 88 percent of those interviewed agreed that robots are "necessary as they can do jobs that are too hard or dangerous for people", such as space exploration and war fighting. But when it comes to taking care of children, 60 percent said that robots should not be allowed to participate, because as robots become more advanced and complicated, parents may tend to hand over too much responsibility to them. No matter what, robots will soon enter our homes, Pfeifer said. What is not yet clear is whether they will act more like servants who work for us or companions who live with us. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? Scientists have long been dreaming of creating human-like robots. With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and save the endangered species . That's a move similar to what a Texas A & M University researchers have been undertaking for the past five years in a project called "Noah's Ark". Noah's Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos , semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen . If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A & M's College of Veterinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future. It is estimated that as many as 2,000 species of mammals, birds reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years. This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal. The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete. "The nuclear transfer of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available(capable of being used) panda eggs could be a major problem," Kraemer believes. "They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it's difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort," adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A& M, the first-ever attempt at cloning a dog. "They are trying to do something that's never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah's Ark. We're both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there's a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. It's a research that is very much needed. " According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of _ . available panda eggs The high cost of living in Sydney causes city parents to worry more about their children. New research by the Financial Services Council (FSC)shows that 75% of metropolitan mums and dads say their ability to earn is important to the well-being of their kids, Tet a greater proportion of Sydney parents think children suffer emotionally by having two full-time working parents .AS a result 46%of Sydneysiders feel their Kids could be happier , against 38%of both Melbourne and regional New South Wales mums and dads. The FSC research ,which interviewed 1200 parents across the country ,also shows 66% of Sydneysiders believe the happiness of their children would be greatly affected if they or their partner couldn't work. The FSC undertook the survey as part of its Lifewise campaign ,to encourage Australians to protect themselves against financial hardship. Chairman of the Lifewise campaign John Crosswell said:"The research findings quite clearly highlight that Sydney parents prioritise their ability to earn money and yet because they are so busy doing so, it seems that their ability to spend time with their family is affected .Sydney parents are dedicated to earning money but as a consequence, perhaps they don't have the time to enjoy spending it with their family." In sydney ,the top factor for creating an ideal childhood is financial security ,at 92%.Fewer parents rate having a tigh-knit family(89%)or living near friends and family (85%)as important. David and Ari Dearnley ,of North Manly ,said money pressure was hard to avoid in Sydney ,They both work and said family finances would be severely hard if one of them couldn't But only Mrs Dearnly has income-protection insurance, "I think that I don't really need it yet",Mr Dearnly ,37, said. "I think he's mad",Mrs Dearnly ,also 27 ,said,"If David couldn't work it would have a huge impact on our lifestyle." "Looks like I'll be getting _ tomorrow,"Mr Dearnly responded. According to John Crosswell, we can learn that _ Sydney parents are in a dilemma of devoting to work and enjoying family life David: I like blue. I have a clothes shop, and I find when I changed the wall's color to blue, my clothes sold better. Someone told me that blue can make people feel safe. Mary: I'm a nurse. I heard that green can make people feel energetic. Because it's the color of nature, it can also give people a feeling of hope. It's my favorite. Li Ming: I like red. In our country, red means good luck. For example, during Spring Festival, most Chinese people like wearing red clothes , because we believe it will bring us good luck in the future. Sam: I like orange because it's a warm color. When I'm sad, if I see something orange buying things that are orange ---- bags, hats, cups, anything! I live in an orange world! Linda: I think black is a powerful color . We know that the leaders of a country always wear black clothes. And, it makes people look thin. If you want to look like all of the other people in the government, which color will you choose? Black Visiting Balboa Island, in sunny southern California, proved an exciting experience that I will never forget. I had never been to Balboa Island, even though it is only about an hour from my home in northern San Diego. Our first stop was for a specialty called a "Balboa Bar". It is a famous chocolate covered ice cream on a stick, created many years ago. As we drove along the streets toward the boat, I also saw some interesting buildings that stood for many years. Many of the building designs seemed like dollhouses and someone in our group said that the style was called, Victorian. After we parked our car on one of the streets, we got on the boat sailing to Balboa Peninsula. As I looked around the boat, I saw a bird flying very close to the water and our boat. A little girl near the boat' s edge jumped out to touch it and shockingly fell into the water! Her dad, who stood nearby, jumped in after her at once and everyone on the boat ran to help. The boat's engine stopped and both father and daughter got saved with the help of people on the boat. On Balboa Peninsula my family and I went to various shops, especially for food! We saw a restaurant at the very end. We enjoyed our lunch there, at the first Ruby's Diner ever opened in southern California. Although I have been to other restaurants of this popular chain , being at the very first is a great memory. On our way back to Balboa island we stopped at the huge Ferris Wheel, bought some sugars and played games. It was an exciting afternoon walking around on Balboa Island. I look forward to returning soon to spend some time on the beach again or maybe even to try fishing! What happened on the boat to Balboa Peninsula? A little girl fell into the river
Some children are talking about their favourite subjects and activities at school. Lucy: I think music is my favourite. I like listening to many beautiful English songs. I need to _ after a day's work, so I often listen to music after supper. Kate: I like music, too. But I only listen to Chinese songs, especially Jay Chow's songs. I also like drawing. I want to be a great painter. I also like reading. Reading makes me clever. Peter: I don't like music or drawing. I like playing basketball. I am a good basketball player. Don't you think it's cool? Jacky: I am not a good basketball player, but I play football well. It makes me strong. I feel great when I am on the football field. I play football for half an hour every day. Andy: I am not like many other boys I don't like sports. I think reading is my favourite. I can learn a lot from books. I read books for an hour every day. Which is not mentioned in the passage? Answer: TV. Women nowadays do not just want to work to help meet the rising costs of living and education for their children. They also want a career that will enable them to bring out their skills and use their potentials so that they can experience a sense of fulfillment and pride that come from achievements and success. Some careers that have been traditionally dominated by the male species have been made open and filled up by women as well. It is no longer a surprising occurrence today to see many women working as pilots, astronauts, engineers, in construction sites, and in the printing business that operates hightech machines. Many women are also taking their chances on managerial and executive positions that mostly men are the ones sitting on. Many of them also do well in the line of education as teachers, deans and even presidents of universities. You can also see many women as lecturers and reviewers of different businesses. One example is that of the online printing company reviews where women usually have a say on what is the best choice for online printers for any marketing needs. From the income that women are getting from their work, they are able to maintain a family and able to provide a better education for their children and able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. However, there are still pronounced biases against women in high leadership positions. There still exists the socalled genderrole stereotyping. Women need help to cope with and manage the typical stereotyping of women workers and managers. Those who look for jobs advertised in the classified sections of the newspaper often discover that many corporate positions are closed to women. And most often than not, many give preference to men by indicating in their ads phrases such as "male preferred" or "male applicants only". Even in some family run or owned corporations, seldom can you see women managers and presidents. Surveys show that although a man and a woman have the same level or handle the same position in an organization, the man would get a higher or bigger compensation package compared to women. Because of this, many women are just contented,to be in _ positions in finance, human resources, sales, manufacturing and other supportive roles. There are still other barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potentials in the world of employment. Our culture does not encourage women to excel in government and in businessrelated jobs. Women who are able to make it on top and handle leadership roles are sometimes regarded merely as tokens. The abilities and skills of women are normally questioned by their own peers, and sadly even by other women. If you are a woman who have the interest, ability and drive to pursue management careers,career counseling is of great help to help you find direction and increase motivation to pursue your career goals. It will help you have the selfconfidence to get you in the same career opportunities open to men in this society that still prefers men for top level positions. It can be inferred that in the past it was surprising to see women _ . Answer: working as pilots or astronauts I still remember quite clearly the day when my parents got divorced . Dad kissed me goodbye and left. For a long time 'Mum and I lived a peaceful life. Then one day, Jim came over for lunch wearing a blue suit with a short brown tie and a green shirt I couldn't believe this was going to be my new stepfaLher. It couldn't be true that my beautiful mother would many someone who dressed like a clown . I hated him. Lunch was terrible. Mother kept trying to start a conversation, but neither Jim nor I would say much. Finally I offered to bring in the dessert just to get away from the clown Something unpleasant happened, but I didn't mean to do it. I guess the plate slipped. But one minute I was handing Jim his blackberry pie, and the next, dark purple berries were oozing all over his shirt and tie. I was mortified. My face turned bright red. Jim looked very much surprised at first, but then he began to laugh. I started to laugh too. Maybe this guy was all right, after all. Then I had a quick look at my mother. She looked happier than I had seen her in a long time.[:ZXXK] The best title for this story would be _ . Answer: My New Stepfather The red phone box in Britain is a perfect example of the British traditional culture. However, with the fast development of mobile phones, it has lost its place in people's everyday life. In order to save their loved red phone boxes, people have come up with many ideas, for example, to turn them into toilets or art houses. In a village in Somerset, a place in South West England, villagers have found a new way to save their red phone box. They turned it into a mini library to deal with the shortage of libraries in their area. The idea was given by a local villager, Janet Fisher, who lives opposite the phone box. Villagers got together to set up the book box. Over 100 books and a lot of movies and music CDs are available at this mini library. The books are of different kinds, including from cooking books to the classics and children's books. People can put the books that they have read inside the phone box, and take away the books that they'd like to read. The books are always changing. There is a regular check on the books to keep the phone box collection fresh. Anyone is free to come to read books there. The phone box library is open every day around the clock and is lit (the past form of "light") at night. " It's very pleasing that the red phone box has been saved. More importantly, it can continue providing a service for us," said one of the villagers. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the red phone box? Answer: The library is open to the public day and night. A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name.A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person,place or thing,Many American cities have nicknames.Nicknames can also be funny. Los Angeles,California is the second largest city in population,after New York City. Los Angeles has several nicknames.One is L.A.It is also called the City ofAngels because Los Angeles means"the angels"in Spanish. Los Angeles often has warm,sunny, weather.So another nickname is City of Flowers and Sunshine.New York is called The Big Apple.So Los Angeles is sometimes called The Big Orange because ofthe fruit that grows in that city's warm climate. Many films are made in the area of Los Angeles called Hollywood.Millions of people visit the area.So it is also called The Entertainment Capital of the World.No trip to Los Angeles is excellent without seeing the word"Hollywood"spelled out in huge letters on a hillside. Many movie stars live in Los Angeles.The city is sometimes called Tinseltown.This nickname comes from the shiny,bright and often unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie industry.Another nickname for Los Angeles is La--La Land,using the first letters of Los and Angeles. The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County .There are many smaller cities in the coBnty.A good place for watching unusual--looking people is Venice(after the Italian city of Venice),an area on the west side of Los Angeles. Many people love Los Angeles for its warm sunny weather,beautiful mountains and beaches,and movie stars. People don't think it's a good trip to Los Angeles if they _ . Answer: don't see the word"Hollywood"on the hillside
When ice is heated in a pan to 100 degrees Fahrenheit it will melt and then Answer: The hottest place in the world is the Sahara Desert in Africa. But there are deserts in many other places: in America, in Asia and in Australia. In 1917 the temperature in Death Valley, in the United States, was over 48degC every day for six weeks. That's very hot! But deserts are not always hot. After dark, deserts are very cold. Not many animals and plants can live in a desert, because it doesn't rain very often. But one animal likes the desert -- the camel. It has big feet to walk on the sand. It can live for a long time without water. Sometimes it doesn't drink anything for weeks -- so it gets very thirsty! When it finds water it can drink 100 liters at a time. The hottest place in the world is _ . Answer: A characteristic that all living organisms have in common is they Answer: Your friends might be in Australia or maybe just down the road, but they are all just a few clicks away. Life has changed for millions of young people across the world who now make friends online. Whether you use chat-rooms, QQ, MSN or ICQ, you are a member of this group. "I don't often talk with my parents or grandparents, but I talk a lot with my old friends on QQ," said Fox's Shadow, the online name used by a girl student in China. "Most of my classmates use QQ after school." QQ is the biggest messaging service in China. A record from Tencent, the company which developed QQ, shows that 4 million people used it one Saturday night in October. And probably Fox's Shadow was one of them. "I _ on Friday nights, and Saturdays or Sundays when I feel everything around me boring. I usually spend about ten hours chatting online every week," she said. "But I never talk with strangers, especially boys or men." Even though she likes chatting, she is careful about making friends with strangers online. "You don't know who you're talking to. You should always be careful about whom you believe in online." Many people would like to meet offline when they feel they have known someone very well. Fox's Shadow once met one of her online friends face to face. It was a girl who was a football fan like herself and they went to a football match together. A 16-year-old Beijing boy, named Bart Simon online, dislikes QQ users. "I used to chat on QQ, but I found that most people were talking about foolish things," he said. Now he chats online in English, using MSN. "I only chat online because I've got friends in Japan, the US and Singapore," he said. "I want to learn more about foreign cultures." But he spends little time chatting on QQ as he sees it as a waste of time and money. "If you are really addicted to it, sometimes you can't give your mind to your lessons," he said. "And friends in your real life are always more important than those so-called friends you meet online." Fox's Shadow thinks QQ is _ . Answer: During the summer solstice the Earth is actually what in relation to the red giant? Answer:
Education and Training Make sure your skills are up-to-date If you're looking for a new job or you want to change your career, having up-to-date skills is the key to a successful job search and your future earning power. Choose the right training If you need training to learn new skills or enhance existing skills, make sure you got to know the following : What training program is the best for you? How will you pay for your training? You need to consider all these and more when you choose your training. Search for training providers Massachusetts school information is made available by the Massachusetts career information system (CIS). This directory includes most of the training providers and colleges in the states. The data for trade schools covers programs, admissions, schedules and costs. Descriptions for two-year, four-year, and graduate schools include information about school size, setting, programs, admissions, schedules, and costs. A link to the school's Internet home page is provided when available. Learn about the Entrepreneurial training program The Entrepreneurial training program (ETP) provides training and technical assistance to individuals with good business ideas and the desire to start their own business. Learn about Apprenticeship programs Division of apprentice training is a system for teaching highly technical skills through a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. Also, it is responsible for promoting, developing and providing services for apprenticeship programs in the state. Many apprentice programs are in traditional building trade areas such as Carpentry, Electrical and Ironwork. In addition, apprentice programs are being developed in areas such as Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Childcare, Culinary Arts and Telecommunications. Use Online Resources Link directly to the websites of colleges and universities in the state of Massachusetts. Explore other online job databases. According to the text, the CIS _ . Answer: provides information of training providers "Dear anybody. Your email address has been chosen by our computer. So, for no reason, we'd like to give you a million dollars. All you need to do is give us your bank account numbers. Can we interest you in some diet pills? And, by the way, I want to marry you." I hate to let you down, but there is no "million dollars". The diet pills don't exist - and your future "husband" or "wife" has just proposed to a million others. These and a hundred other stories have been made up to steal your personal information or money or maybe just to infect your computer with a virus. Welcome to the world of junk email. Junk email - or spam - is probably the biggest global business that's ever existed. Billions of spam emails are sent every day, making up around 80% of all email traffic. These incredible volumes of spam slow down the whole internet and cost businesses millions of dollars just trying to keep up with the next trick. Your email programme probably includes a spam filter, which sorts out the mail you do want from the junk. But it's impossible to stop it all and if you put together the seconds it takes to see through the deception in each one, they add up to a significant amount of lost time dealing with the spam that does get through. But who could fall for such obvious tricks? Probably very few of us - one in a million, perhaps. But when you are sending billions of these every day, for next to no cost, it doesn't take a genius to work out that someone is getting very rich. But who? It's incredibly difficult to find out. Most spam is sent using anonymous networks of infected computers, called "botnets", some of which are made up of tens of millions of computers across dozens of countries. Maybe your own laptop is sending out marriage proposals right now. It's enough to put you off using email again! So what can you do to defend yourself? You could set up a separate email account for online use, or maybe leave out the @ symbol when you write your email address online. An up-to-date web browser and antivirus program will help too. And of course, never open strange email, even from a friend's account. Never click on the links. And never ever reply! The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: the problem of junk mail Holidays are really important. Many of us will have childhood memories of summer holidays where we were taken away from home to experience new environments and learn in different ways. But holidays are expensive and, for those on low wages or living on benefits, they are often unobtainable. Even the cheapest holidays require travel and other additional costs that are difficult for many families to meet. For working parents, the long summer break can be a very difficult problem for childcare. When an annual leave allowance amounts to only five weeks, there is a need to spread this across the year. Couples can find themselves taking leave in turn in order to care for children who are on holiday. For some this makes even an affordable family holiday difficult. The schools that I visit in Nottingham are full of experienced staff committed to giving our children a caring and inspiring learning environment. The number of children receiving free school meals is quite large in Nottingham and many schools have breakfast clubs to make sure that children get a healthy start to the day. Most schools undertake programs of group or individual educational support. Schools also have an important role in safeguarding children's welfare through the ongoing touch and support with their pupils. During the long summer holidays, much of this is missed. While teachers are holidaying in the UK, many of their pupils spend the whole six weeks on the street where they live. The lack of free school meals for six weeks can result in pressure on a family budget and an inability to afford the inspiring experiences that help children to continue their learning. In setting out its plans for a five-term year, Nottingham City Council is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to four and a half weeks, with a more balanced five terms of roughly eight weeks, each followed by a two-week break. We believe this will give real "down time" for school staff and pupils alike but will be short enough not to cause a real break in learning. We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff, particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities. However, this must be weighed against the benefits for city children for whom we all have the greatest duty of care. Ks5u The plans for a shorter summer holiday will help students _ . Answer: benefit more from the caring and inspiring learning environment People who have the habit of texting while walking tend to develop a robot-like posture, lose their balance, and involve themselves in traffic accidents, according to a research from the University of Queensland. Researchers said that text-walkers are in danger of walking into traffic and train tracks among others. They suggest pedestrians stop aside, type a text and then continue walking. For the study, the researchers tracked body movements of 26 young men and women while walking in a straight line over a distance of about 8.5 m ---once without a mobile phone, once while reading a text message and once while typing a message. They found that participants' body movements were greatly changed when they used their phone. The difference in their posture was more _ while sending a text than while reading a message. They further said that when those people began texting while walking, they slowed down their pace, went off course and moved their necks less than when reading a message. "We found that they 'locking' their arms, trunk and head together walked with a posture that was robot-like, all in aid of keeping their phone in their field of vision. So there is less movement between each of their body parts." Researcher Siobhan Schabrun said, Daily Mail UK reports. "In recent years, there have been many reports of people involved in traffic accidents because they were texting while walking. The number of pedestrian accidents is rising and texting has been blamed," Schabrun said. Despite such repeated accidents, only few studies have analyzed the impact of texting on body language. If more studies concentrate on walking styles adopted while texting, their findings can be used to lower whole accidents. While a few U.S. states have introduced laws on texting while driving, Fort Lee, a New Jersey town, went further ahead and recently fined some walkers an $85 for catching them texting. It is hoped that other American states and countries will follow. How did the researchers carry out their research? Answer: They followed some pedestrians in the street. One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students and write down the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that _ . On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents. Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended his funeral. As she stood there, one of the soldiers came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot." After the funeral, Mark's mother and father were waiting there, "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket, "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it." The teacher carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said, "As you can see, Mark treasured it." The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. According to the passage which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: Mark always had the papers with him.
On the third day of November, Ron and Pam went to the store. They wanted to get some food for a new recipe. It was late in the afternoon, but they wanted to eat the food soon at dinner. To save time they split the list in half. Ron was to get the pasta and tomato sauce, and Pam was to get the vegetables and juice. They went their separate ways in the store, and made plans to meet in the checkout line in half an hour. On her way to the fruit and vegetable section, Pam ran into her friend Tom. Tom had bought a pet bunny for his friend and wanted to buy it some food. He asked Pam what he needs to feed the bunny. Pam told him lettuce and carrots, so he put 5 heads of lettuce in his basket along with one bag of carrots. Tom said goodbye to Pam and went to the front of the store to buy his vegetables. Now it was time for Pam to pick out the vegetables she would buy for dinner. She wanted to make a salad, so she bought spinach, 2 big red tomatoes, a box of mushrooms, and 3 cucumbers. Pam then went to where they kept the juice and grabbed a big bottle of lemonade. Pam went to the front of the store and met Ron. They handed their items to the sales clerk so that they could buy them. The total cost of the food was 20 dollars. As a gift to Pam, Ron paid for the food and said happy birthday. As a gift he would be cooking her dinner. When did Pam and Ron go to the store? November third Home Alone is a very funny 1990 American film. It tells us a story about a boy who is accidentally left alone at home. One night before Christmas, the McAlister family meets at their house. They are planning to fly to Paris for the holiday and are busy getting ready. Eight-year-old Kevin is the youngest child and is fighting with his brothers, sisters and cousins. When he goes to bed, he is so angry that he wishes all his family would go away. In the morning, everyone wakes up very late. They are all in a hurry to get to the airport, so they forget Kevin and he is left alone at home by accident. Although Kevin is alone, he is very happy at first. His terrible family has gone--- his wish has come true. He watches TV, eats lots of fast food and plays games. He has a good time. But later on, he goes out and hears two bad men called Harry and Marv planning to steal from his house. He goes home and plans some very funny ways to catch Harry and Marv. Many things in the house gets broken as Kevin tries to stop them. Finally, the police come and the men are taken away. The house is now in a mess, so Kevin tidies it up and waits for his parents. They get back from Paris and are very happy to find that Kevin is safe. What doesn't Kevin do when he is alone at home? Going to the police station. Hailey stood in her kitchen. She was looking for ideas of what to make for dinner. She could make pasta, soup, chili, or steak. She opened the refrigerator and took out a cartoon of juice. She sat down at the table and tried to write a list of ingredients she would need. She finally thought she would make chili for dinner. She took a sip of her juice and she saw she had all the ingredients she needed except meat. Hailey saw she was losing daylight. This made her want to take her car to the store in order to buy the meat. It would be faster than walking. She quickly went to the back of the store where she knew the meat was stored and took her find to the cashier. When she made her way back into the lot she ran into her friend, Beth, and invited Beth to come to her house for dinner. When they both returned to her home they cooked dinner together and had a wonderful evening. Who did Hailey see at the store? her friend, Beth As the nights get lounger, those who suffer from the winter blues will be planning ways to escape to the sunshine. But there may be a much simpler way of cheering yourself up... simply shining a bright light into your ear canal. Up to one in four Britons suffer from seasonal affective disorder, with seven per cent of the population having full-blown SAD. It is caused by the brain not receiving enough daylight which is needed to trigger serotonin , a hormone that regulates mood. Symptoms range from mild lethargy to depression and insomnia, but a cure might be in sight. Two clinical trials, run by Valkee - who make a device that can shine light into your ear - and the University of Oulu in Finland, have found that carefully targeted light can help prevent the condition. Juuso Nissila, Valkee's co-founder and chief scientist said: "We presented earlier that the human brain is sensitive to light". "These two clinical trials demonstrate that channeling bright light via ear canal into brain's photosensitive areas effectively prevents and treats seasonal affective disorder." The University of Oulu reported that in their first study, 92 per cent of the patients with seasonal affective disorder achieved full remission after a month of daily eight-to-12 minute doses of light from the Valkee. Time Takala, chief physician at the Oulu Deaconess Institute said: "These two trials show that bright light channeled into the brain via ear canal is an important future method to treat seasonal affective disorder." Valkee launched its bright light headset in August 2010. It is classed as a medical device under EU regulations. The device channels bright light direct to the brain via the ear canal to prevent and cure depression, mood swings and even circadian-rhythm disorders such as jet lag. It costs PS185 and looks like an iPod - only the earphones emit light rather than sound. We can know that _ regulates our mood from the passage. serotonin If you have ever experienced jet lag ,you know how much of a drag it can be. Jet lag happens as a result of air travel, when traveling between two or more time zones. Your body is used to operating in a certain time zone, and when its timing is affected, you're likely to have problems. Edward Norton's character in the movies Fight Club faces the struggle of jet-lag-induced sleeplessness due to his constant traveling. Sleeplessness is just one of the effects of jet lag, and it can lead to other problems, such as tiredness, memory loss and confusion. That's not something you should have to fight on a business trip and it certainly won't make your vacation very enjoyable, either. Sleeplessness is the biggest problem for travelers that suffer from jet lag. Don't worry. You can do something to prevent it. Modify Your Body Clock To prevent the effects on your body's timing that come with crossing time zones, you need to change your body clock sooner, rather than later. You can do this by putting yourself on the same time as your destination time zone before you fly. If you know that you will be traveling to London from the eastern United States, you'll have a five-hour time difference to deal with. Plan for it. Avoid Heavy Food and Alcohol Part of the pleasure of flying commercially, especially if you fly business or first class, is taking advantages of the food and drinks. If you want to avoid jet lag, though, you should think twice. Eating heavy food will only make the jet lag worse. It isn't good to drink alcohol during a flight, either, because it may make you drowsy. Wait until your body adjusts before you decide to have heavy food or drink alcohol. What is the main idea of the passage? How jet lag happens and how to fight it.
Most people, when they travel to space, would like to stay in orbit for a few days of more. And this stands to reason, if you' re paying $20,000 for your trip to orbit! Strain order for tourism to reach its full potential there' s going to be a need for orbital accommodation--or space hotels. What would a space hotel actually be like to visit? Hotels in orbit will offer the services you expect from a hotel--private rooms, meals, bars. But they' ll also offer two unique experiences: impressive views--of Earth and space--and the endless entertainment of living in zero gravity--including sports and other activities that make use of this. The hotels themselves will vary greatly--from being quite simple in the early days to huge luxury structure at a later date. It s actually surprising that as later as 1997, very few designs for space hotels were published. This is mainly because those who might be expected to design them haven' t expected launch costs to come down far enough to make them possible. Lots of people who' ve been to space have described vividly what it' s like to live in zero gravity. There are obviously all sort of possibilities for dancing, gymnastics, and zero-G sports. Luckily, you don' t need to sleep much living in zero gravity, so you' ll have plenty of time for relaxing by hanging out in a bar with a window looking down at the turning Earth below. Of course all good things have come to an end. Unfortunately, and so after a few days you' ll find yourself heading back enough you' ll be much more expert at exercising in zero gravity than you were when you arrived. You' ll be thinking how soon you can save up enough to get back up again--or maybe you should change jobs to get to work in an orbiting hotel. Which of the following is a unique experience that space hotels will offer? Answer: Part-time Front Desk Position Kirchoff, Inc. , a book development company, is looking for a part-time front desk office worker. This position is perfect for a person who is cheerful, dependable,and pleasant to work with. Also, you should be able to welcome guests, redirect phone calls, and take messages. More importantly, you can stay cool under pressure. You are expected to work 5:00 -- 6:00 pm weekdays. You need to fill in some forms if you are interested. Forms can be collected at Kirchoff, Inc. 866 United Nations Plaza, # 525 New York,NY 10017 Important Points to Remember When Swimming * Wait at least an hour after meals. * Follow the advice of lifeguards. * Don't dive into unknown waters. Always swim in line with the shore. * Find out at the seaside when and where it is safe to swim. * Don't use floating toys on the water. Wind can easily sweep them out to sea. * Get out of the water if you feel tired or cold. Cold can kill even strong swimmers. Help Telephone: 2125435902 Atlantic City Beach Office Arrive on time. Introduce yourself in a polite manner. Read company materials while you wait. Have a firm handshake. Listen. Use body language to show interest. Smile and nod to the interviewer. Ask about the next thing you should do. Thank the interviewer. Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to. For more information, please visit jobweb.com 368 Cooper Square,New York. NY 10008 What does a person need most to be fit for the one-hour weekday job? Answer: All writers dream of success. Yet some writers turn their back on success the moment it comes along. J.D. Salinger, the American author, is a good example. On the face of it, the future did not look promising for the teenage Salinger. He seems always to have been running away from something. First it was school, then he dropped out of New York University. Finally, after failing to find a career in his father's food import business and dropping out of yet another college he decided that his destiny was to be a writer. In the same year he joined a writing class at Columbia University which was taught by Whit Burnett, founder and editor of a magazine called Story. The March-April issue contained a story written by Salinger entitled 'The Young Folks'. In it there are early versions of the moody, selfish youths that appear in his later fiction. Soon, his stories were appearing in various mass-circulation magazines but it was the famous New Yorker which he dreamed of, believing that publication within its covers would indicate his future potential as a serious writer. Salinger has a huge reputation around the world yet it rests mainly on just one novel, The Catcher in the Rye. Published in 1951, it soon became highly popular with teenagers who identified with the hero's powerful sense of dissatisfaction. Its success made Salinger a public figure. Most writers, of course, would welcome this. Salinger, however, hated it and refused it. He moved to a small house in Cornish, New Hampshire, where he lived away from society until his death in 2010 at the age of 91. For Salinger, fame and artistic honesty were not the same thing. Some people become writers because they wish their works to speak for themselves. Salinger appears to have been disgusted by the idea that he had become the spokesman for a generation. In death he has perhaps achieved his highest goal: to be out of the spotlight, represented only by his work. Which event in his early life confirmed his status as a serious writer? Answer: One sunny May afternoon, a group of teenagers ditched school and went to the mall. June volunteered to drive her friends Ben, Sasha, and Bruce. The teenagers piled into the red car and drove to the mall. When they arrived, Ben and Sasha wanted to go to the sporting goods store. However, Bruce and June wanted to go watch a movie directed by Miranda July. They split up and said they would meet up at the food area later. Three hours later, the friends got back together. Ben and Sasha wanted to leave, so they went back out to the parking lot and got in the car. When June backed out of the parking spot, she scraped the car next to her. Sasha said it was okay, but Bruce said June needed to leave a note for the driver of the other car. Just then, the other driver appeared. They called the police to get an accident report. When the police arrived, they put Ben and Sasha in handcuffs because they had been stealing. They had to volunteer every week until October. Who went to the mall? Answer: A day at the beach. When Sam woke in the morning, he was super excited! Today was the day! It was Sunday, the day that Sam's mom and dad had promised to take Sam to the beach. Sam's grandma had given a pail and shovel to Sam to use in the sand. At breakfast Sam was so excited he was wiggling in his seat! Mom told Sam that they would leave when the big hand on the clock was pointing to the 10, and the little had was pointing to the 12. Mom asked Sam if he would like to help make sandwiches for the trip, and Sam said that he wanted to help. Dad said, "let's make a game of it, we need to make a sandwich for each of us. There are three of us, so we need three sandwiches. Let's count as we make the sandwiches!" Sam counted as mom made the sandwiches, one for dad, one for mom and one for Sam. Then mom started to make another sandwich! "Mom!" said Sam, "we have three sandwiches and that makes one sandwich for each of us." Sam's mom laughed, "You're right Sam!" Sam's mom said she was being silly. Why was Sam excited? Answer:
There is a photo on Becky's desk. It is a picture of her family. There are four people in it. The man is her father. He is thirty-eight. He can speak Chinese. There is a woman behind Becky. She is Becky's mother. She is thirty-seven. She can't speak Chinese, but she speaks English. They're teachers. They work in a school. There is a boy in the picture, too. He is Becky's brother. His name is Jack. He is twelve. He can skate and ride a bike. He has an American friend. Her name is Betty. Becky and her brother are in the same school, but they aren't in the same grade. They look like their mother. They are English. It's a big family. ,. Jack's friend is _ . Answer: American John was ten years old and he was very lazy. He had to go to school, of course, but he was bored there and tried to do as little work as possible. His father and mother were both doctors and they hoped that he would become one, too, when he grew up. But one day John said to his mother, "When I finish school, I want to become a garbage collector." "A garbage collector?"his mother asked .She was very surprised."That's not a pleasant job. Why do you want to become a garbage collector?" "Because then I'd only have to work one day a week,"John answered. "Only one day a week?"his mother said,"What do you mean?" "Well,"John answered,"I know that the ones who come to our house only work on Wednesday, because I only saw them on that day." John's parents wanted him to become _ . Answer: a doctor It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man.Over the phone ,his mother told him,"Mr.Belser died last night ,The funeral is Wednesday."Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. When Jack was very young ,his father died.Mr Belser,who lived in the same neighborhood with them,spent as much time as he could to make sure Jack had a man's influence in his life.He spent a lot of time teachimg Jack he thought what was important in his following life.If Mr.Belser hadn' taught him how to weave,he wouldn't be in this business now.So he promised his mother he would attend Mr.Belser's funeral. "You'd better not drive your car.It's a long way."his mother warned him. Busy as he was,he kept his word.Though tired from the earliest flight,Jack tried his best to help.Mr.Belser's funeral was small because he had no children of his own and most of his s had passed away. The night before he had to return home,Jack and his mother stopped by to see the old house Mr.Belser once lived.Now it belonged to him.He bought the house from one of his s. The house was exactly as he remembered.Every step held memories.Every picture,every piece of furniture... Jadk stopped suddenly. The box on his desk was gone!He once asked the old man what was inside.He just smiled and said it was the most valuable thing to him,though it almost cost nothing to others.He figured that someone from the Belser family had taken it ."I will never know what was so valuable to him."Jack thought disappotntedly. Three days later returning home from work,Jack discovered a small package in his mailbox. The handwriting was difficult to read,but the return address caught his attention."Mr.Harold Belser"it read. Jack couldn't wait to open it .Inside lay the familiar small box.His heart racing,Jack unlocked the box.Inside he found a gold pocket watch with these words engraved:"Jack,Thanks for your time!Harold Belser." "The thing he valued most was my time."Jack held the watch before his chest,tears filling his eyes. How did Jack get to his hometown to attend Mr.Belser'funeral? Answer: By air. Shore decided to destroy his dilapidated building in order to collect the insurance money. He hired Parsons to burn down the building. Parsons broke into the building and carefully searched it to make sure no one was inside. He failed, however, to see a vagrant asleep in an office closet. He started a fire. The building was destroyed, and the vagrant died from burns a week later. Two days after the fire, Shore filed an insurance claim in which he stated that he had no information about the cause of the fire. If Shore is guilty of felony murder, it is because the vagrant's death occurred in connection with the felony of Answer: arson. Cities and towns in 35 countries took part. The year 2012 saw 6,950 towns and cities in more than 152 countries took part in Earth Hour movement. Last year 7,000 towns and cities in more than 154 countries took part in Earth Hour. This year, WWF is calling for people across the world to take part in Earth Hour 2014 - the biggest switch-off in history. For the eighth year, people are being asked to turn off their lights for one hour to call attention to the issue of climate change. The WWF's organizers say climate change is one of the greatest threats facing wildlife and nature. They also say when it comes to save energy and money, big changes start with small steps like turning out the lights. Earth Hour supporter Jamie Oliver has some great ideas of his own for helping the environment: "We can all make simple changes to help, like always choosinghigher-welfare meat, and even trying to have a couple of meat-free days a week. More little steps, such as taking a shower instead of a bath, leaving the car behind and walking to work, not leaving electrical appliances on standby and so on are the beginning of a low carbon lifestyle and a healthier world. This year, Earth Hour is asking people to take the movement "beyond the hour". Earth Hour is a call to stand up and get involved. We hope everyone will join us in turning off for a brighter future. Which of the following is Wrong? Answer: For seven years , Earth Hour calls for action on climate change.
Is this your pen?Call Lydia at 224-3638. Lost: My computer game.My name is David.Call 44-2697. Mitchell, Is that your backpack in the lost and found case? Liza Found:ID card.Is this your ID card? Call Ely at 52993. _ lost computer game Answer: HAS Travel Dot is a travel agency which offers many interesting travel packages. _ $ 2900 Depart : Mar. 21, 2014 Return: Mar. 29, 2014 Australia's Gold Coast is a modern city of high-rise buildings, built around beautiful beaches. There are international theme parks, first-class restaurants, and lively nightclubs. _ $3500 Depart: Apr. 1, 2014 Return: Apr. 6, 2014 In every corner of Britain, you'll find many great attractions, from small local museums to world-famous attractions like Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. _ $ 3200 Depart: Apr. 3, 2014 Return: Apr. 12, 2014 It is a wonderful place in Canada. Fresh water, lakes and rivers, as well as the St. Lawrence River make it a perfect destination for boating, fishing, and camping. _ $700 Depart: Mar. 23, 2014 Return: Mar. 28, 2014 Penang, a state in Malaysia, is one of the most famous islands in South-East Asia. It is well-known for its culture and food. It is also a shopping paradise . You will be able to find things like handicraft, jewellery, clothes and many more at attractive prices. For more information, please visit our website at _ . Gold Coast is a modern city in _ . Answer: This is the legal part of the show. It's just so everybody knows the rules for Nickelodeon on the Web. Be sure to get your parents to review and discuss these rules with you: 1.All the toys and games here are just for you to play with. You can't sell them,give them to anyone,or pretend you made them. You can't do anything EXCEPT play with them,unless you ask us first and we say it's OK. 2.If you see something you don't like,remember that all the stuff on the message boards ,chat rooms and "Write to Nick"comes straight from other kids,not from someone at nick.com. Nick.com wouldn't tell kids what to say,because kids have minds of their own!But if someone sends ugly messages,we'll do our best to take care of it. We all want nick.com to be a good,clean place to hang out. 3.If you write something that catches our eye in "Write to Nick"on a message board or in a chat room,we might want to use it on the site. By sending in your thoughts and hanging out in the chat rooms,and getting your parent's permission to do so,you and your parents are telling us it's OK to repeat what you say. It's even OK to put it in an advertisement. It means we can use it in any way we want,anywhere,until the end of time. Remember to ALWAYS check with your parents before you send anything to us. And of course,the folks in the legal office upstairs have their own code for saying all that. Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using this website. This site at nick.com is fully controlled and operated by Nickelodeon Online,a business unit of MTV Networks. According to the passage, your words can be adopted by the web as long as _ . Answer: Do you like traveling? Have you traveled to Los Angeles? Have you traveled to the moon? A rich man plans to live on Mars. Is it the beginning of a science fiction novel? In fact, it happens in the real world. Elon Musk is the founder and CEO of a private spaceflight company. He has said his plan is to live on the planet. He says he plans to live on Mars with a group of fewer than ten people. He will take them on a rocket powered by liquid oxygen and methane . Each one should pay $ 500,000 to fly there. However, these passengers are not going there to travel, but they are going to work. They need to carry tools to build houses and grow crops there. Musk believes one person out of every 100,000 people may be interested in making the journey. Then Mars will have sixty-three thousand people in the future. What's the population of Mars in the future? Answer: Why would a lightbulb be dark? Answer:
In our life, we have rarely expressed our gratitude to the one who'd lived those years with us.In fact, we don't have to wait for anniversaries to thank the ones close to us--the ones so easily overlooked. If I have learned anything about giving thanks, it is this: give it now!While your feeling of appreciation is alive and sincere, act on it. Saying thanks is such an easy way to add to the world's happiness. Saying thanks not only brightens someone else's world, but it also brightens yours. If you're feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need. Of course, there are times when you can't express gratitude immediately. In that case don't let embarrassment sink you into silence--speak up the first time you have the chance. Once a young minister, Mark Brian, was sent to a remote parish of Kwakiutl Indians in British Columbia. He had been told that the Indians did not have a word for thank you. But Brian soon found that these people had exceptional generosity. Instead of saying thanks, it is their custom to return every favor with a favor of their own, and every kindness with an equal or superior kindness. They do their thanks. I wonder if we had no words in our vocabulary for thank you, would we do a better job of communicating our gratitude? Would we be more responsive, more sensitive and more caring? Thankfulness sets in motion a chain of reaction that transforms people all around us--including ourselves, for no one ever misunderstands the melody of a grateful heart. Mark Brain's story is mentioned in the passage in order to show the fact that _ . Which would you use to record a live basketball game Regarded as one of the English language's most gifted poets, John Keats wrote poetry that concentrated on imagery, human nature, and philosophy. Although Keats didn't receive much formal literary education, his own studies and passion brought him much success. Additionally, his own life situation influenced his poetry greatly. Growing up as a young boy in London in a lower middle-class family, the young John didn't attend a private school, but went to a public one. His teachers and his family's friends regarded him as an optimistic boy who favored playing and fighting much more than minding his studies. After his father's death in the early 1800s, followed by his mother's passing due to tuberculosis , he began viewing life differently. He wanted to escape the world and did so by reading anything he could get his hands on. At around the age of 16, the teenage John Keats began studying under a surgeon so that he too might become a doctor. However, his literary appetite had taken too much of his fancy, especially with his addiction to the poetry of Ehmund Spenser. He was able to have his first full poem published in the Examiner in 1816, entitled O Solitude! If I Must With Thee Dwell. Within two months in 1817, Keats had written an entire volume of poetry, but was sharply criticized by a magazine. However, the negative response didn't stop his pursuit of rhythm . John Keats' next work was Endymion, which was published in May 1818. The story involves a shepherd who falls in love with the moon goddess and leads him on an adventure of one boy's hope to overcome the limitations of being human. Following Engymion, however, he tried something more narrative-based and wrote Isabella. During this time, John Keats began seeing his limitations in poetry due to his own limit in life experiences. He would have to have the "knowledge" associated with his poems. His next work was Hyperion that would attempt to combine all that he learned. However, a bout with tuberculosis while visiting Italy would keep him from his work and eventually take his life in 1821. John Keats' attitude towards life changed because of _ . There's a story told about an elderly lady in Arkansas.The state voted to increase welfare payments to the poor.Hoping for a tear-jerker story,a television interviewer went into the back hills where many welfare recipients lived. The old woman he chose to interview lived in a one-room shack :cold in winter;hot in summer.Her bed was a few rough planks nailed together,with a pine-needle mattress.A couple thin blankets,and a fireplace,did little to protect her from the cold. Her furniture,a table and two chairs,were fashioned from the same rough wood as her bed.Some shelves held a few cans of food from the general store.a three mile walk down the road.Several jars of preserves and a few squash completed her larder . She had no fridge or freezer.The fireplace provided heat for cooking.With no phone or television her only connection with the outside world was an old radio that pulled in two or three local stations on a good day. The old woman had one convenience, running water.A crystal clear stream.flowed a short distance behind her home. A small garden near her back door provided fresh vegetables during the summer,and some squash and turnips for the winter.A tidy flower garden brightened the front of her house. The television crew arrived and set up their big expensive cameras.Their mobile station. broadcast pictures of the woman and the place she called home. Eventually the interviewer asked the old woman,"If the government gave you $200 more each month,what would you do with it?" Without hesitation the woman replied,"I'd give it to the poor." It can be inferred from the passage that _ . You may feel curious about students in other countries: Do they also have so much homework? What do they do in their free time? On April 8, a report came out on the life of high school students in China, Japan, South Korea and the US. It surveyed around 6,200 students from the four countries last year. You will find the answers to many of your questions in this report. Who studies hardest? Chinese students spend the most time studying. Nearly half of Chinese students spend more than two hours on their homework every day. That's much more than students of the US(26.4%), Japan(8.2%) and South Korea(5.2%). Who sleeps most often in class? Japanese students fall asleep in class most often. About 45% of them said they sometimes doze off in class. In South Korea is 32%; in the US, 21%; and 5% in China. South Korean students don't like taking notes. About 70% said they write down what the teacher says in class, many fewer than in Japan(93%), China(90%) and the US (89%). Who is the most distracted ? American students are the most active in class, but also the most distracted: 64.2% said they talk with friends in class; 46.9% said they eat snacks in class; and 38.9% said they send e-mails or read unrelated books in class. What do they do after school? In their free time, most Chinese students study or surf the Internet. Most American students go out with their friends. Most Japanese students do physical exercises. Most South Korean students watch TV. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
Most people who move to a foreign country or culture may go through some form of culture shock,and its degree is determined by the differences between cultures,the anxiety to adapt to a new culture and the familiarity with a new culture,etc.If you go,for example,to a culture that is far different from your own,you're likely to experience culture shock more sharply than those who move to a new culture knowing the language and the custom of it. It is important to understand and learn how to deal with culture shock if you are to adapt successfully to your new home's cultures.There are four general stages of cultural adjustment,and being aware of them helps you understand that culture shock won't last long.It's just a process you are going through rather than a constant situation. The first stage is usually referred to as "the honeymoon stage".Upon arriving in a new environment,you'll be interested in the new culture.Everything will seem thrilling and everyone will seem friendly and helpful.During this stage you are merely taking in these impressions passively. But it isn't long before the honeymoon stage gives way to the second stage--"the withdrawal stage".The excitement you felt before is gone and problems arise.The language is hard to learn,people are unusual and unpredictable,friends,are hard to make,and simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges.It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick,and you will probably find yourself complaining about the new culture or country.This is the stage called "culture shock". At some point,if you can manage it well,you'll begin the transition into the next stage,"the recovery stage",in which you'll feel more confident functioning in the new culture.Customs and traditions are clearer and easier to understand.At this stage,you'll deal with new challenges with humor rather than anxiety. Which of the following doesn't belong to the second stage? Answer: Feeling confident. Last night I was driving from Harrisburg to Lewisburg,distance of about eighty miles. It was late. Several times I got stuck behind a slow-moving truck on a narrow road with a solid white line on my left, and I became increasingly impatient. At one point along an open road, I came to a crossing with a traffic light. I was alone on the road by now, but as I drove near the light, it turned red and I made a stop. I looked left, right and behind me. Nothing. Not a car, no suggestion of car lamps, but there I sat, waiting for the light to change, the only human being for at least a mile in any direction. I started wondering why I refused to run the light I was not afraid of being caught, because there was clearly no policeman around, and there certainly would have been no danger in going through it. Much later that night, the question of why I'd stopped for that light came back to me. I think I stopped because it's part of a contract we all have with each other. It's not only the law, but it is an agreement we have, and we trust each other to honor it: we don't go through red lights. Trust is our first inclination .Doubting others does not seem to be natural to us. The whole construction of our society depends on mutual trust, not distrust. We do what we say we'll do; we show up when we say we'll show up; and we pay when we say we'll pay. We trust each other in these matters, and we're angry or disappointed with the person or organization that breaks the trust we have in them. I was so proud of myself for stopping for the red light that night. The event made the author strongly believe that _ . Answer: a society needs mutual trust As teenagers, you have many dreams. These dreams can be very big, such as winning the Nobel Prize, or they can be small. You may just want to become one of the ten best students in your class. Once you find a dream, what do you do with it? Do you ever try to make your dream real? Follow Your Heart by Australian writer Andrew Matthews tells us that making our dreams real is life's biggest _ You may think you're not very good at some school subjects, or that it is impossible for you to become a writer. These kinds of thoughts stop you from getting your dream, the book says. In fact, everyone can make his dream come true. The first thing you must do is to remember what your dream is. Don't let it leave your heart. Keep telling yourself what you want. Do this step by step and your dream will come true faster because a big dream is, in fact, many small dreams. You must also never give up your dream. There will be difficulties on the road to your dreams. But the biggest difficulty comes from yourself. You need to decide what is the most important. Studying instead of watching TV will lead to better exam results, while saving five yuan instead of buying an ice cream means you can buy a new book. As you get closer to your dream, it may change a little. This is good as you have the chance to learn more skills and find new interests. ,,. (5,2,10) If you want to make your dream real, you should _ . Answer: try to start with all the things above The class in America is almost the same as that in China. But something is different. 1.In America, if the teacher asks you a question but you don't understand, you should put up your hand and ask the teacher to repeat it. If you don't know the answer, it is all right to tell the teacher that you don't know. Then he or she knows what you need to do. 2.You mustn't be absent on a test day. If you are seriously ill, call and let the teacher know you will not be there for the test. If your teacher allows you a make-up test , you should take the test in one or two days after you go back to school. 3.Be on time! It is impossible to be late. If you come in late, be sure to do it quietly. Take your books out of your bag after you enter the room. Then go to your seat and sit down quietly. In the US, you needn't knock before you come into the classroom. 4.If you have to leave during the class, do it quietly, too. There's no need to ask for the teacher's agreement. When a teacher asks you a question but you don't know the answer, you should _ . Answer: Tell the teacher you don't know How you end a computer session depends on how you use the computer, your views on energy conservation , and what you have been told about how your decision will affect your investment's longevity: will frequent starting and stopping cause its circuits to burn out sooner? Rest easy, your computer is more likely to be damaged by a virus picked up from the Internet than by being turned off and on too much. They are also energyefficient: such efficiency has reached the point where most computers place themselves in sleep mode if they remain idle for a certain period of time. So your computer will likely slip into sleep mode anyway, even if you leave it on overnight. Sleep mode itself, once a pretty unreliable option--you never knew if you would be able to wake your computer without having to reboot it--has been vastly improved with newer operating systems. If you want your computer to consume as little energy as possible when not in use, shut it down. If you want it to consume zero energy, you're going to have to unplug (......) it. Your computer can be in only three states: on, sleep or off--each of which draws some level of electric current. A computer that is "on" will either be actively processing information or sitting idle, depending on whether the user is typing a document, reading an email or has stepped away briefly. The amount of wattage drawn when the computer is on varies greatly depending on whether it is a laptop or a desktop computer. The latter uses more energy because desktop power supplies are less efficient and require a separate and often larger, powerhungry monitor. It also varies based on the type of work being done: complex calculations requiring intensive processing are more powerhungry, whereas writing or Web browsing consumes far less electricity. If sleep mode goes wrong, what will probably happen to your computer? Answer: It will have to be rebooted when used again.
On Monday night, back on the way home from school, I was suddenly faced with a big snow storm which I had never met before. The traffic was moving at 5 mph on the freeway where it usually requires at least 60 mph. The road is very slippery. Sometimes the car is out of control, slipping to the other side. I finally managed to drive to the Issaquah. However, I still got stuck in the traffic on an uphill way to my home. Why I lived in the house on the top of the hill? I had no choice but left my car in the road. Fortunately, there was a nice guy coming to help me drive the car to the parking lot so that I would not get a ticket from the policeman. When he first opened my car door and asked me if I needed any help, I thought I saw an angle. No kidding, I was totally frustrated at that moment until I saw the guy. After waiting in the parking lot for almost 3 hours, my husband's cousin finally managed to come to "rescue" me by his four-wheel drive car and sent me to my in-laws' home because the road to my house was closed. When I got to my bed in the end, it was over midnight. I spent almost 5 hours outside instead of 20 minutes as usual. But I was lucky, because I knew later that some people spent 7 or 10 hours to go home, and just by walking rather than by driving. This strong snow storm has messed up the traffic of Seattle and I get an unforgettable experience from it. Which of the following statements is NOT probably true? A This passage is probably from a blog. B The author is staying in Seattle. C The author's house is located on a hill. D The author drove her car home with the help of the guy that day. Answer: D They may make us scared, but somehow we just can't get enough of our favorite monsters.From literature to movies, TV shows to Halloween costumes , we want more of these blood-drinking, walking-dead, scary creatures! Here's a look at a few of them. Mummy : All you'll need is a generous supply of toilet paper of make this instantly recognizable costume.The concept of mummies dates back thousands of years and across many cultures.Mummies are constantly seen in books, movies, and of course, on every Halloween night. Werewolf : The werewolf is known for its superhuman strength and shape-shifting powers.Examples of the werewolf date back to ancient Greek and Roman stories, which were about humans changing into animals and animals changing into humans.With television shows and movies, werewolves are once again having a strong influence on popular culture. Frankenstein: Mary Shelley created the monster in her 1818 novel.Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who is curious about life and death, uses different body parts to create his works.Shocked by his new scientific creation, however, Victor ran away, leaving the creature to leave the laboratory and go out into the human world.Whether in books, movies, or onstage, this monster is still a costume favorite for people of all ages. Zombie : Halloween activities would incomplete without zombies to really give people a fright.The zombie earned its title as one of Halloween's most terrifying creatures after popular films.Zombies still frighten audiences as undead monsters that return to feast on the living. Dracula : This classic vampire has terrified audiences for decades, but first appeared as a character in Irish writer Bram Stoker's 1897 novel.In horror films, Dracula remains the most popular character.He is known for his pale skin, sharp teeth, red lips and son on. Which of the following statements about monster costume is TRUE according to the article? A A zombie costume is the choice costume of people celebrating Halloween. B A mummy costume is easy to make and can be immediately recognized. C Frankenstein's monster is losing appeal among some people. D Because of its uniqueness, the Dracula costume is the most popular for Halloween. Answer: B I log onto a computer at the doctor's office to say I have arrived and then wait until a voice calls me into the examination room. There, a robotic nurse directs me onto a device and then takes my blood pressure. Some time later, in steps the doctor, who is also a robot. He notes down my symptoms and gives me a prescription . I pay for my visit using a credit card machine and return home without having met another human being. When I call my dentist's office and actually get a human being on the line, I am thrilled. And when I see the introduction of yet more self-service checkout stations at the grocery store, I feel like shouting, "When it comes to cashiers, make mine human, please!" After all, human cashiers sometimes give you a store coupon for items you are buying. Even more than that, real-life cashiers often take an interest in particularly cute children, which can brighten a young mother's day. A cashier may also show compassion for an elderly person struggling to get that last penny out of her purse. What technological device would do any of this? I don't want to go back to the Stone Age, but I'm also worried about a world run by machines. Sometimes when you're chatting with someone, you discover things you need to know. Maybe a receptionist needs prayers said for a sick child. Maybe a salesperson can offer a bit of encouragement to a customer who is feeling tired. Machines can be efficient and cost-effective and they often get the job done just fine. But they lack an element so important to everyday life. Call it the spirit, the soul or the heart. It is something no machine will ever have. It is being human that prompts us to smile at others, which may be what they need at that moment. Why does the author prefer being served by humans rather than by robots? A Robots are indifferent and emotionless. B Robots can't provide efficient services. C Robots don't offer to give store coupons. D Robots are unable to do a job as well as humans. Answer: A How would we travel without maps? It would be a bit adventurous to set off from Oxford University to go to London Bridge if there wasn't a map of the London Underground at each station. In fact, a lot of the early map-makers were adventurers and explorers, especially in the 15th and 16th centuries. So what did people do before there were maps? Well, it was quite easy to use natural signs like mountains and rivers if you were travelling on foot or riding a horse. People took small boats down rivers and followed coastlines. And it was much more logical to use time, not distance, to measure journeys: the next village is a three-hour ride, for example. In fact, in the earliest maps, people didn't draw landmarks. They drew the stars. It was very easy to see the night sky and use it for navigation . The sky was a lot clearer before the light pollution from cities that we have today. When towns and cities were built, people drew road maps which gave correct distances and directions. The London Underground was opened in 1863 and it also used a road map style. But a man called Henry Beck realized that travelling by train wasn't the same as driving your car across London. Passengers only needed to know which stations to change at. His new design for the Underground map wasn't very popular with the train companies at first. But the passengers loved it and in 1933, 700,000 copies were printed. These days, of course, you can ride a bike, drive a car or go through a forest and know where you are exactly, using a GPS. It's really difficult to get lost! What is the main idea of the passage? A Maps have a long history. B We never get lost these days. C We can't travel without maps. D Henry Beck designed a new map. Answer: A Freezing weather can mean frostbite and _ unless a person is prepared. Do you know how to stay warm, dry and safe in such cold winter? Frostbite is damage that happens when skin is exposed to extreme cold for too long. It mainly happens on the hands, feet, nose and ears. People with small cases of frostbite that affect only the skin may not suffer any lifelong damage. But if deeper tissue is affected, a person is likely to feel pain every time the area gets cold. If blood vessels are damaged, people can suffer an infection of gangrene . Sometimes, doctors have to remove frostbitten areas like fingers and toes. Hypothermia happens when the body cannot produce as much heat as it releases. The condition comes on slowly. Signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shaking, very slow breathing and unclear thinking. If not treated properly, Hypothermia can be deadly. A simple way to avoid cold-related injuries is to remember four basic steps. Think of COLD -- C.O.L.D. The C stands for cover. Wear a hat and a scarf to keep heat from escaping through the head, neck and ears. And wear mittens instead of gloves. In gloves, the fingers are separated, so the hands might not stay as warm. The O stands for overexertion . Avoid activities that will make you sweaty. Wet clothes and cold weather are a bad mix. L is for layers. Wearing loose, lightweight clothes, one layer on top of another, is better than wearing a single heavy layer of clothing. Also, make sure outerwear is made of material that is water-resistant and tightly knit. Can you guess what the D in C.O.L.D. stand for? D is for dry. In other words, stay as dry as possible. Pay attention to the places where snow can enter, like the tops of boots, the necks of coats and the wrist areas of mittens. And here are two other things to keep in mind -- one for children and the other for adults. Eating snow might be fun but it lowers the body's temperature. And drinking alcohol might make a person feel warm. But what it really does is weaken the body's ability to hold heat. Which of the following is NOT true about the C.O.L.D. according to the text? A They are four basic steps to keep warm. B Gloves can't protect us from cold sometimes. C We should keep ourselves as dry as possible. D They can protect us from injuries completely. Answer: D
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and loved the boy very much. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages . When the child fell down, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was shocked. She was terrified how to face her husband. When the father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words. The husband just said 'I am with you, Darling'. The husband's totally unexpected reaction is active behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. No point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was comfort and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her. If everyone can look at life with this kind of viewpoint, there would be much fewer problems in the world. Take off all your envies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think. Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this way we miss out some warmth in human relationship. The husband's attitude towards his wife can be described as _ . Answer: Dear Fang, How are you these days? I have been in England for two months. It's not a long time for a newcomer, and there are still a lot of things to do. Sorry for not being able to write to you soon. London is an old but beautiful city. There are lots of places of interest to visit. Last weekend I went along Thames River with some friends from Japan, Korea and some other countries. The modern skyscrapers among the old buildings impressed(...) us deeply. The classes started two weeks after I arrived here alone. Besides the language, I'm trying to learn about the culture as well. British people are quite different from the Chinese. Do you know the people here do not shake hands as much as we do in China? And it's never a good habit to make noise when you eat. They think it's impolite. There is so much to say, but I have to stop. I will write to you soon again. Love, Harry Last weekend Harry was impressed by _ . Answer: The snow has paralysed transport in China during the country's most important vacation period, the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Not only have transport delays hindered personal trips, but they have also slowed the delivery of fresh produce to markets. Consequently, in Zhengzhou, the capital city of the Henan province, tomato prices have doubled, and the cost of 47 other vegetables has increased by 36%, as reported by local media at the end of January. According to an inside PR source, "wholesalers in Beijing were quoted as saying that only about 20% of the usual fresh vegetable supplies were reaching the city." As an Asian country with a diet based on fresh produce, the shortage of vegetables and the rise in prices is not only affecting fresh food producers, but also the final consumers. In terms of production, this is the worst snow disaster to hit China in the last 50 years, affecting a total of 9.4 million hectares of farmland in the country, according to a report published on 4 February 2008 by Feng Tao of Xinhua News, at the Chinese government website. Most of the crops devastated by the frost are located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the traditional natural border between North and South China. Chen Xiwen, Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Rural Work, pointed out at the end of last week that "the blizzard disaster in the south has had a severe impact on winter crops, and the impact on fresh vegetables could be catastrophic in certain areas", as stated in the Xinhua News report. The Chinese government has been quick to take extreme measures. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has sent 13 teams of experts to 8 of the areas most seriously affected by the harsh weather. The aim of this initiative is to provide farmers with technical assistance to minimize their losses. From this passage, we can know that the snow happened _ . Answer: There is a forgotten player in the global efforts to limit C02 emissions:the consumer. Households consume one--third of the final energy used in the European Union and produce around two--thirds of city waste.Moreover,food,housing,and private transport account for almost 80%of environmental pressures.So consumers can make a real difference when it comes to fighting climate change. Several factors can direct consumers towards more environmentally--friendly behavior. To achieve this,we need clear and simple information to guide consumption decisions. Indeed.Two thirds of consumers find it difficult to understand which products are better for the environment when shopping. With 58% of Europeans believing that many companies pretend to be green in order to charge higher prices, industry has a long way to go in helping consumers feet confident when making green choices.They should give consumers more information about the carbon footprint of their products,and promote more sustainable behavior among their customers. To be sure, companies are increasingly creating product labels that help consumers make responsible choices--for instance, reminding users of products made from materials that are recycled,renewable, and/or less carbon--intensive. Even so,only,20% of Europeans believe that companies are doing enough to promote environmentally friendly options. In times of crisis, consumers prefer high-quality products that will last long and won't go out of style.Durable products might sometimes cost more, but they don't need to be replaced as frequently. In this way,companies that create durable or recyclable products enable consumers to think differently about their purchases, which can help users behave more responsibly, and thus may help end our "throw-way" culture. However, it is not enough to inform consumers of the environmental features of products. We also need to provide consumers with guidance to establish a practical lifestyle model to follow. This cannot be brought about by regulations alone, but by good business communities that would create a loyal group of "sustainable consumers". According to the passage, the key to going greener globally is _ . Answer: Perfume has been in existence for a long time. These days, certain perfumes are considered comparable to great works of art. Here are a few of the most famous perfumes in history. Chanel No.5 This perfume is probably the best-selling scent in the history of fragrance . Created by Ernst Beaux for Coco Chanel in 1921, it has been described as "the world's most legendary fragrance", and remains the company's most famous perfume. Shalimar Jacques Guerlain created this vanilla fragrance in 1925. The perfume takes its name from the Garden of Shalimar, which was built by Emperor Shah Jehan for one of his wives. It was an immediate hit in 1925 and is still extremely popular today. Joy Joy is famous for having been the most expensive perfume in the world at one point. It was created in 1930 by Henri Almeras for Jean Patou to lift the bad mood that had swept over the world after the 1929 stock market crash. L'Air duTemps Francis Farbon created Nina Ricci's L'Air du Temps in 1948. The fragrance is known for its spicy carnation and gardenia scents as well as its beautiful crystal bottle (designed by Lalique). Eternity Calvin Klein's second perfume was created by Sophia Grojsman in 1988. Known for its light, flowery scent, the perfume was listed in the Fragrance Hall of Fame in 2003. It is recommended for daytime wear. Angel This wildly popular perfume was created in 1992 by Olivier Cresp for Thierry Mugler. The perfume was an instant success. The perfume has often been described as "delicious", owing to its chocolatey scent. The perfume comes in beautiful star-shaped bottles. Angel perfume also comes in several bath and body products. Where can you probably see this article? Answer:
How can we measure animals' emotions? A new study of animal's emotions suggests that, as in humans, emotions can tell animals about how dangerous their world is, and guide the choices that they make. The article of the study by Bristol University's professor Mike Mendl was published online. An animal living in an environment where it is often threatened by predators will develop a negative emotion or "mood", such as anxiety. However, one in an environment with plenty of opportunities to get resources for survival will be in a more positive mood state. The researchers say that these emotional states not only show the animal's experiences, but also help it decide how to make choices, especially in unclear situations. This could have good or bad results. An animal in a negative mood state will make a safety-first with a "pessimistic" response to an unclear event. For example, it considers a noise in the grass as a signal of the predator. At the same time, an animal in a positive mood state will benefit from a more "optimistic" response. It considers the noise as a signal of prey . Professor Mike Mendl, head of the Animal Welfare and Behavior Research Group at Bristol University's School of Clinical Veterinary Science said, " We can use "optimistic" or "pessimistic"decision-making as a symbol of an animal's emotional state. Recent studies by our group and others suggest that this is a _ new approach to studying a variety of animal species." "Public interest in animal welfare remains high, with widespread concern about the way in which animals are treated, used and included in society. To understand how animals should be treated, we need to better understand their emotional lives," Mike Mendl said. The researchers believe Mike Mendl's study can help them to better understand and assess an animal's emotions. We can infer from the passage that _ . A the animals with positive emotions live longer B there is no way to assess an animal's emotions C few people care about animal welfare nowadays D the environment can influence animal's emotions Answer: D Have you ever imagined what human beings will look like in the future? Well, now you don't have to. According to AsapScience, a Canada-based video channel that touches on many different science topics, humans will be very different creatures 1,000 years from now. Artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and climate change will work together to change our bodies greatly, according to a video recently published by the channel. We could, for instance, develop red eyes as our DNA changes, and have darker skin because of global warming. The video painted a picture of a future world in which our bodies are part human, part machine. Nanobots, or tiny robots, will be put into our bodies, improving our abilities. "No longer will we be limited by our own physiology. We will truly become a mixture of biology and machine on the inside," says the video. Meanwhile, designer babies will cause future generations to grow into intelligent, attractive people. As global warming takes hold, humans will also be skinnier and taller, as this body shape deals with heat better. In fact, Cadell Last, a researcher at the Global Brain Institute located in Belgium, believes change may happen even faster than this. As he said in a paper recently published in Current Aging Science, mankind is already going through a major evolutionary change. In less than four decades, Last claims, we will live longer, have children in old age and need artificial intelligence to finish daily tasks. "Your 80 or 100 is going to be so radically different than your grandparents," Last said. Instead of living fast and dying young, he believes humans will live slow and die old. "The biological clock isn't going to be around forever," he added, and said that people could pause it for some time using future technology. Just a few hundred years ago, most humans were working in the fields, while nowadays more and more are getting an education. These are just predictions, and no one can be sure how human beings will evolve in the future. But with such large changes in our environments, it seems likely that we will all look very different one day. Which of the following factors could play a role in the appearance of future humans, according to the text? A Advanced technology and global warming. B Medicine that fights aging and genetic engineering. C The Internet and artificial intelligence. D The cold weather and the dangers of machines. Answer: A To write a great news story , you have to make sure it is correct , relevant and fresh. For a start, all the information in a story must be correct. Not only the spelling and grammar, but also the facts. Any mistakes that appear in a story can get a newspaper into big trouble. For example, if a newspaper said that Yang Liwei was the first man to go into space, it would be wrong. He wasn't the first. The newspaper would probably lose lots of readers because of that mistake. A news story is not only correct, but also relevant to its readers. People are mostly interested in news that happens near to them. That is why you care more about what happens at your school than at American schools. It is also why newspapers in Beijing don't talk about much news in Shanghai or Hong Kong. Finally, news must always be fresh. When you pick up your evening newspaper, you want to read about news that happens that day. You don't want to read about news from last week ! So, now you know what makes a good news story. Have a good look at our newspaper and see if it is full of good news. you can try writing a news story for our newspaper like a real reporter. The passage mainly talks about _ A why to be a good reporter. B where to find interesting news. C when to choose a good newspaper. D how to write a great news story Answer: D According to a new US study, couples who expect their children to help care for them in old age should hope they have daughters because they are likely to be twice as attentive overall. The research by Angelina Grigoryeva, a sociologist at Princeton University, found that, while women provide as much care for their elderly parents as they can manage, men do as little as they can get away with and often leave it to female family members. Her analysis of the family networks of 26,000 older Americans concluded that gender is the most important predictor of whether or not people will actively care for elderly parents. In a paper being presented at the annual conference of the American Sociological Association in San Francisco, she concludes that simply having a sister makes men statistically likely provide less care. Using data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, a study which has been tracking a cross-section of over-50s for the last decade, she calculated that women provide an average of 12.3 hours a month of care for elderly parents while men offer only 5.6 hours. "Whereas the amount of elderly parent care daughters provide is associated with limitations they face, such as employment or childcare, sons'caregiving is associated only with the presence or absence of other helpers, such as sisters or a parent's spouse ," she explained. "Sons reduce their relative caregiving efforts when they have a sister, while daughters increase theirs when they have a brother." "This suggests that sons pass on parent caregiving responsibilities to their sisters." In the UK, the 2011 census showed that there are now around 6.5 million people with caring responsibilities - a figure which has risen by a tenth in a decade. But many are doing so at the risk of their own health. The census showed that those who provide 50 hours or more of care a week while trying to hold down a full- time job are three times more likely to be struggling with ill health than their working counterparts who are not carers. What's the most important factor to predict if people will actively care for the elderly? A Gender. B Education. C Career. D Family networks. Answer: A On March 28th, the New York Times will begin charging all but the most infrequent users to read articles online. In a letter to readers, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., the publisher of the paper, laid out the details of the paywall, which he said will go into effect immediately in Canada and on March 28th for the rest of the world. He called the move "an important step that we hope you will see as an investment in the Times, one that will strengthen our ability to provide high-quality journalism to readers around the world and on any platform." Sulzberger said that readers will be able to read 20 articles per month at no charge. Once they click on the 21st piece, however, they'll be presented with three payment options: $ 15 for four weeks of online and mobile application access, $ 20 for access to the site and the iPad application, or $ 35 for access to everything. People who already receive the printed paper through home delivery will enjoy free and unlimited access to the Times on all platforms. These details largely agree with earlier reports on how the paywall would work. The Times had made it clear that it did not want to imitate the total paywalls put into effect by papers such as The Times of London and Newsday, which block access to all contents unless the reader pays. The paper also signaled that it wants to stay relevant in the social media world. According to Sulzberger's announcement, people who come to the Times site from Facebook, Twitter or from blogs will be able to read those articles even if they have gone over their monthly limit. However, Sulzberger said that a limit will be placed on "some search engines", meaning that after readers have accessed a certain number of articles from search engines, any further articles they access from there will be added to their monthly count. It was reported that the only search engine that will be affected this way is Google, where there will be a five-article limit. This marks a clear attempt by the Times to close what could be a giant loophole , since so much online traffic is directed through Google. But it also presents a risk for the Times for the same reason. Sulzberger seems well aware of the risk. "The challenge now is to put a price on our work without walling ourselves off from the global network," he said, adding that the Times must "continue to engage with the widest possible audience." What challenge may the paywall bring to the New York Times? A It may bring the Times more competition with the other media B It may stop the Times connecting to the global network C It may block the readers from the other websites D It may result in huge drops in papers' online readership Answer: D
Maybe you're really busy. Maybe you don't have much to say. Or maybe you're just lazy. Not a problem. This free service works by letting you broadcast a group text message to your friends' mobile phones from either your own phone, an instant message or an online form at twitter.com. All your notes are then stored and displayed on your personal profile page on the site, which includes links to your friends' Twitter pages, a thumbnail picture of your choice, and a short bio. All this is what the new service Twitter can bring you. Just remember to keep it short: posts are limited to 40 characters, and the topic is, invariably, "What are you doing?" More often than not, it turns out, Twitter's 100,000 members--twice as many as it had just a month ago, according to Twitter business development director Biz Stone--are simply killing time. Even Presidential hopeful John Edwards is on it, although he seems to be the only one thinking about more than lunch. As I type this, Caroline is mulling over some Girl Scout cookies, Ian _ Hocking is "waiting for Jessica to arrive so we can eat!" and Hlantz is "having a nice cup of Soft Starmint tea." The chatter about Twitter turned into a virtual roar two weeks ago during the South by Southwest Multimedia Festival in Austin, Texas, when the barebones service owned by Blogger founder Evan Williams, 34, was named the best blogging tool and attendees used it to meet up at parties. Nevertheless, Twitter has been the top term on blog search engine Technorati for the past two weeks. Plenty of people would happily have Twitter silenced, rather than tolerate the beeping alert for yet another new text message. But I'm betting that Twitter will get a lot noisier before netizens move on to the next new thing. We cyber-junkies need a new thrill, and what is better than a service like Twitter that combines social networking, blogging and texting? And if you don't like it, well, in the words of one Twit from San Francisco, "I'm so sick to death of Twitter-haters. If you don't like it, why waste your time writing, reading, or talking about it?" This text is intended to _ . A point out the virtues and faults of Twitter B tell people how to use Twitter to communicate C give a general outline of Twitter. com D introduce a new and easy way of instant communication Answer: D. introduce a new and easy way of instant communication It was the end of the school term and my son Tom had less than three months left before he would finish his six years at high school. During this time he had developed a love for basketball. Sadly, because of my work over the last twelve months, I had only been able to attend a few of his games; however, I was determined to get to his last game for the school term. Tom's team came out in the first 10 minutes with a burst of goals that saw them leading by just over 20 points at the end of the first half. The second half changed as the other team quickly played themselves back into the game. Tom's team started to miss an increasing number of shots. It was at that point that the coach called his first time out. The noise of the spectators became quiet as the coach spoke to them. He had the team standing in a half circle, but he squatted down, looking up at them and fiving some very calm and clear instructions on what they needed to do in the last couple of minutes. As he stood up to allow the team to return to the court, I saw him give some further words of encouragement to all of them. You could see that he knew that the team was fighting to save the game and that he needed to lift them up. By squatting down he placed himself in a position where he was talking up to them, rather than down or at them, and as the players went back onto the court his words of encouragement served to lift their energy and spirits. Well, Tom's team went on to win the final by 5 points. As I drove away I thought about what can happen to us all in our everyday life. One of my favourite quotes is about the half filled glass of water --- "Is it half full or is it half empty?" Like the coach, the answer to this quote all depends on how you look at things. What is the writer's attitude towards the coach? A Negative. B Supportive. C Interested. D Unconcerned. Answer: B. Supportive. Around twenty years ago I was living in Seattle and going through hard times. I could not find a satisfying job and I found this especially difficult as I had a lot of experience and a Master's degree. To my shame I was driving a school bus to make ends meet and living with friends. I had been through five interviews with a company and one day between bus runs they called to say I did not get the job. Later that afternoon, while doing my rounds through a quiet neighborhood I had an internal(inside)wave--like a scream --come up from deep inside me and I thought "Why has my life become so hard?"... Immediately after this internal scream I pulled the bus over to drop off a little girl and as she passed she handed me an earring saying I should keep it in case somebody looked for it. The earring was stamped with words "BE HAPPY". At first I got angry. Then it hit me. I had been putting all of my energies into what was wrong with my life rather than what was right! I decided then and there to make a list of 50 things I was thankful to. At first _ was hard, then it got easier. One day I decided to up it to 75. That night there was a phone call for me, asking if I would do a one-day training for 200 hospital workers. I said yes and got the job. My day with the hospital workers went very well. I got a standing welcome and many more days of work. To this day I KNOW that it was because I changed my attitude to _ . By chance, the day after I found the earring the girl asked me if anyone had looked for it. I told her no and she said "I guess it was meant for you then." I spent the next year doing training workshops all around the Seattle area and then decided to risk everything and go back to Scotland where I had lived before. I closed my one man business and bought a plane ticket. One month later I met my wonderful English wife and best friend of 15 years now. We live in a small beautiful house in Scotland. "THE ONLY ATTITUDE IS GRATITUDE" has been my motto for years now and yes, it completely changed my life. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage.? A The writer made a list of 75 things he was thankful to. B The writer's wife has been his best friend for 15 years. C The writer has lived in Seattle since 20 years ago. D The writer did the training for 200 hospital workers. Answer: C. The writer has lived in Seattle since 20 years ago. I used to think Dad didn't love me at all, because he never tried to hug or kiss me. But whenever I felt sad or lonely, Dad was always there. When I was in high school, Dad retired and set up a food _ on the street near my school. Every day when I finished school, my classmates and I would pass his food stand. But I really hated talking to Dad, because I did not want my classmates to know my dad was selling noodles on the street! One night, I couldn't stand it any more and shouted, "Dad, could you stop selling your stupid noodles? I don't need a father who sells noodles on the street!" At that moment, Dad was shocked. He tried to say something but didn't. His eyes were filled with tears and sadness. It was the first time for me to see Dad crying. My mum later told me Dad was selling noodles to save money for my college education. Even today I still feel guilty for that night. Time really flies. I finished college and then left my home city. For the past ten years, whenever I visited home, Dad was always there meeting me and seeing me off quietly at the railway station. When I was away, Dad never wrote or called me, but he always pushed my mum to call me. That's the way Dad shows his love to me. . What does the text mainly tell us? A The writer was really regretful for what he said. B The father's love was silent because it was in his heart. C Never shout to your father because it is wrong. D Time really flies so a child usually grows up quickly. Answer: B. The father's love was silent because it was in his heart. In much society, there is often greater acceptance of light skin than dark skin; Light skin may be seen as a mark of beauty, intelligence and success. These beliefs can lead to social pressures even within the same group, if some members are darker than others. The result is that skin lightening has become very common across Africa, Asia and other areas of the world and more people with dark skin are using skin-lighting products, even if it means they may face health risks. They believe that having whiter skin will improve the quality of their lives. Many people think they will have a better family. Or they want to look like what their society generally considers beautiful. Some beauty care products and soaps contain chemicals that make skin lighter. However, some of the chemicals are extremely dangerous. The chemicals in the products block and break down the natural barrier to protect against sunlight. Then the skin can become thick and discolored. Usually the person will use more of the product in an effort to correct the problem, which just makes things even worse. Doctor Ly says some chemicals are so dangerous that they may lead to blackened fingernails, infections and serious skin damage. And these are not the only problems. Experts say some people who change their skin color suffer emotional damage. They feel regretful and sad. They feel that instead of risking their health, they should have learned to live and accept their skin color as it was. What's the result of the wrong understanding of darker skin? A Many people with dark skin try to make their skin whiter. B Many people with whiter skin live a better life than others. C People with darker skin try to marry people with light skin. D People with darker skin try to protect themselves against social pressures. Answer: A. Many people with dark skin try to make their skin whiter.
To Jim, Hi, Jim. I'm a Chinese girl .My English name is Betty. I'm a student. I live in Nanjing with my parents. Nanjing is a big city in China. I like playing table tennis and running. I like listening to music, too . My favourite food is rice and fish. My dad is a doctor and my mum is a worker. To Betty, Hi, Betty. I'm a boy. My name is Jim Hand. I'm a student, too. I live in London with my parents and my sister. London is big , too. It's in England. My sister likes reading books, but I like watching TV. She can type and write Chinese. I can draw and sing very well. My parents are both teachers. The boy's family name is _ . A Book Review--The Snake-Stoneby Berlie Doherty The setting: Urban England (the cities), but also rural England (the countryside) including remote English villages. The theme: The main theme is a teenage search of self-discovery, in this case the search for a mother from whom the hero was separated at an early age. Its other concerns are love, getting on with others, being persistent and courageous and trying to deal with doubts, troubles and worries. As the book moves to a close, James' swimming coach says to him: "You are not like a kid obeying instructions any more. You are diving like a young man who knows where he is going." The characters: James is the hero of the story. He is a championship diver, and has a comfortable life with his foster parents . Yet he also has the qualities to take him on a long journey to find his birth mother. The other characters inThe Snake-Stone, James' parents, his diving instructor, best friend, the villagers, people he meets on his journey, are pictured realistically. The turning point: The turning point in the story comes while James' foster parents are away in London, and he wonders about the identity of his birth mother. The only clue he has is a fossil, "the snake stone" which she left behind along with a note on which she had written: "Take good care of Sammie. It was written on a torn envelope with parts of an address still there. The journey: Instead of going to London, James decides to find his birth mother. With help from his geography teacher, James sets out for the remote country village where his mother might be found. James has painful, challenging, but also humorous and happy travels. The mother he finally meets, Anne, has a minor yet powerful voice in the novel. He comes to understand why she left him at a stranger's door fifteen years before. Although the meeting is not long, it leaves him with a feeling of completeness. As a journey of self-discoveryThe Snake-Stonealso provides its readers with a happy ending. Its hero says, on returning to his foster parents, "I was home." The snake stone in the novel is _ . A man walked into a small Irish pub and ordered three beers. Bartender was surprised, but he served that man three beers. One hour later the man ordered three beers again. The very next day that man ordered three beers again and drank quietly at a table. This repeated several times and shortly after the people of the town were whispering about the man, who was ordering three beers at once. A couple of weeks later, the bartender decided to clear this out and inquired: "I do not want to pry, but could you explain, why do you order three beers all the time?" The man replied: "It seems strange, isn't it? You see, my two brothers live abroad at the moment, one - in France and another - in Italy. We have made an agreement, that every time we go to pub each of us will order extra two beers and it will help keeping up the family bond ". Soon all the town have heard about the man's answer and liked it a lot. The man became a local celebrity. Residents of the town were telling this story to newcomers or tourists and even invited them to that pub to look at Three Beer Man. However, one day the man came to pub and ordered only two beers, not three as usual. The bartender served him with bad feeling. All that evening the man ordered and drank only two beers. The very next day all the town was talking about this news, some people pray for the soul of one of the brothers, others quietly grieve. When the man came to pub the next time and ordered two beers again, the bartender asked him: "I would like to offer _ to you, due to the death of your dear brother". The man considered this for a moment and then replied: "Oh, you are probably surprised that I order only two beers now? Well, my two brothers are alive and well. It's just because of my decision. I promised myself to give up drinking." The bartender served the man with bad feeling because _ . Many cities have subways and underground public transportation to take locals and tourists alike rapidly around the city.However, there's something different about riding a London subway.It may not look different, but the historical value of one of England's most popular forms of transportation is enough to make riding the subway a must when visiting London.With a little under 300 different stations, the subway can take you almost anywhere you need to go. Riding a London subway, a person from other countries will notice one major difference: in London, people do not look at each other.In fact, eye contact is avoided at all times.That's not rudeness --people are just too busy to bother looking. Busy doing what, you ask? Well, they're certainly not using the time for a moment of quiet thinking.Nor are they reading a book.New technology has replaced quiet habits.Today the only acceptable form of book on the London underground is an e-book. Apple must earn a fortune from London commuters .Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, over 40,000--yes, that's 40,000 " _ " have been designed. Commuters love them because they are the perfect time-fillers.One "app", called iShoot, is a game that features tanks.Another one, Tube Exits, tells passengers where to sit on the train to be closest to the exit of their destination.iSteam clouds the iPhone screen when you breathe into the microphone.You can then write in the "steam" on your phone screen. For those without an iPhone, another Apple product, the iPod, may be the distraction of choice.It's not just teenagers who "plug in" to their music-iPods are a popular way to pass the time for all ages. And if games, e-books and music aren't enough to keep you occupied, then perhaps you would prefer a film? The development of palm DVD technology means many commuters watch their favorite TV shows or films on the way to work.With all these distractions, it's amazing that people still remember to get off the train. Those who want to save time to reach where they go can download _ to their iPhones. Sharon,Aged 22 The most important thing to keep in mind when going into high school is to be yourself.Besides, I don't know what your middle school was like, but high school teachers will not care about things such as how much homework you already have in one night.It's best to just learn to deal with things and manage your time wisely so you can achieve everything you need to. Frank, Aged 21 I think almost every kid feels both nervous and excited before their first day.You will probably love it.I know I did.You should join some sports or activities that will make your high school experience more enjoyable.Good luck! Eddie,Aged 20 When I started high school I was really nervous too,especially since I had been homeschooled all through middle school and didn't really know anyone.I suppose the best advice would be to just relax.The first couple of days can be a little bit hard,but things will become easier before you know it. David,Aged 19 I'm not going to lie.The first day is kind of frightening .But you'll get used to it.Don't be afraid of anyone;upperclassmen will pick on you more if you let them know you're afraid.Just take it easy.Making some friends and staying with them will greatly help you get used to high school quickly.After the first week it's really not bad at all.Don't worry. Who mentions the importance of friends?
While studying the relationship between number of trees and amount of atmospheric oxygen, which of the following would be most important to take into account? Answer: contributions to atmospheric oxygen from sources other than trees Disney has adapted a series of beloved animated films into its live-action movies, and that trend has not even begun to slow. On Monday, the company announced that the newest movie to get the live-action treatment would be Mulan. Based on the same Chinese legend as the 1998 animated movie, Mulan will follow in the footsteps of Cinderella, Maleficent, and several already-announced upcoming movies. Since 2010, Disney has released three live-action adaptations of formerly animated movies: Alice In Wonderland, Maleficent, and Cinderella. All three have proven to be financial successes, with Alice In Wonderland earning over $1 billion and Maleficent bringing in $758 million. Even the most recent offering, Cinderella, has managed to earn over $330 million in its first three weeks of wide release. Fans of live-action remakes will not have to wait for Mulan, since Disney has already planned four other adaptations to hit theatres first. The Jungle Book is the next movie to get a live-action revival, planned for 2016. A retelling of Beauty And The Beast - starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and Audra McDonald - will begin production in May, with an expected release date of March 17, 2017. Surprisingly, the other Disney cartoon getting an adaptation is 1941's Dumbo, the story of a flying elephant. Tim Burton signed on to direct that tricky movie on March 10. Mulan will get the live action treatment because _ Answer: it's a trend to remake beloved animated films into live action ones The French word renaissance means rebirth. It was first used in 1855 by the historian Jules Michelet in his History of France,then adopted by historians of culture,by art historians,and eventually by music historians,all of whom applied it to European culture during the 150 years spanning 1450-1600.The concept of rebirth was appropriate to this period of European history because of the renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture that began in Italy and then spread throughout Europe. Scholars and artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries wanted to restore the learning and ideals of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. To these scholars this meant a return to human--as opposed to spiritual values. Fulfillment in life--as opposed to concern about an afterlife--became a desirable goal,and expressing the entire range of human emotions and enjoying the pleasures of the senses were no longer frowned on. Artists and writers _ turned to secular as well as religious subject matter and sought to make their works understandable and appealing. These changes in outlook deeply affected the musical culture of the Renaissance period--how people thought about music as well as the way music was composed,experienced,discussed,and circulated. They could see the architectural monuments,sculptures ,plays,and poems that were being rediscovered,but they could not actually hear ancient music--although they could read the writings of classical philosophers,poets,essayists,and music theorists that were becoming available in translation. They learned about the power of ancient music to move the listener and wondered why modern music did not have the same effect. For example,the influential religious leader Bernardino Cirillo expressed disappointment with the learned music of his time. He urged musicians to follow the example of the sculptors,painters,architects,and scholars who had rediscovered ancient art and literature. The musical Renaissance in Europe was more a general cultural movement and state of mind than a specific set of musical techniques. Furthermore,music changed so rapidly during this century and a half--though at different rates in different countries--that we cannot define a single Renaissance style. It can be inferred from the passage that thinkers of the Renaissance were seeking a rebirth of _ . Answer: a cultural emphasis on human values One day a rabbit ran into an elephant. "Hello," said the rabbit. "Fine day, isn't it?" The elephant stopped to look down at the tiny creature and shouted. "Leave me alone. I don't have the time to waste on someone so small." The rabbit was shocked by the elephant's words. Then he decided to ask the whale what she thought about the elephant's rudeness. But the whale laughed at this tiny animal. The rabbit said, "You think that I am weak, but in fact, I am strong! I can beat you at Tug-of-War ."The whale looked at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Very well, little one. Go and get a rope," she said.The rabbit ran off to find a strong and thick rope. Then he went to the elephant, "Elephant, I will beat you at a game of Tug-of-War." The elephant laughed loudly, but agreed to challenge the tiny animal. He tied the rope around his huge waist. The rabbit took the other end and ran away. He called back to the elephant, "When I say 'pull', you start pulling. "The rabbit took the other end of the rope to the whale, "Tie this to your tail and when I say 'pull',you swim." The whale tied the rope to her tail after laughing at the rabbit's foolishness. Then the rabbit called out "PULL!" The elephant and the whale began pulling. After a while, they were too tired to continue. The elephant and the whale never knew how such a tiny creature could beat them. But from that day on, they said "hello" to the little rabbit with great respect whenever they met. Why did the elephant and the whale lose the game? Answer: They actually fought with each other but not the rabbit. During adolescence , peers play a large part in a young person's life and typically replace family as the center of a teen's social activities. Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group. Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that "everyone's doing it" may influence some kids to leave their better judgment, or their common sense, behind. As children grow, develop, and move into early adolescence, contacts with one's peers and the attraction of peer identification increases. As pre-adolescents begin rapid physical, emotional and social changes, they begin to question adult standards and the need for parental guidance. They find it good to turn for advice to friends who understand-- friends who are in the same position themselves. By trying new things and testing their ideas with their peers, there is less fear of being laughed at. There are two levels of peer pressure. The first is in the large group: for most teens a school or a youth group are examples. This is the situation that gets the most attention. The second is in the close relationship with one or several best friends. This is the situation that is sometimes _ . The large group puts a general pressure on its members. It sets the standard for clothing, music, entertainment, and "political correctness". The pressure can be avoided by keeping quiet or by putting on the appearance of agreement. When in pre-adolescence, who may children ask for suggestions? Answer: Friends
A handsome man can earn a fifth more than an average-looking colleague but a beautiful woman is not paid a penny more than her average-looking colleague, new research has shown. The study by senior economists found that being good-looking meant male workers could earn 22 percent more than average-looking colleagues. Researchers said good looks did not give women a similar advantage. Andrew Leigh, a former economics professor at the Australian National University who co-authored the report, said: "Beauty can be a double-edged sword for women." "Some people still believe good looks and intelligence are incompatible in women, so a good-looking women can't be that productive, but it doesn't affect men's pay." He said that although he believed good-looking women may also earn more, the research did not support his theory. The research found that handsome men in all jobs, from manual labour to highly-paid professional careers, can earn 22 percent more than their colleagues doing the same work. Men with below-average looks face a battle in the office, with ugliness reducing a man's earnings by 26 percent compared to an average-looking worker. Former male model, Caitlan Mitchell, 28, who has a first class degree in history from Edinburgh University and now works for a cosmetics company, told theSunday Times:' It gives you confidence, and I suspect people tend to warm to you more quickly." The study, named Unpacking the Beauty Premium, was the largest exercise of its kind and repeated a survey from 1984 to see if the beauty premium had changed. Leigh said the research showed people in the workplace were "lookist "and he hoped the findings would encourage employers to remove their prejudice. We can learn from the text that men who are below average in appearance _ . All students need to have good study habits . When you have good study habits, you learn things quickly. You also remember them easily. Do you like to study in the living room ? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only to think about one thing. When you study, do not think about other things at the same time, only think about your homework. If you do so, you will do your homework more quickly, and you will make fewer mistakes. Good study habits are very important. If you don't have them, try to learn them. If you have them , try to make them better. It is right for us to _ when we study. UK Attention, Harry Potter fans: The sixth novel in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter stories, , will go on sale in the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia on July 16, 2005 Italy According to a recent study, there are now more dogs and cats in Italian homes than children. There are at least 14.5 million dogs cats in Italian homes compared with 8.7 million children under the age of 15.Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. A psychologist said that pets were loved by many young Italians who could not have or did not want to have children. In Italy, spending on pets has increased by 20 percent in the past five years. US The start of a new years is time when many Americans like to think about ways to make improvements for the future. But this year, instead of the usually New Year's resolution to lose weight, quit smoking or exercise more, the US Department of Homeland Security is urging Americans to create a family emergency plan for any terror attack. France & Iraq The two French journalists who had been held hostage in Iraq for 124 days were freed last week. Christian Chesnot, 37 and Georges Malbunot, 41, were kidnapped along with their Iraqi driver on Aug, 20 in Iraq. French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, said that the French government had not paid ransom for their release. The two journalists were held hostage on _ . It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town in Ohio where my twenty seven third graders eagerly _ the great day of gift giving. Each day the children made some new wonder - strings of popcorn, hand-made decorations, and German bells made from wallpaper samples, which we hung from the ceiling. Through it all she stayed indifferent , watching from afar, seemingly miles away. I wondered what would happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now so suddenly unsociable. I hoped the festivities would light her up. But nothing did. The day of gift giving finally came. We oohed and aahed over our handwork as the presents were exchanged. Through it all, she sat quietly watching. I had made a special package for her, red and green with white lace. I wanted very much to see her smile. She opened it so slowly and carefully. I waited but she turned away. After school the children left in little groups, but she hesitated, watching them go out of the door. I sat down to catch my breath, hardly know what was happening when she came to me reaching out her hands, holding a small white box, unwrapped and slightly soiled, as though it had been held many times by unwashed, childish hands. "For me?" I asked with a weak smile. She said not a word, but nodded her head. I took the box and carefully opened it. There inside, lay a golden chain. In a flash I knew - she had made it for her mother, a mother she would never see again, a mother who would never hold her or brush her hair or share a funny story, a mother who would never again hear her childish joys or sorrows, a mother who had taken her own life just three weeks before. I held out the chain. She took it in both her hands, reached forward, and put it on at the back of my neck. She stepped back then as if to see that all was well. I looked down at the golden chain, then back at the giver, "Maria, it is so beautiful. She would have loved it." Neither of us could stop the tears. She threw herself into my arms and we were in tears together. _ We can learn from the story that _ . As the United States nears the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed more than 3,000 people, President Obama announced Sunday night that the al Qaeda leader and mastermind of that horrific day, Osama bin Laden, has been killed. CNN reports that a senior government official confirmed that bin Laden was shot by a small team of U.S. soldiers while in a mansion with family members outside Islamabad . His body is now in American custody and is being handled according to Islamic customs. Three other adult men were killed in the firefight, including a son of bin Laden's, who was a senior member of the terrorist organization. "Justice has been done," the president announced, saying that the operation he ordered after receiving intelligence information is "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda." The immediate reactions ranged from cautious to ecstatic. Crowds cheered outside the White House. But officials said a "worldwide caution" would be set for Americans in case of al Qaeda retaliation . Will bin Laden's death be the justice Americans have sought for nearly a decade? Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, said it does bring comfort. "This is important news for us, and for the world. It cannot ease our pain, or bring back our loved ones. It does bring a measure of comfort that the mastermind of the September 11th tragedy and the face of global terror can no longer spread his evil," Felt said. President Obama says this victory does not close the book. "His death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain cautious," he noted. It can be inferred from the text _ .
prefix = st1 /China's economic growth 'hard to predict' The worsening global economic situation makes it difficult for Chinato predict its growth for next year, a senior official said on Friday. "How fast China's economy will grow next year is uncertain," Liu He, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Finance and Economy Work, told China Daily. "To a large _ , the rate will be decided by the external situation," Liu said during a discussion with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and other economists in Beijing. This year, GDP is estimated to grow at 9.4 or 9.5 percent, down from 10.6 percent last year, he said. However, the impact of the current financial turbulence "on our economy is much less than on the rest of the world", he said. Nicholas Stern, a former UK government advisor, also told China Daily it will take at least one or two years for the world to recover from the recession, which is now spreading from the US and the UK to the rest of the world. "We don't know how long the recession will last, but it is unlikely to be short," he said. Liu said China can use the downturn as an opportunity to restructure its economy, which has relied heavily on government investment, foreign trade and low-cost technology over the past years. "When the economy is experiencing fast growth, companies are unwilling to upgrade their technologies," Liu said. "The slowdown gives such firms the opportunity to enhance their competitive edge through better technologies." From ChinaDaily 2008-10-25 How many people are mentioned in this passage? A. only 2 B. no more than 3 C. not more than 4 D. at least 5 Answer: D A shop worker nicknamed Little Fatty told of his shock at becoming a Susan Boyle-like Internet star after a perfect Whitney Houston performance on a TV talent show. Lin Yuqun, 24, won over the judges and the audience of the Million Star show with perfect performances of Whitney Houston's I will Always Love You , and has got 480,000 hits on video sharing website You Tube. "I am shocked that I can draw so much attention. I'm really moved and happy that people like my performance of Whitney's song," said Lin, who works part-time at a musical instrument shop. "I've loved singing since I was a little boy and I feel like I am living my dream now. I hope I can pursue a career in singing," he told reporters. Reporters called him "China's Susan Boyle", describing him as "plain-looking and short", but Lin, who has the nickname "Little Fatty", told reporters the comparison made him proud. "I am honoured to be compared to Susan Boyle. I am inspired and encouraged by her because she proved that even a person who's seen as an underdog and who has ordinary looks can shine on the stage," Lin said. Since his performance was posted on Youtube late last week, he has been the subject of heated conversation in on-line chat rooms on American Yahoo! and other foreign websites. " _ " a viewer wrote on YouTube. Scottish single Susan Boyle got recognized around the world after she was discovered last year on the British's Got Talent television show with her performance of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, which was the best-selling debut in British chart history and also topped the US charts. What do we know about Lin Yuqun? A. He has a great talent for singing. B. He works quite hard as a shop owner. C. He sings better than Susan Boyle. D. He likes watching TV best. Answer: A There are various advantages of using a pen name. In case the author writes on various topics or in different genres , using a pen name would be very useful. For example, let's say an author is an expert in writing on serious topics, like business or finance, and also likes writing fiction stories, like romance. In such an author's case, a pen name could save him from losing his readers as well as reputation. Will you be okay with any pen name? No, you should make sure that it is easy to spell and pronounce. If you come up with a name that is difficult to pronounce, maybe your readers will not want to recommend your book to someone. They may not ask for your book at a library. Why? Because it could be pronounced wrongly and may sound foolish in front of others. This is the reason why your pen name should be easy to pronounce. Not only should your pen name be easy to spell and pronounce, but it should also be professional. The idea is to get a name that should be memorable, not mock-able. If you are trying to pen your pen name in a way that is too similar to an existing author's pen name, you are doing yourself no good. One small trick that could at least guarantee 'a look at your book' in the library is by using the correct initials. If you find that a particular best-selling author in your genre of writing has his name starting with 'B', maybe you could think of starting your pen name with 'A'. People are going to search the library shelves from left to right to locate that famous author, and in the process, may come across your book. Your pen name has to be distinguished because it is going to last all your life. When recommending your book with a pen name hard to pronounce, your readers may feel _ . A. nervous B. cheerful C. satisfied D. embarrassed Answer: D There are many special hotels around the world. In Greenland, there is a hotel made out of ice. In Turkey, there is a cave hotel. And in Bolivia, there is the Salt Palace Hotel. Thousands of years ago, the area around the Salt Palace Hotel was a large lake. But over time, all the water disappeared. Today, the area has only two small lakes and two salt deserts. In the early 1990s, a man named Juan Quesada built the hotel. He cut big blocks of salt from the desert and used the blocks to build it. Everything in the hotel is made out of salt: the walls, the roof, the tables, the chairs and the beds. The sun heats the walls and roof during the day. So the rooms stay warm at night, though it's cold outside in the desert. The hotel has twelve rooms. A single room costs $40 a night, and a double room $60. A sign on the hotel's wall tells guests, "Please don't lick the walls." What is the passage mainly about? A. A large lake. B. A special hotel. C. A beautiful wall. D. A famous desert. Answer: B (1) Secretary. Part time. 20 hours a week. Busy doctor's office. Experience preferred. Good typing. Call 555-2438. (2) BABY SITTER. 3 to 6 weekday afternoons. I will take you home. $5 an hour, call 555-5593. (3) Guitar lessons. Your home or mine. Experienced musician. Master's degree in music. Call Louise 555-6131. (4) TENTH STREET BLOCK PAKTY. Sunday. July 15. Noon to 8. Food, games, prizes, live band. Tenth Street between Main and North. (5) APARTMENT FOR RENT. 3 sunny rooms on high floor, great view. Separate kitchen. Wall-to-wall carpeting. The living room can be used as dining room. Email: SDGT@163.com.net (6) TAXI DRIVER WANTED. Full or part time. Experience necessary. A good knowledge of the city is required. Call 555-8860 between 9am and 5pm weekdays. (7) A stereo system for sale. It has two speakers. The system has an AM/FM radio. It also has a tape deck and turntable. It is in good condition. The stereo was owned for only one year. The price is $ 200 including the speakers. The owner will also take the highest price offered if the asking price is not met. Call Bill after 6pm at 555-9834. How many of the seven ads are placed by people who want to hire someone for a certain job? A. Four. B. Three. C. Two. D. Five. Answer: B
Athens 2004 Paralympics: Biggest and Best Ever The Paralympics are the games for sports men and women with a disability. They were the idea of Doctor Ludwig Guttman, a doctor working at Stoke Mandeville hospital in the UK. This famous hospital looks after people who can no longer walk, or cannot move at all. After the Second World War, in 1945, the hospital was full of badly injured soldiers. To give them hope, Dr Guttman started the Paralympics in 1948. They were held at the same time as the London Olympics; doctors gave out the prizes and nurses were employed as referees . The first official Paralympics took place in Rome in 1960, with 400 athletes from 23 countries competing. By 2004 they had become ten times bigger: nearly 4,000 athletes from 140 countries competed in 19 different sports. The youngest competitor was the 11-year-old swimmer Xu Qingqing from China, the oldest, 66-year-old David Williams, a sailor from Canada. The games were a great success for China, the oldest, 66-year-old David Williams, a sailor from Canada. The games were a great success for China, which won 141 medals, 63 of them gold. Britain came second with 94 medals, 35 of them gold. China's disabled dance team closed the games with a wonderful dance performance. The games were also a success for the organizers. Ever since the failure of the Paralympics in Atlanta, USA, in 1996, the organizers have been nervous of empty seats. But in Australia in 2000, the Paralympics were shown every day on TV and a million tickets were sold. Fifty thousand Australian schoolchildren were in the stadiums for the Sydney Paralympics, shouting and cheering. However pleased they were by the crowds, some of the competitors found this quite difficult. One blind runner said that for the first 800 meters of the 10,000 meter race he could not hear where the other runners were because of the noise. Whatever his feelings about it, he still won a gold; and in Athens 2004 the crowds were even bigger and noisier. When the British team got back to London after the games of 2004, more crowds came to welcome them home. Slowly, the Paralympic athletes are becoming as popular and as famous as the Olympic stars. One runner said the crowds caused a problem because _ . Answer: he couldn't hear the other runners Kate's parents planned a family trip to Europe! This would be Kate's first big vacation out of America. She loves to be on planes. The plane ride was fun and they landed in Paris, France. They went to the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River. Kate even learned how to say hello in French! They ate delicious food. Then they took a train to London, England. They drank tea and toast and went to see art. Then they took another plane to Spain. They went to the beach and ate delicious Spanish food. Spanish food was her favorite so far. A new friend taught her "Hola," which is hello in Spanish. Finally, they went to Italy. They ate pasta and pizza and saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Her mom took a funny picture of her pretending to hold the tower. She learned to say hello in Italian, too. Kate had such a fun time on her vacation. She took a lot of pictures and then made a photo album to show to her friends at school. Kate wants to go back to Europe one day. She loves to travel and see new and different places. What sight did they see in Italty? Answer: Leaning Tower of Pisa Wolves travel in groups, and they perform almost all the other activities of their lives in the company of fellow wolves. This is one of the most important facts that modern science have learned about wolves and one of the things that most clearly explain their way of life. The pack is usually a family group. It is made up of animals related to each other by blood. The centre of a pack is a pair of wolves----an adult male and female that have produced young. The other members of the pack are their offspring : young wolves ranging in age from pups to two- and three-year-olds. Most packs have 6 or 7 members, although some may include as many as 15 wolves. Relationships among creatures that live close together in groups are often very complex, and this is true of the ties that connect the members of a wolf pack. Scientific studies of captive wolves and wolf packs in the wild have shown that many complex rules of behavior seem to govern the way that the animals relate to each other. When wolf pups are born into a pack, one of the most important things they must learn is the "language" of the group, the method by which pack members keep in touch with each other, sharing information and communicating their feelings. Scientists have discovered that wolves have a very complex system of communication. The most famous wolf sound is, of course, the howl, and it is a very important part of wolf language. When people think about howling, they usually imagine a sad, lonely sound made by a wolf sitting all alone on a hilltop in the moonlight. However, this picture in most human beings' mind is not completely true. Wolves howl at any time, not just at night, and they often howl together, not alone. Group or chorus howling is another means by which the members of a wolf reaffirm their ties with each other and their closeness as a group. One wolf----often the male leader----will point its nose at the sky, open its mouth, and start to howl. Immediately the other members of the pack rush to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder, and join their voices to his. Each wolf howls on its own note so that a big chorus of slightly different sounds is produced. Chorus howling often takes place before a wolf pack goes out to hunt. At the end of a successful hunt, the pack may also celebrate with a group howl. While wolves are on the track of prey ,they are usually silent. There are occasions when a wolf will howl by itself. This may happen when an animal is separated from the pack. Pack members seem to recognize each other's voices and will keep responding to the howl of their wandering relative until the group is reunited. Because howling is a sound that carries over a considerable distance, it is very useful in communications among separated members of a pack. Howling is also used when members of different packs have to get in touch with each other to pass on information about their locations and their purposes. What makes communication the most important part of wolves' lives? Answer: Living in packs 1. Need a room close to the US Embassy for a week in early January I need a room close to the US embassy for a week in early January. My parents are going to the US embassy for visa interview on January 7th. I am looking for a place for them to stay around this date. Hotels are too expensive for them since they have been retired long ago. They speak Chinese only. Rent can be made through Paypal in USD or cash in CNY, if the price is right. Reply to: house-510574487@craigslist.org 2. House wanted May 17-24 Looking for 5 bedrooms from May 17-24. Can be one large apartment or 2 smaller ones, but they must be close to each other. Please email me at jcshap@sina.com if you have a nice place with air conditioning, high speed Internet. 3. Home swap or share I have a beautiful 3-bedroom home with pool and spa in Las Vegas, the USA, 10 minutes from the strip . I am willing to share or swap my house for yours (home or apartment) during the holiday. I need a place for 2 or 3 people in Shanghai from May 19-25. in exchange, you can have my house for any week either during the holiday, or any other time as long as I have a one-month advance notice to set up for you so you can have my house all to yourselves. If interested, please email me at sdiem@cox.net and I will send photos for my home. 4. Apartment or house wanted May 8-28, 2013 My daughter is working in Shanghai and my family wants to be there to stay with her for some time. We are looking for a 2-3 room apartment or house to rent from May 28 in the Pudong District. Need air conditioning. Thanks Reply to: wcondon7@msn.com The four advertisements all need a place _ . Answer: for at least seven days A lion is tired very much and sleeps on the ground one day . A cat runs after a little mouse . The mouse runs around and comes to the lion . The mouse sees the lion and he is very afraid . " I' m very sorry . Please let me go . I can help you some day . " The lion sleeps well and feels happy now . He says , "You can help me ? You are too small . But I am happy now . You can go . " The mouse goes . One day , the lion is in a cage . He can't get out . The little mouse sees the sad lion . He bites the cage with his teeth . Soon the lion goes out . "Am I right ? " says the mouse , " A small animal can help a big one sometimes . " What can we learn from the passage ? Answer: Sometimes , the big animal also needs to get help from the small one .
Martin is writing a report for science class about how the tilt of Earth affects living organisms. Which subject should Martin include in his report that is directly affected by Earth's tilt? changing of the seasons George had just moved into the street and he felt strange that he was not wanted. He knew that perhaps the other boys were trying to get an idea of what kind of a boy he was. This did not help to make him less lonely. He was new and he had to be tested. Still, proving himself would not be all that easy. He did not want to run with bad boys or get into something against the law to prove that he was strong . No!He must show what he was made of in a more helpful way. That was when he got the idea. The next day was Saturday. He knew that most of the boys would be down on the playground and choose up sides for the Saturday game. George knew he could play well and just might be enough to prove he was strong and to make friends with them. He arrived early and did his step exercises. He shot the ball several times and did some other exercises--the most difficult and most wonderful in basketball. Then the boys came. George went through what he had done before the game and showed what he could do. No one said a word. The boys just looked at each other and thought about it. In the end, when it was all over, the biggest of the group just smiled and nodded his head. George knew he had made it. What does "This did not help to make him less lonely" mean? George felt as lonely as before when the other boys tried to find out what kind of a boy he was. When my mother was alive, she used to tell me again and again about the value of just being nice. "Never underestimate the power of a smile," she would say. I fear she would be very disappointed looking at the world today. A lot of people don't smile and when it comes to service today, they're just not nice. Now don't give me wrong, not all service workers but a good many. I was on the phone the other day with a computer help desk. First a man, then later a woman, who couldn't have been ruder. And this to a customer, who didn't know his way around a PC. But no matter, I could tell they thought I was a bother, The woman, in fact, seemed to be chewing gum as she unemotionally clicked off a series of commands for me to perform. The next day I heard from a friend of mine who got a performance review without his boss once looking up at him. Not once. You see it everywhere. Gone are the days when people cared about you. It's a sign of the time, I suspect. But that makes me sad -- for them and for us all. People who aren't happy, who don't smile, who don't kid, who don't joke or make light of even bad situations, make for an even worse situation. And it spreads like a cancer. Someone's rude to you, you're rude to them and to the next fellow you meet, and on and on. Smiles are contagious but so annoyances. The boss who can't be bothered with his workers. The celebrity who can't be bothered with her annoying fans. You know, my mom used to judge presidential candidates by how they smiled. I would say, "But mom, you don't know if that smile is real." "Oh, yes I do," she would tell me. "I can feel it." It's in their eyes, she would say. And it's in their smile. The rest just kind of falls into place. Why did the writer mention his phone call? To show many people aren't nice. A visit to a museum contributes to our education. The British Museum is a great building in our London, not far from London University. Thousands of visitors go to it every year to see the rare, strange and beautiful things it contains. What interests many people more than anything else is the large library, in which there are millions of books. You can find any English book you want there, and many books in foreign languages or translated into English. The library is also a reading room, with tables and chairs for students who wish to study; but if you want to borrow books to read there you must first get a reader's ticket from the office. One can't borrow books to take away. In other parts of the museum there are rooms and halls containing things which have been brought from countries all over the world. They help us to understand the history of foreign lands, and the people who live in them. Some of the things which have been dug up in places where old cities once stood were being worn out or used by men and women thousands of years ago. These cities now lie buried, covered with many feet of earth. On the way out you can buy pictures of the most interesting things that are shown in the museum. What interests people more than anything else in the museum? Its large library. August 14, 2002 #The biggest shopping center KRF will open on August 18. Everyone with Today's newspaper will get a small gift. You are welcome. Address: No. 6 Bridge Street #English Newspaper, is looking for good English speakers as editors. He should study news in college. He will get $8,000 a year. Please send you application form in 10 days. Tel: 3898766 Address: No 5 Longway Street Email: englishnewspaper@yahoo.com #Traditional Chinese doctor treatment. RMB 200/hourI'll go to your home. Mobile: 137629390 #New York VS Chinese Dragon Team Time: 7 PM Sunday, August 17 Place: Star Stadium Price: RMB 300, RMB 280, RMB 180, RMB 80, Which of the following is right? The telephone number of Chinese doctor is 137629390.
Controlling traffic is a complex and high cost problem in many developed countries. It becomes more difficult and costly with the ever- increasing number of cars on the roads. But scientists and students at the CATT, at the University of Maryland are working to solve this problem. They are using simulation technologies to help government and private business control and react to changing traffic conditions. The online economics magazineForbes.comsays traffic congestion cost Americans $ 124 billion in 2014 and that number could rise to $ 186 billion by 2030. Bui scientists at the CATT lab are trying to reduce those costs. They are developing a system that helps traffic managers. planners, emergency workers and businesses plan and react better. Michael Pack is CATT director. He says the system is important to help emergency workers, or first responders,reach an accident area faster. The CATT Lab collects information from many sources, including roadside devices, GPS (global positioning system) equipment and wireless phones. About 60 students and 30 software developers observe traffic flow and manage the computer servers at all times. They also work to develop software and applications that can help traffic run smoother and safer, Some of them turn the information gathered into so-called "visualizations". These visual representations help emergency workers better understand what is happening. The center shares its findings with firefighters, police,Transportation departments and the military. They also share information with universities and transportation company. The technology company Google uses the data for its traffic-related websites. Michael Pack says, the information is then shared with anyone who wants to help traffic run more smoothly. Mr. Pack says the goal is to help develop an intelligent system of road signals that will communicate with each other and with vehicles on the road. Which of the following is NOT true about the developers and the students at the CATT? A They observe traffic flow continuously. B They develop software and applications. C They control the computer servers occasionally. D They change the information gathered into visual image. Answer: C Spring cleaning is a tradition in America. People clean up and tidy up their houses in springtime. Before the invention of the electricity ,people used a lot of coal and wood in winter to heat their houses. Those things left behind a lot of dust on everything in the rooms. At that time,people always welcomed spring because when the weather started getting warmer, they could stop using coal and wood and get everything cleaned up. Later spring cleaning became a tradition. Nowadays we don't use coal and wood so at the end of winter our houses are not dirtier than they were in the past. People don't need to remove a lot of dust.However, they have a new problem--- _ . Today the spring cleaning for most family is mainly about tidying up some useless things at home. Truly, the importance of the tradition of spring cleaning today is different from it was in the past, but it is as important as it was in the past . Now, in springtime,people clean up their houses, yards and gardens. At the same time, they spend much time in looking for the things that they don't love any more or they don't use any more. They collect old clothes,old toys, old books and some other useless or old things and then throw away or donate them.This helps people enjoy what they have and their homes more. So people nowadays should not give up this tradition. Always follow the tradition. _ is the main task of spring cleaning nowadays. A Cleaning up the houses ,gardens and yards B Removing the dust in the houses C Throwing away or donating old or useless things D Packing thick winter clothes. Answer: C Maybe you are an average student. You probably think you will never be a top student . However, anyone can become a better student if he or she does his or her best. Here are some tips to help you. Plan your time carefully. You should plan your time for such things as eating, sleeping and dressing. Then make a good, regular time for studying. But don't forget to set enough time for entertainment . Keep your _ quiet and clean. The study should have a desk, a chair and some study materials , but no games, no radio and no television ! When you sit down to study, you can put your heart into it. Make good use of your time. Listen to everything that the teacher says. Listening carefully in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says. After you get home from school, go over your notes . Review the important points. If you know what your teacher is going to discuss next day, read the material. It will help you study better. Develop a good attitude to tests . The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject . It helps you know what you are not good at. The world will still go on even if you fail in a test , so don't be too worried . Which of the following is NOT true? A The test is the most important for a student. B After class, you should review what you have learned. C You should listen to your teacher and take notes carefully in class. D When you plan your time, you should think of the time for eating, sleeping and so on. Answer: A Many years ago, I went through a tough time. One afternoon, I picked my girls up. It was late when we returned home. I went to unlock the door and found my key wouldn't go in. I kept trying while my daughter went to get a flashlight. When she returned with it we found somehow the lock had been "stuffed" with sunflower seed shells. Thinking that one of the neighborhood children had been up to no good, I really didn't give it much consideration. I found all windows were locked up tight. So I returned to the back door. Oh my God, I will never forget the shock of that moment. The house was empty! Other than a few things remaining on the back porch, everything was gone! Then I heard a car pull into the driveway and found two policemen walking up. They inquired why I had broken into the house. They then asked me for proof that I lived at that address, so I asked them to wait a minute while I went to get my rent receipt and identification from inside the house. I explained the matter to them and showed them the door lock. I could tell from their actions and tone of voice that they thought I was breaking into an empty house for somewhere to sleep. I asked a neighbor for the phone number of house owner and the officer made a call. The owner was quite shocked to hear my story. She said that my roommate had been going through an eviction process with the court when I moved in with her and had lost the case. She had been ordered to move by 10 am on that date. The court order had been issued the same day I had paid her 1/2 of the rent and a deposit of $300,000. The owner was very kind and understanding but there was nothing she could do. The house had been rented already and the people were to move in the following weekend. The officers let me go and I went to gather my girls into the car. They were both exhausted and old. Also very frightened, because they thought their mamma was going to jail. I had to pull over because the tears took control. I couldn't believe it! Everything we owned was gone, I had used up all our money moving in and paying my "friend" our share of costs. I knew very few people in town, as we had just moved there recently. I went to sit back in the car with the girls, I talked to the girls, explaining our situation to them so that they wouldn't be afraid. During this time there was a "street person" with a bag, looking in the garbage for cans, bottles, and anything that might bring him some cash. But I didn't pay much attention to him. I decided to get the girls something to eat for breakfast. We grabbed some bread, and chips and returned for a "picnic". When we got there, I noticed that the man was not alone. He was with a small group of others like him and they were passing a hat amongst themselves. I was busy setting up our little "picnic" when I heard a voice saying, "MaAm, please excuse... but...well...I overheard the situation you are in, and well... I and the fellows took up a collection for you and your little girls. It's not very much, but maybe it'll help a little." I looked up at this man---dirty, needing a shave ----and saw the face of an angel. I started crying. The man tried to hand me $30. I folded his hand back over the money and just hugged him as tight as I could. I told him, "Thank you for your more than generous offer, but we are going to be just fine." He didn't believe me at first, but I convinced him that it was okay. Later that afternoon I went to the market and bought the making for a barbecue and off to that little park. It didn't take us very long to find those gentlemen and invite them to join us for lunch. I had a wonderful afternoon that day, sitting there with those old guys, singing songs. They had some of the most entertaining stories and they shared the dreams they once had. They shared themselves... from the heart. Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage A The street person was poor and didn't dress well. B The writer accepted the money the street person gave her. C The street person didn't know the writer before. D The writer got along well with the street person and his fellows. Answer: B A Hollywood movie was met with an awkward situation last Saturday in China. While fans are standing in long queues to watch the first show, others are advocating a boycott on the American movie with Chinese story elements. After "Kung Fu Panda", a cartoon movie telling about a panda's Kung Fu master journey, hit China's silver screens in 2008, its sequel , Kung Fu Panda 2, was released in China just ahead of International Children's Day, adding more Chinese elements such as shadow play and lion dancing. However, some Chinese artists and scholars argue that the movie has twisted Chinese culture and serves as a tool to "kidnap " the mind of the Chinese people. "Children's Day should be pure. Don't turn it into a money-making day for Hollywood, and don' t fool our next generation with American fast food," according to an open letter to Chinese cinema managers written by Zhao Bandi, an artist hoping to boycott the "Americanized" movie. His move is _ by Kong Qingdong, a professor of the Chinese language in Beijing University, who said Chinese elements have become advertising products to advocate American culture. "It is a cultural invasion," said Kong. In the movie, the main character called "Po," a panda, is talkative, humorous, lovely, and is widely believed to be a typical American figure. However, the panda has won millions of fans in China. On China's most popular website, comments on the movie reached nearly 270 million entries. "I won't call it a cultural invasion," said Li Jiayi, a Beijing university student. "I see nothing bad for others to use our cultural elements to make a movie. I' m a huge fan of Po. In spite of being a cartoon, it is still loved by many adults like me," said the 25-year-old after watching the first show at midnight. Cao Hui, general manager of Shenzhen Global Digital Creations company, said: "instead of a 'boycott', movie producers should learn from the movie to make better use of Chinese story elements. Technically, Kung Fu Panda is not more advanced than Chinese movies, but as for story telling skills, Chinese movies have a long way to go". This passage can be classified as _ . A an advertisement B a feature story C a news report D a film review Answer: C
When she was twelve, Maria made her first important decision about the course of her life. She decided that she wanted to continue her education. Most girls from middle-class families chose to stay home after primary school, though some attended private Catholic "'finishing" schools. There they learned a little about music, art, needlework, and how to make polite conversation. This was not the sort of education that interested Maria or her mother. By this time, she had begun to take her studies more seriously. She read constantly and brought her books everywhere. One time she even brought her math book to the theater and tried to study in the dark. Maria knew that she wanted to go on learning in a serious way. That meant attending the public high school, something that very few girls did. In Italy at the time, there were two types of high schools: the "classical" schools and the "technical" schools. In the classical schools, the students followed a very traditional program of studies, with courses in Latin and Greek language and literature, and Italian literature and history. The few girls who continued studying after primary school usually chose these schools. Maria, however, wanted to attend a technical school. The technical schools were more modern than the classical schools and they offered courses in modern languages, mathematics, science, and accounting. Most people including Maria's father believed that girls would never be able to understand these subjects. Furthermore, they did not think it was proper for girls to study them. Maria did not care if it was proper or not. Math and science were the subjects that interested her most. But before she could sign up for the technical school, she had to win her father's approval. She finally did, with her mother's help, though for many years after, there was tension in the family. Maria's father continued to oppose her plans, while her mother helped her. In 1883, at age thirteen, Maria entered the "Regia Scuola Tecnica Michelangelo Buonarroti" in Rome. Her experience at this school is difficult for us to imagine. Though the courses included modern subjects, the teaching methods were very traditional. Learning consisted of memorizing long lists of facts and repeating them back to the teacher. Students were not supposed to ask questions or think for themselves in any way. Teachers were very demanding, discipline in the classroom was strict, and punishment was severe for those who failed to achieve or were disobedient. We can infer from this passage that _ . Answer: Maria was a girl of strong will This is a talk by a London taxi driver. "I've been a taxi driver for nearly ten years. Most London taxi drivers have their own taxis." "It's a nice job most of time. You meet a lot of people. I always work at night, because there is too much traffic during the day. I live twenty miles outside London and I go to work at 5:30 in the afternoon." "I usually go home between 2 and 3 in the morning." "Some very strange things happened late at night .The other day I was taking a woman home from a party .She had her little dog with her. When we got to her house, she found that she had lost her key. So I waited in the car with the dog while she climbed in through the windows." "I waited and waited. After half an hour of ringing the bell I decided to find out what was going on .I tied the dog to a tree and started to climb in through the window. The next thing I knew was that the police came. They thought I was a thief. Luckily the woman came downstairs.She must have gone to sleep and forgotten about me and the dog!" Which of the following is wrong? Answer: The woman had no money to pay the driver. The Christmas Eve meal is very important in most European countries. While other Christian families around the world celebrate this great meal with different kinds of meat, it is a tradition for Italians to eat seven different kinds of fish. Such a meal is called the "Feast of the Seven Fishes". It's also considered traditional that there may be nine, eleven, or even thirteen fishes for the meal. This kind of celebration is held to remember the birth of the baby Jesus. The Feast of the Seven Fishes was held just by southern Italians as a custom at first, but today Italians all over the world hold it. Although the Feast of the Seven Fishes has been regarded as an Italian custom, no one _ knows the meaning of it. There are lots of explanations for it. Some people believe that seven fishes are served because it took God seven days to create the world. Other explanations mention the Seven Hills of Rome. For the Feast of the Seven Fishes, it's not certain that which kinds of fish should be served. At the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the meal usually begins with antipasto and ends with delicious desserts. The Feast of the Seven Fishes has been a tradition since ancient times, and it will continue or even change as life changes. However, for Italians all over the world, the cultural meaning of the tradition is more important than anything else. Italian families celebrate the Christmas Eve meal with different kinds of _ . Answer: fish A sense of humor is just one of the many things shared by Alfred and Anthony Melillo, 64-year-old twin brothers from East Haven who made history in February 2002. On Christmas Eve, 1992, Anthony had a heart transplant from a 21-year-old donor. Two days before Valentine's Day in 2002, Alfred received a 19-year-old heart, marking the first time on record that twin adults each received heart transplants. "I'm 15 minutes older than him, but now I'm younger because of my heart and I'm not going to respect him," Alfred said with a big smile, pointing to his brother while talking to a roomful of reporters, who laughed frequently at their jokes. While the twins knew that genetics might have played a role in their condition, they recognized that their eating habits might have also contributed to their heart problems. "We'd put half a pound of butter on a steak. I overdid it on all the food that tasted good, so I guess I deserved what I got for not dieting properly." The discussion moved to Anthony's recovery. In the five years since his heart transplant, he had been on an exercise program where he regularly rode a bicycle for five miles, swam each day, and walked a couple of miles. He was still on medication, but not nearly as much as Alfred, who was just in the early stage of his recovery. "Right now I feel pretty young and I'm doing very well," Anthony said. "I feel like a new person." Alfred said his goal, of course, was to feel even better than his brother. But, he added, "I love my brother very much. We're very close and I'm sure we'll do just fine." What did Alfred and Anthony think caused their heart problems? Answer: Diet. A dog might be man's best friend, but my dogs are more like my kids! I think everyone should experience the unconditional love of a dog, but owning one is not for the nervousness. It's work--especially when it comes to the job of cleaning up their waste. When you clean up after your dogs, your neighbors will love you for keeping those smelly landmines out of their yards. But there are even bigger benefits. You'll not only be doing your part to keep bacteria out of your yard and neighborhood, you're also keeping harmful microorganisms away from the drinking water supply. There are more than 77 million pet dogs in the United States and their waste is found in backyards, neighborhood parks, and the green areas that frequently line small waterways. When you don't clean up after your dog, heavy rain can carry bacteria from the waste into drains. Dog waste left in parks and other such places can be swept directly into nearby streams. This affects the quality of the water in our streams. These small channels often empty directly into our local drinking water supply or the water where we boat or fish. Dog waste contains harmful microorganisms like roundworms that can be passed onto humans. This is why dog waste should not be used as fertilizer around your home. And it won't fertilize your yard either if you leave it behind like other types of fertilizer. Dogs don't eat the same kinds of natural material that cattle, horses or even elephants eat. The waste from those animals is actually beneficial for your yard and garden. You should always pick up after your dog and throw the waste into the trash can. Some smaller cities might prefer the waste to be washed down the toilet, but in cities where there are many dogs, it's best to send the waste to the landfill. When you properly deal with your dog's waste, you'll be doing your part to keep harmful bacteria out of your yards, your neighborhoods and your drinking water. Which of the following statements about dog waste is true? Answer: It is better to wash dog waste down a toilet or bury it in a landfill.
Question: Once upon a time, a boy was walking through a wood and he thought he could hear a sad cry. Following the sound he came to a big, round, mysterious, grey fountain. The sad sound seemed to be coming from the fountain pool. The boy swept aside the pool's dirty surface water and saw a group of grey fish swimming in a slow circle through the pond. Amused by this, the boy tried to catch one of these incredible talking fish. But when he stuck his arm into the water it turned grey right up to the elbow. As this happened, a huge sadness entered into him, and he suddenly understood how sad the fish were feeling. He quickly pulled his arm out of the water, and ran from that place. But the arm stayed grey, and the boy continued feeling sad. He tried so many times to cheer himself up, but nothing worked. That was, until he realized that if he were to make the Earth happy then that happiness would be, in turn, transmitted back to him, through the earth on his arm. X\|k \| B\| 1 . c\|O \|m From then on, he set about looking after countryside. He cared for the plants, and he did what he could to keep the water from being polluted. He encouraged others to do the same. He was so successful that his arm started to _ its normal color. When the grey had disappeared completely, he started feeling happy again, and he decided to go and visit the fountain. When he was still some way from the fountain he could hear the fish singing happily. Which of the following didn't happen after the boy left the fountain? A. He started to look after the countryside. B. He stopped the water from being polluted. C. He encouraged people to protect the earth. D. His arm kept grey and he never felt happy. Answer: D Question: If you think you are too shy and want to be a little bit braver, just try the following things: You can make it. Tell people you are shy. There is no need to hide it. When they get to know you are a shy kid, they will understand you better. This also helps feel more _ in talks. Try to smile more. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk with. Remember that other people have feelings, too; and most people will stay away from an angry--looking face. Learn to be a good talker. If you find it hard to start a conversation, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person? Get your attention elsewhere. Think more about ways to enjoy parties or games. Don't waste time worrying about your book or whether people like you or not. Take one small step at a time. Each time when you say: "Hi!" or smile at someone, say to yourself: "You can make it." Keep trying and one day you'll never feel shy when you talk to others. How many pieces of advice does the writer give? A. four B. Five C. Six D. seven Answer: B Question: Kelly Christopher, a student at Lutheran High School in California, US, loves oranges. One day last week, she used a pole to pick oranges off trees and collect them in baskets. It's the first time in her 15 years she's picked fruit from trees. "This is quite different from buying oranges in the supermarket," said Christopher. "Every time I eat an orange, I'll remember this experience." Christopher was one of the 30 student volunteers at Soil Born Farms. She volunteered as part of a project which was set up in 2009 to help homeowners in South Land Park pick oranges and other fruits out of their backyards. Before, the fruit would rot on the ground or get eaten by animals. Now the fruit is donated to those who need it. "It is good for many people", said Randy Stannard, who works for the project. "The homeowner gets fruit picked and more people can have healthy food." "Two harvests ( ) were organized in 2009 and volunteers picked 3,000 pounds (1,360kg) of fruit", Stannard said. In 2010, the number was 20,000. This year, Soil Born Farms hopes to get 40,000 pounds. They will harvest every weekend from January to April. Shannon Galloway, Christopher's science teacher, brought her students into the project this year. "You're making use of a _ that might be wasted," she said. "I think it's meaningful to everyone." Donato Frazier, 15, always climbs up a ladder and gets on the top of the tree. "Standing on the treetop is pretty cool," Frazier said. "I can see clearly that many baskets are filled up, and even see that many people are eating healthy fruit because of our volunteer work." Christopher and other students went to pick fruits from real trees because they wanted to _ . A. have some fresh fruit for themselves B. make some money by selling fruit C. provide people with more healthy fruit D. buy some cheap fruit from their neighbors Answer: C Question: sound can be heard when it reaches what? A. hearing organ B. brain C. eyes D. neck Answer: A Question: The sharing economy has grown in recent years to include everything from apartment' sharing to car sharing to community tool sharing. Since 2009, a new form of sharing economy has been emerging in neighborhoods throughout the US and around the world-Little Free Library. The libraries are boxes placed in neighborhoods from which residents can withdraw and deposit books. Little Free Libraries come in all shapes and sizes. Some libraries also have themes, focusing on books for children, adults, or tour guides. In 2009. Tod Bol built the first Little Free Library as a gift to his mother, who was a devoted reader. When he saw the people of his community gathering around it, exchanging conversation as well as books, he knew he wanted to take his simple idea further. "I think Little Free Libraries open the door to conversations we want to have with each other," Bol said. . Since then, his idea has become a movement, spreading from state to state and country to country. According to Little FreeLibrary.org, there are now 18,000 0f the little structures around the world, located in each of the 50 US states and 70 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. The Internet has helped to spread Little Free Libraries. But an Atlantic article says the little, structures serve as a cure for a world of e-reader downloads . The little wooden boxes are refreshingly physical and human. For many people, the sense of discovery is Little Free Libraries' main appeal. "A girl walking home from school might pick up a graphic novel that gets her excited about reading; a man on his way to the bus stop might find a volume of poetry that changes his outlook on life," says the Atlantic article. "Every book is a potential source of inspiration " How do Little Free Libraries get their books? A. Citizens shared them. B. Tod Bol donated them. C. US government provided them. D. The communities bought them. Answer: A
Rob is a dog. Rob is a big red dog. He likes to go to the park. Rob likes the swing. He likes to go as high as he can. To get to the park, Rob has to go to town. When he is in town, he walks by the school. It is by the baseball field. Rob likes to go to the park with Rod. Rod is a small dog. Rod is a brown dog. Rod likes to go down the slide. Rod likes to go fast. Rob likes to slide too. Rob and Rod like to go down the slide many times. When it gets dark, Rob and Rod have to go home. Rob has to go home. He has to go eat. Swinging makes Rob hungry. Rod has to go home too. He does not like to be in the dark. They can go to the park tomorrow. Goodbye Rob and Rod. What is by the baseball field? Answer: Kindness and kids just seem to go hand in hand. But 62% of more than 2,600 participants in the NBC News State of Kindness Poll believe that today's kids are less kind than those in the past. Women(66%) feel about this kindness fall more strongly than men(58%). Most of the participants who feel that way(77%) thank parents caused the seeming lack of kindness among today's children, with a few thinking that society, schools, or friends caused it. At the same time, Americans say they don't put kindness first when it comes to teaching kids values. Among all participants, honesty is taught more than kindness as well as other things like courage, leadership and storing work ethic . But the younger generation--those aged 18-24--think highly of kindness rules. They choose kindness by 10% over honesty as the most important quality to teach kids. The question of whether kindness is learned or taught--or somewhere in between --causes different opinions. According to the study, Americans have different opinions on whether kindness in something one is born with or needs to be learned and _ over time. Slightly more than half(52%) of the participants believe that all of us are born with the ability to show kindness, while 48% believe kindness must be developed. Parenthood makes a difference to your thoughts on the causes of kindness. Those without kids(56%) are more likely to think that people are born to be kind, while 50% of the participants with kids think kindness is developed. Also, 51% of dads and 54% of men with no kids believe kindness is something time is born with. Slightly more than half of the moms say kindness must be learned, while 48% believe it is what one is born with. How many moms in the study believe kindness is what one is born with? Answer: Weighing too much can damage your health, and obesity is a growing problem for both kids and adults around the world. Sleep might be one answer to the problem. A new study has found that elementary school students who slept too little were more likely to gain pounds. Past studies have shown a link between sleeping less and weighing more, but scientists have had a tough time determining"which came first, the chicken or the egg,"says Julie C. Lumeng of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In other words, it hasn't been clear whether kids who weigh too much have trouble sleeping, or whether sleeping less leads to weight gain. Both scenarios seemed equally possible. To get a better idea of which causes which, Lumeng and her colleagues interviewed the parents of 785 third graders from around the United States. The parents answered questions about how well their kids slept that year. Three years later, the parents answered the same questions. By sixth grade, 18 percent of kids involved in the study were obese. The scientists found no relationship between weight and the students' race or gender. It also didn't matter how strict their parents were, or whether they were boys or girls. Obesity struck all of these groups equally. Instead, sleep seemed to be the key factor. Over the 3 years of the study, the children averaged a healthy 9.5 hours of sleep a night. Some kids, however, slept a lot more -- or less -- than others. For the sixth graders, every hour of sleep above the 9.5-hour average was linked to a 20 percent lower risk of being obese. Sleep appeared doubly important for the third graders. Every extra hour of sleep they got was linked to a 40 percent drop in obesity. How does the author develop the passage? Answer: When Christopher Columbus landed on a land without name in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means "rich coast" in Spanish. Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country's second most important export. Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors. Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans. From December to February, school children in Costa Rica _ . Answer: Since I was a child, I called my father my Kong, after King Kong. I believed that he was just as strong as the giant ape . As he faced death, _ . Two months after he passed away, my sister called to ask if I would like to go see Lisa Williams, a well-known witch . I was familiar with Lisa from her show on Lifetime, and since I was eager to get a sign from my father, I agreed to go. I took my father's gold watch and listened as Lisa helped audience members communicate with their loved ones. "I have a grandfather-like figure with me and he is speaking about his granddaughter Jilly," she announced. The audience was quiet; no one raised a hand. I nudged my sister and whispered to her that this was Dad ,for my third child and my father had a deep bond(,) and he called her Jilly. Although I sensed his presence, I wasn't confident enough to raise my hand. I needed something a bit more concrete, something undoubted. "This man is letting me know he had cancer," she continued. I nudged my sister harder and assured her this was our father. Lisa went on to say that this person died in June (my father had died June 8th). There was swelling of the legs. "Important information," she called out. My heart beat fast . I jumped up when she asked, "Who is holding his watch?" I waved the watch in the air. "He wishes you congratulations." My fourth child was born three weeks after my father died. I was in shock and could not believe I was getting a chance to hear from him, yet I knew our bond was strong enough that he could come to the world. She banged on her chest like an ape and apologized, saying, "I don't know why but he wants me to do this like Tarzan." It didn't resonate with me until my sister called out "King Kong!" I was convinced. No way could this woman have ever known a detail unless Dad was communicating through her. Each bit of information she gave us was just as meaningful. She ended our session by informing us that he would send us coins. The very next day I found six coins in various places; they seemed to have come out of nowhere. Even in death he is my Kong, and he remains important in my life. From the passage we know that father _ . Answer:
American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing. After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs . Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers. This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s , many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities. Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying . Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities are alive again. What does the author think of cities all over the world? The man who invented Coca-Cola was not a native Atlanta, but on the day of his funeral every drugstore in town shut up the shop in honor of him. He was John Styth Pemberton, born in 1833 in Knoxville, Georgia, eighty miles away. Pemberton was a chemist, sometimes known as Doctor, who, during the Civil War, became an officer and led a cavalry troop. He settled in Atlanta in 1869, and soon began making such patent medicines as Triplex Liver Pills and Globe of Flower Cough Syrup. In 1885, he registered a trademark for something called French Wine Coca-Ideal Nerve and Tonic Stimulant. A few months later, he formed the Pemberton Chemical Company, and hired an accountant named Frank M. Robinson, who had not only a good head for figures, but, attached to it, so unique a nose that he could judge the ingredients of a batch of syrup merely by sniffing it. In 1886 --- a year in which, as contemporary Coca-Cola officials like to point out, the English writer Conan Doyle made Sherlock Holmes known publicly and France found the truth about the Statue of Liberty --- Pemberton invented a syrup that he called Coca-Cola. It was a change of his French Wine Coca. He had taken out the wine and added a bit of caffeine, and, when the end product tasted awful, had thrown in some cola nut oil and a few other oils, mixing the mixture in a three-legged iron pot in his back yard and swishing it around with an oar. He distributed it to soda fountains in used beer bottles, and Robinson, with his elegant account's script, instantly designed a label, on which "Coca-Cola" was written in the style which is still employed. Pemberton looked upon his mixture less as a drink than as a headache cure. One morning in 1886, a man suffering from a headache dragged himself into an Atlanta drugstore and asked for a bottle of Coca-Cola. According to usual practice, druggists should pour a teaspoonful of syrup into a glass of water, but at that time, the man on duty was too lazy to walk to the fresh-water tap. Instead, he mixed the syrup with some soda water, which was closer at hand. After drinking it, the suffering customer cheered up almost at once, and word quickly spread that the best Coca-Cola was a fizzy one. According to the passage, which of the following about Pemberton is wrong? I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch . He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events. The last time I was there he introduced me by saying: "I want to tell you a story. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up. "That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch. "He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, 'See me after class.' "The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, 'Why did I receive an F?' The teacher said, 'This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, 'If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.' "The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, 'Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.' Finally, after a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, 'You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.' " Monty then turned to the group present and said, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." He added, "The best part of the story is that two years ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, 'Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids' dreams. Fortunately you had enough courage not to give up yours.' " "Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what," Monty at last concluded. From the passage we can conclude that _ . One night in February 1962, John H. Glenn. Jr., flew over Australia. The man in the Mercury capsule was alone, but friendly voices reached him by radio. On the dark land 100 miles below, he saw a sprinkling of light. They marked the city of Perth, where people had turned on their lights as a greeting to him. In Friendship7, Glenn radioed, " The lights show up very well. Thank for everybody for turning them on." His capsule raced on to the east. During his three orbits(......) of the earth, Glenn could always reach one of eighteen tracking stations. Some of them were on ship at sea. Others were in the United States. Many of the stations had been built with the help of other countries. These countries allowed Americans to bring in radio equipment and set it up. Without the help of such lands as Nigeria , Zanzibar(,), and Mexico, there would have been breaks in the worldwide radio network. John H. Glenn. Jr., was the first America to orbit the earth. For his flight, the tracking network covered 60,000 route miles. Five hundred men worked in the stations along the route. Since his flight, the network has grown. Today, it covers more than 100,000 route miles and has about one hundred stations. One-third of these stations are outside of the United States. From the passage we can see that _ . Eleven top universities are joining the Open University to launch free Internet courses. King's College London, along with the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Anglia, Exeter, Lancaster, Leeds, Southampton, St Andrews and Warwick, has partnered with FutureLearn, a company set up by the Open University that will offer free and non-credit bearing courses to Internet-users around the world. The courses are modeled on the US phenomenon "Massive open online courses" ( Moocs ), which have attracted millions of users around the world and are especially popular in emerging economies. FutureLearn will improve UK institutions for international students, said Prof Martin Bean, voice-chancellor of the Open University. "At the moment, foreign students' _ of UK Universities is: wonderful history, great tradition, really good teaching, but a bit boring." Leeds University says the partnership will benefit students studying on campus. "Students will have access to a rich set of resources from both Leeds and our partners. They can also broaden their education beyond their main subject areas." The UK higher education industry stands among the top five export earners for Britain Moocs have grown rapidly in the US over the past year, with two providers leading the field. Coursera offers courses from 33 Universities, including Princeton, Brown, Columbia and Duke, and has reached more than 1.7 million users, EdX, a nonprofit start-up from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology courses this autumn. Simon Nelson, one of the key architects of BBC Online, will head FutureLearn as launch CEO. "It's really meaningful for these universities to come together -we'll punch much harder collectively than any other university will individually," he said. Partner Institutions will be responsible for their own content while the OU, which has been providing distance-learning courses since 1971, will assist with course delivery and infrastructure. Details of further universities will be revealed next year, as will the courses on offer. What is implied in Simon's words?
Mrs. Jackson was a rich woman. She had many friends. She liked cooking very much and she often invited her friends to her big house. One day, she invited some of her friends to lunch. She wanted very much to try a new way of cooking a fish, and she was very pleased with herself when the dish was ready. The fish was very hot, so she put it near the open window to make it cool. But five minutes later, when she came back for it, she was surprised to see her neighbor's cat, Mike, eating the fish. She was in time to stop the cat before it was too late. That afternoon everything was good and all her friends liked the fish very much. They talked until four o'clock. Then they said goodbye and left. At the end of that afternoon, when she was alone again, Mrs. Jackson was very tired but happy. She was sitting in the chair just near the window. Then through the window, she was surprised to see her neighbor's cat dead in the garden! Why, the fish must be bad! What would happen to her friends? She telephoned her family doctor at once. The doctor told her to call each of her friends to see him at the hospital. At last, the danger was over. Once again, Mrs. Jackson was alone in her chair in the sitting-room, still tired but no longer happy. Just then the telephone rang. It was her neighbor. "Oh, Mrs. Jackson, Mike is dead. He was killed by a car and put in your garden...". ,. How did Mrs. Jackson feel when she saw the dead cat? Answer: Frightened. Mip Mip, a playful robot, was developed by a Canadian toy maker named Wowwee. It stands 19 cm tall. You can control it just with your gestures or a smart phone. Mip can run, balance and dance on two wheels. It can also bring you a bottle of water. Android Wear Google is developing a smart watch called Android Wear. The watch uses a touchscreen and voice control. Just say "OK, Google" to ask what ever you want to know. For example, say "OK, Google. Where's the nearest toy store?" Your watch will tell you the answer on Google Maps. Le Pen Do you like listening to music while doing homework? If you do, you will like Le Pen. With a music player planted inside, Le Pen plays music while you write on paper. The music stops when you stop writing. So if you want to enjoy more of your favourite songs, keep on writing. One wheel In the near future you may find a new way to escape traffic: a self-balancing skateboard called Onewheel. It can go as fast as 19 km an hour. On a single charge , it can take you as far as 7-10 km. According to the passage, Android Wear can _ . Answer: tell you how to get to some places After suffering through many months of unemployment . my wife and I moved this week from Colorado to Ohio. where she was starting a new job. Not knowing anybody there. we were pretty concerned about how we'd get our entire home unloaded without killing ourselves. We made a phone call to hire a couple of college students to help with all the heavy lifting once we got there. But one neighbor after another stopped by to help us. _ Unloading actually became fun and joy because there were so many wonderful new friends to help when we worked. The more people helped. the easier the work became. We were afraid the job might take days for the two of us alone. but it was finished in a few hours. Many total strangers would either walk by the sidewalk or drive by to ask us if we were moving in. Many were happy that this old house that had sat empty for so long was coming to life again. We were invited to an outdoor meal yesterday by neighbors on the same street. All the time. my brain was resting on this new sense of hope that people can be so friendly to strangers. Among all the conversation were lots of offers to help each other in all kinds of ways. It's wonderful to live in such a kind little town. I feel so grateful to be here. and wish the rest of the world could see how an entire community can model what it's like to help each other. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: kindness is the sunshine of social life Flying over a desert area in an airplane, two scientists looked down with trained eyes at trees and bushes. After an hour's flight one of the scientists wrote in his book, "Look here for probable metal." Walking across hilly ground, four scientists reported, "This ground should be searched for metals." From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio one word "Uranium." None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no magic powers for looking down below the earth's surface. They were merely putting to use one of the newest methods of locating minerals in the ground---using trees and plants as signs that certain minerals may lie beneath the ground on which the trees and plants are growing. This newest method of searching for minerals is based on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may affect the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface. At Watson Bar Creek, a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Boxes were filled with small branches from the trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was carefully marked. In a scientific laboratory the parts of the forest trees were burned to ashes and tested. Each small part was examined to learn whether there were minerals in it. Study of the roots, branches, and seeds showed no silver. But there were small amounts of gold in the roots and a little less gold in the branches and seeds. The seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk had more gold than those growing on the ends of the branches. If the trees had not indicated that there was gold in the ground, the scientists would not have spent money to pay for digging into the ground. They did dig and found more gold below. They dug deeper. They found large quantities of gold. According to the passage, the following parts of a tree can help find minerals EXCEPT _ . Answer: leaves As a teacher, my daily life includes driving to a new school so I'm usually unable to anticipate the day's events, good or bad! One day, I was teaching in a very difficult classroom. I was managing behavior all morning and by lunch time, I knew I needed coffee to even consider surviving the afternoon. So on my lunch break, I drove to a coffee shop nearby to get a cup of coffee. While returning to the car I realized I had locked my keys and my phone inside! I had about 15 minutes to get back to the school which was a good 4- or 5- minute drive away. I considered rushing back, but it being winter, I thought a fall on ice would only make the situation much worse. So I ran into a McDonald's and asked the man at the counter who happened to be the manager to please call me a taxi. I explained my situation to him, and I could tell by the look in his eyes, that he took pity. He hurried to the back to use the phone while I walked in the restaurant. I had less than 10 minutes to get back to my school at this point. The manager returned only to tell me that the taxi company had put him on hold and then the line got disconnected, and that he was now on hold again, but had not yet been able to ask for the taxi yet. Without a thought, he caught his coat and offered to drive me to the school. Immediately I followed him into his car and made it back into my classroom with 2 minutes left before the bell! While arriving at the school, I thanked this man endlessly. His calm behavior and kind nature made me think he was probably a wonderful manager to work for, and also a wonderful human being to have on his earth. This experience makes me realize that out of every hopeless situation, there is the chance for acts of kindness to happen, which can create an unimaginable impression to those who receive them. The writer _ so he gave up the idea of going back to school on foot when he found his keys and phone were locked inside the car. Answer: was afraid of falling down on ice
Question: Do you know of anyone who uses the truth to deceive ? When someone tells you something that is true, but leaves out important information that should be included, he can give you a false picture. For example, some might say, "I just won a hundred dollars on the lottery . It was great. I took that dollar ticket back to the store and turned it in for one hundred dollars!" This guy's a winner, right? Maybe, maybe not. We then discover that he bought $200 worth of tickets, and only one was a winner. He's really a big loser! www. .com He didn't say anything that was false, but he left out important information on purpose. That's called a half-truth. Half-truths are not technically lies, but they are just as dishonest. Some politicians often use this trick. Let's say that during Governor Smith's last term, her state lost one million jobs and gained three million jobs. Then she seeked another term. One of her opponents said, "During Governor Smith's term, the state lost one million jobs!" That's true. However, an honest statement would have been, "During Governor Smith's term, the state had a net gain of two million jobs." Advertisers will sometimes use half-truths. It's against the law to make false statements so they try to mislead you with the truth. An advertisement might say, "Nine out of ten doctors advised their patients to take Yucky Pills to cure toothache." It fails to mention that they only asked ten doctors and nine of them work for the Yucky Company. This kind of deception happens too often. Lies are lies, and sometimes the truth can lie as well, which is a sad fact of life. How much did the lottery winner lose? A. One hundred dollars. B. Two hundred dollars. C. Three hundred dollars. D. Four hundred dollars. Answer: A Question: As I stood in a stall of Beijing's Silk Market, waiting to exchange a silk garment, I watched in amazement as the young vendor pulled out silk nightgown after nightgown for a foreigner, who sounded like an American, but frankly could have been from any English-speaking Western country. The man appeared satisfied when she pulled out a bright, purple nightgown and said, "This one, very good." and probably asked how much it cost, for the owner pulled out her calculator showing 800. My heart was pounding heavily. After all, I was holding a similar gown in my hand for which I had paid all of 60 yuan ($9.39) just the previous day. I wanted to scream and say, "Wait, you are _ ". But I just kept silent. As I moved away from the stall a thousand thoughts flashed in my mind. Should I have just stepped in and stopped it? I may have saved the man but could have brought danger to myself. Maybe I could have pretended to seek help with some English from that man and warned him not to be cheated? When I told the incident to some of my friends, most seemed to think it was unfortunate but one couldn't fault the vendor. Everyone visiting China knows, or ought to know, that bargaining is a way of life here, they said. Although I do agree that the man should have been better informed, it just doesn't seem right that the place, to which tourists from all over the world are brought and made to believe is a Mecca for shopping in Beijing, should be allowed to get away with such daylight robbery. I still think I should have done something about what I witnessed. What can be safely concluded from the passage? A. The writer regretted not having warned the man of danger. B. The writer won't buy silk garments from the vendor again. C. Most tourists are not better informed when travelling in Beijing. D. Mecca is a place where a wide variety of high quality goods are sold. Answer: A Question: Here are some of the strangest buildings in the world. Please look at them and tell us your impressions. Stone House, Portugal The stone house in Portugal is really similar to the famous home of the Flintstones (<<>> ). It is built between two rocks and its architecture has impressed some of the greatest architects. The house was attacked by some bad people. The house is pretty comfortable inside, with a fireplace and every- thing necessary, so it is a wonderful example of modern architecture in Stone Age style! Dancing Building, Czech Republic The Dancing House, or "Fred and Ginger", is situated in Prague, the Czech Republic. It is an amazing masterpiece of architecture which has its own romantic charm. There is something so sweet in the way the buildings hug each other for a dance! It has become a symbol of the city! The Crooked House, Poland The crooked house in Poland has an extraordinary and amazing structure. It was built in 2003 with its design based on the pictures of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. It looks as if it has been taken from a cartoon: its design is "crooked", but it is balanced, so it is not ugly at all, just strange! The interesting part is how builders managed to create this genius idea, but the house is a fact and everyone admires their creativity! Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada Habitat 67 in Canada is a very interesting arrangement of cubes,which looks like the building blocks that children play with. It is pretty interesting how it was designed -- it looks so original, and at the same time the building is completely stable and comfortable for living! It was created as a main attraction for Expo 67, where it was officially exposed! Which of the buildings can remind people of a kind of toy? A. The Stone House, Portugal B. The Dancing Building, the Czech Republic C. The Crooked House, Poland D. Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada Answer: D Question: A professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see and asked the students, " How much do you think this glass weighs?" "50 grams ! " "100 grams ! " "125 grams ! " the students answered. "I really don't know unless I weigh it , " said the professor, " but , my question is : What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?" " Nothing , " the students said. "OK, what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?" the professor asked. "Your arm would begin to ache, " said one of the students. "You are right, now what would happen if I held it up for a day?" "Your arm could go numb , and you might have to go to hospital, " another student said. "Very good ! But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" asked the professor. "NO" "Then what made the arm ache and the muscle( ) stress?" The students were puzzled. " Put the glass down" said one of the students. "Exactly ! " said the professor. " Life's problems are something like this. Hold them for minutes in your head and they seem OK. Think of them for a long time and they begin to ache. Hold them even longer and they begin to trouble you. You will not be able to do anything. It's important to think of the problems in your life, but even more important to ' put them down' at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed; you wake up every day fresh and strong and can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way ! " ,. How much does the glass weigh? A. 50 grams. B. 100 grams. C. 125 grams. D. We don't know. Answer: D Question: One day, the mouse, Rudd, got a splinter in his paw when he was putting a new fence around his house. His turtle friend with a weird name, Dig, came up to Rudd after he heard him yelling, "Ouch, I've got a splinter in my paw! Can someone help?" Dig, being the ever helpful turtle, took the splinter in his mouth and tugged it. The splinter popped right out of Rudd's paw and flew right into the air and then landed in the middle of the river. Rudd looked happy and gave Dig a hug. "Thank you so much, Dig! And for helping me, I'll give you the choice of one of these three desserts I found. What would you like to have? A cake? A cookie? Or maybe this brownie?" "Oh, Rudd, you are so silly and know you don't even have to ask me which one I'd take. You know I love brownies!" Dig smiled happily as Rudd gave him his treat and another hug for helping with the splinter. After the two friends finish their dessert, Dig helped Rudd put up the rest of his fence until the sun went down that day. It was a good day for both friends. What did Dig and Rudd do after Dig pulled the splinter out. A. Finished the fence. B. Ate more brownies C. Sun bathed D. Had a cookie Answer: A
BEIJING, June. 30(Xinhua)----There are ten times as many Chinese newspapers and magazines than there were 30 years ago. That's when the country adopted the reform and opening-up policy. Figures from the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP)show there were 186 newspapers and 930 magazines in China in 1978. Today, the country has 2,081 newspapers and 9,363 different magazines. In the meantime, official figures show China has some 600 publishing houses producing nearly 300,000 kinds of books. That's a dramatic increase from the 105 publishers of the past that produced only 10,000 different books. Rapid economic development and universal education since China adopted the reform has helped fuel the need for more information sources. Under the market economy, hundreds of publishing houses and newspapers have taken steps to restructure management systems into corporations listed on the stock market. The legal system overseeing the news and publishing industries in China has also changed over the last three decades. Since 1990 a law and five relevant regulations were adopted in 1990 to govern the sectors. Since it started in 1993, digital publishing has _ . Its industrial volume amounted to 20 billion yuan (2.93 billion U.S. dollars) in 2006. More than 500,000 kinds of digital books were produced last year alone in China, which is more than any other country in the world. You will probably read this text in the _ column of XINHUA NET? culture and education Who's in control of your life? Who is pulling your string? For the majority of us, it's other people - society, colleagues, friends, family or our religious community. We learned this way of operating when we were very young, of course.We were brainwashed.We discovered that feeling important and feeling accepted was a nice experience and so we learned to do everything we could to make other people like us.As Oscar Wilde puts it,"Most people are other people.Their thoughts are someone else's opinions,their lives a mimicry ,their passions a quotation." So when people tell us how wonderful we are,it makes us feel good.We long for this good feeling like a drug--we are addicted to it and seek it out wherever we can.Therefore,we are so eager for the approval of others that we live unhappy and limited lives,failing to do the things we really want to.Just as drug addicts and alcoholics live worsened lives to keep getting their fix ,we worsen our own existence to get our own constant fix of approval. But just as with any drug,there is a price to pay.The price of the approval drug is freedom--the freedom to be ourselves. The truth is that we cannot control what other people think.People have their own schedule,and they come with their own baggage and,in the end,they're more interested in themselves than in you.Furthermore,if we try to live by the opinions of others,we will build our life on sinking sand.Everyone has a different way of thinking,and people change their opinions all the time.The person who tries to please everyone will only end up getting exhausted and probably pleasing no one in the process. So how can we take back control? I think there's only one way--make a conscious decision to stop caring what other people think.We should guide ourselves by means of a set of values--not values imposed from the outside by others,but inborn values which come from within.If we are driven by these values and not by the changing opinions and value systems of others,we will live a more authentic,effective,purposeful and happy life. It can be concluded from the passage that _ . we shouldn't care what others think A woman was in a hurry to go to the airport. She told the cab driver to drive quickly. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she was not aware they were going by a different route. Suddenly, a man got inside the cab. He took her handbag where she had placed her visa, passport, and all her money for the trip. The driver, who was _ the robber, left her in the middle of that dark street. She cursed the world for being so mean to her, and thought how unlucky she was in that situation. That very same night, she heard some shocking news.Tears flowed down her face.Flight 230,which was the plane that she was supposed to have boarded, had crashed.If she had not lost her precious belongings, she could have lost something far more important--her life. Sometimes bad things really happen.We lose money, fail our exams, or are rejected by others.There are times when nothing seems to go our way. So what should we do about it? Should we be disappointed? The answer is a resounding "No!" We must get rid of all these frustrations and start all over again in the consistent faith that we will get what we deserve. Don't waste your time and energy on things that can't be changed.Continuous worrying will only affect your health and you'll be doing much more damage than what was previously done. What if it was the other way round? What if we never ran out of good luck? There was a man who won the lottery.He thought he was the luckiest person in the world.He became greedy and wasted all his money on everything he could get his hands on. One day, he made it to the front page of the newspaper again.But this time, it was a different story.He had been killed because of his riches. If you attain good luck, you can never be too secure about it.Hope for protection and guidance.Life is so unpredictable.You never know what will happen next. Live one day at a time.we sometimes subject ourselves to unnecessary emotional trouble.We ask ourselves: "What if I don't get this done in time?" or "What if my family leaves me and I've got no one else to turn to?" Live for the moment.Do what must be done for the present and the future will turn out just fine. Believe me.And believe in yourself.As Captain Planet always says: "The power is yours!" From the passage, we learn that _ . the woman was lucky to miss her flight January 1 -- January 31 You are charming and intelligent.You are actually quite ambitious.You like to go to parties and chat with your friends.On the other hand, you are friendly, but you are also a very private person. February 1 -- February 28 You are determined and hard working.You are born under the sign of loyalty and evenness .You like parties and enjoy a lot of friends.On the other hand, you are quite famous for your courage.You really like to explore and you are an adventurer. March 1 -- March 31 You are very loyal, independent, and open-minded.You are a born leader, and when you set a goal, you go to it.You adore challenges and competitions.You are most likely to be the one who calls out, "Let's go!" you are always in a circle of friends.You love animals. _ April I--April 30 You are artistic, well-mannered, intelligent, and diplomatic.You are usually sweet and kind, of course.You are sometimes famous for your artistic sense and good taste.You love throwing grand parties.Vacations and routines are very important to you.You are also fairly popular. Mayl -- May 31 You are talented, sincere, and most of all, enthusiastic.You are the master of ceremonies. You shine in the crowd.When you walk into a room, heads turn, and you hear whispers and gasps.You have a strong will to defeat any challenge in your way.You have a hunger for fashion. June 1 -- June 30 You are very elegant, wise, and compassionate .You are very attractive and people are attracted to you.Your friends rely on you for advice.You will be someone like Jacqueline Onassis.You are also very lucky in many ways. Julyl -- July 31 You are mostly agreeable, energetic, and popular.You like to try new things wherever you go.You know how to dress and you always look your best.You are talented and you love sports. You are always one step ahead of anyone else.You adore freedom and independence. August 1 -- August 31 You are empathetic, easygoing, and compliant.You can get along with almost everyone. Many people admire you for your talent and creativity.On the other hand, you are sensitive and compassionate.You always like to dream.You enjoy peace and quiet at night. September 1 -- September 30 You are individualistic, sociable, and very entertaining.You are capable of anything.You have an excellent memory.You like long, friendly conversations with your closest friends.You turn boring things into the life of the party. October 1 -- October 31 You are thoughtful, intelligent, and the class comedian.You are also very popular, and nice around friends.You love to save the best for last.You are amusing and very fun to be around with.You love to spend hours each day reading and studying for final exams, when the school year has just started.You almost never turn on your friends. November 1 -- November 30 You are unselfish, knowledgeable, and friendly.You are loyal to your friends and family. You can see the difference between right and wrong.You are very honest and you speak out when you feel something has gone wrong.You are the person who likes trendy clothes. December 1 --December 31 You are smart, optimistic, and willing to help others.You are like a rare diamond.You are intentionally the nicest while you are with friends.You are also very affectionate.You are too good to be true.Your friends trust in you easily.You are also popular in the "Being Nice" way. If you are born in March, the sentence "You are like a roller coaster" is probably linked with which of the following characteristics? Adoring challenges and competitions. It was a beautiful spring morning. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the sun was warm but not too hot. Mr. White saw an old man at the bus stop with a big and black umbrella in his hand. Mr. White said to him, "Do you think it's going to rain today?" "No," said the old man, "I don't think so." "Then are you carrying the umbrella because the sun is too hot?" "No, the sun is not very hot in spring." Mr. White looked at the big umbrella again, and the man said, "I am old man, and my legs are not very strong. I must have a walking-stick. But people will say, 'Look, the man is so old, and I don't like that.' When I carry an umbrella in fine weather, people only say, 'look at that stupid man.'" The story happened _ . at a bus stop
Napoleon Bonaparte died on May 5, 1821, on the island of St. Helena off the coast of Africa. He was 51 years old at the time. When doctors examined Napoleon's body, they said that the former emperor of France had died from cancer of the stomach. That was the cause of death recorded in the official report. However, other doctors disagreed. One doctor who was present during the examination of the body said that Napoleon died of hepatitis. Other historians and medical experts have suggested that Napoleon died of syphilis, tuberculosis, or perhaps malaria. Now, after careful research, a British chemist thinks that Napoleon might have been poisoned -- not by a person, but by his wallpaper. Napoleon was sent to the island of St. Helena in 1815 after he lost the battle of Waterloo. He was a prisoner on the island. Although he had servants to attend to him, he had to live in one small building. St. Helena is a very wet island, so the walls of the building were always covered with mold. Napoleon became ill from spending too much time inside his house. Almost constantly he had a fever, chills, and felt sick to his stomach. He often felt pain in his shoulders and in his side. His skin turned yellow. He got frequent headaches, and he would become dizzy and vomit . None of the medicine that the doctors gave Napoleon seemed to help. They were not sure what was the matter. Finally, Napoleon was too weak to leave the house. One night, while he was sleeping, he went into a coma and died. Many doctors who later reviewed the reports of Napoleon's illness found that the symptoms did not show a man who suffered from stomach cancer. It seemed obvious that Napoleon had died from some other cause. In 1961, a Swedish doctor examined some of Napoleon's hair and found a high level of arsenic, a chemical poison. Was Napoleon murdered? It is doubtful. Arsenic was used in many types of medicine during Napoleon's time, so he might have taken the arsenic as a cure for his illness. Then, in 1982, Dr. David Jones from England began to look into the mystery and suggested that Napoleon might have breathed in arsenic which was in the air of his house. In the 1700s and 1800s, arsenic was used to make a kind of green paint used on cloth and wallpaper. If the paint was used on a wet wall, the arsenic would go into the air. A person in the room might breathe that air. After studying the wallpaper in the room where Napoleon died, Dr. Jones found high levels of arsenic in the green paint on the walls. The passage says that _ When a dog loses a leg, the animal eventually figures out the best way to get around on three legs. In a short time, the dog learns to deal with its physical disability. Now, scientists have developed robots that behave in much the same way. We can find robots everywhere. Robots build cars, play chess and can clean your house. They may someday drive your car, too. Two robots, named Spirit and Opportunity, were sent to Mars on a mission to explore the red planet. Jeff Clune is a computer scientist with the University of Wyoming. He says robots also help people in natural disasters. Robots are deployed in search and rescue operations following an earthquake. They may someday also be used to examine the wreckage of a nuclear accident, like the one in Fukushima, Japan. Mr. Clune says robots can be sent to a lot of places said to be unsafe. "The problem is that all of those types of situations and environment are extremely unpredictable and dangerous. And it is very likely that robots and humans in those situations become damaged." He and other scientists are developing technology so that robots will continue operating after the first sign of injury. They want the machines to have the ability to make changes and continue performing until they can be repaired. Mr. Clune and researchers in France have added one more operation to the skill set of robots working under difficult conditions. They say they programmed a hexapod robot, one with six legs, and a robotic arm to learn how to deal with injury. Their findings were reported in the journal "Nature". Mr. Clune said that once the robots become damaged, they use their intuition and knowledge of how their body works to find a way to deal with the damage. He says the robots are also programmed with child-like curiosity. In other words, they are always asking questions and looking for answers. The whole process takes about a minute for the robots to find a way to overcome damage. At the beginning of the passage, the writer mentions dogs to _ . "Keep out or I'll chase you out! This is my property!" You hear this every spring. It is a long musical sound --- a bird song! Birds use their songs to communicate different messages to one another. People who study bird sounds are learning their meanings. Usually it is the male that sings. Early in spring he sings to say that he has picked out a piece of property. He sings to attract a female of his same kind. Together they will raise a family in his territory . He sings to tell all other birds of his kind to keep out. Each kind of bird has its own type of song. Cardinals sing something that sounds a little like "What cheer, cheer, cheer." Towhees sing, "Drink your tea." Most of the time, birds pay attention only to the songs of birds of their own kind. Cardinals answer cardinals, and song sparrows answer song sparrows. A cardinal knows that a song sparrow will not try to steal its mate. So you can see one reason why a cardinal may chase away another cardinal but will not bother a song sparrow. Most different kinds of birds eat different things. To find enough to eat, a bird needs a big piece of land to search in. Many kinds of birds have some ways of dividing up the land into territories. Song sparrows, cardinals ovenbirds, and white-throated sparrows are some of the birds that have territorial systems. Especially in early spring, birds work out the boundaries between their territories by singing "keep out" threats and by chasing and fighting each other. The birds continue singing to tell females that they have set up territories. Neighboring birds seem to agree that there are make believe fences between their pieces of property. Then they do not have to waste energy chasing each other instead of taking care of their young. Scientists guessed that some birds could recognize their neighbors by small differences in their songs. Two scientists who studied white-throated sparrows found that these birds can even tell the difference between songs of individual birds of their own kind. White-throated sparrows have songs that seem to say "I'm your neighbor" or "I'm a stranger" or "I'm your neighbor to the west." Other kinds of birds could tell neighbors from strangers by their songs, too. What is the article mainly about? Peter Rabbit is a character in various children's stories written by Beatrix Potter(1866-1943). Peter Rabbit made his first appearance in 1902 in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Peter doesn't obey his mother's orders and goes away. Mr.McGregor spots him and runs after him. Peter manages to escape, but not before losing his jacket and shoes, which Mr.McGregor uses to dress a scarecrow . Peter returns home tired and ill. In the Tale of Benjamin Bunny, first published in 1904, Peter's cousin Benjamin Bunny brings him back to Mr.McGregor's garden and they get back the clothes Peter lost in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. But after they gather onions to give to Peter's mother, they are caught by Mr.McGregor's cat. Benjamin's father arrives and rescues them, but also blames Peter and Benjamin for going into the garden. In this tale, Peter displays fear about returning to the garden. In the The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, first published in 1909, Peter has a small role and appears only briefly. He is grown up and his sister Flopsy is now married to Benjamin Bunny. The two are the parents of six little Flopsy-Bunnies. Peter and his mother keep a nursery garden and the bunnies come by asking him for spare cabbage. In the Tale of Mr. Tod, first published in 1912, Benjamin and Flopsy's children are taken away by Tommy Brock. Peter helps Benjamin run after Brock, who hides out in the house of the fox Mr. Tod. Mr. Tod finds Brock sleeping in his bed and as _ get into a fight, Peter rescues the children. Peter makes cameo appearances in two other tales. In The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, first published in 1905, Peter and Benjamin are customers of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, a hedgehog washerwoman. In The Tale of Ginger and Pickles, first published in 1909, Peter and other characters from Potter's previous stories make cameo appearances. The author wrote the passage to _ . Some people do not like anything to be out of place; they are never late for work; they return their books to the library on time; they remember people's birthdays; and they pay their bills as soon as they arrive. Mr. Dodds is such a person . Mr. Dodds works in a bank, and lives on his own. The only family he has is in the next town :his sister lives there with her husband, and her son, Mark, Mr. Dodds does not see his sister, or her family, from one year to the next, but he sends them Christmas cards, and he has not forgotten one of Mark's seventeen birthdays. Last week Mr. Dodds had quite a surprise. He drove home from the bank at the usual time, driving neither too slowly nor too fast. He parked his car where he always parked it, out of the way of other cars, and he went inside to make his evening meal. Straight away, there was a knock at the door. Mr Dodds opened the door to find a policeman standing on the door-step . "What have I done wrong ?" Mr. Dodds asked himself . "Have I driven on the wrong side of the road? Has there been some trouble at the bank? Have I forgotten to pay an important bill?" "Hello, Uncle ," said the policeman," My name is Mark." The policeman was there _ .
Two birds in completely different houses can discuss something by Answer: When my dad was a very young man, he was one of the few people in the small community of North Apollo, who owned a car. When he and Mom got married, they went on their honeymoon in that old Ford, but they had to turn around and pay a visit to the garage because the car didn't have enough power to drive them going forward. When I was too young to remember, my dad owned a truck in which we all went nutting and berry picking. It was an important day when Daddy decided to buy a family car. It must have been about 1937 or 1938 when he purchased a 1929 Chevrolet sedan. We loved that old car. On Saturday evenings, after dinner, the whole family would pile into that old square sedan, go up to Whitlinger's grocery store and buy a bag of Hershey's Kisses. Then Daddy would head out toward the country and drive all around the old country roads while we fed ourselves on chocolates. That was the highlight of our week. I didn't know which we enjoyed most, the chocolates or riding in the car. The first car I owned was a Packard touring car. My cousin Janet and I were living in Washington D.C., and mostly rode the streetcars to wherever we wanted to go. Janet's friend Kathy had learned to drive so the three of us decided to buy a car for ourselves. We picked out this old Packard because it was all we could afford. Every American living today can tell stories about the cars they have driven. I love to drive. I am most excited when I'm headed to the garage with my car keys in my hand. The car I own now is a 1998 Buick Century with a mark where I backed into a tree. I love the freedom I feel just moving down the road in that old car. I am almost certain that when I get to heaven, God will have that old car sitting there waiting for me to drive down that golden street. The author decided to buy his own car because _ . Answer: Suppose you are reading a book. Suppose, too, you suddenly close your eyes. Can you still see the book? "Of course not," you will say. But can you tell why? You would probably say, "When I close my eyes my eyesight cannot get out of my eyes to get to the book. " But this explanation is wrong. You cannot see any object unless light from that object gets into your eyes. Some of the things you see give off light of their own. The sun, the stars, a lighted lamp are examples of that can be seen by their own light. Such things are luminous. Most of the things you see are not giving off light of their own. They are simply reflecting light that falls on them from the sun or some other luminous body. The moon, for example, does not give off any light of its own. It is non-luminous. You see it because sunlight falls on it and some of it reflects in your direction. So moonlight is only second-hand sunlight. When you look at a book, it sends to your eyes some of the light which falls on it, and you see the book. If light could be kept out from where you are so that there would be no light for the book to reflect, then you could not see the book even with your eyes wide open. Light travels so fast that the time in which it travels from the book you are reading to your eyes is so short as if there were no time at all. Light reaches us from the moon, which is about 380,000 kilometres away, in only a little more than a second. You can not see the book when you close your eyes, because _ . Answer: It's nine o'clock on a Tuesday night.You are trying to finish your maths assignment. You have only two problems left to go.Almost done!You are looking forward to a nice snack and your favorite TV show.You read the next problem and groan.You don,t have a clue how to do it .You may check your notes from class .Or you may try reading your text-book .But the problem might as well be written in a foreign language. Does this sound familiar? Most people who have taken any kind of maths class have had this experience.What do you do when you get stuck? Perhaps you call a friend.Or you ask a family member for help.But what if it's late at night? Years ago there were very few ways to get help if you were stuck on a maths problem. Maths is different from other school subjects.You often cannot find what to do in a book.A dictionary or even an encyclopedia probably won't help you.You need someone to show you the steps.Learning most kinds of maths is something like learning to play a musical instrument.You need a coach to show you what to do. In many areas there are homework telephone lines.These hot lines have volunteers.They can help you do homework in all subjects.A maths volunteer can explain the steps in a maths problem that has you stumped* Today you can also get help on the Internet.There are several homework help programs and Web pages .In some,you leave your question on a message board.Or you write it in an e-mail note.In other maths-help programs there are live volunteer teachers.You can wait for a real maths teacher to help you do the problem. The writer compares learning maths to _ . Answer: Is it worth it to go to college? This has been questioned a lot recently in America. According to a new survey released by the Pew Research Center, only 40 percent of Americans felt that colleges provided a good value for the cost. At the same time, 86 percent of college graduates still felt it was good for them. There are a number of reasons for such dissatisfaction with college. First, there are plenty of problems with higher education -- poor quality and out-of-control costs are two of the biggest. Second, it is true that college is not for everyone. Plenty of rewarding and important careers do not require college. And due to the slow economy, there may in fact be more graduates than the current job market needs. Besides, anti-college feelings are nothing new. Today, Microsoft's Bill Gates or Apple's Steve Jobs -- both college dropouts -- is often held up as evidence of why all that time sitting in class is better spent elsewhere. However, getting a college education is still a good idea. College graduates earn more, and are more likely to have a job in the first place. According to the statistics last year, the average weekly earnings for someone with some college education but no degrees were $712, compared to $1,038 for a college graduate. That is almost $17,000 over the course of a year and there is an even bigger divide for those with less education. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent for those with only some college education and more than 10 percent for those with just a middle school degree, but it was 5.4 percent for college graduates. The economic gaps between college completers and those with less education are getting larger. Although most Americans surveyed by Pew feel doubtful about the value of a college degree, an overwhelming majority of parents Pew surveyed still expect their children to go to college. "It can be inferred that the increased doubt has not significantly influenced decision making." Pew's Taylor says, "Despite the concern about rising costs and other problems, college remains a universal desire in this country." Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer:
Useful Information in Australia Useful Numbers All the telephone numbers are useful and free. . Fire/ Police/ Ambulance --000 Telephone information--12455 . Medical Care--1300369359 Taxi--1800421113 Surfing the Internet With so many Internet tearooms and public libraries, it's easy to surf the Internet in Australia. Also it's very cheap for you to surf the Internet. . Public libraries offer free Internet every day even during public holidays. . Many travel managers provide connection which is cheap or free. Post Service All post offices around the country offer post services so you can receive mails as you travel around the whole country. . Post offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. . It costs 50 cents to send a standard letter in Australia. Public Holidays On public holidays all shops are closed across Australia, so are banks and post offices. . New Year's Day--1st January . Australia Day--26th January . Christmas Day--25th December If there is a fire, you can call _ in Australia. A 1300369359 B 180042113 C 000 D 12455 Answer: C. 000 I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game -- a serious game -- two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distractionof being anxious about winning or losing. The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. Then came the second quarter. The Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs , except for his best player who now guarded the goal. The game _ . I guess winning is important even when you're five years old -- because the Team Two coach left his best players in, and the Team One scrubs were no match for them. Team Two packed around the little guy who was now the Team One goalkeeper. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match for three or four who were also very good. Team Two began to score. The lone goalkeeper gave it everything he had, desperately throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying bravely to stop them. Team Two scored two goals in quick succession. It angered the young boy. He became a raging maniac -- shouting, running, diving. With all the strength he could gather, he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time he repositioned himself, it was too late -- they scored a third goal. I soon learned who the goalkeeper's parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office -- he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on the sidelines. After the third goal, the little kid changed. He didn't quit, but he became quietly desperate and futility was written all over him. His father changed, too. He had been urging his son to try harder -- yelling advice and encouragement. But then he became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay -- to hang in there. He sorrowed for the pain his son was feeling. After the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. The little boy fetched the ball from the net and handed it to the referee . He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees, and he cried the tears of the helpless and brokenhearted. At that moment, I saw the father start onto the field. His wife seized his arm and said, "Jim, don't. You'll embarrass him." But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. Suit, tie, dress shoe, and all -- he charged onto the field, and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy, and he hugged him and held him and cried with him. I've never been so proud of a man in my life. He carried him off the field, and when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, "Scotty, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son." "Daddy," the boy sobbed. "I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, but they scored on me." "Scotty, it doesn't matter how many times they scored on you. You're my son, and I'm proud of you. I want you to go back there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can't. And, son, you're going to get scored on again, but it doesn't matter. In my eyes, you are the winner! Go on, now." The little guy ran back onto the field -- and they scored two more times -- but it was okay. Now in all viewers' eyes, he is the Winner. When you're all alone, and you're getting scored on -- and you can't stop them -- it means a lot to know that it doesn't matter to those who love you. In their eyes, so long as you don't give up, you are the winner. And they are always proud of you. Why did the boy's mother try to stop her husband running onto the field? A She thought it would only make his son feel awkward. B She hoped her son could gather courage and cheer himself up. C She considered it useless to encourage his son at that time. D She knew it was not allowed when the game was still in progress. Answer: A. She thought it would only make his son feel awkward. When Regina Mary' parents refused to let her get a horse ,the smart 15-year-olddidn't sit in her room and complain. Instead she turned to a cow called Luna to make her riding dreams come true. Hours of training ,and tons of treats later, the results are impressive: not only do the two regularly go on long rides through the southern German countryside, they can even do some difficult jumps successfully. Regina joked while sitting on her brown-and-white companion: "It's unbelievable really , She thinks she's a horse." The pairs unlikely friendship started about two years ago, shortly after Luna was born on the Mayer's farm. They started off with walks in the woods. Then Mayer slowly got her cow more adapted to human contact and riding equipment. About six months later, it was time to see how Luna would respond to a rider on her back in a competition for horses. Mayer sat in the saddle ,and all went as planned. "She was really well behaved and walked normally, but after a couple of meters, she wanted to get me off her back! You could see that she got a bit _ " said Mayer. Luna and Mayer are now soul mates, spending most afternoons together once the teen--who dreams of becoming a nurse one day--come home from school. The passage mainly talks about _ . A a cow performing in a horse competition B a German girl training a cow successfully C the way of gaining friendship from a cow D the efforts of a cow to adapt to riding equipment Answer: B. a German girl training a cow successfully Every Saturday or Sunday night my family and I go out and feed the homeless people in the city of Orlando. There are thousands of people across the United States without any food or shelter. My family and I have been doing this for several months. We all get together in the kitchen and prepare the food. Some of the meals are sandwiches, cookies and a bottle of water. Sometimes my mom prepares a steaming hot delicious meal. We then bag them all up to feed 30 or more people. I like to write special notes on the bags like "God loves you." Before my family and I get into the car we ask God for protection in a family prayer. A lot of people misunderstand homeless people. Not all homeless people are drug addicts or bad people. Some are really nice. Some of them just had bad things that happened to them. At first when my family and I went out on the street we had to earn their trust. A lot of people are unkind to them for no good reason. But now that they see us every week, they trust us. We even know some of their names. We all have to remember that these are people that have feelings. Some of them shake our hands for giving them food, and thank us. Some of them do really funny dances because they are happy. We have become really close with this man named Tony and his wife. They have all of their personal belongings in shopping carts. After meeting with them several times he has told us a lot about his life. He graduated from Harvard University and has a PHD. He used to teach French and Spanish. He lost his job after the economic crisis began. After we get done feeding the homeless, _ makes me appreciate what I have at home. Sometimes it makes me sad, and makes my mom cry. I love feeding the homeless, and making a difference in someone's life. Why do the homeless believe in the author and his family? A They don't ask the homeless to do something bad. B They always bring more food every time. C They often give food to them at fixed time. D They never ask about the names of the homeless. Answer: C. They often give food to them at fixed time. We were driving from Los Angeles to Dallas,running low on gas somewhere in New Mexico and figured we'd see a gas station soon enough to fill up. But that didn't happen and we realized we wouldn't make it to the next town.So my daughter made up a sign that read"Low on gas.Can u help?" and held it outside her window in the hopes that a driver in the next lane would notice it and stop. There weren't too many vehicles passing us either at the time.It was a lonely stretch of road and about 3:30 pm on a weekday.A suburban was driving along happily in the neighboring lane ahead of us.We caught up with it in the hopes the driver would notice the sign.After a brief expression of confusion on his face,he seemed to have noticed the sign and slowed down to pull over.We pulled over right behind him. He was friendly and was eager to help us.At first he thought we didn't have enough money to buy gas,so he offered to buy us gas at the next town Roswell that was about 10 miles away![:ZXXK] When we explained our _ of not having enough gas to get to Roswell,he said his farm was about 1 0 minutes away and they had a gas pump there,so if we could give him 20 minutes,he would head back there,get a can of gas and fill up our tank for us. We could not believe our good fortune ! There not being any cell phone reception for either of us in the area, we had just hoped that whoever stopped to help would be kind enough to call AAA when they got to Roswell and we would just wait it out for them to help us. We were filled with gratefulness for the kindness of strangers such as this person as we waited for him to return.Sure enough,he was back with the can and quickly filled our tank.He refused to take payment for the gas.Tears flowed,as did our endless appreciation. Which of the following best describes the old man? A Warm-hearted and generous. B Honest and confused. C Kind and productive. D Enthusiastic and serious. Answer: A. Warm-hearted and generous.
1990 was a significant year in world enents. In Febbruary, Nelson Mandela was set free after 27 years in prison. In October, East and West Germany became one country again. Then at the end of 1990, the World Wide Web was born. For this final event we have one man to thank, Tim Berners-Lee, the father of the Web. Berners-Lee was born on June 8, 1955 in London, England. His parents, both computer designers, encouraged him to think and work creativelhy as he grew up. He was an excellent student and naturally took an interest in computers and science. After graduating from Oxford University, Tim went to work at a science research centre in Sfwitzerland. There be developed some of the different systems that would later become the Web. The first was HTML, the computer language used to make web pages. The second was an address system that let computers anhywhere find each other and send and receive information. In 1990, while still at the science centre in Switzerland, he put them together to make the first Internet browser. It could run on any computer and allowed people to create share their information with the rest of the world. Tim knew that the more people used the Web, the more useful it would be. He wasn't interested in money but knowledge, so he gave out his invention for free to anyone who was interested. Many were interested and the growth of the Internet began. Today Tim works as a professor at the MIT in America, researching new and interesting ways to use the Web. He has received many awards from governments and organizations for his efforts. He is still not very interested in money. That is why he is so admired by his students and workmates. It may also be one of the reasons that few people outside the world of technology know his name. Where does Berners-Lee live today? Janice is an American engineer working in Nanjing. She and her husband George, who is teaching English at a university, have been eager to get to know Chinese people better, so they were pleased when Liu, Janice's young co-worker, invited them to her home for dinner. When they arrived, Liu introduced them to her husband Yang and asked them to sit down at a table containing eight plates of various cold dishes. Half an hour later she came back and sat down and the three began to eat. Yang came in from time to time, putting hot dishes on the table. Most of the food was wonderful, though neither George nor Janice could eat the fatty pork, and there was much more than they could eat. They kept wishing Yang would sit down so they could talk to him. Finally he did sit down to eat a bit, but soon it was time to go home. Janice and George felt slightly depressed by this experience, but returned the invitation two weeks later. They decided to make a nice American meal and felt lucky to find olives, crackers , tomato juice, and even some cheese in the shop. They put these out as appetizers . For the main course they prepared spaghetti and a salad. When Liu and Yang arrived and began to have dinner, they took small tastes of the appetizers and seemed surprised when both George and Janice sat down with them. They ate only a little spaghetti and didn't finish the salad on their plates. After a while, George cleared the table and served coffee and pastries . Yang and Liu each put four spoons of sugar into their coffee but didn't drink much of it and ate only a bite or two of pastry. After they left, George and Janice were upset. " We left their place so full but they're going to have to eat again when they get home. What went wrong? What do we know about the dinner at Liu's home? A camera and a computer can "see" something that perhaps millions of pairs of eyes failed to see for 480 years: the Mona Lisa's necklace. The discovery about the famous painting was made by an American physicist. The Mona Lisa, painted by the Italian, Leonardo da Vinci, has been on show for many years in Paris. Now a row of white spots on the neck have been "seen". They are said to be the remains of a necklace which the artist later painted over. The painting will be examined further by using infrared scanning techniques. Laser technology can be used to show what lies directly under the surface of the finished work, too. This will help us to understand how the artist drew the picture: Did he begin with a quick-made drawing or have second thoughts as he painted the picture? This kind of knowledge will show us the famous artist at work. It may also help to explain Mona Lisa's smile, which has puzzled art lovers for centuries. According to the passage, the white spots on Mona Lisa's neck _ . Many places in the world need more fresh water. Every country is trying to find ways to turn salt water into fresh. Why aren't there many factories like the Symi factory? In some places the sun is not hot enough. Or it does not shine every day. In such places other ways of heating sea water can be used. These ways cost more money, but they work faster than the sun. By boiling sea water with high heat a lot of fresh water can be made quickly. But heating is not the only way to get fresh water from salt water. Other ways are tried. One way is freezing. The fresh part of salt water freezes first. To get fresh water, the bits of ice are taken out. Which way is the best? The one that gives the most water for the least money. It may be a different way for each place. Symi's way seems very good for small, hot places. It does not make much water at a time. But the factory is easy to build and costs little. That is why people in many dry places talk about Symi. From the passage we know that fresh water _ . It is a very nice morning. Betty and her mother are on a big bus. There are many people on the bus. Some are from America. Some are from England and some are from Japan. They are friends. They are going to the International Trade City . There are two Chinese on the bus. They are a young man and a young woman. They can speak English. The Chinese young man is the driver of the bus. The woman is talking about the Commodity Fair . The others are all listening to her. They like the city. They are going to _ .
Which of these is the most likely effect of cutting down large numbers of trees? A. loss of habitat for animals B. increase in oxygen in the air C. lower pollution levels D. decrease in soil erosion Answer: A. loss of habitat for animals Healthy eating habit along with regular exercise is the only way to become fit. If you have the correct number of _ and exercise regularly, you will lose weight, keep fit, and feel great, too. During your teenage years, it is important to give your body the energy it needs. If you skip meals, you won't get enough calories, and then you will feel tired. By the way, calorie is just another word for energy. About 50% of your calories should come from rice, bread, vegetables and fruit. You also need to drink a lot of water, 6 to 8 glasses a day. Water helps keep your system clean. Drinking enough water will make your skin better and make you healthy. Exercise is something that can help to make you look good, feel good and be healthy. Experts suggest that teenagers spend at least 30 minutes exercising a day, five times a week. That is easy to do! You can walk or ride your bike to school, and do sports at school. However, teenagers often give up sports, saying they have no time left after their studies. In fact, doing exercise can help them sleep better at night and increase their ability to focus on their study. If you follow the suggestions above, you will look and feel much better and become fit. Teenagers should spend at least _ minutes exercising a week according to this passage. A. 5 B. 50 C. 30 D. 150 Answer: D. 150 Which of the following is likely to change an egg's shape and mass? A. Placing it on a pillow B. Dropping it from a building C. Leaving it in a carton D. Holding it in your hand Answer: B. Dropping it from a building Some people view a bad situation as a disaster. It's not. It's an opportunity. Once your old world collapses , you can recover and rebuild. Now you have the chance to start fresh and do things more intelligently. I built my business on an unstable structure. I kept it going for years, but the business collapsed last year. I had to leave my office, selling off all the furniture and equipment. I got kicked out of my apartment because I couldn't pay the rent. I couldn't pay my bills or debt. I declared bankruptcy. For years there was the worry that this might happen if I didn't keep straining to keep the business going. And my worries were right. What I worried about would happen did happen .But you know what? Going through that experience wasn't really so bad. It was interesting. Some of it was actually pretty easy. Throughout most of it, I felt increasing relief and a renewed sense of freedom and possibility. All the old _ was gone. No more office. Fewer possessions. Fewer obligations. No more debt. Most of all , no more straining. Life became a lot easier. I got a cheaper and smaller apartment. I became debt-free. I learned to live within my means. Those were actually good things. The others were just feelings. The reality wasn't actually painful. After that, I kept going with the same business but completely changed the business model. I avoided the earlier mistakes, and that business recovered just fine and worked great. It was profitable every year from then on. But I had to go through the collapse first to reach that point. If you've been feeling out of control with your current work or lifestyle, and you're currently straining to keep it going ,consider letting it go. Try allowing the old world to collapse, many or all of your fears and worries might actually come to pass, but that's ok. You don't have to keep the old world alive. If it keeps falling apart on you ,let it collapse. Experiencing the collapse isn't as bad as fearing the collapse The author regards the collapse of the old world as an opportunity to _ A. get a new world started in better ways B. turn to others for help to save ourselves C. sum up the failure and make up for the mistakes D. bury ourselves in the disasters and then recover ourselves Answer: A. get a new world started in better ways Need a solid excuse to dust off your running shoes? Joggers have been found to live an average of six years longer than those who don't jog. However, you'll have to run for at least one hour a week for benefit, according to a new study in Denmark. Researchers found that jogging was associated with a 44 per cent reduction in the risk of death for those over 35 years compared with deaths among those who did not run. The same benefit applied to both men and women. The 44 per cent reduction translates to an 'age-adjusted survival benefit' of 6.2 years in men and 5.6 years in women, according to Dr. Peter Schnohr, chief cardiologist from the Copenhagen City Heart study. Furthermore, the jogger's lives are not only longer but happier too as those who ran reported an overall sense of well-being, said Schnohr. The results of our research allow us to definitively answer the question of whether jogging is good for your health,' Schnohr said in a statement. 'We can say with certainty that regular jogging increases longevity. The good news is that you don't actually need to do that much to reap the benefits,' he continued. The study also found that the optimum benefit of jogging was for those who jogged at a slow-to-average pace for between an hour and two and a half hours spread over two or three weekly sessions. Researchers then compared deaths among the joggers among the non-joggers in the main study pool of almost 20,000. Over 35 years, 122 joggers died compared with 10,158 non-joggers. All the participants involved with the Copenhagen City Heart Study had their cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, and BMI, measured and they were questioned about smoking, alcohol consumption, education, and income. It can be inferred that the study of jogging benefit is _ . A. complete and reliable B. partial and unbelievable C. incomplete but reasonable D. reasonable but undependable Answer: A. complete and reliable
Question: On Nov.18,1995,Itzhak Perlman,the violinist,came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, _ him.He was stricken with polio as a child,and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches . He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair.Then he sits down,slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs,tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward.Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin,nods to the conductor and proceeds to play. But this time,something went wrong.Just as he fmished the first few bars ,one of the strings on his violin broke.You could hear it snap ---it went off like gunfire across the room.There was no mistaking what that meant.There was no mistaking what he had to do. We figured that he would have to get up,put on the clasps again,pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage-to either find another violin or else find another string for this one.But he didn't.Instead.he waited a moment,closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again. The orchestra began,and he played from where he had left off.And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before. When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room.And then people rose and cheered.He smiled,wiped the sweat from this brow, raised his bow to quit us,and then he said in a quiet tone."You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.'' Itzhak Perlman _ when one of the strings of the violin broke. A. gave up playing B. didn't know what to do C. went on playing the same piece of music D. went on playing a different piece of music Answer: C Question: What is a benefit of the regulation of gene expression? A. conservation of genetic information B. conservation of cell resources C. trait adaptation to environmental change D. trait inheritance in offspring Answer: B Question: Last week I talked with some of my students about what they wanted to do after they graduated, and what kind of job prospects they thought they had. Given that I teach students who are training to be doctors, I was surprised do find that most thought that they would not be able to get the jobs they wanted without "outside help". "What kind of help is that?" I asked, expecting them to tell me that they would need a or family friend to help them out. "Surgery ," one replied. I was pretty alarmed by that response. It seems that the graduates of today are increasingly willing to go under the knife to get ahead of others when it comes to getting a job . One girl told me that she was considering surgery to increase her height. "They break your legs, put in special extending screws, and slowly expand the gap between the two ends of the bone as it re-grows, you can get at least 5 cm taller!" At that point, I was shocked. I am short, I can't deny that, but I don't think I would put myself through months of agony just to be a few centimetres taller. I don't even bother to wear shoes with thick soles, as I'm not trying to hide the fact that I am just not tall! It seems to me that there is a trend towards wanting "perfection" , and that is an ideal that just does not exist in reality. No one is born perfect, yet magazines, TV shows and movies present images of thin, tall, beautiful people as being the norm. Advertisements for slimming aids, beauty treatments and cosmetic surgery clinics fill the pages of newspapers, further creating an idea that "perfection" is a requirement, and that it must be purchased, no matter what the cost. In my opinion, skills, rather than appearance, should determine how successful a person is in his/her chosen career. Many graduates today turn to cosmetic surgery to_. A. marry a better man/woman B. become a model C. get an advantage over others in job-hunting D. attract more admirers Answer: C Question: BEUING (Associated Press ) --China has a growing middle class, a tradition of expecting education and 21 million new babies every year. Selling educational toys should be easy. While China may be the world's biggest toymaker, many of the best are exported . Department stores here do not have enough high quality toys. It is said that the demand for educational toys is low. A US company, BabyCare, is trying to change that with a new way to sell toys in China. BabyCare works basically together with doctors in Beijing hospitals. People who join the company's "mother club"can get lectures and newsletters on baby and child development at no extra cost, if they agree to spend 18 dollars a month on the company's educational toys and childcare books. "We want to build a sevenyear relationship with those people," said Matthew J. Estes, BabyCare's president. "It starts during pregnancy , when the anxiety and needs are highest." BabyCare works on a onetoone basis. Doctors, nurses, and teachers paid by BabyCare advise parents, explain toys that are designed for children at each stage of development to age six. BabyCare opened its first store in China last June in a shopping center in central Beijing and another near Beijing Zoo. It plans to have 80 stores in China within six years. It is a new model for China and develops a market in young children's education and health that no other companies are in. Which of the following would be the most suitable title for the passage? A. Mother's Club in China. B. BabyCare and Doctors. C. American Company Model. D. Educational Toys in China Answer: D Question: Several years ago, I had a huge falling out with one of my best friends. So huge, in fact, that now I can't even remember what happened. In the past nine years, I've seen her twice, and each time we've been polite but distant. And that troubles me because we were once inseparable. I'd like nothing more than to go back nine years, and continue our friendship. But how? How do you reconnect with friends you've lost throughout the years? Linking to your past The desire to reconnect with lost friends isn't unusual. Why? Because friends link us to the past. " _ ," says Sandy Sheehy. Although you can share information about your past with friends you've met recently, you don't have a shared history with them. So you wind up only telling them about your past, rather than sharing it with them. But many people never try to reconnect. Women especially have trouble taking the first step. Shyness or fear that the other person doesn't want to reconnect often stops many women. And that shouldn't be. Your friends probably want to be in touch with you as much as you want to be in touch with them. Searching for friends Fortunately, finding lost friends isn't as difficult as it once was, thanks to tools like the Internet. Our experts offer these suggestions for locating contact information: Search Internet sites designed to locate people like classmates.com and switchboard.com. Contact your high school or college alumni office to request current address information. Surf online yellow pages. Check current phone records from your friend's hometown. Network with other friends who might have known your friend. Get in touch with any of her relatives, if you know where they live. If you know where she works, find the company's website and search the directory of personnel. What is the subject discussed in the passage? A. How to make new friends. B. How to rebuild friendship. C. How to develop healthy friendship. D. How to keep in touch with friends. Answer: B
It seems that all your friends' names on MSN have added a little green "I'm" symbol overnight. If you ask what is going on, someone will tell you it's a charity activity. Though this charity program has not yet officially begun for Chinese users, this little green symbol has proven popular among Chinese Windows Live Messenger users. Windows Live Messenger's official blog announced on March 1 that Microsoft was beginning an "I'm" program in the United States. Every time someone starts a conversation using "I'm", Microsoft shares a part of the program's advertising income with nine organizations devoted to social causes. With every instant message a user sends, it helps deal with things one feels most interested in, including poverty, child protection, disease and worsening environment. One only has to add a certain code next to one's name for the organization one would like to support. "red'u" is for the American Red Cross, "bgca" is for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and "*unicef" stands for the American branch of UNICEF. After a Chinese blogger named "hung" introduced this program on his blog on March 2, "I'm" entered the Internet in China with no actual support from Microsoft. Beijing-based Youth Weekend reported that famous IT blogger Keso regarded this program's rapid spread as a successful virus marketing case. He thinks that the success of the "I'm" program is because it's spread by users without being a bother to others. This answers why "I'm" has spread so rapidly across the Internet like a virus with almost no advertisement. However, Feng Jinhu from the press center for Microsoft China toldYouth Weekendthat the "I'm" project is only for Messenger users in the United States. Instant messages sent by Chinese users would not count. This has not affected Chinese Messenger users' interest in the little green symbol. These users hope their instant messages will actually contribute to charitable organizations someday. What is the reason for the success of the "I'm" program according to Keso? It doesn't bring other users trouble. Amy went to the beach one day last summer. She went with her family. Her parents let her and her brother, Brian, each bring one friend. Amy invited Candace. Brian asked David. Their neighbor Eddie also went. The six of them got into Amy's dad's car and began the long trip to the beach. In the car, they sang and played games together. They soon got the beach. Everyone put on sun block and had lunch. They ate on a large, blue blanket. Amy's mother had brought the blanket. After eating, everyone found fun things to do. Amy and Candace made sand castles with Amy's father. Brian, Eddie, and David swam in the sea and played catch. Amy's mother sat in a chair and read a book. When the sun began to set, they packed everything up and began to drive home. Both Brian and Candace slept. David played a game with Amy and Eddie before Eddie fell asleep and started to drool. After they got home, everyone had dinner at Amy's and talked about how much fun they had at the beach. Who are the two friends Amy and her brother bring to the beach? Candace and David. Randy was a boy who loved to eat spaghetti. One day he met a girl named Hilda. People said that Hilda made the best spaghetti in the world. So Randy wanted to try some of Hilda's spaghetti. He asked Hilda, "Hilda, would you make me some spaghetti please?" Hilda said, "Sure! Just come to my house tomorrow!" So the next day Randy went to Hilda's house, sat down in the dining room, and waited. Then Hilda came out with a big plate of spaghetti with spinach soup. The only problem was that the spaghetti was bright blue. Randy said, "This spaghetti is blue! The soup is blue also! I hate the color blue and I won't eat any blue food!" This made Hilda sad, and she started to cry. This made Randy feel bad so he said, "It's okay, Hilda. Don't cry. I'll let you try again." So Hilda made a new plate of spaghetti for Randy. This time it wasn't blue and came with a salad with cheese. Randy said, "That's much better!" Then he started to eat. Suddenly Randy spit out all the spaghetti because there was a big nasty bug in it. This made Randy very angry and he threw all the spaghetti on the floor. Hilda said, "I'm so sorry, I don't know how that got there!" Randy calmed down and said, "I'm sorry too. Let's forget the spaghetti. I can eat the salad instead." When Randy finished the salad, Hilda asked if Randy wanted dessert. Randy said "no" because he was too full. How many times did Hilda make Randy spaghetti? 2 More people speak English than any other language except Chinese .English is the main language spoken in the United Kingdom,Ireland,Australia,New Zealand,Canada,the United States and some other countries. Altogether more than 450 million people speak English as their everyday language .Another 100 million or more speak at least some English. Most English words come from old Anglo Saxon,French,or Latin words. Modern English developed through the efforts of literary and political writings .Modern English was influenced by old English,the beginning of the university educated people,Shakespeare,the common language found in the middle of presentday England and an effort to show and standardize English. British English,known as Standard English or Oxford English,underwent changes during the colonization of North America and the creation of the United States .British English words changed into American English words,such as centre to center,metre to meter,theatre to theater and so on. Until the 18th century,British and American English were very similar with almost no difference .Immigration to America by other English peoples changed the language by 1700.Noah Webster,author of the first authoritative American English dictionary,created many changes. British English was almost similar to American English until the _ century. 18th Children are known to be very keen observers and once they are interested in something, it is very likely to stay with them for life. They tend to look at life through the eyes of the person they are close to or want to be like. If their role model is optimistic, there are more chances of them optimistic. The role model becomes their standard of measurement. Because they follow the actions of their role models so closely, children adopt the personality and attitude of their role models. Children learn to like or dislike certain things by _ the personality and attitude of the people they admire. One reason why children keep changing their answers to "what would you like to be when you grow up" is that they are influenced by individuals in a certain field. Children view the social relationships (family or public) mainly in the light of the importance these relationships hold in the life of their role models. Their expression of their feelings is many times a reflection of their role model's outlook. According to a study, around 56% of teenagers identified with the role models. Out of these, those having personal or direct contact with their role models had higher self-esteem and were better at academics compared to those who didn't. As such, children who have positive role models, have more self-confidence and are more optimistic about their future. They learn to handle themselves well in social settings and positively interact with those around them. Of course, children who have their parents as positive role models have a well-rounded outlook towards life. They find it easier to deal with the highs and lows of life because they have seen their parents do it before. They find a sense of stability and security knowing that they will overcome failures just like their parents before them. Besides, it becomes easier for parents to discipline and guide children. So it is no wonder why children who have parents as their role models have fewer behavioral issues. According to the study, after direct contact with their role models, _ . children may feel more optimistic about their future
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. Once at midnight, an old lady in her 80s took my taxi. She gave me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?" "It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly. "Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice . I don't have any family left. The doctor says I don't have very long time." I quietly shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived, the place where she danced as a girl. As the sun was rising, she asked me to go to the address she had given me. "How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse. "Nothing," I said. "You have to make a living," she answered. "There are other passengers." "You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you." I drove into the fine morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I drove aimlessly ,lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run? The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to _ . Answer: Jane is only four years o1d and she doesn't go to school. But she is very clever and learns a lot from her grandpa--an old teacher. One day, Jane's mother, Mrs John takes her to a party. The guests all praise a rich woman's son. Mrs John asks him a few questions, but his answers are wrong. Jane begins to laugh. The rich woman is angry. She te11s her friend--a teacher to ask Jane some questions, but the little girl answers all. Then she asks, ''There are three birds in a tree. How many will be left if I kill one?" "One" answers Jane. "You're wrong!" calls out the rich woman. "All of them will fly away","Do you think a dead bird can fly?"asks the little girl. The guests begin to 1augh and the woman's face turns red. Why is the rich woman angry with Jane? Answer: The first day our professor challenged us to get to know someone we didn't know. I looked around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady smiling at me. She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm 87. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of children." "No seriously," I said. "I want to realize my dream!" she told me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and everyone liked to listen to this "time machine". At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet and I'll never forget what she taught us. "There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are 19 and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn 20. If I am 87 and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn 88. We have less time to live on. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do." At the year's end, Rose finished the college degree she had dreamed about all those years. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over 2,000 students attended her funeral honoring the wonderful woman who taught us such an important message. Rose made herself known to the author in a _ manner. Answer: It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn't invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in. "Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It's a beautiful day." "No! Leave me alone!" Those were the last words I said to him that morning. My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and went with them. I came home to find a note on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. "Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital". When I reached the hospital, my mother came out and told me my father's injuries were extensive. "Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there's no telling what might have happened. A broken rib might have pierced a lung...." My mother may have said more, but I didn't hear. I didn't hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone. My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day? It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him. "Daddy... I am so sorry...." "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay." "No," I said, "I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?" My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me and said, "Sweetheart, I don't remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before, though." He managed a weak smile. My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on. Why did the author say sorry to his father in the hospital? Answer: Few, if any, instruments shape national culture more powerfully than the materials used in schools. Textbooks are not only among the first books most people meet; in many places they are, along with religious texts, almost the only books they have. A study in South Africa showed that fewer than half of pupils had access to more than ten books at home. In 2010 a study by Egypt's government found that, apart from school textbooks, 88% of Egyptian households read no books. The degree to which a government keeps control of the textbooks used in classrooms is a good guide to its commitment to ideological control. Where that desire is strong, governments are likely to produce the textbooks themselves or define carefully what goes into them. America's State Department employs people to keep an eye on other countries' textbooks, in an effort to understand better how their people think and what their governments want them to think. Other countries probably do the same. Textbooks have long been a source of worry. After the attacks on America on September 11th 2001, some in both America and Saudi Arabia, including officials, supposed that Saudi Arabia's curriculum of intolerance was responsible, at least in part, for the emergence of al-Qaeda . Sometimes the requirements of the state are more clearly seen in what textbooks leave out. The world has long criticized Japan for the way its textbooks whitewash the country's history, in particular dressing up Japanese war crimes. The "New History Textbook", for example, which was submitted for government approval in 2000, played down Japan's aggression in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-95 and the occupation of China in the 1930s and 1940s, and avoided mention of the use of sex slaves by its armies or the rape of Nanjing. In America most of the disputes about textbooks are home-grown. Liberals worry that their children are being taught a nationalistic version of history that emphasizes the wonders of industrialization and plays down slavery and the killing of Indian tribes. By contrast, Conservatives complain about inadequate education of love for their country and too much secularism . In 2010 the Texas board of education managed to remove Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, from the state's list of important revolutionary figures, apparently because of Jefferson's insistence on the separation of church and state. He was, however, swiftly restored. As long as textbooks are issued or approved by the state, they will remain a political issue. But as access to other textbooks is enjoyed more widely, some of the dominance they now enjoy will weaken. While talking about textbooks, the author seems to think that_. Answer:
There was a beautiful garden. Every year the king would go to the garden to decide which flower was the most beautiful one. For the last few years, the rose was always Number One. Because of this, the rose Gulaab became _ It would never let birds stay on its flower. Then all the birds started staying away from Gulaab. Behind Gulaab, there was a little yellow flower. People called it Junglee. Junglee wasn't more beautiful than Gulaab, but it welcomed the birds to stay on its flower. All the birds in the garden liked it. This year the king went to the garden as before. The gardener pointed at the rose and said to the king, " Your favourite flower, my king." Of course, the king also saw the yellow flower behind it and asked, "What flower is that?" "Oh! That's Junglee, a wild flower." " I didn't see a flower like it before. There are so many birds on it. I think it's much more beautiful than the rose. It will be the King Flower of this year!" said the king. What do you think this passage is? A An ad. B A story. C A diary. D A piece of news. Answer: B Well,we're in our new house. Let's get a new pet to get along with it,"Mrs Brown said to her husband. "That sounds like a pretty good idea,"he answered."Do you want to see the ads in the newspaper?" "Let's go to the animal shelter. Many pets there need homes. Since tomorrow is Saturday,we can both go," she said. Next morning the Browns met Mr Snow at the animal shelter. "We want to be sure that the pets here go to good homes," Mr Snow said,"So I need to ask you some questions." After they talked for a while, the Browns decided to get a small dog. It wouldn't need a big house or a big yard. A small dog would bark and warn them if someone tried to break into their house. After Mr Snow gave the Browns a book on pet care, they chose one and wanted to take her home right away. But the animal doctor hadn't checked her yet. So Mr Snow told them to return on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon the Browns went to the animal shelter. The animal doctor said,"Shadow has had all of her shots . She will be healthy."The Browns thanked the doctor and took Shadow home. *,. From the reading we learn that _ . A the Browns have never had a pet before. B the Browns knew about Shadow from the newspaper. C Shadow is a small and healthy dog. D Mr Brown didn't quite agree with his wife. Answer: C High-quality customer service is preached by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done. Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store , but instead will warn their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers and anyone who will listen. Store managers are often the last to hear complaints. "Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers," said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group. "The store loses the customer, but _ ." The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude sales people. During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting local police to work as parking attendants to direct customers to empty parking spaces. Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store display, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions. Most importantly, sales people should be skillful and polite with angry customers. "Retailers who're enthusiastic and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren't so friendly." said Professor Stephen Hoch. "Maybe something as a greeter at the store entrance would help." Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filling complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong. Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints? A Most shoppers won't complain even if they have had unhappy experiences. B It is difficult for customers to have easy access to store mangers. C Few customers believe the service will be improved after their complaints. D Shoppers would rather tell their unhappy experiences to people around them. Answer: D A third of Britons are overweight, states a report published in January by the Royal College of Physicians, the result of an 18-month study. About five per cent of children weigh too much, and are likely to stay that way for life; in the mid-twenties-age-long group the proportion of the middle-aged population half are overweight. Fat people risk severe health problems, says the report, including high blood pressure, breathlessness and various forms of heart disease. Smoking is particularly risky for overweight people. The safest way to lose weight is to eat cereals, bread, fruit and vegetables, and cut down on fatty meals, butter and sweet foods. Fad diets so far more than good; slimming machines that vibrate muscles have not been proved useful; saunas merely remove a little body water, and health farms, says the report ,serve as expensive holidays. Exercise is most important to health, the report emphasizes; though it doesn't necessarily reduce weight; it keeps the correct proportion of body muscle. And it isn't only for the young ; from middle age a minimum of 20 minutes of gentle physical jerks should be practiced three times a week. The report advocates several public health measures to fight the common existence of overweight in this country. They include an increase of tax on alcohol to reduce its increasing, and dangerously fattening, consumption; and the provision of more sports facilities by local authorities. Britain's doctors, the report concludes, must learn to be more sympathetic and specific in their advice to the overweight, encouraging a change in eating habits on a long-term basis and taking into account the many-often-complex-reasons why fat people are fat. The report thinks that exercise _ . A is a way to reduce weight. B sometimes increases weight C is a sure way to keep one healthy D can convert fat to muscle Answer: C Lisa: My best teacher is my geography teacher in 10th grade. Why? Because we did school projects! Back then I wrote about India and never forgot what I had learned. He brought the culture to life by letting me become part of it. He also listened to us and was always ready with a kind word. David: My best teacher is my high school social studies and history teacher, Thomas Ladenburg. He respected us, though we were just teenagers. His class was never boring because he often asked us to discuss in class. He used his own materials which made the class very interesting. Henry: My best ever teacher is my biology teacher in high school. I really liked her class. She explained everything very clearly. She also checked our notebooks to make sure we had written down what she said. Now, many years later, I can still remember a large part of the things she taught! Susan: The best teacher I have ever had is my 10th grade social studies teacher. She was always in a good mood and kept us laughing. She was really young, so she acted like us teenagers, which made learning fun. If we needed to talk to an adult about a problem, we would always come to her because we knew she could help us. Tom: My favourite teacher is Mr. Yelle. He taught us math, science and music. He spoke to us "at eye level", and was very patient and kind. We did great projects for the science fairs. Forty years later, I still remember his lessons very well. By the way, though he was called Mr Yelle, he didn't yell . How did David most probably find Thomas Ladenburg's class? A Difficult. B Lively. C Useless. D Long. Answer: B
18:00 Children's World 19:00 News 19:45 Around the World 20:20 Movie: A Nurse's Day 21:50 Message from the Market 22:20 Modern Arts 23:00 End CCTV4 18:30 Modern English 19:00 Women's Life 19:30 Culture and Life 20:45 Volleyball match: China-America 22:30 English News 22:50 English Movie: Gone with the world 00:30 End NTTV 18:30 NTTV News 19:00 Popular Songs 19:30 Animal World 20:20 American English Today 21:15 Science and Life 22:30 Sports News 23:00 End JSTV 18:40 English for Children 19:00 News fromCCTV-1 19:30 JS News 19:45 Football Match: China-Japan 21:30 TV-play: Story of a Spanish Artist (1) (2) 23:15 End If you are interested in pop songs, you may choose _ Answer: NTTV FOR many young people, having to attend school with a parent would be their worst nightmare. However, Senior 1 student Li Qinmei is happy taking her father with her as long as she can go to classes. He is disabled and unable to take care of himself. The 16-year-old country girl in Zhucheng, Shandong Province has experienced one disaster after another in her short life. Li lost her mother at three. Four years later, her father became paralyzed after a tractor accident. At 12, her misfortune returned with the death of her grandma. Since then she has been forced to shoulder all the responsibility for her broken family. Li learnt to cook and managed to live a life with an allowance of only 24 yuan per month. The most difficult thing she had to deal with was helping her father bathe, dress and use the toilet as he could hardly move. "I felt embarrassed, and so did my dad. It was really hard at the beginning," she recalled. During most of her junior school years, Li went to classes only once a month as her father was seriously ill at the time. "I taught myself at home and asked teachers for help on my school days," she explained. Li's hard work paid off this fall. She was admitted by Zhucheng No 1 High School, a local key school, based on her good performance in the entrance exams. The school offered Li and her father a room on campus to live in so she could look after him during breaks. Once in a while, Li felt sad when she saw her classmates going shopping or _ with friends. "I envy them sometimes because they have both mum and dad to look after them. However, I soon feel relieved as I still have my dad with me," she said. Li admitted that the difficulties in life had taught her to be strong. "I believe I will go on and continue my studies at a good university," she said, in a confident tone. Her teacher Mr. Wang has the same belief. Li made great progress in the recent monthly exams. "She works hard and is always eager to excel . It's not easy for her never to be late for school, but she has managed to make it work," Wang said. From the passage we can infer that _ . Answer: many young students hate going to school with their parents In today's congratulatory phone call to the team behind NASA's Mars Curiosity rover , President Barack Obama made sure that if the mission discovers Martians, he'll be one of the first to know. "If in fact you do make contact with Martians, please let me know right away," Obama said during the call, "I've got a lot of things on my plate, but I expect that that will go to the top of the list. Even if they're just microbes , it will be pretty exciting." Obama also said he was impressed by the attention that's been paid to flight director Bobak Ferdowsi, the "Mohawk Guy" whose star-spangled haircut and warmhearted behavior during Curiosity's Aug. 5 landing won him Internet fame. "I, in the past, thought about getting a Mohawk myself," Obama joked. "But my team keeps on discouraging me. And now that he's received marriage proposals and thousands of new Twitter followers, I think I'm going to go back to my team and see if it makes sense." The congratulatory phone call is a tradition for the White House. But it was clear that Obama particularly enjoyed congratulating the scientists and engineers behind the amazingly successful landing of NASA's newest Mars exploration. He also said the achievement reflected the American spirit, and he gave his personal promise to protect these critical investments in science and technology. "This is the kind of thing that inspires kids across the country," he said. "They're telling their moms and dads they want to be part of a Mars mission, maybe even the first person to walk on Mars. And that kind of inspiration is the byproduct of work of the sort that you guys have done." The Curiosity rover's $2.5 billion mission focuses on studying billions of years' worth of geology on Mars and determining whether the planet was ever potentially suitable for people to live in. The mission is not specifically designed to explore life, even on the range of microbes, but it could point the way for future life-exploration experiments. Obama phoned the team behind NASA's Mars Curiosity rover in order to _ . Answer: congratulate on the rover's landing When I was young, my mother didn't have the money to send me to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with education. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself. But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning. We need every one of you to develop your talents and your skills so that you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems. If you quit on school--you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country. No one's written your destiny for you, because you write your own destiny. You make your own future. That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education and do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time reading a book. But whatever you decide to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it. I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work--that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star. No one's born being good at all things. You become good at things through hard work. You're not a good athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. How can people realize their great dream? Answer: By working hard. Computer programmer David Jones earned $ 150,000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank prepared to let him have a check card . Instead, he has been told to wait another two years until he is 18. He works for a small firm in Liverpool, where most young people of his age are finding jobs. David's biggest headache is what to do with his money. Though he has high payment, he cannot drive a car, or get credit cards. David got his job four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-Levels and working for a time in a computer shop. "I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs," he said. "I suppose $150,000 sounds a lot but I hope it will come to more than that this year." He spends some of his money on records and clothes, and gives his mother $20 a week as he lives with his parents. But most of his spare time is spent working. "Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school," he said. " But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway. I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement is a possibility. You never know when the market might disappear. David's greatest problem is that _ . Answer: he can't be treated as an adult (grown-up) by the bank
Very often, newly-born babies are not beautiful. They are wrinkled or hairless, or they have an angry look on their face. They seem to say, "Get away! I hate everybody." But to a parent, that hairless, wrinkled, angry-faced baby is the most beautiful and perfect child in the world. When that proud father or mother asks you, "Well, what do you think...isn't she beautiful?" What are you going to say? Is this the time for the truth? Of course not! You look at that proud father or mother in the eye and say, "Yes, she is! She is really a beauty. She's one in a million. She's going to be a movie star! I can tell! She's as beautiful as a picture." In English, this is a _ lie. White lies don't hurt people. They are not cruel or angry words. People use them to make a difficult thing a little easier. When people don't want to meet someone, or eat something new that they really don't like at a friend's house, they tell a white lie. They are trying to be kind. They feel that being kind is sometimes more important than telling the truth. When a parent asks what you think of their new baby, they want you to _ . On October 31st, 2015, the official Xinhua news agency reported that China would allow two children for every couple. That meant that the country's one-child policy came to an end. To control the population growth, China started a policy of one child per couple in the 1970s. Why does China decide to relax the policy now? In fact, China began relaxing the policy in January, 2014, allowing couples to have a second baby if the mother or father was an only child. The change was thought as a major liberalization of the family planning of over thirty years. But new figures in January, 2015 suggested that fewer people than expected would like to have a second baby. Health officials said that there were about 11 million couples under the new policy. However, only 1 million couples applied to have a second child. Some couples said, "Two kids? Thanks but no." The influence of one-child policy seems hard to go in a short time. China's government has said that China will become the country with the most old people in the world in just 15 years, with more than 400 million people over the age of 60. And in the one-child families, when the only child grows up and gets married to another only child, they two have to take care of two old couples, the stress seems really heavy. To solve the problem of the _ population, one-child policy isn't suitable any more, and two-child policy is needed and necessary. The official Xinhua news agency reported that China would allow two children forevery couple _ . While many women are busy with planning their bridal showers , a baby shower usually comes as a complete surprise. A baby shower is a party where a pregnant woman is "showered" with gifts and good wishes. A baby shower is usually given by a close female friend or a relative of the mother-to-be. Sometimes co-workers of a pregnant person will also hold a baby shower for her. The baby shower is usually given when the mother-to-be is between 6 and 9 months pregnant. _ the date of a baby's birth isn't always exact. Sometimes a baby shower can also happen after the baby is born. A baby shower can be held in someone's home or outside, like in a restaurant or a catering hall. Traditionally only women are invited to a baby shower. However, more and more baby showers are also including the father-to-be. Like a bridal shower, a mother-to-be will register a wish list of things she wants at one or several stores. This list usually includes things the mother wants for her baby like clothes, diapers and even furniture. This way friends and family members can go to the stores and buy something from the list. Registering helps make sure that there aren't repeat items, like 30 bottles when a new mom only needed 15. At a baby shower, people can give cards with wishes for the new baby and mom. Most of these cards also include money or gift cards to help the mom-to-be buy whatever else she needs for the baby. Sometimes there are games as well. In one game everyone guesses the date of the baby. Another game lets people taste baby food and guess the flavor. According to the passage, we know that _ . "Linda, if beating yourself up were an Olympic sport, you'd win a gold medal!" Annabel, my close friend, stunned(...)me with that frank observation after I told her how I had mishandled a situation with a student in a third-grade class where I was substituting . "I should never have let him go to the boy's room without a pass! It was my fault he got into trouble with the hall monitor! I'm so stupid!" My friend burst out laughing, and then made her "Olympic" comment. After a brief period of reflection I had to admit that she was right. I did put myself down an awful lot. Why, just during the previous day I had called myself "a slob" for having some papers spread out on my desk, "ugly" when I left the house without makeup and "an idiot" when I left the house for an emergency substitute job without my emergency lesson plan. In a more reflective tone, Annabel said, "I once took a workshop at church where the woman in charge had us list all the mean things we say about ourselves." "How many did you have on your list?" I asked. "Fifteen," she confessed. "But then the teacher said, 'Now turn to the person next to you and say all the items on your list as if you were speaking to that person!' " My jaw dropped,"What did you do?" "Nothing. Nobody did. We all just sat there, until I said, 'I could never say these things to anyone else!' " "And our teacher replied, 'Well, if you can't say them to anyone else, then don't ever say them to yourself!' " My friend had a point. I would never insult a child of God---and I'm God's child, too! God, today let me be as kind to myself as I would be to another of Your children. What does the writer mean by the last sentence of the passage? The Save the Children Fund is known as Save the Children. It is an internationally organization that protects children's rights and helps support children in developing countries. It was set up in the United Kingdom in 1919 in order to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic chances, it also provides food and water for the children in natural disasters, war, and other serious situations. Except for the UK organization, there are 30 other national Save the Children organizations who are members of Save the Children International, a global network of charity organizations supporting local partners in over 120 countries around the world. Save the Children helps the local government change so that it can help young people get more rights, it works very well, especially with the support from the UN. Save the Children joins all the members' efforts to protect children from the effects of war. Which charity is Save the Children like?
For high school leavers starting out in the working world,it is very important to learn particular skills and practice how to behave in an interview or how to find all internship .In some countries,schools have programs to help students onto the path to work.In the Unites States,however,such programs are still few and far between. Research shows that if high schools provide career-related courses,students are likely to get higher earnings in later years.The students are more likely to stay in school,graduate and go on to higher education. In Germany,students as young as 13 and 14 are expected to do internships.German companies work with schools to make sure that young people get the education they need for future employment. But in America, education reform programs focus on how well students do in exams instead of bringing them into contact with the working world.Harvard Education school professor Robert Schwartz has criticized education reformers for trying to place all graduates directly on the four-year college track.Schwartz argued that this approach leaves the country's most vulnerable kids with no jobs and no skills. Schwartz believed that the best career programs encourage kids to go for higher education while also teaching them valuable practical skills at high sch001.James Madison High School in New York,for example,encourages students to choose classes on career--based courses.The school then helps them gain on--the-job experience in those fields while they're still at high school. However,even for teens whose schools encourage them to connect with work,the job market is daunting.In the US,unemployment rates for 16-to 19-year-olds are above 20 percent for the third summer in a row. "The risk is that if teenagers miss out on the Summer job experience,they become part of this generation of teens who had trouble in landing a job,"said Michael,a researcher in the US. What can be inferred from the text? Here's an unusual story:a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician,Liu Qian,discovered it,in front of an audience of millions at CCTV's Spring Festival Gala. Liu's magic tricks have made the centuriesold art of magic fashionable once again,and made him the hottest magician in China. As a _ young magician from Taiwan,Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States,Japan,South Korea and the UK. Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people's love for magic. Liu is known for his interaction with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship . "It's actually thinking rather than one's manipulation skills that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively,to make them appear more interesting."Liu said. Liu Qian's success dated back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan,he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12,he won Taiwan's Youth Magic Contest,which was judged by the great American magician,David Copperfield. Yet,Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur magician in his spare time. However,his failure to find a proper job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career. To refine his performing skills,he has performed on streets,roads and fields for passersby,policemen and farmers. "Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,"Liu said. The story is about _ . It does not have to be January 1st to give yourself a chance to make the most out of your day -- and your life. Every day is a new day and a fresh start to learn, grow, develop your strengths, heal yourself from past regrets or hurts, and move forward older and wiser. Every day gives you a chance to reinvent yourself, to fine-tune who you are, and build on lessons of what you have learned. It is never too late to change things that are not working in your life and switch gears, instead of thinking in the same old ways, hoping for a different outcome. Be intelligent, be flexible, and keep and open mind to start each day anew! Flexibility is the key! Ask yourself: How do you wake up each day? Do you start your day going already feeling pressured and rushed? Do you go through the morning routine without much thought at all, doing what you "have to do" to start your day? How about starting each new day with a moment to stop, breathe and think of a positive intention for the day. Think not just what you want to DO, but how you want to BE today? Each day is a new beginning and a blank slate. How would you like to create your day? Think of it as a blank canvas -- what would you like to paint on it. What can you create? If you wake up in a negative mindset, you are more likely to paint a dark picture throughout the day, and your canvas will not reflect hope, happiness and joy. If you take each day to think positively, and have a positive intention for how you would like to create your day, how would your life be different? What positive outcome can reflect your positive intention? What can daily positive intentions do for you? Every day you will give yourself the gift of an "attitude of gratitude." Visualizing how you would like your day will help release positive energy from within you and you will attract more positive energy from those around you. Instead of spinning your wheels in an old way of thinking, each day is a chance to reframe and re-look at things in a different way. You can experience each day an awe in the beauty and creation of the world -- and the beauty of you who is in it! You find yourself shifting from an "I can't mindset" to an "I can" mindset. With a focus on positive intentions, you feel more empowered and more like a "victor" than a "victim." You are more mindful of the present, and will be more likely to live fully in the present each moment of each day. After all, the past is a great place to visit, but you don't want to live there! So how about starting each day taking a moment to think of a positive intention for the day? Each morning, write it down and reflect each evening on how you did! Here are examples of Positive Intentions: "Today I would like to replace my feelings of annoyance towards my co-worker to feelings of acceptance." "I am looking forward today to focusing on what I am grateful for in my life, rather than what is missing, and express gratefulness to others." "Today I want to slow my life down and take time to savor the moment, especially with my children".. Using each day to recommit yourself to positive thinking and intention will help you create the life you want and that you deserve! When you get up, what is the right way to start? There was once an old tree. The children from all around the neighborhood loved to climb the tree. The children also liked to sit under the tree, hang on it and play games around it. Animals liked the tree as well. Birds, cats and all kinds of lizards would climb the tree too! Rabbits, dogs, frogs and and many ground animals loved to play around the bottom of the tree. One day the children learned the tree was going to be cut down. This made the children, and maybe the animals, very sad. Why was it being cut down? Was it too old? Too weak? Maybe it was dying? The children learned it was because the tree was sick. The children were very sad to hear about this. They wondered where they would play from now on. The tree was their favorite place and they didn't want to see it go. One little boy, named John, went home to tell his parents the story. His parents could tell he was sad so they told him something that made him very happy. What was it? He wondered. Was a jungle gym going to be put in? A mall, maybe a park? In fact, even better than that, a new tree would be planted in its place. John was so happy he rushed off to tell his friends. "Big news!", he shouted. "My parents told me a new tree is going to be planted here over the old one!" All his friends cheered in excitement, now knowing they wouldn't lose their favorite spot. John and his friends went to celebrate by getting ice cream. His friends liked chocolate and vanilla but John got strawberry. What kind of ice cream did John get? As a senior, my future is always on my mind. To be exact, thoughts of the future have kept me up countless nights and made me worry enough to do poorly on more than one test. Because of this, words of wisdom are a source of comfort. Steve Jobs gave a speech to Stanford's graduating class in 2005 and his words resound repeatedly in my mind whenever I think about my future. It wasn't always like that, though. It started when I became a junior, when college came into view. It's the first big step to making your life your own. So when Jobs discussed his life as a student, some fears were eased. He, too, felt the need to attend college to make something of himself. He faced what many are extremely afraid of: uncertainty. His lack of understanding caused him to stop attending college and focus on what he felt was important. His story had a happy ending, of course, since he certainly turned out well. This doesn't mean that students shouldn't attend college, but rather that they shouldn't worry so much. You'll get where you need to go, even if your path is a bit more winding than you'd like. Jobs talked about the hardships in his work. His love of his work helped him carry on and he got where he was meant to be, which restates the point: don't panic. One particular part of his speech stayed with me. Steve Jobs quoted the saying "Stay hungry, stay foolish" and it has become my motto. Staying foolish is realizing that you are still a fool, no matter how much you've learned or experienced. There is always more to explore. Staying hungry is wanting to find those things about which you are still uneducated. Steve Jobs's level of success is attainable, and I aim to prove that. With the will power to go into the world living every day like it's my last and allowing the future to take care of itself, I will do great things. In the last moments of my life, I'll be proud of what I have done and hope to have all the wisdom a person could wish for. The passage is mainly about _ .
prefix = st1 /Pennsylvania--When Connie Beck and her husband awoke to strange noises last weekend, they thought high winds were rattling their home. What they found was even more unexpected: A deer was taking a bubble bath in their bathtub. " _ ," Mrs. Beck said. "We were just waking up." The deer burst through the front door early on Saturday, ran past the couple's bedroom and into the bathroom. Somehow he managed to turn on the water in the bathtub and knock over a bottle of bubble bath into the bathtub. He then got himself into the bubbly water. "You could hear the water running over the kicking," Beck said. The Becks called State Game Commission officials, who arrived with tranquilizers and a lot of laughter. "A guy said, 'There's nothing wrong... he's just in there taking a bubble bath,'" Mrs. Beck said. The animal was soon brought under control, removed from the house and released. "He was unharmed except for a little cut above the eye," said Mrs. Beck. "We were also fortunate. There wasn't much damage, except for the front door, some marks on the tub, and a few hoof prints on the floor." After the animal burst through the door and entered the bathroom, he _ . Answer: Which of the following is more likely to create sound? Answer: Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing tradition at Texas A&M University as part of the college rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin. For 90 years, Texas A&M students--known as Aggies--built and burned a bonfire on campus each autumn. Known to the Aggie community simply as "Bonfire", the annual autumn event symbolized Aggie students' "burning desires". The bonfire was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving in connection with festivities surrounding the annual college football game. Although early Bonfires were little more than piles of trash, as time passed, the annual event became more organized. Over the years the bonfire grew bigger, setting the world record in 1969. Bonfire remained a university tradition for decades until, in 1999, a collapse during construction killed twelve people--eleven students and one former student--and injured twenty-seven others. The accident led Texas A&M to declare a pause on an official Bonfire. However, in 2002, a student-sponsored-and-off-campus "Student Bonfire" came up. In 2003, the event became known as Student Bonfire. In a design approved by a professional engineer, Student Bonfire uses a wedding cake design, but, in a departure from tradition, every log in the stack touches the ground. For added support, four 24 feet poles are spaced evenly around the stack and then bolted to the 45 feet center pole with a steel pipe. Since the group does not receive funding, Student Bonfire charges a fee to each attendee to cover expenses. Attendance for Student Bonfire ranges from 8,000-15,000 people and the event is held in Brazos County or one of the surrounding counties. When did Aggie Bonfire come into being? Answer: For some time past,it has been widely accepted that babies--and other creatures--learn to do things because certain acts lead to "rewards ",and there is no reason to doubt that this is true. But it used also to be widely believed that effective rewards, at least in the early time, had to be directly connected to such basic physiological "drives" as thirst or hunger. In other words, a baby would learn if he got food or drink or some sort of physical comfort, not otherwise. It is now clear that this is not so. Babies will learn to behave in ways that produce results in the world with no reward except success in sight. Papousek began his studies by using milk in the normal way to "reward" the babies and to teach them to carry out some simple movements, such as turning the head to one side or the other.Then he noticed that a baby who had had enough to drink would refuse the milk but would still go on making the learned response with clear signs of pleasure. So he began to study the children's responses in situations where no milk was provided. He quickly found that children as young as four months would learn to turn their heads to right or left if the movement "turned on" some lights--and indeed that they were able to learn some more turns to bring about this result,for example,two left or two right,or even to make as many as three turns to one side. Papousek's light experiment was placed directly in front of the babies and he made the interesting observation that sometimes they would not turn back to watch the light closely although they would "smile and speak" when the light was on.Papousek concluded that it was not the sight of the lights which pleased them.It was the success they were achieving in solving the problem,in mastering the skill,and then there is a basic human nature to make sense of the world and bring it under control. According to the writer,babies learn to do things which _ . Answer: Welcome to the zoo Opening time: Price: From Monday to Friday Adults:Y=20 8:30 a.m.--5:30 p.m. Childen:Y=10 On Saturday & Sunday 8:30 a.m.--6:00 p.m. Location:Xiaohe Street, ChangchunDistrict ,Binhai City . On Wednesday,the zoo is open for Answer:
Near the village, there is an old famous temple. Some people want to build new houses where the temple now stands, because they can find no other area to build them, while others disagree with them. They meet to decide how to solve the problem. Here are their opinions about it. The expert wants to protect the temple and believes that there are some interesting things buried in the ground. If it is destroyed or moved, people may never learn about how people lived in the past. The businessman thinks that the houses should be built. History is important, but we must think about the future. The village needs development and building new houses will offer jobs to hundreds of people. Villager A says, "We should build the new houses because we need houses to live in." Villager B says, "We should protect the temple because it can attract many tourists to come for a visit. If the temple is destroyed or moved, we will lose a lot of business." The village leader thinks that he has a duty to make life better for the villagers. They need jobs and new houses. He also thinks the cultural site is important and they should be careful with it as well. According to the passage, which of the following is RIGHT? A. It's difficult to satisfy everyone. B. The cultural site is not so important. C. It's easy to make a decision on the problem. D. The villagers will lose their jobs with the development of their hometown Answer: A. It's difficult to satisfy everyone. In today's congratulatory phone call to the team behind NASA's Mars Curiosity rover , President Barack Obama made sure that if the mission discovers Martians, he'll be one of the first to know. "If in fact you do make contact with Martians, please let me know right away," Obama said during the call, "I've got a lot of things on my plate, but I expect that that will go to the top of the list. Even if they're just microbes , it will be pretty exciting." Obama also said he was impressed by the attention that's been paid to flight director Bobak Ferdowsi, the "Mohawk Guy" whose star-spangled haircut and warmhearted behavior during Curiosity's Aug. 5 landing won him Internet fame. "I, in the past, thought about getting a Mohawk myself," Obama joked. "But my team keeps on discouraging me. And now that he's received marriage proposals and thousands of new Twitter followers, I think I'm going to go back to my team and see if it makes sense." The congratulatory phone call is a tradition for the White House. But it was clear that Obama particularly enjoyed congratulating the scientists and engineers behind the amazingly successful landing of NASA's newest Mars exploration. He also said the achievement reflected the American spirit, and he gave his personal promise to protect these critical investments in science and technology. "This is the kind of thing that inspires kids across the country," he said. "They're telling their moms and dads they want to be part of a Mars mission, maybe even the first person to walk on Mars. And that kind of inspiration is the byproduct of work of the sort that you guys have done." The Curiosity rover's $2.5 billion mission focuses on studying billions of years' worth of geology on Mars and determining whether the planet was ever potentially suitable for people to live in. The mission is not specifically designed to explore life, even on the range of microbes, but it could point the way for future life-exploration experiments. What can we learn from the passage ? A. Bobak Ferdowsi got a Mohawk haircut to win great Internet fame. B. Obama called on the government and companies to invest in science. C. America's president seldom congratulates on scientific achievements. D. Children showed special interest in the landing of Curiosity. Answer: D. Children showed special interest in the landing of Curiosity. Every hour, the tiny kitten cried for milk. It was true that A. the kitten was a year old B. the kitten wanted meat C. the kitten didn't need milk D. the kitten wanted milk on a regular cycle Answer: D. the kitten wanted milk on a regular cycle The passport photographs of the future could turn out to be more than just another pretty picture if a new computer technique developed by Israeli scientists catches on. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University, in Israel, have invented a way to hide information such as a fingerprint or signature in color images. They believe this could improve passport safety or be used to produce product bar codes or designs that cannot be seen. "The papers can be faxed, scanned and reprinted without hidden data disappearing," New Scientist magazine said last week. Joseph Rosen and a team of scientists worked out the new instrument by creating a mathematical model. The model turns a fingerprint or signature into a series of numbers which are used to shape the dots that make up a color picture. "Each dot can be forced out of the usual place slightly without noticeably changing the final appearance of the image," the magazine said. Several images that can be hidden in a single picture are scanned into a computer which does the work. The hidden images or fingerprints cannot be shown until the picture is scanned again. The computer rebuilds the fingerprint by measuring the displacement of the dots in the picture. The magazine said that if he model is used for passport checkpoints the picture can be unscrambled to show the fingerprint or signature and checked against the person holding the passport. The researchers are now working on a handheld, and instrument which could make unscrambling the hidden information easier. What is the best title for the passage? A. A New Computer Technique by Israeli Scientists B. A New Way t Hide Information C. The New Passport Photo: More Than Meets the Eye D. Safe Passport Photos Answer: C. The New Passport Photo: More Than Meets the Eye The children often play football in the garden and sometimes break Mr. Black's windows. One afternoon Mr. Black is at home and reads a book. In a minute he closes his eyes and goes to sleep. At that time a little boy knocks at the door. Mr. Black opens the door and asks, "Do you break my window again ?""Oh, no"says the boy, "Your window is open this time and our football is in your room. May I get it please?" Do the children break Mr. Black's window again? A. Yes, they do. B. No, they don't. C. Yes, we do. D. No, we don't. Answer: B. No, they don't.
San Francisco, unofficially regarded as one of the homeless capitals of the US, counts nearly 6,500 homeless people, with 4,300 living on the street. Among the many problems that the homeless face is little or no access to showers. San Francisco only has about 16 to 20 shower stations to accommodate _ . But Doniece Sandoval has made it her task to change that. [:"Homelessness is something you can't really miss," the 51-year-old woman said. She started Lava Mae, a sort of showers on wheels, a new project that aims to turn old city buses into shower stations for the homeless. "One day I passed a woman in the street and she was very dirty and basically crying, and I heard her say that she would never be clean. But I was wondering what her opportunities were to actually get clean," Sandoval said. Sandoval was inspired to start Lava Mae. The project has already been welcomed with open arms in the city. The Transportation Agency has donated one bus for the cause and is willing to donate three more if the project succeeds. Sandoval hopes the first bus will be able to hit the road in May this year. The Public Commission has also agreed to let the buses plug into fire hydrants around the city if Lava Mae pays for the water. One of Lava Mae's biggest supporters is Bevan Dufty, the director of Housing Opportunity, Partnerships & Engagement under the mayor of San Francisco. "For people who are unhoused, access to showers is very difficult. Shower buses are something that could potentially be deployed in response to an emergency, so it is relevant to all San Franciscans," Dufty said. "Doniece has done an incredible job as a citizen who cares about helping the poor. We are very excited to see Lava Mae become real soon. " Each bus will have two shower stations and Sandoval expects that by 2015, they'll be able to provide 2000 showers a week. . Which of the following best describes Doniece Sandoval? Are you carrying too much on your back to school? I'm sure lots of your age will say "Yes". Not only the students in China have this problem, but children in the United States also have heavy school bags. Doctors are starting to worry about that younger and younger students are having problems as a result of school bags being too heavy for them. "It's hard for me to go upstairs with my bag because it's so heavy," said Rich Hammond, an 11-year-old student in the US. Rich is among students who have common school bags with two straps to carry them, but many other choose rolling bags. But even with rolling bags, getting up stairs and houses is still a problem for children. Many of them have hurt backs and necks because of the heavy school bags. But how much is too much? Doctors say students should carry no more than 10% to 15% of their own body weight. Scott Bautch, a black doctor, said children under Grade 4 should stay with 10%. But it is also important that older children don't stay with over 15%, because their bodies are still growing. "Children are losing their balance and falling down with their school bags," he said. Parents and teachers are starting to tell children to only take home library books that they will be reading at night. Some teachers are using pieces of paper or thin workbooks for students to take home. One of the best answers is, as some children said, to have no homework at all. Some students think the best answer to this problem is that _ . A strong earthquake struck the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan on Saturday, killing more than 30 people and injuring hundreds of others, local authorities said on April 20th 2013. The quake struck Ya'an just after 8 a.m. local time about 115 kilometers (70 miles) away from the provincial capital, Chengdu, at a depth of around 12 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There was conflicting information about the earthquake's strength, with the USGS putting the magnitude at 6.6 and the China Earthquake Networks Center gauging it at 7.0. Earthquakes happen without warning. They can happen any time of a day, at any point during the year. When an earthquake is happening, you should know what you should do or not do. 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 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. The best title for this passage should be " _ ". One night a man came to our house and told me, "There is a family with eight children. They have nothing to eat for days." I took some food and went. When I finally came to the family, I saw the ugly face of those little children by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger. I gave the rice to the mother. She divided it into two, and went out, carry half the rice with her. When she came back, I asked her, "Where did you go?" She gave me this simple answer, "To my neighbours----they are also hungry." I was not surprised that she gave----because poor people are unselfish . But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are in trouble, we think more about ourselves, and have no time for others. The writer thought poor people were _ . After an extra day in space,the crew of Discovery returned to Earth,landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California early on Tuesday morning.The shuttle and its crew spent two weeks in space,most of it aboard the International Space Station.It was the first flight of NASA's spaceshuttle fleet since February 2003,when the shuttle Columbia came apart while reentering Earth's atmosphere. NASA officials delayed Discovery's return for one day because of cloudy weather in Florida,where the shuttle was supposed to lanD. On Tuesday morning,mission controllers directed Discovery to a landing site in California,where the skies were clear.The crew members will have to wait until Wednesday to see their families when they all meet together in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. Discovery had a very busy mission in space,compared to past missions.The space shuttle docked with the International Space Station most of the journey,delivering badly needed supplies and repairing damaged parts.The crew spent a lot of time testing new repair techniques on their own shuttle,conducting three different spacewalks(where astronauts exit the space shuttle to do work outside).On the third spacewalk,astronaut Steve Robinson went underneath the shuttle to remove material sticking out from between the spacecraft's protective tiles. There were concerns in the last remaining days of Discovery's mission that a torn heat blanket--another shield against overheating in the space shuttle--may pose a problem to crew members. NASA officials and technicians worked on ways that the crew could fix the problem, but later decided it was not a risk. With the shuttle and its crew safely back on firm ground, NASA is hailing this mission, labeled STS114,as a huge success. "I hope this shows people that we're coming back," NASA spaceflight chief Bill Readdy said after Discovery's successful landing. "We've got some more work to do. We know what we need to do and we'll do it. What's the best title for the passage?
Everything happens for the best." Whenever I faced disappointment, my mother would say this to me. After I graduated from college in 1932, I decided to find a job in radio as a sports announcer. I went to Chicago and knocked at the door of every station. But unluckily , I was refused every time. At one station, a kind lady told me that big stations wouldn't hire an inexperienced person and suggested that I try my luck at smaller stations. Following her advice, I went back to Dixon, where I had grown up. There were no radio-announcing jobs in Dixon, and my father said a newly-opened store wanted a local athlete to work for it. I applied for the job, but I was refused again. "Everything happens for the best," Mom reminded me. Dad offered me the car to look for a job. I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer. As I left his office, my frustration(,) boiled over. "How can I become a sports announcer if I can't get a job in a radio station?" I asked aloud. While I was waiting for the elevator, I heard someone calling. It was MacArthur. "What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about football?" Then he asked me to broadcast an imaginary game. Pleased with my performance, he offered me a chance to work there. On my way home, I thought of my mother's words: "If you carry on, one day something good will happen. Something wouldn't have happened if not for" that previous disappointment. Which of the following is TRUE? A. The writer's parents didn't want him to be a sports announcer. B. There were no radio-announcing jobs in the writer's hometown. C. The writer became uninterested in sports announcing. D. The writer got a job as a sports announcer in Dixon at last. Answer: B There are a lot of school rules around the world. For example, in Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States, students have to wear uniforms, and they are not allowed to wear earrings. Some schools in Japan and other countries have rules about hair. For example, students are not allowed to change the color of their hair. In the United States, boys can not have their hair grow long. For safety at some US schools, students must have a pair of indoor shoes at school every day. This makes sure students won't fall over on the wet floors and keeps the schools clean. Gum chewing is not allowed in many US school buildings, as it is difficult to clean up. And if students chew gum in class, they may not pay much attention to their studies. In most foreign countries, school students are allowed to work part-time. But differently, Japanese school students are not allowed to work part-time or change the color of their hair. ,. (5,2,10) Why must students have a pair of indoor shoes at school every day at some US schools? A. This makes students exercise more easily. B. This makes students won't fall over on the wet floors. C. This keeps the schools clean. D. This keeps the schools clean and makes students safe. Answer: D Now AIDS has become one of the most dangerous killers for human beings. The whole world is in danger of AIDS. But the situation in rich countries is not the same as that in poor countries. According to a research, the most serious area is Africa. Throughout Africa, whole communities are being _ by AIDS. Mothers, fathers, teachers and farmers are dying in thousands, day after day. Why is it that most people with HIV live in the world's poorest countries? Lack of education and health care makes people easy to be infected ; poverty and the constant search for work and food keep them on the move; casual work and casual sex leave women particularly easy to be infected. As a result, the disease spreads to even more people. Those who are already malnourished very soon become sick. Parents die, leaving children who are infected. It's a dangerous circle. When Pep Bonet visited Nchelenge in northern Zambia in 2003, he found one person in four was HIVpositive(HIV). There was a closed and fearful atmosphere. No one wanted to admit to their HIV identity, and women who were HIV positives were often beaten or driven out of their home. Mothers left home and children became orphans. People lost hope, and the light went out of their eyes. In rich countries, anti-HIV drug treatments can keep people with HIV healthy for many years; in poor countries where 95% of people with HIV live, only a few can afford to get these drugs. Do you think that's fair? When talking about the different situation of HIV between rich and poor countries, the author thinks it is _ . A. regretful B. reasonable C. understandable D. unfair Answer: D In a Police Mess , an officer wanted to get some fresh vegetables. He was so pleased with his mushrooms that he decided to share them. When their breakfast arrived the next day, each officer found some mushrooms on his plate. "Try the dog with a piece first." Suggested one cautious officer who was afraid that the " mushrooms" might be poisonous. The dog seemed to enjoy its mushrooms, and the officers then began to eat their meal, saying that the mushrooms tasted wonderful. An hour later, however, there was great confusion when the gardener rushed in to announce that the dog was dead. Immediately, the officers jumped into their cars and rushed to the nearest hospital. Stomach pumps were used and the officers had a very unpleasant time getting rid of the remains of the mushrooms. When they returned to the mess, they sat down and started to discuss the symptoms of the mushroom poisoning. The gardener was called in to give a full account of the way the poor dog had died. " Did it suffer much before death?" asked one of the officer, feeling very pleased that he had escaped a painful death himself. The gardener looked rather surprised , " No, " he said in a puzzled tone. " It was killed when a car ran over it." , . The officers rushed to the nearest hospital _ . A. two hours after breakfast B. after the gardener rushed in to announce that the dog was dead. C. just before lunch D. about half an hour after breakfast Answer: B Today Grandma comes for a visit. She gives my sister and me a box of chocolate candies. We say "thank you!" Then Jenny quickly takes off the box. The pieces all look the same! I can't tell which pieces are hard inside and which are soft! I only like the soft ones. Jenny does not care. She is happy to get any kind of candy! I slowly look at all the pieces; I don't know which one to choose. Just then Dad calls us Grandma is going home, He wants us to say goodbye to her. I hurry to the front door where they are standing. Jenny comes a few minutes later. I say, "Grandma, I hope to see you soon. I always feel sad when you leave. "Jenny stands behind me and doesn't say anything. After Grandma goes home, I find out why Jenny doesn't say anything. She has most of our candies in her mouth! Only a few pieces are left in the bottom of the box! Then I'm sad! What kind of chocolate candy does the writer like? A. Hard ones B. Big ones C. Small ones D. Soft ones Answer: D
In a unique research cooperation between Stratasys, Education, R&D departments and MIT's Self-Assembly Lab, a new process is being developed, known as 4D Printing. The 4D printing concept, which allows materials to "self-assemble " into 3D structures, was initially proposed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty member Skylar Tibbits. Tibbits and his team combined a strand of plastic with a layer made out of "smart" material that could self-assemble in water. They advanced this concept by creating materials that can change into several different complicated shapes, though this kind of material remains the bottleneck of 4D technology. To many people that are just starting to get used to the idea of 3D printers, the name 4D is causing confusion because they cannot understand where this fourth "dimension" coming from. 4D technology shares many of the same principles of 3D printing and is essentially still about creating a new, 3D structure out of certain component; however, Tibbits states the fourth dimension at work here comes from concept of the fourth dimension of time. The difference between these 3D and 4D creations is that these new forms have the ability to transform and adapt over time. 4D printing works through self-assembly -- a system where "disordered elements form an "ordered" structure via an interaction. With these 4D printed materials, these disordered materials are strands or sheets of specially designed materials. Environmental changes then stimulate a response from them so that they form a preprogrammed shape. The idea of having adaptable technology that only relies on energy and non-human interactions raises some interesting questions about where 4D printing can be used and the practical applications in dangerous environments. This could mean improved infrastructures in extreme conditions, leading to a reduced need for workers to put themselves at risk, but the potential goes even further than that. The technology promises exciting new possibilities for a variety of applications. A solar panel or similar product could be produced in a flat shape onto which functional devices can be easily installed. It could then be changed to a compact shape for packing and shipping. After arriving at its destination, the product could be stimulated to form a different shape that serves its function. Also it could be used to build furniture, bikes, cars and even buildings. As with many of the ideas being put forward, it is easy to go a step too far into the extreme, but this just shows the potential of 4D in comparison to 3D. The next stage for the research is to move from printing single strands to sheets and eventually whole structures. And water need not be the process ' s only energy source. The major problem concerning the development of 4D printing lies in _ . Answer: creating proper smart materials After serving as a ski guide in Utah's back country for more than two decades, a Park City woman is being recognized by Outside Magazine as 2015's Best Ski Guide. Deb Lovci grew up in Colorado and began skiing when she was five years old. Later she moved to Utah and fell in love with the back country of Wasatch Mountains. Lovci has now served as a Ski Utah Interconnect guide for 27 years. "Anything that you slide on snow, I'm in love with, " she said. Lovci leads ski tours through the back country of six different resorts located in the Wasatch Mountains. Lovci typically takes a group of eight to ten people on a ski tour each day, and on average, she takes 300 customers on tours through the back country each season. She loves showing off Utah's wilderness. "I love the back country," she said. "I love the snow science behind it. I love the safety ... I just love it." Along with leading ski tours, Lovci is passionate about anything related to activities. She also runs a bed-and-breakfast in Park City, the Old Town Guest House. As " _ ", she also runs Alpine skis, Nordic skis competitively, and snowboards, and leads mountain bike tours during the summer. Outside Magazine selected five travel guides in various outdoor fields to name as the best in their Best of Travel April issue. Lovci said she was unexpectedly cheerful when she was selected as 2015's Best Ski Guide by Outside Magazine. "We all work really hard in what we do and we love it and it's really nice to get acknowledged," she said. "I work with a lot of excellent guides and the award could have gone to anybody -- any one of us. I often recall my ski experiences which were fearful at the beginning, but they helped me achieve a success." In a news release, Ski Utah director of communications, Paul Marshall said, "Deb Lovci is one of the most enthusiastic, focused, knowledgeable guides in the industry. Without her as the forefront of our Interconnect Tour, we would not have the success we have. She has been an enthusiastic part of the Interconnect Tour for 27 years and is thought highly of by our customers." What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Deb Lovci --2015's Best Ski Guide Just about every week now, we read a newspaper headline about the genetic basis for breast cancer, intelligence, orobesity. Such news stories may lead us to believe our lives are being _ by genetic discoveries. We may be close to changing and getting rid of mental illness, for example and identify the causes of crime,personality, and other basichuman weaknesses. But these hopes, it turns out, are based on faulty assumptions about genes and behavior. In many cases, people are motivated to accept research claims by the hope of finding solutions for frightening problems, like breast cancer. Accepting genetic causes for their characteristics can relieve guilt about behavior they want to change but can't. Efforts made to fight against them, at growing expense, have made little or no visible progress. The public wants to hear that science can help. Meanwhile, genetic claims are being made for many ordinary and abnormal behaviors, from addictiontoshynessand even to political views anddivorce. If who we are is determined from pregnancy, then our efforts to change or to influence our children may be useless. There may also be no basis for insisting that people behave themselves and obey laws. Thus, the revolution in thinking about genes has great consequences for how we view ourselves as human beings. Most claims linking emotional disorders and behaviors to genes are statistical in nature. The research finds are insufficient for deciding that alcoholism or manic-depression is inherited. In the late 1980s, genes for manic-depression were identified by teamsof geneticists. The claims have now been definitively proved wrong. Genetic data on the major mental illnesses make it clear that they can't be reduced to purely genetic causes. According to Myrna Weissman, Ph.D., Americans born before 1905 had a 1 percent rate of depression by age 75. Among Americans born a half century later, 6 percent become depressed by age 24! Similarly, while the average age at which manic-depression first appears was 32 in the mid 1960s, its average beginning today is 19. Only social factors can produce such large shifts in rate and age of beginning of mental disorders in a few decades. Scientists actively debate whether disorders like alcoholismare more or less biologically driven. If they are mainly biological--rather than psychological, social, and cultural--then there may be a genetic basis for them. In 1990,Kenneth Blum, Ph.D., of the University of Texas, and Ernest Noble, M.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles, found a certain gene in 70 percent of a group of alcoholics, but in only 20 percent of a non-alcoholic group. But in 1993 Joel Gelernter, M.D., of Yale and his colleagues surveyed all the studies that examined this gene and alcoholism. Different from Blum andNoble'sresearch, the results were that 18 percent of non-alcoholics, 18 percent of problem drinkers, and 18 percent of severe alcoholics all had the gene. As for Blum and Noble's work, a more reasonable model is that genes may affect how people experience alcohol. Perhaps some people's nerves are more activated by alcohol. But although genes can influence reactions to alcohol, they cannot explain why some people continue drinking to the point of destroying their lives. Therefore, claims that our genes cause our problems, our misbehavior, even our personalities are more a mirror of our culture's attitudes than a window for human understanding and change. If our characteristics are genetic, then _ . Answer: We may think of who we are differently Everyone may all have the experience of feeling anxious and stressed when having a rough day or having some troubles. Different people may choose different ways to deal with it, and for most people a break for a 10-minute walk may be quite useful.www.zxxk.com Anyway, here is another way around: to get a piece of chewing gum, and chew it. According to a Swinburne University of Technology study, gum-chewing has been found to "relieve anxiety, improve alertness and reduce stress among individuals in a laboratory setting." Some may argue that a laboratory is not the same as an office. But check out the conditions of the study: individuals were monitored while performing "a group of 'multi-tasking' activities." Doesn't it sound like the situation in the office?www.zxxk.com Here's a summary of some of the study's findings: Gum chewers showed a reduction in anxiety as compared to non-gum chewers by nearly 17 percent during mild stress and nearly 10 percent in appropriate stress. Gum chewers showed improvement in alertness over non-gum chewers by nearly 19 percent during mild stress and 8 percent in moderate stress. Improved Performance: Chewing gum resulted in a big improvement in overall performance on multi-tasking activities. Although these aren't major improvements, every little bit works and chewing a piece of gum is a lot quicker and easier than slipping outside for a 10-minute walk. So, how does gum work this magic? In part it does so by lowering the level of cortisol --a steroid hormone that is released in response to stress in your system. A few words of advice before you reach for the gum: don't crack your gum, and be sure to chew it with your mouth closed. In fact, I'd say keep the gum out of meetings, because it really looks impolite to others around you. How does gum work to reduce stress according to the text? Answer: It works by reducing one's level of cortisol. One day , Mr. Jackson took Paul to his favorite restaurant. It was a French restaurant. The waiter was from France, but he didn't speak to them in French. "Would you like to see menu?" , he asked in a kind way. "Yes, please," Mr. Jackson said. The waiter gave them a menu each. They studied them. " You can spend only twenty-five dollars," Mr. Jackson told his son. The waiter asked Paul," What would you like, young man?" "How much is the tomato soup?" Paul asked. " Six dollars," the waiter said." It's very good." "How much is the duck with orange?" Paul asked next. "Fifteen dollars," the waiter said. "How much is the chocolate ice cream?" "Six dollars," the waiter said. Paul added it up quickly. Six plus fifteen plus six is twenty-seven. He thought he could have the duck and the soup, or the duck and ice cream." I'll have the duck and the chocolate ice cream, please," he said to the waiter. Paul said to his father, "My meal will cost only twenty-one dollars. Can I keep the other four dollars? His father laughed."No, Paul," he said ,"leave it for the waiter." What does this passage tell us? Answer: Paul was careful not to spend more than $25 in the restaurant.
A fit and healthy teenage rugby player died 12 hours after taking treatment for acne ,an officer,Mary Hassel,said today. She said Shaun Jones,14,died "as a result of complications of medical treatment". Shaun,who was described by his mother as "vain" about his appearance,saw Dr Jones,his family doctor,about spors on his back and shoulders after learning his friends had been given medication to deal with similar problems. The boy,who had previously used Clearasil to treat the spots,was diagnosed with mild acne and given a prescription. But when he went to his local chemist's with his mother,he was told the drug was not available. They said they had contacted Dr Jones(in fact they didn't),and Shaun could be given different pills which were the same as the drug originally prescribed. Mrs. Jones noriced there was no safety instructions included in the box,but thought nothing of it at the time. Shaun took the drug just before going to bed at 10:30 pm. Little more than an hourlater, he complained of shortness of breath and tighmess in his chest. Mrs. . Jones initially contacted an out--of--hours GP service but was told no doctor was available. When Shaun's condition became worse,he was rushed to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital by ambulance in the early hours of the next morning. Despite treatment there,and at the University Hospital of Wales,Cardiff,where he was transferred,Shaun died at 10:40 am the following day. Doctors at the hospital believe an unusual reaction to the acne drug could have caused his death. Hassel said she would write a report to the Lord Chancellor's office imdedining the impor-tailce that "doctors prescribe drugs and doctors make adjustments and patients receive drugs with the correct information attached". Which of the following is true of the drug Shaun took? A It was previously named Clearasil. B It was not the one in the prescription. C It should not be taken before going to bed. D It Was forbidden for people at Shaun's age. Answer: B. It was not the one in the prescription. A primary school teacher who left a class of 25 pupils in tears after she told them Santa Claus did not exist has been fired. When excited youngsters became _ as they talked about Santa,the supply teacher said out suddenly,"It's your parents who leave out presents on Christmas Day." The class of sevenyearolds at Blackshaw Lane Primary School,Royton,Greater Manchester burst into tears and told their parents when they arrived home. Mothers and fathers then complained about the incident and were sent a letter by the school saying the teacher,who only worked at the school for one day last week,has been disciplined . The school has now said it will not hire her again. One father said,"My son came home and said that his teacher had told the class that Santa doesn't exist and it's their mum and dad that put out presents for them. Obviously,they were all talking about Christmas and being a bit rowdy. She just came straight out with it." "My son was in tears and so was everyone else in the class--especially as it was so close to Christmas. I thought it was wrong. He was crazy about it. He's only seven years old and it's part of the magic of Christmas to him." "We told him that she did not believe in Father Christmas because of her religion and he's fine now." "The father described the incident as 'shocking' and believed it was done with malicious intent .A lot of parents were angry and complained to the school. The teacher,who was supplied by Rochdale and Oldham Supply Agency,is still listed and will work with other schools,"the agency said. However,the head teacher in Angela McCormick refused to comment on the incident. Who felt the angriest about the incident? A The teacher who was fired. B The pupils who were in tears. C The parents whose children cried. D Santa Claus the teacher talked about. Answer: C. The parents whose children cried. Some 30,000 years ago, artists who lived in caves in Europe painted pictures of the animals around them: panthers, hyenas, rhinos, cave lions, mammoths and other creatures which have been extinct for a long time. The paintings were highly realistic. Some even showed movement. The artwork, more than a thousand drawings, is considered the oldest group of human cave drawings which have ever been discovered. They were preserved because the cave was sealed---closed off--for more or less 23,000 years. Fast forward to December 18, 1994, a group of French cave scientists were exploring caves in southern France. Jean Marie Chauvet, who led the group then, describes the process of discovering the cave paintings. "At that time I was in the front, Eliette just walked behind me, Christian behind. Eliette said she saw two marks with red ochre and she said, 'They came here.' And at this very moment everything began. The drawings and everything linked to the parietal art . That is where it is tarted." Cave art expert Jean Clotttes reviewed the paintings. "I was amazed at the number of paintings there were and paintings of their quality and particularly in front of the panel of the horses." Scientific analysis confirmed the prehistoric date of the artwork. Studies showed the drawings were created tens of thousands of years ago, before human history was written. The United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO lists the cave as a World Heritage Site. They say that the drawings form a remarkable expression of early human artistic creation of grand excellence and variety. The Chauvet Cave has been named after the explorer who first entered it. However, its environment and drawings are too fragile to be visited by human beings. So the cave is closed, and only people there for scientific purposes can go inside and see the artwork. However, French authorities asked experts to create an exact copy of the cave, called Pont d'Arc Cavern. The copy, which we also called replica, cost more than 59 million dollars to build. It opened at the end of April in France. Pascal Terrasse is the president of the cavern. He says everyone will be able to experience the thrill of looking at drawings made by the first humans in Europe. He says the place is magic because it is done so well. Authorities say they think as many as 400,000 people will be allowed to visit Pont d'Arc Cavern every year. The purpose of creating Pndt d'Arc Cavern is to _ . A show admiration for the earliest artists in Europe B arouse visitors' awareness of protecting ancient art C offer visitors chances to view the wonderful artwork D collect money for the perseverance of the Chauvet Cave Answer: C. offer visitors chances to view the wonderful artwork A mansion may symbolize the American dream. But the fact is, for most immigrants, the closest one they ever get to is the neighboring bushes. Such is the case with 63-year-old Catalino Tabia, Calif. He's a gardener with a 6'h grade education. He came to America to make his dreams come true, but ended up fulfilling everyone else's."I always wanted to be somebody," Tabia said."But now I just want the opportunity to help others." That is why, not long ago, Tabia started the Bay Area Gardeners Foundation. It's a charity aiming at helping smart kids like Noel Chavez, whose dream was to become the first in his family to graduate from college.Unfortunately, since Noel is still waiting for his citizenship, he's not qualified for financial aid.And after just a few months of going to school full-time and working full-time, he was ready to give in. "I'm working too much. I'm not going to do it. It's impossible. But then you get some help, and that's my break. " The break was a $ 1,500 scholarship from the Gardeners Foundation. In the last two years, the foundation has awarded 13 such prizes to low-income kids, regardless of citizenship. And Tabia plans to give out hundreds more. How does a gardener come up with that kind of cash? "I was thinking and thinking and suddenly, the clients V " he said."That's where the money is coming from. We work for clients with a lot of money. " Tabia and his gardener friends just started knocking on those mansion doors-and the checks have been rolling in ever since. "There might be some gardeners at your graduation," someone said to Noel."I'm sure there will and I'm going to invite them," he replied. Tabia is now hoping this idea catches on with the gardeners around the country. And whether that happens or not, and whether he realizes it or not, Tabia has already finished what he came to America to do-become somebody. Why did Tabia come to America? A To improve his gardening B To further his education. C To become someone important. D To help immigrants succeed. Answer: C. To become someone important. Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early, or two during holidays and other busy times; this will reduce the stress of the flight. If all goes well, you will have time to relax, shop for last-minute items, or have a meal My before the flight. Flight Delays Find out why your flight is delayed. Call the free call numbers. Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays. If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight, either on the same air-line or a competing one. This is called "Rule 240", and all airlines are required to do it. Flight Cancellations If your flight is canceled, then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination. Usually, air-line personnel will try to book everyone on their next flight. Often they will put you on a competitor's next flight only if you request it. If on-time arrival is important to you, when you check flights through our reservation system you can rate your choices based on their on-time arrival records. Be sure to also check the weather conditions, as they often affect flight schedules. A person goes to the airport ahead of time mainly to _ . A buy what he wants in the airport B have a good rest in the airplane C reduce the pressure of the flight D get on the airplane immediately Answer: C. reduce the pressure of the flight
It was once thought that only time could mend a broken heart, but now scientists think taking a couple of aspirin might be the best way to get over a break-up. Previous studies have shown that people experience feelings of romantic rejection in the same way that they experience physical pain. And Psychology Professor Water Michel, of Columbia University, also believes that the psychological pain of ending a relationship is similar to physical pain, and should be treated like any other injury. "When we speak about rejection experiences in terms of physical pain, it is not just a metaphor - the broken heart and emotional pain really do hurt in a physical way," he said. "When you look at a picture of the one who broke your heart, you experience a pain in a similar area of the brain which is activated when you burn your arm. " Research shows that people who are given a simple painkiller, like aspirin, are able to handle feelings of rejection better than _ given a placebo . 'Take two aspirins and call me next morning' would be a cold-hearted response to a friend's late-night report of fresh heartbreak, but it has a solid basis in the research. The best summary for the passage would be "Broken-hearted? _ !". A. Just take an aspirin or two B. Just call me at any time C. Just wait for a long time D. Just eat as much as you can Answer: A Dear Sara, Can you please help me improve my relationship with my mother? She is in her late 70s, and will probably need me to care for her in the future. I am willing to take on this responsibility but I find seeing her and talking to her stressful because I am so angry ab out what she and my father did to my elder sister. My sister was born "out of wedlock" in the 1950s. My sister's father disappeared and never turned up again. My mother loved my sister a lot even if she was an unwanted baby. But then my mother met and married my father. A few years later I was born. But my father didn't love my sister and my mother failed to protect her. We moved frequently, and my sister was not allowed to come along. She never came on holiday with us; instead she was sent to holiday camps. As she grew up, she started to use drugs and became an alcoholic. My sister is now in her mid-50s, jobless, living on benefits and mixing with a crowd of drunks. She has no partner, no children, no possessions and no company except for her dog. Her health is ruined, though she no longer drinks. I support her financially, but our relationsh ip is rocky as she hates the fact that my father loved me. She has no contact with my mother and is to this day excluded from any family event, including my father's funeral. My mother refuses even to mention my sister. I hate her because I think that if she could manage to apologize to my sister, things might be a little better. But there is ly no chance of this. How will I be able to take care of my mother with this always standing between us? Annie The author writes the passage for the purpose of _ . A. Telling us how to get along with family members B. Calling on mothers to love their children C. Saying sorry to her sister D. Asking for some advice Answer: D 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. Which of the following things surprised the author most? A. That no one was with the old man. B. That the old man was just like his own grandpa. C. That the old man had come from a faraway place although he was weak. D. That the old man had such a heavy load with him. Answer: C They think they're lucky that they're living and it's Christmas again. They can't see that we live on a dirty street in a shabby house among people who aren't much good. Johnny and the children can't see how pitiful it is that our neighbors have to make happiness out of this filth and dirt. My children must get out of this. But how? The money that we've saved isn't nearly enough. The McGaritys have money, but they are show-offs with it. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of cookies while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts, and when she couldn't eat any more, she shrew the rest down the sewer . Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn't rich, but she knows things. She understands people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. Everybody else here looks away because they're ashamed of their lives. I'd like to see the children be like Miss Jackson when they grew up. The McGarity girl is characterized as _ . A. selfish and cruel B. friendly and kind C. beautiful and proud D. rich and nice Answer: A The best way of learning a language is using it .The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible. Sometimes you'll get your words mixed up ( )and people will not understand you .Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can't understand them. But if you keep your sense of humor ,you can always have a good laugh at the mistakes you make . Don't be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes . It is better for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you. because they don't understand what you are saying .The most important thing for learning English is : "Don't be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes. " When people laugh at your mistakes, you should _ . A. not mind B. be angry C. feel worried D. be unhappy Answer: A
A young woman carrying a three-year-old child got on a bus. The conductor hurried to give her a warm welcome and then kindly asked the other passengers to make more room for the woman and her child. On seeing this, people began to talk. "You know this conductor used to be very rude. Now suddenly he has changed his bad behavior , "said a middle-aged man. "Yes, he should be praised and we must write a letter to the company," said a second passenger. "That's right," another lady said, "I wish a newspaper reporter were here so that more people could learn from this conductor. " Just then a gentleman who looked like a teacher turned to the conductor and said , "Excuse me, but can I know your name, please? Your excellent service must be praised..." Before he could open his mouth, the three-year-old child sitting on the young woman's lap interrupted, "I know his name. I call Dad." What was the gentleman? _ 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 is the beginning of the cooperation between the Royal Liverpool hospital and Gaza? Growing mushrooms is probably the easiest thing you can do even if you are new to mushroom growing. It is becoming more common because restaurants are starting to create more dishes that include mushrooms. Mushroom growing is easy. To start, you need to have a space where you are going to grow these mushrooms. It does not have to be a huge space but just enough for you to grow as many mushrooms as you need. When you have found the space perfect for you, you can start researching what kind of mushrooms you want to grow. There are a lot of mushrooms to choose from and not all of them are suitable to eat. When you decide what kind of mushrooms you want to grow, you can start getting ready to plant the mushrooms. Sometimes you may want to hire some workers to help if you have a large mushroom farm, or if you are trying to start a professional mushroom growing business. Trying to have a business by yourself can be stressful. If you don't have enough time to spend taking care of everything yourself, dome helpers may be the best choice. After you have started the mushroom growing, you should regularly check that your mushrooms grow properly and that they are not being attacked by any pesticides or any other animals or something that could be dangerous to them. That is the worst part of mushroom developing. Protect your mushroom farm well with a fence or a gate so that only you and your workers can get in and out. Mushroom growing is not difficult and it is easy to get stared in the world of farming. You will soon possibly be able to provide some of the great cooks of the world with high quality mushrooms that will be enjoyed by thousands of people all over the world. The best title of the passage is _ . Mnrk Zuckerberg, born on May 14. 1984, is an American computer programmer and businessman. As a Harvard student. He created the online social website Facebook, a site popular among students worldwide, with fellow computer science major students and his roommates Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. He serves as Facebook's CEO. He has been the subject of argument for the origins of his business and his wealth. Time Magazine added Zuckerherg as one of The World's Most Influential people 2008. Zuckerberg grew up in prefix = st1 /Dobbs Ferry,New York. Early on. Zuckerlrg enjoyed making computer programs, especially communication tools and games. He started programming when he was in middle school. While attending Phillips Exeter Academy in high school, he built a program to help the workers in his dad's office communicate and a version of the game Risk. He also built a music player named Synapse that can learn the user's listening habits. Microsoft and AOL tried to purchase Synapse and employ Zuckerberg, but instead he decided to attend HarvardUniversity. Zuckerberg started Facebook from his Harvard dorm room on February 4, 2004. it quickly became a success at Harvard and more than two-thirds of the school's studetts signed up in the first two weeks. It started off as just a "Havard-Thing," until Zuckerberg then decided to spread Facebook to other schools and enlisted the help of roommate Dustin Moskovitz. They first spread it to Stanford, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell and Yale, and then to other schools with social contacts with Harvard. By the beginning of the summer, Zuckerberg and Moskovitz had made Facebook available at almost forty-five schools and hundreds of thousands of people were using it. Zuckerberg started Facebook when he was _ . A man made a nice talking machine .It could weigh people's weight .The man wanted to try the machine before he could make a lot of machines. He put the machine into the waiting room of a station .There were always lots of people in and out . The first one who used the machine was an Indian woman. She stood on the machine, the machine thought for a few seconds to decide which language to speak . "Good morning ,Madam ."it said in Indian . "Your weight is 72 kilograms .That's three kilograms more .If you eat more fruit and vegetables ,you will be soon all right .Please have a nice day ." The second one to use the machine was a Chinese girl .She stood on the machine and waited to hear her weight. " Good morning ,Miss ."the machine said in Chinese ."Your weight is 45 kilograms .It's all right for your age. Keep eating what you eat every day .Please have a nice day." The third one to use the machine was a very fat American woman. She thought for a long time to stand on the machine. The machine spoke quickly in English "Good morning .Will one of you get off?" The machine told the Indian woman_.
It's true to say that technology makes our lives easier. However, increasingly scientists are saying that we need to give ourselves a break-----otherwise we put ourselves at risk of developing hundreds of health problems. Over the summer the days are longer and sunnier. Why not put this free time to good use and do something away from technology? You could learn a new skill. There are hundreds of possibilities: cooking, a musical instrument or a new sport. Haven't you always wanted to learn how to knit ? You could use your free time to practice these new things, which might lead to an exciting opportunity in the future. If you just want to relax, why not head to a beach? Take along your favorite book and relax on the sand, or go for a walk along the coastline. If you don't live near a beach, you could go to your local park. Why not have a picnic, or try to explore some of the local wildlife? You could even get involved in the latest craze : adult coloring books! Coloring is a surprising thing to help you relax, and it can be a nice way to escape from the stress of modern life! Whatever you choose to do, try something new! You might surprise yourself and find a hidden gift within you; you might make new friends along the way. Next time you find yourself changing TV channels from one to another without a clear purpose, think about what else you could spend your time doing. Which of the following might be the best title of the text? A. Spending your free time away from technology. B. The disadvantages of Watching TV. C. The relationship between technology and health. D. Finding the hidden gift in you. Answer: A What is a difference between mitosis and meiosis? A. Mitosis occurs in all the cells in animals and plants, while meiosis occurs in only in bacteria. B. In mitosis, the products are identical to the parent cell, while in meiosis the products are different from the parent cell. C. In mitosis, one cell divides into two cells, while in meiosis two cells combine to make one cell. D. Mitosis involves separating the chromosomes, while meiosis involves only the cytoplasm of the cell. Answer: B How do you feel about watching other people work? Nothing is more refreshing on a warm summer day than watching someone else work. Right now,I'm sitting on my porch and watching young Beth baling the big field on top of the hill.She's been haying that field for over ten years.I know:I put her on the tractor when she was just twelve years old. She picked a great day for baling.It's not too hot,and there's a nice breeze.On Monday,when she cut the field,it was so hot I thought the corn would start popping in the field.Didn't stop her,though.She just stuck that big hat on her head,wrapped a wet handkerchief around her neck,and set to work.I remember when I would have done the same thing. While I'm here sucking a lemonade,Beth is driving the "hay train",a tractor pulling a baler and an old wagon.You'd think someone her size would never be able to see over the tractor.But somehow she manages.When she's finished,her tracks are very straight. The whole time she's haying,that dog of hers is working just as hard,running along beside her like he's afraid she'll drive away without him.Beth sure knew what she was doing when she trained him. The way the machine works is pure poetry.Each row is pushed into shape.When just enough hay is in a bale,it is wrapped up and fastened together.A second or so later,the bale comes flying out and into the old wagon.The person who invented that machine sure was some kind of genius. That's not to say it works perfectly.Every once in a while a bale misses the mark,especially when you are turning the machine at the end of a row.That means,of course,that you have to go back and pick up those bales and throw them into the wagon. I can remember when Beth's mother was her age.She looked an awful lot like Beth does now.Makes a man proud to see his daughter and granddaughter taking such good care of themselves. Well,I suppose I should get up and fill this glass again.Not much fun sitting here with an empty glass. It can be inferred from the story that _ . A. Beth is now twenty years old B. Beth trained her dog well C. the writer doesn't bother to give Beth a hand D. the writer enjoys drinking lemonade more than watching Beth working Answer: B There once was a zoo worker named Charlie. He really liked his job that allowed his to meet new people every day and take care of zoo animals. One day, Charlie showed up at the zoo that he worked at and saw that a turtle had escaped! He quickly picked up the radio and told all of the other workers to look out for the missing Turtle named Brian. Because of this, the zoo had to close down for the whole day! They were trying so hard, but still could not find any clue to where the turtle went. Finally, a girl named Samantha went on the radio and said that she found Brian eating lettuce in the Polar Bear cage. She also told everyone that the Polar Bears were protecting Brian! For hours, the zoo team tried to find a way to get Brian out of the cage without getting hurt themselves. Charlie finally had an idea. He was going to take a stuffed turtle from the gift shop, sneak into the cage, put the Polar Bears to sleep for a little bit, and then place the stuffed turtle where Brian was eating his lettuce. Charlie's plan worked, but the Polar Bears woke up and weren't happy! They took the stuffed turtle and ripped it up! Samantha went to find some fish to make them happy again as Charlie told Brian the turtle to never run off again. What was Charlie's idea for saving Brian? A. Charlie was going to give Brian a radio B. Charlie was going to take the Polar Bears out for a fish lunch C. Charlie was going to run in and pick Brian up before the Polar Bears got angry D. Charlie was going to put a stuffed animal where Brian was in the Polar Bear cage Answer: D Future history books might record that we were robbed of the use of our eyes ,In our hurry to get from one place to another, we fail to see anything on the way, Air travel gives you a bird's -eye view of the world ---or even less if the wing of the aircraft happens to _ When you travel by car or train , you are moving so quickly that you do not see the countryside clearly , Car drivers are forever thinking about going on and on; they never want to stop, Is it the great motorways ,that attract them, or what? And as for sea travel ,it hardly deserves mention ,It is perfectly summed up in the words of the old song:'I joined the navy to see the world ,and what did I see? I saw the sea'. You mention the place names in the world like EI Dorado, Kabul and someone is sure to say'I've been there'meaning ,'I drove through it at 100 miles an hour on the way to somewhere else.' When you travel at high speeds, the present means nothing :you live mainly in the future because you spend most of your time looking forward to arriving at some other place, But actual arrival ,when it is achieved , is meaningless , You want to move on again . By traveling like this, you suspend all experience; the present stops being a reality:you might just as well be dead. The traveler on foot, on the other hand , lives constantly in the present, For him traveling and arriving are one and the same thing: he arrives somewhere with every step he makes, He experiences, the present moment with his eyes, his ears and the whole of his body, At the end of his journey he feels a delicious physical tiredness, Satisfying sleep will be his: the just reward of all true travelers. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Different travelers B. The use of eyes C. Ways of traveling D. True traveling Answer: D
Mother's Day is a holiday for mothers. It is celebrated in the United States, English, India and some other countries. In a short time, it becomes widely celebrated. Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday in May. On that day, many people send gifts of love to their mothers. Those whose mothers are still living often wear a pink or red rose or carnation , while those whose mothers are dead wear a white one. The idea of a day for mothers was first given by Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia. As a result of her hard work, the celebration of the first American Mother's Day was held in Philadelphia on May 10,1908. Soon the holiday became popular all over the country and around the world. In China, people do the same on the day for mothers. And , in some cities, people sometimes ask a song to be broadcast for his or her mother only. This might cost a little money for some of them, but, as it is said, "Love is _ ." On May 8,1999, just the day before the Mother's Day this year, a Chinese mother was killed in criminal bombing .Her name is Shao Yunhuan , a heroic mother. All the Chinese will remember her for ever. On Mother's Day, people _ . The nation's largest group of pediatricians on Monday urged its members to "firmly oppose boxing for any child or adolescent." In a statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said thousands of boys and girls take part in the sport in North America, despite risks of serious brain and facial injuries. The group's position was approved by some experts. "There is very little one can do in order to increase the chance of having a healthy brain when you get old," said Dr. Hans Forstl, who has studied boxing injuries. " One of the best things you can do is avoid boxing." He said. According to the new statement, published in the journal Pediatrics, information from Canada shows a rise in boxing injuries over the past decade. Pat Russo, a retired police officer who runs a boxing gym in Brooklyn, New York, said injuries are rare in amateur boxing. After 26 years and training thousands of kids, he has seen just one split lip among his students. " If the gym is run properly, injuries are at an absolute minimum," Russo said. "Football is ten times more dangerous. While tennis or football might also help kids gain confidence, boxing holds a special attraction for children in poor neighborhoods, because it allows them to act tough while in trouble." Dr. Robert Cantu, a surgeon at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, said AAP's attitude makes sense for upper-class and middle-class kids. " Clearly boxing is safer today than it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is still a very risky activity," he said. "For kids in poor areas, however, the situation is different," said Cantu. " The most dangerous thing for the majority of people in boxing is just where they live. They are far safer in the ring , even taking blows to the head, than they are out in the neighborhood." In the text, Dr. Robert Cantu expressed his concern about _ . Teachers say the digital age has had a good and a not-so-good influence on the American teenagers. More than 2,000 high school teachers took an online survey. 75 percent of the teachers said the Internet and digital search tools have had a "mostly good" use for their students' research habits and skills, But 87 percent agreed that these technologies "make the students not have enough attention." And 64 percent said the technologies "do little to help them in courses." Judy Buchanan is a director of the National Writing Project. Ms. Buchanan says digital research tools are helping students learn more, and learn faster. Teachers really like these tools, because they are ways to make some of learning exciting. Young people enjoy using these tools. And the goal is to help them become creative students of meaningful work, and not just that kind of copyist. But one problem the survey found is that many students don't have a good understanding of how to use the digital knowledge well. In other words, they trust too much of the information. Judy Buchanan says these students have not developed the skills they need to tell whether the online information is good or bad. Another problem the survey found is something that might not seem like a problem, at all, being-able to quickly find information online. Teachers say the ability of their students to work hard to find answers is becoming weaker. They say students depend too much on search engines and do not make enough use, of printed books or research, librarians. Besides, many teachers are also worried about the problem that the Internet makes it easy for students to copy work done by others, instead of using their own abilities. Teachers like the digital search tools because they can _ Hi guys! I'm Lucy the ladybird and while I'm very much of a lady, I'm not actually a bird but a glowing red bettle with decorative black spots. I'm a friendly little bug, to be honest, and simply like to be close with my pals as long as they handle me very gently. I don't bite humans but I do sink my teeth into aphids which, unlike me, are very harmful to all the plants. I milk the aphids just like people do with cows and I milk them dry of all the sap they have got from your poor plants. I'm a real gardeners' friend and love helping out around the place by pollinating flowers, tidying up plants' fallen leaves and helping to turn them into nice rich fertilizer to feed everything both above and below the soil, and naturally, being so attractive to look at, we are perfect living garden decorations. One thing I can not tolerate is all that poisonous pollution from vehicles, garbage burning and other environmentally unfriendly acts that occur in the cities every single minute of the day and night. Pollution of any kind really chokes me to death, so these days, I only live in clean countryside areas, particularly cool ones where it rains and everything grows fresh and green from spring right through to autumn. In winter, when the weather is too cold for me to bear, then I find a nice place to sleep until the snow has gone and I can come back out to play. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you that although I am not a bird I do have wings and can fly for short distances. So if you pick me up and let me run up and down your hands and arms, then please don't frighten me by screaming if I suddenly decide to take off! What makes Lucy the Ladybird suffer most? This year marks the 100thanniversary of Leo Tolstoy's death. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest novelists of all time. Much of the West is marking the anniversary with new translations of the author's works, including War and Peace. Movies are being released, including a black-and-white documentary and a feature film. In short, everyone is celebrating. Everyone, that is, except for people in Tolstoy's home country, Russia. The English newspaper the Guardian reports that the Russian government has scheduled nothing for November, the official anniversary of Tolstoy's death. The quiet is amazing, considering the importance of this man's contribution to global culture. "Across the whole world there is a huge Tolstoy boom ," Andrei Deryabin, co-producer of a new film about the author's final days titled The Last Station, told the Guardian. "He's esteemed everywhere apart from here in Russia." Experts explain the government's silence in various ways. Some refer to Tolstoy's disagreement with state-backed religion. Tolstoy's Christian views often _ those of the Roman Catholic church. His great grandson, Vladimir Ilyich Tolstoy, thinks Russia's cool attitude has more to do with history and the author's positive worldview. After all, the last century was a difficult one of the country's people. The darker writings of Fyodor Dostoevsky, he says, better fit the national character. Tolstoy hopes that as Russians grow more optimistic they will rediscover one of their own national treasures. "Tolstoy gives positive answers to the questions mankind is asking," he told the Guardian. " In this sense he gives more hope. I hope the 21stcentury is Tolstoyan." We can infer from the article that _
This is a rather strange story but it is quite true. In December 1996, a burglar broke into a golf club in a small town. When the police arrived to look into it, they found an unusual clue--- a piece of cheese with a bite-mark in it. The burglar had gone into the kitchen, and had eaten some food there. Then he had stolen some cigarettes and a little money. The police man in charge of the case guessed that the burglar was a local man. He thought that professional thieves would not bother to break into a golf club.He made enquires in the town and asked three suspects to come to the police station. When he questioned them about the burglary, they all denied stealing in the club.The policeman then gave each man a piece of cheese and asked them to bite it. He took the pieces of the cheese to a dentist and asked him to compare the bite-marks with that in the piece of cheese at the scene of the burglary. The policeman set free two of the suspects and questioned the third one. At first the man said that he was innocent . The policeman knew that the man was lying, so he encouraged him to talk until he began to contradict himself . The policeman told him about the bite-marks and the man had to admit his stealing. The author says this story is strange because _ . A. the burglar went into the kitchen and ate some food B. the thief stole some cigarettes and a little money C. the burglary happened in a small town D. a piece of cheese helped to catch the thief Answer: D You might think that Olympic athletes are the healthiest people in the world. It's true that many are. However, it's also true that many Olympic athletes had to overcome illnesses early in their lives. One excellent example is Wilma Rudolph. She competed in track-and-field events in the 1960 Olympics. She didn't win just one gold. She won three. At the time, people called her "the fastest woman in the world." As a young child, Wilma could not take part in sports. She had a series of serious illnesses, and then, at the age of 4, she got _ . She lost the use of her left leg, and the doctor said she would never walk again. The people in Wilma's family did everything they could to help her walk again. Wilma and her mother often traveled 100 miles to get treatments for her leg. Her brothers and sisters took turns giving her leg a daily massage. Four times a day, they helped her do special exercises for her leg. Amazingly, by the time Wilma was 9 years old, she was able to walk again. Before long, she started playing basketball and running. In high school, she was a track star and then she went to the Olympics. Wilma stopped being a runner when she was 22 years old. She then became a teacher and track coach. Her story encouraged many people to work hard and to overcome difficulties. What's the main idea of the passage? A. Wilma Rudolph's family helped her overcome polio. B. Wilma Rudolph was seriously sick when she was a young girl. C. Wilma Rudolph was a great Olympic athlete, coach and teacher. D. Wilma Rudolph overcame many difficulties to become a great athlete. Answer: D The most common way for a glass to break is when someone is holding it and then drops it, which makes it what to the ground A. cries B. plunge C. Sells D. laughs Answer: B Born in 1983 in Arizona, US, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. She was born without arms, and no doctors could figure out why. There were many questions at the time about whether Jessica would be able to live a "normal" life. However, Jessica ' s father said , "I have never shed a tear about her birth condition. " With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet. As a child, Jessica studied dance in her home town. When the first performance arrived, she asked to be put in the back row. Her dance teacher told her there was no back row. Nervously, she took the stage with the other students and performed her routine. When she finished, the applause from the audience gave her encouragement and the confidence to continue dancing for 14 years. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor' s degree in Psychology. When talking about her major, she frequently explainsthat psychology has a great effect on her life, helping her out of a physical limitation. During college, Jessica signed up for a club of Taekwondo and learned all of the color1 belt material. The instructors created a course that would be accessible to any future armless students. Jessica became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the club. Jessica' s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, two flight instructors and a discouraging year to find the right aircraft. She received the Cuinness World Record for being the first person permitted to fly an airplane with only her feet. Now Jessica works as a motivational lecturer. She travels the world sharing her story and encouraging people to be creative with the slogan "Think outside the shoe." What ' s Jessica ' s greatest achievement? A. Flying an airplane with her feet. B. Finding the right aircraft. C. Speaking as a motivational lecturer. D. Traveling around the world. Answer: A Chinese player Li Na, a two-time Grand Slam champion, announced her retirement on Sept 21 because of long-term knee injuries. Although it was a hard decision, Li said she had no regrets . "I don't feel sorry about retiring, because I've tried my best," said the 32-year-old. Becoming professional at the age of 17, Li has set many milestones for Chinese tennis. She was the first Chinese player to win a WTA title and the first to break into the top 20. Li won the 2011 French Open title and became the first Asian player to ever win a Slam. By winning this year's Australian Open, she became the first Asian player with two Slams. As excellent as her tennis abilities are, Li's sense of humor is _ too. She often jokes about life with her husband in interviews, changing them into funny comedy shows. Her speech at the Australia Open in January is just the best example. During her 15-year professional career, Li has helped the improvement of tennis in China. Earlier this month, Chinese another player Peng Shuai, 28, made the semifinals of the US Open. Last week, a new tennis match started in Li's hometown of Wuhan. "I've seen changes happening in front of my eyes, young girls picking up tennis rackets, setting goals ... and believing in themselves," Li said in an online post. Li is more than a sports superstar. As WTA chief executive Stacey Allaster said, she is "a pioneer who opened doors to tennis for hundreds of millions of people throughout China and Asia." Li said she planned to take care of my family and then to open a tennis school in China after her retirement. Her official retirement ceremony will be on Sept 30. Why did Li Na decide to give up her tennis career? A. Because of the increasing age. B. Because of the arm injuries. C. Because of the knee injuries. D. Because of the bad performances Answer: C
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members don't know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it's quite often for brothers and sisters to fight with (...)each other and then they can only go to their friends for some ideas. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a group of friends in their lives. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among(......) them on the phone. This communication is very important in children's growing up, because friends can discuss something. These things are difficult to say to their family members in fact. However, parents often try to choose their children's friends for them. Some parents even stop their children from meeting their good friends. Have you ever thought of the following questions? Who choose your friends? Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you? Have you got a good friend your parents don't like? Your answers are welcome. Choose the best answers:(. ) Many teenagers think that _ can understand them better. Answer: friends If you look up the word "create" in the dictionary , you will find it means "to bring into being, to cause something each of us does daily to exist". We are creative whenever we look at or think about something in a new way. First, this includes an awareness of our surroundings.It means using all of our senses to become aware of our world.This may be as simple as being aware of color and texture , as well as taste, when we plan a meal.Above all, it is the ability to notice things that others might miss. A second part of creativity is an ability to see relationships among things.There is nothing new under the sun. The creativity is remaking or recombining the old in new ways. For example, we might do this by finding a more effective way to study or a better way to arrange our furniture, or we might make a new combination of camera lenses and filters to create an unusual photograph. A third part of creativity is the courage and drive to make use of our new ideas, to ask for them to achieve some new results.To think up a new idea is one thing; to put the idea to work is another. These three parts of creativity are included in all the great works of geniuses, but they are also included in many of our day-to-day activities.(257 words) There is nothing new under the sun really implies that _ . Answer: a new thing can only be created at the basis of earlier things "Whatever",totally tops most annoying word in the poll .So, you know, it is what it is, but Americans are totally annoyed by the use of "whatever,,in conversations. The popular term of indifference was found most annoying in conversations by 47 percent of the Americans surveyed in a Marist College poll on Wednesday. "Whatever" easily beat out "you know," which especially annoyed a quarter of interviewers. The other annoying expressions were "anyway"(at 7 percent), "it is what it is',(11percent) and "at the end of the day"(2 percent). "Whatever" is an expression with staying power. It left everyone a deep impression in the song by Nirvana ("oh well, whatever, never mind")in 1991 and was popularized by the Valley Girls in the film "Clueless",later that decade. It is still commonly used, often by younger people. It can be a common argument-ender or a signal of indifference. And it can really be annoying. The poll found '"whatever" to be consistently disliked by Americans regardless of their race, sex, age, income or where they live. "It doesn't surprise me because 'whatever,is in a special class, probably,,,said Michael Adams, author of "Slang ~The People's Poetry" and an associate professor of English at Indiana University. "It's a word that and it depends on how a speaker uses it can suggest being not worthy of attention or respect.',Adams, who didn't take part in the poll and is not annoyed by "whatever," points out that its use is not always negative. "It can also be used in place of other neutral phrases that have fallen out of favor, like 'six of one, half dozen of the other,." he said. However, he also noted that the negative meaning of the word might explain why "whatever,was judged more annoying than the ever-popular "you know". Which of the following statements is true? Answer: Adams is not only a writer but also a professor. Attention! Students ! Beach party comes ! We are going to have an outdoor party at the National Park on July 15. Activities: 1. Ride bikes from the Student Center to the beach. 2. A picnic on the beach. 3. Swimming and sailing contests. What to bring: sun cream, sunglasses, hats, swimsuits, hiking shoes and personal items. Deadline for signing up : Sunday, July 8 Fee: 200 per person. Meet at the Student Center at 10:00 am, July 15 P. S:All the food will be offered by the Students' Union. Which of the following is WRONG? Answer: The party begins at 10:00 pm Goodreads. com is a website for book lovers everywhere. If you love to read, and if you love social networking, you should check out Goodreads. The website marries social networking and books in such a way as makes your friends' reading progress easy to follow and makes it simpler than ever to find your next reading material. Goodreads is a social network for readers. Like Facebook or Twitter, it allows you to share information. Unlike most popular social networks, Goodreads also allows you to show your friends your progress on the book you are reading and to write reviews for everything you've ever read. You can see and comment on your friends' reading progress. Goodreads is simple to use. When you sign up for an account, you will be able to find your friends by their email addresses or other social network accounts. Once you have some friends, every time you log in, you will see a timeline of their updates. You can see when they've added a book to a list, or when they've finished or reviewed a book. As soon as you have an account, you can also start looking for books you've read or that you want to read and added them to your lists. Once you finish reading a book, you can go to the book page and review it by giving it any number out of five stars. If you wish to write a longer review, you can do that, too. If you have ever finished a book and needed a recommendation for what to read next, Goodreads has the answer. Finding your next book has never been easier. Now, not only can you search for individual books you know you want to read and add them to your "to read" list, but you can also easily see what your friends have recently read. When you search through your friends' reviews, you can also see who likes what books, making your selection process even easier. Adding books to your "to read" list can help you keep track of what you want to read next, and seeing what books your friends enjoy - or don't enjoy- can help you better your list of books to read next. Like all good social networks, Goodreads has apps for mobile phones and ways to connect to other social networks. You can get Goodreads for iphone and Android by downloading them from the App Store or Andorid Market. You can also connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts so all of your networks know what you're reading. Furthermore, you can connect your Amazon Kindle to automatically update your progress on your e-books. Last but not least , you can set up Goodreads to auto- publish book reviews to your Wordpress or blog. Sharing your favorite books has never been easier . If you want to create a web space for your own book club, you can do that easily; just start a new group on Goodreads and update the page to show what books you're reading. You can also create events to easily share with members where and when book club meetings and author readings are taking place. Goodreads. com is young, but we will do our best to attract more people and we hope you can use it and give us your advice. Who is the potential readers of the passage ? Answer: Book lovers.
Georgia Aquarium is open 365 days a year. Please note that hours of operation do vary.Last ticket sold and entry is 30 minutes before closing time. Regular Hours Sunday--Friday:10 a.m.--5 P.m. Saturday:9 a.m.--6 p.m. Summer Hours:May 27-August 16 Monday-Saturday:9 a.m.--9 P.m. Sunday:9 a.m.--6 p.m. Full Price Total Ticket Adult(ages 13-64):$38.95 Child(ages 3-12):$32.95 Senior(age 65+):$34.95 Total Ticket Online Discount Adult(ages 13-64):$35.95 Child(ages 3-12):$29.95 Senior(age 65+):$31.95 Animal Encounters:$59.95 Beluga&Friends Interactive Program:$179.95 Journey with Gentle Giants Immersion Program:$234.95 AT&T Dolphin Tales Our new dolphin gallery, theater and show are now open.The gallery and viewing window are open to general admission guests periodically throughout the day.Show times vary each day, so check for times when you are purchasing general admission tickets.Don't forget-AT&T Dolphin Tales is included in Total Ticket general admission,so don't miss this spectacular show ! 4D Theater--Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow Presented by AT&T With multiple shows throughout the day,be sure to catch this unique experience at Georgia Aquarium.Admission to the 4D Theater is included in Total Ticket general admission! Journey with Gentle Giants Immersion Program Swim or scuba dive in the Ocean Voyager exhibit,built by The Home Depot.Swims are daily at 4:30 p.m.,and scuba dives are daily at 3 p.m.and Saturday and Sunday at ll a.m.Spots are limited,so it's best to book in advance. Beluga&Friends Interactive Program Interact with belugas and harbor seals in the Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest gallery.This animal interaction occurs daily at 10 a.m.and 1:30 p.m.Spots are limited,so it's best to book in advance. Animal Encounters Interact with a penguin daily at l1:30 a.m.and l:45 p.m.You can also experience a special encounter with a dolphin.Spots are limited,so it's best to book in advance. Which of the following about AT&T Dolphin Tales is TRUE? A. It is open all day long to visitors. B. It is really worth watching for visitors. C. Visitors have to pay extra money to watch it. D. visitors should book their tickets in advance. Answer: B. It is really worth watching for visitors. The Puritans get a bad reputation in America--especially when it comes to alcohol. Mayflower, the first ship that came over from England to Massachusetts Bay, actually carried more beer than water.In fact the Founding Fathers of America liked a drink--Samuel Adams was a partner in his father's brewery, and Thomas Jefferson was famous for importing European wines. Early Americans took a healthful small drink for breakfast, whiskey was a typical lunchtime drink, ale accompanied supper and the day ended with another drink called nightcap.Most Americans in 1790 consumed an average of 5.8 gallons of pure alcohol a year.In 1830, consumption reached 7.1 gallons a year and alcoholism was starting to have a serious influence on communities.Women and children might be in physical danger if the man of the house began drinking.If he became ill or lost his job through drinking, there was no social safety net to support or protect his family.Eventually, alcoholism was being treated as a disease. By the late 19th Century, support for Prohibition, banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol, was powerful.The first arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol was in 1897.On 16 January 1919, Prohibition was set into law.However, by the 1930s when American economy was experiencing a hard time it was widely believed that making alcohol legal again would provide badly-needed jobs and taxes.So in February of 1933, Prohibition was endeD. Still, Prohibition had a great influence on alcohol drinking in this country.In 1955, Americans drank an average of 2.3 gallons of pure alcohol a year.The Prohibition movement was still quite strong after Prohibition ended and it led to a lot of local prohibition on alcohol. The American presidency has done a lot to rehabilitate alcohol and make it respectable again.Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama can all be seen on film drinking socially and making official toasts with international celebrities. Which is TRUE about the Puritans according to the passage? A. Their ancestors came to America to sell alcohol. B. They founded the breweries in European countries. C. They had a habit of alcohol drinking. D. They were the major importer of alcohol. Answer: C. They had a habit of alcohol drinking. A written construction contract began with the following recital: "This Agreement, between Land, Inc. (hereafter called Owner'), and Builder, Inc., and Boss, its President (hereafter called Contractor'), witnesseth:" The signatures to the contract appeared in the following format: LAND, INC. By /s/ Oscar Land President BUILDER, INC. By /s/ George Mason Vice President /s/ Mary Boss, President Mary Boss Builder, Inc., became insolvent and defaulted. Land, Inc., sued Boss individually for the breach, and at the trial Boss proffered evidence from the pre-contract negotiations that only Builder, Inc., was to be legally responsible for performing the contract. If the court finds the contract to be completely integrated, is Boss's proffered evidence admissible? A. Yes, because the writing is ambiguous as to whether or not Boss was intended individually to be a contracting party. B. Yes, because the evidence would contradict neither the recital nor the form of Boss's signature. C. No, because the legal effect of Boss's signature cannot be altered by evidence of prior understandings. D. No, because of the application of the "four corners" rule, under which the meaning of a completely integrated contract must be ascertained solely from its own terms. Answer: A. Yes, because the writing is ambiguous as to whether or not Boss was intended individually to be a contracting party. Famous writer Edgar Allan Poe wrote 70 poems and 66 short stories during his life,but published only one novel. That book, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon, Pym of Nantucket,is fiction,focusing on Pym's bad luck on a whaling ship. The novel,published in 1838 ,involves an attempted rebellion of the whaling ship. Pym and two others drive back the rebels,killing or throwing overboard all but one. The spared rebel, named Richard Parker,is kept aboard in order to help operate the ship. But as the ship overturns,it has no adequate food. Parker suggests that cannibalism is the only way out,and they draw straws to determine the victim. Parker loses and becomes dinner. But in 1846 a real-life Richard Parker died in a shipwreck . He and 20 0thers were on board the doomed Francis Spaight, which sank, killing all on board. It was a mere coincidence,as it involved neither rebellion nor cannibahsm. In 1884,the coincidence became extremely horrible. A boat named the Mignonette sank, and four people went into a lifeboat. And just like in Pym's tale,the four found themselves lacking food and were desperate. They did not draw straws;however,two of the remaining three simply killed the youngest,a cabin boy who had fallen unconscious. All three then dined on the now-dead 17 year old. The cabin boy's name,of course,was Richard Parker. As for rebellion,one needs to travel back t0 1797 ,before Poe penned his novel - although there is little evidence that Poe had known about this Richard Parker or intentionally chose his name for the Pym novel. That year,another man named Richard Parker led a rebellion of the British Naval base at Nore,taking over a number of ships. But as food was running out,Parker ordered "his" fleet to head toward France. The ship he was on foUowed this order but none of the other ships did,and Parker was arrested then was hanged as punishment. This series of coincidences has not gone entirely unnoticed. In 2001,author Yann Martel published The Life of Pi,which was made into a movie for release in November of 2012.lt teLls the story of a man who finds himself trapped on a lifeboat with a few animals,including a Bengal tiger. Martel showed respect for the shipwrecked men spoken about above by naming the tiger Richard Parker. And while there is probably nothing to this strange occurrence,if vour name is Richard Parker,you may want to stay away from boats. What made the coincidence in 1884 extremely temble? A. Cannibalism without drawing straws. B. Shipwreck and rebellion. C. Rebellion and cannibalism. D. Hanging and cannibalism. Answer: A. Cannibalism without drawing straws. Sustainable development is applied to just about everything from energy to clean water and economic growth, and as a result it has become difficult to question either the basic assumptions behind it or the way the concept is put to use. This is especially true in agriculture, where sustainable development is often taken as the measure of progress without a proper appreciation of historical and cultural perspectives. To start with, it is important to remember that the nature of agriculture has changed markedly throughout history, and will continue to do so. Medieval agriculture in northern Europe fed, clothed and sheltered a mainly rural society with a much lower population density than it is today. It had minimal effect on biodiversity, and any pollution it caused was typically localized. In terms of energy use and the nutrients captured in the product it was relatively inefficient. Contrast this with farming since the start of the industrial revolution. Competition from overseas led farmers to specialize and increase yields. Throughout this period food became cheaper, safer and more reliable. However, these changes have also led to habitat loss and to reducing biodiversity. All this means that agriculture in the 21st century will have to be very different from how it was in the 20th. This will require thorough thinking. For example, we need to move away from the idea that traditional practices are certainly more sustainable than new ones. We also need to abandon the notion that agriculture can be "zero impact". The key will be to abandon the rather simple and static measures of sustainability, which centre on the need to maintain production without increasing damage. Instead we need a more dynamic interpretation, one that looks at the pros and cons of all the various way land is used. There are many different ways to measure agricultural performance besides food yield: energy use, environmental costs, water purity, carbon footprint and biodiversity. It is clear, for example, that the carbon of transporting tomatoes from Spain to the UK is less than that of producing them in the UK with additional heating and lighting. But we do not know whether lower carbon footprints will always be better for biodiversity. What is important is recognizing that sustainable agriculture is not just about sustainable food production. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage? A. To remind people of the need of sustainable development. B. To urge people to rethink what sustainable agriculture is. C. To advance new criteria for measuring farming progress. D. To suggest ways of ensuring sustainable food production. Answer: B. To urge people to rethink what sustainable agriculture is.
40 years ago the idea of disabled people doing sport was never heard of. But when the yearly games for the disabled were started at Stoke Mandeville, England in 1948 by Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the situation began to change. Sir Ludwig Guttmann, who had been driven to England in 1939 from Nazi Germany, had been asked by the British government to set up an injuries center at Stoke Mandeville Hospital near London, His ideas about treating injuries included sport for the disabled. In the first games just two teams of injured soldiers took part .The next year, 1949, five teams took part. From those beginnings, things have developed fast. Teams now come from abroad to Stoke Mandeville every year. In 1990 the first Olympics for the disabled were held in Rome, in the same place as the normal Olympic Games. Now, every four years the Olympic Games for the disabled are held, if possible, in the same place as the normal Olympic Games, although they are organized separately. In other years games for the disabled are still held at Stoke Mandeville, In the 1984 Wheelchair Olympic Games, 1,064 wheelchair athletes form about 40 countries took part. Unfortunately, they were held at Stoke Mandeville and not in Los Angeles, along with the other Olympics. The games have been a great success in helping the progress of international friendship and understanding, and in proving that being disabled does not mean you can't enjoy sport. One small source of disappointment for those who organize and take part in the games, however, has been the unwillingness of the International Olympic Committee to include disabled events at the Olympic Games for the able-bodied. Perhaps a few more years are still needed to persuade those fortunate enough not to be disabled that their disabled fellow athletes should be included. The first games for the disabled were held _ after Sir Ludwig Guttmann arrived in England. 9 years The children in the village wear dirty, cheap clothes. They sleep beside cows and sheep in small houses. They have no school. But they can write 26 English letters, and some know a few English words. How did it happen? It was because a U.S. group called One Computer Every Child offered them 20 computers. Can children teach themselves to read when they have no schools or teachers but have the help of today's new technology ? The goal of the group is to find out the answer. And the results are exciting. "The children are learning more than they would in one year of school," said Matt Keller, who organized the programme. The fastest learner was an eight-year-old boy called Kelbesa Negusse. He said that he himself was like a lion. Keller said, "Seven months ago he didn't know any English. But now he has known many words. I think if you give them food and water they will never leave the computer room. They will spend day and night there." Kelbesa said, "I like the computer because I can learn things with it." He added, "I know many English words, like dog, monkey, horse, sheep, cow, pig and cat." Keller said that One Computer Every Child was planning a programme for children who couldn't go to school. How can the children in the village learn English words? One Computer Every Child gave them computers. Wealth starts with a goal saving a dollar at a time. Call it the piggy bank strategy . There are lessons in that time-honored coin-saving container. Any huge task seems easier when reduced to baby steps. I f you wished to climb a 12,000-foot mountain, and could do it a day at a time, you would only have to climb 33 feet daily to reach the top in a year. If you want to take a really nice trip in 10 years for a special occasion, to collect the $15,000 cost, you have to save $3.93 a day. If you drop that into a piggy bank and then once a year put $1,434 in a savings account at 1% interest rate after-tax, you will have your trip money. When I was a child, my parents gave me a piggy bank to teach me that, if I wanted something, I should save money to buy it. We associate piggy banks with children, but in many countries, the little containers are also popular with adults. Europeans see a piggy bank as a sign of good fortune and wealth. Around the world, many believe a gift of a piggy bank on New Year's Day brings good luck and financial success. Ah, but you have to put _ in it. Why is a pig used as a symbol of saving? Why not an elephant bank, which is bigger and holds more coins? In the Middle Ages, before modern banking and credit instruments, people saved money at home, a few coins at a time dropped into a jar or dish. Potters made these inexpensive containers from an orange-colored clay called "pygg," and folks saved coins in pygg jars.The Middle English word for pig was "pigge". While the Saxons pronounced pygg, referring to the clay, as "pug", eventually the two words changed into the same pronunciation, sounding the "i" as in pig or piggy. As the word became less associated with the orange clay and more with the animal, a clever potter fashioned a pygg jar in the shape of a pig, delighting children and adults. The piggy bank was born. Originally you had to break the bank to get to the money, bringing in a sense of seriousness into savings. While piggy banks teach children the wisdom of saving, adults often need to relearn childhood lessons. Think about the things in life that require large amounts of money--- college education, weddings, cars, medical care, starting a business, buying a home, and fun stuff like great trips. So when you have money, take off the top 10%, put it aside, save and invest wisely. Why did the writer's parents give him a piggy bank as a gift? To help him form the habit of saving. The businessman was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy . Suddenly an old man appeared before him. "I can see that something is troubling you." he said. After listening to the businessman, the old man said: "I believe I can help you." He asked the man his name, wrote out a check , and pushed it into his hand saying: "Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time." Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come. The businessman saw in his hand a check for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world! "I can settle all my debts in a moment!" he realized. But instead, the man decided to put the uncashed check in his safe, just knowing it would give him the strength to work out a way to save his business. With renewed optimism, he made better deals and extended terms of payment. He closed several big deals. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again. Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed check. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as the businessman was about to hand back the check and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man. "I'm so glad I caught him!" she cried. "I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller." And she led the old man away by the arm. The businessman stood there, still and shocked. All year long he'd been wheeling and dealing, buying and selling, believing that he had half a million dollars behind him. Suddenly he realized that it wasn't the money, real or imagined, that had turned his life around. It was his newfound self-confidence that had given him the power to achieve anything he wanted to. Why did the businessman put the uncashed check in his safe? He felt secure against further difficulties with the check as a backup. People are being lured onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they're paying for it by giving up large amounts of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages. Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Facebook because people don't really know what their personal data is worth. The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook--you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things-- your city, your photo, your friends' names--were set, by default to be shared with everyone on the Internet. According to Facebook's vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information, they have a "less satisfying experience". Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. Its original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the page, totally failed. Who wants to look at ads when they're online connecting with their friends? The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites."I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits. I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning, which is why I'm considering deactivating my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't know. That's too high a price to pay. Why does Senator Charles Schumer propose? Working out regulations for social-networking sites.
Throughout his early years, Obama was known at home and at school as "Barry". Obama's parents met while both were attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. They separated when he was two years old and later divorced . His father received Master's degree in Economics from Harvard University, then returned to Kenya, where he became a finance minister before dying in an automobile accident in 1982. His mother married another foreign student, Lolo Soetoro, and the family moved to Soetoro's home country of Indonesia in 1967. Obama attended local schools in Jakarta, from age 6 to 10, where classes were taught in the Indonesian language. During his time in Indonesia, he first attended St. Francis Assist Catholic school for almost three years. When Obama was in third grade he wrote an essay saying that he wanted to be president. His teacher later said that his reason for becoming president was that he wanted to make everybody happy. Obama returned to Honolulu to live with his materal grandparents while attending Punahou School, a private college elementary school, from the fifth grade until his graduation in 1979. Obama's mother, Ann, died of cancer a few months after the publication of his 1995 memoir , Dreams from My Father. In the memoir, Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's middle class family. Of his early childhood, Obama writes, "That my father looked nothing like the people around me---that he was black as pitch , my mother white as milk ." Some of his fellow students at Punahou School later told the Honolulu Star--Bulletin that Obama was mature for his age as a high school student and that he sometimes attended parties and other events in order to connect with African American college students and military service people. When Obama was a child, _ . Answer: people used to call him Berry There once was a big black and white dog named Forrest. His owner's name was Jeff. Jeff thought he was the best dog in the whole world. One night, when Forrest and Jeff were taking a walk in the park, they saw two men walking down the path. Both men were dressed in very nice suits. Jeff waved at the men. "Good evening," he said. "How are you tonight?" "Hello," one of the men said. "It is such a great night for walking." Jeff and Forrest kept walking down the path. It was a very dark night, but the moon was shining bright. When Jeff turned around to look for the two men, he could not see them at all. They were nowhere to be seen. Later that night, when their walk was over, Jeff and Forrest were lying on the bed. They were watching a television show about ghosts. "Do you think maybe those two men were ghosts?" Jeff said out loud. "They did not leave a trace." Forrest was a dog, but he acted like he understood. He barked. Jeff smiled. He liked that his dog always saw things the same way he did. What time of day did Jeff and Forrest go for a walk? Answer: night Metterly, the owner in fee simple of Brownacre, by quitclaim deed conveyed Brownacre to her daughter, Doris, who paid no consideration for the conveyance. The deed was never recorded. About a year after the delivery of the deed, Metterly decided that this gift had been illadvised. She asked Doris to destroy the deed, which Doris dutifully and voluntarily did. Within the month following the destruction of the deed, Metterly and Doris were killed in a common disaster. Each of the successors in interest claimed title to Brownacre. In an appropriate action to determine the title to Brownacre, the probable outcome will be that Answer: Doris was the owner of Brownacre, because the deed was merely evidence of her title, and its destruction was insufficient to cause title to pass back to Metterly. A woman is at the movies ,and she is enjoying the movie very much. A man in the next seat begins to look for something on the floor under him. The woman is angry and says, "What are you doing there? What are you looking for?" "A piece of chocolate." A man answers. " But it's dirty now ! Take this and be quiet, please .I am listening to the film!" She gives the man a big one. "But," the man says, "my false tooth is in it on the floor!" Why does the man want to find the chocolate ? Answer: Because he just want to find his false tooth. Alan Tong was the worst driver in town. He had an accident of some kind almost every week. Alan lived with his mother. His mother was always worried about him. Every day she worried that police would turn up to arrest him. This wasn't a foolish worry because they usually called on the Tong household about once a week to deliver a speeding ticket or to serve him notice to appear in court. Most of his accidents were caused by his carelessness. He drove through red lights. He turned right without signaling. He drove at night without proper lights. He overtook other cars on hills and sharp curve. In short there wasn't a traffic regulation Alan had not broken, and he had had so many accidents that it was a miracle he was still alive. But luckily for Alan, he had never hurt anyone in his accidents or even gone to the hospital. Although Alan wasn't popular with the police, he was very popular with his lawyer. Alan's lawyer, Mr.Tsui, had earned a lot of money from Alan's cases and always rubbed his hands expectantly when he saw Alan coming into his office. One day Alan was working in the garage spraying painting his car when his mother walked in. "What are you doing?" his mother asked. "Painting my car," Alan replied. "I can see that," his mother said, "but why are you painting one side of the car red and the other side blue?" "Because every time I have to go to court for a traffic offense, there are always two witnesses . "What color1 was the car?" the prosecutor always asks, and the two witnesses always give the same answer. Well, in the future, one witness will say it was blue. Mr. Tsui will then say to the judge, "Your honor, the witnesses cannot even agree on the color1 of the car involved in the accident." And the judge will have to dismiss the case against me. Alan's mother's worries were _ . Answer: quite reasonable
Question: One evening in February 2007, a student named Paula Ceely brought her car to a stop on a remote road in Wales. She got out to open a metal gate that blocked her path. That's when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train. Her Renault Clio was parked across a railway line. Seconds later, she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometre down the railway tracks. Ceely's near miss made the news because she blamed it on her GPS . She had never driven the route before. It was dark and raining heavily. Ceely was relying on her GPS, but it made no mention of the crossing. "I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train." she told the BBC. Who is to blame here? Rick Stevenson, who tells Ceely's story in his book When Machines Fail Us, points the finger at the limitations of technology. We put our faith in digital devices, he says, but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job. They are filled with small problems. And it's not just GPS devices: Stevenson takes us on a tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless keyboards. The problem with his argument in the book is that it's not clear why he only focuses on digital technology, while there may be a number of other possible causes. A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map. Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention. Perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signalling system. Or maybe someone has studied the relative dangers and worked out that there really is something specific wrong with the GPS equipment. But Stevenson doesn't say. It's a problem that runs through the book. In a section on cars, Stevenson gives an account of the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars. He offers two independent sets of figures on car theft; both show a small rise in some parts of the country. He says that once again not all new locks have proved reliable. Perhaps, but maybe it's also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets. Or changing social circumstances. Or some combination of these factors. The game between humans and their smart devices is amusing and complex. It is shaped by economics and psychology and the cultures we live in. Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be a way for a wiser use of technology. If there is such a way, it should involve more than just an awareness of the shortcomings of our machines. After all, we have lived with them for thousands of years. They have probably been fooling us for just as long. What is the real concern of the writer of this article? A. The major causes of traffic accidents and car thefts. B. The relationship between human and technology. C. The shortcomings of digital devices we use. D. The human unawareness of technical problems. Answer: D. The human unawareness of technical problems. Question: His name is James,but people call him Rocky.The name fits.He's big,over six feet tall,and he's tough when he needs to be.James "Rocky" Robinson lives and works in New York City's BedfordStuyvesant district,one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in the United States.Yet it is here in BedStuy that he is saving lives and reviving a community. In 1966,when Rocky was twentysix years old,his sevenyearold niece was struck by a car on the street of BedStuy.Had someone at the scene known first aid or CPR,she might have lived.But by the time she reached a hospital,she was dead. His niece's unnecessary death was one reason why Rocky became a paramedic .Working for the Emergency Medical Service of New York City,he realized that more than half the city's emergency calls came from highcrime areas.According to Rocky,residents of crimeplagued minority neighborhoods like BedStuy sometimes had to wait as long as 26 minutes after calling 911 for an ambulance while calls in richer white communities were answered _ . Rocky decided to find out more about the problem.His research showed that the richer communities had organized their own ambulance corps to improve city services because the city was overwhelmed with calls."If that's the key to success,"he told his friend and EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) colleague,Joe Perez,"we'll start our own corps in BedStuy!" In 1988,Rocky had no idea that he and Joe would be attempting to establish the first minorityrun ambulance service in the country,or just how creative he would have to be to overcome the difficulty.The pair's first challenge was to find a location for the headquarters.They took over an abandoned building that was commonly used by drug dealers.Because there was no electricity or running water (except for the leaks in the roof),the two men worked during daylight hours.They used a twoway radio to receive emergency calls. Although they could make do with their new headquarters,Rocky and Joe still lacked the most important component of an ambulance service:an ambulance.An old Chevrolet got them to the scenes of accidents,fires,shootings,and stabbings.But the car didn't always start.At times,they were forced to strap their trauma kits and oxygen tanks to their backs and run on foot to the emergencies.Everyone laughed,except the victims who were still alive when Rocky and Joe arrived. The author believes the name "Rocky" fits James because _ . A. he is a tall and tough man B. he is tall and does something big C. he is living in a tough community D. he leads a tough community Answer: B. he is tall and does something big Question: There is not enough oil in the world now. As time goes by, it becomes less and less, so what are we going to do when it runs out? Perhaps we will go back to using horses, carriages and bicycles. In the Second World War, some people didn't use gas made from petroleum in their cars. They made gas from wood and plants instead. The car didn't go fast, but they ran, so this was better than nothing. However, in the future, we can't cut down all our trees to make gas; we need our trees for other things, too. Besides different types of gas, we can also use electricity to run our cars, but first we must make the electricity! Some countries have coal and they make electricity with that, but we might not always have coal, either. Other countries have big, strong rivers, and they can use the power of water to turn turbines and make electricity more easily and cheaply. We are also able to get power from the ocean tides. We put turbines into the mouth of the river. Then the tide comes in, the water turns the turbines and then it goes out, it turns them again. Which of these ways will be used to run our cars in the future? What did some people use to make gas in the Second World War? A. Water. B. Coal. C. Wood and plants. D. Tides. Answer: C. Wood and plants. Question: Almost every Chinese person can recite the two lines of the famous poem, " _ ". But sadly, many of us don't actually get the real meaning of these lines: Don't waste food. A CCTV program reported that the food Chinese people throw away every year is enough to feed 200 million people for a year. Do we have too much food? Absolutely not. According to the UN World Food Program, there were 925 million hungry people around the world in 2011, especially in developing countries. Six million children die of hunger every year. Chinese people are well-known for being friendly and generous. Many even feel that they lose face if their guests have eaten all the food on the table. Luckily, a number of people have realized the importance of saving food. What should we do in our daily lives to waste less food? 1. Don't order too much in a restaurant. Only order as much as you want to eat. If you cannot eat all the food you ordered, take the rest of it home. 2. Don't leave any food in your bowls while having meals. 3. Keep an eye on what food you have at home. Don't buy too much, especially for vegetables and fruit. According to the UN report, how many hungry people were there in 2011? A. 6 million. B. 925 million. C. 200 million. D. 725 million. Answer: B. 925 million. Question: WASHINGTON--A baby born with the virus that causes AIDS appears to have been cured, scientists announced Sunday, describing the case of a child from Mississippi who's now 2.5 and has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection. There's no evidence that shows that the child will remain healthy, although complex testing uncovered just traces of the virus' genetic material still lingering . If so, it would mark only the world' s second reported cure. Specialists say Sunday's announcement, at a major AIDS meeting in Atlanta, offers promising clues for efforts to remove HIV infection in children, especially in African countries where too many babies are born with the virus. "You could call this about as close to a cure," Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, who is familiar with the findings, told The Associated Press. A doctor gave this baby faster and stronger treatment than usual, starting a three-drug mixture within 30 hours of birth. That was before tests confirmed the infant was infected and not just at risk from a mother whose HIV wasn't diagnosed until she was in labor . "I just felt like this baby was at higher-than-normal risk, and deserved our best shot," Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi, said in an interview. That fast action apparently knocked out HIV in the baby's blood before it could form hideouts in the body. Those so-called reservoirs of dormant cells usually rapidly reinfect anyone who stops medication, said Dr. Deborah Persaud of Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Next, Persaud's team is planning a study to try to prove that, with more aggressive treatment of other high-risk babies. "Maybe we'll be able to block this reservoir seeding." Persaud said. No one should stop anti-AIDS drugs as a result of this case, Fauci warned. We can infer that HIV is difficult to treat because _ . A. HIV is not easy to diagnose at the early time B. HIV is so clever that it hides when it feels danger C. people with HIV are too shy to receive the treatment D. people with HIV are too lazy to stop anti-AIDS drugs Answer: B. HIV is so clever that it hides when it feels danger
Douglas Florian teaches readers about bees in a new book of poems called UnBEElievables. In his latest book, each poem is paired with a colorful image that illustrates a different type of bee and its role in the group. Every page is full of fun and interesting facts about these social insects. TFK: When you brainstorm for a story, which comes first: the images or the poems? FLORIAN: Usually the poems come first. For a book of 21 poems, for example, I'll actually write about 50 poems first. Although I sometimes have images in my mind to go along with the words, I have to choose which ones I want to include in the book. TFK: Many of your books, including UnBEElievables, are about insects and animals. How did these become your favorite subjects? FLORIAN: There is so much humor in the animal world. People have a lot of knowledge about animals and ideas about animals that are fun to explore in writing. Animals are just so interesting. When I research, I find out so many new and amazing facts. The poem is often half written by the time I have done with my research. TFK: Why did you choose bees as the subject of your latest book? FLORIAN: I saw recently in the news that many bees are dying out. Scientists believe this to be caused by various diseases. I wanted to create awareness and learn more about bees after hearing this. So many of the fruits and vegetables we eat are dependent on pollination by honeybees. If bees disappear, so will much of our food. TFK: Do you have a favorite bee? FLORIAN: One of my favorites is the poem and painting about the worker bees. I wanted the painting to be very playful and light. These bees have to work all day, and it's kind of like a factory. And even though these bees have to work very hard, they manage to smile. Douglas Florian likes the worker bees best mainly because of their _ . Answer: "It is high time someone explained to you about good manners. Yours are obvious by their absence and I feel sorry for you." These were the words that Carolyn Bourne e-mailed to her son's fiancee , Heidi Withers. The couple had just visited the Bourne family home in England. Within days, the e-mail was all over the Internet, and the subject of manners hit UK national news. Heidi, Mrs Bourne said, stayed in bed too late. She complained when she was hungry and was particular about food. She told rude jokes. Finally, she had never thanked Mrs Bourne for the weekend. But it wasn't just Heidi's behavior that got people talking. Facebook groups started up about the e-mail. The one with the most members was called "Carolyn Bourne needs to learn some manners". People said Mrs Bourne had been too direct. They thought she had been cruel when she told Heidi to go to "finishing school" -- a centre where badly-behaved young women used to be sent. Heidi's father wrote back to Mrs Bourne and called her a "snotty Miss Fancy Pants" -- someone who thinks they are socially better than anyone else. Everyone agreed that there are rules of "good" and "bad" behavior. Everyone agreed that these rules had been broken. However, no one could agree what these rules were -- or whether Heidi or Mrs Bourne was in the wrong. So what does politeness really mean? Is there a secret to social etiquette ? Shirley Schomaker runs a real-life finishing school. She said that both Mrs Bourne and Heidi had been impolite. The true secret, she said in a BBC interview, lies in making everyone feel comfortable. "Social etiquette isn't about being snotty and being in the know ," she said. "It's about making other people feel good. It's about communication. It's about making society get along better." According to the article, a finishing school is _ . Answer: My grandfather worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to an orphanage in Brazil. On his way home, he found his glasses were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket and fallen into one of the crates. His new glasses were heading for Brazil! The Great Depression was at its height, and Grandpa had six children. He had spent twenty dollars for those glasses that very morning. "It's not fair," he thought as he walked home angrily. "I've been very faithful in giving my time and money to my work, and now this." Several months later, the director of the orphanage came to the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him, so he came to my grandfather's small church in Chicago. He began by thanking the people for their kindness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, " I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, some people had just come to the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were very worried about this. Then your crates arrived. When I removed the covers, I found a pair of glasses lying on top." He paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, he continued: "When I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been made just for me!" The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But they thought it was strange because there were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. Sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, my grandfather, an ordinary carpenter realized his glasses had found a good place to go. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: Finding a good friend can be quite difficult in the contemporary lives of teenagers. I was once baffled by what the definition of a good friend was,until I discovered a single step that,if taken,would make you the greatest friend. It is willingness. That is all it takes in order to be considered a good friend. Willingness must come from within your heart. Listening to your friends makes them feel important, special and wanted. The will to sacrifice for your friends will also take you a step closer to being a good friend. For instance,as you are about to leave to enjoy your Saturday night,your best friend calls you right when you are stepping out and tells you how terrible he feels,and then you must be willing to give up your Saturday night and go to your friend's house and try to comfort him in any way that you can. You must always be willing to give advice to your friends. For example, if your friends are in a situation where they do not know what to do,you must be willing to think things through and try to give them the best advice. The willingness to care is also a big must in being a good friend. You must care about how your friends feel and what they're experiencing. Caring about your friends is one of the best things you can do,because when your friends are in their time of need and the whole world seems to turn against them,you must be the one to care. Nobody ever said being a good friend was easy. If you want to be a good friend,you have to be willing to listen, sacrifice,give advice and care about your friends. What is the passage mainly talking about? Answer: Old-Fashioned Play-For Pay Kids! Come to have a ball! Or 60,000 of them! There's a new type of business franchise that is appearing in shopping malls and neighborhood across America offering pay-per-use indoor playgrounds, which feature toys, games, guided fun and a workout that doesn't break the family bank. As public playgrounds grow increasingly worn and dirty, the for-profit centers offer clean, safe guided activity as well as a variety of challenging exercises to develop kids' physical fitness, usually for a fee of around $ 5 an hour. "Playgrounds are dirty, not guided," says Dick Guggenheimer, owner of the two-month-old Discovery Zone in Yonkers, N. Y., part of Kansas City-based chain, "We are indoors; we are padded; parents can feel their child is safe". In order to satisfy the need of two-earner families, the new franchise stays open in the evenings, long after traditional public playgrounds have grown dark and unusable. However, these new playgrounds are not meant to be day-care centers. Parents are expected to go stay and play with their kids rather than drop them off. But several also provide high-tech baby-sitting services. At some of the Discovery Zones, parents can register their children in special guided programs, then leave them and slip away for a couple of hours to enjoy a movie or dinner. If there is a problem, Mom and Dad are called. The most fun of all, though, is getting to do what parents used to do in the days before two-earner families and two-hour commutes , play with their kids. That, at least, is old-fashioned, even at per-hour rates. According to the article, which of the following is TRUE to the new playground? Answer:
This is a picture of a classroom. The classroom is big and clean. You can see a teacher's desk, five desks and six chairs. You can see a girl and a boy, too. Three books are on the teacher's desk. A pencil box is on the desk. Two pens and two rulers are in the pencil box. A schoolbag is under a chair. A ball is on the floor. The girl is Linda; she is 11. The boy is Mike, he is 12. They are in Class Two, Grade one. They are friends. Their teacher is Miss Green. She is not here. It's a picture of _ . There are many things we need to know that we do not learn at school. For example, if we want to use our money wisely, we need to shop carefully. We need to know how to compare the prices of things in different shops. We need to be able to compare the quality of different brands . We need to know how to make a choice when we shop. Knowing how to make such choices is a "life skill", and we need these skills if we are to live useful and happy lives. Some of these choices are small. For example, will I take an apple for lunch or a pear? Will I go to school by bus or on foot? Will I wear the red T-shirt or the blue one to the movies? Other choices are more important. For example, will I eat healthy food for lunch or will eat junk food because it is tastier? Will I work hard in all my classes or will I only work hard in the classes I enjoy? We make choices like this every day. We have to realize that the choices we make can affect the rest of our lives. Just as importantly, our choices can also affect other people. The next time you decide to waste time in class, play a joke on someone or talk loudly at the movies, think about this: who else does your choice affect? From the passage we know that your choice affect _ beep ...beep ... There went the bell! Robbie opened his eyes. He had been sitting in the room for a whole day, and now it was time for him to do something. Robbie looked out of the window. It was still snowing heavily and there was ice on the window. It was another cold day. Robbie was told to turn the heat on before the family got home. And he _ Then Robbie was told to do some cleaning work at once. It was an easy job for him, but a tough one for his master, Helen. He kept on working until every room was clean and tidy. For now, he had to cook supper for the family. The first thing Robbie did was to get the big pot in the kitchen. Then he put some water in the pot and put it on the stove. He used one of his hands to cut up a chicken and added the pieces to the water to make a good soup. Then he got some tomatoes, cabbages and carrots to make a vegetable salad. At ten past eight he laid the table. Then he put some bread, the chicken soup and the salad on it. What a sweet smell! The moment he turned on the lights, the whole family came home. "The soup smells great, Victor," said Helen. "You really know how to tell Robbie what to do." Robbie is one robot that really saves the family a lot of work. What is Robbie? I am Lin Feng. This is a picture of my family: my grandfather, my grandmother, my father, my mother, my sister and I. My grandparents are in Beijing now and we are in Zhejiang. My mother is a teacher and my father is a doctor. My sister and I are middle school students. My sister is in Class 1,Grade 8 and I am in Class2, Grade 7. I have a good friend here. Her name is Zhang Ning. We are in the same class. Lin Feng's mother is _ . Munich sincerely invites you to join the 2016 0ktoberfest--the biggest celebration of its kind in Europe. Drink beer by the liter, eat traditional Bavarian food, listen to traditional Bavarian music as well as more up-to-date music, and enjoy yourself with hundreds of other people from all over the world, dancing and singing the hours away. Oktoberfest 2016 begins on Saturday 17th September and runs through to Monday 3rd October 2016. Don't miss the events during Oktoberfest! Grand entry of the Oktoberfest landlords and breweries Date: Saturday, 17th September 2016 Duration: about 45 minutes This is the official prelude to the opening of the Oktoberfest and involves about 1,000 participants, including the landlords' families in decorated carriages, the magnificent horse-drawn drays, waitresses on decorated floats and all the beer tent bands. Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen-s Parade Date: Sunday, 18th September 2016 Duration:2-2 1/2 hours, about 8000 performers,7 km distance A varied succession of regional costume groups, "troops" in historical uniforms, marching bands, riflemen, thoroughbred horses, oxen, cows, goats, floats displaying typical local traditions and historic carriages all pass by in a 7-kilometer-long procession through the streets of the city center. Open-Air Oktoberfest Music Date: Sunday, 25th September 2016 Place: on the steps of the Bavaria statue At the traditional open-air concert on the second Sunday of the Oktoberfest, all the instruments that make up typical Bavarian wind band music can be heard. The bands from all of the tents come together at the steps under the Bavaria statue to play the most well-known songs and marches of Oktoberfest together while being conducted by distinguished Munich personalities. People who want to participate in the open-air concert should go to _ .
Many of us have had this annoying experience: You are waiting at a bus station when someone nearby begins to smoke. You move away, but there isn't much you can do about it. In Beijing, a new law is set to fight against smoking. It is regarded as China's toughest ever tobacco control rule . Smoking is not allowed in all indoor or public places. If people break the rules, they will have to pay up to 200 yuan. Smoking in schools is specially mentioned in this law. Teachers can not smoke in front of students in schools. Schools should also help students give up smoking and teach them about the danger of smoking. To get everybody to take part in the activity, Beijing has set up a report hotline and WeChat account . The public is invited to _ on no-smoking signs on WeChat The most popular sign is a picture of a gir1. It has got more than 1 million votes unti1 now. China is not the only country fighting smoking. In March 2004 Ireland became the first country to introduce a law on smoking in workplaces and public places. Many countries, including England and the US, then fo1lowed. When someone begins to smoke, there is little you can do except _ Answer: moving away Which two objects would electricity best flow through? Answer: a steel beam and a soda can It is Sunday afternoon. Mary goes to do the shopping with her mother. Her mother wants to buy some food for supper. Mary wants to buy a new skirt and some school things. They come to a shop. "What does your shop sell?" Mary asks, "A lot of things." The girl in the shop says. "You can buy food, drinks, clothes in our shop and school things, too." Mary and her mother go in. There are many people in the shop. Mary looks at a nice white skirt. "How much is the skirt?" Mary asks the girl in the shop. "It's eighty yuan." "That's too dear." "What about the green one? It looks nice. And it's only thirty yuan." "OK, thanks a lot." "You are welcome." After that, Mary buys some school things, too. Here mother buys a lot of food, like bread, cakes, meat and fish. They get home very late. Mary wants to buy a new skirt and _ . Answer: some school things On the night of May 9, 2011, musician Gao Xiaosong ran his car into three other cars in Beijing. But it wasn't just a car accident--he was drunk . Now, Gao has to go to prison for six months and pay a 4,000 yuan fine. Gao is the first star to be punished under China's new drunk driving law. From May 1 on, drunk drivers will pay a fine, and be banned from driving for five years or even forever. Drunk driving has become a serious social problem in China.According to the Ministry of Public Security , police caught more than half a million drunk drivers last year, a 68 % increase from 2009. The new law sees drunk driving as a crime. In the West, drunk driving is also a crime. In the US, for example, if the police catch a drunk driver, the driver will pay a fine, lose his or her license and even go to prison. If the driver wants to drive again, he or she must do public service, and take part in educational programs. You may think: drunk driving is a crime? Isn't this law too unkind? But experts say, "Not at all." "It is to protect people's rights to life and health," Li Gang, lawyer in Chengdu, told China Daily. "Drunk driving is very dangerous. No matter what the results are, it should not be allowed." Mr. Gao ran his car into three other cars because _ . Answer: he drank too much wine There was a big garden in front of Jeff's house. So on weekends, many children came to play soccer from morning to late night. They made a lot of noise, so Jeff couldn't do anything. He thought hard and had an idea. One Saturday evening, he went out and said to them, "It is my happy time when I see and hear you playing here. So I will give you fifty yuan a week if you play in the garden here," They felt very happy and on Saturday evening they came to Jeff's house and asked for the money. He did so. The second week, Jeff said he didn't have enough money and only gave them twenty yuan. The third week Jeff said he lost his work, but he gave them only 10 yuan. And the boys were very _ . The fourth week Jeff said he was looking for his job. He gave them only five yuan. And said he couldn't pay them fifty yuan a week. But he would give them two yuan each week. After that, the boys never played in the garden again. Jeff gave the children money to _ . Answer: let them play soccer there
Have you ever been to some big cities in the world? The information below will be helpful to you. Budapest For many centuries, Budapest was two cities, with Buda on the west side of the river Danube and Pest on the east side. Budapest became one city in 1872, and it has been the capital city of Hungary for about eighty years. The population of Budapest is about three million, and the city is a very popular place for tourists. Visitors like to take boat rides along the Danube. Budapest is also known for its exciting nightlife. The best time to visit is summer since Budapest is very cold in winter. Los Angeles Los Angeles was founded in 1781. With 3.5 million people it is now the biggest city in California and the second largest city in the United States. It is famous for its modern highways, its movie stars, and its smog. When the city is really smoggy, you can't see the near-by Mountains. The weather is usually dry and warm. Visitors like to go to the film studios and to drive along Hollywood Street. There are many good beaches near the city, and Los Angeles is also close to Disneyland. Taipei Since the founding of Taipei in the 18th century, the city has grown to a population of 2.3 million. Taipei is an exciting city, but the weather is humid and not always pleasant. It's also a very busy city, and the streets are always full of people. There is an excellent museum that many people visit. Taipei is quite an expensive city, but not more expensive than some neighboring cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo. So more and more travelers go to Taipei to shop. Which of the following is TRUE for the three cities? A person who plants in their garden may switch between planting beets and cucumbers in order to When prehistoric animals died and their soft parts decayed, which product was formed? If someone asks me: "Do you like music?" I'm sure I will answer him or her: "Of course, I do." Because I think music is an important part of our lives. Different people have different ideas about music. For me, I like rock music because it's so exciting. And my favorite rock band, the "Fox Ladies is one of the most famous rock banks in the world. I also like pop music. My classmate ,Li Lan, loves dance music, because she enjoys dancing. My best friend, Jane, likes jazz music . She thinks jazz is really cool. "I like dance music and rock very much,: says my brother, "because they are amazing." But my mother thinks rock is boring. "I like some relaxing music." She says. That's why she likes country music, I think. The writer likes music because he thinks _ . A pesticide gets into the waters of the Everglades and wipes out many of the fish, amphibian and bird populations on which alligators depend for food. Which change would most likely occur among the alligator population?
A long time ago, there lived a poor man whose real name has been forgotten. He was little and old and his face was wrinkled, and that was why his friends called him Mr. Vinegar. His wife was also little and old, and they lived in a little old cottage at the back of a little old field. "John," said Mrs. Vinegar, "you must go to town and buy a cow. I will milk her and churn butter and we shall never want for anything." "That is a good plan," said Mr. Vinegar, so he started off to town while his wife waited by the roadside. Mr. Vinegar walked up and down the street of the town looking for a cow. After a time, a farmer came that way, leading one that was very pretty and fat. "Oh, if I only had that cow," said Mr. Vinegar, "I would be the happiest man in the world!" "She's a very good cow," said the farmer. "Well," said Mr. Vinegar, "I'll give you these 50 gold pieces for her." The farmer smiled and held out his hand for the money, "You may have her," he said, "I always like to oblige , my friends!" Mr. Vinegar took hold of the cow's halter and led her up and down the street. "I am the luckiest man in the world," he said, "for only see how all the people are looking at me and my cow!" But at one end of the street, he met a man playing bagpipes . He stopped and listened -- Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dee. "Oh, that is the sweetest music I ever heard," he said, "and just see how all the children crowd around the man and give him pennies! If I only had those bagpipes, I would be the happiest man in the world!!" "I'll sell them to you," said the piper. "Will you? Well then, since I have no money, I will give you this cow for them." "You may have them," answered the piper, "I always like to oblige a friend." Mr. Vinegar took the bagpipes and the piper led the cow away. "Now we will have some music," said Mr. Vinegar, but try as hard as he might, he could not play a tune. He could get nothing out of the bagpipes but "squeak, squeak". The children instead of giving him pennies laughed at him. The day was chilly and in trying to play the pipes, his fingers grew very cold. He wished he had kept the cow. He just started for home when he met a man who had warm gloves on his hands. "Oh, if I only had those pretty gloves," he said, "I would be the happiest man in the world." "How much will you give for them?" asked the man. "Oh, I have no money, but I will give you these bagpipes," answered Mr. Vinegar. "Well," said the man, "you may have them for I always like to oblige a friend." Mr. Vinegar gave him the bagpipes and drew the gloves on over his half frozen fingers. "How lucky I am," he said as he trudged homeward. His hands were soon quite warm, but the road was rough and the walking hard. He was very tired when he came to the foot of the steep hill. "How shall I ever get to the top?" he said. Just then he met a man who was walking the other way. He had a stick in his hand which he used as a cane to help him along. "My friend," said Mr. Vinegar, "if only I had that stick of yours to help me up this hill, I would be the happiest man in the world!" "How much will you give me for it?" asked the man. "Well, I have no money, but I will give you this pair of warm gloves," said Mr. Vinegar. "Well," said the man, "you may have it for I always like to oblige a friend." Mr. Vinegar's hands were now quite warm, so he gave the gloves to the man and took the stout stick to help him along. "How lucky I am!'' he said as he toiled upward. At the top of the hill he stopped to rest. But as he was thinking of all his good luck that day, he heard someone calling his name. He looked up and saw only a green parrot sitting in a tree. "Mr. Vinegar, Mr. Vinegar," it cried. "What now?" said Mr. Vinegar. "You're a dunce , you're a dunce!'' answered the bird, "you went to seek your _ and you found it, then you gave it for a cow, and the cow for some bagpipes, and the bagpipes for some gloves, and the gloves for a stick which you might of cut by the roadside. He He He, you're a dunce! You're a dunce!'' This made Mr. Vinegar very angry. He threw the stick at the bird with all his might. But the bird only answered, "You're a dunce! You're a dunce!" And the stick lodged in the tree where he could not get it again. Mr. Vinegar went on slowly for he had many things to think about. His wife was standing by the roadside and as soon as she saw him, she cried out, "Where's the cow? Where's the cow?" "Well, I just don't know where the cow is," said Mr. Vinegar. And then he told her the whole story. What's Mrs.Vinegar's feeling after she knew the fact? I was hurrying to our basketball game one morning when Hillary Barnes,the most popular girl,in school,stopped me."Are you the twin who won the art competition?"she asked. "No,that's Christine.I'm Katie."I said. We were not identical twins;we looked quite different.She could defeat Snow White in a beauty contest!Compared to Christine,I felt like one of Cinderella's stepsisters. One Saturday Christine gave me a painting lesson because I was always attempting to be artistic too.But I knocked over the vase of flowers,spilling water onto Christine's painting.Instead of becoming angry,though,she turned the whole mess into a dreamy masterpiece .You could look at it five different ways and see five different things.With this brilliant creation,she won First Prize in the art competition.I really envied her,but I knew it wasn't her fault and I was the one with wild,unmanageable hair and no talent. Joining Christine's basketball team was my latest effort to be like her. On the way to the gym,I'd made up my mind to give my best performance in that day's game.I made preparations with great enthusiasm."Christine,here!"I tossed her a ball.But it was too high,she leapt for it,it slipped through her fingers and crashed into the tape recorder that was used to play the national anthem before each game. I muttered apologies as I picked up the broken pieces of the recorder.Coach looked at the mess and asked,"How are we going to play the song now?" Christine suggested,"Let Katie sing it!She's always singing at home." Coach asked."Would you?"I found myself nodding. Coach announced the national anthem and everyone stood.Standing before a microphone,I looked up to the flag.The notes seemed to flow from deep inside me,and my voice was steady and clear.When I finished,the gym was silent Then it was filled with applause.As the game started.teammates patted my back and gave me the"thumbs up"sign.Laura Jamison said."You should try out for the school musical!"I Nodded and said that I might. The next morning Hillary Barnes stopped me in the hallway and asked,"Are you the twin who sings?" "Yes,that's me,"I answered,grining as I walked to class. What is the message of the story? The Maldives faces the threat of extinction from rising sea levels, but the government said it was looking to the future with plans to build homes and a golf course that float. An increase in sea levels of just 18 to 59 centimeters would make the Maldives-a nation of tiny coral islands in the Indian Ocean-virtually by 2100, the UN's climate change panel has warned. President Mohamed Nasheed has vowed a fight for survival, and he signed a deal with a Dutch company to study proposals for a floating structure that could support a convention center, homes and an 18-hole golf course. The company , Dutch Docklands, is currently building floating developments in the Netherlands and Dubai. The Maldives began work on an artificial island known as the Hulhumale near the crowded capital island of Male in 1997 and more than 30,000 people have been settled there to ease congestion. The city, which has a population of 100,000, is already protected from rising sea levels by a 30-million-dollar sea wall, and the government is considering increasingly imaginative ways to combat climate change. Nasheed has even spoken of buying land elsewhere in the world to enable Maldivians to relocate if their homes are submerged. He has also pledged to turn his nation into a model for the rest of the world by becoming "carbon neutral " by 2020. His plan involves ending fossil fuel use and powering all vehicles and buildings from "green" sources such as burning coconut husks. What do you know about Maldives? LV Tiantian, a graduate student majoring in ethics at Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang,has spent years reading Aristotle and Plato.She has debated with classmates about the meaning of "happiness" and in written papers about the role of morality in society.But as LV prepares to enter the professional world,she's finding that her background isn't getting her a lot of job interviews."Employers do not seem to value the theories and philosophy that we liberal arts majors have learned,"said LV,24."I earned far fewer interview chances than those majoring in more practical subjects in science and technology." According to a 2009 survey conducted by Zhongqing Shijia Survey Net and China Enterprise News,science graduates enjoy higher employment rates and salaries than liberal arts students do.Things aren't much different overseas.The New York Times reports that job listings for professors in English,literature and foreign languages dropped 21 percent for the 2008-2009 academic year-the biggest decline in 34 years.As a result,some American educators are calling for universities to abandon the "old Ivory Tower view of liberal education".They want to put more emphasis on the practical and economic aspects of education. Chinese educational experts tend to agree up to a point.But abandoning emphasis on the humanities altogether,they say,brings great risk."The liberal arts do not generate any tangible material wealth,but it does convey social values.And it passes spiritual heritage from one generation to another,"said Niu Dakui,an expert on education at Beijing Normal University."If the humanities are _ ,our youngsters will lose their way." Anthony T.Kronman,a professor of law at Yale,goes even further.He argues that the greed,irresponsibility and fraud that put the world in the current financial mess will only get worse without a new emphasis on the humanities.In his view,this is the time to re-examine "what we care about and what we value"--something that the humanities" are extremely well-equipped to address". How this debate plays out may very well determine the future of Chinese high school education.Some people want high school students to be able to specialize in science during their high school years.Others think they should get a more rounded education with a substantial number of hours in the arts and humanities. Anthony T.Kronman points out that the root of the recent economical crisis is_. There was once an old tree. The children from all around the neighborhood loved to climb the tree. The children also liked to sit under the tree, hang on it and play games around it. Animals liked the tree as well. Birds, cats and all kinds of lizards would climb the tree too! Rabbits, dogs, frogs and and many ground animals loved to play around the bottom of the tree. One day the children learned the tree was going to be cut down. This made the children, and maybe the animals, very sad. Why was it being cut down? Was it too old? Too weak? Maybe it was dying? The children learned it was because the tree was sick. The children were very sad to hear about this. They wondered where they would play from now on. The tree was their favorite place and they didn't want to see it go. One little boy, named John, went home to tell his parents the story. His parents could tell he was sad so they told him something that made him very happy. What was it? He wondered. Was a jungle gym going to be put in? A mall, maybe a park? In fact, even better than that, a new tree would be planted in its place. John was so happy he rushed off to tell his friends. "Big news!", he shouted. "My parents told me a new tree is going to be planted here over the old one!" All his friends cheered in excitement, now knowing they wouldn't lose their favorite spot. John and his friends went to celebrate by getting ice cream. His friends liked chocolate and vanilla but John got strawberry. What would be put in the place of the tree?
When too much salt is detected in the bloodstream, the brain secretes a hormone that helps the body retain water by reducing the amount of urine produced. This is an example of A. a feedback loop. B. an acquired trait. C. a balanced ecosystem. D. a symbiotic relationship. Answer: A. a feedback loop. Some children are afraid to go to the dentist, but not me. I'm a boy of 8 and I have a funny dentist. His name is Dr. Smileyface. I don't think that's his real name, but that's what he tells all the children who come to see him. He has a cool waiting room. It has video games and a big toy box. Dr. Smileyface always wears funny hats. Sometimes he has his face painted. He asks funny questions like "Are you married yet?" and "Do you eat flowers to make your breath smell so sweet?" That makes me laugh. One time, he told me this joke, "What has lots of teeth but never goes to the dentist? A comb!" When I laughed, he pulled my tooth. It didn't hurt at all! He also teaches me how to take care of my teeth in an interesting way. Before I leave, he always gives me a surprise. Last week he gave me a toy ship and I liked it very much. What does Dr. Smileyface teach the writer to do? A. How to laugh. B. How to take care of his teeth. C. To eat flowers. D. To paint his face. Answer: B. How to take care of his teeth. Two years ago my grandmother was going to turn 75. My family discussed what was the best way to celebrate. Should we throw her a party ? Should we take her on a trip ? We remembered that she had touched so many people's lives, and there were so many people for her to consider. Then someone got the idea that we should include everyone in the celebration by turning it into a tribute to my grandmother. We secretly sent out letters to the people in Grandmother's address book and asked them to send a letter with a memory that they had shared with her. People sent us letters with poems, stories and pictures. The deep feeling that was shared through the response surprised us. We compiled these letters into a memory book and amazed her with it on the morning of her birthday. The unusual thing about my grandmother's friends was not the number that she had, but the connection they shared. In many ways this book of friendship was the greatest achievement of my grandmother's life. I believe that developing true friendships is one of the most important things that anyone can do in one's lifetime. It is not a matter of the number of friends one has, but the quality of the bonds. If one has had at least one true friendship before dying, then one can say one has lived a successful life. I have made many friends and I believe I have begun to develop the same types of friendships my grandmother kept up over her lifetime. I only hope that I will be as successful as she has been. When receiving her birthday gift, the author's grandmother probably felt _ . A. disappointed and lonely B. sorry and sad C. surprised and pleased D. nervous and excited Answer: C. surprised and pleased I work in a small shop. It is near a factory. Every day, workers, old ladies and housewives come to the shop to buy things. I live in a house not very far from the shop. I usually get up at six, have breakfast and then go to work by bike. I take some food along in my lunch box. I get to the shop at about ten to seven. At seven customers begin to arrive. They buy meat, eggs, sugar, soybean, sauce, cooking oil , salt, candies, biscuits and many other things. We don't sell vegetables or fruit. There is a shop for these things nearby. I have my meal at noon from my lunch box. At seven in the evening we close the shop. I tidy things up and then go home for supper. Some people may think my work isn't so interesting. But I do my bit for the modernizations , don't I? Her house is _ the shop. She often goes to work _ . A. very far from; by bus B. very close to; by bike C. very far from; by bike D. very close to; on foot Answer: B. very close to; by bike Mark Twain, the famous American writer, liked to play jokes on others. But once a joke was played on him. One day Mark Twain was invited to give a talk in a small town. At lunch he met a young man, one of his friends. The young man said that he has an uncle with him. He told Twain that his uncle never laughed or smiled, and that nobody and nothing was able to make his uncle smile or laugh. "You bring your uncle to my talk tonight," said Mark Twain. "I'm sure I can make him laugh" That evening the young man and his uncle sat in the front. Mark Twain began to speak. He told several funny stories. This made everyone in the room laugh. But the man never even smiled. Mark Twain told more funny stories, but the old man still kept quiet. Mark Twain told his funny stories. Finally he stopped. He was tired and quite disappointed. Some days later, Mark Twain told another friend of his about what had happened. "Oh," said his friend. "I know that old man. He's been deaf for years." The young man told Mark Twain that his uncle never _ . A. spoke B. talked C. laughed D. ate Answer: C. laughed
Many homes have cameras to protect them from danger. The cameras can tell the owners if someone has entered. But the cameras do not know whether the person is a family member, a friend, a postman or a criminal . But a new camera made by a French company can recognize faces. It can tell parents at work that their children have returned from school, or that the mail has been sent to their home. It can also tell them if a stranger has entered their home. When family members enter a home, the smart camera "recognizes" them and sends information to the owner's phone. The owner can choose to see the video then or later. But if an unknown person enters a home, the camera will send a warning sound on the owner's phone. This is what happened recently to a smart home camera owner named Damien. He lives in Paris. "On a Friday I was at work, having a big monthly meeting when my phone moved. At first I told myself 'Oh, it must be a wrong warn,' but my phone was telling me there was a face that the camera did not recognize. Something was happening in my house!" "I saw a person I did not know with his shoes on, which is not allowed in my apartment . I watched it on the video. I felt quite surprised. I hurried back home as fast as possible and called the police on the way. Thanks to the smart camera, the criminal was caught soon," said Damien. The best title of the passage may be " _ ". Answer: Although man has known asbestos for many hundreds of years, it was not until 160 years ago that it was mined for the first time on the North American continent. H. W. Johns, owner of a New York City Supply Shop for roofers , was responsible for(...) the opening of that first mine. Mr. Johns was given a piece of asbestos which had been found in Italy. He experimented with the material and then showed its surprising powers to his customers. After putting on a pair of asbestos gloves, which looked much like ordinary work gloves, he took red-hot coals from the fireplace and played with them in his hands. How astonished the customers were to discover that he was not burned at all. You can well imagine that he had increasing business in asbestos roofing materials. However, because it was very expensive to transport (carry) them from Italy to the United States, Mr. Johns sent out a young scientist to seek a source nearer home. This young man found great vein , in the province of Quebec in Canada. Ever since 1881 Quebec has led the world in the production of this unusual mineral, which is made up of magnesium, silicon, iron, and oxygen. When it is mined, the asbestos is heavy, just as you would expect a mineral to be. When it is separated, a strange thing happens; the rock breaks down into fine, soft, soapy fibres . Scientists do not know why the rock can be separated easily into threads , but they have found thousands of users of this fireproof material, of the so-called "cloth of stone". Which title best expresses the main idea of this passage? Answer: China is having such a huge influence on the United States that many Americans are struggling to learn the Chinese language in a bid to keep competitive. "Interest in learning Chinese among American youth and their parents has grown quickly in the past five years," said Vivien Stewart, vice president at the Asia Society. China's quick rise to near-superpower and its effects politically, economically and culturally are driving the American's interest to learn the language, experts say. From kindergartens to high schools, studies by the Asia Society show, there is a "rapid rise" in interest among pupils to study the Chinese language. "The Chinese rich cultural traditions and _ economy mean that it is now important for all of our students to be better prepared," said Michael Levine, Asia Society's executive director of education. A survey found that 2,400 high schools - an unbelievably high number - would be interested in offering the Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Chinese language and culture when the courses become available in 2016. China, the world's most popular nation, is important to the United States because it is a leading trader, consumer and investor. Its political influence is also rising across the world. It has replaced the United States as the world's largest consumer and could become the second largest economy in the world, after the United States, in the next two to three decades. Even though the US State Department has described the Chinese language "critical" to national prosperity and security, "the current facilities to support recruitment of students and teachers as well as the growth of high quality programs is terribly not enough," an Asia Society study says. The Society has set an aim of having at least five percent of American high school students learning Chinese by 2015. "Millions of Chinese are learning English, but only 24,000 Americans are learning Chinese," said Andrew Corcoran of the San Francisco-based Chinese American International School. The most popular languages after English in US schools at present are Spanish and French while Japanese is the most popular Asian language. What problems is the US faced with when it comes to learning Chinese? Answer: It has been more than 50 years since Harvard Business School started admitting women, yet the institution is still trying hard to find out how to best attract and support them. Its latest effort: a program targeting women's colleges--place that are not traditional feeding grounds for the male-majority business school. The program is called Peek. It offers juniors, seniors and recent graduates from women's colleges the opportunity to read and discuss four HBS case studies in class specially taught by top HBS members. About 50 to 70 promising students will pay $500 for their stay there. Women make up 41 percent of Harvard Business School class of 2016--the most the school has had. In 1985, women made up only one-quarter of the graduating class. Harvard is not alone when it comes to struggling with a gender gap . At Wharton, the class of 2016 is 40 percent women; at Standford Business School, it's 42 percent. No top business school had gotten to 50 percent yet. Despite the Peek program's good intention, the $500 fee bothered someone, said John A. Byrne, the editor of business school new site. "The fact that HBS would charge women for the chance of coming to campus rubbed a lot of people the wrong way," said Byrne. HBS said the $500 fee was a "fair price" for room and daily meals at the business school for a weekend, and didn't actually cover the full costs of the program. For years, women students at Harvard Business School failed to keep pace with men. In 2010, Harvard business School got a new manager, Nitin Nohrin, who promised a turnaround. Nohrin designed a program to encourage women students and professors. He promised to change the school's case studies so that at least 20 percent of the people in the business texts would be women. What is the text mainly about? Answer: The students in an engineering class built a robot that stacks wooden blocks. A built-in computer controls the movement of the robot. The computer in the robot performs a function most similar to which part of the human body? Answer:
People usually have to cany passports to travel from one country to another. But should animals? Groups around the word are working to create parks that cross country borders. They hope that the parks will help die environment and bring peace and cooperation to neighboring countries. "People draw lines on a map and call them countries," said Steve Thompson of the National Parks Conservation Association. "But animals don' t understand international borders. " When animals are kept in small areas,they can spread diseases more easily. They can also hurt the environment by eating too many plants and other animals. Allowing animals to cross borders would help improve these conditions,experts say. But that's just one reason why people to create international parks. People have named the parks "peace parks" because these people believe the parks can help countries learn to work together. The parks create a link between communities and a common desire to learn more about one another. According to Steve Thompson, the parks can "help nations resolve international conflict or even war. " Today there are dozens of peace parks on five continents, The parks play an important role in southern Africa. The Kgalagadi Trausfrontier Park is in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa and Botswana. The countries work together to manage the land and the animals that live there. Other countries ,such as Zimbabwe and Lesotho, are also forming parks. The parks will let animals wander over larger parts of southern Africa, much as they did centuries ago, and it really helps expand elephant and lion populations, which are now damaged by, confinement in smaller parks. The parks can also help countries attracting tourists and creating jobs. But many issues still remain, such as illegal killing of animals, pollution, and population pressure on the land. Where are the peace parks built? Answer: Across country borders. Mr and Mrs Green had different ideas about where to go that weekend.Mrs Green wanted to go to Florida to see her sister,but Mr Green didn't want to go there.He wanted to go to Maine."Maine is a little cold,"said Mrs Green."I like swimming,but the water in Maine is usually not warm enough." "Florida's too far,"said Mr Green."We don't have enough time to drive there.It'll take us more than two days." Just then,the phone rang.Mr Green answered the phone.It was Mr Green's mother."Is that Jim?Please come in the shortest time.I need help.I'm calling from the hospital in Boston." They stopped their talking and in no time they both went there. Where did Mr Green want to go that weekend? Answer: Maine. Scene 1 On a wild mountain, two goats met on a rock just over a high cliff . The rock was so narrow that there was neither room for them to pass each other nor to turn round and go back. One of them with great care laid himself down on the narrow rock, pressing as close to the rock as he could. Then the other goat gently and softly stepped over his friend, till, safely past him, he could lightly get away. The goat that had lain down then drew himself up, safe and free to leap again from rock to rock, and eat the sweet grass on the hills. Scene 2 Two other goats met on the banks of a wild, rushing stream. They found there was a tree across the stream. It formed a bridge from one side to the other. They stood for a moment with one foot on the tree, each thinking that the other would draw back. But neither of them would give away, and they met at last on the middle of the narrow bridge! They then began to push and fight with their horns , till at last their feet slipped, and both the goats fell into the stream, and were lost in the waters! Both might have been saved if either of them had known how to give way to another at the right time. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: Being kind to someone is never a waste. Scientists think it will be possible to record people's dreams and then interpret them, according to a new report. They claim to have developed a system which allows them to record higher level brain activity. Dr Moran Cerf told the journal Nature: "We would like to read people's dreams." Previously the only way to access people's dreams is for psychologists to ask about them after the event and try to interpret them. Dr Cerf hopes to eventually compare people's memories of their dreams with an electronic visualization of their brain activity. He told the BBC: "There's no clear answer as to why humans dream. And one of the questions we would like to answer is when do we actually create this dream?" The scientist believes his latest research shows that certain neurons or individual brain cells are linked with specific objects or concepts . He found that a particular neuron lit up when a volunteer thought about Marilyn Monroe. If a database was built up identifying various neurons with concepts, objects and people it would allow them to "read the subject's minds", according to Dr Cerf. However, Dr Roderick Oner, a clinical psychologist and dream expert, said that this kind of visualization would be of limited help when it came to interpreting the "complex dream narrative ". In addition to getting a detailed picture of individual neurons subjects had to have electrodes implanted deep in the brain using surgery. The Nature researchers used data from patients who had electrodes implanted to monitor and treat them for brain seizures . However, Dr Cerf said he hoped that it would be possible at a later stage to monitor people without invasive surgery .He said it would be "wonderful" to be able to read the minds of coma patients who are unable to communicate. According to Dr Roderick Oner, his attitude towards this kind of visualization is _ . Answer: doubtful Mr. Green and his wife had a dog. When they went out, they always left the dog inside the house. One evening they wanted to go to the cinema, so they left the dog in the house and locked the door and their garden gate. They went off in their car. When the film was finished, they went home. They opened the gate and put the car away. When they came to the front door, they found that the glass in the door was broken. The door was not locked and it was open. A robber! They went in and quickly looked in all the rooms to see if the robber had taken their things. However, everything was in the right place and nothing at all was missing. The dog was sleeping in the sitting-room. The wife was angry with the dog."Why didn't you guard the house?"she said. The dog was pleased to see Mr. and Mrs. Green. It began to wag its tail and then it went to a comer of the room and picked up something in its mouth. It went to the wife and dropped the thing at her feet. When she went to pick it up, she was very surprised. Can you guess what the dog's present was ?It was a man's finger! The end of the story is this. Mr. Green telephoned the police and told them everything. Three days later the police caught the robber. They found him easily. The robber was caught easily because _ . Answer: he had one of his fingers
The fighting against youth smoking since I took office I've done everything in my power to protect our children from harm. We've worked to make their streets and their schools safer, and to give them something positive to do after school before their parents get home. We've worked to teach our children that drugs are dangerous, illegal and wrong. Today, I want to talk to you about the historic opportunity we now have to protect our nation's children form an even more deadly threat: smoking. Smoking kills more people every day than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs and fires combined. Nearly 90 percent of those smokers lit their first cigarette before they turned 18. Consider this: 3,000 children start to smoke every day illegally, and 1,000 of them will die sooner because of it. This is a national tragedy that every American should be honor-bound to help prevent. For more than five years we've worked to stop our children from smoking before they start, launching a nationwide campaign to educate them about the dangers of smoking, to reduce their access to tobacco products, and to severely restrict tobacco companies from advertising to young people. If we do these, we'll cut teen smoking by almost half over the next five years. That means if we act now, we have it in our power to stop 3 million children from smoking and to save a million lives as a result. How many children start to smoke every day illegally? Answer: These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone. It can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the textbooks, the more, the better. It can open my eyes and improve my language skills. Of course, it can also help me to get good grades at school. Do you know how to read more and learn more? Here are some tips for you. Clear your purpose for reading Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons, pleasure or knowledge. Clearing about your reading purpose can not only help you choose the books you really need to read, but also remind you why reading the book is important to you, so you will keep reading and complete the book faster. Read only what you are interested in No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy what you read. Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up. Remember reading shouldn't be a chore. Set a reading goal It is interesting that I read the books borrowed from libraries faster than those I bought. The reason is the books I bought don't have a _ ! I don't need to return those books. Having a reading goal helps you work out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day. Before you read each book, ask yourself what time you need to complete this book by. ,. This passage mainly tells us _ . Answer: I was going on vacation to meet up with family for a week of fun in Denver. I got to the airport, ready to leave my work behind for a few days. I was comfortably awaiting my flight with a good book to read, when an elderly lady was wheeled to our waiting area. I couldn't help but notice the trouble she was having trying to open a packet of nuts with her shaking hands. I sighed. No one else was willing to meet her gaze so I offered to help. She was very grateful. It turned out that these nuts were her entire breakfast. We sat and chatted. When the time came to board the plane the attendants were nowhere to be seen. The lady could walk but needed some help, so I volunteered to help her on the plane and carry her bag. As I helped her get settled I noticed her "seat mate," a businessman, looked a bit horrified at having to make the fight with her. He offered to change seats with me -- and I agreed. We landed and I needed to change planes, but I helped her disembark first. The wheelchair she ordered was nowhere to be seen so we slowly walked to gate where her daughter was waiting. We only exchanged first names, and she was so grateful to have my help. I had to run to catch my connection but, as I thought about the experience, I saw her as my airport angel: a chance for me to hope that in the future when I'm in my 80's and traveling, someone will take the time to connect with me. Pay it forward. What troubled the elderly lady in the wheel chair? Answer: Have you ever considered why you begin yawning too when you see someone yawn? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons in our brains. Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate it whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how, we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further: mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions, they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people. Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to ( for example: "The hand took hold of the ball" ) , the same mirror neurons were _ as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball). Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much research suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders. Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with even more information regarding how humans behave and interact. Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent for neuroscience of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does -- well, perhaps you'll understand why. Mirror neurons can explain _ Answer: Eight Things a Burglar Won't Tell You Should you spend your money on a home security system? A look inside a burglar's mind might help you decide. 1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator. 2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in your home, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 3. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation which I am more than happy to accept. 4. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house, or it will be _ By the way, loud dogs and nosy neighbors are the two things I hate most. 5. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door---understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather. 6. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet . Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms. 7. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not fastened, I'll take it with me. 8. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook.com page. It's easier than you think to look up your address. We can draw a conclusion from the text that _ . Answer:
A lot of us lose life's tough battles by starting a frontal attack -- when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who was trapped in a traffic jam on his way to work shortly after receiving a warning about being late for the job. Although there was a good reason for Sam's a being late --serious illness at home -- he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn't work any longer. His boss was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech. Yes, the boss was. Sam entered the office at 9:35. The place was as quiet as a locker room ; everyone was hard at work. Sam's boss came up to him. Suddenly, Sam smiled and stretched out his hand. "How do you do!" he said. "I'm Sam Maynard. I'm applying for a job, which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?" The room exploded in laughter. However, the boss _ a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had saved his job-- with the only tool that could win, a laugh. Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected , means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying "no", criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it's the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialogue may start a quarrel. For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance than people in any other field. Which of the following statements can we infer from the text? It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the images were being taken. In Apple's case, developers can also obtain the location information for each photo. Senator Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday. "We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private information," Mr. Schumer said. "They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed." On Sunday, Mr. Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light. Claudia Bourne Farrell, an F.T.C. spokeswoman, said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further. "It worries people to think that one's personal photos, address book, and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission," Mr. Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C. "If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion , then surely technology exists to close it, and that's exactly what must happen." Mr. Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem, then he would be forced to take the issue further. He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to fix issues. "I'm optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation," he said. "If it's not changed, then we'll turn to the F.T.C., and if that doesn't work then we'llconsider legislative approach." The F.T.C. has warned companies to try to be more vigilant in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy. The senators spoke with officials at both Apple and Google _ The advantages of using flashcards to build up a vocabulary are well known. You can buy sets of cards, or make your own, and carry them with you wherever you go. There's no question this is useful and because you can use them in short bursts, it's not too much for you. It can be fun. I don't recommend drilling for hours at a time with flashcards. If you want to use flashcard software, things get even better. There are many packages out there for maintaining and drilling flashcards. I recommend VTrain though there are many others. One stands out, however: SuperMemo. Similar to Pimsleur, SuperMemo is engineered according to a carefully researched methodology in order to test you on a card the very minimum number of times you need to see it for it to stick. When you look at a card, you give some feedback to the software on whether you got it right and how easy you found it. It uses this information, and that of your previous attempts, to decide when you will be shown the card next. It's smart and it really works. If you're like me, the news is even better! I have a version of SuperMemo that runs on my PalmOS phone. Wherever I am, if I have my phone handy, I have thousands of flashcards with me too. Honestly, it would be worth purchasing a cheap Palm device only for this. You can pick one up for $20 or even less on eBay or elsewhere. Consider it, at least. Which of the following is true according to the passage? During sexual reproduction, a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell to form a fertilized egg. The fertilized egg then develops into a new organism. Which statement describes the primary advantage of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction? The latest research suggests that the key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success. Instead, it's purposeful practice. Top performers spend more hours practising their craft. If you wanted to picture how a typical genius might develop, you'd take a girl who possessed a slightly above average language ability. It wouldn't have to be a big talent, just enough so that she might gain some sense of distinction. Then you would want her to meet, say, a novelist, who coincidentally shared some similar qualities. Maybe the writer was from the same town, had the same family background, or shared the same birthday. This contact would give the girl a vision of her future self. It would give her some idea of a fascinating circle who might someday join. It would also help if one of her parents died when she was 12, giving her a strong sense of insecurity and fuelling a desperate need for success. Armed with this ambition, she would read novels and life stories of writers without end. This would give her a primary knowledge of her field. She would be able to see new writing in deeper ways and quickly understand its inner workings. Then she would practise writing. Her practice would be slow, painstaking and error-focused. By practising in this way, she delays the automating process. Her mind wants to turn conscious, newly learned skills into unconscious, automatically performed skills. By practising slowly, by breaking skills down into tiny parts and repeating, she forces the brain to internalize a better pattern of performance. Then she would find an adviser who would provide a constant stream of feedback, viewing her performance form the outside, correcting the smallest errors, pushing her to take on tougher challenges. By now she is redoing problems--how do I get characters into a room--dozens and dozens of times. She is establishing habits of thought she can call upon in order to understand or solve future problems. The primary quality our young writer possesses is not some mysterious genius. It's the ability to develop a purposeful, laborious and boring practice routine; the latest research takes some of the magic out of great achievement. But it underlines a fact that is often neglected. Public discussion is affected by genetics and what we're "hard-wired" to do. And it's true that genes play a role in our capabilities. But the brain is also very plastic. We construct ourselves through behavior. In the girl's long painstaking training process, _ .
New picture The National Gallery now has a fine _ by the 18th century Dutch painter Jan van Os.This large picture (89.1 cm x 71cm) of flowers and fruit is painted in light bright colours on wood.It is one of the first pictures of this type in the Gallery.The picture is signed and dated 1777 and 1778.It is not unusual for a picture to be dated two years: the artist waited for particular flowers to come out in their different seasons in order to paint them.This picture was given to the Gallery by Miss Violet Churchman in memory of her sister Ida Nancy. It is now on show in Room 25. Special exhibition The exhibition "Painting in Spain During the Late 18th Century" opened in the Sunley Room on 15 March.Recently the Gallery has bought works by three Spanish painters of this period--Paret, Melendez and Francisco Bayeu, who are the focus of the exhibition.These three artists are also joined by Francisco's brother Ramon, by Antonio Gonzalez and two Italians who worked in Spain during these years--Corrado Giaquinto and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.The exhibition runs until 31 May. Lecture news Lectures will be given along with the special exhibition every Wednesday.On 8 April, Lizzie Barker will discuss the work of Melendez, while on 15 April, Sarah Symmons will lecture on Luis Patter.On 22 and 29 April, Juliet Wilson will talk about Francisco Bayeu.On 25 April, a Saturday, Erika Langmuir will explain how artists often "tell a story" through their pictures. Which speaker will lecture on a general topic rather than on particular artists? Erika Langmuir. Jeri Solomon is a morning person but Jim, her husband of 11 years, is not. Early in their life, it caused a problem. "When we were planning our wedding, I wanted to have these big discussions at 8 a. m.,when I had been up for two hours and was fresh, but Jim would just be getting out of bed," says the 46-year-old designer from Melrose, Mass. "We ended up getting into many arguments because I thought he had no interest, when really he was just still half-asleep." The couple learned to work around their differences over the years, but their situation isn't uncommon, says Katherine Sharkey, professor at BrownUniversity. "More women tend to be larks, while men are like night owls ," she says. The question is:Why? The answer lies in each person's body clock. "The body clock is about 24 hours, thanks to Earth's 24-hour light-dark cycle," Sharkey says. "But some people have a longer natural cycle, and some are shorter." If yours is on the long side, you're more likely to be a night owl. If it runs short, you're probably an early riser. But your body clock can change over your lifetime. There's a developmental piece-school-age children are generally early birds, while teenagers tend to be night owls, and then as they age, adults gradually turn back into morning people," Sharkey says. Besides the clear problems with being a night owl if you have fl day job, "night owls tend to be more low-spirited, and have a higher dependence on coffee," Sharkey says. But the news isn't all bad. A recent study in Belgium found that night owls can stay more focused as the day goes on, compared with early risers. Morning people, however, also have advantages. "Larks generally sleep better, have more regular sleep, and have more flexible characters," Sharkey says. They also tend to be happier and feel healthier than night owls, according to a recent study from the University of Toronto. Compared with morning people, night owls _ . get more and more focused during the day I came to live here where I am now between Wounded Knee Greek and Grass Greek. Others came too, and we made these little grey houses of logs that you see, and they are square. It is a bad way to live, for there can be no power in a square. You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. In the old days when we were strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the respectful circle of the nation, and so long as the circle was unbroken, the people were getting rich. The flowering tree was the living center of the circle, and the circle of the four quarters nursed it. The east gave peace and light, the south gave warmth, the west gave rain, and the north with its cold and strong wind gave strength and continuous power. This knowledge came to us from the outer world with our brief. Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. Birds make their nests in circle, for theirs are the same as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves. Our places were like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle, the nation's circle, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to nurse our children. But the "white people" have put us in these square boxes. Our power is gone and we are dying, for the power is not in us any more. You can look at our boys and see how it is with us. Where we were living by the power of the circle in the way we should, boys were men at twelve or thirteen years of age. But now it takes them very much longer to grow up. According to the passage, the Indians _ . lived in round places, but were forced to live in square houses A powder made up of both white specks and black specks is likely to be a mixture During my travels through the mountains of Greece, I was only ever scared once. It was dusk and as I walked alone I came across six large wolves that were feeding on the body of a dead animal. I had heard many stories about wolves as a child and it was this animal that I feared more than any other. The wolves before me were huge, at least 6 feet long and covered with thick grey fur. As I went near, the wolves left the blood-covered snow that surrounded the body and started walking towards me, one after another. They stopped about 20 metres from me and stared. The lead wolf raised his head into the air and took in a deep breath, as if he was smelling my presence. The animals looked both beautiful and frightening, but I knew I could not show them my fear. As I drew nearer, the lead wolf raised its head once more but this time let out a long, loud cry. The awful cry rang out across the silent valley. I had never heard a more frightening sound. I was almost certain it was a sign to be death. Every moment I expected to see the pack of wolves dash at me, I knew my only hope was to pretend I had no fear. I walked past the line of wolves, like a general moving among his soldiers. They cried out loud again. But when they saw that their cry did not cause me to change my direction or make me run they feared to come after me, so they let me pass and returned to the dead animal. If I had turned back or tried to run away when they marched out to meet me, I am certain the whole pack would have attacked me in a moment. But my show of false courage scared them and kept them back. Why didn't the wolves attack the man? The man showed no fear as he passed by.
Betty and I are best friends. Our birthdays are on the same day, so every year we have a birthday party together. But this year we had a costume party instead. While we were writing the invitations, my mom came in and asked, "Nancy, what about inviting John?" John had been in our class for only a few months, but he was already getting better grades in math than anyone else in our class. "Mom, he wears the same pants to school every day. How could he even afford a costume?" Mom said nothing. The next day, mom gave me an envelope with a shopping card in it. "I thought it would be nice for you to give this to John." Mom said. But how? We didn't want to make John embarrassed. We discussed it for a long time. Finally, Betty and I had a good idea. On the day of our party, John arrived, in an old sheet ,but still in the same brown pants as usual. Before eating the birthday cake, Betty said in a loud voice, "Now it's time for the great prize game." It was a math game. None of us were surprised when John gave the right answer first and walked off with the envelope. Everything went well as we planned. John wore a new pair of pants and a new shirt the next week. He felt happy. So did we. John did best in _ of all the class. A. English B. games C. math D. science Answer: C. math Are you interested in travelling in the dangerous mountains in America? Here are some tour plans for you to choose. Tour 1 Garland Valley Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Book in advance. Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15 Tour 2 Flashlight Adventure Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly controlled on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours. Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May22 Tour 3 Black Bear Count There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Remember to book in advance. Cost: Free When: May 8 Advice to be followed: Please bring enough water and food for all walks. Wear good walking shoes---no high heels. Wear a hat for day walks. Dress warmly for night walks. Children must be with an adult. Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks. Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are so dangerous that you have to care. What is the best title for the passage? A. Some Adventure Tours in America B. Hunting around the Great Mountains C. Interesting Tours in Different Parks D. Discovery Tours in the Mountains Answer: D. Discovery Tours in the Mountains Hi! My name's Frank. Look! This is my schoolbag. It's black and red. My pens, my ruler and my books are in it. I have 2 pens, they are blue. My ruler is yellow and white. My books are purple and brown. Look! What's this? It's a map. It's red, yellow and green. I like them very much. My schoolbag is _ . A. red and yellow B. purple and brown C. black and red D. yellow and green Answer: C. black and red The Independent Project at the Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is attracting huge interest in the education field. The program is a new concept that has developed a wide variety of students' abilities and excited their interest in education and self-directed learning. They are a group of students that , instead of being educated through the normal school courses, have created their own subjects and project-based interactive learning. The students are almost completely independent. They choose a goal that they want to accomplish and work on for the whole year. These goals have included some impressive attempts such as writing a novel, writing a play , learning the piano and more. Along with these larger attempts , the students meet every day to ask questions about other subjects like natural sciences , social sciences, etc. Although most of them say that they don't like math, they did eventually develop an interest in math through this independent learning technique. The education program, which has attracted a huge variety of students, allows the students to learn and develop research skills and questioning techniques and allows them to truly be interested in the subjects they are diving into . They also teach each other what they have learned , which allows them to develop different way of presenting and gathering material that they have researched. I wish that I could have participated in such a project during my high school career, like writing a novel. I am currently studying English as well as education to pursue a teaching degree. I would love to adapt independent driven projects into a classroom in the future. This project also raises some crucial questions. Do we need to rethink the structure of the education system itself? Are too many students being simply fed through a conveyor belt that we blindly see as working toward their education? I think that the education system needs some improvements , and different learning styles need to be addressed immediately. Individual differences in learning are huge keys to the functioning of a classroom. This project takes the idea to a whole new level. This is an extremely important event in the development of the American education system and I think everyone needs to keep an eye out for more programs like this. What is the passage mainly about ? A. The benefits of interactive learning B. Individual differences in learning. C. A group of independent students. D. An unusual education program. Answer: D. An unusual education program. Scientists who discovered a new way of generating electricity from water say they may have come across an alternative source of clean energy to rival wind and solar power. The breakthrough, which scientists say is the first new way to generate electricity in 160 years, could lead to batteries that use water instead of poisonous substances. The scientists made the discovery when they were investigating what happens when tap water is forced through extremely narrow glass tubes. Water squeezed down the tubes, each of which was narrower than a tenth the thickness of a human hair, generating a small electric current that ran the length of the tube. To produce a larger electric current, the team tried forcing water through a glass water filter that contained thousands of narrow channels lined up side by side. "When we took a syringe of water and squeezed it through the filter, we got enough power to light a light bulb," said Larry Kostiuk of the University of Alberta in Canada. "The harder you push the syringe, the more electric current you get." The current is produced because of an effect in the glass tubes. When they are filled with water, positively charged ions fixed in the tubes are washed away, leaving a slight negative charge on the glass surface. When water is then forced along the tube, the surface _ negatively charged ions in the water while positively charged ions are attracted down the tube. The result is a net flow of positively charged ions that sets up an electric current. According to Dr Kostiuk, no one has ever thought to use water to produce electricity in this way. "The last time someone came up with a way of generating electricity was Michael Faraday in 1839," he said. "So this is the first new way of generating electricity in 160 years, which is why we are so excited about it." Dr Kostiuk says water batteries might one day be used to power mobile phones and calculators, but admitted that the engineering challenges might make other applications more realistic. "You'd need to be sure it wouldn't leak, and you'd need to make sure it wouldn't freeze," he said. More likely would be to install the electricity-generating devices where water is already being pumped, such as at city water filtration sites, he said. "It could compete with wind and solar power," he added. What can we infer about potential water batteries? A. They must be used to power mobile phones and calculators. B. They have some possible disadvantages like water leaking. C. They would be needed greatly at city water filtration sites. D. They would be better than wind and solar power. Answer: B. They have some possible disadvantages like water leaking.
The Heliocentric Theory, as supported by Copernicus, revolutionized scientific theories regarding A. the life cycle. B. the water cycle. C. the solar system. D. the immune system. Answer: C. the solar system. Which process in plants is most similar to sexual reproduction in vertebrates? A. cell division B. self-pollination C. cross-pollination D. seed development Answer: C. cross-pollination The police use computers. They save all the information on the computer. So the police can often check the information. And they can also visit some websites and get more information to catch criminals on the Internet. Scientists today have computers for their work. They can do their work easily and quickly with the help of computers. Today in many schools, there is a computer room. Children can have their lessons with computers. For example, computers give questions on the screen of the monitor in front of the children and the children answer them with keyboards . A computer can do many things. With the computer, we can write novels, listen to music, draw pictures, play computer games, make friends, send emails and download information and so on. In the future, we may use computers for more things. But it can't take the place of man. We can think but it can't. Who can get more information to catch criminals on the Internet? A. The police. B. The scientists. C. The children. D. People. Answer: A. The police. It is "one of the few bright spots in the Chinese economy," says Zeng Ming. He is talking about e-commerce. Mr Zeng, the chief strategy officer for Alibaba, a giant Chinese Internet firm, predicts that digital transactions on his firm's platforms will top l trillion yuan ($159 billion) this year-more than Amazon's and eBay's combined. That is a bold claim, but consider what happened on Singles Sunday. Invented a few years ago by students and seized upon by digital marketers, this festival for lonely hearts falls annually on the llth day of the llth month (since l is the loneliest number).It is like St Valentine's Day, only worse. Singletons shower each other with tender gifts: a barrage of pearls; a storm of sweets. This November llth they spent a surprising 19 billion yuan on Alibaba's online platforms-a fourfold increase on a year ago, and more than double what Americans spent online last Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving, when retailers urge Americans to shop online). About 100m purchases were logged, accounting for 80% of the packages shipped that day. Couriers were buried in parcels. So life is good for China's e-tailers, then? Not exactly. The number of digital marketers is increasing and online sales are booming. Consumers are enjoying lower prices, better service and more variety. The problem? The pressure on profits in Chinese e-commerce is worse than in America, reckons Elinor Leung of CLSA, a broker. "Almost no one makes money," she says. The fiercest battles are being fought between online retailers and their bricks-and-mortar rivals.Dangdang, a firm. that resembles Amazon,.and 360buy, another online retailer, have cut prices fiercely. Tencent, a cash-rich online giant known for its instant-messaging software, is splashing out to win market share. 360buy has also just raised $400m from investors to do the same. But it is unclear how much longer such firms can burn through capital. What's the best title of this passage? A. The Ambition of Alibaba B. Fierce Competition between Retailers C. A Newly Sprung Festival for the Singles D. Chinese Booming and Developing E-commerce Answer: D. Chinese Booming and Developing E-commerce Tony was at home and making dinner. He wanted spaghetti so he made that and some bread too. He added some spices and sauce too. After making dinner, he fed his kitten. His kitten's name is Marbles. Tony was going to name him Arlo or Jack but chose Marbles. Tony played with Marbles for hours. He also cleaned the room and kitchen. After playing with Marbles, Tony went to sleep. The next day, Tony woke up to a bird calling out his window. He got out of bed and got ready for the day. He made some eggs and toast. After eating, he headed to the park. The park was pretty empty. Tony walked around the park. Tony talked to some people after walking. He watched some kids playing and having a good time. It made him feel good. After a few hours, Tony left the park to go home. He laid in his bed and watched TV. It was nice for Tony to have a break. What did Tony do at the park A. walk and talk B. play C. feel D. laid Answer: A. walk and talk
Item 78431 The Video Camera Pen $129.95; Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the pen that has a built-in video camera, capturing (,) videos or still images with a click of its button.Ideal for use while secured in a pocket, it can capture up to five hours of video. Its battery provides up to two hours of power before requiring a recharge. Item 78098 The Wristwatch Camcorder $149.95; Available for 3-day shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the men's watch with an unnoticeable camera located at the two-o'clock position, yet the watch's hands never make it covered.So you'll be always ready to capture a famous person or a pet's ridiculous actions. The camera's rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of use from a four-hour charge. Item 77918 The only 55 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater $249.95; Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the only personal media viewer that provides a private viewing experience just like watching a widescreen 55 inch television from 10 meters away.It connects to a video iPod, iPhone, portable DVD player with two AA batteries providing up to six hours of continuous operation. Item 77281 The Digital Phone Album Watch $99.95 Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the watch that vividly displays 120 of your favorite digital photographs.You can download digital photographs to the watch.The watch can be viewed in the Photo Album mode or digital mode (time and date view).A six-hour charge provides up to 10 days of use Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: In a way, Item 77281 is user-friendly. It is probably the strangest sport anyone has ever invented. And at first sight, it looks like the easiest. Competitors have to do two things. The first is to stand still. The second is to place their hand anywhere on the body of a car, and keep it there. This is where things start getting difficult. Lots of other people are doing the same thing. And the winner of the "handathon" contest is the person who can carry on doing it for the longest time. That person gets to own the car. It still seems to be an easy thing to do. At the beginning it is. Anyone can stand still. But when the contest has been going for four or five days, standing still seems like the most difficult job in the world. And keeping the hand in place over this time becomes an act of serious attention. After a few days, the hand seems to belong to someone else--someone who wants to go home and get some sleep. Competitors are allowed to take a five-minute break every hour to eat, drink or do whatever else is necessary. No one is allowed to lean on the car for support. Winners need to be able to show great powers of attention. They also need to be able to develop special skills. Maybe the popularity of the handathon is due to the fact that it is not necessary to be a trained athlete to enter. Entrants in the Longview handathon certainly don't seem to do much preparation. Most say they will prepare by "getting lots of sleep". Others say they will "eat healthy food" or "pray for success". The whole event gives ordinary people the chance to do something interesting and win something at the end. Handathons are competitions, but there is little rivalry between the competitors. They help each other out and keep each other's spirits up. People who drop out early return with food, drink and encouragement for those still standing. The reason why the sport is called "handathon" is probably that _ in the competition. Answer: people keep hands in place long Plan on traveling around the USA? There are a number of outstanding websites that can make your American dream come true. www.101usaholidays.co.uk This is the latest offering that features 101 holiday ideas to the USA. It's a diverse selection, ranging from touring in the footsteps of Martin Luther King to a golfing break in Arizona and a cycling and wine-tasting trip in California's Napa Valley. Narrow down what you're looking for--whether by price, region, theme and who will be traveling--and then just the photos of the relevant holidays remain on view. It's a really clever design. http://byways.org The National Scenic Byways Program covers 150 memorable roads. Some are natural scenic routes, such as Route 1 along the California coast. Others focus on history (such as Route 66) or man-made attractions (the Las Vegas Strip). For each, you're provided with a map telling the route's length and how long is allowed. www.oyster.com This is the best website for reviews of hotels in US cities and tourist sites. There are photos of each hotel. Importantly, these are not promotional photos provided by the hotels, but more honest and revealing ones taken by inspectors. From the 243 hotels reviewed in New York, you can narrow down what you are looking for by locations, facilities and styles, or just pick out a selection of the best. http://seaworldparks.com SeaWorld in San Diego can make dreams come true, but the price is not affordable for the majority of people. So turn to long-established http://seaworldparks.com, giving big discounts on tickets, hotel and dining at SeaWorld. The text is probably from _ . Answer: a travel brochure Kids love playing sports. But boys and girls like different sports. For boys, football ,baseball and basketball are their favorites. They think football and basketball are very exciting and interesting, so boys often play football or basketball after school. Peter says, "Football is very interesting. The football players are often handsome." But girls have different opinions. They think tennis and ping-pong are more interesting. Lily says, "I like tennis, because many tennis players are beautiful girls. They have good figures. I hope to have a good figure, too." How does Peter think of football players? Answer: Handsome Rocket engines can lift rockets because Answer: of the power the hit the ground with
Question: Teachers of Physics Needed for (be Middle School in Kent Start date: Sept. 1st,2014 Hours; Full Time Are you skilled in teaching physics? If yes, come and join us! This school follows the idea that learning is joyful. It offers a friendly and supportive environment for its teachers and students. The primary concern is to train students' creative ability. Students enjoy benefit from positive relationships with the staff. Requirements: Patience with students. --Ability to inspire students. --Experience in teaching physics. Excellent knowledge of physics. Please Note: What is basic for this post is a teacher's certificate ! To apply or find more information, please consult our secretary Helen Brown. Office Tel. 0800-22-829. This text is meant to A. leave a note B. present a document C. send an invitation D. carry an advertisement Answer: D. carry an advertisement Question: Do you want to see the effects of global warming? Then head north.Will Steger is going to take all of us there. Steger,64, the first person to make a dogsled trip to the Noah Pole,is a very famous and admired polar explorer.He's at home in frozen parts of the world where few humans ever step on.Steger is also a devoted environmentalist who was early to ring the alarm bell on global warming.He saw its effects firsthand in frequent polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica. Steger is about to lead a team of six young adventurers on a 1,400-mile,60-day-long dogsled trip across Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic.The sea ice in that region should still be frozen."We want to take our audience to the front lines of global warming,"says Steger. The team will be uploading videos,stories and photos to the website global-warming 101.com as they march along,allowing armchair adventurers and kids in classrooms to follow their progress day to day."We can actually bring the audience up there,"Steger says. Stege's team will include some already-famous young explorers.Sam Branson, the22-year-old son of British airline tycoon Richard Branson,is an experienced Arctic traveler.Also on the journey will be 27-year-old Norwegian Sigrid Ekran.Last year,Ekran became only the second woman in history to win Rookie of the Year for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. What they will see may be surprising.Even Steger doesn't know exactly what to expect.Climate change has already reshaped the geography of the Arctic."Within a decade or less, it's going to be impossible to reach the North Pole by dog team,without flotation ,"says Steger. Climate change is happening,but people can change too.Their willingness to change will determine the shape of Earth's future. The best title for this passage would be. A. The Arctic Is In Danger B. Discoveries of the Arctic C. Sledding Through the Arctic D. Consequences of Global Warming Answer: C. Sledding Through the Arctic Question: WHEN there are some strangers in front of us, which of them will we trust? According to a new study in the online PloS One (<<*>> ), people make their decisions to trust others largely based on their faces. Your appearance can do a lot for you, especially if you are in the financial industry. The more trustworthy you look, the more likely people will buy what you're selling. Researchers from Britain's University of Warwick Business School, University College London, and Dartmouth College, US, did a number of experiments. The research team used computer software to make 40 faces, from the least to the most trustworthy-looking. The study said that the difference between a trustworthy face and one that isn't as trustworthy comes from features that look slightly angry or slightly happy, even when the face is at rest. However, a slightly happy face is more likely to be trusted. Researchers gave participants some money and asked them which face they trusted to invest the money for them. Then researchers gave some good and bad information about the people with these faces, and asked the participants again whom they trusted. The results showed that even if they got different information, the participants didn't change their choices. They were still more likely to invest their money with the more trustworthy-looking faces. Chris Olivola, one of the study's authors, said in the University of Warwick's press release: "It seems we are still willing to go with our own instincts about whether we think someone looks like we can trust them. The temptation to judge strangers by their faces is hard to resist." What did the researchers learn from their experiment? A. People can't refuse temptations. B. People always do things with their instincts. C. People often judge strangers by their faces. D. People don't trust strangers with sad faces. Answer: C. People often judge strangers by their faces. Question: Fire Instructions The person who finds a fire should: A. Open the nearest fire alarm. B. If it is safe and the fire is small, try to put out the fire. On Hearing The Fire Alarm : C. Those in class: will go to the playground under the direction(,) from the teacher. D. Those not in class: will go to the playground by the nearest way. How to leave: E. Move quickly. F. Do not stop to find your own things.There is no time for you to do that. G. Do not try to pass other people on your way to the playground. H. Do not use the lift .It's dangerous when there is a fire. If you are having a class, you should _ . A. stay in the classromm under the desks B. get out of the school by yourselves C. go to the playground under the direction from the teacher D. call 120 as quickly as possible Answer: C. go to the playground under the direction from the teacher Question: Helping your child to read and write at home will improve your child's skills and confidence---it will also better equip them for learning in the classroom environment. Reading and writing skills are needed by every child in every subject in every year of their school life and outside school. As parents, you can play an important role in improving your children's literacy by practicing reading, writing, spelling and speaking with them outside school. This kit includes a number of tips on how to help. By listening, asking questions, giving information, and reading with your child outside school hours---you can make a difference. Students who improve their reading and writing will increase their vocabulary and their ability to use English correctly. This kit includes tips on how to help your child to read, write and spell, such as: reading aloud each night including children in everyday conversations listening to your child reading your child's writing using a dictionary encouraging your child to talk about events that don't involve the parents trying not to ask questions that require a "yes" or "no" answer practicing reading and writing by filling in forms, writing letters, sending cards, or e-mails. The Premier's Reading Challenge is also a wonderful way to encourage your child to read. You can help your child by encouraging him or her to join the Challenge and discuss the books they are reading. This passage is mainly written for _ . A. children B. parents C. students D. teachers Answer: B. parents
Jascha Richter once sang "don't need too much talking without saying anything" to reveal his lonely feeling in a crowd. Dad always told me never to ever reveal my true opinions towards other people if such opinions are negative. He said this is the "Chu Shi Zhe Xue", the philosophy of dealing with social network. It seems that everybody here just follows this philosophy very, very well. Friends. I would say that if I were given true friendship I would definitely treasure it with my greatest care. If I really regard someone as my close friend, I would never leave her alone whenever she's in need, either financially or mentally. And I always believe, as long as I treat people with whole-hearted honesty, I would have some rewards--at least, just ONE true friend of the same gender . Sometimes I just miss my friends in China. Perhaps when we became friends, we were still young, too young to have been polluted by any dirt in the society. But here, it is simply different. It seems that all of us have learnt how to SURVIVE in a foreign land and such an experience actually makes us learn how to extract the most benefits from the surroundings in order to survive. All are friends around me. I've looked through all the dark sides of their personalities and yet I have to pretend that I know nothing. THEY ARE GOOD. THEY ARE GOOD. AND WE ARE FRIENDS. And then I can make myself comfortable enough to talk to people I hate the most. And of course, they don't say any words truly from their hearts. Neither do I. But, sometimes I just feel unwilling to talk to these people. Sometimes, I just want to be alone, quietly, without being forced to listen to their gossip or other useless words. "Standing on a mountain high Looking at the moon through a clear blue sky I should go and see some friends But they don't really comprehend" Jascha Richter expresses my feelings also. 70. The writer mostly expresses her _ in this passage. Answer: loneliness In the tree reproduction process a squirrel has the role of seed what? Answer: scatterer Americans won't live without cars! Each year there is an increasing number of cars on roads and streets, as millions of new cars are produced. One out of every six Americans work at putting together the parts of cars, driving trucks, building roads or filling cars with gas. Most Americans find it hard to think what life would be without a car. However, some have realized the serious problem of air pollution by cars. The polluted air is poisonous and dangerous to health. One way to get rid of the polluted air is to design a new car that does not pollute. That's what several large car factories are trying to do. But to build the new car is easier said than done. Progress in this field has been slow. Another way is to take place of the car engine by something else. Engineers are now working on some new cars. Many makers believe that it will take years to develop a practical model that pleases man. To prevent the world from being polluted by cars, we'll have to make some changes in the way many of us live. Americans, for example, have to cut down the number of their cars they are encouraged to travel and go to work by bike. Riding a bike is thought to help keep the air clean. But this change does not come easily, a large number of workers may find themselves with no jobs if a car factory closes down. And the problem of air pollution would become less important than that of unemployment. What is the conclusion of the writer? Answer: Cars bring us not only a better life but serious problems. There once was an alligator named Albert (who wore an office shirt). He had two good friends - Lock the cat and Gary the hamster. Gary often rode around in Albert's shirt pocket, since it would be hard for him to keep up with Albert and Lock as they walked around. One day, as they were wandering around, a storm popped up, forcing them to hurry indoors to deal with it. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't find a building quickly, so they ended up being frosted over by the dangerous weather. "If we don't get out of this soon, I might die!" yelled Gary, who was cold. "Don't worry, no one's going to die!" yelled Albert, who, as a reptile, was even worse off than Gary. Luckily, they found a house after leaving the forest, which happened to be near the ocean. They ran inside, and dried off, before they headed to sleep. What did they do right before going to sleep? Answer: They dried off When you cough or sneeze, you'd better turn your head away from others and cover your mouth with the full part of your hand. And then, you should say, "Excuse me." This seems so simple, but it is surprising how many kids have never been told to do this. Actually, I notice adults all the time who cough and sneeze in public without placing a hand over the mouth. One important thing I point out to the kids is that after they sneeze or cough on their hands, they should wash their hands as soon as possible. If not, they will be passing those germs along to everything and everyone they touch. If you come to a door and someone is following you, hold the door. If the door opens by pulling, pull it open, stand to the side, and allow the other person to pass. After a few weeks of seeing kids try to get through doors in the school and watching them enter restaurants as the door hit other people, I knew I had to discuss the problem with my students. Teaching them small acts of kindness, such as letting someone else go through a door first as they hold it open, may seem unimportant, but it can go a long way toward helping students realize how to be polite and think others. Once they've been told, they're halfway there. When we have to go up moving stairs, we will stand to the right. That will give others who are in a hurry a choice of walking up the left-hand side of the moving stairs. When we are going to enter a lift, the underground, of a doorway, we will wait for others to exit before we enter. After college when I moved to London, I was surprised at how polite everyone was in the subways. I was even more touched when I traveled to Japan. In both places, people made effort to make way for others. On moving stairs, everyone stood to the right and walked to the left. On lifts, everyone would stand over to the side and allow others to exit before they would begin to enter. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: the rules of behavior in public
In the old time, there was a man. He wanted to buy a pair of new shoes. Hemeasured his feet with a straw , and then went to a shoe shop in town. The man in the shop took out a pair of new shoes, and let him try it on. But when he looked into pocket, he found that the straw was not there. So he said, "I'm sorry. I forget to bring the size here! Let me go home to get it back." After that, he ran out of the shop. It was very far from his home to the shoe shop. When he got back home, he was very tired. With the straw in his hand, he went back to the shoe shop again .But the shop was closed . Someone near the man said, " Your feet are with you. Why did you not try which pair of shoes fitted your feet?" Where was the straw? _ A. At the man's home. B. In the field. C. In the man's pocket. D. In the shop. Answer: A. At the man's home. Lang Lang, the young Chinese pianist, was born in Shenyang in 1982. He began to play the piano when he was 3. At the age of 5, he won first place in a piano competition in Shenyang. People thought he was a genius . From then on, playing the piano became the dream of Lang and his parents. When Lang was 9 years old, he and his father went to Beijing to study piano. His father even left his work. Although he endured great pressure , Lang never gave up his dream of becoming a concert pianist. When he was 17, Lang became famous after he played in a great concert in Chicago, US. Now 28-year-old Lang is famous all over the world for his great performances. He played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He was also one ofTimesmagazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009. He is one of the world's great musicians. When did Lang Lang win first place in a piano competition in Shenyang? A. In 1982. B. In 1985. C. In 1987. D. In 1991. Answer: C. In 1987. No one gets through life without experiencing many disappointments. Strangely, though, most people seem unprepared for disappointment and react to it in negative ways. They feel depressed or try to escape from their troubles instead of using disappointment as an opportunity for growth. One negative reaction to disappointment is depression. A woman trying to win a promotion, for example, works hard for over a year in her department. Helen is so sure she will get the promotion. However, the boss names one of Helen's co-workers for the spot. Deeply depressed, Helen loses her enthusiasm for her job and can barely force herself to show up every day. Helen tells herself that she is a failure and that doing a good job just isn't worth the work. Another negative reaction to disappointment is the desire to escape. Kevin fails to get into the college his brother is attending, the college that was the focus of all his dreams, and decides to escape his disappointment. Why worry about college at all? Instead, he covers up his real feelings by giving up on his school-work and getting completely involved with friends, parties, and "good times". The positive way to react to disappointment is to use it as a chance for growth. This isn't easy, but it's the only useful way to deal with an inevitable part of life. Helen, the woman who was not promoted, could have handled her disappointment by looking at other options. If her boss did not recognize her talent and hard work, perhaps she could transfer to another department. Or she could ask the boss how to improve her performance so that she could prepare for the next promotion. Kevin, the boy who didn't get into the college of his choice, should look into other schools. Going to another college may encourage him to be his own person, step out of his brother's shadow, and realize that being turned down by one college isn't a final judgment on his abilities or potential. Disappointments are unwelcome, but regular visitors to everyone's life. We can feel depressed about them or we can try to escape from them. The best thing, though, is to accept a disappointment and then try to use it somehow: Step over the unwelcome visitor on the doorstep and get on with life. In this passage, the author _ . A. analyzes the cause of disappointment B. describes his personal experience in dealing with disappointment C. criticizes Helen and Kevin's negative responses to disappointment D. offers specific examples of the ways people deal with disappointment Answer: D. offers specific examples of the ways people deal with disappointment The world produces about 4 billion metric tons of food a year but 1.2 to 2 billion tons is not eaten, the study by the London-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said. It is instead thrown away. Experts say food is wasted in both rich and poor countries, but for different reasons. Elliot Woolley teaches sustainable manufacturing at Loughborough University in Britain. He spoke at the Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, which was held earlier this month in Vietnam. Mr. Woolley said in poor countries, food is usually lost while it is still in the field or during storage and transportation. He said that is because food producers there are inefficient. These businesses are unable to operate effectively without wasting materials, time or energy. But he added that once food is sold in developing countries, people usually eat everything they buy. However, people in developed countries throw away as much as half of the food they purchase. In the US, big contributors to waste include supersized portions that customers simply can't manage, and"eat as much as you want"offers in restaurants. In the UK, over-conservative sell-by dates on labels and two-for-one offers of perishable items are key factors, encouraging consumers to buy too much food to start with and to throw away items that have reached their sell-by date, but which are still edible. And efficient farming methods, transport and storage mean that most of the wastage occurs through retail and customer behavior. The British researcher called this custom"adisgrace". Elliot Woolley has created a smartphone app that he says shows users what food they have bought and when the food is about to become unsafe to eat. It also gives information on how people can combine the foods they have to make a meal. The software program is called"Pantry App". Mr. Woolley said that people who used the app reduced the amount of food they wasted by a third. But this result came from a limited experiment -- users only followed their food use for a week. Jeremy Bonvoisin is a student at the Technical University of Berlin. He attended the recent conference in Vietnam. He said one way to solve the problem of wasting food is to take steps to persuade people to stop buying so much food in the first place. He said people buy more food than they need because it is becoming less costly. They waste so much food because they buy more than they need. He said the new app could help those who already want to change the way they use the food they buy. But he is also worried that it could get people to waste more food because they no longer have to pay attention to how much they have bought. According to Elliot Woolley, the best way to stop wasting food in poor countries is probably . A. making people realize the bad effects of wasting food B. increasing the production and quality of grain C. limiting the transporting and storing of food D. improving their agricultural techniques Answer: D. improving their agricultural techniques How do you remember the way to your house? Where do dreams come from? It is your brain that does these things. A British scientist showed that "sleep can improve one's memory." It's not a dream for students to study when they sleep. In fact, your brain is working day and night. If you learn words before bed, a certain part of the brain may help you to remember the words while you sleep. What's more, another scientist in the USA found that there was a "talent button " in the human brain. It might make a person more talented. There are more interesting things about the brain. Your brain uses less energy than a fridge light. Just two bananas can give the brain enough energy to work for a whole day. According to some scientists, yawning keeps our brains "cool", which makes us think quicker. Here are some pieces of advice to keep a good brain: Eat healthy food. Get a lot of playtime or exercise. Don't drink or smoke. Use your brain a lot. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. Our brains only work in the daytime. B. Our brains need much energy every day. C. Smoking can keep our brains healthy. D. Getting exercise is good for our brains. Answer: D. Getting exercise is good for our brains.
Mrs. Smith liked to deliver her pies with her big hot air balloon. Mrs. Smith like baking pies of all shapes and sizes. She baked for her neighbors of all ages. She would bake them up all on Sunday and pile them high in her balloon. Then she would take off into the sky! Mr. Jones down the street loved strawberry pie. He would stand on his roof and catch the pie as the balloon flew by. Mrs. Kenner liked apple pie. She would run after the balloon and catch her pie in a big basket. Bobby and Sue were brother and sister. They loved chocolate pie. They would ride their bicycles to the top of a hill. Mrs. Smith would hand them their pies as she floated by. Mrs. Smith would throw peach pies down Mr. Tevo's chimney, where they would all land in a big box. Josh had his dog Rex chase after the pies for him. Rex would jump high in the air and catch the pie like frisbee! Everyone would clap as Mrs. Smith rode by and delivered her pies. Then they would eat and be happy. Mrs. Smith loved riding her balloon and making her neighbors so happy! What is the name of Josh's dog? A Sue B Frisbee C Bobby D Rex Answer: D. Rex For years I wanted a flower garden.But then we had Matthew.And Marvin.And the twins, Alisa and Alan.And then Helen.Five children.I was too busy raising them to grow a garden. Money was tight, as well as time.Often when my children were little, one of them would want something that cost too much, and I' d have to say, "Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you now." Finally, all five got through high school and college and were off on their own. One spring morning, on Mother's Day, I was working in my kitchen.Suddenly, I realized that cars were tooting their horns as they drove by.I looked out the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard.I thought it must be a weeping willow, because I saw things blowing around on all its branches.Then I put my glasses on-and I couldn't believe what I saw. There was a money tree in my yard! I went outside to look.It was true! There were dollar bills, one hundred of them, taped all over that tree.Think of' all the garden flowers I could buy with one hundred dollars! There was also a note attached: ''IOU eight hours of digging time.Love, Marvin." Marvin kept his promise, too.He dug up a nice ten-by-fifteen foot bed for me And my other children bought me tools, ornaments , a trellis , a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books. That was three years ago.My garden's now very pretty, just like I wanted.When I go out and tend my flowers, I don't seem to miss my children as much as I once did.I feel like they're right there with me. I'm still not sure that money grows on trees.But I know love does! What can be inferred from the text? _ . A The author raised five children B The money tree was a Mother Day's gift C It cost Marvin eight hours to dug up the bed D Children planted a weeping willow in the yard Answer: B. The money tree was a Mother Day's gift For millions of years, sharks have been the kings of the oceans, the top of the food chain. But these days, the hunter has become the hunted, because of better methods from commercial fishermen who are looking for fins to make expensive soup sold mostly in Asia. Shark fins are far more valuable than shark meat, so fishermen cut the fins off live fish and throw the sharks overboard to maximize the catch they bring back. Shark finning is illegal in the United States, but there're tournament sport fishermen, who target and kill the biggest ones they take from the sea. These tournaments, the prizes of which can reach $5,000 or more, attract large crowds of anglers but also draw protests from animal rights groups and environmentalists. The competitors say they are enjoying a fun and legal sport, the impact on the overall shark population is very small, and most of the sharks caught are returned to the ocean. Dave Johnson, who is from Kennebunkport, Maine, said no one ever comes close to the limit set by the government of killing one shark per day during the three-month season. "I enjoy watching these animals, but I also enjoy catching and releasing them, and very rarely killing them and eating them," he said. "If I thought killing one shark was endangering the species and contributing to their decline I'd stop doing it tomorrow." That is exactly what marine biologists like Luke Tipple want to happen. "I believe that they should just stop it. In fact, we don't need to be targeting, in any way, any of these threatened populations," he said. Up to 73 million sharks are killed annually, and many species are at risk of extinction . In Tipple's opinion, _ . A no shark should be caught or killed B the tournaments should target common species C sport fishermen should release sharks in time D more strict limits should be set by the government Answer: A. no shark should be caught or killed When I was about eight years old, I decided that I wanted to be a famous film star when I grew up. Well, I'm not a famous film star, but I do work for a film studio, and I do meet famous actors every day. I'm a Foley artist--I make the sounds that are added to films after they have been filmed. Why does this need to be done? Well, if actors are filming a fight scene, you can't expect them to really hit each other or break each other's bones, so Foley artists have to find suitable sound. If you come into my studio and find me throwing wet towels at the wall and breaking carrots in half, don't worry. I'm just recording a fight scene. When my kids were little, they loved our Christmas films because we always needed to record the sound of children walking on snow. It doesn't often snow in California, so I had to create the sound in the studio. I used to cover part of studio floor with salt crystals and pour thick flour over the top. Then I brought my kids and their friends to the studio so that I could record them walking in the "snow". After the recording, they never wanted to leave; they stayed and played, they got "snow" in their shoes, on their clothes, even in their hair! These days studios use computers to create such common sounds as footsteps on snow. Some Foley artists see computers as a threat but I welcome the new technology. A lot of "everyday" sounds used to take a whole day to create, so there was a lot of pressure to get everything done on time. With computers, there's a lot less stress and I can devote more of my time to creating unusual sound effects. As long as people keep coming up with new ideas for films, studios will need Foley artists to come up with the sounds for them. How does the writer feel about his job? A He's sad because he wants to be an actor. B He enjoys it even more now than at the beginning. C He feels happy because he often works with his children. D He's angry because computers will make him lose his job. Answer: B. He enjoys it even more now than at the beginning. Do you like traveling? How can you make your trip more interesting? Here's some advice. Read! Before we leave, we should find some information about the place you want to go to, such as its geography, its history and its famous people. And we should read them carefully. So, we can really understand that place during our trip even though we don't have much time. Take photos! Most of us take a camera when we travel, If you want to take some photos, remember to choose the most special sights, Don't choose the sight we can see in other places. For example,Beidaihe, Qingdao and Zhuhai are _ cities. Don't only take photos of the sea. You should take photos of something special, too. Taste! Don't buy the food that you like most because you can buy it in your own city or town. You 'd better taste something special in that place. Food in some places is very delicious. And from food, you can find its food culture. So why not taste it? Maybe you have just one chance to taste it in your life. Write! When you visit a place, you should take a pen and a notebook, so you can write down what you see and what you think during the trip. Later, when you read it, you'll feel that you can find the pleasure during the trip. ,. What's the best title of the passage? A How to Make Your Trip More Interesting B The Most Popular Way to Travel C How to Make a Travel Plan D The Best Place to Travel Answer: A. How to Make Your Trip More Interesting
Three travelers, Allan, Carl and Paul were sitting on the chairs in a train station. They were waiting for a train that was very late. To pass the time, they began talking to each other. At first, they talked about the weather and their work. Then Paul said, "Tell me--what would you most like to do if your doctor tell you that you have only three months to live?" The other two men thought about this for a while, then Carl spoke. "Well," he said, "if I have only three months to live, I'll take all my money out of the bank and go to foreign countries for holidays with my best friend, Erik. I'd like to travel to the places in the world as many as possible. And I'll stay at the best hotels and then eat the best food. I think I'll have a wonderful time." "That's very interesting." Paul said. With these words, he turned to the other man, saying, "And what about you?" "I'll tell you a secret," Allan said. "I always want to be a racing driver. So if I have only three months to live, the first thing I'd like to do is to sell my house. With the money I'll buy the fastest car in the world. Maybe I can enter all the big motor races." Then he laughed, "I might even end up (......) world champion." "Now it's your turn," Allan went on, "If your doctor tell you the bad news, what would you most like to do?" "Oh," said Paul with a smile. "I'll go and see another doctor." Which sentence is right according to the passage? Answer: Allan was the second man to answer the question. If a blind person needs to know which cat has long hair and which has short hair, they can Answer: grab it Glastonbury Festival, one of the pioneer festivals, is famous not only for its amazing bands, but also for its wonderful performances in many fields surrounding the stages. It attracts over 130,000 people every year, who join in the three-day party to celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Glastonbury Festival has been held on Worthy Farm in Somerset since 1970. This year, all sorts of singers and bands were there, from the likes of Beyonce, Jessie J, to my favorite -- Paolo Nutini, who I really wish I could have met! We drove straight in to one of the muddiest Glastonbury Festivals ever! We came to our camp site, carrying enough clothes for a weekend of extreme weather conditions, and spent an hour or so putting up the tent. On the second day it began to rain and didn't stop for the rest of the day. We sat in the tent waiting for it to stop, and after several hours we realized that it wouldn't. When the need for food became too strong we put on boots and raincoats and made our way across many muddy fields. There is something for everyone at the festival -- my favourite place is the Circus Field, which is full of interactive performances. Also, I love the Kidz Field, where famous CBBC stars perform, and where you can get your face painted then run around on a climbing frame with dragons. What attracted the author most at this year's festival? Answer: The performance in the Circus Field. Item 78431 The Video Camera Pen $129. 95 ;Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone :1-800-321-1484 This is the pen that has a built-in video camera, capturing(,)videos or still images with a click of its button. Ideal for use while secured in a pocket, it can capture up to five hours of video. Its battery provides up to two hours of power before requiring a recharge. Item 78098 The Wristwatch Camcorder $149. 95; Available for 3-day Shipment; Order by Phone :1-800-321-1484 This is the men's watch with an unnoticeable camera located at the two-o'clock position, yet the watch's hands never make it covered. So you'll be always ready to capture a famous person or a pet's ridiculous actions. The camera's rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of use from a four-hour charge. Item 77918 The only 55 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater $ 249. 95 ;Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone:l-800-321-1484 This is the only personal media viewer that provides a private viewing experience just like watching a widescreen 55 inch television from 10 meters away. It connects to a video iPod, iPhone, portable DVD player with two AA batteries providing up to six hours of continuous operation. Item 77281 The Digital Phone Album Watch $ 99. 95 ;Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone :1-800-321-1484 This is the watch that vividly displays 120 of your favorite digital photographs. You can download digital photographs to the watch. The watch can be viewed in the Photo Album mode or digital mode( time and date view). A six-hour charge provides up to 10 days of use. If you're a movie fan, you probably show strong interest in _ . Answer: Item 77918 Heather Jack and her family, including her two children, usually spend the Christmas holidays preparing a feast--for others to eat. Last Christmas Eve, they went to a house in the neighborhood and prepared a dinner for an elderly woman and her son, who has muscular dystrophy . They stayed for an hour and chatted before heading home to prepare for a visit from Santa . "I think it is that kind of direct experience that many find so meaningful," says Heather, president and founder of The Volunteer Family, a Boston-based organization dedicated to matching families with volunteer opportunities, both during the holidays and year-round. "It's a great way for parents to involve the kids." In a holiday season that stretches from before Thanksgiving to just after the New Year, it's nice to hear stories about people with their children giving instead of receiving. Last December Gary and Debra Danoff and their two teenage sons drove to the Washington, D. C. Jewish Community Center(JCC) and spent Christmas morning in the Center's kitchen preparing a feast for homeless shelters. By choosing to prepare meals for the homeless, the Danoffs bring together a belief in community service with their love of cooking, "It feels good to prepare food with our kids for other people at Christmas," says Gary. "We want them to know that many people don't have the ability to go to the supermarket and pick the foods they want to eat and pay for them." The Danoffs were in good company. Across the city, at least 1000 volunteers with their children went across the region to provide food to the poor people as part of the D. C. JCC's annual "December 25th Day of Service", now in its 22nd year. The Heathers did all the following things except_last Christmas Eve. Answer: visiting one of their good friends in other district
Question: I lost both of my parents in a tragic car accident when I was five. Fortunately, at that age a child doesn't understand the finality of such an event. Many years later, at the age of twenty-three, I was planning my wedding to Sheldon, who came from a complete loving family, the type I expect. Sheldon and I had already bought our first home with a large, beautifully landscaped yard. As the date grew closer and we took ownership of the home, we began to clean, arrange inside and out. The day before our wedding we were putting the final touches to the yard. We were so pleased with the neatness of it all. But one plant puzzled us. A rosebush located just outside our front door, was completely barren of leaves or buds. It looked liked it might be dead, but since neither of us could be sure, we reluctantly decided to keep it for the time being. That same evening, after the dinner, I was too excited to sleep. Instead I decided I needed some quiet time to reflect on the wedding the next day. I went to the backyard and sat in the warm, clear, star-filled night. It was there that I realized the only thing missing from my wedding day would be my parents. There had been no time to think of this until now and the thought filled me with sadness. After all, every girl dreams of having her father walk her down the aisle and her mother there to comfort her anxiety. Alone in the yard, I began speaking to my mom and dad, just as if I had known they were listening. "Give me a sign on my wedding day to let me know you're with me." The next day Sheldon's excited voice repeatedly called my name. I rushed to join him at the front door. "I can't believe what I'm about to show you!" He stood aside. The barren rosebush had two huge roses in full bloom. There was no doubt in my mind that we were witnessing a miracle...a miracle of love. The writer came to the yard that night to _ . A. relieve her pressure of life B. pray for her parents C. see whether the rose grew D. think about her wedding carefully Answer: D Question: Traveling to Cuba as an American is like jumping through hoops .To help you better prepare for your trip,here are what you need to know about traveling to Cuba. You wilI need to obtain a visa to travel to Cuba.You'11 need to apply for the visa associated with your travel purposes,such as religious or medical travel,family visits,or people-to-people travel,which is the most common type of visa attained by Americans. Because of the U.S.restriction,banks have not yet been able to establish a foothold in Cuba,meaning it's a cash--focused country.You can exchange currency at the Jose Marti International Airport or at your hotel.Keep in mind that there is a 10 percent fee to exchange U.S.currency for Cuban currency.You'11 also want to be sure to carry change for tips. You can reserve a hotel room in Cuba online.Then you can call to confirm your reservation.You can also book through a travel agency.However,payment can be tricky:Even if you pay for your room through your travel agent,the restriction may prevent your payment from reaching your hotel in time(another reason to book well in advance).Come prepared with enough cash to cover the cost,just in case. If you expect to find the blue waters,volcanic landscapes and beautiful villages of other nearby islands,you'11 be disappointed.But beauty is not hard to find here.Old Havana--a UNESCO World Heritage Site--is home to splendid architecture and a bit of paladars(privately owned res--taurants).Limited economic opportunities have led Cubans to be creative in other ways.You can't go two blocks without coming across street paintings,art studios and joyful ballet music. Most Americans get the visa to Cuba by _ . A. family visits B. people-to-people travel C. religious travel D. medical travel Answer: B Question: Air travel makes some people very nervous. The crowds, the noise and flying itself can cause unease. But there are classes that people can take to help them defeat the fear of flying. And now we are going to talk about similar training for service dogs that suffer from the same problem. Service dogs almost never leave the side of the people they care for. You will see them working on buses, trains and other public transport systems. But the busy environment in an airport can trouble even the best trained working dog. People with disabilities depend on their dogs. They also need the dogs to remain calmly on duty on the airplane, even when the flight is not smooth. This takes special training. The Air Hollywood K9 Flight School is one place where such help can be found. The school has a piece of equipment that provides the sights, sounds and even the feel of an airplane in flight. It is called a flight simulator . The simulator was built for filming airplane scenes in movies. Sandy Alexander lives in Newport Beach, California. He has a disability that requires his two-year-old dog, Doc, to be always at his side. Mr. Alexander took the dog to the flight school to get him ready for plane trips. He says Doc did not like the bumpy part of the flight simulation. "When that started he was pretty _ and looked up at me and wasn't sure what was gong on." "Dogs need to be exposed gradually and repetitively to stimulation, to the environment, to loud noises, to sounds and other dogs so that when this experience happens to them on a daily basis, they are able to act in a way that they are used to acting and don't get excitable," days dog trainer, Mary Segall. Dog owners who have attended the training say they now feel much more at ease about future flights. Their dogs also seem ready for take-off. The flight simulator _ . A. can help people to learn how to fly an airplane B. was built for filming airplane scenes in movies C. can't provide the feel of an airplane in flight D. let service dog owners experience the thrill of flying Answer: B Question: A very old lady won a million dollars in a lottery . Her son and his wife heard the news on the radio."How are we going to tell your mother?" the wife asked. "The shock might kill her! "That's true." the son said. "Perhaps we'd better speak to her doctor about it. He'll know how to break the news to her gently." They explained the situation to the old lady's doctor. "I'm glad you told me." he said. "A shock, even a happy one,could give her a heart attack. Leave it to me. I 'll find a way of breaking the news to her." He thought about the problem for several days, and then decided what he would say. He called on the old lady and sat by her side. He took her hand in his."Let's play a game, my dear." he said. "A 'Let's Pretend' game." ks5u "Oh, yes." the old lady said. "I love 'Let's Pretend' games." "Good. I'll ask you a question first." the doctor said. "Then you can ask me one." He pretended to think for a few moments. Then he said, "Tell me, what would you do if you won a million dollars in the lottery?" "Oh, that's an easy one." the old lady said. "I'd give most of it to you, doctor, because you have been so good to me all these years. Doctor!" But the doctor was now lying on the floor. He had died of shock. The best title for this passage should be " _ " A. The Lottery B. Breaking the News C. Good News D. Bad News Answer: B Question: I live in Hollywood. You may think people in such an attractive, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness. Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more long-lasting emotion. Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help us relax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends. I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant access to exciting parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells "happiness". But in memoir after memoir, celebrities reveal the unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, broken marriages, troubled children, and long-time loneliness. The way people hold on to the belief that a fun-filled, pain-free life equates happiness actually decreases their chances of ever attaining real happiness. If fun and pleasure are equated with happiness, then pain must be equated with unhappiness. But, in fact, the opposite is true: More times than not, things that lead to happiness involve some pain. As a result, many people avoid the very efforts that are the source of true happiness. They fear the pain inevitably brought by such things as marriage, raising children, professional achievement, religious commitment, charitable work and self-improvement. According to the passage, "fun activities" _ . A. are the things we do before we find happiness B. may help us relax and forget our problems sometimes C. will lead us to the true happiness D. could provide long-last positive effects Answer: B
Goodreads. com is a website for book lovers everywhere. If you love to read, and if you love social networking, you should check out Goodreads. The website marries social networking and books in such a way as makes your friends' reading progress easy to follow and makes it simpler than ever to find your next reading material. Goodreads is a social network for readers. Like Facebook or Twitter, it allows you to share information. Unlike most popular social networks, Goodreads also allows you to show your friends your progress on the book you are reading and to write reviews for everything you've ever read. You can see and comment on your friends' reading progress. Goodreads is simple to use. When you sign up for an account, you will be able to find your friends by their email addresses or other social network accounts. Once you have some friends, every time you log in, you will see a timeline of their updates. You can see when they've added a book to a list, or when they've finished or reviewed a book. As soon as you have an account, you can also start looking for books you've read or that you want to read and added them to your lists. Once you finish reading a book, you can go to the book page and review it by giving it any number out of five stars. If you wish to write a longer review, you can do that, too. If you have ever finished a book and needed a recommendation for what to read next, Goodreads has the answer. Finding your next book has never been easier. Now, not only can you search for individual books you know you want to read and add them to your "to read" list, but you can also easily see what your friends have recently read. When you search through your friends' reviews, you can also see who likes what books, making your selection process even easier. Adding books to your "to read" list can help you keep track of what you want to read next, and seeing what books your friends enjoy - or don't enjoy- can help you better your list of books to read next. Like all good social networks, Goodreads has apps for mobile phones and ways to connect to other social networks. You can get Goodreads for iphone and Android by downloading them from the App Store or Andorid Market. You can also connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts so all of your networks know what you're reading. Furthermore, you can connect your Amazon Kindle to automatically update your progress on your e-books. Last but not least , you can set up Goodreads to auto- publish book reviews to your Wordpress or blog. Sharing your favorite books has never been easier . If you want to create a web space for your own book club, you can do that easily; just start a new group on Goodreads and update the page to show what books you're reading. You can also create events to easily share with members where and when book club meetings and author readings are taking place. Goodreads. com is young, but we will do our best to attract more people and we hope you can use it and give us your advice. What is essential for you to use Goodreads ? Answer: An account. $? While the 2008 Olympics were the first to be broadcast entirely in HD, the 2012 Olympics are the first to broadcast in HD as well as 3D. Sean Taylor, a spokesperson for Panasonic - provider of some of the technologies - said it effectively, "Each Games, from a technology perspective, tries to have a first. London will be the first HD and 3D Games." The games were first televised in Berlin in 1936 and played on big screens about the city. Then came the first games to enter households (strictly in London that is) in 1948, followed by the first internationally televised games during the 1960 Olympics in Rome. And ever since, that feeling of physically standing in the crowd and watching these mighty contestants has only gotten clearer, more defined. Now, they more literally than ever actually compete in your living room. SS A _ is presented as the London games celebrate both the Industrial Revolution (a.k.a. the birth of pollution) and a spirit of committed environmentalism; London will be the first to actively measure its own carbon footprint during these games, designing a stadium and accommodations that cut-back on negative emissions when at all possible. They are also shooting for a world record via the "Javelin," designed specifically to keep as many exhaust pipes at bay as humanly possible. Where does this text probably come from? Answer: a report As a boy, Mark Twain caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play practical jokes on all his friends and neighbors. The nature of his jokes often led to violence . He hated to go to school and he constantly ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He liked to sit on the bank of the river for hours at a time and just gaze at the mysterious island and the passing boats. He learned many things about the river during those days. He learned all about its history and unusual people. He later made them part of the history of America in the book Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain received his genius from his mother. Obviously he didn't get it from his father. He once stated that he had never seen a smile on his father's face. On the other hand, his mother had the ability to say humorous things. The same ability made Mark Twain an extremely humorous public speaker. It can be learned form the passage that _ . Answer: Mark Twain's mother was something of a humorist Rockfield High Sch ool Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:10 English Eng lish Math Spanish Biology 9:00 Math Math Self-study Math Self-study 10:00 Biology Biology Spanish Art Math 10:40 Self-study Art P.E. Biology English 12:20 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 1:10 P.E. Self-study English Self-study P.E. 2:00 Spanish Spanish Biology English Spanish On Friday morning students don't have _ lesson. Answer: Spanish The first chocolate was eaten by people in South America hundreds of years ago. In those days, the people did not really eat chocolate. They used the cocoa bean to make a chocolate drink and they enjoyed it very much. Many years later, the cocoa bean was brought to other countries and people came to love the taste of chocolate. In 1824, John Cadbury opened a small shop in Britain. One of the things he sold was chocolate drink. In 1831, he opened a factory to make chocolate drink. He wanted to encourage people to drink chocolate instead of other drinks. A few years later, a man called Joseph Fry found a way to make chocolate instead of only drinking it. But at that time chocolate was very expensive and only the rich people could buy it. Later, ad more and more chocolate bars were produced and sold, it became cheaper. However, at first only plain chocolate (a kind of chocolate without milk and with very little sugar) was produced. Milk chocolate came later and this was made by adding milk to the chocolate. The first milk chocolate bar was made in Cadbury's factory in 1897. Their most famous chocolate, Cadbury's Milk Bar, was made in 1905, It has been the most popular chocolate in Britain and around the world for over 100 years. The Cadbury factory is still in Britain and the chocolate produced there is eaten all over the world. Every year, thousands of visitors visit the factory in order to see how chocolate is made. At first, not many people bought chocolate_. Answer: because it was very expensive
Peter is eight years old, and he goes to a school near his house. He always goes there and comes home on foot. He usually gets back on time, but last Friday he came home from school late. His mother saw him and said to him, "Why are you late today, Peter?" "My teacher was angry and told me to see the headmaster after class," Peter answered. "To see the headmaster?" his mother asked. "Why did she tell you to see him?" "Because she asked a question in class," Peter said, "And nobody could answer it except me." His mother became angry. "But why did your teacher tell you to see the headmaster then?" she asked. "Because her question was 'Who put the glue on my chair?'" Peter said. Peter is _ . Answer: Evolution has changed our bodies and faces over thousands of years, and it's still happening. Here's how experts predict what people will be like in 1,000 years. We'll be about 1.83~2.13 metres tall because of improved nutrition and medical science. Our arms and fingers will get longer to reduce the need to reach too far. We'll have smaller brains, maybe because computers will help us memorize and think most of the things. There will be larger eyes and smaller mouths. And there may be fewer teeth as softer food needs less chewing and biting. We could even get our nutrition from liquids or pills in the future. We can expect other great changes too. Everyone will have the same shape of noses. That's because climate will have less influence on noses with the help of air conditioning and central heating. Besides, we will have more wrinkles as a result of looking at our electronic devices. We also may end up with saggy necks because extra sun will cause loose skin. And there will be darker skin as people move around the planet and races mix. ,. What kind of food will we probably eat in 1,000 years? Answer: One thing we love about soup is that it's easy to make and it only needs a few simple ingredients .Here are four of our favorite, simple homemade soups.Enjoy! What might be the best soup in summer time? Answer: What is the main function of a plant stem? Answer: We are learning English, but how can we learn English well? A student can know a lot about English, but maybe he can't speak English. If you want to know how to swim, you must get into the river. And if you want to be a football player, you must play football. So, you see, you can learn by using it. You must listen to your teacher carefully in class. You must speak English to your classmates every day and also you must write something in English. Then one day you may find your English is very good. You must get into the water _ . Answer:
It seems some people have something bad to say about Facebook, the social media website that now has attracted more than 300 million members. To them I have only this to say: Stop please! A recent article in theWall Street Journalblamed Facebook's ability to ruin friendships, saying that it limits communication to typing and encourages people to spend far too much time with friends they have never met. Having used Facebook since its first year, I find these arguments false. The simple truth is that the problems are only a symptom of Facebook abuse. Like many things, it is only as harmful to your life and relationships as you allow it to be. Consider arguments against watching too much TV and overeating. Try using Facebook to find friends who may have long ago changed their e-mail addresses and phone numbers, to find out what your old college friends are up to, to congratulate your friends on their latest birthdays, to share pictures and articles you find interesting, and to join in the discussion about them with your friends. Sure, I had days when I wasted a little more time on Facebook than I should, but I'm not going to blame Facebook for my own laziness. If Facebook wasn't there, I would have found something else to waste time on. To my "friends": if you don't feel like broadcasting your life stories on your Facebook, don't. If you tire of my personal updates, ignore them. If you don't want to join in the popular online games, don't. It is a fun tool at your fingers that can be used for both good and bad. If you don't like using Facebook, don't. I am now a consultant at the Department of State. I use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues who live and work all over the world. Why did the article in theWall Street Journal blame Facebook? A. Because it makes people spend too much time online. B. Because it can make people lose their real-life friends. C. Because it is as harmful to people's lives as watching TV. D. Because it encourages people to make friends with strangers. Answer: B. Because it can make people lose their real-life friends. Bears and humans often meet in National Parks. Although campers and hikers are warned not to feed the bears, many people ignore these warnings and feed the beasts anyway. When bears are used to people's food, problems soon arise. Bears like to eat a large variety of things, both meat and vegetable. Without human assistance, bears live nicely on roots, twigs, leaves of trees, insects and small animals. With people around, the bears' tastes quickly expand to include sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, and anything else they can temp humans into giving up. Bears often develop clever strategies for getting people to let go their food supplies. More often than not, an unsuspecting hiker has taken off his or her pack for a rest only to have a bear charge out of the woods, grab the pack and quickly disappear into the underbrush with it. Hanging the pack on a tree branch won't help. Bears have been known to climb up, jump off, and catch the pack on the way down. One mother bear stretched up with her baby on her shoulders to reach a pack stored on a pole. Many bears threaten people into giving up their supplies. Although a bear is unlikely to attack a person and would probably run away if screamed at, few people are willing to do so. Most people drop the pack and run the other way. This, of course, delights the bear. In some places, the Park Service installed some metal barrels with lids to help campers keep their supplies safe from bears. Although the bears were unable to open these containers, the effort was less than successful. Most campers, unable to tell the metal drums from rubbish cans, never used them for the intended purpose. Which of the following is TRUE? A. If fed on sandwiches and hot dogs, the bears would no longer eat roots, twigs and insects . B. It's likely that bears would hurt people if the people didn't give up their food. C. Most people would frighten away the bears that would temp their food. D. Seeing a pack, the bear would quickly snatch it and run away with it. Answer: D. Seeing a pack, the bear would quickly snatch it and run away with it. These days a green building means more than just the color1 of the paint. Green building can also refer to environmentally friendly houses, factories, and offices. Green building means "reducing the effect of the building on the land," Taryn Holowka of the US Green Building Council in prefix = st1 /Washington,DC, said. According to Holowka, buildings account for 65 percent of total USelectricity use. But green buildings can reduce energy and water use. Also, the buildings are often located near public transportation such as buses and subways, so that people can drive their cars less. That could be good for the environment, because cars use lots of natural resources, such as gasoline, and give off pollution. Green buildings are often built on developed land, so that the buildings don't destroy forests or other wild habitats. Marty Dettling is project manager for a building that put these ideas into action. The Solaire has been called the country's first green residential high-rise building. According to Dettling, "We've reduced our energy consumption by one-third and our water by 50 percent. The Solaire cuts energy in part by using solar power. The Solaire also has lights that automatically turn off when people leave the room. Plus, the building has lots of windows. This allows people to use the sun for light instead of lamps during the day. Which of the following is used to cut energy consumption in the Solaire? A. Closing windows as long as possible. B. Reducing the time of using lights. C. Recycling solar power. D. Using natural resources. Answer: B. Reducing the time of using lights. Taking care of small children is one of the ways to make money.It is also called babysitting.Most parents do not have relatives living with them.They need someone to watch the children if they want to go out.A babysitter may play games, draw pictures, or read stories to the children, and then put them to bed at the proper time. Mowing lawns for the neighbors is another common job.When people do not have time to mow their lawns in the garden, they are glad to pay somebody to do this. Boys and girls can also help deliver newspapers in the neighborhood.They can walk or ride bicycles to deliver newspapers from house to house.They must do this every day if they want to make money in this way. Some old people who live by themselves need help.Let them know if you like to help with the clean-up work, or go out to mail letters or buy things for them.They will perhaps pay you something each time or every week. There are many ways to make money.American children often look around to see what work they can do to earn their pocket money. The main idea of this passage is that _ . A. children are good babysitters. B. children can deliver newspapers. C. old people living alone need help. D. American children work to make pocket money Answer: D. American children work to make pocket money At 26, Jane Goodall had no college education or science training. But since childhood, she had been dreaming of working closely with animals in Africa. "All through my childhood people said you can't go to Africa. You're a girl." Goodall said. "But my mother used to say, if you really want to, there's nothing you can't do." In 1957, the 26-year-old Goodall went to Kenya to work as a secretary. She also arranged to meet the famous scientist Louis Leakey, who was so impressed by her enthusiasm that he hired her as his assistant. She went with him on many trips to the African jungle and in 1960 Leakey sent Goodall to live among chimpanzees in a remote animal preserve, recording the animals' behavior and interactions. For three months Goodall made little progress. But she said, "I never came close to giving up." Her breakthrough came one day when she saw a male chimpanzee stick a piece of grass into a termite hill, then put the grass in his mouth. Afterward she came to the hill and did the same. Pulling the grass out, she discovered dozens of termites on it. The discovery -- that some animals use tools -- was unknown to most scientists at the time. Goodall saw chimpanzees exhibit human-like emotions, such as jealousy and love. But she also discovered they were capable of violent attacks against each other. Goodall received her Ph.D. in the study of animal behavior at England's Cambridge University. Now she travels around the globe raising money to preserve wildlife. "I love being in the forest with the chimpanzees," she said. "I'd much rather be there than traveling around from city to city." Goodall's most important discovery is that _ . A. some animals use tools B. like humans animals have emotions C. chimpanzees could attack each other violently D. termites are chimpanzees' favorite food Answer: A. some animals use tools
If you bought some candy months ago but never ate it, how can you tell whether it's still safe to eat? The easiest way is to check the "expiration date " printed on the wrapper. If that date has already passed, you're likely to throw the candy away. But is that really necessary? According to a new report from the US Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), tons of food is wasted each year, largely because people don't fully understand what expiration dates, or "use-by dates", actually mean. Food dating was introduced in 1970s because customers wanted more information about the things that they were eating. When they first showed up, use-by dates were only supposed to indicate freshness because producers wanted their products to be tasted in their best conditions. But the truth is that these dates aren't related to the risk of food poisoning or food-born illness, according to Time News. However, most customers misinterpreted use-by dates and related them to the safety of the food, and they still largely do now. Eggs, for example, can still be eaten three to five weeks after purchase even though the use-by date is much earlier. When their use-by dates pass, strawberry juice may lose its red color and biscuits may lose their crunch , but they are not harmful. "It's a confusing subject, the difference between food quality and food safety," said Jena Roberts, vice president of National Food Lab, a US food testing company. "Even in the food industry I have colleagues who get confused." This is why scientists are calling for a standard explanation to be printed following the use-by dates. "We want this to be clearly communicated so customers are not misinterpreting the date and contributing to a lot of waste," said Dana Gunders, a staff scientist with the NRDC. But this won't be a mistake that is easy to correct since people have believed it for so long. Another problem is that the quality levels of different foods change differently-some are still eatable long after their use-by date while others are not. As a result, food industry officials are now thinking of changing the use-by date to a date indicating when food is most likely to throw away. Which of following is TRUE? Answer: Even after their use-by dates pass, some food are still safe to eat. Rockfield High Sch ool Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:10 English Eng lish Math Spanish Biology 9:00 Math Math Self-study Math Self-study 10:00 Biology Biology Spanish Art Math 10:40 Self-study Art P.E. Biology English 12:20 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 1:10 P.E. Self-study English Self-study P.E. 2:00 Spanish Spanish Biology English Spanish They have _ lessons at 10:00 on Wednesday morning. Answer: Spanish An early invention by Albert Einstein has been rebuilt by scientists at Oxford University. They are trying to develop an environmentally friendly refrigerator that runs without electricity. We all know that modern fridges cause damage to the environment. They work by using a kind of man-made greenhouse gas called Freon , which is far more damaging than carbon dioxide. Now Malcolm McCulloch, an electrical engineer at Oxford, is leading a three-year project to develop appliances that can be used in places without electricity. His team has completed a prototype of a fridge patented in 1930 by Einstein. It used only pressurized gases to keep things cold. The design was partly used in the first refrigerators, but the technology was dropped when more efficient compressors became popular in the 1950s. That meant a switch to using Freon. Einstein's idea uses butane and water and takes advantage of the fact that liquids boil at lower temperatures, when the air pressure around them is lower. "If you go to the top of Mount Qomolangma, water boils at a much lower temperature than it does when you're at sea level and that's because the pressure is much lower up there," said McCulloch.At one side is the evaporator , a bottle that contains liquid butane. "If you introduce a new vapor above the butane, the liquid boiling temperature decreases and, as it boils off, it takes energy from the surroundings to do so," says McCulloch. "That's what makes it cold." The gas fridges based on Einstein's design were replaced by Freon-compressor fridges partly because Einstein's design was not very efficient. But McCulloch thinks that by changing the design and replacing the types of gases used it will be possible to quadruple the efficiency. However, McCulloch's fridge is still in its early stages. "It's very much a prototype," he said. "Give us another month and we'll have it working." According to the passage, an early invention by Albert Einstein _ . Answer: is being redesigned because it could be used in places without electricity At a weightlifting competition, two competitors lifted the same weight to the same height. The second competitor accomplished the lift 2 seconds faster than the first competitor. This demonstrated that the second competitor had more Answer: power than the first. Chinese tourists prefer hotels and restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad. Most Chinese tourists instantly update their social networks using their mobile phones. They send photos and short videos to friends and family when traveling abroad. About 10 percent of outbound Chinese tourists get expensive marring charges by using 3G-powered smart phones. About 90 percent of Chinese travelers consider Wi-Fi _ when traveling abroad They often use phone apps to create travel routes and book hotels, which requires large data flows that can be expensive without Wi-Fi But free Wi-Fi is not always available, even in regions with advanced telecnrnmunications,such as the United States and Europe. Portable Wi-Fi costs 15 -50 yuan a day,depending on the country. Ifs cheaper in South Korea,Japan and Thailand. The Wi-Fi services increase rapidly thanks to reasonable pricing and smooth surfing Thus, a growing number of travel agencies begin to offer increasingly diverse Wi-Fi services. A travel website Ctrip leases Wi-Fi transmitters that offer unlimited data for about 20 yuan a day on average in more than 100 countries. It plans to make mobile Wi-Fi an important part of its business model. Another travel website Tumiu also launched a Wi-Fi phone service in 2013. More than 100, 000 people used the service in 2014. More than 100 million Chinese went abroad last year, and the 10 percent who used Wi-Fi services spent an average of 150 youn, and it's expected to grow largely. But the business may become out of date in five to eight years, for more locations am offering free Wi-Fi. 1n the meantime, it is reported that more for-profit models should be introduced and offer more services for outbound travelers in the future What can be inferred from the passage? Answer: The portable Wi-Fi costs less when traveling in some Asian countries than in European countries
The next time you eat a piece of chocolate, be sure to enjoy it, because according to two of the world's largest chocolate makers--Mars Inc and Barry Callebaut, the treat may soon be in short supply. The problem? We are consuming the candy at a faster pace than farmers can grow cocoa. The manufacturers say that in 2013, people consumed 70,000 tons more cocoa than was produced. Experts say that this is the worst supply-demand imbalance they have experienced in more than 50 years. Parts of the reason for the condition is the large reduction in supply, caused by a continuous drought in the west African countries of Ivory Coast and Ghana, where more than 70 percent of the world's cocoa is produced. Additionally, a certain disease known as frosty pod has destroyed 30 to 40 percent of global cocoa production. As a result, many farmers have turned to more profitable and easier grown crops like corn. This means that even if conditions improve, cocoa production may never get back to normal. Meanwhile, the world is only getting hungrier for chocolate. The biggest increase in demand is from the residents of emerging market countries like India. Though their consumption is nowhere close to the amount European devour, their newly acquired amount for the treat , is making a huge dent in an already tight market. There is also the growing desire for dark chocolate, which contains more than 70 percent cocoa compared to normal chocolates. Experts believe that if consumption continue at this pace, cocoa deficits could swell to one million tons by 2020 and to an even more worrisome, two million tons, by 2030. Not surprisingly, cocoa prices have risen by 60% since 2012, a cost that manufacturers have offset by raising the prices of everyone's favorite candy. As the situation worsens, the price of chocolate can only rise--so be sure to enjoy piece of the sweet treat, like it is your last! According to the author's prediction, we can know that_. A. Chocolate will become cheap sooner or later B. The farmers will produce more cocoa in 2030 C. The price of chocolate will be going up all the way D. Dark chocolate will be more popular than common one Answer: C. The price of chocolate will be going up all the way Tree House The Tree House program is for students with an English or bilingual preschool background. Foreign teachers further develop students' natural English speaking skills from 1st through 6th grades in a total immersion environment. The program is theme-based with different units or themes per semester. Each unit includes a theme-related storybook, song, dialogue, writing and phonic exercises, grammar component, poem, and integrated activities. Step Ahead Step Ahead is a standalone course that takes children in 3rd grade with no prior English knowledge and by 6th grade, transforms them into confident, near-fluent English communicators. Our program has a strategic balance of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Regular lessons are broken into phonics, reading, grammar patterns, conversation, songs, and homework preview Jump Into English, Kids World, Kids Club Our Jump Into English, Kids World, and Kids Club courses are a great way to develop good English habits at younger ages. Jump Into English is for 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds and is a cost-effective alternative to English preschool. Kids Club and Kids World are for students in 1st and 2nd grades and are full of singing, dancing, games, and fun activities to help young children learn English more easily. Theme-based and Honors Courses We have theme-based courses to help learners prepare for specific areas of the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) and to develop the performance skills they will need in some of our exciting activities. When learners graduate from our Tree House and Step Ahead programs, they can continue to excel in English through our Honors programs. One of the advantages of Jump Into English is _ . A. saving money compared to English preschool B. helping learners to get prepared for English tests C. helping young children to learn English easily D. that it covers different language skills Answer: A. saving money compared to English preschool Half a century after the March of Dimes (a US charity organization that collects money for children) put the 20th century's most feared childhood disease on the road to eradication , Bill Gates declared polio his important job and challenged world leaders to finish the job. India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan now have active transmission of the disease. Gates says the biggest problem with the success of the Global Polio Eradication program in those countries and elsewhere is lack of money. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to increase its $200 million annual contribution by $102 million this year, Gates says. Gates recently met privately with Pakistan's President in Washington, D.C., to try to persuade him to provide full support for Pakistan's eradication plan. Children in the USA also are at risk, experts say. Parents who don't vaccinate their children because they are fearful of vaccine side-effects create a large number of children who are likely to be harmed by the virus. "If you increase the number of unvaccinated children, you increase the chance that this virus will find new subjects," says David Oshinsky, Pulitzer Prized-winning author of Polio: An American Story. "We've got to get this vaccine into the mouths of children," says Bruce Aylward, head of the World Health Organization's eradication program. In 1988, when the World Health Organization launched the Global Polio Eradication program, the disease killed 350,000 children a year worldwide. By last year, the total dropped to fewer than 1,500 worldwide, Aylward says. If Gates provides the final push for polio eradication, he may be remembered as much for helping prevent polio as for founding Microsoft, Oshinsky says. "As long as there's polio anywhere, people everywhere are at risk," Aylawrd says. " According to the passage, which of the following about Bill Gates is TRUE? A. He is the founder of the Global polio Eradication program. B. He persuades some of the world leaders to support the eradication plan. C. His foundation contributes $302, 000 to eradicate polio every year. D. He works harder on preventing polio than founding Microsoft. Answer: B. He persuades some of the world leaders to support the eradication plan. Opened in 1971, the Magic Kingdom was the first theme park at Walt Disney World. All Disney World theme parks are open 365 days a year, although opening and closing times for each park are different from day to day. If you are traveling without kids, try to visit it on a school day to avoid the largest crowds. If you need to visit it during a school vacation, try at least to avoid the week between Christmas and New Year's Day and the Fourth of July. If you are not staying at a Disney World hotel, avoid visiting the Magic Kingdom on its Extra Magic Hours days. The hotel guests get into the park early on those days, increasing the waiting time for visitors who arrive at the normal opening time. Buy your Walt Disney World tickets online at Disney World's website. There will be some advice on picking the right ticket. See the guide to Disney World tickets. You will also need to call in advance to make lunch or dinner reservations . Disney accepts reservations, through 1-407-WDW-DINE, up to 180 days in advance. Time does pass quickly, so you should call six months before your trip to get a lunch reservation in the castle. We suggest you should have your lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table for your tour. If you can't get the reservation, ask for the Liberty Tree Tavern instead. Keep in mind that to reach the Magic Kingdom, you must park at Disney World's Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) parking lot, take a tram , and then take a boat across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom. Which of the following is TRUE according to passage? A. Disney World theme parks will be closed on Christmas Day. B. The only way to get Walt Disney World tickets is to buy them online. C. Visitors have to reach the Magic Kingdom by tram and then boat. D. The Magic Kingdom has Extra Magic Hours every day. Answer: C. Visitors have to reach the Magic Kingdom by tram and then boat. Jim was a farmer. He lived in a village far away from the town. One day he was very ill , and everyone thought he would die . But his family wouldn't give up. They decided to sent for a doctor in town . The doctor arrived the village two days later and looked over the man. The doctor wanted a pen and some paper , But there was no pen or paper in the village , because nobody could read or write . The doctor looked around and picked up a piece of burnt wood. Using the wood, he wrote the name of the medicine on the door of the house." Get the medicine for him right away, " he said, "and he will soon get well.' family and friends did not know what to do . They could not read the writing . Then the village baker had an idea . He took off the door of the house and took the door to the nearest town . He bought the medicine, and Jim was saved. After that Jim would not let anyone wash the magic words off the door . The doctor wrote down the name of the medicine with _ on _ . A. a pen; a piece of paper B. a piece of burnt wood; some paper C. a piece of burnt wood; the door of the house D. a pen; a piece of wood Answer: C. a piece of burnt wood; the door of the house
"Reading makes a full man" (Bacon, 1597). Novels written by the writers like Jane Austen, Victor Hugo and Ernest Hemingway help us to know more about our history, culture and many other things. Jane Austen(.) was one of the most well-known women writers of the world. She was born in England in 1775. Jane loved reading and writing. She wrote a number of famous novels in her life. Among them, Pride and Prejudice<<>> written in 1779 was the most popular. Victor Hugo(.), born in 1802 in France, was one of the best writers in the19th century. The talent in writing and hard work brought great success to Hugo at an early age. His most popular novel, theHunchback of Notre-Dame<>, was written in 1831. The book was so successful that it was quickly translated into many other languages across Europe. Ernest Hemingway(.), an outstanding American writer and reporter, was born in 1899. His life experience had a great influence on his writing style. Hemingway lived in France and Italy between the 1920s and 1950s. Most of his books such as The Sun Also Rises were written at that time. He won the Nobel Prize in 1954 mainly because of the novel The Old Man and the Sea. Ernest Hemingway won the Nobel Prize mainly because of _ . Answer: The Old man and the Sea One day when Jack was walking inthe park, he saw a woman he knew sitting on a bench with a dog beside her. The dog was looking up at the woman. Jack walked up to the woman and said, "Hello. Sue, how are you? May I sit and talk with you for a while?" "Of course, please sit down,"Sue said. Jack sat down next to Sue on the bench, and they talked quietly together. The dog continued to look up at Sue, as if waiting to be fed. "That's a nice dog"Jack said, pointing at the animal. "Yes, he's handsome. He's a bit of a mixture but that's not a bad thing. He's strong and healthy" "And hungry," Jack said. "He hasn't taken his eyes off you. He thinks you've got some food for him." "That's true,"Sue said, But I haven't." The two friends laughed and then Jack said, "Does your dog bite?" "No," Sue said. "He's never bitten anyone. He's always gentle and good-tempered ." Hearing this, Jack decided to _ the dog. He put out his hand and touched the animal's head. Immediately it jumped up and bit him. "Hey!" Jack shouted. "You said he didn't bite." "No, I didn't,"Sue replied. "You asked,if my dog bit, and I said no. The dog looked _ . Answer: hungry Wind can be used to Answer: make pasta Being thirteen has certain problems that only another thirteen-year-old would understand. The biggest, I think, is learning to get along well with adults. I have found that when dealing with grown-ups, it is wise to remember two things: Always use your head. Never use your head. For instance, one day just before supper, my mother sent me to the store for a loaf of whole-wheat bread. They didn't have any. When I told my mother, she said, "Well, what kind did you get?" I told her I didn't get any. She looked as if I had just announced that I was leaving home for good. "For goodness' sake!" Said, "if they didn't have whole-wheat, you should have got something else! Why don't you use your head?" Not long after that, she sent me to the store for red oilcloth. They didn't have any, so I bought seven yards of purple. I thought it was pretty. Mother didn't. She said, "who ever heard of purple oilcloth in a red kitchen?" I told her I was only trying to use my head. She said, "Well, don't! And in the future, if you can't get what I send you for, don't get anything." See what I mean? There are other things that seem a little strange, too. If my father goes out for the evening, he tells me to "look after" my mother and sister. But if the family goes out, and I want to stay home, my father won't let me. He doesn't feel comfortable if I am home alone. That means I am old enough to "look after" my mother and sister but not old enough to "look after" myself. Another problem is what to do when you trip over the cat and land with your head in the refrigerator, causing a large lump to appear just over the right eyebrow. In that case, your father could feel free to say with a few choice words. Your sister could shed enough tears to dampen the whole room. Your mother could, and probably would, do both. But you? You are thirteen and can't do anything! You are too young to curse , and "big boys" don't cry. So you just stand there looking more stupid than usual. But in spite of all this, I still think thirteen is a wonderful age! The author thinks that his father should allow him to _ . Answer: stay at home alone Welcome you aboard the Finnair Flight and we will do our best to make your trip comfortable and enjoyable. For your safety and convenience To begin the trip,we would like to draw your attention to some safety-related details.These are also explained on the instruction card in the seat pocket in front of you.Seat belts must remain while the"Fasten seatbelts"sign is on.It is advisable to keep them fastened at all times while seated.All flights are no smoking.The use of mobile telephones is now allowed when the airplane is on the ground and the"Fasten seatbelts"sign is turned off.During the flight the use of CD and DVD players is now allowed. For your entertainment To help you enjoy your trip,we provide a range of newspapers on international flights.On our MD-11 and Boeing aircraft,we are also pleased to provide music and video programmes.On Airbus A321/320/319,aircraft route maps and short videos are shown.Details of entertainment programmes available on MD-11 aircraft are shown on the separate"on the Air"brochure located in your seat pocket. For your children Special reading material is provided for children and on longer flights there are also audio and video programs for them.On long-distance flights,first-time flyers between the ages of 2 and 15 can join our Finnair Junior Plus Club. Meals and drinks During most flights we serve you a tasty meal with drinks to accompany it, Beer,wine and other drinks are served free of charge.Coffee,tea and juice are served free of charge on all domestic flights of over 35 minutes.On domestic flights leaving before nine and on all flights to northern Finland,a snack is served. We value your opinion In this magazine you'11 find a special form for your comments about our service.Kindly return the form to our crew or Finnair office.It will be forwarded directly to the appropriate department.You can also fax it(+358-(0)89819-7729)or send your comments by email to _ .Our crew is pleased to answer your questions during the flight whenever possible. Who can join the Finnair Junior Plus Club? Answer: The children between the age of 2 and 15 who take planes for the first time.
Ever since Canadian psychiatrist Michael R. Phillips, who works in China, released his report saying China's suicide rate from 1995 to 1999 reached 0.023 percent, the country has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world. But Jing Jun, a professor of sociology in Tsinghua University, challenges that view and presents the true picture through his nationwide research. Jing and his students took one year to set up the first national database on suicide rate to grasp the overall trend of suicides in China. They collected data from the Health Statistics Annuals of the World Health Organization (sample size 10 million), and the country's Health Statistics Annuals (which cover 100 million people). The database covers 23 years, from 1987 to 2009. Jing calculates the suicide rate in China based on these data. Though the suicide rate was comparatively high in the early years, his study shows it has dropped in recent years, as opposed to the ascending trend in the rest of the world. According to Jing's calculation, China's suicide rate had dropped to about 0.01 percent in 2004. In 2009, the figure dropped further to 0.007 percent, which is rather low compared with the global rate of 0.016 percent. Even if the "missing" suicides were added, China's suicide rate in 2009 would still be below 0.008 percent.[:Zxxk.Com] Jing has found that one of the main reasons why the suicide rate has dropped was the steady and big decline in the number of suicides committed by rural women. In the early years, researchers generally agreed that the suicide rate among Chinese women was higher than among men, which is pretty rare in the rest the world. But the suicide rate among Chinese women, especially in rural areas, has declined remarkably in recent years. In fact, it is almost equal to that of Chinese men. As a sociologist, Jing regards suicide as a social issue, and believes improvement of social policies will reduce the suicide rate even further. More people's lives can be saved if the authorities adjust to social environment for the better, he concludes. From Jing's search, we can see _ . A China has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world B in the rest of the world suicide rate has been rising quickly in the last few years C different from Michael R. Philip's idea, the trend of suicides in China is declining D the suicide rate among Chinese women is lower than that of men Answer: C. different from Michael R. Philip's idea, the trend of suicides in China is declining "Tom? Are you in bed yet?" called Mrs White. There was no answer. Mrs White put down her book and went to her 14-year-old son's room. Tom was sitting in front of a bright computer screen on which a colourful dragon jumped and shouted. "Oh, Tom! You're still playing on that computer. You must stop now. It's half past eleven. If you don't go to bed soon, you'll be very tired tomorrow," said Mrs White. "But I've nearly beaten the dragon," said Tom. Mrs White could see the excitement on her son's face. She sat down beside him. "You are always playing on that computer. You spend more time with this machine than with your family," she said with a smile. "What's special about it? Show me what it can do!" "I think this is a great computer, Mum!" he said happily. "The hardware is good. There's so much memory and it has some wonderful software programs. This game, 'Dragon Player', is my favourite, but I sometimes borrow games from Daniel and other friends. I don't have to worry about any infected disks because I have a virus detector which can go over any disk and check it for viruses. Let me show you!" Tom began tapping. The screen changed in answer to his orders. "Oh, Tom," laughed Mrs White. "I'm sure it's a wonderful computer, but I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." What do we know about Mrs White? A She loves her son too much. B She loves computer games too. C She is very hard on his son. D She is as wonderful as the computer game. Answer: A. She loves her son too much. Each week, this program explains the many meanings of English expressions. Today's expressions include a very important word--"heart". We will try to "get to the heart of the matter" to better understand the most important thing about words and their stories. So "take heart." Have no fear about learning new expressions. Besides, popular English words can be fun. There is no need for a "heavy heart." Such feelings of sadness would only "break my heart," or make me feel unhappy and hopeless. Now, let us suppose you and I were speaking freely about something private. We would be having a "heart to heart" discussion. I might speak from "the bottom of my heart, " or say things honestly and truthfully. I might even "open up my heart" to you and tell you a secret. I would speak with "all my heart". When a person shares her feelings freely and openly like this, you might say she "wears her heart on her sleeve". Her emotions are not protected. If we had an honest discussion, both of us would know that the other person's "heart is in the right place." For example, I would know that you are a "kind-hearted" and well-meaning person. And, if you are a very good person, I would even say that you have "a heart of gold." However, you might have a "change of heart" based on what I tell you. Our discussion might cause you to change the way you feel about something. But, let us suppose you get angry over what I tell you. Or worse, you feel no sympathy or understanding for me or my situation. If this happens, I might think that you have a "heart of stone." And, if you say something to make me frightened or worried, my "heart might stand still". Which of the following may serve as the best title of the passage? A A change of heart B Open up the heart of "heart" C Never let your heart stand still D Wear your heart on your sleeve Answer: B. Open up the heart of "heart" 66-year-old Dai once worked as a boat tracker along the Yangtze River. "It was something that required brute strength,but not that alone, "Dai said at his home in Xialong village, which sits at the entrance to Wuxia Gorge, one of the famous Three Gorges in Southwest China. "You needed a lot of skills to do what we did." When outboard motors became available in the 1980's,boat trackers became a thing of the past. Today, they are seen only occasionally along the river during festivals and cultural events. However, Dai can still remember a time when being pulled by tracker along the Yangtze was the only way for people to travel from village to village in the mountainous Wushan county. Due to the area's rich mining resources,his services were vital for companies that wanted to ship their goods. "I was 15 or 16 when I started", said the retiree,explaining that his father also worked as a tracker. "He died in 1964, when I was a teenager. I can't even remember us tracking together, but we did. It was so long ago." Dai said that boats crews worked in teams with a first, second and third master. The first master was the most essential because he sat in the boat and steered it along the safest route. "It was a key role. He had to guide the boat past jagged rocks and whirlpools," he said, adding that first masters were often the most experienced boatmen and the most familiar with the Yangtzer River. "My tracker days were dangerous," Dai said. "If the boat got caught in a whirlpool, it could have swallowed the boat and all the trackers down with it. The same thing would have happened if the halter broke." Dai's days as a tracker finally came to an end when his family invested in a motorboat in the early 1980s. He successfully applied for a license from Wushan shortly after. What does the passage mainly tell about? A Dai's miserable life in the old society. B Dai and his father. C Dai's past life as a tracker. D Dai's happy life. Answer: C. Dai's past life as a tracker. To learn an instrument such as the violin or accordion takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music teaching they can afford? The secret lies in the influence of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person's IQ over time. Different instruments and different trypes of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family coming out on top, potentially increasing you IQ by up to 12 points! When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional to the amount of practicing. Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shinichi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be "unmusical". Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners. Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get-togethers) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general. So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone or take your first real six-string down from the attic ; get out there and play! By writing the text, the author mainly wants to _ . A persuade us to send our children to music schools B express his great interest in musical instruments C tell us the importance of Music in Development D invite us to attend Ceilidhs Answer: C. tell us the importance of Music in Development
A good deal of fascinating research has been done about the reading patterns of young people,and it is surprising to discover at what an early age children start expressing preferences for particular kind of books. A recent report,which examined in detail the reading habits of primary-school children.showed that even seven-year-old boys and girls have clear views about what they want to read. Girls,in general,read more,and far more girls than boys preferred reading stories. Boys were showing a taste for the more instant appeal of picture stories,or else books about their hobbies. These tastes continue unchanged until the children are teenagers. Apparently girls read more in general,but more fiction in particular .You could say that there are more opportunities for girls to read fiction:magazines encourage the fiction habit in girls in their early teens,and by their late teens they have probably moved on to the adult women's magazines.Teenage boys tend to buy magazines about their hobbies:motorcycles,heavy transport and to on. Adult reading tastes are also the subject of research.Again the number of women who read for pleasure is considerably higher than the number of men. It seems that the majority of women still want love stories.There has also been some analysis of what men actually read Apparently only 38 percent of men read anything,but 50 percent of what they read is fiction in the form of action-packed stories of space or gunmen What has the recent research into children's reading show? Answer: Children form their reading tastes by the time they are seven Tom gets up at half past seven in the morning. He has an egg and some milk for his breakfast. Then he begins to go to school slowly. When he is on his way to school, he thinks, "I tell my teacher my mother is ill on Monday morning. I tell him my bike is wrong on Tuesday. What do I tell my teacher today?" Tom thinks over but he doesn't find a good idea before he gets to school."May I come in?" Tom shouts at the door of the classroom. " Oh, my boy," says Mr Green. " Please look at the clock on the wall. What time is it now?" " It's ten past eight," answers Tom. Mr Green is not happy. " You are late for class three times this week. If all the students are like you, the clock is no use, I think." " You are right, Mr Green," says Tom. " If we don't have the clock, how do you know I am late for class?" What does Tom tell the teacher on Tuesday? Answer: His bike is wrong. On April twenty-second, some American children stayed out of school but they were not punished. They were with their parents. As Faith Lapidus tells us, it was Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. The Ms. Foundation for Women started the program seventeen years ago, in 1993. At first it was just called Take Our Daughters to Work. Gloria Steinem and other foundation leaders pointed to studies showing that self-image suffers as girls become teenagers. They can lose trust in their abilities and intelligence, especially in areas like science, math and technology. So the Ms. Foundation planned a day for parents in New York City to show girls all the possibilities for them in the professional world. But there was so much interest, the organizers decided to make it national. At first, girls mostly followed their mom or dad around at work to learn about their jobs. Later, employers and schools began to offer organized activities. But from the beginning there were protests from parents and others about the exception of boys. So in 2003 the day was renamed Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work. 2007 was the last year that the Ms. Foundation for Women headed the program. Now, the event is run by a twelve-person group called the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation. The event is connected with Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls. Carolyn McKecuen is president of the foundation. She says a total of about thirty-three million children and adults are involved in the program. About one-third of the adults work at large companies or nonprofit organizations. Another third are in small businesses. The rest work in education. Carolyn McKecuen says the numbers from this year's event are not final yet. But early reports suggest that participation was up at least ten percent from last year. And she says the foundation is hoping to find support to expand the program internationally. She says there are lots of requests from other countries for information about how to set up similar programs. How many years did the Ms. Foundation for Women head the program? Answer: 14 A seismograph is a kind of tool for measuring the size of Answer: home planet tremors Education is another area where the presence of arts and crafts is more than welcome. If children realize the importance of art and creativity from a young age, they can grow up to be more confident, more creative, and definitely more mature. Schools are the breeding grounds for future painters and movie makers, and these arts should be encouraged wholesomely in such an environment. Sadly, many parents do not understand why art is important for children, and subconsciously force them to follow career paths that are common and conformist in nature. This is fair enough in its own way, because the world does need some standard blue collar and white collar jobs to continue its existence; but this is a choice that children should be allowed to make for themselves. The doors to creativity and expression must not be shut in their faces, even if it comes at a cost of making more money. To put it more scientifically, here are some benefits of kids' art activities that give a suitable answer to the question "Why is art important in schools?" 1.Exposure to art, music and drawings at an early age improves the amount of brain activity in children. 2.It increases the span of knowledge in the minds of children, thus making them sharper and more educated. 3.It builds up the levels of self-confidence, self-esteem , motivation, cooperation and communication in children. 4.It helps children understand other people's opinions and points of view as well. 5.It helps them sharpen their problem-solving skills, decision-making and gives them the possibility of really exploring their imaginations. What can be inferred from the passage? Answer: Art is not paid enough attention to in schools now.
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 If you lose an old video player, the insurance company will_. A pay you up to$300 in insurance B pay you nothing for it is old C replace it with a new one D replace it with a used one Answer: C. replace it with a new one The use of the word imitation reminds me that we ought to make some more comments on the risk of people imitating what they see on the screen in the way of crime or violence. First there was always a risk of children acting out scenes which could be dangerous. For example, I remember a woman who was head of a middle school telling me that she had happened to look out of her window when the children were on the playground and had seen them putting a small boy on a chair with a rope round his neck and the rope over the branch of a tree; fortunately she was in time to get there before the child was hanged. I remember a film in particular in which the hero who was imprisoned had escaped by electrocuting his guard, the technique of doing this being shown in detail. This was the kind of scene which we could cut for these reasons. In films for young people and adults we always tried to keep off the screen the details of criminal techniques, such as how to open a locked door with a piece of hard plastic or how to open a safe; if we were consulted before production, I used to advise that the details should not be shown. When I gave talks in prisons about film checking I had full support for this, since fathers who were in prison for criminal offences did not want their children to get on crime. Every time I gave a talk in a prison someone used to mention the French film Rififi. made by Jules Dassin in 1954. This remarkable film showed in great detail a robbery of a jeweler's shop, the robbery lasting about half an hour and being backed by only natural sound...one of the most brilliant film sequences of all time. I remember our discussion at the time. We thought that the robbery was finished only with the use of advanced and obviously expensive equipment and that only the most experienced and skilled criminals could possibly imitate it; we believed therefore that it was ly safe. When talking in prisons some years later I learned that there had been several robberies in which the techniques had been copied, so perhaps we were wrong. All the following statements about "Rififi" are true EXCEPT _ . A that the robbery shown needs experience and skills B that some very good tools were used in the robbery C that the film showed the technique in detail D that the technique of the robbery was not imitated Answer: D. that the technique of the robbery was not imitated Pumpkins are not only the most important symbol of Halloween; they are the star vegetable in decoration and cooking uses. Often, we pay no attention to how many different ways it can be used. The pumpkin is a wonder vegetable. It includes vitamins A, C, E, fiber, minerals and so on. It is also low in salt. When buying your pumpkins, always get them from your local farmers to support their business and the environment, also you can make sure that they are freshly grown. If you are feeling interested, you can grow your own pumpkins! When carving your jack-o'-lanterns, don't throw away the seeds! They are delicious when they are fried, which is healthy for you. When your jack-o'-lantern is useless, don't throw it away at once. Instead, put it in a certain place and let nature do all the work. Be sure to remove the candle inside, and cut the pumpkin into pieces. Those remaining parts will help your soil. Make a pie--a great way to bring family and friends together. If you are feeling even more interested, try cooking something new with the pumpkins and see what wonderful delicious dishes you can produce in your very own kitchen. And don't think of the pumpkin just around Halloween--it's great all year round. The writer suggests you buy pumpkins locally because _ . A the local farmers are very friendly B you will be offered services without asking for money C it benefits both the farmers and the environment D they are usually sold at prices that are much lower Answer: C. it benefits both the farmers and the environment In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people. I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth depended on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs . The development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten. However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the common players, they are strongly against competition. Most of them are young people who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these youngsters, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to find failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: " I may have lost, but it doesn't matter because I really didn't try." What is not usually accepted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self-worth depends on how well one performs in the competition. Both are afraid of not being valued. We can discover a new meaning in competition only as this kind of fear begins to disappear. What does this passage mainly talk about? A Competition helps to set up self-respect. B Opinions about competition are different among people. C Competition is harmful to personal quality development. D Failures are necessary experience in competition. Answer: B. Opinions about competition are different among people. Many people like to travel by plane because it is fast, but I don't like it because an airport is usually far from the city. You have to get there early and wait for hours for the plane to take off and it is often late. You can't open the windows. You can't choose the food. Planes are fast, but they still take hours to get out of the airport and into the city. I like traveling by train . I think trains are safe. Railway stations are usually in cities. When you are late for a train, you can catch another one. You can walk around in the train and open the windows. You can see many interesting things on your way. I know it takes a little more time. I also like cars. You can start your journey when you want to , and you don't need to get to a railway station or a bus stop. Also you can carry many things with you in a car. But sometimes there are too many cars on the road. ,. (5) Why do many people like to travel by plane ? A Because it is safe. B Because it is fast . C Because you can walk around in the plane. D Because it is cheap. Answer: B. Because it is fast .
Question: Introduction Blenheim Palace is one of the Europe's largest and greatest palaces. It was built between 1705 and 1722 as a reward of the British government to John Churchill, 1stDuke of Marlborough, for defeating King Louis XIV's army at Blenheim, a small Bavarian village on the Danube River. The palace was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, which displayed strength and arm glory. It is the largest non-royal building in England and is now listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Winston Churchill In 1874, the palace was the birthplace of the duke's most famous _ . Winston Churchill, who was to become the UK's Prime Minister (some would say Britain's greatest 20th-century politician ) and Nobel prize winner for literature. It is also in Blenheim that Winston got married to Clementine Hozier in 1908. A lasting exhibition is devoted to the man's life, work and writings. Winston and his wife are buried in Bladon Church within the palace. Opening Hours & Admission Blenheim is still the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and is therefore not open all year round (although the park is). The palace opens its doors to visitors from 12 February to 11 December. Entry to the palace, park and gardens cost PS11.50 during the low season and PS13 during the peak season (Easter weekend and from 28 May to 11 September), or PS6/PS8 for the park and gardens only. The park is open all-year round from 9am to 4:45pm (last entry). Admission is PS2.50 for adults and PS1.50 for children. Note that numerous discounts exist for seniors, students, children and groups. Please refer to the official website for more details. What can be learned, about Blenheim Palace? A. It is the Europe's largest and greatest palaces. B. It is the largest royal building in England. C. It is now one of the world's heritage sites. D. It was built in honor of Prime Minister Winston Churchill Answer: C. It is now one of the world's heritage sites. Question: Zuhur Yasin has never been to the US, but she holds a bachelor's degree from an American university. Part of Yasin's studies in Somaliland were spent in a special classroom, lined with rows of computers equipped with webcams and microphones. The 29-year-old watched videos and took part in live virtual classes at Indiana University as part of her journalism programme at the University of Hargeisa."We had discussions and shared any challenges or questions," she says. The African Virtual University(AVU), an intergovernmental organization, connected Yasin with Indiana University. The AVU says it has used virtual learning to train 43, 000 students since its creation in 1997. Professors use programmes and apps including Skype and WhatsApp to communicate with students, but classes are taught using special software. The AVU is considering plans to make lectures accessible on mobile phones. Like Yasin, many students in sub-Saharan Africa are looking for opportunities to attend university. In 2008, the region had the lowest university attendance in the world, with just 6% of secondary school-leavers advancing to higher education, according to the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In May, the African Union(AU) opened the e-Learning Africa Conference on ICT for development, education and training at its headquarters in Addis Ababa. Rebecca Stromeyer, the founder of e-Learning Africa, says, "Now it is the time when technology can really help to protect the progress many African countries have made in education. If the right decisions are made now, they will help to achieve long-term economic growth." Experts say online learning tools can connect African students to massive open online courses (Mooc,) such as Coursera, an education platform that provides free virtual education from some of the world's top universities. How did Yasin obtain a bachelor's degree from an American University? A. By teaching herself at home. B. By employing a famous coach from America. C. By virtual learning provided by the AVU. D. By her further education at the University of Hargeisa. Answer: C. By virtual learning provided by the AVU. Question: World Expo 2010 will be held in Shanghai. It will last from May 1st to October 31st, 2010. The Expo site covers a total area of 5.28 km2. It spans both sides of the Huangpu River, with 3.93 km2in Pudong and 1.35 km2in Puxi. There are five functional zones marked A, B, C, D and E. Each of them has different functions. Zone A will host the national pavilions of Asian countries except southeast Asian ones. Zone B will be home to the China Pavilion and Oceania countries, Pavilions for International Organizations, Theme Pavilions , Expo Centre, and Performance Centre etc. Zone C will host the national pavilions of European, American and African countries. A large public amusement park will be built at the entrance of this zone. Zone D is home to Corporate Pavilions , the land is one of the original places of modern China's national industry. So some of the old industrial buildings will be kept and renovated into Expo pavilions. Zone E will host stand-alone Corporate Pavilions, Urban Civilization Pavilion , and Urban Best Practices Area. They will build _ at the entrance of Zone C. A. a large museum B. a large public amusement park C. a theme pavilions D. a large garden Answer: B. a large public amusement park Question: All the cities are quite the same. Living in a modern Australian city is not very different from living in an American city. But there are some differences on farms. In many parts of the world, farmers and their families live in villages or towns. In the United States, each farm family lives in its own fields. Usually their neighbours live far away. It's hard for them to see each other on weekdays. Their children take school buses to the nearest schools. These schools are only for the farm families in this area. In some areas, there are small schools for a few farm families, and the children walk to schools. Life keeps changing for everyone, so do farmers. Today there are cars, good roads, radios, television sets and there are modern machines for farming. All of these are changing farm life. What about the farmers' life now? A. Their life is poor. B. Their life is changing. C. They don't like their life. D. Their life is boring. Answer: B. Their life is changing. Question: Inspired by a 9-year-old cyclist who uses only part of one hand, a group of University of Guelph students has won an international award for their invention--a bike brake lever . It pulls both the front brake and the back brake at the same time. Lauren Turner was able to ride her bike, but not as confidently and quickly as her friends. "She couldn't use the front brake. She was only using the back brake, but the front brake makes you stop twice as fast," says Micha Wallace, who with Katie Bell, Anina Sakaguchi and Andrew Morris won second prize in the James Dyson Awards for their single-handed bike braking lever. "She used it all last summer and she had no problems. She said it helped her go faster because she felt more confident in her braking abilities. She felt safer." says Wallace. The invention was the fourth-year design project for the four students. They designed, tested and created a prototype within a four-month period. When Wallace heard about the James Dyson Awards on the news, she and her co-inventors entered their project in the UK-based contest. The contest mainly rewards student designers who create products that improve the way we live. The Guelph students collected the second prize -PS2,000 for them, plus PS500 for their school. As well, they had a chance to meet James Dyson, a UK inventor. While praising the students for their creativity, Dyson said the single-handed lever could improve safety for all cyclists. "By using both brakes at once," he explains, "you could prevent the possibility of flying over the handlebars and ending up with an injury." The students are hoping to sell the patent to a major company. It may be used in other devices that require two hands for operation. From the passage, we could infer that the brake lever_. A. has already been widely used B. also improves the bike's speed C. is only useful for disabled cyclists D. will have a wide market in the future Answer: D. will have a wide market in the future
Spending just a few hours a week online may make people feel more socially isolated , lonely and downhearted , according to a two-year study of nearly 100 families with the Internet. "We were surprised to find that social technology has such bad effects on social communications," the lead author, Dr. Robert Kraut of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said in a statement to the news. The findings suggest that "Rather than encourage students to use the Internet alone for research, teachers might give pupils online group homework to complete with classmates. Local groups might build websites that allow neighbors to discuss local affairs ." "Before the technology develops and can be really more _ , people shouldcontrol their wishes to use much of the Internet," Dr. Kraut and other experts advise. In order to control their children and encourage family activities, parents might think of putting the computer in the living room rather than in a child's room, they suggest. Dr. Kraut also suggests that when surfing on the net, especially when chatting with strangers on the net, children should not use their real names, and that they should not tell the addresses, telephone numbers to the strangers. This study was made by . Dr. Kraut and other experts Which system of the human body provides protection to most of the major organs? skeletal system John Brown, an office worker, lives in Washington. He inherited $1 000 000 when he was 23. He didn't feel happy at all. His college friends were looking for their first jobs, but he didn't tell any of his friends and gave $ 1 000 000 of his money to a charity that helped poor children to live better lives. Today he is 36, he still wears cheap shoes and clothes and owns a small car only, but he is much happier. Up to now, John has helped 15 children from poor countries all over the world, $200 a month for each. The money is used to afford the child's education, food, medical care and clothing. John receives a report each year on the child's progress. They can write to each other, but usually the children do not speak English. Once John went to meet a little girl in Africa. He said that the meeting was very exciting. "When I met her, I felt very happy." he said. "I saw that the money was used for a very good plan. It brought me closer to the child. I will do everything I can to help those children in need." he added. ,A, B, C, D,. John Brown is a _ man. kind One day, John Randolph rode on his horse to a town many miles from his home. The road was strange to him, so he traveled very slowly. When the night fell, he stopped at a nice roadside inn for accommodation .The innkeeper welcomed him. A fine supper was prepared. The innkeeper talked about the weather, the roads, the crops. However, his guest ate silently. Next morning after breakfast, Mr. Randolph paid his bill and was ready for his journey. Leading his horse to the door, the innkeeper said, "Which way will you travel, sir?" Mr. Randolph looked at him and answered, "I've paid you my bill. Should I pay you anything more? I travel the way I wish to go." But not far from the inn, to his surprise, there were two ways. He searched for a while but there was no sign to help him. The innkeeper was still standing by the door. He called to him: "My friend, which road leads to Lynchburg?" The innkeeper answered, "Sir, you have paid your bill and don't owe me a cent. Travel the way you wish to go. Good-bye!" As bad luck would have it, Mr. Randolph took the wrong road. Though out of his way, he lost much time, all because of his rudeness. John Randolph traveled slowly because the road was strange "Dear Grandpa Guo, we are losing our childhoods! Please help us!" Guo Chuanjie, a famous scientist, received a letter from a Beijing primary school student. The student said that many Chinese kids have to take extra classes on weekends in order to enter key middle schools. The kid hoped more people would hear his voice with Guo's help. Guo is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, ). Last month the CPPCC members met in Beijing. They are from all walks of life - scientists, businesspeople, doctors, artists and athletes. They give proposals on the country's important issues to make our country better. For the Beijing student's letter, Guo read it in front of Yuan Guiren, China's Minister of Education , during a CPPCC meeting. According to Xinhua, there were 5,762 proposals in all. Many of the proposals were about problems like housing prices, heavy traffic and food safety, which were related to people's daily lives. Some proposals were about teenagers. For example, singer Han Hong suggested that the government should deal with people who traffic children. As usual, proposals will be given to relative departments after the meetings. For example, Guo's proposal was handed to the Ministry of Education. The departments will consider the proposals carefully and see if they can be carried out in the future. Many of the proposals were about problems except _ according to the passage. scientific research
Doctors in hospital emergency rooms often see accidental poisonings . A frightened parent arrives with a child who swallowed a cleaning liquid. Or perhaps the harmful substance is a medicine. Or it might be a chemical product meant to kill insects. These are common causes of accidental poisoning. In cases like this, look for medical help as soon as possible. Save the container of whatever caused the poisoning. And look on the container for information about anything that stops the effects of the poison. Save anything expelled from the mouth of the victim. That way, doctors can examine it. In the past, some people forced poisoning victims to empty the stomach. They used a liquid syrup of ipecac to do this. But an organization of children's doctors no longer advises parents to keep syrup of ipecac. The American Academy of Pediatrics says some poisons can cause additional damage when they come back up the throat. Millions of people know a way to save a person who is choking on something trapped in the throat. The method is commonly known as the Heimlich Maneuver or abdominal thrusts. The American Red Cross says a rescuer should first hit the person on the back five times between the shoulder bones. These back blows may ease the choking. If the airway is still blocked, the Red Cross suggests pushing hard five times along the victim's abdomen. The abdomen is the area between the chest and the hip bones. What would be the best title for the text? A Learning the basics of first aid B Accidental poisonings C Common causes of accidental poisoning D Poisonings and first aid Answer: A Well-known lines by Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu describe a sad scene in early April: "The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day. So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.(,)". In China, Qingming Day, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls every April. People visit their ancestors' graves to clean away the dirt. Schools sometimes organize a trip to a local martyr's park where students show their respect for those who lost their lives in revolutionary wars. In most Western countries there is no equivalent of tomb-sweeping day, but people still value the opportunity to remember loved ones. On the anniversary of a death, s visit the cemetery. Often they will leave flowers. In the US, the last Monday of May is Memorial Day. It is a holiday to show respect for those who died defending the country. The most common way to recognize the day is to wear a small piece of yellow ribbon on the chest. People also fly their own American flags. Sometimes they put a small flag on their car, tied to the antenna .Flags are also flown in yards. In the morning, all flags should be flown at half-mast in honor of fallen soldiers. In Britain, people wear red paper replica poppies in November in remembrance of those who died or were injured in all fighting, but most particularly in World War I. Why the poppy? It goes back to a poem written by John McCrae in 1915. He saw the fragile flowers growing on the graves of soldiers. McCrae wrote: "In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row." The poppies make people think of fields of blood. The flowers also live only briefly, like the soldiers who fell in the war. What has nothing to do with Memorial Day in the US? A People don't go to work. B In the morning, all flags should be flown at half-mast in honor of fallen soldiers. C People fly their own American flags; sometimes they put a small flag on the car, tied to the antenna. D People wear a small piece of yellow ribbon on the chest. Answer: A Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career ? It means a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10,000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma . Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today's growing fields-without having to go to college full time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time-so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking &Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering, and more! Your training includes everything you need! Books, lessons, learning aids-even professional-quality tools and equipment-everything you need to master your training and more ahead to a new career is included in the low tuition price you pay. Your education is nationally recognized! Nearly 2, 000 American companies-including General Electric, IBM, Mobile, General Motors, Ford, and many others-have used our training for their employees. If companies like these recognize the value of our training, you can be sure that employees in your area will, too! Earn your degree in as little as two years! Get a career diploma in just six months! The career of your dreams is closer than you think! Even if you have no experience before, you can get valuable job skills in today's hottest fields! Step-by-step lessons make learning easy. Prepare for promotions , pay raises, even start a business of your own! Send today for FREE information about Harcourt at home training! Simply fill in your name and address on the coupon above. Then write in the name and number of the one program you're most interested in, and mail it today. We'll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities in the field you've chosen. Act today! Mail coupon today! Or call the number below 1-800-372-1589. Call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www. Harcourt-learning. com E-mail:Harcourt@learning. com. This advertisement aims at calling on people to _ . A attend full-time universities B work part time to further their education C improve their education at home to get better jobs D earn their degrees in different ways that suit them Answer: C From the time each of my children started school, I packed their lunches. And in each lunch I packed, I left a note. The note might be a thank-you for a special moment, or a few words of encouragement for the coming test or sporting event. When they were little, they loved their notes. And when I went back to teaching, they even put notes in my lunches. As they grew older, my elder son, Marc, told me that he no longer needed my daily notes. Telling him that he no longer needed to read them but I still needed to write them, I continued the tradition until the day he graduated. Six years after high school graduation, Marc called and asked if he could stay at home for a couple of months. He had spent those years well, and he was very successful. He lived far away from home. With his younger sister leaving for college, I was especially looking forward to seeing Marc at home. Since I was still making lunch every day for his younger brother, I packed one for Marc, too. Imagine my surprise when I got a call from my 24-year-old son, complaining about his lunch. "Did I do something wrong? Aren't I still your kid? Don't you love me any more, Mom?" he asked. I laughingly asked him what was wrong. "My note, Mom," he answered. "Where's my note?" This year my younger son will be in high school. He, too, has said that he is too old for notes. But like his elder brother and sister, he will receive those notes till the day he graduates. How many children may the writer have according to the passage? A Two. B Three. C Four. D Five. Answer: B When I was in elementary school, my teachers would always complain about my behavior in class. There was no doubt that I had a great deal of energy, and therefore I was always talking with my classmates and not paying attention to the lessons, which my teacher _ to see. If you don't believe me, the comments on my report cards every year can tell the story. In my third year in elementary school, my teacher wrote, " Neil should tend to have a more serious attitude towards his schoolwork." And in my fifth year in elementary school, my teacher wrote, " Neil is not a bit strict with his work, his compositions as well as his notebook and so on. He has to be encouraged and urged by his parents or teachers." After only a few months, my sixth-grade teacher wrote, " Less social involvement and more academic diligence is in order." Later that same school year, my sixth-grade teacher noticed that all my book reports were about the universe. Knowing that I had a lot of extra energy, she recommended that I should take advanced after-school classes about the universe at the Hayden Planetarium. From then on, my love of the universe became stronger and stronger. Instead of killing my time in class, I focused my extra energy on the subject that would be bound to become my career. Between the ages of eleven and seventeen, I took about eight courses on the universe. For each one, I received an attractive certificate of completion, signed by both the teacher and the head of the Hayden Planetarium. We still offer these classes today. And we still give out certificates of completion, which are signed by the teacher and, of course, the head --- me. I am the head of the Hayden Planetarium. And I am also the head of a associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. Both of them are in New York City. Welcome to take extra classes here. The author's sixth-grade teacher advised the author to _ . A learn something he was interested in B quit his school for the Hayden Planetarium C study hard by burning most of his energy D make up his mind to find his career in the future Answer: A
To many Americans,Labor Day marks the end of the summer,a day off from work and school,and one last chance to relax.But Labor Day is much more than just a day off . It represents a very important victory for laborers everywhere.The holiday is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. More than a century ago workers were forced to deal with harsh conditions.They were paid very little and they often worked 10-to l2-hour days.Men, women and even small children were forced to work even when they were sick.Tired of long hours and dangerous conditions,workers began organizing themselves into labor unions.On top of fighting for higher pay and shorter workdays,they also fought for the rights of children.The workers wanted employers to place limits on the age of their workers so that small children were not overworked or hurt in factories. A New York City carpenter named Peter McGuire is credited for coming up with the idea for Labor Day.In 1872,after working many hours under poor conditions, McGuire _ 100,000 workers to go on strike.The workers marched through the streets of New York City,demanding a better work environment.McGuire spent a decade fighting for workers' rights.In 1882,he proposed the idea to create a special holiday for workers.On Tuesday,September 5,1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade.Two years later the celebration was moved to the first Monday in September.And in 1894,Congress passed a law making Labor Day a national holiday.Americans celebrated the first Labor Day holiday with a parade,picnics and fireworks. Today,many people hit the road to enjoy the last of their summer vacation.Others enjoy the long weekend with picnics,backyard barbecues or just rest and relaxation.However you spend Labor Day,remember that the holiday is a time to pay tribute to the workers who have made America what it is today. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Have you ever gone to work to find that one of your coworkers is coughing and sneezing all day long? You do your best to keep a safe distance and wonder:Why did he or she come to work when they were ill? The reality for many Americans is that they do not have enough paid sick time each year to afford them the luxury of staying home because they don't feel well. This problem doesn't just affect the working employees who are sick,though.In an article by James Warren for Bloomberg Business Week, a second-grade school teacher, Stilli Klikizos shares about the sick children that must stay in school all day long because their parents can't get off work to come and get them.In the past school year, she had several children who were unable to be picked up at school who were later diagnosed with H1N1. There is a movement called the Healthy Families Act in Congress that would change rids situation for many Americans.The Healthy Family Act would require employers with 15 or more employees to provide 7 paid sick days a year for their workers, These days could be used not only for days when the worker is sick, but the time can also be used when caring for others,or going to routine doctor's appointments. Those who are against the Act argue that many businesses are struggling to make ends meet owing to recession ,and point out that this is the wrong time to force employers to add an additional expense. Those who support the Healthy Families Act say that our nation can't afford to not take these measures. When an individual goes to work sick, they are possibly infecting their coworkers,clients and customers. According to a report by Katie Couric on the CBS evening news,three fourths of low wage earners _ when they are on sick leave.Those individuals include daycare workers and restaurant workers,whose health can affect the health of many. According to the Healthy Families Act,_. Answer: What births live young? Answer: Gadgets can be wildly expensive and quickly out-of-date, but Steven Poole is still the first to buy them. Technological innovations are often quite stupid. The idea that you might want to walk down the street holding a mobile phone in front of your face, just to experience the wonders of video calling, is clearly ridiculous. Luckily for the tech companies, however, there are some people who jump at the chance to buy into new gadgets before they are fully ready and cheap enough for the mass-market. They are called early adopters, and their fate is a terrible one. I should know, since I am one myself. Early adopters have a Mecca: it's Tokyo's Akihabara district, also known as "Electric City". There, in 1999, I bought a digital camera, a gizmo that few people in Britain had heard of. Over the next few years I watched in great sadness as digital cameras became more popular, cheaper and more powerful, until better models could be had for a quarter of the price I had paid. Did I feel stupid? What I actually did was this: I splashed out more money last year for a new one, one that let me feel pleasantly ahead of the curve once again. But I know that cannot last, and I'll probably have to buy another in a few years. Thus early adopters are betting on other people eventually feeling the same desires. And it's worse if that future never arrives. Early adopters of the Betamax home-video format in the 1970s could only look on in sadness when their investment was nullified by the success of VHS. All sorts of apparently splendid inventions, such as videogame consoles like the Atari Jaguar have been abandoned to the dustbin of history right after a few early adopters bought in. Those who invested thousands in a Segway motorized scooter on the wave of ridiculous advertising campaigns that accompanied its launch a couple of years ago can join the club. You might think we should just stop being so silly, save our money, and wait to see what really catches on. But the logic of the industry is such that, if everyone did that, no innovation would become popular. Imagine the third person to buy an ordinary telephone soon after Alexander Graham Bell had invented it. Who was he going to call? Maybe he simply bought two phones, one for a special friend. But still, the usefulness and eventual popularity of the device wasn't clear at the time. Nobody dreamed of the possibility of being able to speak to any one of millions of people. And yet if he, and the hundreds and thousands of early adopters after him, had not bought into the idea, the vast communication networks that we all take for granted today would never have been built. The same goes, indeed, for all new technologies. Those guys holding bricks to their ears that we laughed at in the 1980s made the current mobile phone possible. People who bought DVD players when they still cost a fortune, instead of today's cheap one at the local supermarket, made sure that the new format succeeded. Early adopters' desire for desires supported the future financially. And what did they get for their pains? They got a hole in their bank accounts and inferior, unperfected technology. But still, they got it first. And today they are still at work, buying overpriced digital radios, DVD recorders and LCD televisions, and even 3G phones, so that you will be eventually be able to buy better and less expensive ones. So next time you see a gadget-festooned geek and feel tempted to sneer , think for a minute. Without early adopters, there would be no cheap mobile phones or DVD players; there would be no telephone or television either. We are the tragic, unsung foot soldiers of the technology revolution. We're the desire-addicted pioneers, pure in heart, dreaming of a better future. We make expensive mistakes so you don't have to. Really, we are heroes. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: How would a location's climate be determined? Answer:
The Red Panda isn't much bigger than an average size house cat. At first you may think it's a bear because of its name. They're actually a member of the raccoon family which you can tell if you look at their appearance. The Red Panda has a long bushy tail that is useful in two ways. It helps them stay balanced when they are high up in the trees and it keeps them warm in cold weather. Their fur is thick and reddish brown, which may be why they're known as the fire fox. The Red Panda can be found in forested mountains. They're originally from the forested mountain in the Himalayas in India, Nepal and Southern China. Bamboo is the most important part of their diet. They only eat the young leaves and shoots of a bamboo plant. Red Pandas have a very low metabolic rate in order to deal with their low energy diet and cool environmental temperatures. They're very shy and gentle and don't hang around the wild too much during the day. If they feel endangered, they'll stand on their back legs and make a hissing sound. Red Pandas are good climbers and spend most of their time living mainly in trees. Their claws are very strong and help them hold onto the branches. They sleep in an unusual way by curling up tightly and wrapping their tails around their heads while sitting on a branch. Sometimes they'll sleep with their head beneath their chest and behind their back feet. This is the same position as an American raccoon sleeps. What will Red Pandas do when they are in trouble? It is easy to find your way about in New York. It is _ so regularly. Instead of streets winding and twisting as they do in London, they are all regular and well planned. The streets running north and south are called "avenues" and are numbered, e.g. 1stAvenue, 2ndAvenue, etc. The streets going east and west are called "streets" and are also numbered, e.g. 51stStreet, 63rdStreet. It is all much more logical than London's street names. But I couldn't help thinking how much more interesting than these dull cold numbers are London's illogical but colorful names of streets, e.g. "Bishopgate" (which is not a gate and hasn't a Bishop in it); "Haymarket" or "Corn market" (where you won't see any hey or corn) or "Poultry" (without a living chicken anywhere in sight) or "Thread needle Street" (where you won't find little girls learning to sew). According to the writer's opinion, _ . People typically wash their hands seven times a day in the United States, but they do it at a far higher temperature than is necessary to kill germs , a new study says. The energy waste is equivalent to the fuel use of a small country. Amanda R. Carrico, a research assistant professor at the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment in Tennessee, told National Geographic that hand washing is often "a case where people act in ways that they think are in their best interest, but they in fact have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions." Carrico said, "It's certainly true that heat kills bacteria, but if you were going to use hot water to kill them it would have to be way too hot for you to tolerate." Carrico said that after a review of the scientific literature, her team found "no evidence that using hot water that a person could stand would have any benefit in killing bacteria." Even water as cold as 40degF (4.4degC) appeared to reduce bacteria as well as hotter water, if hands were scrubbed, rinsed and dried properly. Using hot water to wash hands is therefore unnecessary, as well as wasteful, Carrico said, particularly when it comes to the environment. According to her research, people use warm or hot water 64 percent of the time when they wash their hands. Using that number, Carrico's team calculated a significant impact on the planet. "Although the choice of water temperature during a single hand wash may appear unimportant, when multiplied by the nearly 800 billion hand washes performed by Americans each year, this practice results in more than 6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually," she said. The researchers published their results in the July 2013 issue of International Journal of Consumer Studies. They recommended washing with water that is at a "comfortable" temperature, which they noted may be warmer in cold months and cooler in hot ones. What can we learn from the passage? Sometimes,you just can't help it.Maybe you're watching a sad movie,or thinking about the friend who moved away.Next thing you know,your eyes are watering,and you have tears running down your cheeks.Why do people cry when they are emotional? What are tears? Scientists are working hard to find the answers to these questions. Ad Vingerhoets is a professor of psychology at Tilburg University,in the Netherlands.He is one of the few scientists in the world who have studied crying.According to Vingerhoets,there are three types of tears.Basal tears are the first type.They lubricate the eyes and act as a protective barrier between the eye and the rest of the World.Next are reflex tears.They wash your eyes clean when something gets in them.Finally,there are emotional tears. "These are released in response to emotional states,"explains Vingerhoets."Especially when we feel helpless." Scientists believe that crying has something to do with how humans developed and learned to depend on each other."Humans are very complex social creatures,"says Lauren Bylsma,a professor at the University of Pittsburgh,in Pennsylvania."It seems that tears serve to arouse help and support from others,''She says."Another reason we weep is that humans have the longest developmental period of almost any animal.It takes a long time to grow up." Vingerhoets agrees."I think that the reason why humans shed tears has something to do with our childhood,"he says."That's the time when we are stir dependent on adults for love and protection and care.The major advantage of emotional tears is that you can target them at a specific person."Vingerhoets says this ability to target someone could have come in hand in prehistoric times,when humans were living among dangerous animals.Crying could attract predators .Tears were a safer way to get attention.In this case,it is better to use a silent signal to ask for help,"he says. Vingerhoets and Bylsma do frequent studies to better understand why humans cry.According to Byhma,there is still much more to discover."It's surprising,"she says,"how much we still don't know." Which of the following is reflex tears? An agricultural scientist, George Washington Carver, is most famous for his research on
Science fact: as the sale of a product decreases , the amount of money made by the person selling that product will decrease. However, sales could possibly grow with If your mother wants to tell you something , she uses words . Birds can not talk as we do . But some birds can make sounds to warn their young of danger . They have their own ways to make the young birds do certain thing . The jackdaw is a kind of blackbirds that lives in Europe . Jackdaws live together in flocks. Yong jackdaws do not know their enemies . When an older jackdaw sees a dog , it makes a loud tattling sound. The young birds know this sound means an enemy is nearby. The sounds warns them to know their enemy . If a young jackdaw is in a dangerous place, a jackdaw parent flies over him from behind .The parent bird flies low over the young birds back, the parents' tail feathers move quickly from side to side, It is trying to say , " Follow me ." At the same time , the parent calls out , " Key-aw ,Key-aw ." The parent means , " Fly home with me ." The young bird then follows the older one home . Young jackdaws do not have to learn what certain sounds mean. They know the meaning of these sounds from the time they hatch (,). Which of the following does this story lead you to believe ? Only if you don't have a fear of heights do you want to visit the CN Tower. And if you can take a trip to the top of it will surely be worth it. The CN tower is Canada's most famous symbol and the centre of tourism in Toronto. Over 550 meters, it is one of the tallest building in the world; on a clear day the view is wonderful. Each year, around 2 million people take the elevator ride to the top of the tower to take in the breath-taking view at the top of the world. Once you are at the top, see if you have the courage to walk across the see-through glass floor . If you are hungry, plan to eat at the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower. The floor in the 360-degree restaurant rotates once every 72 minutes allowing everyone a complete view of the city below. The CN tower has broken record many times, winning such titles as World's Longest Metal staircase ,World's Tallest building and , most recently , World's Highest Wine Cellar. In 1995, the CN tower was considered as one of the seven wonders of the Modern World. Today, the top of the tower, more than 333m in the air, serves as the year-round workplace for more than 550 people. The tower's workers help to make the world-class attractions and food there. While at the CN tower, you'll also have the chance to visit gift shops. You will find the CN Tower in the heart of downtown, on Front Street. On the north shore of Lake Ontario, the CN Tower is open 364 days a year(closed on Christmas Day). Which of the following number is Not agree with its description? For many kids in Africa, the colorful PlayPump is the first playground thing they have ever seen. When the children give it a push and jump in for their first ride, smiles of wonder appears on their faces. The fun of going round and round in a circle is just part of the wonder. The wonderful invention doesn't only change the kids' play time, but also makes a big difference to the people's lives. As the merry-go-round starts, _ pumps clean water up from deep underground and keeps it in a huge tank . People are welcomed to come and help themselves to get the water for free. They are very happy these days. In the countryside of Africa, very few people could drink clean water. They don't have machines that can get water in their homes. Instead, they often walk a long way to carry water back. Patricia Molope, a fifteen-year-old girl, explains that before her village in South Africa got a PlayPump, people would pay a taxi driver to take them to a well far from their homes. " Sometimes the taxi drivers were so busy that we would have to stop taking showers in order to save water. It was so far to walk there, but at present we have our own clean water in the village, and the life is better, too." The hard job of carrying water usually is done by women and girls. Carrying water for miles and hours each day is such a heavy job that it sometimes prevents girls from being able to go to school. Thanks to the PlayPump, getting water is quicker and easier-----and even boys join in. The pumps have become a new activity. Kids and adults seem to love playing with them while collecting water. A boy named Khumalo, twelve years old, says, " I have seen many kinds of water pumps, but have never seen one that can keep water. When I grow up, I want to be an inventor so I can also invent clever things like the PlayPump that will help my country." So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are being operated in schools and neighborhoods in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about PlayPump? Following some of the tips for green living helps save our planet. All of these involve just a few changes to our daily habits. Just walk and limit the use of your car. One of the poster images of pollution is our vehicles. It burns fuel. It is not as efficient as we hope it could be, and we use it every single day. To lessen the effects of the air pollution caused by our vehicles, we should limit their use. If we can walk to our destination then just let us go. Not only do we lessen our carbon dioxide emissions, but we also get a good exercise out of it. Use a laptop instead of a computer desktop. Laptops are more energy efficient compared to their bigger counterparts. A laptop is generally 50 percent more efficient in using electricity. Aside from that there are other benefits of a laptop. It is portable so you can work anywhere you like and that you get powerful features without the large size of desktop units. Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth. It is always a better idea to use a glass when we are brushing our teeth and not to just let the faucet keep on running. Therefore,there is less water to waste while we are cleaning our pearly whites. Simply turn off the faucet when you are not using it. Make good use of natural light. We have a great and natural lamp --- the sun, and we should learn how to take full advantage of it during daytime. So instead of turning on our lights or lamps even if it is still not evening, we should pull up the drapes and let the natural light come in from the windows. These are just some of the best tips for green living, but of course there are still many of these tips if you just search for them. But you can do your own variation any time just always prioritize how you can use less energy and produce even lesser trash and pollution. How many tips does the passage mention for green living today?
My Favorite Sweater by Bonnie Highswith Taylor My favorite sweater grew too small. I love that sweater best of all. My grandma made it when I was three. She made that sweater just for me. I picked the yarn , a special blue. The color of bluebells, wet with dew . When I was three I was very small. But now I'm five and much too tall. I have a new jacket now that's green. So I gave my sweater to our cat Queen. Queen just had kittens out in the shed . My favorite sweater is now their bed. The girl in this poem is _ years old now. A 3 B 4 C 5 D 6 Answer: C. 5 "How many common English words were invented by Shakespeare?" How long did it take people to find the answer to this question 15 years ago? And now! you can google it and find the answer immediately! Google is the most popular Internet search engine in the world. It was invented by two students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. They met in 1993, when they were studying computer science at Stanford University, USA. They dreamed of producing something that could also answer any question in seconds. Internet search engines at that time were slow and gave many websites that weren't useful. In January 1996, Page and Brin decided to make a better and faster search engine. They thought the results should be based on the most popular websites. Nobody would give them money for their project, so they used their own money. They also borrowed money from family and friends. Then, in 1998, they were given a _ for $100,000, and they started their own company. Their first office was in a friend's garage. The company's name is Google, a word which comes from mathematics. A "google" is a very high number---- 1 followed by a hundred zeros. The google search engine was soon used by thousands of people worldwide because it was fast, easy and correct. By 2002 it was the biggest search engine on the Internet. Now, more questions have been answered by Google than any other Internet service, from sport to science, and from music to medicine. Google hopes that in the future all the world's information will be put on the Internet, so that everybody can find everything. Which statement is NOT true according to the passage? A Now the Google search engine is widely used in the world. B The google search engine was the biggest one after 2002. C Larry Page and Sergey Brin named google after a hundred zeros. D The service of the Google search engine is very popular. Answer: C. Larry Page and Sergey Brin named google after a hundred zeros. Music died here last spring, or rather, it was killed by members of the school committee who ignored the importance of music and drama as part of the high-school curriculum. The committee decided that teaching students how to take a standardized test is more important than a curriculum in which students can explore their interests in the arts as well as academics. Because the school system is running out of funding, it needs to make sure that students pass the mastery test or even more money will be lost. If students fail the state standardized test, it is not the fault of drama and music classes-- they are failing because the " academic" classes are not sufficient. It is painful to think of how many students will be discouraged from singing, acting, and playing instruments because school programs are no longer offered. Many families cannot afford private music lessons, and many potential musicians and artists may not find their calling if they are not exposed to it in school. The fact that the school committee thinks the arts are not worth the investment will certainly make some students believe the arts are not worth their time or support and the cycle will continue. Teaching for a test does not shape students into complete, well rounded people. It blocks the natural sense to create and express feelings through art-- there is more to life than the analytical thinking that math and English provide. What happens after a test? Sure, a student might graduate, but they will have limited knowledge -- certainly not a good preparation for the real world. Music and drama are not included in the high-school curriculum mainly because _ . A the school committee pays no attention to them B the school is afraid of losing financial support C the students are not interested in both of them D the state standardized test is more important. Answer: B. the school is afraid of losing financial support April 20th is an ordinary day in 2013, it is in this day that shocking earthquake happened again in Sichuan province, China. The earthquake was terrible. We can't describe the scene what we saw with any words. Thousands of people were injured even died. And thousands of children became such unlucky ones who lost fathers or mothers. _ longed to have families to continue their lives. I am sympathetic to their fate! But I believed that we can fight against the fate and change it. For example, there are many people keeping living without food or water for about 100 hours during the earthquake! What an unbelievable thing it is! Their great spirits showed the powerful life vitality of humans! However, they must keep fighting against the death. Many schools were destroyed and there were many students and teachers who left us forever. Sadness, hopelessness and different kinds of danger spread out here and there! But, fortunately, love is around us: the Communist Party helps us, the army helps us, the people all over the world help us. They offer us money, goods, love and so on ! With the help of such a large love, we will overcome the damage of the earthquake and face our beautiful future! Many people keeping living without food or water because _ . A they were very strong. B they could fight against the fate and longed to live on. C they were not hurt. D they lost fathers and mothers. Answer: B. they could fight against the fate and longed to live on. On June 11th, 2013, China sent up her tenth spaceship Shenzhou X into space successfully. And three astronauts went together with it. They were Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping. Here is some information about the three astronauts. Nie Haisheng was born in September, 1964. He is from Xiangyang, Hubei. After graduating from high school, he joined the PLA Air Force, and became a fighter pilot. In 1998, he was chosen for the astronaut program. He carried out Shenzhou VI with Fei Junlong in 2005. In 2013, he flew into space for his second time with Shenzhou X. He is the commander of this mission. Zhang Xiaoguang is from Jinzhou, Liaoning Province. He was born in May, 1966. Zhang joined the army in June 1985. In January 1998, Zhang was trained as one of China's first batch of astronauts. Before he was trained as an astronaut, Zhang was a senior pilot. It's reported that Zhang Xiaoguang is very humor and likes playing jokes very much. After Liu Yang, Wang Yaping is the second woman astronaut in China. She was born in 1980 in Yantai, Shangdong. Wang Yaping joined the PLA in 1997. In 2010, Wang became a member of the second batch of Chinese astronauts and was chosen to the crew of the Shenzhou X space mission in April, 2013. Wang is China's first astronaut to give lectures to middle and elementary school students while in space. How many astronauts were there flying in Shenzhou X ? A Two B Three C Four D Five Answer: B. Three
Have you ever woken up feeling that something was wrong? It was a day like that for me. I sat up in bed. A little later I opened the curtains. It was terrible weather--the rain was pouring down. Then I looked down into the yard. Yes! There it was--the motorcycle. It was just as broken as last night. And my leg was starting to hurt. It was a day like that for me.What kind of day did this turn out to be? Answer: Dear Sir, Thirty years ago, I walked into your bakery and asked for some loaves of bread to sell. At that time I was twelve years old. A young lady was working that day. She gave me five loaves and wished me good luck. I took the loaves and went out to sell them. It took me all day, but I sold them all. At the end of the day, I had some money. I was the happiest boy in the world as I walked home that evening. The next day, I went to a bicycle shop. I paid a deposit on a new bicycle. And then I started my next job--as a newspaper deliver boy. Soon I could pay the rest of the money for the bicycle and the bike was mine. I was so proud! Today, I still work in the delivery business. I have a lot of trucks to send goods all over the country. I live in a beautiful house, but I don't ride a bicycle these days. I drive a large and nice car. I do not know who that young lady was. But because she gave me the start, I have become a successful man. I'd like to show my thanks to her. Yours, George Jenkins What did the man do with the money made by selling bread? Answer: "Holding girls back from an education is robbing them of their dignity ," says Mariam, a teacher, in an interview with Action Press. "I feel proud when I tell people that I'm from Swat in Pakistan, with its green and mountainous valley. But I don't feel proud about the number of women and girls where I'm from who are still being unable to enjoy the right for an education. "I have taught many students -- including Malaya, the young education activist who was shot in the head as travelling to school in Pakistan after campaigning for girls' education. Among them I see the dignity that education can offer. This is why I have long been devoted to teaching, and why I am doing what I can to make sure that all girls have the chance to go to school. "At the Khushaal school and college in Mingora, many girls are prevented from going to school because of poverty and fights. However, the most common reasons for girls not attending classes are cultural. People fear that females will become too independent if educated. Instead, parents prefer to marry off girls early. Girls and young women are considered a financial burden if left dependent on their parents." "In the school where I have been teaching for over ten years, I have seen how this discrimination plays out. Parents regard an educated and independent female as being too clever for her own. Even if parents agree to give a girl an education, a limit is set to the number of years for her to attend classes and it is common for girls to make it through only primary school. This is why I have been working tirelessly to change these damaging views and cultural practices. These are crimes against humanity ,which I have no choice but to strongly accuse of." "Malala was right to fight for her education." says Mariam, who will be in New York with UNESCO , delivering a speech calling for world leaders to make sure every child gets a chance to go to school. What will Mariam appeal for in her speech? Answer: Many scientists find that colours can change people's feelings. It's very interesting. Some colours can make people feel relaxed,and some colours can make people feel nervous. Now,this kind of knowledge is being used in many places. For example, school walls are always painted green because green makes students feel relaxed. It is also good for the students' eyes. Some books are also green or light blue for the same reason. Restaurant owners not only have to know how to make food,but also have to know how to make money. Here are some things they've learned from scientific studies. The colour red makes people hungry. Many fast food restaurants have red furniture or walls. Soft colours like pink and light blue make people feel relaxed,so they spend more time eating. Loud music may be nice at first,but it soon makes people want to leave. Hard seats also make customers want to eat quickly and leave. Many restaurants,especially fast food restaurants,use this knowledge to make customers eat faster. How does the colour red make most people feel? Answer: When Julia Rhodes is asked what she does for a living,she says she is a "wind farmer".While her job is operation manager for wind farm owner RES-Gen:Rhodes is responsible for making sure their l4 wind farms in the UK and Ireland are using the power of the wind to produce power for homes and businesses. RES-Gen is a division of leading renewable energy group Renewable Energy Systems(RES),a UK-based company with global operations. RES was one of the pioneers of wind energy technology.It built the UK's second wind farm in l992.Since then:RES has built more than 40 wind farms across four continents. Rhodes graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in manufacturing engineering. Following that,she received a master's degree in renewable energy systems technology specializing in wind energy. Rhodes has worked in the wind sector ever since, providing technical support for two leading wind farm developers before joining RES in 2001. RES's projects are continually monitored by computer and checked remotely on a daily basis.Regular servicing is carried out by contractors ,usually every six months. Rhodes always has a top--level view of how well the wind turbines are operating. Rhodes is a supporter of wind--energy engineering.She also works closely with other departments to keep good relations with the communities around RES's wind farms.The open days and government officials' visits show that wind power is popular and that wind projects-are viewed positively. Renewable energy is a growing sector with attractive career prospects. For Rhodes.as the RES wind farms expand,the team that she manages is expected to increase.She enjoys working for a company with strong engineering roots and a highly respected track record .Her job as a wind farmer is challenging and enjoyable."It's great knowing that you are helping to bring about a clean.environment and are contributing to the global community." What can we know about Julia Rhodes? Answer:

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