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This busy and popular hotel requires a Junior Chef. You will need to be energetic, enthusiastic with a minimum of five years' kitchen experience. You must assist the head and senior chefs in the creation of new dishes. Annual salaries range from 20,000 to 25,000 pounds. Please send or e-mail your CV to the Personnel Administrator Hydo Hotel, Mount Road Eastbourne BN207HZ eclaine.ward@hydrohotel.com. We are looking for a kitchen assistant willing to learn the day-to-day jobs in a professional kitchen environment. You must have a passion for cooking and basic understanding of spoken English. You will mainly be working for a well-known company and learn valuable cheffing skills. The salary will be based on experience but could start from 12,500 pounds to 14,000 pounds annually plus tips. Please forward your CV and a letter of recommendation. 01428644460 Kitchen Manager. Spirit Pub Company is looking for the best individuals to lead our kitchen teams through some very exciting new developments. As an experienced Kitchen Manager, you will play an important role in engaging the chef team by great leaderships to deliver excellent standards and guest satisfaction. We can offer a starting salary of up to 27,000 pounds plus a bonus worth an extra 2,000 pounds per year for the right candidates. If you have what it takes to join our company, please provide your CV with your application. 07044338313 Food Service Assistant, South East Food Service Assistant required. Salary starts from 15,000 pound to 20,000 pounds annually. We are seeking a General Assistant for a Care Home East Sussex. Assisting the Cook and kitchen team in the food preparation of freshly prepared meals, washing up and cleaning of all kitchen areas. Previous experience would be an advantage. 07044338228 If you choose the job as a food service assistant, you will be working for a _ . Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year that starts on April 13 annually. It's also callled the "Water Festival" because people believe that water will wash away bad luck and make people fresh. On the day, we spinklesmall drops of water to bless monks and elders. Their hands are spinkled with perfumed water. In addition, this festival is for rain because it is the hottest season. Nowadays, during the Songkran Festival, people always wet down everybody who walks past their houses or walks down the streets with cups or buckets of water. Everyone gets wet, but it is all in a spirit of friendliness, blessing and fun. People who get wet actually do not get angry because they know that it is traditional. People will go to the temples to batheBuddha imagesand give special food to the monks. People do good things such as fish or birds and other animals releasedfrom their cages. On this day, everywhere in Thailand, people celebrate and enjoy the festival, especiallly in the northern part of Thailand. We can see many foreigners join in the events and enjoyed this festival with Thais. Everybody also enjoys public events such as beauty contests, parades, and marching bands. The Water Festival gives us freshness, happiness and fun because the weather is very hot. I hope everyone will travel to Thailand and enjoy this festival. People sprinkle water during the Songkran Festival, because they _ . My family moved around a lot when I was growing up.In 2nd grade,I lived here in Washington D.C,where I made an amazing group of friends.I was upset when my parents told me we were moving again and I would have to leave all my best friends behind. In 7th grade.we moved back to Washington D.C.And I could not have been more excited and I felt like I was finally home again.But things had changed.There were two new girls,who decided that they didn't like me,which meant no one else could,not even all my former best friends. And then one day during school,I opened my locker,only to find a note lying on the floor.The note said:Die.Nobody likes you. My heart started beating faster and I felt the blood rushing to my face.I had no idea what to do.The note wasn't signed and I had no idea who had written it,but I figured the new girls were behind it.I had to sit in class all day with my head down,wondering who else knew about this shame.I felt horrible and sure that nothing would ever be good again. I decided that the perfect way to end all of this was with another note,left on the bathroom mirror at school. It's sad for someone to bully other classmates to make themselves feel better or look cool.Bullying others is a way to impress others.It's common,but that doesn't mean it's okay.Looking cool is not worth making others feel bad.Obviously I'm very happy now,but it doesn't mean I'11 ever forget about that note or how it made me feel.And to those of you that are current victims of bullying--know that you are NOT alone.It will get better.I promise. Why was the author unhappy when she left Washington D.C.? A metal rod is sitting outside and soaks up a lot of energy from a star, so the metal Hello! I'm Jason. On Monday, I usually wake up late and have no time to have breakfast. I can't find my books or my school cap. At last, I find my books and my school cap in the bathroom. I have to wait for a bus and I am nearly late for school. The first lesson on Monday morning is Maths. I like it because I'm good at Maths. The next lesson is French. I like French. It's nice to be able to talk with somebody in another language. At last, it is eleven o'clock -- time for break. After having a break, we have two Latin lessons. There are a lot of boys in our class who don't like Latin. I don't like it, either. At half past twelve, it is time for lunch -- a meat pie, potatoes or cabbage and a glass of juice or milk. Then I go to the playground with my friends, and we play football there. After lunch, we have a History lesson. The History teacher tells us many interesting things. After school, my friends and I usually go for a walk. I come home very late, and my mother is very angry. How does Jasson go to school?
A new plan for getting children to and from school is being started by the education authorities in part of Eastern England. This could end the worries of many parents fearful for their children's safety on the roads. Until now the Country Council has only been prepared to provide bus services for children living more than three miles from their school, or sometimes less if special reasons existed. Now it has been decided that if a group of parents ask for help in organizing transport they will be prepared to go ahead, provided the arrangement will not lose money and that children taking part will be attending their nearest school. The new scheme is to be tried out this term for children living at Milton who attend Impington school. The children live just within the three-mile limit and the Council has said in the past it will not undertake to provide free transport to the school. But now they have agreed to organize a bus service from Milton to Impington and back, a plan which has the support of the school's headmaster. Between 50 and 60 parents have said they would like their children to take part. Final calculations have still to be carried out, but a council official has said the cost to parents should be less than PS6. 50 a term. They have been able to arrange the service at a low cost because there is already an agreement with the bus company for a bus to take children who live further away to Impington. The same bus would now just make an extra journey to pick up the Milton children. The official said they would get in touch with other groups of parents who in the past had asked if transport could be provided for their children, to see if they would like to take part in the new scheme. The parents the Council is now going to get in touch with are those _ . Answer: Finland is perhaps the most beautiful and mysterious of the countries of northern Europe. Two-thirds of its surface is covered with thick forests and among them lie lakes, connected with rivers and canals. The northern part of this country is inside the Arctic Circle , where almost no trees can grow because of its cold weather and the people use their deer for transport, clothing and food. Then Finish history began in the Middle Ages. In about 1155,prefix = st1 /Finlandwas conquered by its western neighbouringSweden. After a period of rule byDenmarkin the 14thcentury, the Swedes won back independence and power in 1523 under their brave king. During the Napoleonic Wars (1814-1818)Finlandwas passed finally fromSwedentoRussia. The opportunity came in 1917, when the Russian Revolution brought foreign rule ofFinlandto an end. Shortly after Soviet Russia made peace withGermany, 1919 saw the founding of theFinnishRepublic. The years between the First and Second World War were years of progress and growing development. Finland has no coal or oil, and the nation's wealth lies in the timber from its forests, which supplies material for paper and furniture making, and in the electric power from its water. Among natural resources, the Finnish people benefit mainly from _ . Answer: Heavy snow and low temperatures caused further damage across northern Europe on Monday--stranding travelers,snarling traffic and shutting schools. More than 1,000 flights at Germany's main airports in Frankfurt,Munich and Berlin were _ and many more delayed after up to 40 cm of fresh snow covering the country.Some 500 passengers slept at Frankfurt airport.Airlines advised passengers to take trains if possible. In the United Kingdom,British Airways said the severe weather continued to cause great damage to operations and further travel.Only one of two runways at London Heathrow,the world's busiest international airport,was operating after the snowstorm.Other UK airports were open,but many flights were canceled,and many passengers spent a second night at an airport terminal . Northern France was also covered by heavy snow.Air travel was reduced at Paris' two main airports,with Orly airport shutting down. In Poland,hard hit by the cold weather,six people froze to death on Sunday night,raising the death toll to 114 in the last month.Heavy snow stopped Warsaw traffic again on Monday.Warsaw airport was open but was receiving far fewer passengers than usual because of flight cancellations in western Europe. We can conclude from the passage that _ . Answer: Welcome to Franklin Hotel. To make your stay enjoyable, we hope you will use our facilities to the full. Dining Room: You can have three meals in the dining room. (breakfast 8-9 a.m.; lunch 12-2:30 p.m.; dinner 7:30-9 p.m.) Room Service: You can dial 0 for Reception to make a phone call while you are on bed. There are also pay telephones near the reception desk. Shop: You can buy presents, gifts and goods from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. here. _ We have a laundry in the building, and will wash and return your clothes within 24 hours. You can ask the room staff to collect them. Bar: The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. Banking: We can cash cheques & exchange any foreign money for you. You can have a quick meal in the _ if you arrive at the hotel at 2 a.m. Answer: London will host a major exhibition of 15th-century Chinese artwork, including paintings, sculptures and porcelain, which are all from Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The exhibition will be open from Sept 18 to Jan 5. On display will be 108 cultural relics from 10 museums in China, as well as collections from the British Museum and museums in Japan, the United States and Europe. The exhibition will be in five parts to give an overview of the society. "This was a time when the political and social system of the dynasty became stable , and the country also experienced huge changes. China was in frequent contact with the rest of the world at that time, and its artists and scholars also influenced other cultures," said Yao Yu, the director of this activity. During this time, Beijing became the capital of China, and Zheng He (1371-1433) set sail and reached the shores of eastern Africa. Jessica from the British Museum, said _ an artwork may differ in different cultures. "When a Chinese audience sees a painting you see figures and stories. But we see beautiful views. " However, she added that the British public had a basic knowledge of the dynasty and many British people probably knew more about the later period of the Ming Dynasty after the Portuguese and Spanish came to China to trade. Their houses and dining tables have Chinese blue and white vases but they don't know much about the earlier period, which in China was a more culturally important period. "We'd like to take away people from the idea that China became international after the Europeans arrived. China in the early Ming Dynasty was very international. " Which of the following is NOT true about the Ming Dynasty? Answer:
A few months ago, while driving home from work, I stopped at a gas station to gas up my car before heading home. When I went in to pre-pay for my gas, I saw a man with his son ahead of me in the line. They were a little dirty from working & painting at a local job site and the man asked the clerk to help them patiently. The clerk behind the counter seemed annoyed and not interested in talking to them. From their conversation, I knew that the man had lost his wallet, was almost out of gas and still had 1.5 hours drive to get himself and his son home. He couldn't write the clerk a check. Because he knew the money in his account wasn't available yet. The clerk asked them to move aside and let me up to the register. I gave the clerk two 20 dollar bills and told him to put $20 on my pump and to pre-pay $20 on their pump also. When I went back out to fill my gas tank, the teenage son came towards me to express his appreciation. His father was too excited, so he stayed inside the store until I was gone. They asked if I would accept a check from them for the money, but I refused. I told the teenager to "pay it forward" and help _ Why didn't the man thank the author? He found it hard to control his strong feelings. My daughter comes in with some bags of groceries taking my attention away from the paper. She shouts out, "Hi daddy!" and runs toward the little kitchen. She's always running. I've never seen anyone with as much energy as her, except maybe her mom. "You'd better not make a mess in there, or your mother will be angry!" I call to her. She stops rattling for just a second and says, "OK, daddy. No problem." She's a good girl. I look at the side table where there's that beautiful black and white photo of her mom that we took last year. Or was it longer? My daughter is always leaving a seasonal flower in front of it. I don't know why. Maybe because the color1s are nice against the photo and the black frame. She's a sweet kid. Finally, she comes out to talk to me and I put down the paper. "Listen daddy, I can't stay a while with you tonight because Steve and I are going to a show downtown. I've made some good soup for you and it's all ready on the stove." "Now you listen to me, young lady," I say, "you and Steve go and enjoy yourselves. I'm sure your mom will be home soon and we'll eat together." She looks doubtful. I pat her head. "Listen", she says, "you can call Samantha if you need anything. Do you remember Samantha?" I nod. Samantha is a good neighbor. She lives below us in the ground floor apartment. My wife and her were always chattering away on the phone or having tea. "Daddy?" She's studying my face. "Samantha's number is on the fridge and by the phone. OK?" "OK," I say, "now go on out and have some fun, love." The office has really tired me out today. I should make some dinner but I'll have a sleep in this chair for now. The daughter looks doubtful after hearing her father's words because _ . she feels strange about her father's words The young boy saw me, or rather, he saw the car and quickly ran up to me, eager to sell his bunches of bananas and bags of peanuts. Though he appeared to be about twelve, he seemed to have already known the bitterness of life. "Bananas 300 naira. Peanuts 200 naira." He said in a low voice. I bargained him down to 200 totals for the fruit and nuts. When he agreed, I handed him a 500 naira bill. He didn't have change, so I told him not to worry. He said thanks and smiled a row of perfect teeth. When, two weeks later, I saw the boy again, I was more aware of my position in a society where it's not that uncommon to see a little boy who should be in school standing on the corner selling fruit in the burning sun. My parents had raised me to be aware of the advantage we had been afforded and the responsibility it brought to us. I pulled over and rolled down my window. He had a bunch of bananas and a bag of peanuts ready. I waved them away. "What's up?" I asked him. "I...I don't have money to buy books for school." I reached into my pocket and handed him two fresh 500 naira bills. "Will this help?" I asked. He looked around nervously before taking the money. One thousand naira was a lot of money to someone whose family probably made about 5,000 naira or less each year. "Thank you, sir." he said. "Thank you very much!" When driving home, I wondered if my little friend actually used the money for schoolbooks. What if he's a cheat? And then I wondered why I did it. Did I do it to make myself feel better? Was I using him? Later, I realized that I didn't know his name or the least bit about him, nor did I think to ask. Over the next six months, I was busy working in a news agency in northern Nigeria. Sometime after I returned, I went out for a drive. When I was about to pull over, the boy suddenly appeared by my window with a big smile ready on his face. "Oh, gosh! Long time." "Are you in school now?" I asked. He nodded. "That's good," I said. A silence fell as we looked at each other, and then I realized what he wanted. "Here," I held out a 500 naira bill. "Take this." He shook his head and stepped back as if hurt. "What's wrong?" I asked. "It's a gift." He shook his head again and brought his hand from behind his back. His face shone with sweat. He dropped a bunch of bananas and a bag of peanuts in the front seat before he said, "I've been waiting to give these to you." What was the author's first impression of the boy? He seemed to have suffered a lot. Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature.However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment. Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water.Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition.This causes major environmental effects.For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas. There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you can take up today. You don't need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don't have to worry about resources and your purse.Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit.If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones.Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control. Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials.But the final goal should be "green gyms".They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers.Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces.There is no special requirement for you to start your membership.And best of all, it's free. The reason why the author uses power walking as an example mainly is because _ . it uses fewer resources The Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday named Mo Yan winner of the Twenty-Twelve Nobel Prize in Literature. The academy praised the Chinese writer for what it called his "hallucinatoty realism ". It noted his ability to combine folk stories, history and modern events in his works. An academy official said Mister Mo was "overjoyed and sacred" when he learnt he had won the award. He will receive his Nobel diploma, a medal and more than one million dollars at the ceremony in Stockholm in December. Mo Yan is a leading author of modern Chinese novels. He often writes from memories of his youth. He also sets many of his stories in the area where he was born--Shandong Province in northeastern China. Mister Mo's 1987 bookRed Sorghum is an example. It is about the extreme violence in rural eastern China during the Communist Revolution in the 1920's and 1930's. The story describes the criminal culture of the time, Japan's occupation and the terrible conditions faced by farm workers.Red Sorghumwas later made into a movie. Mo Yan's other major works includeBig Breasts and Wide Hips,Republic of WineandLife and Death Are Wearing Me Out. The Royal Swedish Academy compared him to two 20th century writers: American William Faulkner and Colombia Gabriel Marquez. Mo Yan's real name is Guan Moye. Mo Yan means "Don't speak." The writer said he chose the name to remember to stop his tongue from getting him in trouble. China is celebrating the victory of his native son. Minutes after the award was announced, millions of Chinese expressed pleasure and pride for Mo Yan on social media websites. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage? Mo Yan, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Perhaps the most astonishing theory to come out of kinetics,the study of body movement,was suggested by Professor Ray Birdwhistell.He believes that physical appearance Is often culturally programmed.In other words,we learn our looks;we are not born with them. A baby generally unformed facial features.A baby,according to Birdwhistell,learns where to set the eyebrows by looking at those around family and friends.This helps explain why the people of some regions of the United States look so much lilke.New Englanders or Southerners have certain common facial characteristics that cannot be explained by genetics .The exact shape of the mouth is not set at birth,it is learned later.In fact,the final mouth shape is not formed until well after permanent teeth are set.For many,this can be well into adolescence .A husband and wife together for a long time often come to look somewhat alike.We learn our looks from those around us. This is perhaps why in a single country there are areas where people smile more than those in other areas.In the United States,for example,the South is the part of the country where the people smile most frequently.In New England they smile less,and in the western part of New York State still less.Many Southerners find cities such as New York cold and unfriendly,partly because people on Madison Avenue smile less than people on Peach Tree Street jn Atlanta,Georgia.People in densely populated urban areas also tend to smile and greet each other in public less than people in rural areas and small towns. According to the passage,people who live _ are more friendly. Answer: in the country It's not the first movie to show the end of the world. But in the latest box office hit 2012 it is neither aliens nor a killer disease that threaten the human race, but climate change. Some say the film lacks good dialogue and its science is questionable, others believe German director Roland Emmerich makes up for these flaws in special effects. An earthquake destroys the White House and Yellow stone National Park ends up in flames. Emmerich borrows from the old Mayan story which says, that the world will end in 2012.He is being criticized for Internet rumors about doomsday "There is no factual basis for these claims,'' NASA said on its website. "Credible scientists worldwide know of no threat connected with 2012,'' it insisted. "After all, our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, " they added. According to the UK's Daily Telegraph, it was first thought that the disaster would happen in May 2003. When the world continued, supporters picked the last day of the Mayan calendar. "Every culture has a myth of destruction , just as they have a myth of creation. These myths \|of destruction tend to surface during times of crisis , " Michael A. Ryan, an assistant profess of history,speaking to Purdue University News. Ryan studies apocalyptic themes from the Middle Ages at the US university. "Today's current economic climate is a state of crisis for many people who are worried whether they can afford to feed themselves,"he added. Which of the following statements about the film 2012 is TRUE according to the text? Answer: The old Mayan story says that the world will end in Lipitor is a prescription medicine. Along with diet and exercise, it lowers "bad" cholesterol in your blood. It can also raise "good" cholesterol. Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors, including family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, age and smoking. WHO IS LIPITOR FOR? Who can take LIPITOR: * People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise. * Adults and children over 10. Who should NOT take LIPITOR: * Women who are pregnant, may be pregnant, or may become pregnant. Lipitor may harm your unborn baby. * Women who are breast-feeding. Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. * People with liver problems. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR Serious side effects in a small number of people: * Muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. * Liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it. Call your doctor right away if you have: * Unexplained muscle pain or weakness, especially if you have a fever or feel very fired. * Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing. * Stomach pain. Some common side effects of LIPITOR are: * Muscle pain. * Upset stomach. * Changes in some blood tests. HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR DO: * Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor. * Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor. * Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food. * If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it has been more than 12 hours since you missed dose, wait. Take the next dose at your regular time. Don't: * Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor. * Do not start new medicines before talking to your doctor. What is the main purpose of the passage? Answer: To give information about a kind of medicine Designed specifically for kids that live online, Discovery announced a new fun and interactive homework tool that uses the power of broadband and media to help achieve academic breakthroughs at home. It's COSMEO. With a click of a mouse, kids have instant access to the only online video destination for homework help, report research and learning games. COSMEO boasts more than 30,000 video clips from the top educational publishers and producers in the world, including Discovery. COSMEO also has 15,000 interactive quizzes and 200 subject-related Brain Games---making homework fun! And most importantly-----all the content is aligned by state curriculum standards and grade level----- COSMEO gives kids the tools they need to succeed and gives parents the reassurance that the content is not only safe, but powerfully engineered to help their kids with academic breakthroughs. COSMEO is built on the proven success of Discovery's in-school video streaming resource, which is available in 70,000 schools and reaches 30 million students in the United States. Students who were exposed to their service in the classroom have been scientifically proven to perform 12 to 15 percent better than those who were not. Now kids can access this proven content in their homes, and COSMEO presents the information in a way that is kid-friendly, interactive, appealing and fun. COSMEO is structured for use by multiple children in the same family. Parents simply select the grade level of the user for access to age-appropriate learning materials. COSMEO can help a third-grader with multiplication tables and an older student with algebra equations . COSMEO uses a multimedia, multi- sensory environment to let kids learn in the way they learn best----- in formats they know, use and, most importantly, enjoy! [ We can learn from the passage the COSMEO _ . Answer: aims to help kids make rapid progress in their studies. The legislature of the state of Gray recently enacted a statute forbidding public utilities regulated by the Gray Public Service Commission to increase their rates more than once every two years. Economy Electric Power Company, a public utility regulated by that commission, has just obtained approval of the commission for a general rate increase. Economy Electric has routinely filed for a rate increase every ten to 14 months during the last 20 years. Because of uncertainties about future fuel prices, the power company cannot ascertain with any certainty the date when it will need a further rate increase; but it thinks it may need such an increase sometime within the next 18 months. Economy Electric files an action in the federal district court in Gray requesting a declaratory judgment that this new statute of Gray forbidding public utility rate increases more often than once every two years is unconstitutional. Assume no federal statute is relevant. In this case, the court should Answer: dismiss the complaint, because this action is not ripe for decision.
Question: "My kids really understand solar and earth-heat energy," says a second-grade teacher in prefix = st1 /Saugus,California, "Some of them are building solar collectors for their energy course." These young scientists are part of City Building Educational Program (CBEP) , a particular program for kindergarten through twelfth grade that uses the stages of city planning to teach basic reading ,writing and math skills , and more . The children don't just plan any city . They map and analyze the housing , energy , and transportation requirements of their own district and foretell its needs in 100 years . With the aid of an architect who visits the classroom once a week , they invent new ways to meet these needs and build models of their creations . "Designing buildings of the future gives children a lot of freedom," says the teacher who developed this program. "They are able to use their own rich imagination and inventions without fear of blame , because there are no wrong answers in a future context . In fact , as the class enters the final model-building stage of the program , an elected "official" and "planning group" make all the design decisions for the model city , and the teacher steps back and becomes an adviser ." CBEP is a set of activities , games , and imitations that teach the basic steps necessary for problem-solving ; observing , analyzing, working out possible answers , and judging them based on the children's own standards . The children feel free in the program because_. A. they can design future buildings themselves B. they have new ideas and rich imagination C. they are given enough time to design models D. they need not worry about making mistakes Answer: D. they need not worry about making mistakes Question: Two men dressed as police officers stole about $200 million worth of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum early this morning. The two burglars knocked on a side door of the museum at about 1:15 am. They told the two security guards on duty that there was a disturbance in the area. The guards then made the very serious mistake of allowing the two men to go into the building. After they went in, the two burglars tied the guards up with tape. The two men stole 11 paintings and an ancient Chinese vase. The stolen works included three paintings by Rembrandt. A maintenance worker discovered the two guards at about 7 am and called police. One of the greatest losses was Rembrandt's works, "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee." It was a very popular attraction at the museum and was one of the most valuable works stolen. Museum officials said that the value of the stolen art is at least 200 million dollars, and may in fact be much more. The true value of the paintings is unknown, because they have not been on the market for nearly a century. This is considered to be the biggest theft ever in the United States. Officials are waiting to see whether the burglars will or try to sell them to a private collector. Museum officials and police are not sure why the burglars chose certain works and not others. There are other paintings in the museum that are even more valuable than the ones that were stolen. Special investigators are looking into the theft and the museum's security system. They believe that this is a "professional job," because the people involved were well prepared and knew what they wanted. According to the passage, "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" was the following except that _ . A. it was the most valuable work at the museum B. it was Rembrandt's works C. it was very attractive to visitors D. it was one of the greatest losses Answer: A. it was the most valuable work at the museum Question: George, when your big brother and your little dog and I walked you up to school today, you had no idea how I was feeling. You were so excited. You had packed and unpacked your pencils and safety scissors in your backpack a dozen times. I am really going to miss those lazy mornings when we waved your brother and sister off to school. Because you are my youngest, I had learned a few things by the time you came along. I found out that the seemingly endless days of babyhood are gone like lightning. I blinked , and your siblings were setting off for school as eagerly as you did this morning, I was one of the lucky ones; I could choose whether to work or not. By the time it was your turn, _ . A splash in the pool with you in your bright red boots or "just one more" rereading of your favorite book, Frog and Toad Are Friends, meant more. You didn't go to preschool and I hope that doesn't hold you back. You learned numbers by helping me count the soda cans we returned to the store. I have to admit that in my mind's eye, an image of myself while you're in school has developed, I see myself updating all the photo albums and starting that novel I always wanted to write. As the summer wound down and more frequent quarrels erupted between you and your siblings, I was looking forward to today. And then this morning, I walked you up the steep hill to your classroom and you gave me one of your characteristically fierce, too-tight hugs. This time you were ready to let go before I was. Maybe someday you will deliver a kindergartner to the first day of school. When you turn at the door to wave good-bye, he or she will be too deep in conversation with a new friend to notice. Even as you smile, you'll feel something warm on your cheek. The passage tries to show us _ . A. how excited a child will be on his first day to school B. how deeply a mother loves her child C. how many efforts a mother has made to raise a child D. how a mother plans her future life after her children go to school Answer: B. how deeply a mother loves her child Question: The European Union announced plans on Tuesday to temporar-ily ban the use of animal cloning for food production, while allowing imports of food derived from the offspring of clones from the United States and elsewhere. The report from the European Commission followed a call by EU lawmakers in July for a total ban on food derived from cloned animals and their traditionally bred offspring, citing ethical concerns over the industrial production of cloned meat. The Commission said a temporary five-year EU ban on cloning for food production was justified on animal welfare grounds, but said banning imports of food from the offspring of clones was unnecessary and would disrupt global trade. "Food from cloned animals is safe. In fact, the scientific opinion is that it cannot be differentiated in any way from food normally bred animals. The issue is animal welfare," EU Health and Consumer Commissioner John Dalli told reporters. Food derived from the offspring of clones presents no such animal welfare issues, and banning its sale and import would be impossible because the origin is untraceable, Dalli said. "Such a prohibition would lead to a ban of imports of any food of animal origin (meat, milk and processed products)from third countries allowing the cloning technique," the report said. "We're not going to regulate for the world," Dalli added. But animal welfare groups criticized the Commission's decision, saying it had bowed to pressure from third countries. "We do not accept the Commission's position that it would be impossible to enforce a ban that includes the offspring of cloned animals, as (other) meat traceability systems are already in place," said Sonja Van Tichelen, director of the Eurogroup for Animals. Which of the following is the reason for Commission's decision on the ban according to animal welfare groups? A. The origin of food derived from the offspring of clones is Untraceable. B. Food from cloned animals is safe. C. The issue is for animal welfare. D. The pressure comes from third countries. Answer: D. The pressure comes from third countries. Question: Two words rhyme with each other when they have the same ending word, like "think," "pink". The last word in each of the lines of a poem does not have to have a rhyming sound, many of them do. Two lines of poetry that rhyme with each other at the end are call rhyming couplet. Writing rhyming poetry can be difficult because you need to choose words that not only rhyme but have meaning, too. Even though some poems are short, you have to think extra long at which words to choose. Here is an example of a short poem: He was only a bug, but he was the king. She smiled at him when he gave her a ring. He forgot to be careful of one little thing. His queen was a bee, and she could sting. Which of the following rhyme with each other in the short poem? A. Ring and thing B. Bug and king C. Queen and king D. Bee and sting Answer: A. Ring and thing
Very hot weather is common in many parts of the world. Although hot weather just makes most people hot, it can cause medical problems and death. Floods, storms and other terrible natural events kill thousands of people every year. And we hear much about them in news reports. We general hear little about heat, which experts say may be nature's most dangerous killer. Health experts say that since the year 1900, very hot weather has killed more people in the United States than any other natural event. One year--- the unusually hot summer of 1980 heat caused about 1,700 deaths in the United States. In 1995, more than 600 people died in another heat wave in one city----Chicago, Illinois. Besides drinking lots of cool water , doctors say there are some other things to do to protect against the health dangers of heat. Stay out of the sun, if possible. Wear loose and light--colored clothes. Wear a hat while in the sun. Eat fewer hot and heavy foods. And, when possible, cook foods during cooler time of the day. If possible, rest more often. Health experts say these simple steps can prevent the dangerous health problems caused by heat. They will prevent sickness, help you feel better and may even save your life. Experts say maybe _ is natural's most dangerous killer. A. heat B. a flood C. a storm D. an earthquake Answer: A. heat Jamie was born in a small village in the north of England. He is nine years old. He likes playing basketball very much. When he is free, he always plays basketball with his friends in the open air. Sometimes he walks in the forest and picks some flowers by himself. Last Friday, Jamie finished his homework after the second class in the morning. He hurried to play basketball. The playground was wet. After some time his basketball was dirty and his hands were dirty, too. It was 9: 45 and the third class began. Jamie had no time to wash his hands and ran into his classroom. Mr Black, his English teacher, told Jamie to write some new words on the blackboard. Jamie stood in front of the blackboard and started to write. Mr Black saw his right hand was dirty. "Oh, dear!" said the teacher. "Your right hand is dirty. I'm sure it's the dirtiest in our class." "You are wrong, Mr Black," said Jamie. Then he showed his left hand and it was dirtier. Mr Black asked Jamie to _ . A. wash his hands B. write some words C. show his right hand D. show his left hand Answer: B. write some words A very strict officer was talking to some new soldiers whom he had to train. He had never seen them before, so began, "My name is Stone, and I'm even harder than stone, so do what I tell you or there'll be trouble. Don't try any tricks with me, and then we'll get on well together." Then he went to each soldier one after the other and asked him his name, "Speak loudly so that everyone can hear you clearly," he said, "and don't forget to call me 'sir'." Each soldier told him name, until he came to the last one. This man remained silent, and so Captain Stone shouted at him, " when I ask you a question, answer it! I'll ask you again: What's your name, soldier?" The soldier was very unhappy, but at last he replied, "My name's Stonebreaker, sir," he said nervously . 51. The officer was strict _ . A. because the soldiers were new. B. with any of his soldiers, new or old. C. because he was named Stone. D. only when he was before soldiers. Answer: B. with any of his soldiers, new or old. Do you want to see the effects of global warming? Then head north. Recent studies indicate that the North Pole could be underwater during the summer in less than 10 years, instead of coated in thick sea ice. But seeing the Arctic terrain up close isn't easy, unless you're handy with a dogsled. Steger is going to take all of us there. Steger, 64, is a great polar explorer. He was the first person to make a dogsled trip to the North Pole, and is also a devoted environmentalist who was early to ring the alarm bell on global warming. 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 _ as they march along, allowing armchair adventurers and kids in classrooms to follow their progress day to day. Steger's team will include some already-famous young explorers. Sam Branson, 22-year old, is an experienced Arctic traveler. Also on the journey will be 27-year-old Norwegian Sigrid Ekran. Last year Ekran become 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. Why does Steger NOT know what they will see during their trip? A. Because it will be the first time for him to go that far north. B. Because the sea ice in that region should still be frozen. C. Because the geography there has changed due to warmer temperatures. D. Because they will go there by boat instead of by sledge. Answer: C. Because the geography there has changed due to warmer temperatures. One day a pilot and three people were in a plane. When the plane was flying in the sky, there was something wrong with it. The smoke was everywhere in the plane. The pilot told the people there were only three parachutes . They all became worried. "I must go because I'm the best pilot in the world." said the pilot, then he jumped out with one parachute. The next person said, "I must have a parachute. I am a very clever person, and I have to take part in an important meeting." he jumped out with another parachute. Two men were left, an old businessman and a young mountain climber. By this time the plane was going down faster and faster. The businessman said, "Young man, I am old but you're still young. You take the last parachute. " The young mountain climber smiled, "Don't worry, we are both safe, because there are still two parachutes. The clever person jumped out with my backpack." All the people became worried because _ . A. they couldn't find the parachutes B. there were only three parachutes,but there were four people in the plane. C. There was too much smoke and they couldn't jump out from the plane. D. They saw the pilot jump out first Answer: B. there were only three parachutes,but there were four people in the plane.
Edward Snowden's removal of thousands of highly classified documents from the National Security Agency and his decision to turn them over to journalists for publication started a fierce debate about who and what he is. On one side are those who consider Snowden a whistleblower, someone who has done his country a great service. Others regard him as a criminal. Snowden, meanwhile, says that his "task's already accomplished," that he has given Americans a "say in how they are governed" and that he has succeeded in exposing the workings of what he has called the uncontrolled "surveillance state." But one must ask: Are Snowden's actions in consistent with his words? Snowden has taken sanctuary in Russia, a country that, under the guidance of President Vladimir Putin, a former Soviet KGB officer, has been sliding ever deeper back into dictatorship . The Federal Security Service (FSB) has invested in technology that allows it to monitor telephone and Internet communications and to collect and store not just metadata -- information about call destinations and lengths -- but also the content of communications. The Russian state uses that technology to engage in essentially unchecked surveillance of telephone calls, e-mail traffic, blogs, and Web sites. Over the past two years "the Kremlin has transformed Russia into a surveillance state -- at a level that would have made the KGB envious." If Snowden's objective is to give people a voice in how they are governed, and to expose massive uncontrolled surveillance, he could speak out about practices of the Russian government that go far beyond anything ever undertaken by the U.S. government. For better or for worse, Snowden has a large number of supporters around the world. His words are listened to by millions -- so he could make a difference where it counts. Yet he has been silent about the surveillance surrounding him. Why? Is he being polite to his hosts? Does he have concerns about what the FSB might do in response to what he might say? Whatever the answer, Snowden's silence about the dictatorship where he has taken sanctuary is telling. It is yet more evidence, if evidence were needed, that he is not a whistleblower at all. It suggests that, instead of being a brave speaker of truths, he is a hypocrite , with principles that he applies selectively against the justice he has betrayed . What does the author want to tell the readers? A. Snowden's action started a heated debate. B. It isn't clear who and what Snowden is. C. Snowden exposed secret documents. D. Snowden is in fact a hypocrite. Answer: D You've heard the saying: if you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you get there. Thousands of successful people attribute (......) most of their success to goal setting. Knowing this, why don't the majority of people set goals? Goal setting starts within you. You have to believe it's possible to do a thing before you have a strong desire to write it down on paper and take steps to make it happen. How do you possibly bring yourself to believe in your own success? After all, so many of you have been at this success thing for a while and it still hasn't happened to you. Companies that you believed in and worked hard for have failed, your family and friends are waiting for you to "be realistic", and life just keeps giving you one blow after another. But there is a small fire burning inside you. You keep at it because all you know is you can't continue to get up every morning, go to work for someone else and allow them to determine how much you're worth each week which is far below your true value. So where do you go from here? Where do you start today? The road to inner belief in your success begins with you telling yourself every day, throughout the day, that you can do what you set out to do, you can have what you set out to get, and you can be that successful person you know that lives inside you. Yes, obstacles will come, doubters will be around, but don't you be one of them. Treat yourself like the person you love and care about most. If you had children who had a paper route and they wanted to accomplish a goal but they kept running into obstacles, what would happen? They would soon become discouraged with so many people telling them no. I'm not interested in what you have to offer. What would you say to your child? I'm sure it won't be the same thing you've been saying to yourself. Turn your words around. Speak those same words of encouragement you would speak to your discouraged child, to yourself. If you would never put a loved one down, especially when they are feeling discouraged, why would you do that to yourself? You have the power within to stop it right now and turn it around. Be committed from this point forward to speaking words of encouragement to yourself. The mind is an amazing thing. You can convince yourself of anything over time. If you repeatedly tell yourself every day, throughout the day, how successful you are, how capable you are, you will not only start to believe it, you will start to live it. What does the author mean by saying "Turn your words around"? A. You should speak words of encouragement to your discouraged child. B. You shouldn't put a loved one down. C. You should encourage yourself. D. You should change the subject of the conversation. Answer: C For many men, the idea that they have a better sense of direction than women has been improved by a scientific study. Researchers from Norway scanned on the brains of volunteers as they completed navigation tasks to discover men are more skillful at finding their way because they use a separate part of their brain. According to lead researcher Dr. Cal Pintzka from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), men and women have different navigational strategies. Med use basic directions--the use of north, south, east and west--during navigation to a greater degree. Men's sense of direction was more effective. They quite simply got to their destination faster. "If they're going to the Students Society building in Trodheim, for example, men usually go into the general direction where it is located." Dr. Pintzka explained. Women usually orient themselves along a route to get there, for example, go past the hairdresser and then up the street and turn right after the shore. The study shows that using the basic directions is more efficient because it is a more flexible strategy. The destination can be reached faster because the strategy depends less on where you start. Meanwhile, the study also shows both men and women use large areas of the brain when they navigate, but some areas were different. The man used the hippocampus more, whereas women use their frontal areas to a greater extent. That degrees with the fact that the hippocampus is necessary to make use of basic directions. Losing one's sense of direction is one of the first symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. Understanding how men and women use different brain areas and strategies to navigate, researchers will be able to enhance the understand of the disease's development, and develop coping strategies for those already affected. How are men different from women in navigation? A. They use a separate part of their brain. B. They deal with navigation in complex ways. C. They make different actions to the road signs. D. They form different images of road conditions. Answer: A This summer Frank and his friends went to Boy Scout camp for two weeks. At camp they had lots of fun activities like swimming, wood carving, and telling ghost stories. At camp there weren't any restaurants or grocery stores, so for food they would have to make their own meals. One thing they could do is make peanut butter sandwiches, which every scout was given at the start of camp. But pretty soon everyone was sick of peanut butter sandwiches and wanted to eat something else instead. Some boys went out into the forest and picked out berries and roots that were safe to eat. Some boys even took out the boat and went fishing. They came back with a big fish that they cleaned and cooked themselves. At first, Frank's mom was very worried about letting Frank go to camp. She was worried that he could get lost in the woods and be eaten by a bear. She was worried that he might get into a fight with the other boys. She was even worried that he wouldn't shower or take a bath for the whole two weeks. But Frank's scout masters explained to Frank's mom that the camp leaders were very serious about taking care of the campers and that everything would be perfectly safe for Frank. Frank promised to call home at least every two days. So in the end Frank's mom let Frank go to camp. Which of the following wasn't something that made Frank's mom worried about letting Frank go to summer camp? A. That Frank would get in a fight with the other boys. B. That Frank would get lost in the woods and get eaten by a bear. C. That Frank would have nothing but peanut butter sandwiches to eat and would want to eat something else. D. That Frank wouldn't take a shower or a bath. Answer: C The story is about a young girl named Yang Liu. She was ill, because she couldn't sleep well. Every night, she felt very tired, but she stayed awake . Soon Yang Liu went to see a doctor, "I just can't get to sleep at night. What should I do?""Count from 1 to 1,000. By the time you reach 1,000, you can be asleep . I hope you feel better soon," said the doctor. The next day Yang Liu came back to the doctor's office. She still looked tired. "Well," said the doctor, "how are you feeling today?" "I tried counting one, two, three... up to one thousand. But when I reached seven hundred and eighty-nine, I began to feel sleepy . I had to get up and drink some coffee so that I could go on counting up to one thousand. After I finished counting all the numbers I still couldn't fall asleep," she said. What did the doctor ask Yang Liu to do? A. To take some medicine. B. To read some books. C. To count numbers. D. To drink some coffee. Answer: C
Another cultural aspect of nonverbal communication is one that you might not think about: space. Every person perceives himself to have a sort of invisible shield surrounding his physical body. When someone comes too close, he feels uncomfortable. When he bumps onto someone, he feels obligated to apologize. But the size of a person's "comfort zone" depends on his cultural ethnic origin. For example, in casual conversation, many Americans stand about four feet apart. In other words, they like to keep each other "at arm's length", people in Latin or Arab cultures, in contrast, stand very close to each other, and touch each other often. If someone from one of those cultures stands too close to an American while in conversation, the American may feel uncomfortable and back away. When Americans are talking, they expect others to respond to what they are saying. To Americans, polite conversationalists empathize by displaying expressions of excitement or disgust, shock or sadness. People with a "poker face", whose emotions are hidden by a deadpan expression, are looked upon with suspicion. Americans also indicate their attentiveness in a conversation by raising their eyebrows, nodding, smiling politely and maintaining good eye contact. Whereas some cultures view direct eye contact as impolite or threatening, Americans see it as a sign of genuineness and honesty. If a person doesn't look you in the eye, American might say, you should question his motives--or assume that he doesn't like you. Yet with all the concern for eye contact, Americans still consider staring--especially at strangers--to be rude. A "poker face" (Line 3, Para. 2) refers to a face which is _ . A attentive B emotional C suspicious D expressionless Answer: D. expressionless My name is Lin Hui. I like to tell stories about people who work together. What is even better is when countries help each other and build a good friendship. An excellent example of this happened when Britain and China worked together to bring the Milu deer back to China. Milu deer, a kind of animal with large horns , used to be common in China long ago. Like other deer they lived together and ate grass and the soft parts of trees. Milu deer were often killed for food or sport. The Ming and Qing dynasties did not protect them and many were killed. That is how the Milu deer disappeared from China. Luckily before all of them were killed, some were taken to Britain to improve the environment of the beautiful park which belonged to the Duke of Bedford. He liked them so much that he took them from China to Britain. Milu deer liked the cool, wet weather in England and their number increased year by year. As a result, when in 1985 the government of China wanted to bring back the Milu deer, the Duke of Bedford was able to help. The first deer came back to China to the Nanhaizi Milu Park 20 kilometers south of Beijing and the centre in Dafeng, Jiangsu province. The deer certainly seem happy to be back in China because their number has grown quickly. There are now so many of them that a new park has been opened for them in Hubei Province. At the moment the Milu deer live in centres where they are being well protected and cared for. It is hoped that one day there will be enough animals to let them live in the wild again. 294words The Milu deer disappeared long ago in China because_. A they were not well protected B they could find nothing to eat C they died of a serious disease D they had the habit of living together Answer: A. they were not well protected Dealing with conflict in the workplace is rarely easy. Hurt feelings and anger can lead to lower employee morale as well as a loss of productivity and a poor work environment. As a manager. you should find some ways yourself to solve the conflict. The goal is to build a team-centered workforce. You can use role-reversal methods to help each employee understand how the other feels. This model works best when there are only two parties involved. You can hold a meeting with annoyed workers in your office. You might say. "Jane, explain to me how you would feel if Nancy went to lunch with your clients ( ) without telling you?" Or. "Nancy, how would you respond if Jane came to me with complaints about you, but hadn't tried to talk to you about them first? " Workers often respond better to praise than criticism. By publicly drawing attention to employees who have healthy work relationships. you can increase the awareness for those who encourage any conflict. Avoid mentioning teams or departments that are being troubled by conflict. Instead. focus on the teams that work well together You might say. " _ ," or -Special thanks to the finance department for their teamwork in making sure that the quarterly reports were accurate" And help your employees see that differences can be good and don't necessarily lead to anger or disagreement This is one of the best ways to settle workplace conflicts. You can meet with employees and try to stress the value of different techniques. This lets all parties know that their own styles can be effective. You might say. " I know you disagree on how to market our services. but when you combine Jim's email marketing with Joe's personal one-on-one phone calls, you can increase sales. The two of you go well together. " Or. "I know you have different styles for interacting with clients. but Sally's take-them-out-for-coffee approach works well together with Ann's formal business meeting style Both are necessary for building relationships and getting work done. " The author's purpose of writing the text is most likely to _ . A inform B persuade C instruct D eutertain Answer: C. instruct Sitting in the play area of the doctor's office, my children, Paul, four, and Bailey, three, built a Lego tower while we waited to be called for Paul's examination. "Good job, you guys,"I said, trying not to sound too tired. My husband was away on business, and it was difficult being alone with the kids. At times I felt like I was living in the jungle rather than the suburbs. "Don't put the Lego in your mouth, Bailey,"I said. Paul grabbed it from him."That's not nice, Paul,"I said. He gave back the Lego. I looked around the waiting room. A woman was eating something, a couple were talking, and an old gentleman in a blue jacket was reading a magazine. I wished I could sit quietly for a while. I wanted to be able to take a rest, or go shopping alone. At once, I was ashamed of myself. What kind of mother was I? "God,"I thought, "help me to be the very best mom I can be." The nurse came into the waiting room to get us. Just at that moment, the old gentleman in the waiting room put down his magazine and came up to me. With a smile on his face, he said, "Your children are most certainly lucky to have such a wonderful mother.""Thank you,"I replied in a low voice and watched him walk back to his seat. We followed the nurse into the examination room. While she weighed Paul, I told her how that man had made my day. Motherhood is still a jungle sometimes, but now when I feel tired I remember the encouraging words of the old gentleman. The writer criticized Paul when he _ . A put the Lego into Bailey's mouth B took away the toy from Bailey C made trouble in the waiting room D didn't follow her advice Answer: B. took away the toy from Bailey My wife and I have always been friendly with the clerks at the local store. I don't think many people appreciate what a difficult job these clerks have. They work for a little money and I often wonder how they make ends meet. One of the clerks, Charlie, was always wearing his glasses but he didn't one day. I asked him about it and he said they'd been out of order and that he couldn't afford a new pair. His family needed money. It was clear that he was having a difficult time. We wanted to help him, so we turned to our own eye doctor for help with a plan. We had his secretary contact him, asking him to come in for an eye exam for free. We told the doctor to let him order whatever glasses he wanted and that we would pay for them. Although Charlie questioned what was going on, the doctor just told him that someone had offered the money for his new glasses. When we went in to pay the bill, the doctor told us he was touched by our idea so that he _ the exam fee and only charged us for half the price of the glasses! It was so wonderful to see Charlie in his new glasses and he enjoyed telling all the regular customers how the gift came about. I'm sure that upon hearing his story, ideas of kindness may have come in the minds of many people. From the passage, we can infer that _ . A Charlie was a young man with skills B Charlie knew who paid the money for the new glasses C Charlie completely accepted the money for the new glasses D Charlie couldn't support his family with enough money Answer: D. Charlie couldn't support his family with enough money
How many atoms are in one formula unit of magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)_{2}? A 6 B 5 C 4 D 3 Answer: B Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly. The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance. In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money. At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance. The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics. Allowances give children a chance to experience the things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save and maybe even invest it. Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future. Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance. A savings account is an excellent way to learn about the power of compound interest . That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up. The author intends to _ . A make parents aware of the children's allowances B show the methods of investing C give advice on how to save money D introduce the advantages of allowances Answer: A It is reported that today in China, 50% of people who write blogs do so as a personal diary and 83% use their blogs for sending messages to friends. It is also found that there is a strong East-West difference. In places like the US, blogs that offer information on news attract more readers but in China, blogs are more likely to be about sharing personal feelings. It seems that bloggers can be divided into three types: IT bloggers, bloggers who record their ordinary feelings and media bloggers. When blogging first started, the IT people had the technological advantage and they took the chance to put their thoughts on the web. Some of these IT people read their blogs. The next wave of bloggers did not have any training as writes or in IT and wrote about normal daily life. Media bloggers, however, are trained writers, such as journalists and editors. When the many media bloggers showed up, the everyday blogs lost most of their readers. Media bloggers have the advantage of knowing how to communicate well through the written word. However, the normal bloggers are still out there and increasing in number. It seems that blogging is the new way to express your feelings. People feel like the world is listening to, or rather reading, their problems, even if they are not . What is the passage's subject? A How many people in China blog. B How did blogging get started. C Different types of blogs and bloggers. D What media bloggers do. Answer: C It came as something of a surprise when Diana, Princess of Wales, made a trip t Angola in 1997, to support the Red Cross's campaign for a total ban on all anti-personnel landmine landmines Within hours of arriving in Angola, television screens around the world were filled with images of her comforting victims injured in explosions caused by landmines. "I knew the statistics," she said. "But putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me; like when I met Sandra, a 13-year-old girl who had lost her leg, and people like her." The Princess concluded with a simple message: "We must stop landmines". And she used every opportunity during her visit to repeat this message. But, back in London, her views were not shared by some members of the British government, which refused to support a ban on these weapons. Angry politicians launched an attack on the Princess in the press. They described her as "very ill-informed" and a "loose cannon" . The Princess responded by brushing aside the criticisms: "This is a distraction , we do not need. All I'm trying to do is help." Opposition parties, the media and the public immediately voiced their support for the Princess. To make matters worse for the government, it soon emerged that the Princess's trip had been approved by the Foreign Office, and that she was in fact very well-informed about both the situation in Angola and the British government's policy regarding landmines. The result was a severe embarrassment for the government. To try and limit the damage, the Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkidnd, claimed that the Princess's views on landmines were not very different from government policy, and that it was "working towards" a worldwide ban. The Defense Secretary, Michael Portillo, claimed the matter was "a misinterpretation or misunderstanding." For the Princess, the trip to this war-torn country was an excellent opportunity to use her popularity to show the world how much destruction and suffering landmines can cause. She said that the experience had also given her the chance to get closer to people an their problems. What did Diana mean when she said "...putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me"(Line 5, Para. 1)? A Meeting the landmine victims in person made her believe the statistics. B She just couldn't bear to meet the landmine victims face to face. C The actual situation in Angola made her like going back home. D Seeing the pain of the victims made her realize the seriousness of the situation. Answer: D A great man married a woman and they had a little lovely girl. When the little girl was growing up, the man usually hugged her and said, "I love you, little girl." The Little girl would say, "I'm not a little girl any more." Then the man would laugh, "But to me, you'll always be my little girl." The little girl later left her home and went into the world. No matter where she was, the man would call her and say, "I love you, little girl." One day the little girl received an unexpected phone call. The great man became ill. He couldn't talk, smile, walk, hug or dance. So she went to the side of the great man. He looked at her and tried to speak, but he could not. She sat next to the great man, and drew her arms around his useless shoulders . Her head on his chest , she thought of many good memories. She felt sad as she couldn't hear the words of love that had comforted her. And then she heard from within the man, the beat of heart. The magic happened. She heard what she wanted to hear. His heart beat out the words that his mouth could no longer say... I love you, little girl... I love you, little girl. When the little girl said, "I'm not a little girl any more." , the great man _ . A felt sad B was happy C was angry D couldn't stand Answer: B
In the modern world more and more people meet the problem of identity.The most interesting example is that of a so - called " _ ", which refers to an American who has an Asian face but holds Western values. In Shanghai, there now live a group of people from abroad.They look no different from the locals and speak fluent Chinese or even Shanghai dialect, but when it comes to writing Chinese characters, they are almost illiterate .Jack is such an example.He never learned to read or write Chinese characters, which he finds mysterious and difficult.From time to time, he files to the US as he does not feel Shanghai is where he comes from."But when I am in the States, I feel that's not my home either," he said. At De Gaulle Airport in France, there is a Swiss man who has been living in the waiting - room for a long time because he lost h is passport during his travels.He was refused entry into several countries.But when he was eventually allowed to return to Swizerland, he refused to leave the airport.His reason was very simple--"I am sure who I am.I need no acknowledgement from others," he said during an interview.For th is reason he was honored by the Western media as "the Hero of identity." As the Internet becomes more and more popular, the problem of identity becomes more serious.In a virtual world, people can have different addresses registered with different names.In the Internet chat room, even one's gender is hard to determine.It seems that in the glohal village, people are saying hello every day to each other without knowing whom they are talking to. What will be the next crisis of identity? With the development of cloning technology, it might be: who is the real "I"? The Swiss man had to live in De Gaulle Airport in France because _ . A. he needed to board a plane at any time B. he couldn't afford to live in a hotel C. he needed others acknowledgement D. he couldn't prove who he was Answer: D The concept of health holds different meanings for different people and groups. These meanings have also changed over time. This change is no more evident than in Western society today, when notions of health and health promotion are being challenged and expanded in new ways. For much of recent Western history, health has been viewed in the physical sense only. That is, good health has been connected to the smooth mechanical operation of the body, while ill health has been attributed to a breakdown in this machine. Health in this sense has been defined as the absence of disease or illness and is seen in medical terms. In the late 1940s the World Health Organization challenged this physically and medically oriented view of health. They stated that health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and is not merely the absence of disease (WHO, 1946). Health and the person were seen more holistically (mind / body / spirit) and not just in physical terms. The 1970s was a time of focusing on the prevention of disease and illness by emphasizing the importance of the lifestyle and behaviour of the individual. Specific behaviours which were seen to increase risk of disease, such as smoking, lack of fitness and unhealthy eating habits, were targeted. Creating health meant providing not only medical health care, but also health promotion programs and policies which would help people maintain healthy behaviours and lifestyles. While this individualistic healthy lifestyle approach to health worked for some (the wealthy members of society), it was of little benefit to people experiencing poverty, unemployment, underemployment or who had little control over the conditions of their daily life. During the 1980s and 1990s there has been a growing swing away from seeing lifestyle risks as the root cause of poor health. While lifestyle factors still remain important, health is being viewed also in terms of the social, economic and environmental contexts in which people live. This broad approach to health is called the socio-ecological view of health. At the Ottawa Conference in 1986, a charter was developed which outlined new directions for health promotion based on the socio-ecological view of health. This charter, known as the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, remains as the backbone of health action today. In exploring the scope of health promotion it states that: Good health is a major resource for social, economic and personal development and an important dimension of the quality of life. Political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, behavioural and biological factors can all favour health or be harmful to it. (WHO, 1986) This passage mainly tells us that _ . A. wealth is health B. health means different things in different periods C. it's getting harder to be healthy D. people should change their understanding of health over time Answer: D 351 Gardener Street Los Angeles, CA90031 September 12 Relex Company 37 Pearl Street Clifton, NJ07013 Dear Sir or Madam: A year ago I bought a Relex camera second hand. It's a SW 705 model, and it's about five years old. Here's my problem: The light metre was fine when I bought the camera, but now it isn't working and my pictures are coming out too dark. I checked the batteries, and they are still good. I took the camera to some repair shops, but they said they couldn't repair it because the model is too old and they don't have the necessary part. Do you have the parts for this model in stock? If so, could I send you the camera for repairs? How much would the repairs cost? I'm going to buy your new SW800 model in about six months, but I would still like to fix this old one. Thank you very much. Sincerely yours Sarah H, McDaniel What's wrong with Sarah's photos? A. They aren't light enough. B. They aren't dark enough. C. You can't see them D. They are too colourful. Answer: A On a cold morning at a bus station, a man played six famous pieces of music for about an hour. During that time, about two thousand people went through the station, most of them were on their way to work. 3 minutes later: a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed down, stopped for a few seconds and went away. 4 minutes later: the musician received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the box and kept on walking without stopping. 6 minutes later: a young man stopped to listen to him. Then he looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes later: a 3-year-old boy stopped to look at the musician, but his mother took him away. Several other children did the same as the boy. And nearly all the parents took their children away. 45 minutes later: the musician kept on playing. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 persons gave him money but left quickly. After 1 hour, the musician finished playing. In the end, he collected $ 32. No one noticed that he had finished playing. No one knew this, but the musician was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. At that time, he played one of the most wonderful pieces ever written, with a very expensive violin. If we do not have time to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing with the most beautiful violin, how many other things are we missing? Joshua Bell was in fact _ . A. a very famous pianist B. a very popular singer C. a very poor violinist D. a very famous violinist Answer: D There are two ways to save money traveling. The first way is to get _ on the specific things you want. There is a limitation to this type of approach (,) though. If you find the lowest price on the best hotel in Honolulu at the height of the season, you will save money, but still have a very expensive vacation. Trying to get exactly what you want will generally be an expensive proposition, in travel and in life. The other approach is to be a true opportunist. This will be difficult for some of you, and entirely unacceptable to others. Nonetheless ,the travelers who get to travel the most, go to the widest variety of places, learn the most and do the most, are the opportunists. This will be true until you are so wealthy that you have no monetary (;)limits. The first time I went to Ecuador, I went there because it was cheap. If it wasn't, I would have had a great time--somewhere else. The trip lasted a month, and cost $1045, which included airfare and even the $130 fee for a guide to take me to the top or glacier covered Mount Chimborazo. I cut the cost by taking a bus from my home in Michigan to Miami, and back again when I returned from Ecuador. The round-trip ticket cost $158. The round-trip flight to Quito from Miami was only $256, because it was a courier (,) flight, which meant I signed for some luggage(car parts), and could only take carry-on luggage. Never did I feel deprived, or bored. I had a great time, eating wherever it was cheap and clean, doing all sorts of inexpensive, but interesting things, and traveling across the country to climb Chimborazo. I also met and fell in love with my wife Ana. Being an opportunist means you'll have just as much variety, and probably almost everything you want--eventually. You just have to stop trying to get exactly what you want exactly when you want it. If the guide that took me up Chimborazo hadn't dropped his price from $200 to $130, I would have spent $2 for a bus and gone hiking on EI Altar, another great Andean mountain. That would have left me with enough money for several other minor adventures. It's suggested that the author _ . A. went hiking on El Altar B. traveled with his wife in Ecuador C. is an opportunist traveler D. likes traveling around the world Answer: C
What time is it? Most people are pretty accurate in their answer. And if you don't know for sure, it's a very likely that you can find out. There may be a watch on your wrist, there may be a clock on the wall, desk, or computer screen; or maybe you're riding in a car that has a clock in the dashboard . Even if you don't have a timepiece of some sort nearby, your body keeps its own beat. Humans have an internal clock that regulates the beating of our heart, the pace of our breathing, the discharge of chemicals within our bloodstream, and many other bodily functions. Time is something from which we can't escape. Even if we ignore it, it's still going by, ticking away, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. So the main issue in using your time well is, "Who's in charge?" We can allow time to slip by and let it be our enemy. Or we can take control of it and make it our _ . By taking control of how you spend your time, you'll increase your chances of becoming a more successful student. Perhaps more importantly, the better you are at managing the time you devote to your studies, the more time you'll have to spend on your outside interests. The aim of time management is not to schedule every moment so we become slaves of a timetable that governs every waking moment of the day. Instead, the aim is to make informed choices as to how we use our time. Rather than letting the day go by, largely without our awareness, what we are going to discuss next can make us better able to control time for our own purposes. In the next part, the author would most probably discuss with you _ . Answer: how to make good use of time Last year The Voice of China, the most popular TV talent show became a popular topic in people's chatting and media information from both home and abroad. It began on July 13, 2012 and ended on September 30, 2012. Liang Bo, a handsome boy from Changchun, Jilin was the champion of The Voice of China in 2012. Before the competition Liang Bo was just an ordinary college student studying music. He captured the hearts of audience with his passionate rock'n'roll performance at the show. Fans described Liang's voice as "natural, clear and touching''. Although he seemed cool on stage, he could quickly turn on the power once he started singing. "His performances make you imagine things. When I listen to his singing, I see pictures and think of stories." said Na Ying, one of the four judges on the show. She was also Liang's tutor for the competition. Liang Bo, like many young Chinese, he fell in love with music through playing the guitar. Liang got his first guitar as a birthday gift when he was in middle school. He would spend days and nights practicing. " I can't live without my guitar." he said. " I don't like talking much but I carry great passion inside me," Liang said. " There is no better way to let it out than through music like rock'n'roll. Many people compare Liang to famous Chinese rockers including Xu Wei, Wang Feng and Zheng Jun. But the young man doesn't want to stand in others' shadow. " I respect those rockers, but I'm not going to copy them. I will be who I am," he said. How long did The Voice of China last? Answer: More than two months. Read our guide because ---trust us--- you don't want to be the one everyone's rolling their eyes at. GO RIGHT AHEAD: GOLDEN RULE: Home is pretty much the only place where you can safely blab about anything without having to consider the needs of the people around you. HANDLE WITH CARE in these places: Waiting rooms: People here tend to be feeling anxious about their news --- not yours. Shopping: Chatting while you're in line will slow down checkout and make other shoppers angry. GO RIGHT AHEAD: Make calls quickly and quietly, and be respectful of those forced to listen. DON'T DO IT in these places: Museums/libraries/churches: There are places we go for peace and quiet --- it's not proper to disturb others. Movies and plays: People pay to hear someone other than you perform. Elevators/ bathrooms/ beauty salons/ public transportation: No one around you can escape. Why force them to listen to your chitchat? Restaurants: People come here partly to get away from ringing phones and enjoy their conversations , so don't subject them to yours. GO RIGHT AHEAD: Put your phone on vibrate if you must get a call but always wait until you are outside before you start talking. While driving a car: It's rude to put other drivers in danger. So instead of going by the Golden Rules above, use a voice-activated phone --- and use it as little as possible. You are four times as likely to get into a car accident if you're on the phone while you're driving. Hang up already: How to politely ask that loud cell-take to speak softly: If you're in a place that has a manager, ask him or her to do _ . Otherwise, put on your sweetest smile, tap the offender on the shoulder, and try one of these carefully worded lines: "Would you please end your call? I can't hear what they're saying?" (Try this when you're watching movies and plays.) "Excuse me, but you're making it really hard for me to concentrate ." (Good for museums, libraries, and places of worship.) "Is it possible for you to speak a little more softly? I have a bad headache." (This will usually work just about anywhere.) The most proper place for you to chat freely on your cell phone is _ . Answer: at home On Saturday August 12, 2000, during Northern Fleet training exercises in the Barents Sea, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in about 100 meters of water with some 118 sailors aboard. It's known later that several officers were also aboard, observing the training exercises. The Kursk is lying on the ocean floor in the Barents Sea. The Russian Navy said that it was listing 30 degrees to port. Other sources reported it was listing as much 60 as degrees. According to a Russian newspaper, when the submarine Kursk failed to make contact with the naval command at the right time later that day, Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vyachesav Popov ordered rescue ships into the area. It took hours to find the submarine, as it didn't launch a marking buoy before sinking. Russian Navy Chief insisted that the submarine Kursk had been involved in a major collision , but a great deal of information shows that this is not true. Up till now, it's believed that an explosion in the torpedo compartment in the nose of the Kursk was the likely cause. Now Russian government officially asked Norway for help in recovering of sailors' bodies first of all, and Norway has agreed to offer all help. But Russian insisted that only Russians work inside the submarine Kursk and that the work last for about 10~18 working days. It is expected to recover only 25~35 bodies from the Kursk. It was not until October 25, when a team of Russian divers entered the submarine Kursk, some 350 feet below the surface, that truth became clear. On November 7, in the morning, owing to the icy and the cold weather, a special rescue meeting held on Murmansk decided to stop the whole bodies recovering operation. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text? Answer: A team of divers from Norway entered the submarine Kursk successfully on Oct. 25 Mr. Clark worked in a newspaper, and he did a lot of important and difficult work, but then he began to forget things, and this made his work very difficult. One day he said to himself, "I'm going to go and see Dr. Martin about this." He waited in the doctor's waiting room with the other patients, and then the nurse said to him, "You can go in and see Dr. Martin now". "Oh, doctor," said Mr. Clark, 'it's terrible, I can't remember anything for longer than half a minute, and it's making my work very difficult. What can I do? Can you help me?" The doctor said, "When did this start, Mr. Clark?" "When did what start?" Mr. Clark said. _ go to see Dr. Martin. Answer: Mr. Clark himself decided to
Question: Flexible working hours, homeworking opportunities and cover for emergencies or school holidays are the top concerns for working mothers, according to a British survey on Thursday. The survey of 1,677 people by specialist employment advice website workingmums.co.uk showed that despite a tougher job climate, in which redundancies had risen dramatically during the crisis, mothers demanded for a more flexible schedule. Flexible hours for full-time jobs came top of the list for 85 percent of respondents who were asked what they thought made for a family-friendly employer. That came just ahead of homeworking opportunities. "Flexibility is really key and able to help achieve an element of work/life balance," workingmums.co.uk founder Gillian Nissim told reporters. She said the crisis had not reduced the urgency of this issue for working mums and that employers who want to be prepared for the eventual upturn would do well to listen to them rather than risk losing them to more forward-thinking rivals. Many women said they had considered setting up their own business as a way around the flexibility problem and nearly half (45 percent) of respondents said they had looked into it. Nissim said the workingmums.co.uk database alone showed that on average working mums have more than 15 years of work experience and a range of valuable skills picked up in the workplace and from their parenting experiences. "So the benefits to employers of being able to accommodate a degree of flexibility is significant," she said. Part-time work, flexibility around emergency cover or school holidays were the next highest concerns with extended maternity pay as well on the list of concerns.More than half (54 percent) of respondents said they would accept a less well-paid job in return for flexibility, with 40 percent prepared to consider this option. Flexibility of working hours can help women _ . A. to have an extended maternity. B. to have opportunities to operate their own companies. C. to strike a balance between work and life. D. to pick up a range of valuable skills. Answer: C Question: "Let's go Dutch, shall we?" Jim said after a dinner to his friends in a restaurant. What does Jim mean? Long ago, there was a kind of dinner called Dutch treat . At a Dutch treat, the invited guests were expected to pay for their own share of the food and drink. Now, Dutch treat means when friends go out to have fun, each person pays his or her own share. There are many other expressions related with "Dutch" in American English. However, most of them were first used in England in the 17th century. At that time, the British and the Dutch were war enemies. So when British people talked about something wrong or bad, they would like to use the word "Dutch". A common expression heard a few years ago was in Dutch. A friend may tell you, "You are in Dutch. The teacher is angry with you. Be careful!" When a soldier took Dutch leave, he left the army without permission. Dutch courage was the false courage produced by the effects of drinking wine. There is one expression that did come from the Dutch. That is to talk like a Dutch uncle. The Dutch were known for the strict and serious way they educated their children. What did people mean by saying "Let's go Dutch"? A. The guests should leave first. B. Each person should pay his or her own bill C. The food should be better next time. D. People should go to another restaurant. Answer: B Question: _ , by the U.S. education system. Remarkably, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White. Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn't take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable! Still, he did not study. In the middle of the first semester of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things, as the day wore on. His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober enough to care. Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school. One day, Miss White's impatient voice broke into his daydreams. "Steve!!" Startled, he turned to look at her. "Pay attention!" Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration , as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade. "You all did pretty well," she told the class, "except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but..." She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face. "...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!" She just stared at Steve, as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips. After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn't do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe, he remained stubborn. "Just try it! ONE WEEK!" He was unmoved. "You're smart enough! You'll see a change!" Nothing fazed him. "Give yourself a chance! Don't give up on your life!" Nothing. "Steve! Please! I care about you!" Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally unattainable and perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM??!! Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around. Both parents were passed out, in various stages of undress, and the stench was overpowering! He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined, he headed for the woods. The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not. Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn't resist another look at the lovely woman. Miss White's face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test! From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel! And he continued this course throughout his school life. After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful military career. During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct professor in a nearby college. Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know, because I am the love of his life. You see, it's simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared. What might be the best title for this passage? A. A boy loves his teacher B. The difference a teacher can make C. A great teacher D. Please care about your students Answer: C Question: Miss sending letters? Try Lettrs! This new service brings back the art of letter writing by marrying it to the Internet. Lettrs, a new site, is attempting to bring back the old-fashioned idea of letter writing by providing a space that feels a little bit like a writing desk. Of course, there'll be purists who say that to truly enjoy letter writing you must do it on fancy letter paper and envelope in the mail is part of the fun. And if you're into that sort of thing, go for it. But I can't be the only one who is now so much faster at typing that writing by hand is painfully slow. Nor can I be the only one who likes to write on a whim when I'm going to be on a crowded train or airplane, both of which are situations where writing on the computer is far easier. The site tries, pretty seriously, to approximate what it's like to have your very own writing desk and paper to choose from (which comes in various prints and colors) as well as corresponding types of prints and cursive writing that come out on your screen as you write. There's also a "desk drawer" for letters you've already sent, a "fridge" to post letters publicly, a "kitchen counter" for letters you have just received, and "shoebox" to store your letters in. And if you need inspiration there are even old-style letters that are great examples of the kind of correspondence people used to send. Lettrs is such a great idea, because you get the best parts of communicating online (typing rather than writing, the speed, no lost mail, and it's free! ) with the nice parts of a letter-the sense of sitting down to write, quietly, to one person in a meaningful way. Who would you write to? It can be inferred from the text that the author _ . A. is one of the purists B. prefers writing to typing C. always hopes to get paper letters D. likes using Lettrs to write letters Answer: D Question: Some advice : (1) Always play in a safe place. A park is a safe place because there are no cars or trucks. But do not talk to anyone you do not know. Never go with a stranger into a motor car. (2) Before crossing the road, stop and look both ways. Look left, look right, look left again. (3) Keep away from houses or building that are being built or knocked down. Something might fall on your head, or you might cut yourself on broken grass. (4) Medicines or pills can be dangerous. Never swallow any pills or medicines you find in the cupboard. (5) Wear a life jacket whenever you go out in a boat. Even if you are not in the open sea and the water is not deep, you should have your life jacket on. It's easy to fall out of a boat. (6) Do not put your head out of a car, bus or train. Many children have been killed by doing this. Even if your friends ask you to play in a house that is being built, you _ . A. should go B. shouldn't go C. did go D. didn't go Answer: B
I arrived at my mother's home for our Monday family dinner. The smells of food flew over from the kitchen. Mother was pulling out quilt after quilt from the boxes, proudly showing me their beauties. She was preparing for a quilt show at the Elmhurst Church. When we began to fold and put them back into the boxes, I noticed something at the bottom of one box. I pulled it out. "What is this?" I asked. "Oh?" Mom said, "That's Mama's quilt." I spread the quilt. It looked as if a group of school children had pieced it together; irregular designs, childish pictures, a _ line on the right. "Grandmother made this?" I said, surprised. My grandmother was a master at making quilts. This certainly didn't look like any of the quilts she had made. "Yes, right before she died. I brought it home with me last year and made some changes," she said. "I'm still working on it. See, this is what I've done so far." I looked at it more closely. She had made straight a crooked line. At the center of the quilt, she had stitched a piece of cloth with these words:"My mother made many quilts. She didn't get all lines straight. But I think this is beautiful. I want to see it finished. Her last quilt." "Oh, this is so nice, Mom," I said. It occurred to me that by completing my grandmother's quilt, my mother was honoring her own mother. I realized, too, that I held in my hands a family treasure. It started with the loving hands of one woman, and continued with the loving hands of another. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? Answer: You've flown halfway around the world; you've sniffed out this place that nobody in Falongland or Thailand seems to have ever heard of; so what on earth is there to do here? You consider this question as you sink into an old wooden beach chair that holds you above the sand. It was a long journey from Bangkok to Huaplee. By the time you found the bus station and got yourself sorted out, it took almost as long as the flight from Falongland. Huaplee is located just south of Hua Hin, about two hundred kilometres from Bangkok, down the west side of the Gulf of Thailand. Not many tourists find this place,and the ones that do wonder if finding it has been their purpose all along. There's an apparent laziness that surrounds you here. It's what this place offers, and it,s free of charge. The small waves that tap the shoreline seem to slow everything down. You settle into your beach chair in preparation for a long rest. You sit there and watch the sea. It's early afternoon, so the cook comes out and asks what you'd like to eat this evening. Before long he's rushed off to the market to buy the ingredients for whatever it was that you ordered---every meal fresh and to order. No menu here. There is no poolside noise here but just that wonderfully warm, clear blue sea. There9s no street noise. The only sounds are the murmurs of nature.For now you just count your blessings ,listing them in the sand with your toe * You don't have to worry about being late for work. You don't have to do anything. The beach to your right stretches off to the horizon ,slowly narrowing to nothingness only to re-emerge again on your left, now steadily widening until it covers the chair beneath you. Sand to your left and sand to your right; it's unbroken, endless. No start, no end, just sand, sun,and peace. Step off it, and you re-enter the world of traffic, stress, work,and hurry. Normally you,re the type who can,t sit still for more than ten minutes, but you're on Huaplee Lazy Beach now and, in the right frame of mind, it stretches all the way around theworld. "How could it take me so long to find it?" you wonder. In the author's opinion, a tourist can enjoy Huaplee Beach most when he _ . Answer: This month inTravelersCorner there are three teenagers' experiences in year-abroad programmes. Mariko Okada - Tokyo My year abroad in the United States was a fantastic experience. I'm not a shy person, and I was very comfortable speaking to everyone. So I got lots of speaking practice. I also learned many English songs and lots of interesting things about American culture. When I got home, my friends all said that I had improved so much! I hope to go back again in the future. Carla Fonseca - Rio de Janeiro I spent last year studying English in London. I'm from a small town, and London is a very big city. Sometimes I felt it was too big. There were so many people to talk to, but I always felt bad about my English. I missed my family, and I really missed my two cats. My roommate was always using our telephone, so I hardly had the chance for a nice long talk with my parents. I think it was a good experience for me, but I'm glad to be home! Alvin Chen - Hong Kong Studying in New Zealand was a fun experience for me, but it was also lots of hard work! I had English classes six hours a day, five days a week----with lots of homework. I also kept a diary of my experience. I like to write, and I wrote two or three pages in my diary every day. On Saturdays, my homestay family took me to lots of interesting places and showed me so many wonderful things about the culture. I'm really glad I went. Where did Mariko visit? Answer: As Rosalie Warren stood at the mailbox in the lobby of her apartment building in May 1980, she shared the anxiety of many other college seniors. In her hand was an envelope containing her final grades. As she nervously opened it, Warren wondered whether her hundreds of hours of studying had paid off. They had. "I got five 'A's," she still recalls with elation. "I almost fell on the floor!" Warren would graduate from Suffolk University with a bachelor of science degree in philosophy and history at age 80.Three years later, at age 83, she would receive her second degree from Suffolk, a master's in education. Now, with both diplomas proudly displayed in her apartment, Warren is not finished with learning. "That's what I love." Warren was born Rosalie Levey on Aug.29, 1900. Two years after she entered high school, her father died. Warren had to leave school for factory work to help support her family's 10 children. Warren describes herself as a "person who always liked school," and she says the move "broke my heart completely because I couldn't finish high school." In the end, however, "I went to school nights," she recalls. "Any place I could find an outlet of learning and teaching, I was there." A short time later, her mother became ill, and Warren had to care for her, once again putting her education on hold. Finally, in 1921, her mother, now recovered, drew from her saving to send Warren to Boston University for two years to study typing, stenography, and office procedures. Those courses helped Warren gain several long-term office positions over the next 60 years, but her great desire "to be in the academic field" continued. In 1924, she married Eugene Warren, and seven years later, her daughter, Corinne, was born. In 1955, by then a widow and a grandmother, Warren took a bus tour across the United States that was to last nine months. She said she wanted to see "things you never see in the West End." When she returned home, she took a bookkeeping position and also enrolled in courses in philosophy, sociology And Chinese history. free program for senior citizens." I was at the registrar's office the very next day."she recalls. At first ,she took one or two courses at a time , but encouraged by her professors , she enrolled as a In 1975, when she was 75, Warren learned from a neighbor about Suffolk University's tuition- degree candidate. "I had not studied for so many years," she says, "but I was determined." For the next four years, Warren, who calls herself a "student of philosophy," worked toward her degree. Nancy Stoll, dean of students at Suffolk, says Warren is "an interesting role model for our younger students---that learning is a lifetime activity....She is genuinely enthusiastic about being here, and that permeates her activities and is contagious to students and faculty." How old was Warren when she got her first college degree? Answer: A well-dressed man came into a famous jewellery shop. He explained that he wished to buy a pearl for his wife's birthday and that the price didn't matter since business had been very good for him that year. After examining a number of beautiful and valuable pearls, he chose a nice black one that cost $5,000. He paid for the pearl, shook hands with the jeweller and left. A few days later the man returned and said his wife had liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality as she wanted a pair of earrings made. "Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl?" said the man. The jeweller replied, "I would say it's nearly impossible to find an exact one like that pearl." The rich man asked the jeweller to advertise in the newspapers, and offered $25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the ad , but nobody had a pearl that was just right. Just when the jeweller had given up hope, a little old lady came in. To his surprise, she pulled the wonderful pearl from her handbag. "I don't like to sell it," she said sadly. "I inherited it from my mother, and my mother inherited from hers. But now I really need the money." The jeweller was quick to pay her before she changed her mind. Then he called the rich man's hotel to tell him the good news. The rich man, however, was nowhere to be found. The jeweller could not find the rich man anywhere because he _ . Answer:
Tennis lessons This event takes place every Wednesday from May 9 to July 17. These lessons are open to all from complete beginners to seasoned pros . Playing tennis is a great way of getting fit. Contact The Bridge to find the time for your age group. Cost:[?]4.8 adults, [?]3.30 under 16 per class Contact: Laura Reynolds Tel: 020 8778 7158 Street dance classes This event takes place every Wednesday from February 27 to December 25. The classes are set up for 3 to 6-year-olds. They provide an environment where each child can become confident in his or her efforts and successes. Our school believes "If You Aim High,You Will Succeed". Cost: PS4 per student Contact: Hayley Rea Email: info@aimhighacademy.co.uk Children's workshops in clay This event takes place every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from April 15 to July I. The workshops are suitable for children aged five years and above . The children will be shown different methods of making many things in clay. Cost: PS75 for 10 lessons Contact: Shirley Stewart Email: shirli stewart@yahoo.com Caterpillar music This event takes place every Tuesday and Friday from. October 18 to December 31. The classes are set up for 0 to 4-year-olds. We use puppets , actions, songs, instruments and games to entertain and introduce a love of music to your little one. The classes last 40 minutes and each week we have a different theme. Cost: PS6 per class Contact: Angela Capriati Tel: 020 8698 8439 If you are interested in making things with hands, you may contact_. A. Hayley Rea B. Shirley Stewart C. Angela Capriati D. Laura Reynolds Answer: B. Shirley Stewart Foxes and farmers have never got on well. These small dog-like animals have long been accused of killing farm animals. They are officially classified as harmful and farmers try to keep their numbers down by shooting or poisoning them. Famers can also call on the services of their local hunt to control the fox population. Hunting consists of running after a fox across the countryside, with a group of specially trained dogs, followed by men and women riding horses. When the dogs eventually catch the fox, the kill it or a hunter shoots it. People who take part in hunting think of it as a sport. They wear a special uniform of red coats and white trousers, and follow strict rules of behavior. But owning a horse and hunting regularly are expensive, so most hunters are wealthy. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people watch or take part in fox-hunting. But over the last couple of decades the number of people who are against fox-hunting, because they think it is brutal , has risen sharply. Nowadays it is rare for a hunt to pass off without some kind of conflict between hunters and hunt opponents . Sometimes these incidents lead to violence, but mostly opponents discourage the hunt by misleading riders and disturbing the trail of the fox's smell, which the dogs follow. Noisy conflicts between hunters and opponents have become so common that they are almost as much a part of hunting as running after foxes itself. But this year supporters of fox-hunting face a much bigger threat to their sport. A Labour Party member of Parliament , Mike Foster, is trying to get Parliament to approve a new law which will make the hunting of wild animals with dogs illegal. If the law is passed, wild animals like foxes will be protected under the ban in Britain. Wealthy people in Britain have been hunting foxes to _ . A. benefit the farmers B. get entertainment C. show off their wealth D. limit the fox population Answer: B. get entertainment Twenty years ago, Americans were a rare sight in China. But decades later, things have changed greatly. Americans are found in every Chinese province and region and in all walks of life. Much of this change is due to the increasing exchange and improving relationship between the two countries, but what attracts many here is China's rapid development and the huge opportunities that have arisen with that development. Erik Nilsson has been working for the English newspaper China Daily as a reporter for five years since his graduation from Central Michigan University. Although his original plan was to become a conflict zone reporter in Latin America, he decided to stay at China Daily Robert Brownell, a former IT engineer with Microsoft in Seattle, is now teaching in China and appreciates the different atmosphere in the school. His actions are a lot less restricted here than they would be in the U.S. "For good students, I can give them candy," he explains. "But in American schools, if you give food to students, they have to be sealed and tested. In China I can pat them on the back and raise my voice. But in America, everything is regulated so much, you just can't do anything." Kodi Keith Avila, the 30-year- old Hawaiian is running a business English school, New York Minutes, in Beijing. Avila first came to China in 2007 on a scholarship program as a student of University of Hawaii. It was encouragement from his professor that finally convinced him to go to China. "He thought China would overtake other countries in trade, consumption and technology," Avila said."I saw many good opportunities for personal careers or business development in China. So many limousines Audi, Mercedes-Benz, so many businessmen and skyscrapers. One can get a business license in China as long as one has a good business plan"he told China Today. "I came to China because I am interested in Chinese medicine. Learning Chinese language will help me learn Chinese medicine," Caponigro told China Today. She is not alone among Americans in becoming more and more fascinated with Chinese culture. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage? A. The Fascinating Chinese Culture B. China--- A Jobseekers' Wonderful Place C. Starting Business in China D. Americans Following Their Dreams to China Answer: D. Americans Following Their Dreams to China Mrs. Black is such a heavy woman in the world that one day she goes to see the doctor. The doctor tells her that she should eat more vegetables and less meat. So the next morning she only has an egg and a glass of milk for breakfast. And she has some rice and vegetables for lunch. In the evening, she feels very hungry. She begins to cook supper. She makes some hamburgers with chicken. She puts a little chicken and lots of vegetables in each hamburger. She has five hamburgers for supper. After that, she feels better and goes to bed. After a week, she goes to see the doctor again. The doctor is so surprised to find that she is heavier. But Mrs. Black tells him that she has more vegetables and less meat every day! What does Mrs. Black have for breakfast? A. Chicken. B. An egg and some milk. C. Rice and vegetables. D. Hamburgers. Answer: B. An egg and some milk. New research shows that the healthy brain may hold memories which we don't even remember. In The Journal of Neuroscience, experts report that the brain might hold more memories than people realize, but that restoring those memories can be tricky. Memory Check First, participants saw a list of 120 real words mixed with 80 nonsense words. Next, they saw another word list and tried to remember which words had been on the first list. Meanwhile, their brains were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging. While participants reviewed the second word list, their brain scans showed more activity in a certain brain area -- the posterior median temporal lobe -- when they saw words that had been on the first word list. But participants didn't always remember that they'd seen those words before. Sometimes, they _ and said they hadn't seen those words before. In other words, the posterior median temporal lobe was more sensitive to memory than participants' consciousness, the researchers note. "Album"of Memories Another part of the median temporal lobe also attracted the scientists' attention. The anterior median temporal lobe showed more activity when participants thought they were seeing a new word, the study shows. So, why did participants sometimes mess up their memory recall? It might be that two parts of their brain -- the posterior and anterior median temporal lobes -- might be dueling for the upper hand in deciding what actually happened in the past, the study notes. In other words, memories might have a photo album in the brain, but sometimes we forget what's on all of the photo album's pages. A person sometimes has difficulty recalling because _ . A. he is unconscious when he gets his memories B. he forgets what is on the pages of the photo album C. there are two parts in his brain dueling for the upper advantage D. the anterior median temporal lobe is more active than the posterior Answer: C. there are two parts in his brain dueling for the upper advantage
Alex contracted for expensive cable television service for a period of six months solely to view the televised trial of Clark, who was on trial for murder in a court of the state of Green. In the midst of the trial, the judge prohibited any further televising of Clark's trial because he concluded that the presence of television cameras was disruptive. Alex brought an action in a federal district court against the judge in Clark's case asking only for an injunction that would require the judge to resume the televising of Clark's trial. Alex alleged that the judge's order to stop the televising of Clark's trial deprived him of property his investment in cable television service without due process of law. Before Alex's case came to trial, Clark's criminal trial concluded in a conviction and sentencing. There do not appear to be any obvious errors in the proceeding that led to the result in Clark's case. After Clark's conviction and sentencing, the defendant in Alex's case moved to dismiss that suit. The most proper disposition of this motion by the federal court would be to A. defer action on the motion until after any appellate proceedings in Clark's case have concluded, because Clark might appeal, his conviction might be set aside, he might be tried again, and television cameras might be barred from the new trial. B. defer action on the motion until after the Green Supreme Court expresses a view on its proper disposition, because the state law of mootness governs suits in federal court when the federal case is inexorably intertwined with a state proceeding. C. grant the motion, because the subject matter of the controversy between Alex and the defendant has ceased to exist and there is no strong likelihood that it will be revived. D. deny the motion, because Alex has raised an important constitutional question whether his investment in cable service solely to view Clark's trial is property protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Answer: C "Good morning!" said a woman as she walked up to an old man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. He was Jack, who had been begging around here for a couple of years. "See thatcafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get you something to eat and get you out of the cold for a while." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack thought hard and said, "I think so--I mean you do look familiar." "I was thin and hungry," she said. "Maybe I've _ now more than when you worked here. That was when I was just out of college. I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked in the streets for days, cold and hungry. I saw this place and walked in hoping that I could satisfy my hunger." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said it was against company's policy." The woman continued, "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register." "So you started your own business?" old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God,prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons, the personnel director of my company. He'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled, "If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you." There were tears in the old man's eyes, "How can I ever thank you?" he said. "Don't thank me;" the woman answered, "thank yourself. It was your kindness that let me know you." Why did the woman invite the beggar to dinner? A. The beggar was once her friend. B. She felt very pity for the beggar. C. The beggar once offered her a free meal. D. She once worked with the beggar. Answer: C Thick dust rose and a large building collapsed. This was the scene in Zhu Zhou,Hunan Province on May 17. Nine people were killed and 16 injured. Things were similar in the Sichuan earthquake. Thousands of people were buried in the ruins and lost their lives. What if we could have warned them? People are always _ to find a way of preventing buildings' collapse. Better materials and technology help,but they are not a solution. Just like humans,a building has its own life cycle from "birth" to "death".If we know when a building is going to collapse,we can repair it in advance or get out of it before it falls. Now,scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a material that turns red before it breaks. The invention could be used in things like climbing ropes or bridge supports. The research was led by Nancy Sottos,a professor at the university's Beckman Institute,and Douglas Davis,a graduate research assistant. The secret behind the color--changing material is a type of molecule .A molecule is a group of atoms held together by chemical bonds. Imagine you and your friends standing in a circle,holding hands. Each person stands for one atom,your hands represent the bonds,and the entire circle represents a molecule. If one person lets go of his or her hands,the molecule changes color. The research team put the molecule into a soft material. When the researchers stretched the material,it turned bright red for a few seconds before it broke into two pieces. When they repeatedly stretched and relaxed the material,without breaking it,it only turned a little red. The major problem is that light can get rid of the red color. When the team shone bright light on the molecule,the broken bond was fixed,and the color disappeared. Scientists have yet to do more research before the color--changing molecules can be used outside the lab. What does the passage mainly introduce? A. The collapse of a large building in Zhu Zhou, Hunan Province. B. A type of molecule that can be put into a soft material C. A material that turns red before it breaks. D. A way of preventing building from collapsing. Answer: C Earlier this year,my oldest daughter got braces on her teeth,and let's just say she did not go quietly into that dentist's chair. Fear and hate pretty much describe the days leading up to her first appointment. So when she finally walked out with shiny teeth,a sore mouth and a broken spirit, I told her I was proud of her and took her to Ben & Jerry's for an ice cream reward. Two weeks later, we returned to the scene of the crime.The dentist spent about 45 seconds checking her teeth before sending her on her merry way. Before I could start the car, she was placing her ice cream order. She was shocked when I told her that she wasn't going to get a reward every time we got her teeth checked. Apparently,she's not alone. According to some parenting experts, kids are easily addicted to a benefitproducing system of parental rewards and bribes --not all ice creams, candies and cool toys.Some parents are offering their children novel prizes just to let them sit down and behave in a restaurant--or sleep in their own beds--or score a goal in the next soccer game. While the experts agree that occasional awards are okay,the danger lies in the system's overuse.Kids quickly gain a sense of entitlement ,where they come to expect a big reward for every good thing that they do, no matter how small.To keep things in check,experts say parents should reduce the number of rewards they offer, make sure rewards match the behavior and explain the real benefits of behaving. In the experts' opinion,parents _ . A. should provide their children with many luxurious things B. shouldn't give their children too many rewards C. should give their children more spiritual rewards D. should tell their children the benefits of rewards Answer: B Once upon a time, there was an old man named John. John loved to eat peaches. In fact, John's whole family, including his mother Stephanie, his father Bob, and his brother James loved to eat peaches. John would eat peaches in the morning for breakfast, in the afternoon for lunch, and in the evening for dinner. John and his best friend, Rick, shared their love for peaches. One day John and Rick started a peach farm so that they would never run out of their favorite fruit. They planted hundreds of peach trees and waited for them to bear fruit. After 6 years of waiting, 1 lonely peach finally grew on one of the trees John and Rick planted. They picked the peach and brought it home. They waited until the weekend to eat it in case more peaches grew, but none did. John and Rick were sad and confused about their farm. They planted hundreds of trees and were sure that there would be thousands of peaches for them to eat in no time. Another peach never grew on their farm for 17 years. One day, a mighty crack of thunder led to a strong storm. Lightning hit the ground over and over, and John and Rick were scared their trees might be killed. The next morning, every tree on the farm had more than 10 peaches on it. John and Rick started shouting for joy. How many years did it take for the first peach to grow? A. 10 B. 17 C. 1 D. 6 Answer: D
Vinegar and water are placed in a container and stirred. What is formed when they are mixed? A gas B solid C solution D compound Answer: C. solution "This is really a very fast game, the fastest I've seen so far this year. Both sides are fighting for the ball all the time. The crowd is loving every minute of it. They are shouting at the top of their voices." "Wills has the ball now. This is only his third game for Scotland, but he's playing so well that it won't be his last. I'm quite sure." "Wills passes the ball to Cotton. Cotton kicks it over the heads of the waiting Frenchmen, towards the goalmouth. But he's too far away, Dupond picks it up easily, and throws it to Patou, put on the left." "France and Scotland still have one goal each, and there are only two minutes left of the game. But during that time, anything can happen. Patou kicks the ball across to Croat. It is a beautiful kick, but Steven jumps and just stops the ball with the side of his head. Meunier is there. He passes to Crozat, and Crozat, without waiting a second, puts the ball into the back of the goal. It takes everybody by surprise. I have never seen a goal like it." "The game is over. France has won the cup." The passage is probably A a newspaper report B a spot news in a magazine C a live report D an article about football in a book Answer: C. a live report As an effect of the high fuel prices spent on bus transportation, some American schools are changing to a four-day week. That means longer days instead of the traditional Monday through Friday schedule. Having been approved for three years and beginning in the fall, students in the Maccray school district in Minnesota will be in school from Tuesday to Friday. Each school day will be 65 minutes longer. Officials say the district expects to save about sixty-five thousand dollars a year in transportation costs. In new Mexico, the first school district changed to a four-day week in 1974 because of the Arab oil boycott . Now, 17 out of 89 districts use it. In Custer, South Dakota, students have been going to school four days a week since 1995. Superintendent Tim Creal says the change has saved about one million dollars over just the past eight years. He sees other benefits, too. Students get more instructional time, and activities that used to take up class time are now held on non-school days. He says that in the future, the growth of online classes could make it possible to require even fewer days in school. High fuel prices are driving college students to take more online classes. A four-day school week sounds like a great idea for students and teachers, but working parents may have to pay for child care for that fifth day. It can be learned from the passage that _ A students will be in school from Monday to Tuesday. B four-day week was first carried out in South Dakota. C Maccray will save one million dollars every year. D Minnesota state has approved the four-day week plan Answer: D. Minnesota state has approved the four-day week plan My name is Donna and I have two sisters, Liza and Rita. We like hamburgers and milk for lunch. Lisa and I like chicken, but Rita doesn't. I don't like noodles for breakfast, but Liza and Rita do. I like porridge for breakfast. We really like vegetables and eggs for dinner. We like _ for dinner. A vegetables and chicken B eggs and vegetables C noodles and eggs D porridge and chicken Answer: B. eggs and vegetables As they migrate , butterflies and moths choose the winds they want to fly with, and they change their body positions if they start floating in the wrong direction. This new finding suggests that insects may employ some of the same methods that birds use for traveling long distances. Scientists have long thought that insects were simply at the mercy of the wind. Fascinating as their skills of flight are, migrating behavior has been difficult to study in insects because many long distant trips happen thousands of feet above ground. Only recently have scientists developed technologies that can detect such little creatures at such great heights. To their surprise, though, the insects weren't passive travelers on the winds. In autumn, for example, most light winds blew from the east, but the insects somehow sought out ones that carried them south and they positioned themselves to navigate directly to their wintering homes. Even in the spring, when most winds flowed northward, the insects didn't always go with the flow. If breezes weren't blowing in the exact direction they wanted to go, the insects changed their body positions to compensate . Many migrating birds do the same thing. The study also found, butterflies and moths actively flew within the air streams that pushed them along. By adding flight speeds to wind speeds, the scientists calculated that butterflies and moths can travel as fast as 100 kilometers an hour. The findings may have real-world applications. With climate warming, migrating insects are growing in number. Knowing how and when these pests move could help when farmers decide when to spray their crops. It is not easy to study the migrating behavior of the insects because _ . A the little creatures can fly very fast B they have no regular migrating courses C the wind's direction is hard to foresee D their flight is long and high above ground Answer: D. their flight is long and high above ground
Question: Shakespeare once called the English countryside "the precious stone set in the silver sea"- and he is not the last to sing high praises of its beauty and historical charm . The countryside is particularly beautiful during the summer, especially in August and September. As one travels the countryside, you'll find more of its treasures: so many plants and animals, romantic castles , secret gardens, and villages so unchanged in the last decades that they seem to have been caught under a fairy' s spell. Must-sees include Derbyshire, called "the heart of England" and home to the National Park. The great peaks were the muse of the Bronte sisters (and if you love the book Jane Eyre, you can visit North Lees hall, where the real Eyre family once lived). History lovers will enjoy a visit to Lincoln city (its most famous son is Lord Alfred Tennyson). It is also known for its cathedral , the charming tea shops, a small castle. One would never guess its violent past--built by Romans, it was once a center for arrow making. Harry Potter fans shouldn't miss a visit to Alnwick, which is better recognized as the "Hogswarth" in the movies. Let's not leave out the Wessex region, where one can see one of England's greatest mysteries, Stone Henge. You can also go to the City of Bath, which has been famous for its medicines springs since the Roman times. Other popular tractions include Salisbury Cathedral, and landscaped gardens of Stourhead, and the cobbled streets of Shaftesbury. This is also home to Oxford, one of the world's most famous universities. Art lovers will also like a visit to East Anglia, whose landscapes inspired the painter Constable (he was born in Dedham village). This is also home of the University City of Cambridge, and the famous architectural attraction, King's College Chapel. Be sure to visit the aircraft museum of Duxford. When traveling in the countryside, Harry Potter fans are advised to visit _ . A. the Wessex region B. Derbyshire C. Yorkshire D. Alnwick Answer: D. Alnwick Question: Two years ago, Wendy Hasnip, 47, experienced a brain injury that left her speechless for two weeks. When she finally recovered, she found herself talking with what seemed to be a French accent: "I phoned a friend the other day, and she spent the first ten minutes laughing," Hasnip said at the time. "While I have nothing against the French." Hasnip suffered from foreign accent syndrome , a rare condition in which people find themselves speaking their own language Like someone from a foreign country. The condition usually occurs in people who have experienced a head injury or a stroke a sudden loss of consciousness, sensation, or movement caused by a blocked or broken blood vessel in the brain. The condition was first identified during the Second World War in a Norwegian woman whose head was injured during an attack by the German military. The woman recovered but was left with a German-sounding accent, to the horror of fellow villagers who avoided her after that. Researchers have discovered that the combined effect of the damage to several parts of the brain makes victims lengthen certain syllables, mispronounce sounds, and change,the normal pitch of their voice. Those changes in speech add up to what sounds like a foreign accent. Another researcher, a phonetician ,says victims of the syndrome don't acquire a true foreign accent. Their strangely changed speech only resembles the foreign: accent with which it has a few sounds in common. When an English woman named Annie recently developed foreign accent syndrome after a stroke, she spoke with what seemed to be a Scottish accent. However, Annie's Scottish coworkers said she didn't sound at all like a Scot. According to the passage; people _ may have foreign accent syndrome. A. whose parent has experienced a head injury B. who have lived in a foreign country for a long time C. who have lost their consciousness owing to a stroke D. who have learned foreign language from their coworkers Answer: C. who have lost their consciousness owing to a stroke Question: Our senses aren't just delivering a strict view of what's going on in the world; they're affected by what's going on in our heads. A new study finds that hungry people see food-related words more clearly than people who've just eaten. Psychologists have known for decades that what's going on inside our head affects our senses. For example, poorer children think coins are larger than they are, and hungry people think pictures of food are brighter. Remi Radel of University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, France, wanted to investigate how this happens. Does it happen right away as the brain receives signals from the eyes or a little later as the brain's high-1evel thinking processes get involved. Radel recruited 42 students with a normal body mass index. On the day of his or her test, each student was told to arrive at the lab at noon after three or four hours of not eating. Then they were told there was a delay. Some were told to come back in 10 minutes; others were given an hour to get lunch first. So half the students were hungry when they did the experiment and the other half had just eaten. For the experiment, the participant looked at a computer screen. One by one, 80 words flashed on the screen for about l/300th of a second each. They flashed at so small a size that the students could only consciously perceive. A quarter of the words were food-related. After each word, each person was asked how bright the word was and asked to choose which of two words they'd seen-a food-related word like cake or a neutral word like boat. Each word appeared too briefly for the participant to really read it. Hungry people saw the food-related words as brighter and were better at identifying food- related words. Because the word appeared too quickly for them to be reliably seen, this means that the difference is in perception, not in thinking processes, Radel says. "This is something great to me. Humans can really perceive what they need or what they strive for. From the experiment, I know that our brain can really be at the disposal of our motives and needs. "Radel says. Why was there a delay on the day of the experiment? A. Because hungry people needed time to fill their stomach. B. Because Radel wanted to create two groups of testers, hungry and non-hungry. C. Because noon was not the right time for any experiment. D. Because Radel needed time to select participants in terms of body mass index. Answer: B. Because Radel wanted to create two groups of testers, hungry and non-hungry. Question: For many men, the idea that they have a better sense of direction than women has been improved by a scientific study. Researchers from Norway scanned on the brains of volunteers as they completed navigation tasks to discover men are more skillful at finding their way because they use a separate part of their brain. According to lead researcher Dr. Cal Pintzka from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), men and women have different navigational strategies. Med use basic directions--the use of north, south, east and west--during navigation to a greater degree. Men's sense of direction was more effective. They quite simply got to their destination faster. "If they're going to the Students Society building in Trodheim, for example, men usually go into the general direction where it is located." Dr. Pintzka explained. Women usually orient themselves along a route to get there, for example, go past the hairdresser and then up the street and turn right after the shore. The study shows that using the basic directions is more efficient because it is a more flexible strategy. The destination can be reached faster because the strategy depends less on where you start. Meanwhile, the study also shows both men and women use large areas of the brain when they navigate, but some areas were different. The man used the hippocampus more, whereas women use their frontal areas to a greater extent. That degrees with the fact that the hippocampus is necessary to make use of basic directions. Losing one's sense of direction is one of the first symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. Understanding how men and women use different brain areas and strategies to navigate, researchers will be able to enhance the understand of the disease's development, and develop coping strategies for those already affected. Why is men's strategy more efficient? A. Because it is much easier to be carried out. B. Because it is more helpful to identify roads. C. Because it is simpler for telling directions. D. Because it is less limited by the starting place. Answer: D. Because it is less limited by the starting place. Question: On Tuesday,a new study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation:Heart Failure revealed that women who ate five or more dishes of baked fish a month had a thirty percent lower risk of heart failure in comparison to women who ate less than one dish a month. Researchers examined the diets of 84,493 women,whose ages ranged from 50 to 79.The women who had eaten lots of baked fish like salmon ,were more healthy than those who mostly ate tuna or white fish. Eating baked fish also appeared to provide a protection against high blood pressure. The study also found that those women who ate more baked fish were likely to have a lower weight,exercise more and eat more fruits and vegetables in comparison to those who ate fried fish. Researchers noted that past research had discovered the fatty acids in fish probably decreased the risk of high blood pressure by improving blood pressure along with heart and blood functioning. This study showed the link between eating fish and heart failure risk but it was not designed to show cause and effect. This study also showed that just by eating one dish of fried fish a week led to a 49% greater risk of heart failure,and eating fried fish led to lower fiber intake and higher calorie intake. The American Heart Association suggested eating a minimum of two dishes of fish especially fatty fish each week. Which kind of fish is best for you according to the author? A. Baked tuna. B. Baked salmon. C. Boiled salmon. D. Fried white fish. Answer: B. Baked salmon.
From a college designed specifically for high school students to one that doesn't provide students with grades, here are some of the country's most unique institutions. Berea College, Berea, Kentucky The first interracial, co-educational college in the South, Berea specializes in attracting students who may be otherwise unable to afford a college education. Berea students come from families with an average household income of $30,000, which is why the school's financial aid program is so important. Deep Springs College, Deep Springs, California Deep Springs, formerly an all-male school, has one of the smallest student bodies in the country at 26. The college accepts only 10% of its applicants, and maintains its own cattle herd. Students enjoy the school's isolated location -- 45 miles away from the nearest established town. Electricity is produced mainly through solar power, and the college sometimes even sells electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric. The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington At Evergreen, students don't receive traditional letter grades. Instead, professors issue narrative evaluations of students' work at the end of each term. The curriculum is structured around the "Coordinated Studies Program", which focuses on providing students with a well-rounded education across a number of different areas. The college sits on 1,000 breathtaking acres, a portion of it on Puget Sound. Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts Considered an "experimenting" college because of its constantly changing curriculum, Hampshire College doesn't feature a traditional grading system. Instead, the school requires students to complete three different divisions, which feature different classes. Once the project is completed, it's not given a grade, but a written evaluation, as other projects students complete throughout their time at Hampshire are. Which of the following suits students from families with a lower income? Answer: Sophie investigates the water supply at her school and the things that affect it. Which action is a direct observation? Answer: When you think of the tremendous technological progress we have made, it's amazing how little we have developed in other respects. We may speak scornfully of the poor old Romans because they enjoyed the seemingly excited killing that went on in their arenas . We may despise them because they mistook these goings on for entertainment. We may forgive them because they lived 2000 years ago and obviously knew no better. But are our feelings of superiority really justified? Are we any less blood-thirsty? Why do boxing matches, for instance, attract such universal interest? Don't the audience who attend them hope they will see some violence? Human beings remain as bloodthirsty as ever they were. The only difference between ourselves and the Romans is that while they were honest enough to admit that they enjoyed watching hungry lions tearing people apart and eating them alive, we find all sorts of arguments to defend sports which should have been banned long ago. It really is incredible that in this day and age we should still allow hunting or bull-fighting, that we should be prepared to sit back and watch two men punch each other in a boxing ring, that we should be relatively unmoved by the sight of one or a number of racing cars crashing and bursting into flames. Any talk of 'the sporting spirit' is merely hypocrisy . People take part in violent sports because of the high rewards they bring. Audience are willing to pay vast sums of money to see violence. A world heavyweight championship match, for instance, is front page news. Millions of people are disappointed if a big fight is over in two rounds instead of fifteen. They feel disappointment because they haven't experienced the exquisite pleasure of witnessing continuous violence. Why should we ban violent sports if people enjoy them so much? You may well ask. The answer is simple: they are uncivilized. For centuries man has been trying to improve himself spiritually and emotionally--though with little success. But at least we no longer tolerate the sight madmen imprisoned in cages, or public punishment of any of the countless other barbarous practices which were common in the past. Prisons are no longer the harsh forbidding places they used to be. Social welfare systems are in operation in many parts of the world. Big efforts are being made to distribute wealth fairly. These changes have come about not because human beings have suddenly improved, but because positive steps were taken to change the law. The law is the biggest instrument of social change that we have and it may exert great civilizing influence. If we banned dangerous and violent sports, we would be moving one step further to improving mankind. We would recognize that violence is unworthy of human beings. How many dangerous sports does the author mention in this passage? Answer: Nails in the Fence There once was a little boy who had a bad temper . His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day he had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually _ . He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said," You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say thing in anger, they have a scar just like these holes. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say 'I am sorry ', the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as physical one." The little boy then understood how powerful his words were. He looked at his father and said " I hope you can forgive me ,father, for the holes I put in you." "of course I can," said the father. From this article, we can learn that _ . Answer: During the 1800s, African Americans worked long days in the fields of the American South.To ease their labor, they sang "field hollers" that they had brought from Africa.One person sang a line.Then a group of workers repeated it.The songs' words told of the hardships that people suffered.African Americans sang "shout spirituals", or joyous religious songs.They clapped their hands and stomped their feet to the music. After the Civil War, the music changed dramatically.African American music, from ballads to church music, took new forms.It also adapted dance music, called "jump-ups".which had great rhythm. Banjos became popular.A blues singer usually played a call and response with the banjo.By the early 1900s, the guitar had replaced the banjo as the main blues instrument. Northern Mississippi - called the Delta - was the center of the blues tradition.By the 1920s, the Delta had many clubs, so-called juke joints.African Americans listened and danced to music in these clubs.Some of the greatest blues men and women performed there. Blues have a soulful sound that is easy to recognize.The musical notes are often "bent".That is, they are changed slightly to give a song more strength.Whatever their origin, these bent notes most often define the blues. Lyrics are the words of a song.Blues lyrics describe everyday life.The lyrics, often about relationships between men and women, are often very intense and personal.They tell about sorrow and overwork.They tell about finding or losing love, having money or being broke, being happy or sad and lonely.The lyrics may use humor to describe life's trials and joys.They almost always use the rhythms of everyday speech.A typical blues stanza, or group of lyrics, has three lines.The second line repeats the first line.The third line has different words. By the 1940s, large numbers of African Americans had left the Delta and moved north to work. Many settled in Chicago.There, a new kind of "electric", or "Chicago" blues began.Many of its themes were the same, but these blues had "wailing" electric guitars and harmonicas.The music had a steady, strong drumbeat.The loud, driving Chicago blues was excellent dance music.Chicago blues led to the birth of a new music style-rock and roll. One can conclude from the passage that the blues _ . Answer:
When people reunite with their loved ones, it's usually a wildly happy moment. But what is their most common response to seeing them again? It may seem strange, but most of the time they break down in tears. Now a group of psychologists from Yale University in the US say they have found the reason why, and that crying tears of joy may well be the body's way of restoring emotional balance. " _ seem to take place when people are unable to tolerate strong positive emotions, and people who do this seem to recover better from those strong emotions," Oriana Aragon, the lead researcher, told The Telegraph. Aragon and her fellow psychologists looked at hundreds of participants' emotional responses to different things, including happy reunions and cute babies. Many participants said they would react in a negative or aggressive way to the positive things -- to cry at happy moments and want to pinch a cute baby's face or even tell them "I want to eat you up!" But then researchers found that these people were able to calm down from strong emotions more quickly. "We want a happy, middle spot. Extreme is not good. It's hard on our bodies," Aragon told The Washington Post. There are many other examples of times when people respond to a positive experience with a negative emotional reaction. At an exciting concert, fans scream in horror at their idols. People who have just had a big lottery win are often in floods of tears. "These findings advance our understanding of how people express and control their emotions, which is importantly related to mental and physical health, the quality of relationship with others, and even how well people work together," said Aragon. The psychologists then went further and claimed that the reverse was also true. Strong negative feelings may also bring out positive expressions. For example, people often laugh when they are nervous or they are in a difficult or frightening situation. Also, have you ever seen a character smiling at a time of extreme sadness in a movie? Their acting is not over the top, as reacting with this type of expression is just human nature, said researchers The writer wrote the passage in order to _ . Peri sued Denucci for a libelous letter received by Investigator. The authenticity and contents of the letter are disputed.Investigator, if permitted, will testify that "I received a letter that I cannot now find, which read: Dear Investigator, You inquired about Peri. We fired him last month when we discovered that he had been stealing from the stockroom. Denucci'." The testimony should be admitted in evidence only if the Carnival does not take place only in Louisiana. There are many celebrations around the world. In Brazil, the celebration is supposed to go on from the Saturday before Mardi Gras to Mardi Gras Day, but in some Brazilian cities the celebration can last seven or eight days. Just like New Orleans, not many important things are decided in Brazil from New Year's Day to Mardi Gras Day because everyone is preparing for or celebrating carnival. Most Brazilian parades have a subject, which could be political and historical. The parades had to have a subject related to Brazil until 1996. Some cities in Brazil do not have a street carnival but they might have an indoor ball. Bolivia has carnival parades for children and then more parades for adults. The children dress up in costumes and march in the streets. The adults make traditional dance groups and dance in the streets. But the main part of Bolivia's carnival is getting wet. Almost everyone gets wet from water balloons and water buckets. In Oruru, Bolivia, their carnival is held in the last ten days of the carnival season. People there participate in crafts and dancing, but their main carnival event is a ceremonial parade that lasts for twenty hours and parades for four kilometers. Over 20,000 dancers are involved as well as 10,000 musicians. This parade attracts at least 400,000 people. The carnival in Venice, Italy is often regarded as the most carefully prepared carnival and lasts the ten days before Lent . Many events are held in the canals including shows, concerts, dances, and water processions . The official ending to the celebration is the ball held in St. Mark's Square. Which of the following statements shows that the author pays special attention to the carnival in Bolivia? Long long ago, there lived in England a king named Midas. He was a greedy man and loved gold better than anything else in the world. One day, he asked a god to give him more gold. The god decided to punish him and said, "Your wish is _ already. Everything you touch will turn to gold." Midas was very happy when he heard this. The next morning, he got up early to test his skills. When he touched his bed, it turned to gold. "Gold!" cried Midas, laughing like a little boy, "It works." Not only stones, flowers, and the furniture in his house turned to gold, but, when he sat down to table, so did the food he ate and the water he drank. He was unhappy now. Just then his daughter ran up to him. Midas touched her hand. At once she became a gold statue ! A last, he begged the god to free him from his wish. "Go to the river and bathe in it." said the god. So Midas did, and the water took away his golden touch. What can we learn from the story? Efforts to reduce the damage from the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are under way . How can you help ?A number of organizations are recruiting volunteers. The Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected . Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteers in the affected areas , call 1-866-448-5816. The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife , and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana. You can text the word "NWF" to 20222. That'ss donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation through your phone bill. United Way has launched the Gulf Recovery Fund . which is providing emergency assistance and long-term recovery support for the communities affected by this oil spill . Those who need help or want to volunteer can dial 2-1-1.You can donate to this fund by going to liveunited . org/gulfrecovery.or text the word "United" to 50555 to donate $10 from your mobile phone. The First Response Team of America is working with the National Guard in Southern Louisiana to build dams to hold back the oil from the fragile coastal habitats . Their founder , Tad Agoglia --who was named a CNN Hero in 2008--has made their work on the oil . spill their top Priority until the disaster is contained.They are looking for volunteers . Call 941-388-3010. AmenCares is providing medical care and supplies to oilspill victims along the Gulf , and is funding and assisting mental health assessments and counseling needs for the immediate and long-term health and mental health issues affecting children as a result of this disaster . Mental health experts are in great demand . The Children's Health Fund can be reached at 1-800-535-7418. Which of the following organizations are providing medical care?
After eleven years of marriage, a couple had a boy. They were a loving couple and the boy was a gem of their eyes. 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 his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. His wife who was busy in the kitchen forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle, playfully went to it, was fascinated by its color and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine. When the child fell to the ground, the mother took him to the hospital in a hurry, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified at how to face her husband. When the father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and just said, "I'm with you, darling." The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. No one is to blame . She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is exactly what he gave her. What's the best title for the passage? A. Keep the medicine from your kid. B. Candy or Medicine? C. How to keep children safe. D. I'm with you. Answer: D Surprisingly, no one knows how many children receive education in English hospitals, still less the content or quality of that education. Proper records are just not kept. We know that more than 850,000 children go through hospital each year, and that every child of school age has a legal right to continue to receive education while in hospital. We also know there is only one hospital teacher to every 1,000 children in hospital. Little wonder the latest survey concludes that the extent and type of hospital teaching available differ a great deal across the country. It is found that half the hospitals in England which admit children have no teacher. A further quarter have only a part-time teacher. The special children's hospitals in major cities do best; general hospitals in the country and holiday areas are worst off. From this survey, one can estimate that fewer than one in five children have some contact with a hospital teacher--and that contact may be as little as two hours a day. Most children interviewed were surprised to find a teacher in hospital at all. They had not been prepared for it by parents or their own school. If there was a teacher they were much more likely to read books and do math or number work; without a teacher they would only play games. Reasons for hospital teaching range from preventing a child falling behind and maintaining the habit of school to keeping a child occupied, and the latter is often all the teacher can do. The position and influence of many teachers was summed up when parents referred to them as "the library lady" or just "the helper". Children tend to rely on concerned school friends to keep in touch with school work. Several parents spoke of requests for work being ignored or refused by the school. Once back at school children rarely get extra teaching, and are told to catch up as best they can. Many short-stay child-patients catch up quickly. But schools do very little to ease the anxiety about falling behind expressed by many of the children interviewed. The hospital teachers are found _ . A. not welcomed by the children and their parents B. unnecessary C. not quite helpful D. capable Answer: C Your stay in Britain should be a memorable and happy time. To achieve this, you need to prepare yourself well for the trip. Not only will you use English, but you will also need to get used to customs, attitudes and food that are different from what you know. Your stay will be more enjoyable if you join in with your host family, which is the family you will stay with. Use every opportunity to talk with your hosts. Do not just sit alone in your bedroom. If you plan to go out, you should tell them when and where you are going and when you expect to get back. This is important because your hosts are responsible for you. Find out what the "house rules" are. For example, who uses the bathroom first in the morning? When can you do your washing? Can you use the iron for your clothes? What about doing the dishes after dinner? Most British teenagers are very tidy. They are expected to help in the home and look after their things. Do not expect your host mother to do everything for you. The telephone can be a problem. At the start of your stay, ask your hosts if you may use their phone and of course, tell them you will pay for the calls to China. Make sure that you do not spend too long on their phone in the evenings. The food in Britain will be a new experience for you. Everyday food in Britain is not the same as the Western-style food you can find in China. Even so, you should try to eat whatever you are given. However, if it is something you really do not like, just say so politely. Do not bring your own food into the house. Whether you are at home or in a restaurant, do not spit out bones onto the table. Put them on the side of your plate. And remember--in Europe, people eat the main dish with a knife and fork. The spoon is used only for soup or dessert. What should you do at mealtime? A. Eat your own food. B. Spit out bones onto the table. C. Eat the main course with a spoon. D. Eat the food your host family gives you. Answer: D Get a Custom Salt Shaker for your Dining Table If you are looking for custom salt shaker for your dining table, then there are a number of varieties available from which you can have your pick. Get custom salt shakers for custom seasoning A wooden salt shaker has a beautiful design that can enrich your dining table. It is handmade from different pieces of wood of varying sizes. It has a pear shaped body with a ceramic grinder with fancy wood finish. The ceramic grinder for making salt into powder is built to last a life time. It does not wear away like metals do when used to grind salt. It is an extremely beautiful and very delicately made gift to be given to anybody. If you buy two pieces they offer you a generous quantity of Himalayan salt. Ceramic salt shakers for custom Seasoning A ceramic salt shaker is handmade and ideal to be kept in the kitchen to keep the cooking area neat and orderly. It is available in different colors, olive green, coffee brown, purple, egg blue, yellow and many more colors. You can use your fingers when you require a pinch of salt or use the spoon that accompanies it. It looks beautiful for kitchen use and can be given as a gift. Personalized salt shakers that can be given as anniversary gifts If you are looking for handmade anniversary gifts that you would like to give to your friends, you can give hand painted salt shakers. You can send your pictures and the makers will paint the picture of your friend and her loved one. Any message you like to add will be written on the salt shaker. This cannot be put in a dishwasher or soaked in water. It has to be washed carefully by hand. If you are a person who likes eco-friendly items then you can have a salt shaker made of bamboo. It has a solid construction which makes it ideal for kitchen setting. So if you are interested in buying a salt shaker for your table, you can choose one from above and order it. If you prefer salt powder, you may choose _ . A. a wooden salt shaker B. a bamboo salt shaker C. a ceramic salt shaker D. a hand painted salt shaker Answer: A A famous study was done in a school by a professor from a university. At the start of the school year, the teachers were given the names of five children. They were told that these five were the most excellent students in the class. But the fact was that these students were only average ,and they were not the best students at all. Well, guess what? At the end of the year, all the five average students scored among the highest in the class. What made these average students change so much to become top students?The only difference was the change in their teachers' attitude . Because the teachers believed that these five kids were the top students,they expected more from them. And so these five average students began to believe and expect more from themselves. So they worked harder to do as well as they could. Do you know why? If you expect the best from people, they'll usually want to give you their best. A great leader said, "Treat a person just how he appears to be on the outside, and you'll make him even worse. But treat a person like he's already a success,and you'll help make him the best he can be." Like the true story of 7-year-old Johnny, his teacher got so angry with him that one day she said,"Johnny,you're the naughtiest boy in this class. I'm sure you'll never change." The next year Johnny had a new teacher. And on the first day of class,she met with Johnny after school and said,"Johnny, I've heard a lot about you! But do you know that I don't believe a word of it." And every day after that, this new teacher treated Johnny as if he was one of the smartest students even when Johnny did naughty things. Later on, Johnny became a school leader. Because that's the power of our belief and attitude toward children. The professor started his research by _ . A. teaching the five children himself B. asking the five children to find a new teacher C. telling the five students to work harder than ever before D. telling the teacher the five students were the best in the class Answer: D
When we think about giving help to developing countries, we often think about giving money so that these countries can build schools and hospitals, buy food and medicine, or find clean water supplies. These seem to be the most important basic needs of the people we are trying to help. However, it's far from enough. Ladies and gentlemen, we've got to come up with some better ideas to help them. I was very surprised, then, when I read about a plan to make cheap laptop computers for children in developing countries. A man called Nicholas Negroponte invented a cheap laptop computer, which can run without electricity. He decided to invent this computer after he visited a school in Cambodia. The laptop which Mr. Negroponte has designed is a little different from the normal laptop computers you can buy in the shops. One difference is that it is covered in rubber so that it is very strong and won't be damaged easily. As an electricity supply can be a problem in developing countries, the computer also has a special handle so that children can wind the computer up to give it extra power when needed. These special laptop computers will cost less than 100 US dollars and Mr. Negroponte wants to build as many as 15 million machines in the first year of production. The idea is that these computers will help the children's education as they will be able to access the Internet. These computers might not help the people in developing countries immediately, but by improving children's education they should help people to find their own solutions to their problems in the long term. Another idea to help children in developing countries is to recycle old mobile phones so that they can be used again. In the UK, and, probably in many other countries too, millions of mobile phones are thrown away every year. The waste created by throwing away these old phones is very bad for the environment, so it seems to be an excellent idea to recycle them. In this way we will be able to achieve two important goals at the same time. We will reduce the waste we produce and help others. In other words, we will be able to 'kill two birds with one stone', and that is always a good thing. The author gives the example of Mr. Negroponte's cheap computers _ . Let's face it: Teenagers spend hours texting, socializing on Facebook and playing video games.And it's driving their parents nuts. Sure, there are real dangers connected with all this screen time--everything from cyberbullying to couch-potato obesity.Not to mention driving while texting, and shortened attention spans . Douglas Gentile, who studies the effects of media on children, says texting, Facebook and video games are not naturally bad.Nor are they naturally better or worse than watching TV, although they do lead to different risks, such as cyberbullying. But research has shown that the more time kids spend in front of screens--whether it's TV or instant-messaging--the worse their school performances are."That doesn't mean it's true for every kid, but it makes sense, that for every hour a kid is playing video games, it's an hour that they're not doing homework or reading or exploring or creating," he said.If screen time is taking the place of doing their homework, that's bad.But if their homework is done, well, so what? The study also found that the more time kids spend with media, the lower their grades and levels of personal satisfaction are.Gentile said the influence of screen time on school work can be reduced by what he calls "protective factors".Those might include good teachers and a high-performing school, love of reading, coming from a family where education is valued."If you had all these protective factors, then that one little risk factor, who cares?" One thing parents should worry about is the way electronic devices encourage multitasking . "As adults, your response speeds up, you're quicker to look over your shoulder and notice little noises or lights.However this is not what the kids need when they get to the classroom.Scanning to see when the next message comes may not be good for kids.The more distractions you have, the worse your performance is." Getting kids to turn off their phones, iPods in order to let them concentrate on homework is a fight worth having. What might be the most suitable title for the passage? Buyem faxed the following signed message to Zeller, his long-time widget supplier: "Urgently need blue widgets. Ship immediately three gross at your current list price of $600." Upon receipt of the fax, Zeller shipped three gross of red widgets to Buyem, and faxed to Buyem the following message: "Temporarily out of blue. In case red will help, am shipping three gross at the same price. Hope you can use them." Upon Buyem's timely receipt of both the shipment and Zeller's fax, which of the following best describes the rights and duties of Buyem and Zeller? Ellie lived with her six children in a small house. One winter, there was a big flood and quite a few houses were washed away, but Ellie's house was high enough to keep them safe. Many families lost everything in the flood. And Ellie took in one of the families. She shared her home with them until the family could build their own new house. Ellie's friends could not understand why she did so because she already had so many children to look after. "Well," Ellie said to her friends, "At the end of World War I, there was a poor woman in a town in Germany. Her husband had been killed in the war and she had a lot of children, just like me now." "The day before Christmas, this woman said to her children, 'We will not be able to have much for Christmas. I am going to get just one present for us all. Now I will go and get it.' She came back with a little girl who had no parents, 'Here is our present,' she said to her own children." "The children were very excited to get such a present. They welcomed the little girl warmly, and she grew up as their sisters. I was that Christmas present." What do we learn about Ellie in the passage? Birds have long been known to be the disease carries for years, but now they are receiving so much pressure due to Avian Bird Flu. Bird cause health danger to humans and animals in or around their droppings. Bird Buffer Q2, is designed to protect your facility from unwanted troublesome birds naturally, and is especially effective for sparrow control. When birds keep coming back and you've tried everything imaginable, it's time for Bird Buffer Q2. Bird control is now safe, easy, and economical with Bird Buffer. The Bird Buffer is also simple to operate. Just hang it with Bird Buffer cables or set it on the roof. Fill it with the specially-prepared liquid, and turn it on. It is that simple. Bird Buffer Q2 is a permanent, automatic and cost-effective commercial process for indoor and outdoor bird control. Contact Bird Buffer LLC @www. Birdbuffer.com or call 866-557-4274. Bird Buffer Q2 Frequently Asked Questions: a) How does Bird Buffer Q2 work? It is operated by an electrically-controlled sprayer to spread the vapor at 90 mph over larger areas. A time releases the vapor every 2 minutes into the air to keep fresh vapor in the area for birds. When birds fly through the area, the tiny particles of vapor enter the birds breathing system, making the birds fly away. When the birds come back, they once again breathe the particles and fly away. After a few weeks, birds remember their responses and stay away. b) How much water is needed per month? About one gallon a mouth c) How long does it take to get bird control? Usually two weeks is enough to control flocks of birds from the treated area. It takes time for the birds to find a new home and new feeding grounds. Which of the following words can best describe Bird Buffer Q2?
Lester was walking in the street with two huge and heavy suitcases . A stranger walked up to him and asked ,"Have you got the time ?" Lester stopped , put down the suitcases and looked at his watch ."It' s five fifteen ,"he said . "Hey , what a nice watch !"said the stranger . Lester smiled a little and said ,"Yes , it' s not bad . Look at this ."Then he showed the stranger a time display for the 86 largest cities in the world . He hit a few buttons and a voice told the time in Chinese . Lester continued ,"Its voice can be set for different languages ." The stranger seemed very interested in the watch . "That' s not all ,"said Lester . He then pushed a few more buttons and a small map appeared on the watch ."The map can show where we are ,"explained Lester . "I want to buy this watch !"said the stranger . "Oh , no , I' m not selling it . I have spent nearly two years making it ,"said Lester . "I' ll give you $ 1,000 for it !" "Oh , no , I' ve already spent more than that ." "I' ll give you $ 5,000 for it !" Lester stopped to think . The stranger quickly gave him a check and said ,"$ 5,000 . Here it is ." Lester finally agreed to sell the watch . When the stranger was going to leave with the watch , Lester pointed to the two huge suitcases and said ,"Hey , wait a minute . Don' t forget your batteries ." What was in the suitcases that Lester was carrying ? Answer: Batteries . His first name is John.His last name is Brown.His phone numberis seven-four-five,six-six-zero-five. Her first name is Susan. Her last name is Hall.Her phone number is five-zero-five,seven-one-one-seven. The girl found a baseball in the lost and Found .The boy lost a baseball.The girl calls the boy at his phone number. The boy lost a _ . Answer: baseball A little more than five years ago, Len completed construction of a single-family home located on Homeacre, a lot that Len owned. Five years ago, Len and Tina entered into a valid five-year written lease of Homeacre that included the following language: "This house is rented as is, without certain necessary or useful items. The parties agree that Tina may acquire and install such items as she wishes at her expense, and that she may remove them if she wishes at the termination of this lease." Tina decided that the house needed, and she paid cash to have installed, standardsized combination screen/storm windows, a freestanding refrigerator to fit a kitchen alcove built for that purpose, a built-in electric stove and oven to fit a kitchen counter opening left for that purpose, and carpeting to cover the plywood living room floor. Last month, by legal description of the land, Len conveyed Homeacre to Pete for $100,000. Pete knew of Tina's soon-expiring tenancy, but did not examine the written lease. As the lease expiration date approached, Pete learned that Tina planned to vacate on schedule, and learned for the first time that Tina claimed and planned to remove all of the above-listed items that she had installed. Pete promptly brought an appropriate action to enjoin Tina from removing those items. The court should decide that Tina may remove Answer: all of the items. How many basic units of information in a DNA molecule are required to encode a single amino acid? Answer: 3 During my early twenties, to make my parents stop feeling angry, and simply to escape, I decided to live in my birthplace for a period of time, something I'd sworn I would never do. My parents were thrilled. They prayed that I'd come back triumphantly with a picture-perfect bridegroom. That was the furthest thing from my mind as I packed my faded jeans, tank tops, boots, and a photo of my freckle-faced then-boyfriend who was of Scottish descent. The moment I landed in Seoul, I was aware of how much I felt like a misfit. All my life I had tried to blend into the dominant culture and couldn't. And finally, when I was in a place where everyone looked like me, I still stood out. I took it for granted that I'd feel a sense of freedom. I thought I'd blend into the landscape. This was not the case. People stared at me with curious eyes. I became conscious of my American-girl swaggering body movements and inappropriate dress. Collecting my courage, I traveled to the demilitarized zone on my own. I touched the high barbed-wire fence that stretched across the belly of the peninsula , dividing Korea in half. I visited thousand-year-old temples and magnificent palace gates that had survived modernization and centuries of battle. I met with distant cousins who welcomed me with outstretched arms into their homes and related heroic tales about my mother and Halmoni (Grandmother) during the war. How Halmoni had led her young children out of north to the United Nation-backed south. How my mother, at the age of thirteen, saved the life of her baby sister. I listened with such an overwhelming thirst that when I returned to the States a year and a half later, I began to ask my parents and Halmoni (who had immigrated to the States some time after we did) all about the past. The past was no longer a time gone by, a dead weight. I now saw that it held ancient treasures. And the more I dug and discovered, the more I felt myself being steered toward a future I had never imagined for myself. I began to write. I didn't even know I could write. My family helped me knit stories into a book using Halmoni's voice. As her powerful words moved through me I was able to reflect and meditate on the ridiculous life I had fashioned for myself. I could feel my sense of self rising. This sparked a newfound awareness and excitement. I became a spokeswoman on Korean culture, traveling to various college campuses across the country. "Be proud. Embrace your heritage." I said to young Korean American students wearing extra-large, trendy sportswear. But the whole time I was lecturing, I had very little understanding of what that self-concept meant. I was merely talking the talk. I hadn't yet fully embraced my own identity. According to the passage, the author suggests that her original expectations about visiting Korea were _ . Answer: unrealistic and naive
To see the world is one thing;to have someone to share it with is another.Indeed,travel becomes more interesting when you have a travel partner.A travel partner can be a close friend,a family member,a pal you've met online,or a business friend. You can have someone to talk to Traveling alone is fun,but wouldn't you feel lonely?Having a travel partner can remove the feeling of loneliness.This is especially true if you can get a travel companion who is very familiar with the place you're traveling to.You don't have to ask any information from the locals,and you can increase the time you spend in the country. _ One of the major headaches in traveling is the costs involved.You can't simply ignore the rising price of hotels or plane tickets.You should also think about your daily needs,such as your food.Of course,you can't simply go back without bringing any souvenirs to your friends and family.All these can ruin your budget.However,when you have a travel friend,you can have someone to share the expenses with. You can meet a good friend Having a travel mate is a good way of meeting a new friend or even a lifelong partner.You can never count the number of couples who actually found their way into each other's heart while traveling together in another country. You can have someone to watch out for you When you're in a foreign land,you'll never be really safe.You don't know the rules as well as the culture of the people.A travel mate will be perfect to remind you of your duties in the country and to watch your back just in case you get lost.So why don't you find a travel companion now? Let's find out how ... What's the author's purpose in writing this passage? Answer: To encourage us to have a travel partner. A little boy went to a farmer who had some puppies to sell and said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look." "Sure," said the farmer. Then he called his dog, "Here, Dolly!" Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else moving inside the doghouse. Slowly, another little ball appeared. This one was much smaller than the others. Down the ramp it slid . Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up... "I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the slow dog. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs will." With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of trousers. There was a steel brace running down both sides of his leg. It was joined to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see, sir, I don't run very well myself, and he will need someone who understands." The world is full of people who need someone who understands. How many puppies did the farmer have in all? Answer: 5 Volleyball has become a worldwide sport that is popular with all age groups, but when did this fun sport start? The history of volleyball dates back to 1895 when William G.Morgan met a Canadian James Naismith, inventor of basketball and was influenced by him and basketball.Then he wanted to invent a new game that was fit for middle-aged men. Morgan enjoyed the game of basketball, but soon he realized that it was too fast paced for some of the older men.So, he decided to invent a game that was still played on a court , but the players were not required to run up and down--he created the game of "mintonette." Volleyball history shows that the original game of mintonette was played on a full court with a net in the middle.Two teams tossed the ball back and forth over the net, similar to the game of badminton.In order to cut down the equipment costs, the players played the ball with their hands. The game quickly became popular, and everyone wanted to learn how to play volleyball.It quickly spread to other areas, across the United States, and even to other countries.Several changes were made to the game. Then specific volleyball rules were set into place.Some of the rules of volleyball included the court size, number of players, and number of hits per team.The rules also stated that players must rotate around the court so that everyone had a turn to serve the ball.Also, a standard volleyball size and shape were decided within a few years.The rules continued to change and adjust throughout the history of volleyball, until the game became what we have today. Even though volleyball history says that the game was originally created for middle-aged men, the game has become so popular among all kinds of people.Today there are many different kinds of competitive volleyball teams: high school volleyball, college volleyball, women volleyball, men, children, mixed teams, etc.There is an endless amount of possibilities with this game because it is easy to learn, many people can play together, and it can by played indoors or outside. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: volleyball develops from the game of "mintonette" The most important holiday in spring, especially for Christians, is Easter. This Christian holiday is not on the same date every year,but it's always on a Sunday. It can be any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Many people celebrate Easter by buying new clothes. Children celebrate by hunting for colored eggs that their parents have hidden around the house. People also give Easter baskets filled with candy and other goodies to one another to celebrate the day. But the holiday is more than new clothes and good things to eat. On Easter, many people go to church to celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Most people color Easter eggs. Some people hide them. Others just eat them. But no matter what one does with Easter eggs,they are an important Easter tradition throughout the Western world. People from many different cultures celebrate Easter. In both America and Belgium, children look for Easter eggs hidden on lawns and in bushes. In America, children believe the eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny .But in Belgium, the hidden eggs are supposed to have fallen from church bells. In Bulgaria , red Easter eggs are lucky in churches. Bulgarian families also hit these Easter eggs together to see whose is the strongest. The winner looks forward to good fortune that year. Still dozens of other Easter traditions exist. In parts of Austria,for example,children sing from door to door and are rewarded with colorful eggs. To celebrate Easter, people _ . Answer: both B and C The first English dictionary was published in 1604. The dictionary was actually nothing more than a list of about 3, 000 difficult words, each followed by a one-word definition. The author, Robert Cawdrey, made no attempt to include everyday words in his dictionary. No one, he reasoned, would ever have to look up a word in a dictionary if he already knew the meaning of the word. During the 1600's more dictionaries were published. Each followed Cawdrey's lead and presented a few thousand hard words. Around 1700 one dictionary maker, John Kersey, did define easy words as well as hard words. But until the 1750's all the dictionaries were rather crude and not very valuable. A man named Dr Samuel Johnson changed all this. In 1755 Dr Johnson produced the first modern dictionary. He included in his dictionary all important words, both easy and hard, and he gave good meanings. He also gave good sentences to show how each word was actually used in speech and in writing. By the end of the 1700's most dictionary makers had followed Johnson's example. Dictionaries were getting better and better. The 1800's saw the greatest improvement in the quality of dictionaries. In England scholars planned and prepared the Oxford English Dictionary, a twenty-volume (;;) work. One of the most interesting features of the Oxford Dictionary is its word histories. It traces (;) the history of each word from its earliest recorded use up to the time of the printing of the dictionary. This passage is mainly about _ . Answer: the development of English dictionaries
Question: Ellie lived with her six children in a small house. One winter, there was a big flood and quite a few houses were washed away, but Ellie's house was high enough to keep them safe. Many families lost everything in the flood. And Ellie took in one of the families. She shared her home with them until the family could build their own new house. Ellie's friends could not understand why she did so because she already had so many children to look after. "Well," Ellie said to her friends, "At the end of World War I, there was a poor woman in a town in Germany. Her husband had been killed in the war and she had a lot of children, just like me now." "The day before Christmas, this woman said to her children, 'We will not be able to have much for Christmas. I am going to get just one present for us all. Now I will go and get it.' She came back with a little girl who had no parents, 'Here is our present,' she said to her own children." "The children were very excited to get such a present. They welcomed the little girl warmly, and she grew up as their sisters. I was that Christmas present." What did Ellie do to help other families? A. She gave them food. B. She bought many Christmas present for them. C. She took in one of the families. D. She took in a girl. Answer: C. She took in one of the families. Question: The US recession has opened up the biggest gap between male and female unemployment rates since records began in 1948, as men bear the blow of the economy's decline. Men have lost almost 80% of the 5.1 million jobs since the recession started, pushing the male unemployment rate to 8.8%. The female jobless rate has hit 7%. This is a dramatic change of the trend over the past few years, where the rates of male and female unemployment barely differed, at about 5%. It also means that women could soon overtake men as the majority of the prefix = st1 /USlabour force. Men have been badly hurt because they dominate those industries that have been affected: 9 in every 10 construction workers are male, as are 7 in every 10 manufacturing workers. These two sectors alone have lost almost 2.5 million jobs. Women, in contrast, tend to hold more stable jobs and make up 75% of the most unaffected sectors of all: education and healthcare. "It protects them a little bit and softens the blow," said Francine Blau, a labour market economist at CornellUniversity. "I think we are going to see this pattern until the recovery." The widening gap between male and female joblessness means many US families are totally reliant on the income the woman brings in. Since women earn on average 20% less than men, that is putting extra stress on many households. What's the passage mainly about? A. Compared to the female's, the male jobless rate becomes higher. B. The US recession has brought heavy burden on many households. C. The female unemployment rate remains much the same as before. D. Women have already become the majority of the USlabour force. Answer: A. Compared to the female's, the male jobless rate becomes higher. Question: With their weakening bodies, advanced age or increasing pressure of work or study, people have been advised and usually persuaded to have health care products. Do you remember your first time to take a nutritional supplement ? What was your first impression? Posted by Amy, Dec.23, 2010 8:05 P.M. Madeline on Dec.24, 2010 7:25 P.M. Years ago, as a young mom with two small children, I struggled to keep up with the demands of a busy life. One day, I woke up feeling so tired that I knew something had to change! A friend gave me some Royal Jelly--an amazing substance from the beehive .I was doubtful, but desperate...so I tried it! In time, I began to experience renewed energy like never before! Now, over two decades later, I travel all round the country, sharing my lifechanging experience. I'm grateful for the energy to keep up and love to share this wonderful discovery with others. Blanca on Dec.25, 2010 7:02 P.M. Ten years ago, when I was 73, my mind wanted to be busy and useful, but my body didn't. I became very tired. That's when my daughter Madeline tried to persuade me to try her special Royal Jelly. It made great difference in her life, so she was sure it could help me too! Hesitating for 2 days, I gave in. She was right! I no longer felt worn out. I had a new, youthful eagerness for life and I've been OK--thanks to Royal Jelly! Lori on Dec.25, 2010 10:27 P.M. When my mom Madeline was introduced to Royal Jelly, it affected my life, too! Mom gave me some of her fantastic Royal Jelly. Boy, things did turn around! I had more energy and _ and was finally able to keep up with high school and, eventually, college activities. Today, I'm a busy mom in my mid thirties with two active boys and a new business! I have enough energy to do it all! I'm glad I took my Mom's advice. Where can we most probably read this text? A. In a health club. B. On an Internet page. C. In a book review. D. In a health report. Answer: B. On an Internet page. Question: Sometimes you may have a strong desire to do something strange or terrible. However, chances are that you don't act on your impulse , but let it pass instead. You know that to take the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of _ behavior is how it can change over the years, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time. Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting that it was a taboo to even talk about them. Now with the publication of important books such asOn Death and DyingandLearning to Say Goodbye, people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject. One of the newest taboos is the topic of fat. Unlike many other taboos, fat is a topic that people talk about constantly. It's not taboo to talk about fat; it's taboo to be fat. The _ is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, slim manager to sell their image as well as their products to the public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person, on the other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline and self-respect. After all, how can people permit themselves to become fat? In an image-conscious society, thin is ''in", fat is "out". It' s not surprising that millions of people have become obsessed with staying slim and "in shape". The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, the only reason for people's obsession with diet and exercise. Recent research has shown the importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style of people has changed since last century. Modern machines do all the physical labor. Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point. As a result of inactivity and disuse, people's bodies can easily become weak. In an effort to avoid such a fate , millions of people are spending more of their time exercising. Parks are filled with joggers and bicyclists, and many companies are providing special exercise equipment for their employees to use during the work day. People pay more attention to diet and exercise because of _ . A. their need to kill time B. their love for sports C. their belief in hard work D. their concern for health Answer: D. their concern for health Question: Beverage Service We serve a variety of soft drinks, coffee, tea and free of charge. However, as flying has a dehydrating effect, water and non-alcoholic beverages are recommended. Electronic Equipment Cellphones, FM/AM radios, portable television sets and electronic toys with remote controls must not be used in the cabin, as their signals may interfere with the aircrafts navigational instruments. Laptop computers and CD (MD, MP3) players may be used during cruising portions of the flight but not during the takeoff and landing. Inflight Entertainment A wide selection of international publications are available for your reading pleasure. You may keep this free copy of Morning Calm magazine, but kindly return all other reading materials after you have finished with them for the benefit of fellow passengers. A selection of music is available on eight channels, from channel 3 to 10. The channel changer is on your armrest. We also offer a selection of popular films; you may listen in English on channel 2. Paduk (go) and chess are available on request, and we have free postcards and stationery. Medical Needs We keep a selection of nonprescription medicine for any passenger suffering from mild sicknesses. An emergency medical kit is also available for more serious illnesses. Travelling with Infants and Children Baby bassinets are provided on a first come first serve basis and should be requested at the time of booking. Special meals for children and infants can be served if the request is made 24 hours before departure. Selected giveaways for children aged 2 to 12 are available on all international flights. The services above are probably offered by _ . A. a traveling agent B. a medical center C. an airline D. a five-star hotel Answer: C. an airline
Joanne was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5:30 and at 6:30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting of the tennis club. At last, the traffic was moving. She swung quickly racing to her house. As she opened the door , she nearly tripped over Sheba. "Hey, Sheba," she said, "I've got no time for you now, but I'll take you out as soon as I get back from tennis club." Then she noticed Sheba seemed to be coughing or choking. Obviously, she could hardly breathe. Immediately, Joanne realized she would have to take her to the vet . When she got there, the vet was just about to close for the day. Seeing the state of Sheba, Dr. Sterne brought her quickly into his office. "Listen, doctor, I'm really in a rush to get to a meeting, can I leave her with you, and go and get changed? I'll be back in ten minutes to pick her up, and then I'll take her on to the meeting with me. Is that OK?" "Sure." said the doctor. Joanne made the quick trip back to her house in a couple of minutes. As she was once more entering the hallway, the phone by the door began to ring. "This is Dr. Sterne," said an anxious voice. "I want you to get out of that house immediately, "said the doctor's voice. "I'm coming round right away, and the police will be there any time now. Wait outside!" At that moment, a police car screeched to a stop outside the house. Two policemen got out and ran into the house. Joanne was by now completely confused and very frightened. Then the doctor arrived. "Where's Sheba? Is she OK?" shouted Joanne. "She's fine, Joanne. I took out the thing which was choking her, and she's OK now. " Just then, the two policemen reappeared from the house, half-carrying a white--faced man, who could hardly walk. There was blood all over him. "My God, " said Joanne, "how did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?" "I think he must be a burglar." said the doctor. "I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba's throat:it turned out to be three human fingers." In this passage, the writer intends to tell us that the dog is _ . A. clever B. friendly C. frightening D. devoted Answer: D. devoted The New York Public Library, in the heart of the city at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue, may have to close its doors. The library is one of New York's most beautiful and valuable buildings. Even though it is in the busiest part of the city, it has grass and trees around it, and benches for people to sit on. Even more unusual in crowded New York, its rooms are very large. The roof of the Main Reading Room is 51 feet high. Here, a reader can sit and work in comfort. The library has over thirty million books and paintings. It owns one of the first copies of a Shakespeare's play, a Bible printed in the 15th century, and a letter written by Columbus in which he tells of finding the new world. Every New Yorker can visit the library and use its riches -- free. But the cost of running the library has risen sharply in recent years, and the library has not enough money to continue its work. In the past, it was open every day. Now it is closed on Saturdays and Sundays and every evening to save money. The library is trying to raise more money to meet its increasing cost. Well-known writers and artists are trying to help. So are the universities, whose students use the library, and the government of New York City. But the problem remains serious. Yet a way must be found to save the library because, as one writer said,"The Public Library is the most important building in New York City -- it contains all our knowledge." The periods when the library is open now include _ . A. Tuesday evening B. Sunday morning C. Saturday afternoon D. Monday morning Answer: D. Monday morning When she moved the covering cloth to look upon his tiny face, she was shocked. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be full of heart- breaks for his imperfect appearance. He grew up, handsome for his misfortune and popular with his fellow students. He might have been class monitor,but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, "You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret." The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person turned up. His talents blossomed into genius, and his school and college became a series of success. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. One day ,he urged his father, "Who gave so much for me?I must know! I could never do enough for him." "I do not believe you could, " said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet." The years kept their secret, but the day did come--- one of the darkest days that a son must endure. He stood with his father over his mother's casket . Slowly, tenderly, the father reached out a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to show that the mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut, " he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?" Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance,but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what can be seen,but in what cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what is done and not known. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. The son attempted to repay the donator's kindness. B. The son didn't know the truth until his mother died. C. With donated ears, the son's life developed smoothly. D. The boy couldn't hear clearly without ears at first. Answer: D. The boy couldn't hear clearly without ears at first. Sediment is a result of the process of A. running B. jumping C. magic D. rain Answer: D. rain When it comes to hotel pools, the indoor variety has long been inferior to their outdoor -- often rooftop -- counterparts. But these days, striking decoration, luxury facilities and stunning settings mean many indoor swimming holes can now challenge even the most glamorous of outdoor pools. So go ahead and take a dip at these luxurious indoor pools. The Water Club at Borgata, Atlantic City This nongaming hotel, which is part of the large Borgata complex in Atlantic City, has three indoor pools (and two more outdoors) so there's really no reason for things to get crowded at any of them. A two-lane lap pool is in the two-floor Immersion spa on the 32nd floor and is set against full-length windows that look out to the Atlantic Ocean, the perfect setup for a water workout. An extremely attractive top-floor pool surrounded by lounge chairs, cabanas and lush foliage expresses a more exotic tropical scene than the property's Jersey Shore location. Rooms from $249/ night. www.theborgata.com Altira Macau On the 16th floor of the tallest building on the island of Taipa is the glamorous indoor infinity pool of the impressively massive gaming complex of Altira Macau. It's easy to see why Forbes once named it one of the best hotel pools in the world: One side faces all of the city with crystal-clear floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms from $235/ night. www.altiramacau.com Waldorf Astoria Chicago The spa at this hotel is done mostly in a stark white, which only further emphasizes the gorgeous rose-design tile-work at the bottom of the pool, giving bathers the feel of swimming over a bed of roses. The 102,600 individually patterned tiles come from Bisazza, an Italian company renowned for its mosaic tile production. Rooms from $435/night, double occupancy. www.waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com The Charles Hotel, Munich One of the largest pools in Munich, at The Charles Hotel, is also one of the most beautiful. The entire spa is outfitted with marble mosaic tiles, mostly in subdued color1s punctuated with red flourishes. At the pool itself, a very pretty mosaic of red coral shows respect to the 19th century Bavarian royalty, the Wittelsbach family, known for its collection of red coral paraphernalia, from dining cups to jewelry. Rooms from $375/ night, double occupancy. www.roccofortehotels.com Which of the following doesn't belong to The Water Club at Borgata, Atlantic City? A. Three indoor pools. B. With an exotic tropical style. C. On the 16th floor. D. With the location in Jersey Shore. Answer: C. On the 16th floor.
Why should ear, nose, tongue and eyes be called special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connections. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn't it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a heavy meal, but the hearing pitch does change after that. We usually owe it to our tongue that we have taste, but do you know that unless saliva dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something. Woman are much better smellers than man. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly make out the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50,000 different scents, which are strongly tied to the memories. Pupils do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a very delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can enlarge their pupils, change the focus and make them see less clearly. Each and every one of us has an individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except for the identical twins. This smell isn't very noticeable yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this scent that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. Many of us can point out the smell of our significant friends and colleagues. This is guided, to a great degree, by genetics but it is also influenced by the environment, diet and so on. This all together creates the unique chemistry that is individualistic for each person. Which of the following may be the best title of this passage? A. The Sensitivity of Sensory Organs B. The Functions and Connections of Sensory Organs C. A Newborn's Sensory Organs D. Different Senses Between Men and Woman Answer: B The state of Brunswick enacted a statute providing for the closure of the official state records of arrest and prosecution of all persons acquitted of a crime by a court or against whom criminal charges were filed and subsequently dropped or dismissed. The purpose of this statute is to protect these persons from further publicity or embarrassment relating to those state proceedings. However, this statute does not prohibit the publication of such information that is in the possession of private persons. A prominent businessman in Neosho City in Brunswick was arrested and charged with rape. Prior to trial, the prosecutor announced that new information indicated that the charges should be dropped. He then dropped the charges without further explanation, and the records relating thereto were closed to the public pursuant to the Brunswick statute. The Neosho City Times conducted an investigation to determine why the businessman was not prosecuted, but was refused access to the closed official state records. In an effort to determine whether the law enforcement agencies involved were properly doing their duty, the Times filed suit against appropriate state officials to force opening of the records and to invalidate the statute on constitutional grounds. Which of the following would be most helpful to the state in defending the constitutionality of this statute? A. The fact that the statute treats in an identical manner the arrest and prosecution records of all persons who have been acquitted of a crime by a court or against whom criminal charges were filed and subsequently dropped or dismissed. B. The argument that the rights of the press are no greater than those of citizens generally. C. The fact that the statute only prohibits public access to these official state records and does not prohibit the publication of information they contain that is in the possession of private persons. D. The argument that the state may seal official records owned by the state on any basis its legislature chooses. Answer: C Not drying your hands thoroughly after washing them could increase the spread of bacteria, and rubbing your hands while using a traditional hand dryer could be a contributing factor, according to new research. The research looked at different methods of hand drying, and their effects on transfer of bacteria from the hands to other surfaces. The different methods included paper towels, traditional hand dryer, and a new model of hand dryer, which rapidly blows water from the hands. Our bodies naturally have bacteria all over them. However, bacteria from other sources, such as raw meat, can also survive on hands. They can be easily transferred to other surfaces, increasing the risk of cross-contamination . When the hands are washed, the number of the bacteria on the surface of the skin decreases, but they are not necessarily _ . If the hands are still damp then these bacteria are more readily transferred to other surfaces. The researchers quantified the effects of hand drying by measuring the number of bacteria on the hands before and after different drying methods. Volunteers were asked to wash their hands and palce them onto contact plates, which were then incubated to measure bacteria growth. The volunteers were then asked to dry their hands using either hand towels or one of the two hand dryers, with or without rubbing their hands together, and levels of bacteria were re-measured. The researchers found that rubbing the hands together while using traditional hand dryers could cancel out the reduction in bacteria numbers following hand washing. When hands are rubbed together during drying, bacteria that live within the skin can be brought to the surface and transferred to other surfaces, along with surface bacteria that were not removed by hand washing. A resaecher says, "Good hand hygiene should include drying your hands thoroughly and not just washing . The best method of drying your hands id using paper towels or using a hand dryer which doesn't require you to rub your hands together." Which of the following results in the fewest bacteria after washing our hands? A. Dying our hands using wet towels. B. Dying our hands using paper towel. C. Rubbing your hands when drying. D. Air-drying our hands naturally. Answer: B Sunlight passes through the windows of a car and causes the car seats to get hot. Which type of energy flow is involved in heating the seats? A. conduction B. convection C. insulation D. radiation Answer: D Long Beach lies in south-western Washington, and it is generally called Long Beach Peninsula. Communities there take you back to the old days of a simple and slow-paced lifestyle. There, visitors can relax and have fun through various activities. Bird watching There are many kinds of birds that can be found in Long Beach. It is the best if you observe from a distance. If you walk close to them, they may be spooked and fly away. Don't forget to take a camera and take pictures of the various birds there. Horses A popular activity in Long Beach is horseback riding. Two businesses in the city of Long Beach offer guided horseback tours along the beach: Black Country Wilderness Outfitters and Skipper's Equestrian Center. You may also bring your own horse. Among the adventures offered with horses is a wagon ride along the beach, a carriage ride through Long Beach, or a sunset ride on horseback on the beach. Camping RV camping and tent camping aren't allowed on the beach, but there are RV parks and private camp-grounds in the area, as well as Cape Disappointment State Park. Camp fires are allowed within 100 feet of the beach, but must be away from the beach dry grass. Swimming and other activities Swimming is allowed, but visitors should be careful. The waters are very cold and dangerous. Surfing is allowed only for experienced surfers. Beach driving is allowed at certain spots on the beach. The speed limit is 25 mph. Building sand castles, digging sand to find something, bicycle riding, and flying kites are also popular activities in the area. You can find right hotels easily in the area. The Southwest Loop Trail Map can be got through the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau Office by calling 1-800-451-2542. Enjoy your trip to Long Beach, Washington. Which of the following statements about the activities in Long Beach is TRUE? A. People can drive an RV on the beach. B. Camp fires can be near beach dry grass. C. Tent camping is not allowed on the beach. D. RV parks are mainly for people who like riding horses. Answer: C
In 1975, George Carlin appeared on a popular TV show, Saturday Night Live, with his famous words about blue food. "Why is there no blue food? I can't find blue food--I can't find the flavor of blue! I mean yellow is lemon; orange is orange and red is cherry. Where is the blue food? " Well, Carlin pretty much has it right--there's not no blue food, but there's certainly not a lot of it. Fresh-picked blueberries are blue, though they become purple when they are turned into jam. The blue in blueberries--like the purple in grapes and the red in tomatoes--is found in nature. But it isn't a hot color for food. People don't seem to prefer blue food. Some diet programs even suggest that those determined to lose weight should make their food blue. Eating, in part, begins with our eyes. Charles Spence--an experimental psychologist from Oxford University--points out that color can change our taste experience. Commonly, we consider red-colored foods up to 20% sweeter than they actually are; and green foods as being more sour. Spence suggests: human expectations may be influenced by our long history of watching - green fruits can become sweet as they grow up and turn red. But what about blue? Except blueberries, much of the blue food we see these days _ blue artificially. Food producers argue that artificial color doesn't do much harm to health. A lot of research shows that some physical problems of kids are related to food dyes--while other studies show no effects at all. Blue birthday cake or even blue-dyed chicken can be served on the dinner table. So what? Eating sometimes begins with our eyes because _ . A our taste experience can be influenced by color B red-colored food are 20% sweeter than green food C people prefer red-colored food to green food D before eating, people watch food for a long time Answer: A We use our smart phones to carry out many tasks every day. Many of us have become so _ on them. However, it is bad for our eyes and health to use too much phone. A study shows that smart phone owners usually start to use their phones early in the morning. They check persona1 emails and Wechat. And before they get out of bed, many people often check the weather, read the news, and send a message or two to friends. After getting up, they often take photos of food, themselves, and even whatever they can see with their phones. They share their photos with their friends. The research finds that users pick up their phones more than l,500 times to do different tasks in an average week. And the smart phone users are on their phone for three hours and sixteen minutes a day. That is to say, people use their phones for almost one full day each week. Using phones will take much time and it's also bad for our health. Many people stay up late to play phones, And mobile phones will influence our sleep. Without using the phones, many people will feel sad. Many owners also find they use their phones without realizing they're doing so. How do you think people use their phones too much? Where can we probably read this text? A In a newspaper B In a travel magazine. C In a story book. D In a history book. Answer: A People all over the world like eating delicious food. If there is no salt in the food, it may not be very tasty. So there is often a lot of salt in food because people like the taste of salty food. However, too much salt is not food for you. If you cook food by yourself, you can control the amount of salt to keep your family healthy. However, many processed foods already have salt in them Fast foods often have a lot of salt in them. Canned foods often have salt. Packed foods such as biscuits have salt. Packed foods like potato chips have a lot of salt in them. It is reported that the income of too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and other kinds of diseases. So don't put too much salt into your dishes. How much salt should a person eat a day? Look at the following: 1--3 years 2g 4--6 years 3g 7--10 years 4g 11 and over 5g You don't need any more salt than this. If your mom or dad is cooking, you had better ask them not to add too much salt. You will find that the food still tastes really good. It can also help your mom or dad to cut down to a healthier level of salt. Which of the following foods don't have salt in them? A Fast food. B Canned foods. C Packed foods. D Vegetables. Answer: D You must have seen an oil lamp before. But do you know how it works? One end of the lamp wick is immersed(............) in oil and the other end is not immersed. When you light the end which is not immersed, it will burst into flame . This is because the oil is able to rise up the lamp wick thus helping it to burn. In the same way, if you immerse the end of a piece of chalk into a glass of water, the water will soon climb up the chalk making it wet. If a piece of ordinary glass tubing is heated in a gas flame until it becomes soft,it can be pull into a tube of a very small hole. Immerse the tube into water or any other liquid which wets glass, you will find that the liquid rises to a height of several centimeters. This is known as capillary action. The liquid rises because there is an attractive force between the liquid and the glass. The attractive force depends on the diameter of the tube and the type of liquid used. The liquid rises up a tube because _ . A the tube is thin B the glass has an attractive force C the liquid tends to rise up D both glass and liquid act on each other Answer: D My mother was a housewife. She thought that successful people spent a lot more time reading than watching TV. So she asked my brother and me not to watch too much TV, but to read two books every week in our free time. She would check them with marks, though she couldn't read the book at all. When I went to high school, I was an A-student, but not for long. I wanted cool clothes and hung out with friends. I became a C-student, but I didn't care. One night I complained about not having enough Italian shirts. Then my mother gave me all the money and said I could get the money left to buy shirts if I finished buying all the things the family needed. I was pleased with that, but after I bought those things, there was no money left. I got to know how difficult it was for my mother to do all these. I went back to my studies and became an A-student again. Finally, my dream came true and I became a doctor. My story is really my mother's story----a woman with little education greatly changed my life as a parent. So I believe there is no job more important than parenting. Which was NOT the reason for the writer's falling behind ? A He only cared about clothes and didn't study. B He spent more time hanging out with friends than studying. C He didn't care that he went from being an A-student to a C-student. D He spent much time reading storybooks. Answer: D
Hello! I am Oliver Smith. I am from UK. I can speak English well but my Chinese is not good. I like doing sports after school. My favorite sports are running, basketball and swimming. I like to be a sports star when I grow up. I have good eating habits. I don't eat ice-cream, hamburgers or cola because I know they are not healthy. I also don't like to be fat, so I like eating vegetables and fruit. I have a good friend. His name is Chen Lin. He is not good at sports, but he's good at art. He sings well and draws well. He drew a nice picture for me on my birthday. I was excited. We sometimes play games together after school. We always have much fun. If you like us, join us! We can be friends and have a great time together! Chen Lin is good at _ . Answer: art Passport Control If you are arriving at London Heathrow Airport and are not transferring to another flight outside Britain or Northern Ireland,you must pass through Passport Control and Customs immediately after leaving your plane. If you are not British or a citizen of the European Community,you must fill out a special form before your passport is examined.This form is called a landing card and should be given to you during the flight to London. After landing,follow the AKRIVALS signs.Make sure you are in the right channel when you reach Passport Control.There is one channel for holders of European Community passports,and a second channel marked "Other Passports". Baggage Reclaim Area After passing through Passport Control,follow the signs to the Baggage Reclaim Area.If you have luggage which was carried in the aircraft:along with other goods,it will be delivered to you in the Baggage Reclaim Area.Look for the sign with your flight number.If you have only hand luggage,go directly through the Baggage Reclaim Area to Customs. Customs All passengers must pass through Customs after Passport Control.There is a choice of two channels.Green and Red.If you have nothing to declare,go through the Green Channel.If you are not sure about your Duty Free allowances ,or if you have something to declare, go through the Red Channel.Information about Duty Free allowances can be found on special notice-boards in the Baggage Reclaim Area.You should study this information carefully whether you are going through the Red Channel or not.Please note that if you go through the Green Channel,you may be stopped and asked to open your luggage for inspection . When a Chinese traveller is arriving at Heathrow Airport for a trip in London,he must _ . Answer: fill out a landing card first My topic today is the internet. It was prompted by the first letter, which I am unable to answer fully for the reasons given! Dear David, I am a middle school student. Now I am preparing for a writing competition. Could you please check the mistakes in my article about using the Internet and give me some advice? Thank you. No name David writes: I am very sorry to say that I think it would be very unfair for me to help you win a competition-- unfair to the other competitors! But I will say that your article is very interesting and I wish you good luck. Your article makes some good points that deserve talking about in this column! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear David, I'm now learning English by myself. Can you introduce some useful websites where I can make friends with foreigners? Please help me. moonlight David writes: Well, dear moonlight, I bet you made a good choice by using the Net in your self-studies. Two very good websites I would suggest to you are: www.britishcouncil.org.cnandwww.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish. By the way, for those readers interested in the teaching of English, there is an Internet discussion group called ELTCSChi-L (English Language Teaching Contacts Scheme prefix = st1 /China List). And also, a healthy warning to all my readers: If over-used, the Internet can be a WOMBAT-A Waste of Money, Brains and Time! Which of the following is NOT David's opinion of the internet? Answer: Using the internet is a waste of money and time. Have you listened to music on an iPod? Used a computer at home? Those are just two of the ways your life was touched by the work of Steve Jobs. Jobs, one founder of Apple Computers, died on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. He had been fighting with cancer since 2004. Steven Jobs was born in Los Altos, California. He and his childhood friend, Steve Wozniak, designed and built the first Apple computer in his parents' garage in the 1970s. The Apple II, built when Jobs was just 21 years old, was the first personal computer to be widely sold to the public. Steven Jobs didn't stop there. He went on to invent more devices that allowed people to bring their own creativity to computing: the Macintosh, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad. People found his products beautiful and easy to use. Jobs also changed the music and film industries. He started Pixar, a film production company in 1986. Toy Story was the world's first computer-animated feature film . "Steve was among the greatest of American _ -- brave enough to think differently, confident enough to believe he could change the world, and clever enough to do it," said President Barack Obama. "By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only easy to reach, but fun ... And there may be no greater praise to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his death on a device he invented." All around the world, people are talking about the effects that Jobs' creations have had. By creating products that surprised people, he changed the way people worked and lived their everyday lives. Jobs changed the way we work and live by _ . Answer: creating surprising products Ever walked to the shops only to find, once there, you've completely forgotten what you went for? Or struggled to remember the name of an old friend? For years we've accepted that a forgetful brain is as much a part of ageing as wrinkles and grey hair.But now a new book suggests that we've got it all wrong. According to The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain, by science writer Barbara Strauch, when it comes to the important things, our brains actually get better with age.In fact, she argues that some studies have found that our brain hits its peak between our 40s and 60s--much later than previously thought. Furthermore, rather than losing many brain cells as we age, we retain them, and even produce new ones well into middle age.For years it's been assumed that brain, much like the body, declines with age.But the longest, largest study into what happens to people as they age suggests otherwise. This continuing research has followed 6,000 people since 1956, testing them every seven years.It has found that on average, participants performed better on cognitive tests in their 40s and 50s than they had done in their 20s.Specifically, older people did better on tests of vocabulary, verbal memory (how many words you can remember) and problem solving. Where they performed less well was number ability and perceptual speed--how fast you can push a button when ordered.However, with more complex tasks such as problem-solving and language, we are at our best at middle age and beyond.In short, researchers are now coming up with scientific proof that we do get wiser with age. Neuroscientists are also finding that we are happier with ageing.A recent US study found older people were much better at controlling and balancing their emotions.It is thought that when we're younger we need to focus more on the negative aspects of life in order to learn about the possible dangers in the world, but as we get older we've learned our lessons and are sub-consciously aware that we have less time left in life: therefore, it becomes more important for us to be happy. People are happier with age because _ . Answer: they learn to value the time left
Time never had any importance to me until I received a watch from my father that organized my life and made me more responsible. I received this gift on a gray-sky day. I had to go to the airport at 9:00 a.m. to pick up my uncle Ali and take him to my father's house. However, I was late because I was hanging out with my friends. Later that day, around 11:00 a.m., I remembered my uncle, but I was very late. He had already left the airport and taken a taxi to my father's house. I got to my father's house at 2:00 p.m. on the same day and looked at my angry father's face. I felt ashamed. After I said hi to my angry father and tired uncle, my father asked me to sit next to him and handed me this watch as a gift. Then he asked, "Eric, did you have fun with your friends today?" I answered, "Yes, father, and I am sorry about not picking up my uncle." He said, "What you did was not very nice and you should be sorry for your actions." I was ashamed. "Father, I'll never do it again. I promise." Then he replied, "I hope today you learned something important, and this watch will be a reminder for you." He told me to take this watch and use it as an organizer of my life. I learned a very important lesson from my father that day: to respect time and never be late to meet someone. This watch is important to me, not because of its price, but because of the lesson that I learned from it. What would be the best title for the passage? A A Special Watch B Time Is Important C How to Be on Time D My Father and His Watch Answer: A. A Special Watch A Chinese actor's divorce from his wife, over her alleged extramarital affair, has social media buzzing, with posts about the subject gaining over five billion views. Wang Baoqiang announced online on Sunday that he was divorcing his wife, Ma Rong, and sacking his agent, Song Zhe. He alleged that his marriage broke down after his wife had an affair with his agent, and that she had also transferred the couple's joint assets. Ma has hit back at Wang, accusing him of abandoning their family. The topic has sparked a debate about relationships and divorce. It seems Wang's situation has struck a chord with many - which could explain the number of views, which are high even by Chinese standards. The divorce quickly became a top trending topic in China. According to micro blog Sina Weibo, posts with the hashtag "Wang BaoQiang Divorce" have been viewed over five billion times. Chinese netizens seem to have rallied around Wang, with topics like "Wang Don't Cry" "Wang We Support You", quickly trending after news of the divorce spread. Statistics by Weibo showed that 47% of netizens' posts condemned Ma for her affair, saying it had shattered her family. But why are they so interested? what is it about this one that's got all of China ruffled up? Some people feel that this divorce seems to fit a certain trope - of a beautiful but ordinary girl marrying a rich but less good-looking man. It is not uncommon to hear the belief that a couple has to "match" at every level - be it in status, or physical appearance - for a relationship to work out. Wang and Ma's split has many people wondering if uneven matches are unlikely to succeed. A lot of social media discussion has also centred around divorce, and in particular how people can protect themselves. Wang has alleged that his wife transferred and hid some of the couple's assets. They're a wealthy couple - their assets, according to Chinese media, include nine flats, a BMW car and various luxury goods. As a result, people are debating the importance of protecting individual assets, even after marriage. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A It is Ma Rong who should take responsibility for the divorce. B A couple has to "match" at every level for a relationship to work out. C If they get divorced, Wang Baoqiang will have an equal share of their joint assets. D The announcement of the divorce has made netizens debate the uneven matches and the protection of individual assets in marriage. Answer: D. The announcement of the divorce has made netizens debate the uneven matches and the protection of individual assets in marriage. 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. How does the writer feel when he goes to the dentist? A Angry. B Afraid. C Sad. D Happy. Answer: D. Happy. What will you do when you have something difficult to do? I used to ask my mother for help. But she always said, "Do it yourself, dear." or "God helps those who help themselves , girl." I was not glad at all. I thought she was the laziest mother in the world. For example, one day, I decided to invite some friends to my home. My bedroom was not in order. Books were everywhere. And I didn't make the bed. I asked my mother to help me to clean it, but she still said, "Do it yourself, girl." Because of my"lazy mother", I have to wash my clothes and clean my room. I have to help my parents do some housework. I even have to go to the dentist by myself. It is really hard for me to do everything well, but I have learned a lot. As time goes by, I come to understand my mother. She makes me clever and active! What a great mother! What does the writer think of her mother? A She is a lazy mother. B She is an active mother. C She is a clever and great mother. D She is always doing things for her. Answer: C. She is a clever and great mother. Sally always loved the ocean. Whenever her parents would talk about going to the beach, she would get so excited that she couldn't sleep the night before. Tonight was one of those nights. As she lay in bed, Sally couldn't help but think of all the fun things she would be doing the next day. She would build sand castles, splash in the water, and play Frisbee with her older brother, Jared. All of theses thoughts and more raced through her head, until finally she fell asleep. In the early hours of the morning, Sally awoke to her brother making loud noises in her ear. He was so annoying. A little bit later, her mother and father came in the room, helping Sally and Jared get ready for the day. When everyone was dressed and all of their belongings were packed, the whole family set off for a day of fun in the sun. The ride was long and their van was hot and stuffy, even with the windows rolled down. After what seemed like hours, Sally spotted the road sign signaling that the beach was close! Sally's mother said that they could stop for some frozen yogurt on the way since it was so hot outside. Sally and Jared both cheered. They pulled up to the shop and went inside, the cool air hitting their faces as they opened the door. There were so many different flavors! Jared always got chocolate, because that was Dad's favorite flavor, too. Mom chose strawberry because it seemed perfect for this hot weather. Sally couldn't choose. She really wanted mint chocolate chip, but they were all out. Finally she chose the shop's special flavor "Tropical Turtle". The family left with smiles on their faces, ready to have a great day at the beach. What did Sally feel towards her brother? A She was annoyed that he was making loud noises. B She was sad that he hit her. C She was sad that he was making loud noises. D She was annoyed that he hit her. Answer: A. She was annoyed that he was making loud noises.
As for older people, some of the applications are hard to use because they didn't grow up with them. They don't have simple models of how it should work. They don't know what to do when it doesn't work. I think there is huge potential, so I have designed some for them. The ability to connect to friends, who remember the same movies, news and music, is really important, especially as people get older. They end up in retirement homes and they aren't always close to their friends. Allowing the network to help them connect with friends and family members is a really powerful thing. My wife likes using the Internet, although it took me years to get her to use e-mail. She was born with normal hearing, but lost it when she was three years old. She was totally deaf for many years until 53 when she got ear implants .They work really well. That is a big change for her. Before then, her friends couldn't call her on the phone, so they insisted that she use e-mails to communicate with them. The younger people don't even think of this as technology. It's just there, and they use it .There's been a very interesting change in communication styles between the old and the young .A woman named Sharryturkle wrote about this phenomenon .There are some kids who are now in their teens and are tending not to make phone calls. And they think of e-mail as old-fashioned and slow. The reason why teens don't make phone calls seems to be that they don't know what to say. When they call they often pause for a while. On the other hand, texting is considered proper, and it's OK if you don't answer. You might have been distracted .It's not considered rude, but it's considered unusual if you're in this kind of voice conversation and simply stop talling. We can infer from the text that the author is a _ . A. company manger B. program designer C. college professor D. family doctor Answer: B. program designer I'm Rich Kleinfeldt with some financial expressions used in business and the stock market. Our first expression is "in the red." It is another way of saying that a business is losing money. In the past, numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink to show a loss. A business magazine recently published a report about a television company. The report said the company was still in the red, but was able to cut its loss from the year before. A profit by a business is written in black numbers. So a company that is "in the black" is making money. Another financial expression is "run on the bank." That is what happens when many people try to withdraw all their money from a bank. A "run on the bank" usually happens when people believe there is danger a bank may fail or close. Newspaper reports about a banking crisis in Russia used that expression. They said the government acted because of fears that the crisis would cause a run on the banks. "Day trading" is a system that lets investors trade directly on an electronic market system. It was the first completely computerized stock market. It sells stocks of companies not listed on any stock exchange. Many high technology companies are listed on it. Day trading companies provide a desk and a computer system to an investor who wants to trade. Individuals must provide fifty thousand dollars or more to the trading company to pay for the stocks they buy. Thousands of other investors do day trading from computers in their homes. A day trader watches stock prices carefully. When he sees a stock rise in price, he uses the computer to buy shares of the stock. If the stock continues to rise in price in the next few minutes, the day trader sells the shares quickly to make a small profit. Then he looks for another stock to buy. If a stock goes down instead of up, he sells it and accepts the loss. The idea is to make a small profit many times during the day. Day traders may buy and sell stocks hundreds of times each day. A "run on the bank" happens when people _ . A. try to withdraw their money from a bank B. are afraid that the bank might close down C. know that there might be a crisis in the government D. think that they can't earn money enough to support their families Answer: B. are afraid that the bank might close down SAN FRANCISCO -- Sales for Apple's third generation iPad has hit record in the first days after it was on the market, Apple and carrier AT&T said on Monday. The new iPad went on sale on March 16 in the United States along with nine additional countries and areas. "We had a record weekend, and we are thrilled with it," Apple's CEO Tim Cook said Monday at a conference. Shortly after the conference call, AT&T said the launch of the new iPad set a new single-day record for its sales. "On Friday, March 16 AT&T set a new single-day record for its iPad sales, showing strong demand for the new iPad on the nation's largest 4G network," said the mobile carrier in a brief announcement. The new iPad is Apple's first 4G-capable product, featuring retina display, HD camera and faster processor. Before hitting stores, the new iPad pre-sales were sold out worldwide in two days. BEIJING -- A Chinese farmer was sentenced to 13 years in prison Monday for stealing art pieces from the Forbidden City last year, court authorities said. Shi Baikui, 27, was fined 13,000 yuan ($2,059) and was deprived of his political rights for 3 years, according to the ruling announced by the Second Intermediate People's Court in Beijing Monday morning. Shi, from East China's Shandong Province, broke into the heavily guarded former home of Chinese emperors in the heart of Beijing, and stole nine art pieces made of gold and jewels, on May 8, 2011, the court said in a statement. While hurriedly escaping, Shi left behind five of the pieces in the Forbidden City's compound . Failing to immediately sell the treasures, he threw the other four pieces away the next day, the document said. Six pieces were recovered and the three missing were worth about 150,000 yuan ($23,760) in total. Shi was arrested by police at an Internet cafe in Beijing's Fengtai district 58 hours after the theft. What can we learn about the stolen art pieces? A. They were all recovered. B. They were all sold off. C. Some were left behind and some were thrown away. D. Some were missing and some were sold off. Answer: C. Some were left behind and some were thrown away. Some caterpillars use camouflage to look like A. Anger B. poop C. love D. Sarcastic Answer: B. poop You make decisions, year after year, never lasting for more than a few days ending up lost and in the same place you started. Allow me to suggest some tips that may help you stick to your decisions creating long- lasting positive change in your life. Telling other people about your plan can help in many ways. First, it is always easier to stick to a decision when you have other people supporting you. Your friends are less likely to tempt you with whatever it is you are trying to control if they know that you made a decision about it. Telling other people about your decision is also helpful in that it keeps us to the pressure on you to try and stick to you plan of action. Choose a measurable and specific decision. Instead of deciding to "look better" or "have a better relationship with so and so", choose a more definable decision. Deciding to "eat a vegetable every day" or "go out for coffee once a week with John" is much easier to track and assess than a general decision to "be a better person". Build a reward system. Connected to the last tip of choosing a measurable and specific decision is that when you do accomplish this specific behavior you decided to do, give yourself small rewards along the process. For example, for every week of healthy eating treat yourself with something special. Creative visual aids. A colleague of mine decided one year for his New Year's decision to be more frugal. He decided to try and save money by lowering his monthly bills. So he posted a copy of his highest electric bill by his heater so that every time he wanted to raise the temperature he would see the high electric bill reminding him to be more cautious about his energy consumption. The colleague posted his highest electric bill by his heater to _ . A. remind himself not to use the heater B. warn himself not to waste energy C. remember the electric bill forever D. remind himself that he is short of money Answer: B. warn himself not to waste energy
I have some work in Glasgow today. I was on a really tight schedule, which meant I would have no time for myself all day. I was having one of those days, the train was completely packed out and the conversation going on around me seemed to be particularly meaningless. On top of all that, I had a bit a headache. Walking quickly across the hall, I fished some change from my pocket. There was usually someone at the exit selling The Big Issue(a magazine that helps homeless folk earn a living). As the crowd parted ways at the bottom of the hall, I saw someone selling the Big Issue. You had to be homeless to sell the Big Issue. She really looked like she'd been sleeping rough. Her clothes were ragged and she was also rocking from side to side. At first I thought maybe she was trying to keep warm against the biting wind, But she wasn't ,she was moving in time to a tune. I couldn't hear her, but I could see her lips moving. As I got closer, I saw a white cane hanging from her elbow and noticed that she had sunken( ) eyes. She was blind, dirty and living on the streets. I came closer and through the noise of the traffic I heard her sing the immortal line, "--and I think to myself, what a wonderful world!" I bought her last magazine for twice what I'd originally intended. She thanked me, then she picked up her stuff and went tapping off along the pavement--still singing! So, I have my happy memory for the day. And I think it will stay with me a long ,long time. Feel free to borrow it if you like. Why do some actors keep a sad thought or memory according to the passage? Answer: A three-year independent investigation into the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon has _ new eyewitness evidence which, according to the Southern California-based researchers who conducted the investigation conclusively (and unfortunately), establishes as a historical fact that the violence which took place in Arlington that day was not the result of a surprise attack by suicide hijackers, but rather a military black operation involving a carefully planned and skillfully executed deception." A CNN Reporter at the scene states that there is no evidence that a 757 hit the Pentagon. What hit the Pentagon? A Boeing 757 loaded with passengers and fuel right? Who was on Flight 757? According to the Flight Information there were No Arabs on it. That makes me wonder if Flight 757 actually existed at all. From the pictures and the videos, people can find that there are several doubtful points that need to be taken into consideration, for example the marker line on the grass in the satellite and ground pictures, the different colors of the smoke, the hole which the plane impacted, and the standing pylons . Also, from the comparison of the different pictures, people can find some other strange points. For example, the gear is not the matching one. The wreckage of the plane is not the one from the American Airlines. The glass on the pavement of the pole is another doubtful point. The last thing that need considering is about the collapse. One of the gif video shows the plane impacting the Pentagon. The only problem with this video footage is that it has been altered and can not be fully trusted. These crash photos and videos shown here clearly have been doctored and don't even match the physics of what happened. So where is the real video? It leaves me many questions. Is this a missile? It is a real enigma. What the word " _ " mean in the first sentence? Answer: 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." Why do kids love playing sports? Answer: Recently we asked for people's opinions about paying students to encourage them to come to class and get higher scores on tests. Some American schools are doing this. More of the people were against the idea than were for it. Some people said paying students sends a message that money is the only reason they should study for. Steven from prefix = st1 /Chinasays students should study for knowledge. Money may make a difference in the short term, he says, but we should think about the long term. Zhao Jing Tao, a college student in China, thought of an old saying. Paying students is like "drinking poison to end thirst"-- trying to solve a problem without thinking of the bad effects. Dinh Minh Tuan from Vietnamsays rewards are important because they prepare students for the future life. But young children should get things they value more than money, like funny books, pens and film tickets. There was a suggestion from South Korea that if rewards are necessary for learning,they could be gathered like a charity fund. This money could be used for a project designed by the students. Francisco Mora from Colombiasays the city ofBogotapays parents, so children do not have to work until they finish their basic education. This, he says, has increased the number of students who come to public schools. Teresa Finamore wrote: "I am an Italian teacher of math and science for students from eleven to fourteen. I think that it is wrong to pay students. Each student has to understand that going to school, he gets a wonderful chance to live better in the future and also at present." Nelly Constant in France wonders, if young people get paid for studying, what will they expect from a job --a rocket to the moon? Sergio Fernandes from Brazilsays paying students is not realistic. But Camillus Chiemela, a Nigerian living inGermany, feels it will help to make the education system better. Students' expectations will be much higher. Naval from Russiaalso says yes to the idea: "We should at least get something for our time wasted. Because in my country students pay money to go to school or get good grades from teachers." And Lucy Ding from Chinasays most Chinese students work hard for two reasons: their parents' expectations and pressure from teachers. She says getting rewards will become a good thing that will get students to work hard for themselves, for the things they hope to get. What do Chinese students work hard for according to Lucy Ding? Answer: At present time, roller skating is easy and fun. But many years ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, people never tried skating on wheels. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making instruments . In his free time he liked to play the violin. Merlin was a man with many ideas and many dreams. People called him a dreamer. One day Merlin received an invitation to go to an important party. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think. He wanted to find a way to make a wonderful entrance at the party. Merlin had an idea. He thought that he would attract a lot of attention if he could skate into the room. Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll . Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skate shoes. Merlin was very proud of them. He dreamed of arriving at the party and skating into the room while playing the violin. He was sure that everyone would be very surprised. On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room, playing his violin. Everyone was really surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skating. He rolled on, playing the violin. Then, with all eyes on him, Merlin hit into a huge mirror on the wall. The mirror broke into many pieces with a very loud noise. Nobody forgot Merlin's wonderful entrance after that. People called Merlin a dreamer because _ . . Answer:
You might think that whether you choose a blue shirt or a yellow one to wear to work or college makes no difference to your day and those around you. However, an increasing number of experts argue that the colors we choose affect our mood , our career and even our health. Color affects us to a greater degree than most of us realize. Color is used increasingly by doctors for influencing mood and state of mind, and for various types of medical treatment. Green is a good color if you are not feeling well, and possibly this is why we sometimes give flowers and plants to friends and relatives in hospital. It is also thought that turquoise , a "user-friendly" color, can treat stress and headaches. Companies use color to encourage us to buy their products. For example, purple, which mixes well with red, is used to show that a company has new ideas and the power to make them happen. Orange and blue are also recommended colors for companies to use, because orange is the color of communication and blue suggests safety. So this could be a particularly good combination. Companies have found that certain colors "speak" to specific age groups. They often use red to attract younger people to their products, for example, as it is lively and more youthful than colors like gold and navy , which older customers seem to prefer. Wearing different colors can affect how you feel and how others react to you, so it is important to consider this when deciding what to wear in the morning. If you want people to take you seriously, then wearing navy or black is good. Blue would also be helpful for an interview or oral examination because it relaxes you and makes you feel calm. Red gets you noticed by everyone and makes you feel energetic, but be careful, as it can raise your pulse rate and not everyone wants this effect. So think carefully before you leave the house or visit a friend with a gift. The colors you choose in both cases are a powerful tool. Are you making the right impression-- on yourself and on others? What is the text mainly about? Color's important effects on our life Friendlies abandoned as name for mascots The name "Friendlies" has been abandoned as the organization committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympics silently changed the English name of the Games' five mascot dolls last week. The organization committee decided to adopt the name "Fuwa", which is a pinyin translation of its Chinese name and is more frequently used in prefix = st1 /China. However, the organization committee replaced all Friendlies to Fuwa on its official site, but without giving a formal announcement to inform the public of the change. It is said that they received an inside notice about the change last week but don't want to emphasize it for fear of affecting the sales of Olympic goods. Li Yanjun, a Legal Affairs Department official, said the decision was made considering a variety of reasons but did not want to comment on them. "You may know about the background and many unfavorable comments concerning the mascots' former name across the web, but I won't comment on them," Li said. "I'm not in the position to make it clear if the change was caused by this." A report published last week on China Radio International (CRI)made the name change known and listed the reasons why the Friendlies name should be changed. "Firstly, Friendly is somewhat an unclear name, which could refer both to friendly people and friendly matches,"a Dr. Li from LanzhouUniversitywas quoted as saying on the site. "Secondly, the term Friendlies has a similar pronunciation to 'friendless' and thirdly, the spelling of Friendlies could be split as 'friend lies'." Laura Fitch, a Canadian who works in Chinaas news editor, welcomed the change, saying the name Friendlies sounds a "a little bit childish" and "doesn't really have a meaning." What can be inferred from what Li Yanjun said in Para.3? It is likely that the change of the name was caused by the unfavourable comments. In 1809, Mary Kies received the first U.S. patent issued to a woman. Kies , a Connecticut native , invented a process for weaving straw with silk or thread. First Lady Dolley Madison praised her for improving the nation's het industry. Unfortunately , the patent file was destroyed in a big fire in 1836. Until about 1840, only 20 U.S. patents were issued to women. The inventions were related to clothes, tools ,cook stoves and fireplaces. Patent is the "ownership" of an invention and only the inventor(s) can apply for it. In the past , women were not allowed to have equal rights of property ownership and many women patented their inventions under their husbands' or fathers' name. Women were also prevented from receiving higher education necessary for inventing. Here are a few examples to be noticed, and from these examples, we know enough reasons for encouraging girls and women to pursue technology-based courses and careers. The women inventors took annually granted U.S. patents rising fro;m 2.6 percent in 1977 to 10.3 percent in 1998. The majority of the U.S. woman-inventor patents are in the chemical technologies. In 1996, every eleven U.S. patent grant included one woman inventor. In the past 20 years, about 83 percent of the U. S. patent grants to women were for utility patents , 16.5 percent for design patents, and 0.5 percent for plant patents. About 35 percent of the U.S woman-inventor patents granted during the 1977 to 1996 period originated form California , New York or New Jersey. Today, hundreds of thousands of women apply for and receive patents every year. About 20% of all inventors are currently female and that number will quickly rise to 50% over the next generation. According to the passage, Dolley Madison was _ . the wife of the U.S President Swimming and English Learning Can you swim? Do you like swimming? Yes? Well, how can you learn to swim? I think the best way is to go into the water and learn. I'm afraid you'll never learn to swim just by reading books about swimming or looking at others swimming. It's the same with the English study. We must practice, practice and practice. Listening and speaking are very important for beginners. The children in English-speaking countries first listen to others. Then they try to imitate and speak. We can listen to English programs on radio. You may just understand a few words. It doesn't matter. Just be relaxed, try to catch every word. Somebody may be a good listener. But he dare not speak. He's afraid of making mistakes. You know we sometimes make mistakes when we speak Chinese. Don't be afraid. We must be brave. If you really want to learn English well, you must try to speak with everyone so long as he knows English. Whether you know him or not is not important when there's nobody to talk with, you can talk to yourself in English. It's interesting and also a good way to practice your spoken English. Remember, the more you speak, the fewer mistakes you'll make. Reading and writing are more important for senior school students. First we must choose the books we're interested in. A lot of reading will improve your language sense. This is the most important. Keep writing English diaries. We can also write English articles. You may even post them to English magazines. Don't be afraid of failure. Failure is the mother of success. Easier said than done. Well, let's do more practice from now on. I'm sure you'll learn English well in this way. We can listen to English _ , according to the passage. on the radio Dear Sara, As we drove off from Columbia,I wanted to write a letter to you to tell you all that is on my mind.First,I want to tell you how proud we are.Getting into Columbia College shows what a great well-rounded student you are.Your academic,artistic,and social skills have truly blossomed in the last few years.Whether it is getting the highest grade in mathematics,completing your elegant fashion design,successfully selling your painted running shoes,or becoming one of the top speakers in Model United Nations,you have become a talented and accomplished young woman.You should be as proud of yourself as we are. College will be the most important years in your life.It is in college that you will truly discover what learning is about.This will be the period where you go from teacher-taught to master-inspired,after which you must become self-learner.So do take each subject seriously,and even if what you learn isn't critical for your life,the skills of learning will be important to you forever. Follow your passion in college.Take courses you think you will enjoy.Don't be trapped in what others think or say.Do your best in classes,but don't let pressure get to you.Your mother and I have no expectations for your grades.If you graduate and learn something in your four years,we would feel happy.So please don't give yourself pressure. I told your mom I'm writing this letter,and asked what she wanted me to say.She thought and said:"Just ask her to take care of herself."Please listen to your mother and take care of yourself. So please treasure your college years,make the best of your free time,and become an independent thinker;learn and grow through your successes and challenges. Love, Dad(& Mom) Sara'performance in the last few years makes his parents _ . proud
Question: Two friends were walking through the desert. During the journey they had an argument , and the taller boy slapped the shorter one in the face. The short boy was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face." They kept on walking until they found a pond, and they decided to take a bath there. But the short boy got stuck in the mud and started to sink . He cried, "Help! Help!" Luckily, he was pulled to safety by his friend. After that, he carved on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life." The taller boy asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote it in the sand and now you carve it on a stone. Why?" The shorter boy replied: "When someone hurts you, you should write it in the sand where winds can erase it easily. But when someone does something good for you, you must carve it in the stone where no wind can ever erase it." You have to learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your benefits in the stone. ,A, B, C, D,. Where did the two friends walk? A. in the desert B. on the stone C. in the forest D. in a pond Answer: A. in the desert Question: 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. Why do contemporary Coca-Cola officials especially like to mention the year 1886? A. Because Conan Doyle contributed to Pemberton's Coca-Cola invention. B. Because France sent the Statue of Liberty to America and Pemberton loved it. C. Because they are still proud of Pemberton's invention. D. Because Pemberton made more money for the company this year than in any other year. Answer: C. Because they are still proud of Pemberton's invention. Question: The League of High Schools is pleased to invite student freethinkers to our 2007 Student Leadership Meeting July 15 -17 at our office building in Manhattan, New York. This yearly meeting has been successfully held for the past three years. The event brings together student activists from around North America for a busy weekend of workshops, networking, lectures, and a lot of fun. We encourage every school to send at least one representative (if not more) and we are keeping the costs down to help make this possible. Any individual * student activists who are interested are also welcome to attend. Registration ,rd5m and food for the entire three day event will cost only $ 39 for each student. We' ve booked you single rooms at Travelodge, New York. For any information about the hotel, please call 88643911. This time we are making a special offer providing some money for travelling to make sure each group can send a representative even if it lacks the money to do so. Email Anna Porter at apor- ter@ leaguehighschool. net or call 46935040 to get more information about this travel support. The registration form can be found at http://www. freethought. org/SLM2007. pdf. For more information about registration you may call Lucy Becker at 36904560 or email her at lbecker @ IeaguehighschooL net. So don't wait! Send in your registration.' From the passage we know that the Student Leadership Meeting _ . A. invites students from Manhattan B. provides free meals for students C. is held every three years D. was first held in 2004 Answer: D. was first held in 2004 Question: This the best time and this the worst time;this is the time of great material richness and this is the time of desert of soul.Everyone seems to be rushing around for something but they have never fulfilled they dream.Everyone tries to seek happiness but it seems to be nowhere to be found. When asked"what on earth can make you happy?",most modern man would give similar replies such as becoming extremely wealthy,or getting promoted in work and then becoming very wealthy.When asked"what will you do with your wealth?",they would make a long list of things they have been longing for.However haven't you noticed the multibillionaires are not as happy as we common guys suppose them to be?Haven't you noticed that the multibillionaire celebrities don't even enjoy the fundamental freedom of going shopping with their own families without being followed by annoying paparazzi? If we hinge our happiness on such big issues,we are bound to be unhappy all through our life, because those big issues might just occur to us _ . As Socrates once put it,"He is the richest who is content with the least,for content is the wealth of nature".But how can we "be content with the least"?If you pay due attention,our life is loaded with little joys,sometime too little to be noticeable.Stop once in a while in your rush to your destination,look around and you will see that there are always little things worth cheering for. You got an"A"in a test.Good!You listened to all inspiring lecture.Great!You offered a helping hand to someone who had a flat tire! Amazing! Your dream girl/boy greeted you with a sweet smile!Fantastic!And so on and so forth!Let's cheer for the little joys in life! Please keep in mind that never should we wait to be happy! According to the text,which of the following statements is NOT true? A. Money doesn't necessarily bring happiness. B. Desire for wealth makes people unhappy. C. Great occasions are worth celebrating. D. We should ignore little joys in our life. Answer: D. We should ignore little joys in our life. Question: My mother has always been a follower of traditional methods when it comes to anything. She cooks traditional food,likes dressing up traditionally and likes the traditional way of shopping. She loves going to markets and going from one shop to another to find out what suits her best. She can walk miles when it comes to shopping along with her friends. She knows all the local markets and shops and knows very well where she can get best discounts . However,now she always gets tired when she goes out in the market. So one day I decided to introduce a new shop,which is much larger than usual markets and where she can also get discounts.I am talking about online gift stores. She has a basic knowledge of computers and can operate computers. At the beginning,she was doubtful about shopping from these online gift shops because she wasn't too sure about the quality of the products. One day I decided to get her some branded things so that she could build trust in these shops. I ordered a Timex watch and a Sisley handbag for her. She never bought things online,but when they were delivered as a gift,she jumped for joy. She could not believe that I had ordered these gifts for her despite her being not much positive about online shops. However,after she saw both the products,she was assured that these online gift shops sent the promised brands and products,she loved her new watch and handbag. After this experience she ordered a gift for her friend's wedding. She chose a gift basket that could be made according to her requirements. They sent a beautifully decorated basket with fine wines and chocolates. The basket was so artistically decorated that it became her friend's favorite gift. Since then she has been consistently shopping online. The author decided to buy his mother some branded things _ . A. in order to please his mother B. so that she could trust in shopping online C. so that she would live a happy life in her later years D. so that she would get a surprise on Mother's Day Answer: B. so that she could trust in shopping online
One afternoon, after finishing shopping in a supermarket, my family and I went to the checkout. I suddenly thought we didn't need any of the junk, and we abandoned all of those, saving $300. That got me thinking about all our pointless expenses in life. With a promise that we'd stop if it was killing us, I convinced the family to take the leap into frugality . The rules were that we would buy nothing for 30 days except absolutely essentials. Our adventure began with a great start. By 9 a.m., my wife, Ruth, had already made cakes from old strawberries and picked flowers I didn't even know we had in the garden. I cleared the car by hand for the first time for years. I read and returned the neighbor's newspaper before he woke up. Total spending on the first day: $0. As days turned into weeks, we became so proficient at living frugally. We started riding our bikes to save gas. My child's finger painting was recycled as gift wrap for the homemade presents. We started to use an Internet application like Skype for free phone calls and ask neighbors with gardens for extra vegetables and herbs. In the end, we saved more than $2000 by not spending for a month. When we began, I imagined we would rush out the moment we were done and buy a lot of things in the supermarket, then maybe hit the mall or go to the movies. This passage is mainly about _ . A. how a family managed their daily life B. a family's no-buying try C. a family's way of solving life problems D. how a new idea came up Answer: B. a family's no-buying try A man once said how useless it was to put advertisements in the newspaper. "Last week, " he said, "my umbrella was stolen from a London church. As it was a present, I spent twice its worth in advertising, but didn't get it back. " "How did you write your advertisement? " asked one of the listeners, a merchant. "Here it is, " said the man, taking out of his pocket a slip cut from a newspaper. The other man took it and read, "Lost from the City Church last Sunday evening, a black silk umbrella. The gentleman who finds it will receive ten shillings on leaving it at No. 10 Broad Street. " "Now, " said the merchant, "I often advertise, and find that it pays me well. But the way in which an advertisement is expressed is of extreme importance. Let us try for your umbrella again, and if it fails, I'll buy you a new one. " The merchant then took a slip of paper out of his pocket and wrote: "If the man who was seen to take an umbrella from the City Church last Sunday evening doesn't wish to get into trouble, he will return the umbrella to No. 10 Broad Street. He is well known. " This appeared in the newspaper, and on the following morning, the man was astonished when he opened the front door. In the doorway lay at least twelve umbrellas of all sizes and colors, and his own was among them. Many of them had notes fastened to them saying that they had been taken by mistake, and begging the loser not to say anything about the matter. The result of the first advertisement was that _ . A. the man got his umbrella back B. the man wasted some money advertising C. nobody found the missing umbrella D. the umbrella was found somewhere near the church Answer: B. the man wasted some money advertising One of the greatest gifts one generation can give to other generations is the wisdom it has gained from experience. This idea has inspired the award-winning photographer Andrew Zuckerman. He interviewed and took photos of fifty over-sixty-five-year-olds all over the world. His project explores various aspects of their lives. The photos and interviews are now available on our website. Click on the introductions to read the complete interviews. Let us now have a culture of peace. ----Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Spain Federico Mayor Zaragoza obtained a doctorate in pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1958. After many years spent in politics, he became Director-General of UNESCO in 1987. In 1999, he created the Foundation for a culture of Peace, of which he is now the president. In addition to many scientific publications, he has published four collections of poems and several books of essays. Writing is a discovery. ----Nadine Gordimer, South Africa Due to a weak heart, Nadine Gordimer attended school and university briefly. She read widely and began writing at an early age. She published her first short story at the age of fifteen, and has completed a large number of works, which have been translated into forty languages. In 1991, Gordimer won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Jazz is about the only form of art today. ----Dave Brubeck, USA Dave Brubeck studied music at the University of the Pacific and graduated in 1942. After World War Two he was encouraged to play jazz. In 1951, he recorded his first album . Brubeck's 1959 album has become a jazz standard. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. For more figures CLICK HERE. What is the main purpose of this web page? A. To show Zuckerman's awards. B. To publicize Zuckerman's project. C. To celebrate the achievements of the three people. D. To spread the wisdom of the three people. Answer: B. To publicize Zuckerman's project. With roads and tube lines set to be more crowded than ever this summer, a few people may be tempted to use it as an excuse for a day off. But for employees at data services provider, Interxion, a chaotic commute during the Olympics will _ . That's because, in an effort to keep things from progressing slowly this summer, bosses at the London company are asking staff to sleep at work -- in space pods. Far from sleeping on the job, engineers will be asked to stay behind and sleep in the closed capsules to avoid the rush hour. And while other companies are planning to offer staff the luxury of working from home during the Games, the firm behind the capsules hopes to get more workplaces on board. Podtime, the firm behind the unusual cabins, are describing them as the perfect solution to the Olympics' crowded commute. On their official website they state 'London businesses will be severely affected by the transport problems caused by the Olympics.' Reasonable prices and various pods provide the best solution to this by allowing your staff to stay on site as necessary, in comfort and privacy. Coming in a range of colours, the capsules, made of polycarbonate, sell at anything from PS1,375. The stock models are fitted with either foam mattresses or a standard single mattress as well as a storage shelf, mirror and power points. These types of capsules have been around for years, in hotels, but Interxion is thought to be among the first to have them installed at the workplace. An independent report carried out by Oxford Economics last year estimated that around 450,000 visitors will stay in London while 5.5 million people will visit for at least a day during the Games. This will inevitably mean more cars on the road and greater congestion on the Underground. Which statement about the space pods is NOT right? A. They offer various color1s for employees to choose from. B. They are to be used at workplaces for the first time. C. They are the superb way to solve crowded commute. D. They protect personal privacy of employees who use them. Answer: C. They are the superb way to solve crowded commute. Paul worked as a cook in a restaurant. For Valentine's Day, he made chocolate desserts. He tripled the recipe to feed all the people. He separated the eggs and measured the sugar. Then he melted the chocolate. He mixed the egg whites until they made a thick foam. He mixed the egg yolks with the sugar. But as he was ready to mix everything, his boss asked him to do a different job. Paul chopped some vegetables. When he came back, Greg had taken over his work and made a mistake. The mix was much too thin. It looked like chocolate soup. It wouldn't rise at all. Luckily Paul was ready. He had practiced the dessert recipe before. It looked like it didn't have enough egg whites. Paul separated more eggs and mixed the egg whites. He added the extra egg whites to the mix. His addition worked. The desserts rose high in the oven. He saved the day! How did Paul know how to fix the recipe and what did he do? A. He made Greg fix the recipe. Greg added egg whites. B. He didn't know how to fix the recipe. The desserts didn't rise in the oven. C. He had practiced it before. He added egg whites. D. He asked the boss for help. The boss had him chop vegetables. Answer: C. He had practiced it before. He added egg whites.
The earth being tilted on its axis causes what? Answer: 1) Your teens don't want you to be their friends. What they need is for you to be a reliable responsible role model worthy of their respect, and not some overgrown child who wears too tight jeans or T-shirts with slogans advocating the good points of 100 proof liquor. 2) Don't debate the teen ever. If she wants to debate, suggest she sign up for the Debate Club. If you buy into their teen logic (which is basically illogic, the product of an immature brain and every extreme of emotion known to mankind) your mouth will go dry. Teens need to know that no means no. Remember when your teen was two years old and he said "no" a lot? Well now it's your turn, particularly when your teen wants to engage in behaviors that are dangerous. 3) Don't buy your teen a car. If you do, he will _ it in record time. Guaranteed. The teen should earn the car, or at least a portion of it (and by that I don't mean one of the tires). You know how you take much better care of an item of clothing you spent a fortune on compared to one you bought in a bargain basement? It's the same thing, only a car can do serious damage. 4) Encourage sports participation even if your teen has two left feet. In some sports, two left feet won't knock him out of the box, so to speak. Sports participation develops perseverance and cheerfully functioning as a team member. You also will know where your child is every day after school (on the field, that is, or at a rival school). Just make sure you root for the right team, okay? Been there, done that. 5) Let the school know you in a good way so that school personnel do not dive under the desk when you approach. If you are asked to speak at the school, your teen will feel mighty proud. If you make something for the bake sale, try to make it taste edible and if you can't see it through, do yourself and your child a favor and buy something at the local bakery or supermarket. 6) To know your teens' friends is to know your teens. Teens have a secret life, and a parent's goal is to find out secrecy that is sometimes thicker than the CIA and the KGB combined. If you really want to know what your kid is up to, get to know their friends. How? By being warm and kind, and by asking questions that don't sound like an interrogation , but serve that purpose without their knowing it. The passage mainly wants you to know that _ . Answer: What will man be like in the future -- in 5,000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time. Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively a short period of time, so we may suppose that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain's capacity . As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and finally we shall need our brains more and more, and finally we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring a physical change too: the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger. Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over long period of time it is likely that man's eyes will grow stronger. On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life. But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald. Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and motions similar to our own. What serves as the evidence that man is changing? Answer: Mistrust _ Zhengzhou Ride-share Effort More than 300 private car owners from a central Chinese city volunteered to offer free rides to citizens to ease crowded public transportation, but many local people didn't accept the offer for fear of being cheated. The ride-share program was begun in October in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, when Ye Zhantong, a private car driver, started to gather volunteers to offer the free service. The drivers tied a green silk ribbon on the car to differentiate themselves from unlicensed taxi drivers. But the free rides haven't been popular among the public as increasing reports of dishonesty have dried up many local citizens' trust towards strangers. Ye said some of the volunteers have dropped out after they felt their kind intention was being questioned. Passersby walking in heavy rainfall or passengers who missed a bus would remain silent and walk away when the volunteers would stop and offer a ride. "It's so common that people give us the cold shoulder, and sometimes, take our kindness as ill will," said one of Ye's volunteers, identified as Binge. "Many would even say: 'Let's get out of here quickly to avoid being cheated by him.'" Some commenters on Weibo explained why they hesitated to participate in a ride-share program. "Trusting a stranger might bring huge risks. I can't take the risk," one Internet user wrote. Some said Ye's group wasn't authorized, and cheaters pretending to be kind drivers might volunteer. They suggested traffic authorities issue rules to regulate, protect and promote ride-share programs. Which correctly explains the expression "give sb. the cold shoulder"? Answer: Jesse Owens was born in Alabama in the USA, in 1913. There were ten children in his family. Jesse was the youngest. He went to school in the city of Cleveland. At school he showed he had a special talent for athletics . He could run fast. He could jump high. He could jump far. Because he was good at athletics, Jesse became a student at Ohio State University. In May, 1935 in Michigan, USA, he broke the world record for the long jump. This was his first world record. On the 25th May Jesse did something unusual. In 45 minutes he broke six world records. Some people think that this was the greatest athletics achievement ever. In 1936 Jesse went to the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. There were only nineteen black athletes in the USA team. He won gold medals in the 100 meters race, the 200 meters race, the long jump and the relay race. Jesse was not a professional athlete. This meant that he could not get money for running. Later, he became a professional athlete. To make money he had to appear in strange races. Sometimes he had to race against horses. In 1960 somebody broke Jesse's last world record. In 1980 Jesse died. Jesse showed he was very good at _ when he was at school. Answer:
Going Green For career changers thinking about growth and advancement potential, forget the blue-collar and white-collar categories: Green is the way to go. According to Bracken Hendricks, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Progress, careers that promote environmental responsibility will become main stream within a decade. "The growth in green careers will be like the Internet boom, which not only created new jobs, but also had an influence on the overall economy ," he says. The increasing environmental problems and need for eco-friendly products and services are creating a new job section of green-collar jobs. Many countries of the world have realized the importance and need for energy-saving products and services. It is expected that by 2025 about 25% of the jobs in developed countries will be of green-collar jobs. Doesn't the data look promising for the future? Green-collar jobs have become a bright career chances for all. And jobs will pop up at every income level, from environmental manager to gardener. For example, many countries including the United States have understood that fossil fuels have negative effect on the environment which can later become a serious danger to mankind. As a result, possibilities are being explored to find alternatives to satisfy demands in a better way. The increasing demand of newer resources has creating the need for experts and researchers who can find better ways to deal with the ongoing needs. In addition, in order to meet the increasing demands of environment-friendly equipment, both green product designer and educated and trained workers are needed. Management of environmental organizations also demands a large number of environmental managers. Where can you find green-collar jobs? Internet is undoubtedly the best way to find information on almost any matter. Nowadays, different kinds of jobs are being posted online. Search through a couple of job websites to look for a bright future in energy conversion and recycling of waste management. Check regularly and find the right work for yourself. People who read newspapers can also find different kinds of green-collar jobs. Which of the following probably creates green-collar jobs? A Promoting services. B Training employees. C Consuming fossil fuels. D Developing new resources. Answer: D Which human trait is most likely inherited from a parent? A learning to ride a bike B holding a spoon C reading a book D height Answer: D There are many wetlands in China and some of them have become the world's important wetlands. The Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands are among them. They are in Yancheng,Jiangsu Province. They are home of many different kinds of birds and animals. The world's largest Milu Deer Nature Reserve is in them. More than 700 milu deer live freely there. The temperature in the wetlands is usually neither too high nor too low. There is a lot of rain and sunshine,too. They are really good places for wildlife. Offering food and home for some special kinds of animals and birds is not the only reason why we need to protect wetlands. Wetlands are important because they also prevent flood. But some people want to change the wetlands to make more space for farms and buildings. This means there will be less and less space for wildlife. Luckily, more and more people are beginning to realize the important of wetlands and wildlife. Every year, on February 2nd many activities are held to tell people more about wetlands around the world. What can be the best title for the passage? A China's wetlands -the Biggest One in the World B Wetlands --- Home of Wildlife and Human Beings C Special Animals --- Found in Yellow Sea Wetlands D Wetlands --- the Last Valuable Land on the Earth Answer: B Women are still underrepresented in top academic positions. One of the possible explanations for this is the increasing importance of obtaining research funding. Women are often less successful in this than men. Psychology researchers Dr. Romyvan der Lee and professor Naomi Ellemers investigated whether this difference also occurs at the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and examined potential explanations. The researchers were assigned by NWO to carry out this study as part of the broader evaluation of NWO's procedures and its gender diversity policy. The aim was to gain more insight into the causes of the differences in awarding rates for male and female applicants for research funding. The analysis addressed an important "talent programme" of NWO, the Veni grant. "Whoever receives this grant has a greater chance of obtaining an important appointment at a university,"says Naomi Ellemers. Van der Lee and Ellemers investigated all the applications submitted by male and female researchers over a period of three years: a total of 2823 applications. Under the direction of NWO these applications were assessed by scientific committees consisting of men and women. The results demonstrate that the awarding rates for female applicants (14.9%) are systematically lower than those for male applicants (17.7%). "If we compare the proportion of women among the applicants with the proportion of women among those awarded funding, we see a loss of 4%," said Ellemers. The study reveals that women are less positively evaluated for their qualities as researcher than men are. "Interestingly the research proposals of women and men are evaluated equally positively. In other words, the reviewers see no difference in the quality of the proposals that men and women submit," says Romy van der Lee. In search for a possible cause for the differences in awarding rates and evaluations, the researchers also investigated the language use in the instructions and forms used to assess the quality of applications. This clearly revealed the occurrence of gendered language. The words that are used to indicate quality are frequently words that were established in previous research as referring mainly to the male gender stereotype (such as challenging and excellent). Romy van der Lee explains: "As a result, it appears that men more easily satisfy the assessment criteria, because these better fit the characteristics stereotypically associated with men." In response to the results of this research, NWO will devote more attention to the gender awareness of reviewers in its methods and procedures. It will also be investigated which changes to the assessment procedures and criteria can most strongly contribute to more equal chances for men and women to obtain research funding. This will include an examination of the language used by NWO. NWO chair Jos Engelens said, "The research has yielded valuable results and insights. Based on the recommendations made by the researchers we will therefore focus in the coming period on the development of evidence-based measures to reduce the difference in awarding rates." What will NWO probably do next in response to the results of this research? A Eliminate possibilities for difference in awarding rates. B Design a language examination for all the reviewers. C Emphasize the importance of gender awareness. D Improve the assessment procedures and criteria. Answer: D April 22 is Earth Day. Everyone on Earth should care about and protect the earth! The earth has warmed by about 1degF over the past 100 years, but why and how? Well, scientists are not quite sure. Maybe the earth gets warmer and warmer on its own. But many scientists say that people are doing many things which makes the earth warmer. First, greenhouse effect is a very important reason for the change of the earth. People give out too much energy into the air every year. It makes the earth warmer. Climate change is another important reason. Sometimes it becomes too hot and sometimes too cold. Sometimes there is too much rain and sometimes too little. The change of the climate makes the earth warmer. In turn, the warmth of the earth changes the climate, too. When the earth becomes warmer, there may be more rain and a rise in sea level. It will affect the growth of plants, animals and people. On a Pacific island, 100 people have to move to higher ground because the sea is rising. These people can no longer live on the coast. Before that, two islands without people went underwater in 1999. Scientists say that the seas can rise by nearly one metre by 2100. People can affect the earth's air, land and water. As for us, we can do many things to protect the earth. For example, we can use fridges less. We can tell more people about protecting the earth. Greenhouse effect comes from _ . A sea rising B climate change C nature's unbalance D people's activity Answer: D
Researchers from France and Italy discovered that Canadian parents are less strict with their children than mothers and fathers in France and Italy. "Our most important finding was the difference between Canadians and the others," said Professor Michel Claes,the lead author of the study."Canadians focus on independence and negotiation.On the other hand,Italians,for example,exercise more control.We found Canadians seem to focus on negotiation in case of a conflict." Claes said Canada,France and Italy were selected for the study because they share important cultural and social factors."We chose FrenchCanadians because they share the same language as France,and originally came from France and share certain values.Italy was included because it was considered to have similar,strong and important family values," he explained. The researchers examined the emotional ties between parents and their children by questioning 1,256 students aged 11 to 19 years old. Canadian students reported less control and more free actions,according to the study.Italian parents were stricter and French parents were somewhere in the middle. Claes explains that the differences lie in education in Canada,France and Italy. "North America has its own educational values,which promote individualization.Tolerance and comprehension are encouraged.Italy,on the other hand,promotes respect of authority,control,and the need for permission." he said. Children from all three countries described their mothers as warm and communicative.Italian and Canadian children had similar feelings about their fathers,and reported high levels of emotional ties.But French fathers were generally thought by their children to be more distant and cold. "We were surprised by this," Claes admitted."It seems as though the relationships between French mothers and their children were becoming closer over time,while fathers maintain a form of distance and coldness,which is more of a source of conflict in France than in the other countries." According to Michel Claes,what mainly leads to the differences in parentchildren relationships among Canada,France and Italy? Answer: When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choice in life. About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that was incurable, and that I would live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is my doctors' code for preparing yourself to die. I lived with that diagnosis all day. I was completely in despair. Later that evening, I had another examination and my wife told me that tumor turned to be curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I' m fine now. This was the closest I've been to facing death. To tell the truth, no one wants to die. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. It clears out the old to make room for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Your time is so limited that you shouldn't waste it repeating someone else's life. Don' t be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results of other people' s thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart. It somehow already knows what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. Ks5u The doctor advised the author to go home and get his affairs in order because _ . Answer: While it is common for restaurant owners to connect with their customers, a restaurant owner in the U.S. is taking it to a whole new level. Tim Harries gives out free hugs to every customer at the end of each meal. The atmosphere at his restaurant "Tim's Place" is so positive that customers often call it the "World's friendliest restaurant". "Tim's Hug" is in fact an item on the menu described as a "love" treat. Tim's hugs are doubly special because of everything he has achieved. The 26-year-old is probably the only Down syndrome sufferer in the U.S. to own a restaurant,but he has several other things to be proud of-- he's a skillful special Olympian, an excellent sailor, and all experienced fisherman. He was also chosen as Homecoming King and Student of the Year in high school! So when a man like Tim hugs you,it is sure to be a special and unforgettable experience When Tim expressed interest in opening a restaurant,Keith,a small businessman himself, supported him. Tim hired other people to manage the place and do the cooking, and he introduced the idea of free hugs. He realized that people want to feel at home at a restaurant. That is why he included "love" as all item on the menu. Customers can order the free hug from Tim,and even if they don't, he'll probably hug them anyway. The restaurant has been around since 2010,and Tim has given out over 19,000 hugs in the past five years -- he keeps count using a special Hug Counter.Many customers love visiting "Tim's Place". "I've been coming here once a week." said Michelle Garth-Jones, a regular customer. "I love local restaurants, and this special one has a story that stays with you." Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to eke out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog . He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life." "No, " the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel . "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of." And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia . What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill. Which of the following might be NOT TRUE according to the text? Answer: I was on my way home by train. The train's gentle rocking made me feel sleepy, despite the fact that I was standing with what felt like a building in the bag on my back. I turned slightly to reduce some of the pain in my shoulder and saw the door at the end of the car. An obviously homeless man walked through the door. He was dressed in a dirty heavy coat. He dragged a bag that looked thirty times as heavy as mine. He asked people for spare change in the polite, experienced voice of a person who had done this before. I glanced down as I did a quick check of my pockets, hoping for spare change to give him that wouldn't leave me short for the rest of the week. I came up empty and lifted my head just as his path crossed mine. Shrugging apologetically, I told him I had no change, expecting him to move through the door next to me and continue going to the next cars. However, he stood and stared at me, saying something quietly. Then I realized he was asking me to take him home. Suddenly money didn't matter that much to this man who lived in poverty without even enough money to purchase socks to stave off the chill. Not food, not clothes, not even a blanket. Just affection. I felt worse than I had done about not finding any spare change. My heart sank and I couldn't even think of the proper words to say besides "I can't, I'm sorry." He asked me, "What's wrong with my request?" The answer was on my lips before I knew it. I told him that I was not good enough for him. It was after the man had left that I thought about the answer I had given him and wondered why it felt so right to say so. I realized that I should have requested love over money or food. The fact that he could appreciate something so simple and invisible is more than I could ever have expected of myself. What did the author learn from the man? Answer:
A man had two large pots. One of the pots had a crack in it, so while the other pot always delivered a full pot of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to his house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. This went on every day for years. One day a neighbor asked the man, "One of your pots has been broken for years. It can only deliver half its load, so you don't get full value from your efforts. Why don't you buy a new one?" The man smiled and said, "Please follow me to my house, and you may see some beautiful flowers." On the way to the man's house, the neighbor took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path. The man said to the neighbor, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on one side of the path, but not on the other side? That's because I have always known about the flaw of my pot. I planted flower seeds on one side of the path. Every day when I walk back from the stream, the broken pot waters them. For years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my house. Without the broken pot, I would not have this beauty." How much water did the man carry home every day? One and a half pots. Over 70 percent of the "double single-child couples" in China need help from their parents in taking care of their own kids, according to a recent survey. "Women of China" magazine and a consulting company carried out a survey recently on young couples of the "single-child" generation, the Morning Post reports. The couples surveyed were around 29 and have been married for three years on average, with university education and monthly income of 4.000 yuan ($531). Among them, 43.5 percent have kids. Results show that 71.9 percent of the young couples have help from their parents in taking care of their kids. Grown up as the "single-child", the only child in a family since the family planning policy was adopted in 1979, this generation depends much on their parents. The parents of the "single-child" generation focused more on their children's physical well-being rather than their attitudes and values, according to some psychologists. The research also found that the "double single-child couples" follow a rather traditional value system. Survey shows that 27.5 percent of them got married after dating for one to two years, 25.2 percent two to five years, and 20 percent didn't tie the knot until dating for five years. Also, 30 percent of the couples were schoolmates, while 43.8 percent were introduced by someone. Since their marriage are based on enduring relationships, 65.2 percent of the husbands and 62.9 percent of the wives think that compromise and tolerance are necessary in their marriage. Meanwhile, 21.7 percent of the husbands and 37.1 percent of the wives support the idea that happiness is the key standard for a marriage. Which of the following descriptions about "double single-child couples" is True ? They are single child in either family and they are dependent on their parents While most teachers enjoy the summer break from work, other teachers try to find part-time work during that time. If you're one of those teachers who are finding part-time work during the summer, writing for children might be the right job you're looking for. During the school year, you're very familiar with children in your classroom. That means you know what children think about, how they talk and how they act. If you read stories and books for children with your students during the school year, you also know the kinds of story that children are fond of. As a teacher, you can go to the school library and find out what kinds of books students are most interested in. Also, what kinds of books seem to be in short supply? Use this information to create stories and novels. If you continue writing for children during the school year, you won't have enough time to write as much while you're teaching, but you can probably manage to work on at least one short story for children each month. Even if you don't finish these pieces during the school year, when school ends for the summer you will have lots of writing projects to finish and hand in to editors . Recently, many teachers have turned to writing for children as a part-time job. If you enjoy writing as much as you enjoy teaching, then writing for children might be the second job for you, too. Which kind of teachers can be story-writing teachers? Teachers who love both teaching and writing. When it's 10:15 in New York, it's 9:15 in Salt Lake City, and 7:15 in San Francisco - isn't it? This consistent and orderly time system, based on a grid of time zones, seems so natural that people rarely give it a moment's thought. So you may find it surprising to learn that prior to the late 1800s each community established its own time - by looking at the sun. When the sun shone directly overhead in Washington, D.C., for example, it was 12:00 noon there; up the road in Philadelphia, however, it was 12:07, and in Boston it was 12:24. To measure time with accuracy, it is necessary to move the clock about one minute for every twelve miles of distance; so according to "sun time" your pocket watch would be slightly incorrect if you ventured only a few miles down the road. It was not until the advent of widespread railroad travel that a need arose for regularized time. At one point over 300 local times were honored within the country, making it literally impossible for trains to arrive consistently on time everywhere. As a result, in 1883 the continental, United States was divided into four time longitude. The standardization resulting from this system proved so helpful that in 1884 the International Meridian Conference applied the same procedure to establish time zones around the world. Thus, if it is 11:07 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a little simple research will quickly determine that in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it is 9:07 A.M. - and not 9:15. The distance between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia must be_. more than 75 miles We need a logo--a graphic image--that will be the perfect symbol of our great new Wellsville Skate Park. We would like those of you who are counting the days until the grand opening to design an appropriate logo that can be used on stationery, business cards, fliers, brochures, posters and T-shirts. An appropriate, well-designed logo will provide an opportunity for young artists to receive recognition as well as great prizes. If you are interested, here are the things you need to know: Logo Requirements * Design must be original . * Design can include no more than two colors. * The words "Wellsville Skate Park" must appear in the logo. * Logo should be submitted on 8x11 papers in every shape. Do not fold. Submission Details * Name and address of the designer must appear on the back of the logo design. * Contestants need to include a one-page written explanation describing the key features of the design. Deadline * Mail entries will be accepted between April 10 and May 15. Entries must be postmarked no later than May 15. * Winning designs will be posted on our website at www. wellsville. skatep. com on May 20. Prizes * First Prize: A digital camera * Second Prize: One-year pass to Wellsville Skate Park * Honorable Mention: A T-shirt with the prize-winning logo. MAIL ENTRY FORMS AND DESIGNS TO: Wellsville Skate Park Logo Contest Riverside Recreation Center 1295 New Rockford Hwy, Riverside, VA23226 Which website would be most helpful for contestants? Designing Logos: A Guide.
Winter Travel Adventures "Let it snow, let it snow!" You have found your home for all adventures, icy, snowy and white! Discover breathtaking sights while cross-country skiing and snow mobiling, or uncover new lands for skiing, and find the _ to snowboard. Informative links below will get you on your way to a winter wonderland journey. Seniors Head South for Winter A feature article on the annual migration of Winter Texans and Snow Birds heading to warmer places for the winter. Resources for Texas, Florida, Southern U.S and international destinations are included. Skiing and Snowboarding adventures You either love it or hate it, strapping a pair of boards to your feet and thrusting yourself down a snow-covered mountain at a speed of 60 miles per hour. If downhill running is your adventure game, connect with the best resources for adventures, vacations, ski trips and destinations. Cross-country Skiing Adventures All ages can find pleasure and exercise on a good pair of cross-country skis. Discover the winter back-country on your next adventure. Connect with adventure opportunities, outfitters, equipment sources, destinations and more. Snowmobile Adventures Take to the snow-covered backcountry and discover white adventures where only snowmobiles can take you. You can find information from a resource center about adventure tours, group tours, clubs, equipment, destinations, best trails and more. Snowshoe Adventures Foot power proves to be the ultimate dependable transportation, and that applies to winter trekking through the backcountry. A good pair of snowshoes can get you to places when nothing else can. The purpose of this text is to _ . Answer: Tabb doesn't look like a typical music teacher. But every weekday evening in the French Quarter New Orleans, he beats out the rhythm on his music stand as students play their chosen instruments. "I'm doing my best to take young people away from harmful things," said Tabb. His program, "The Roots of Music", offers free music education to more than 100 students. He struggles to _ in the city with the nation's highest murder rate . Tabb chose to target 9to14yearolds with his program. "That's a very important time in your life," he said. "If I catch them then, I can hold onto them for at least four or five years and guide them the way that will lead them to success." Students meet from 4 pm to 7 pm every weekday, all year round. They work with tutors on schoolwork, practice their music and eat a hot meal before heading home. With the money provided by some people, Tabb's group is able to provide bus transportation, instruments and food for free. He calls it his "no excuse" policy. "You have no excuse why you're not here," Tabb said. Tabb owes the success in part to the nature of music. "You're always learning something new,"he said. "That's what keeps the kids coming back every day." But the program isn't only about fun. "Music is about discipline ,"said Tabb. He insists on good behavior and keeps kids in order with threats of situps , pushups or tasks like picking up grains of rice -- but these measures aren't just punishment. Tabb wants young people to realize that music can help them build a better future. "I don't say that I'm saving lives," he said. "I say I'm giving life -- a whole different life of music." Which of the following kids may NOT be included in Tabb's program " The Roots of Music"? Answer: Many people like traveling (going to other places). Modern traffic is fast, so going to different places becomes very easy. If you want to travel, you must be healthy. But do you know how to keep healthy when you are traveling? The following information is important for you. Before leaving: Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunglasses. Do some exercise for weeks or months before you leave. While traveling: Be sure not to eat dirty food or bad fruit. Drink clean or bottled water. Find time to take a good rest. _ while traveling. Answer: I get off the bus and walk a few blocks. I stop when I get to a garage-like place and walk to the metal door with brown paint. I turn the knob and walk in. A thousand eyes look at me as I take my place at the end of the long line. When I finally get up to the window, I hand the officer my ID. "I'm here to visit Mr C. Yes, I'm his daughter." I learn that line by heart. The officer hands me a piece of paper with my name as the visitor and my father's as the prisoner. It tells me which floor to go to. As I get on the elevator, a rush of excitement runs through me. Then I go to the eighth floor, look around and see the faces I see here every Sunday and Thursday. There he is. I stand on tiptoe to get a better view since I can hardly see him. He doesn't look like my father. He's got a beard now and he looks a lot weaker. He's the dad that I see through a window. My dad who is separated from the world. The only place he now knows is his room in the prison. When I look deep into his eyes, I see emptiness and pain. It's difficult to hear him through the thick glass and over everyone else who is trying to talk. We try to carry on a normal conversation about simple things including my day and what I'm doing in school, but we mostly talk about how we can't wait until he gets out. After an hour my time is up. We say our good-byes and love-yous. I get on the bus to go home. My favorite place is where my father is--prison. I know, how can prison be anyone's favorite place? But it is because my father is there. It'll no longer be my favorite place once he gets out, though--home will be. What can we know from the passage? Answer: According to a survey released by the Nielson Company on Thursday, China has become a global tourist attraction after the Beijing Olympics. The survey said the Olympics not only built up China's image but also served as an advertisement for China's tourism. The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries and regions before Games' opening ceremony and after the closing. About 80 percent of the respondents had not been to China before the events and 50 percent of them expressed hopes of visiting China after the Games. According to the survey, 70 percent of the respondents felt Beijing was more modern and scientific than what they had thought. The most interested respondents were from Singapore, India, Mexico, South Africa and the Republic of Korea, as well as China's Hong Kong and Taiwan. Pan Wen, in charge of Chinese tourism research of the Nielson Company, said the World Tourism Organization predicted that China would become the largest tourist attraction in the world with 137 million foreign tourists every year. "This figure would be realized earlier with the aid of the Beijing Olympics," Pan said. Which countries were the most interested respondents from? Answer:
A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package: What food might it contain? He was astonished to discover that it was a mouse trap! Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse declared the warning, "There is a mouse trap in the house, there is a mouse trap in the house." The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me, I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mouse trap in the house." "I am so sorry, Mr Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "A mouse trap, am I in grave danger, huh?" So the mouse returned to the house, head down and depressed to face the farmer's mouse trap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was an evil snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knew to treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main _ . His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral. The farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat. So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk. What can we learn from the story? Answer: Traps are usually well disguised. Martinez, a widower, owns in fee simple a ranch, Ranchacre. Martinez has one child, Enrique, who is married. Enrique has one child, Ana Maria, who is also married but has no children. In an effort to dispose of Ranchacre to his descendants and to honor a request by Ana Maria that she be skipped in any disposition, Martinez conveys Ranchacre to his son, Enrique, for life with the remainder to Ana Maria's children in fee simple. What interest, if any, is created in favor of Ana Maria's unborn children at the time of the conveyance? Answer: A contingent remainder. If you are going to Europe, you might consider taking some time to visit Provence. Whether you are interested in beautiful places, ancient history, good food, or music and theater, Provence has something to offer to you. Provence once was a Roman province and is in the southeast of France now. You will be attracted by its green hills, olive trees, and old towns with pretty houses. Visitors can find forests, colorful flowers, horses, and people with smiles there. Provence is also "the city of dream in Europe." Some people say it is Provence that makes France so romantic. The place should play an important part in the romantic stories. The Flowers: Provence is the hometown of lavenders and sunflowers. Lavender means "waiting for love". It also means beautiful. The mountains of Lubero is the most beautiful area across France. And there are also many kinds of lavenders. Compared with the fantastic flowers Lavender, sunflower is a lot warmer. Under the sunlight, thousands of yellow sunflowers are smiling at the sun. The Food: The people there are well-known for keeping their traditional lifestyles. And in the restaurant, you will have the experience of eating the food that has the too much use of olive oil. The food is fresh and healthy. All the things make Provence become the heaven to those who like delicious food. The other activities: Provence is the Kingdom of city. They hold many parties, dance, and festivals. You can even see a bullfight in the towns of Arles and Nimes, or enjoy great shows with the famous stars. May to July are the best tourist months. Not only the red sky, the sweet smell of olive, but also the wonderful lavenders, make Provence send out the breath of romantic. Where is the passage probably from? Answer: A travelling magazine. Sometimes children do not do what their parents tell them to do. When this happens, a parent tries to help the child to do the right thing. When this does not work, the parent usually punishes the child. There are many things that a parent can do. One thing that people have done is to spank the child. When a parent spanks a child, they will use their hand or a hard object to hit them on their bottom. This is meant to show the child that they have done something wrong. One parent remembers being spanked when he was a child. His parents used a stick. When he spanked his own children with his hand, he saw that he put a red mark on his child's leg. He never did that again. One problem with spanking is that it teaches the child to hit someone when they do not like what the other person is doing. Another problem with spanking is that the parent is usually angry and can hit the child too hard. Sometimes parents will use spanking for everything and not try other ways to get the child to do the right thing. Many parents are not sure of what to do instead of spanking. Some people think that their religion tells them that spanking is okay. Some think that the law lets them do it. The courts say that parents have the right to teach their children how to do things right. Other things should be tried before a parent decides to spank a child. Telling the child clearly what is wanted from them can be one thing. Giving a child more than one choice is another thing that can be tried. Getting down to the child's level and trying a more child- friendly way can help as well. According to the passage, when children do something wrong, one thing that parents usually do to punish them is to _ . Answer: hit them on the bottom Different people have different skin colours. Some have black skin, some have yellow skin, and some have white skin. There was a woman in Alaska. Her skin was orange in colour. It was almost the colour of orange juice. How did this woman become orange? She ate lots of tomatoes, carrots and pumpkins. She ate too many orange things. That's why she turned orange. The woman didn't want to be orange. She went to the doctor. The doctor said,"Stop eating orange things. Eat some green things." The woman did so, and she wasn't orange any more. The doctor told her _ . Answer: to have some green food
It was several years since Adolf Hitler came into power inprefix = st1 /Germany. And now his army was marching into some parts of Europe. He must be in the prime of his career. One day Hitler went to an exhibition where the works of school children were on show. He seemed to have great interest in the exhibits--inventions as well as carvings, drawings. After having walked around the hall and examined everything, he said he was ready to meet the young artists. And soon a group of children came into the room to salute (......) him. "Well, well. You did very good work." Nodded Hitler in satisfaction. "I promise on my honor I'd satisfy you with whatever you want. What'd you wish to be if I were your father?" "A sailor sailing the sea" one of the boys answered. "Good. I'll have you join my navy and some day you will rule the oceans." "Ask for anything? What'd you wish to be if I were your father?" he asked a second boy. "A painter as great as Rembruant." "Good. You are to be sent to the Fine Art School and surely you will make an even greater painter." When Hitler caught sight of a sad-looking boy he frowned , then quickly forced a smile, "There my boy, in spite of my point of view towards the Jews , I'd do you a favor and your dream will come true. What'd you wish to be if I were your father?" The boy looked straight at the man. "An orphan ( a child who has no parents )." he murmured. Hitler frowned when he saw the sad-looking boy because _ . Answer: the boy was recognized to be a Jew Happiness is _ , researchers reported on Thursday. The more happy people you know, the more likely you are yourself to be happy. And getting connected to happy people improves a person's own happiness. Researchers have been analyzing a collection of facts from tracking sheets dating back to 1971, following births, marriages, deaths, and divorces. Volunteers also listed the information of their closest friends, co-workers, and neighbors. They assessed happiness with a simple, four-question test. "People are asked how often during the past week, one, I enjoyed life, two, I was happy, three, I felt hopeful about the future, and four, I felt that I was just as good as other people," Fowler said. The 60 percent of people who scored highly on all four questions were regarded as happy, while the rest were considered unhappy. People with the most social connections -- friends, spouses , neighbors, s -- were also the happiest, the data showed. "Each additional happy person makes you happier," Christakis said. And happiness is more infectious than unhappiness, they discovered. If a social contact is happy, it increases the possibility that you are happy by 15 percent. A friend of a friend, or the friend of a spouse or a sibling , if they are happy, increases your chances by 10 percent. A happy third-degree friend -- the friend of a friend of a friend -- increases a person's chances of being happy by 6 percent. But every extra unhappy friend increases the possibility that you'll be unhappy by only 7 percent. The finding is interesting and useful. Among other benefits, happiness has been shown to have an important effect on reduced death rate, pain reduction, and improved heart function. So better understanding of how happiness spreads can help us learn how to promote a healthier society. Other data suggested having extra $5,000 increases a person's chances of becoming happier by about 2 percent. A happy friend is worth about $40,000. According to the research, if you want to be happy, you'd better have more _ . Answer: social connections Peter loved to shop used articles. Almost a month ago, he bought popular word game that used little pieces of wood with different letters on them. As he was purchasing it, the salesgirl said, "Uh, look, the game box haven't even been opened yet. That might be worth some money. " Peter examined the box, and, sure enough, it was completely covered in factory-sealed plastic. And he saw a date of 1973 on the back of the box. "You should put that up for auction on the Internet, and see what happens."the salesgirl said. "Yes, you're right. People like something rare." Peter agreed, "I can't imagine there being very many unopened boxes of this game still around 40 years later." "Don't forget to tell me if you sell it." the salesgirl smiled. "No problem." Peter said. After he got home, Peter went online to several auction websites looking for his game. But he couldn't find it. Then he typed in the name of the word game and hit Search. The search result was 543 websites containing information about the changes of the game. Over the years, the game had been produced using letters in different sizes and game boards in different colors. He also found some lists of game fans looking for various versions of the game. Peter emailed some of them, telling them what he had. Two weeks later, Peter went back to the shop. "Hello. Do you still remember the unopened word game?" The salesgirl looked at him for a second, then recognized him and said, "Oh, hi!" "I've got something for you," Peter said. "I sold the game and made $1,000. Thank you for your suggestion." He handed her three $ 100 bills. "Wow!" the salesgirl cried out. "Thank you, I never expected it." Which of the following best describes Peter's word game? Answer: It was made around 40 years ago. In less than two months, Junior 3 students around the country will take the senior high school entrance exam. They are studying hard for this big challenge. Do they have time to do something in memory of their middle school years? Many do. Leng Jingze, 15, from Tianjin said that in her class students are already writing goodbye messages for each other. "Even the head teacher has a plan," said Leng. "She plans to put all our class photos and the Chinese compositions we have written onto a CD and give each student one," said Leng. "She will also write something for each student." Wang Zeyu, 16, in Changchun, Jilin said his classmates are making "lucky stars" as graduation gifts. They are making the cheerful stars from colored paper. "Before making a lucky star, you write some words for the person on the paper," said Wang. "He or she can read the words later." Who does Wang want to make a lucky star for? He said he wanted to make one for his head teacher. "I'll write: Dear teacher, you always look so serious," said Wang. "But we know you have a warm heart. Smile more!" In Xiao Xia's school in Beijing, each Junior 3 student will get a yearbook , in which the graduating classes will put their photos and self-introductions. "Most classes have written an article as the self-introduction," said Xiao, 15. "We have written a poem in the ancient style!" The poem records the big events of the class's history and is in the shape of the number 9. "Nine is our class number," said Xiao, who felt very proud of the idea. "Our class may be not the one with the best school grade but it must be the most creative one," said Xiao. "I feel lucky to study in such a class!" Wang Zeyu wanted to make a "lucky star" for his teacher because _ . Answer: he wanted his head teacher to smile more The right name is important in the business world. All you have to do is think of the names for some of the products you buy every day and you'll agree that the name and the product are connected in everyone's mind. In many countries, successful trade or brand names are protected by law. This is so that other companies cannot make a product that looks like another. People might think that they were buying one product and, in fact, be buying something different. Businesses register a company or a product name with the government. In fact, more than 1,000 product and company names are registered every hour. Many companies spend a lot of money to find the right name for their products. A good example of this is in the car industry. Some successful names for cars have powerful associations. The Ford Mustang and the Jaguar are only two examples of choosing the names of animals that are fast and strong. When a U.S. company decides to sell its product in another country, it has to make sure that the product name translates properly. When Coca-Cola introduced its soft drink to China, it looked for the right name. It wanted a name that would do two things. One was to present its image in Chinese and the second was to be close to its first brand name -Coke. It took some efforts before finding the right word - which sounds similar and translates as "happiness in the mouth". Asian company names are not new to the United States. The brand names of Samsung and Sony have been successful. Finding the right brand name is a big business. Asian companies that sell to foreign markets pay to find a name that will connect with its customers. There are even naming companies that specialize in inventing product names. These companies can charge up to $ 100,000 a word for their creations. But it's worth it. Successful companies know how important the right brand names are for their development. What's the best title for the passage? Answer: The Business of Names
The 12--year--old CEO of a Web site design company will be one of 300 business and political leaders accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a trade visit to China in March. Keith Peiris, who founded Cyberteks Design in June 1999 and now has 25 clients in North America ,insisted in an interview that he is "just like any other kid." He and his father will spend nine days on the Team Canada trip to Beijing ,Shanghai and Hong Kong ,where Chretien aims to showcase the best of Canadian business in the most populous country in the world . A glance at the complex ,elegant animations on his www.cybertecks.com site shows the extent of Peiris' talent . "He doesn't want to be No.2,"his father Deepal said proudly . His father ,who is now vice president of operations at Cyberteks ,said , "I am teaching my son what I know .We make decisions together .I haven't done anything my son disagreed with .He makes the final decision ." The company has seven offices in the United States and five part--time employees who ,like the Peiris family ,work from their London homes . Keith Peiris admitted some potential clients change their minds when they learn his age ,but the well--informed not--yet--teenager tries to ignore them . "Suddenly ,I've been called a whiz kid or geek ,which I am not too happy about .A few people have asked if they should call me 'mister', but I stay casual , I am still a kid . According to the information in the passage ,which is the best and fastest way to know more about the Web giant ? A. We can go to Canada to pay him a visit . B. We can make an international telephone call to him. C. We'd better visit his web site--www.cyberteks.com. D. We can write to his father for the kid's information. Answer: C What circuit does not allow an electrical current to flow through it? A. closed B. open C. parallel D. series Answer: B Frank is my good friend. We are in the same class. He is fourteen, one year older than me. His parents are both teachers in No 7 Middle School. Frank studies hard. His English and math are very good. He often helps other students with their English and math. Our teachers like him very much. We go to school together by bike in the morning. We have lunch at school. After school in the afternoon, we often play sports. We play soccer and baseball. In the evening, he does his homework at home. Sometimes he watches soccer games on TV. On Sundays, he goes out with his parents in his father's car. They play in the park and do sports there. Sometimes my father takes me there, too. We play sports together. We have a good time. I'm _ years old this year. A. fourteen B. thirteen C. fifteen D. sixteen Answer: B Gia was new in the neighborhood. She really wanted to meet some new friends. She was lonely and tired of playing with her toys all by herself. Her mother told her that the best way to meet new friends was to go somewhere where other kids are at. She remembered seeing a park on the corner when they were moving in. She asked her mother if she could go to the park. Her mother walked her down the street to the park. When Gia got to the park she was not happy. There was no one there. She sat on a swing and looked at the ground. It seemed like this was going to be another lonely day. Gia heard a noise and looked up. There was a girl coming down the hill. She smiled, but she was a little scared. What if she wasn't nice? That would make her sad. Gia was so happy when the girl walked up and said, "Hi, my name is Julie. What's yours?" Why was Gia lonely? A. She had no friends in the new neighborhood. B. Her mother wouldn't let her go outside. C. She didn't like to share when she played with her toys. D. Nobody kids lived in her neighborhood. Answer: A With the possible exception of equal rights, perhaps the most heated argument across the United States today is the death penalty . Many argue that it is an effective deterrent to murder , while others think there is no enough proof that the death penalty reduces the number of murders. The argument advanced by those who are against the death penalty is that it is cruel and inhuman punishment, that it is a mark of a bad society and finally that it is of questionable effectiveness as a deterrent to crime anyway. In our opinion, the death penalty is a necessary action. Throughout recorded history there have always been those peculiar persons in every society who made terrible crimes such as murder. But some are more dangerous than others. For example, it is one thing to take the life of another in time of blind anger, but quite another to coldly plan and carry out the murder of one or more people in the style of a butcher. Thus, murder, like all other crimes, is a matter of different degree. While it could be argued with some reason that the criminal in the first instance should be merely kept from society, such should not be the fate of the latter type murderer. The value of the death penalty as a deterrent to crime may be open to discussion. But the majority of people believe that the death penalty protects them. Their belief is proved by the fact that the death penalty prevents murder. For example, from 1954 to 1963, when the death penalty was carried out from time to time in California, the murder rate remained between three and four murders for each 100, 000 population. Since 1964 the death penalty has been done only once, and the murder rate has risen to10.4 murders for each 100, 000 population. The sharp climb in the state's murder rate, which began when killings stopped, does not happen by chance. It certainly shows that the death penalty does stop many murderers. If the law about death penalty is vetoed , some people will be murdered----some whose lives may have been saved if the death penalty were in effect. This is really a life or death matter. The lives of thousands of people must be protected. The main purpose of this passage is to _ . A. speak for the majority B. argue against the value of the death penalty C. speak ill of the government D. argue for the value of the death penalty Answer: D
Question: A grand jury was investigating a bank robbery. The only information known to the prosecutor was a rumor that Taylor might have been involved. The grand jury subpoenaed Taylor. He refused to answer questions about the robbery and was granted use immunity. He then testified that he and Simmons had robbed the bank. The grand jury indicted both Taylor and Simmons for the bank robbery. The prosecutor permitted Simmons to enter a plea to a lesser offense in exchange for Simmons' agreement to testify against Taylor. The prosecutor had no evidence as to the identity of the robbers except the testimony of Simmons and Taylor. At Taylor's trial, his objection to Simmons' being permitted to testify should be A. sustained, because the prosecutor may not bargain away the rights of one codefendant in a deal with another. B. sustained, because Simmons' testimony was acquired as a result of Taylor's grand jury testimony. C. overruled, because the police suspected Taylor even before he testified in the grand jury hearing. D. overruled, because a witness cannot be precluded from testifying if his testimony is given voluntarily Answer: B Question: Joan is an American girl. She lives in China now. She is in my class. Her parents work in China, too, but her brother works in the U.S.A. He often writes letters to them. Joan likes Chinese class very much, and likes speaking Chinese with us after class. Her father teaches us English well. We all like his class. Her mother is a nurse. On Sundays, Joan goes to the People's Park with her father and mother. Sometimes she goes shopping with her mother. They like the Chinese food very much. It's a happy family. Joan likes speaking _ with us after class. A. Chinese B. English C. French D. Japanese Answer: A Question: Sydney Airport International Terminal--Arrivals Area Specialty Retail News link:Two separate News link stores cater to all your reading needs including newspapers.magazines and the latest best sellers. Downtown Duty Free:Make sure you shop at Downtown Duty Free for great saving on a range of items including perfume,alcohol,skincare and cigarettes.It's your last chance before customs! BEACH CULTURE:A must for those into the latest in beach clothing Top surf, street and fashion labels including Mambo,Stussy and Quicksilver, including children's sizes DINING BLUE Sky Cafe:Speedy service leaves you time to keep all eye on the arrivals gate Morning pastries.fresh juice.breakfast rolls and coffee while you wait. McDonald's:hamburgers,fries,drinks,muffins and shakes-all your family favorites.Breakfast served until 0:30 SERVICES ATM:ATMs are conveniently located throughout Arrival and Departures. Dollars. pounds. francs and RMB are all available. Vodafone Rentals:This communications center offers the very latest technology for mobile phone rentals.sales and servicing. Which of the following is true according to the text? A. You can have breakfast at Mc Donald's at 11:00 am B. You'll save money if you buy alcohol or perfume at Downtown Duty Free. C. You'll not find any beach clothing for your seven-year-old boy in Beach Culture. D. There is only one ATM throughout Arrivals and Departures Answer: B Question: Most painters discover a style of painting that suits them and stick to that, especially if people admire their pictures. As artist grows older his picture may alter , but not very much. But Picasso, the great Spanish painter, was like a man who had not yet found his own particular style of painting. He kept on struggling to find the perfect expression till his death in 1973. Some of Picasso's paintings are rich, soft colored and beautiful. Others are ugly and cruel and strange. But such paintings allow us to imagine things for ourselves. They force us to say to ourselves, "What does he see that makes him paint like that?" And we begin to look beneath the surface of the things we see. Picasso painted thousands of pictures in different styles. Sometimes he painted the natural look of things. _ He showed us what the mind knows as well as what the eye sees. At the age of 90 he remained as _ about the world as he had been when he was young. That is why people have called him "the youngest painter in the world". In the text the author wants to tell us _ . A. about Picasso's different styles of painting B. Picasso was always strange C. about some pictures of different style D. it is not easy for a painter to find his own style Answer: A Question: The ISS project is a partnership of five - the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. At the moment, no program for its use nor any money has been put in place to support the platform beyond 2015. One of the biggest issues stopping an agreement on station-life extension is the human spaceflight examination ordered by US President Barack Obama. The Americans are developing a new vision for space exploration, and the rockets and spacecraft they will need to start it. The future of US joining in the ISS is closely tied to the result of the examination. Mr Dordain, the European Space Agency's (Esa) Director General, said no one partner in the ISS project could alone call an end to the platform. A meeting would be held in Japan later in the year where he hoped the partners could get something clearly going forward. He said it was also necessary the benefits were increased and the costs were reduced. Increasing the benefits could include finding new uses for the station. Esa has called for ideas on how to use the ISS as a platform for Earth observation . Mr Dordain said the agency had received about 20 very good proposals. On the issue of reducing costs, there were many ideas on the table, he explained. He also questioned whether it was necessary for the station to have six astronauts at all times. If there were periods when little maintenance was required or the experiment load was light, could the ISS run on a smaller group of people, he suggested. Construction of the space station should finish this year. Next month, two _ s built in Europe - a connecting node and a robotic control room - will be flown to the platform by the US shuttle Endeavour. Tranquility and the Cupola, as they are known, will complete the non-Russian side of the ISS. Why will America joining in the ISS be tied to the result of the examination? A. Because America is the greatest power among them B. Because America provides most of the money C. Because they need America's rockets and spacecraft D. Because Obama ordered the human spaceflight examination Answer: C
Drew was tried for the July 21 murder of Victor.Drew called Warren to testify to alibi. On crossexamination of Warren, the prosecutor asked, "Weren't you on the jury that acquitted Drew of another criminal charge?" The best reason for sustaining an objection to this question is th Answer: This is not a diet. It's a simple way to lose weight. You don't have to give up the food you love or join a gym. You just follow some habits thin people have. Keep them, and you'll become thin. Wake-up When you wake up in the morning, sit up slowly without using your hands. With legs straight out, lean forward until you feel sore in your back. It will use up 10 calories. Start with soup Order a clear soup, and have it before the main food. In this way, you'll feel fuller, so you'll eat less when the main food comes. An apple or more a day Apples are full of fiber and water, so your stomach will want less. Studies show that people who eat at least three apples or pears a day may lose weight. Talk it up Every time you use the cell phone, stand up and walk around. Heavy people sit on average two and a half hours more each day than thin people. This skill is very important and standing up and walking around will burn up 50 or more calories. Use these skills, and you will have a big weight loss. The text is most likely to be read _ . Answer: Frogs and salamanders compete with each other for insects. Both frogs and salamanders catch flying insects with their tongues. Which feature would most likely help both animals compete for flying insects? Answer: When I was younger, bedtime was always my favourite part of the day. Wearing soft pajamas and with Lan, my stuffed monkey, in my arms, I felt no pressure at all. I named Lan after my uncle when I compared Lan's long arms and legs to his. One night I ran up to Uncle Lan at a family party and told him I had named my monkey after him. His eyebrows wrinkled in confusion, then a chuckle escaped his lips. I guess he didn't understand how important it was to me. Even if Uncle Lan didn't think my monkey was special, I certainly did. I dressed him in a white baby nightgown. My mother thought that Lan was the best-dressed stuffed animal in the world. Yes, he was certainly a fashionable creature. The strong cologne I used on him years ago makes him still smell "pretty". For a long time, Lan went everywhere with me. He was my best friend, and I told him everything. But when I turned twelve, I realized I was too old for stuffed animals. I thought people would think I was babyish, so I put him in the cupboard with the rest of my teddy bears and dolls. I begged him to understand why I was doing this, but at the same time I longed to talk to him again. It took me several years to realize that it was OK to miss Lan. I know now that maturity doesn't only mean growing up and taking on more responsibility. It also means holding on to your childhood and acting young sometimes. Lan has been with me since I was six years old. Holding him in my arms connects me to my past and my present as I continue to grow and understand myself. We can infer from the text that _ . Answer: A pond is in the middle of a back yard. There are heavy rains and the pond swells and floods. The pond now _______ of the yard. Answer:
The Andrew Romay Immigrant Support Program (ISP) at the International Center provides a welcoming place for immigrants where they can build the skills they need to fully participate in the professional and social life of their new country. About the Program The Andrew Romay Immigrant Support Program (ISP) at the International Center provides an integrated set of educational, cultural, and professional activities at ICNY to help immigrants: improve their English develop the networks they need to achieve their goals and fully participate in American life find a welcoming "home away from home" Participants have access to a wide-range of programming, including: more than 40 weekly classes in English language and American culture practical and career-skills workshops opportunities to explore New York City and the nearby area through trips and tours[ ISP is particularly focused on helping newly arrived immigrants at a critical point in their lives. Recent arrivals in financial need receive one-year scholarships and low-cost meals. ISP is funded by Andrew Romay and a sum of money from the Open Society Institute. If you are interested in applying for ISP, please fill out our online application or contact ISP Program Manager, Elaine Roberts at (212) 255-9555 or at eroberts@intlcenter. org. Resources for Current ISP Members RECOMMENDED CLASSES Intermediate level: Introduction to Writing & Interviewing Skills on Wednesday, from 11 am - l2:l0pm. High Intermediate/Advanced: Tips for Success at Work and Beyond on Tuesday, from 2-3:25pm. Advanced: Career Skills Workshop on Wednesday, from 6-8pm. Sign-up required. For all levels: Interviewing Skills Workshop on Saturday, from 11 am. - 2 pm. Sign-up required. UPCOMING EVENTS To see a list of upcoming events, visit our News & Events page. OTHER RESOURCES If you would like helpful resources on topics such as ESOL, healthcare, housing, or finding a job, please visit our Member Resources page. Which class best suits Tracy, who hopes to improve her interviewing skills but is busy on weekdays? Answer: For all levels. It takes more than just practice to become an Olympian. Gold medal performances require some serious nutrition. Have you ever wondered what these successful athletes eat to stay in peak shape? Keri Glassman, a registered dietitian and founder of Nutritious Life Meals, appeared on "Good Morning America" today to give you a glimpse into the diets of some top athletes. Some of their meals could surprise you. Crazy Calorie Count _ One secret of swimmer Michael Phelps' astonishing performance in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was consuming as many as 12,000 calories in one day. Athletes can eat like this and not gain any weight because their workouts are intense. According to Glassman, Phelps' workouts can burn 4,000 to 6,000 calories in a day, and those calories must be replenished in order to train the following day. Snacking Secrets Some athletes eat wacky (strange, unusual) foods that they swear improve their performance. Yohan Blake, the Jamaica sprinter and 100-meter world champion, has been making waves for stealing champion sprinter Usain Bolt's thunder on the track during the Olympic trials. Asked about how he gets his stamina, Blake answered that he eats 16 bananas per day, Glassman said. Jonathan Horton, the lead gymnast on the US team, has a blood sugar problem. His solution is honey. When he starts to feel shaky at the gym, he takes swigs of honey to boost his energy, Glassman said. Foods for Recovery What are the best foods to help the body recover after rigorous (strict) competition? For Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, the recovery meal is grilled chicken breasts with Alfredo sauce, whole-grain spaghetti and a salad with lemon juice and olive oil. Lochte, who recently cut out junk food, candy and soda, has undertaken a rigorous strength-training regimen that involves flipping tractor tires, dragging shipyard chains and tossing beer kegs, Glassman said. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Ryan Lochte quit eating junk food, candy and soda for his recovery. Butterfly gardens can be grown throughout the United States.There is a wide variety of both butterflyattracting (nectar) plants and host plants covering climate zones throughout the country.Butterfly gardens can range in size from a few containers placed in a sunny spot to several acres. Nectarproducing plants will attract butterflies to your garden.In order to support a full butterfly life cycle,host plants (for laying eggs and used as a caterpillar food source) must also be present. Throughout the country,the general requirements for butterfly gardening are the same:full sun,nectar source plants,larval host plants,a pesticidefree environment,and knowledge of the local butterfly species.Many butterflyattracting plants are natives and require little attention,as they are naturally adapted to the region in which they live. Butterfly gardens are best planted in spring with younger plants or in fall with mature plants that will become dormant quickly and reemerge in spring.It is best not to plant in the heat of summer or the cold of winter. One of the most common mistakes in butterfly gardening is planting only one nectar source.Adult butterflies have a very short lifespan.Planting a variety of nectar sources will encourage more butterflies to visit the garden.Planting an adequate supply of host plants gives butterflies a place to lay their eggs,which will successfully hatch and result in butterflies that will continue to visit the garden. Butterflies typically lay their eggs in late spring and hatch 3-6 days after they are laid.It takes 3-4 weeks for a caterpillar to pupate and 9-14 days to emerge as an adult. Good resources for learning more about butterfly gardening include zoos,botanical gardens,butterfly houses,garden centers and nurseries,libraries and the Internet.There are many good websites dedicated to butterflies and butterfly gardening. Native butterflyattracting plants are better because _ . Answer: they can adapt to the local region The age at which kids first fall victim to bullying could influence how strongly they are affected,suggests a new study. And,surprisingly,it is not the youngest kids who are hurt the most in the long term. Bullying can have long-lasting effects,but particularly when it begins in adolescence,the researchers say. People subjected to either verbal ( )or physical bullying are known to be at greater risk of developing depression,anxiety disorders or to behave violently. But not everyone reacts in this way. Children bullied for the first time before they hit adolescence seem to get over it, but those who are bullied for the first time later on in adolescence seem to become more aggressive or are more likely to turn to drink as a means of coping. These are the conclusions of psychologist Matthew Newman and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin,US. The team gave questionnaires to nearly 1,500 college students regarding their experience of physical and psychological bullying before adolescence--before high school--and in late adolescence--at high school. They assessed mood and mental state,judging by signs of anxiety or depression,such as sleeplessness. The group was also questioned about how they would react to certain challenges,such as humiliation. People who were bullied all revealed slightly higher levels of stress. But while those bullied earlier in life seemed to respond normally to provocation ,people bullied for the first time late in adolescence are more withdrawn and sensitive to violence. There are also sex differences between those bullied for the first time during adolescence, with females more likely to react aggressively when provoked and males are much more likely to turn to alcohol to escape bad situations. The best solution in all cases was strong social support,whether from friends,family or school. Those with no one to share their problems with suffered the most. So perhaps it is best not to shelter children completely from bullying early on,suggests Newman. "They may get stressed,but unhealthy coping really jumps out when they are bullied for the first time later on. " The sex differences between people bullied for the first time during adolescence are reflected in _ . Answer: the way they react to provocation People often talk as if shyness is a disease or mental condition that can be cured. I prefer to think of it as an emotional disability. It's something we are born with and something we carry with us in our entire lives. There are too many people, however, who seem to be determined to find some way of doing away with their shyness. In my opinion, it's a waste of time. I don't mean that we should do nothing about it; quite the contrary, I think we need to separate the basic fact of our shyness from our ability to take part in a social environment. Look at one of the most famous shy people of them all, Johnny Carson. This man is painfully shy, yet for decades he made a living talking and associating with different people every night, in front of a national audience. Carson has never done away with his shyness, but he has successfully found a way to deal with it to the extent that he could be, not just a talk show host, but a legend among talk show hosts. Look also at Sally Fields, who has recently admitted her problem with shyness. This is a woman who has appeared in many films, TV shows and interviews, yet in her early years she was so shy that she turned down a lunch invitation from Jane Fonda because she was terribly afraid of meeting her. I guess that our shyness is there because each of us is born with some insecurity and this insecurity prevents us from reaching out to others the way people with a more open personality do. As we grow up and become adults, we allow our social skills to grow and develop. But we are still stuck in kindergarten or elementary school or wherever it was when our shyness took root in our soul. In the author's view, shyness can be explained as _ . Answer: a kind of emotional disability
The mystery stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are famous all over the world. The detective in his stories is called Sherlock Holmes. He solves mysteries in a most surprising way. His assistant, Dr Watson, watches with admiration and then writes up the story of the mystery afterwards. This is a useful story writing skill. Because Watson is not very clever, the story remains a mystery until the end. The readers can sometimes pick up some clues before he does! Then, to make Watson understand the mystery, Holmes has to explain it all, step by step. So we, the readers, get to see it step by step too. Watson is almost as good a character in the story as Sherlock Holmes! The very first time they meet, Holmes greatly surprises Watson. When they are first introduced, Holmes says to Watson, 'How do you do? I see you have been to Afghanistan .' Watson is too amazed by this to ask Holmes how he knows this. Watson has, indeed, been to Afghanistan. Later, he asks Holmes about it. Holmes explains that there is nothing magical about what he does. He gets to know it all by very, very careful observation . Observation One Watson was introduced to Holmes as a doctor. Yet Holmes thought that the way he stood and walked made him seem like a soldier. So, this meant he was probably an army doctor. Observation Two Watson's face was quite dark skinned. But his wrists were pale. So his dark face was probably sun burnt. This meant that he had been to a hot, sunny country. Observation Three At the time, the British army had soldiers at bases in many parts of the world. So there were still a lot of places to choose from. However, Holmes saw that Watson looked very tired and he was always holding his left arm, as if it was painful. So, he had probably been with the army to a place where they were fighting. There was only one place where the British army was fighting at that time: Afghanistan. The writer most probably created the character, Dr Watson, to _ . A give Holmes help when solving mysteries B show Holmes' careful observation C help readers pick up some clues about the mystery D get readers to see the mystery step by step Answer: D Passage 1 Mobile Phone Madness How much do you love your mobile phone? A Chinese student had to call 110 for help this week after he got his arm stuck in a toilet trying to rescue his mobile phone. After dropping his phone in the toilet, he decided to wrap(,) his arm in newspaper in the hopes of keeping clean. But the newspapers became larger in size in the water, and then even his roommates couldn't help him pull his arm out. So policemen were called and they spent an hour unsticking the stuck student. Passage 2 Crazy Pet Lovers How much do you love your pets? Many people in China are famous for how much they love their pets. They dress them up in fashionable clothing and buy them high quality food. But would they spend 7,000 English pounds (68,000 yuan) on a wedding for their pets? And that's what a couple in Brazil spent on a fancy wedding for their pet Yorkshire terriers( a kind of dog). Passage 3 Oh, rats! When something goes wrong, you can often hear Westerners cry "Oh, rats". But when it comes to Southern China, "Oh, rats!" can mean it's what you want for dinner. According to a report in China Daily, some restaurants in Guangzhou serve rat meat. But, actually, most of those rats are field mice. What would Mickey Mouse say? Passage 4 Liar , liar Here's some news that most women already know. Men tell more lies than women. The London Daily Mail cites a new study that says men tell about three lies a day, while women tell only two lies a day. Men are also less likely to feel guilty about lying, according to this week's survey of 3,000 people by a research organization called One Poll. According to the Poll, lying to our mothers is very popular. But then, so is lying at work. And both men and women will lie when it comes to how much they've drunk. So how easy is it to tell when someone is lying? If you say "oh, rats" in Guangzhou, it can mean that_. A something goes wrong B you see some field mice C you are a Mickey Mouse lover D you'd like to have rat meat for dinner Answer: D Twenty four hours contains one A high tide B 4 million seconds C solar cycle D week Answer: C Peter is an American boy from New York. He is tall and he has a good look. He has a big nose and big blue eyes. His hair is brown. He is in a red T-shirt, white pants and blue shoes. He is very cool. He likes basketball , too. He knows NBA stars. He says ,"Yao Ming is cool!"We are good friends. Does Peter have a small nose? A Yes, he does. B No, he does. C Yes, he doesn't. D No, he doesn't. Answer: D A young woman was driving through the lonely countryside. It was dark and raining. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding her hand out as if she wanted a lift. "I can't leave her out in this weather," the woman said to herself, so she stopped the car and opened the door. "Do you want a lift?" she asked. The old woman nodded and climbed into the car. After a while, she said to the old woman, "Have you been waiting for a long time?" The old woman shook her head. "Strange," thought the young woman. She tried again. "Bad weather for the time of year," she said. The old woman nodded. No matter what she said, the hitchhiker gave no answer except for a nod of the head or a shrug. Then the young woman noticed the hitchhiker's hands which were large and hairy. Suddenly she realized that the hitchhiker was actually a man! She stopped the car. "I can't see out of the rear screen," she said, "Would you mind clearing it for me?" The hitchhiker nodded and opened the door. As soon as the hitchhiker was out of the car, the terrified young woman raced off. When she got to the next village she pulled up. She noticed that the hitchhiker had left his handbag behind. She picked it up and opened it. She gave a gasp; inside the bag was a gun. The young woman asked the hitchhiker to clear the screen because _ . A This was the way she thought of to get rid of him B she couldn't see out of the rear screen C the hitchhiker was very helpful D the rear screen was covered with dirt Answer: A
NOT all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive these experiences in nightmares. Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly wipe out, the effect of painful memories. In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are wiped out. They are not sure to what degree people's memories are affected. The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories. "Some memories can ruin people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions," said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve a lot of that suffering." But those who are against the research say that maybe the pills can change people's memories and changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity. They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past. "All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were terrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we want to wipe those memories out, "said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: Mrs Brown was very fat. Her husband thought she should go on a diet, and he made her eat no meat or cakes. One morning, Mrs Brown made a nice cake for her husband, and he ate half of it. After he went out, Mrs Brown cut a very small piece of the cake and ate it. It was very delicious. Then she cut a bigger piece and ate it, too. In a few minutes she finished up the cake. "My husband is going to be very angry," she thought. "What should I do?" She made another cake very quickly, ate half of it, and put the other half on the table. Mr. Brown came back later. When he saw the half of the cake on the table, he was very happy. ,. (5,2, 10) Which of the following is true? Answer: Once, there was a woman who had so many problems, so many worries, so many troubles... that at times she felt she had more troubles than anyone else in the world! She was depressed. She thought she could never overcome her troubles, so she decided to end her life. That night she went to sleep early and she planned to commit suicide the next morning. But that night she had a dream... She found herself in a large cave, surrounded by gray bundles of all shapes and sizes. Walking toward her was a woman with flowing long white hair. "Who are you?" asked the dreamer, "and what is this place?" "This is the cave of bundles of troubles and I am the keeper of the cave." "Bundles of troubles?" "Yes," the keeper explained, "each person who walks on the earth carries a bundle of troubles on their left shoulder." The dreamer turned to look and there was a gray bundle on her left shoulder--it had been there all the time and she never noticed! "If you wish," the keeper continued," you can take your bundle down and exchange it for another." "Really?" The woman lowered the bundle from her left shoulder. Oh, it felt so good to put it down. Then she picked up a beautiful bundle. The keeper said, "Why don't you open it and look inside?" So the woman opened it and looked inside. "But these are the same troubles I brought here!" The keeper of the cave smiled softly and nodded. "That's usually what happens, but do not despair, for there is another bundle on your right shoulder that should help lighten your load." The woman turned and saw another bundle on her right shoulder. It had been there all the time and she never noticed! The woman took it down and opened it. Inside were her talents, her gifts, her hopes and opportunities. The woman felt her heart filled with joy and she looked up to thank the keeper of the cave, but she was gone; all were gone. And she found herself sitting up in her own bed with the morning sun streaming through the window, shining on her face. According to the keeper of the cave, _ . Answer: Social change is more likely to occur in societies where there is a mixture of different kinds of people than in societies where people are similar in many ways. The simple reason for this is that there are more different ways of looking at things present in the first kind of society. There are more ideas, more disagreements in interest, and more groups and organizations with different beliefs. In addition, there is usually a greater worldly interest and greater tolerance in mixed societies. All these factors tend to promote social change by opening more areas of life to decision. In a society where people are quite similar in many ways, there are fewer occasions for people to see the need or the opportunity for change because everything seems to be the same. And although conditions may not be satisfactory, they are at least socially accepted customs. Within a society, social change is also likely to occur more frequently and more readily in the material aspects of the culture than in the non-material, for example, in technology rather than in values; in what has been learned later in life rather than what was learned early; in the less basic and less emotional aspects of society than in their opposites; in the simple elements rather than in the complex ones; in form rather than in substance ; and in elements that are acceptable to the culture rather than in strange elements. Furthermore, social change is easier if it is gradual. For example, it comes more readily in human relations on a continuous scale rather than on a sharp _ . This is one reason why change has not come more quickly to Black Americans as compared to other American minorities, because of the sharp difference in appearance between them and white counterparts. Which of the following factors tends to promote social change? Answer: Each time I see a balloon , my mind flies back to a memory when I was a six-year-old girl . It was a rainy Sunday and my father had recently died . I asked my mum if my dad had gone to heaven . " Yes , honey . Of course , " she said . " Can we write him a letter ? " She paused , the longest pause of my short life , and answered , " Yes . " My heart jumped . " Can the mailman go there ? " I asked . " No , but I have an idea . " Mum drove to a party store and returned with a red balloon . I asked her what it was for . " Just wait , honey . You'll see . " Mum told me to write my letter . Eagerly , I got my favorite pen , and poured out my six-year-old heart in the form of blue ink . I wrote about my day , what I learned at school , how Mum was doing , and even about what happened in a story I had read . For a few minutes it was as if Dad were still alive . I gave the letter to Mum . She read it over , and a smile crossed her face . She made a hole in the corner of the letter to tie it to the balloon . We went outside and she gave me the balloon . It was still raining . " Okay , on the count of three , let it go . One , two , three . " The balloon , carrying my letter , flew upwards against the rain . We watched until it was swallowed by the mass of clouds . Later I realized , like the balloon , that Dad had never let his sickness get him down . He was strong . No matter what he suffered , he'd keep on , fly up , and finally go beyond this cold world and his sick body . He rose into sky and became something beautiful . I watched until the balloon disappeared into the grey and white and I prayed that his strength was passed on . I prayed to be a balloon . What would be the best title for the passage ? Answer:
I had a summer camp with my classmates last year. Early in the morning. We gathered at the bus station. After saying goodbye to our parents,we got on the buses. It took us more than two hours to arrive at the campground. We got off the buses cheerfully. Laughing and shouting. We jumped and ran all over the place. It was the first time for us to be away from the parents .Some of us started to feel homesick . However, when the night party and dances began, the homesickness was gone. The next day, everybody rushed to the boating class, hoping to be at the head of the others. At first ,my friends and I worked hard, but the boat wouldn't listen to us and kept going round and round. Then the teacher taught us how to work together. After many tries, we did much better. Swimming class was my favorite. It was about the hottest time of a day and the best time to stay in the cool water. The swimming teacher was a funny man, and during the class he often made us laugh happily. During the week I learned a lot of new things and made many new friends. I also learned how to take care of myself. Which statement is NOT true? Answer: My mother is a teacher. On weekdays, she gives lessons at school and on Saturdays she works in clubs. On Sundays, she is still busy. On Sunday morning, mum gets up at six. She cooks breakfast for us first. And then it's time for cleaning. After that, she has breakfast with father and me. At 9, she goes to buy food for lunch in the supermarket. She can have a short rest after lunch. In the afternoon, mum doesn't go out. She helps me with my lessons. She does some reading, too. Mother watches TV at about 7 when she finishes the housework. But at that time she is always tired and falls asleep in the sofa sometimes. Mother gives lessons at school _ . Answer: 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. Which of the following is conveyed in this article? Answer: The marsh willow herb is a plant native to the northeastern United States. It grows best in damp habitats. Which of the following environmental changes would most likely cause a decrease in the marsh willow herb population in an area? Answer: Ms. Strawberry loved to make vanilla cupcakes! Everyone loved her cupcakes, and she loved making them, too. One morning, she was in the store, buying ingredients for her cupcakes, when she came across the most delicious looking chocolate frosting she had ever seen in her life! She bought a whole bunch, excited about how delicious her cupcakes would be for her cupcake party tonight! She went home and took extra care making her cupcakes that afternoon. She made them extra fluffy, sweet and delicious. She even pulled out her favorite sprinkles for her cupcakes, bright purple ones, which was her favorite color. She couldn't believe how amazing her cupcakes were going to be for the cupcake party! That night at the cupcake party, Ms. Strawberry showed everyone her plate of delicious cupcakes! So many of her friends were there for the party. There was Mrs. Apple, Mr. Banana, Ms. Mitten, Mr. Green and even quiet Mr. Lemon showed up. Everyone was very happy about her cupcakes! Everyone except Mr. Lemon. Mr. Lemon took one bite of that cupcake and said, "Eew! This is the worst cupcake in the world!" Ms. Strawberry didn't know what to say! Were they really the worst cupcakes in the world? She had tried so hard! Ms. Strawberry started to cry. "Why don't you like my cupcakes, Mr. Lemon? I worked so hard to make the extra delicious!" Mr. Lemon said, "I don't like vanilla, and I don't like chocolate!" Ms. Strawberry cried even more! "There, there," said Mrs. Apple, and patted Ms. Strawberry on the head. "It's okay. Not everyone is going to like your cupcakes! You only have to know that you worked hard and that they're still tasty!" With that, Ms. Strawberry stopped crying, and she and Mr. Lemon made up. What does Mr. Lemon not like? Answer:
The most common disease in the world is the cold. It often starts with a sore throat . You sneeze and your nose runs. You usually have a headache, too. Often you have a cough later. It's not a serious disease, but you can feel quite bad. There isn't a cure for a cold, but you can take some medicine to make you feel better. For example, you can take aspirin to get rid of your headache. It is good to rest. and to drink a lot of water, too. A doctor once told me."With the right medicine. a cold will last for seven days. With no medicine, it will go on for a whole week!" A long time ago, people understood that some plants made them feel better. For example, the juice of lemons makes a sore throat feel better. In modern times, scientists have found out which chemicals are in them. Man, of our medicines today are made from those chemicals. There are some diseases that we can't cure yet. And nobody has found a cure for old age. But because of modern medicines, the average people now live longer than their grandparents. What should we do when we catch a cold? We should rest well, drink much water and have some medicine. Once there was a dog named Noodle. Noodle had two brothers named Puff and Fluff, and a sister named Polly. Noodle's best friend was a boy named Jack. Jack went to school, but the dogs stayed home all day. Jack liked to feed Noodle chicken and beef. One day Jack went to the store and bought chicken for Noodle. Jack put too much chicken in Noodle's bowl. Noodle ate up all the chicken, but then his belly hurt. Poor Noodle! Jack was sad that he had made Noodle feel sick. Jack took Noodle, Puff, and Fluff to the park to run and play. Polly stayed home because she was sick. There were so many things to see at the park. Puff found a little red ladybug. Fluff found a big gray mouse. Noodle found a long brown stick. Jack found a deep pond with three ducks in it. Everyone had a great day at the park. Then the three dogs and Jack all went back home. When they got home, Polly was asleep on the bed. Polly said she was feeling better. Jack brought Polly some chicken noodle soup to eat. Noodle, Puff, and Fluff sat on the bed with Polly eating bones and drinking milk. Where was Jack when he saw the pond with ducks in it? park The Morning After Robot From today's newspaper, I know that in 2014 you might get a Morning After Robot. It will clean your house after a party. The Robot can take picture of your room before the party. After the party, the robot will go around the room, and it will pick up bottles and trash. After that it will compare the room with the picture and put things back according to its original shape. Such robots are being studied in a lab at Stanford University. That sounds pretty cool! If we can see the robot and have enough money, we must buy them. Robot Roomba Mothers' Day is coming. You can give Robot Roomba as a gift to your mother. The Roomba is a great gift for two reasons. On the one hand, it's really cool as a useful robot. It can actually clean your floor. Maybe not as fast or well as a person does, but it is a lot more fun cleaning the floor by the Roomba than cleaning the floor yourself. On the other hand, it shows the family life is very modern. The lab at Stanford University is _ the Morning After Robot studying When I was young, I liked to play jokes on people I knew, especially on my parents and friends. One day my mother was cooking in the kitchen and my younger brother was playing near the window. I ran to my mother and said,\| " My brother has fallen from the open window!" She was very worried about my brother and then I said, "Don't worry. I'm just joking. " And my mother shouted at me, " If you do it again, I'll punish you. " One day I went swimming with my friends in the sea. I wanted to play a joke on my friends. In the beginning, I went swimming alone, and I called to my friends, " Help me!" All my friends came to help me, only to find out that I was joking. But the next time I wasn't joking. I swam in deep water and I was so careless that I was almost drowned . I tried my best to call my friends for help, but this time nobody came to saved my life. They took me to _ . From then on, I haven't joked on anyone. I think this is the best lesson in my life. How did the writer's mother feel when she heard what he said about his brother? worried. Teenagers need family love and support at a time when lots of other things in their lives are changing . You can keep family relationships with your child strong through ordinary , everyday activities . Adolescence can be a difficult time ---your child is going through rapid physical changes as well as emotional ups and downs . Young people aren't sure where they fit , and they are still trying to work it out . Adolescence can also be a time when peer influences and relationships can cause stress for teenagers and their families , and family support can be vital (=very important) to getting through these challenges. During this time , your family can be a secure emotional base where your child feels loved and accepted , no matter what's going on in the rest of her life . Your family can build and support your child's self-belief , confidence and optimism .When your family set rules , boundaries and standard behaviour, you give your child a sense of consistency and predictability . And believe it or not , your life experiences and knowledge can be really useful to your child ---she just might not always want to know that . Supportive and close family relationships can reduce risky teenage behaviour, such as alcohol and drug abuse , and problems such as depression . They can also increase your child's feeling of being connected to school , and his desire to do well academically . Strong family relationships can go a long way toward helping your teenager grow into a well-adjusted , considerate and caring adult . Research suggests that just being around family is associated with fewer behaviour problems in teenagers. This could be as simple as being in the kitchen when your child's in her room , so she knows she could come and talk to you if she wanted to . Teenagers benefit from knowing that support is available , even though they might not be using it . Which of the following statements is TRUE ? ks#5@u Harmonious family can prevent children from forming bad habits .
Years ago, I was watching a detective show on TV where the fingerprints of a criminal are required. The hero invites the bad guy to his home and offers him a glass of water. The man takes the glass and drinks the water. After he leaves the hero dramatically brings out a handkerchief and picks up the glass. His expressions show the satisfaction at a job well done. The bad guy will soon be arrested. At that time, I found it amazing - how can prints on a glass identify people? My dad explained that if you were to press your thumb on an inkpad and then on a sheet of white paper you will leave a smudge or print, which no one else in the world can make. The same would be true for each of your fingers. The Chinese were the first to use a fingerprint as a type of identification - it was used as a signature on important documents, although they had no way of independently matching it with the owner. Each print is one-of-a-kind and no two people have the same characteristic. Scientists and criminologists (those who study criminal characteristics) determine the differences between fingerprints by a careful study of their curves and not by their general shape or pattern. In 1892, an English scientist, Sir Francis Galton, published a book on using fingerprints to solve crimes. At the same time in Argentina, a police researcher Juan Vucetich was also working towards a fingerprint classification system. However, it was in 1896 that Sir Edward Henry, then serving as Inspector General of Police in India, developed the print classification system that would eventually be used globally. Sir Edward Henry and his assistant Khan Haque discovered that all fingerprints could be systematically classified according to their general curve patterns. He divided them into three classes on the basis of their general pattern: loops , whorls , and arches . By counting the curve between any two points in the pattern, each of the ten fingers could be classified into a particular group. Taking the group together as a unit you have a complete system of classifying fingerprints. In June 1897, the world's first fingerprint bureau was set up in Calcutta and in 1901, Sir Edward Henry was appointed head of Scotland Yard in London, where he applied the system. This system, called the science of fingerprint identification, is still used by police departments all over the world today with few changes. In which country was today's fingerprint classification system developed? India Here are two stories from different parts of the world. They seem strange but, believe it or not, they re all true! John Lee was an Englishman who refused to be hanged! In 1884 the police said Lee had killed an old woman who he used to work with. There was nothing to show that Lee had killed the woman. Lee told the police he hadn't done it, but no one believed him and he was going to be hanged. On the day of the hanging, however, the door in the floor, through which Lee's body would fall, did not open. They tried three times but each time the door stayed closed, even though it had worked well the day before. In the end they sent Lee back to prison, where he lived for the next twenty-two years. At all times, John Lee said he hadn't killed the woman, and he believed it was the "hand of God" that had saved him from death by hanging. The police in Venezuela in South America followed a man home one night. He was the thief they wanted to catch. However, half of his house was standing in Venezuela and the other half was standing in Colombia . Venezuela's neighbor. When the police entered the house, the man ran upstairs to his bedroom, which was in Colombia, and called his lawyer . The Venezuelan police were not allowed to enter Colombia so they could not enter the bedroom. They asked the police in Colombia to help. The Colombian police refused to help because the man's crime was not a crime in Colombia. In the end, the Venezuelan police gave up and went back to the police station. The police in Colombia didn't help the police in Venezuela to catch the thief because the man's crime was not a crime in Colombia Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe. I had been abroad a couple of times,but I could hardly claim to know my way around the continent. Moreover, my knowledge of foreign languages was limited to a little college French. I hesitated. How would I, unable to speak the language, totally unfamiliar with local geography or transportation systems, set up interviews and do research? It seemed impossible, and with considerable regret. I sat down to write a letter begging off. Halfway through, a thought ran through my mind: you can't learn if you don't try. So I accepted the assignment. There were some bad moments. But by the time I had finished the trip I was an experienced traveler. And ever since,I have never hesitated to head for even the most remote of places,without guides or even advanced bookings, confident that somehow I will manage. The point is that the new, the different, is almost scary by definition. But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning piles up, the world opens to you. I've learned to ski at 40, and flown up the Rhine River in a balloon. And I know I'll go on doing such things. It's not because I'm braver or more daring than others. I'm not. But I'll accept anxiety as another name for challenge and I believe I can accomplish wonders. We can infer from the text that the author is _ . brave Thick feathers can be used for staying weatherproof, flexible and free of bacteria 85-year-old Tu is awarded the Nobel Prize for her contribution to reducing the death rate of malaria , minimizing patients' suffering and promoting mankind's health. This is what science is all about. Tu's name "Youyou", came from the Classic of Poetry. The characters depict the cheerful sounds deer make when calling for mates. Tu's finding has saved millions' lives during the 40 years. This also proves the value of her research product. The moment of joy and satisfaction when she discovered the artemisinin in 1971 after all kinds of failures in experiments is eternal. Tu has won some attention when she got the Lasker Award in 2011. But there is no way to compare her popularity back to the attention she is receiving today. She studied at the Peking University Health Science Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, from 1951 to 1955. Let's backtrack to 40 years ago. Tu finished the findings without using any advanced equipment, communication with outside world and papers to research. Nowadays, Chinese scientists have the passion to invent. As Premiere Li Keqiang mentioned in his letter, "Tu's winning the prize marks China's progress in scientific and technological field". Tu's winning will help people come to realize that all those international publications, whether it is the Nobel Prize, SCI publishing, Nature, or Science, are all just gimmicks of measuring tools. The sole key is to be oneself and try one's best with confidence. There had been doubts about "whether there would be a Chinese national awarded the Nobel Prize." This sort of doubts is unnecessary. The scientific awards are equal to all, as long as the research findings are good enough. The fact that Tu has none of these three backgrounds also reminds us that science should be more accessible to all. One shall be able to become a scientist no matter what kind of background he or she comes from, as long as one devotes into scientific research. They work so hard to prove the wrong way so that the future researcher will be closer to the right one. Artemisinin and science saved lived around the world. Tu saved the confidence of Chinese scientists, who will care less about whether a Chinese scientist be awarded the Nobel Prize in the future. (Translated by Shen Chen and Joanna Law from Commentary << >> , published on People's Daily, Oct.6, 2015) What does the writer think science is? Promoting mankind's health
Question: In a grassland ecosystem, if the population of eagles suddenly decreased, what will most likely be the effect on the rest of the ecosystem? A. The ecosystem will become overpopulated with snakes. B. There will be a decrease in the population of snakes in the ecosystem. C. The nutrition of the soil in the ecosystem will decrease. D. More types of plants will begin growing in the ecosystem. Answer: A. The ecosystem will become overpopulated with snakes. Question: 1. The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough Another must-read for history fans, McCullough tells the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who taught the world how to fly. Drawing on all types of historical data -- from personal diaries and scrapbooks, to thousands of private letters of family letters -- we get a close look at the actual personalities behind one of the most influential moments in history. 2. The Wonder Garden, by Lauren Acampora This novel is really a collection of several interwoven stories of people living in the rich Connecticut suburbs. From tales of an elderly artist to a young mother to a woman whose husband just behaves carelessly, The Wonder Garden gives us an unforgettable reminder that there's often so much we don't know about what happens with our neighbors behind closed doors. 3. Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen, by Mary Norris Does someone mistaking who for whom make your blood boil? Do you want to throw a dictionary at someone for mistaking sit for cite? Enter Between You & Me. Mary Norris brings her experience working in The New Yorker's copy department to eager grammar fans in this laugh-out-loud book that looks at some of the most common spelling, punctuation, and usage problems in the English language. 4. My Struggle: Book Four, by Karl Ove Knausgaard My Struggle is a six-volume autobiographical novel that follows the life of Karl Ove Knausgaard, a Norwegian father of three. In Book Four, he writes of his decision at the age of 18 to move to a fisherman's village in the far north of the Arctic circle to work as a school teacher. It's there that he struggles with love, alcoholism, and becoming loved by one of his students. What does the book The Wright brothers focus on? A. Invention of airplanes. B. Nature of the characters. C. History of airplanes. D. Ordinary life of the characters. Answer: B. Nature of the characters. Question: Facebook friends cannot replace the real thing, say psychologists . People are happier and laugh 50% more when they talk face to face with friends or via webcam (web camera) than when they use social networking sites, a study has found. Dr. Roberts, a famous lecture at the University of Chester, said such websites don't appear to help make true friendships. Based on two questionnaires , he found there was no link between Facebook use and people with larger groups of friends. Dr. Roberts, whose work will be presented at the British Psychological Society conference in Harrogate, said, "The bottom lime conclusion is that our relationships are not dependent on the quantity of communication. They depend on quality, and even Skype is better at increasing the quality of our communication than time on Facebook." Even talking on the phone or texting does not make people feel as good as sharing a smile, the research says. The studies suggest quality, not quantity, of communication is the most important for keeping friends for life. People find the most satisfying relationships come from a small number of close friends, with an outer "ring" of 10 significant others. With these people, it doesn't matter what type of social media you use for communication. But people who want to "contact the world at large" using Facebook can be disappointed because _ , claim researchers. In a third study, Dr. Roberts asked people to communicate with friends face to face or via Skype and keep a 14-day diary. This was compared with communicating via phone, text messages or social networking sites. People communicating face to face on Skype were 50% more likely to laugh, and they rated themselves as significantly happier. Dr. Roberts's finding that there was no connection between Facebook use and people with many friends was _ A. based on questionnaires B. based on conversations C. through instant messages D. through social media Answer: A. based on questionnaires Question: My name is Maria. I'm 13. I live in New York City. I often go to school by bike. Riding a bike is good exercise for me. I like watching NBA matches on TV very much. I watch them every week. It's real fun for me. I like pop music a lot, too. My favorite singing star is Michael Jackson. At school, music is my favorite subject. I have a good voice and I play the violin well. I have a dream of being a singer like Madonna. I'm Linda. I'm 12. I live in Los Angeles. I like playing football and basketball. I play football or basketball every day with my friends after school. I like animals and I also like animal stamps. I have panda stamps from my pen pal. They are very good. On weekends I often go to the mountains to paint pictures. I have painted some very nice pictures. Painting is my life, so I want to be a painter when I grow up. I'm Sophia. My home is in Washington D.C. I like reading and watching programs about travel and history. I often stay at home reading on weekends. At school, I like French very much and I'm good at it. I'd like to be a guide. I can go around the world and meet a lot of people. That would be great fun. Which is NOT true according to the passage? A. Maria lives in New York City. B. Linda likes ball games very much. C. Sophia often reads at home. D. Sophia can play the violin well. Answer: D. Sophia can play the violin well. Question: A teddy bear from Cumbria is launching into space to raise cash for charity . Terence, an experienced traveller who has been to Iraq, will be the guest of honour on aviation legend Burt Rutan's Spaceship One when it flies above Earth. The mission takes off from California on September 29, and on his return the cuddly toy will be auctioned off in aid of the North Air Ambulance Appeal . Spaceship One is the world's first private spacecraft, and is competing for a prestigious space travel prize. Chief executive of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), Graham Pickering, said "flying officer" Terence had been handed over to the RAF six months ago and staff had been receiving postcards from him ever since. He said, "Terence was a fundraising idea that really took off. We have received pictures of him in a U2 craft, trying parachuting and even looking drunk and disorderly. When the RAF finally discharge him he will be a very rare bear indeed--we just hope he does not burn up on re-entry to Earth." GNAAS, which needs charitable donations of more than PS2m a year, has three air ambulances . Peter Bond, spokesman for the Royal Astronomical Society, said Terence's safety was not guaranteed. He said, "This is a new and experimental craft and this will only be the second time it has flown. During its first voyage it developed technical problems but hopefully they have now been resolved." Since May, Terence has spent time with members of 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming in Basra, Iraq, and at air shows with performing fighter planes. Spaceship One will fly 100km (62 miles) above the Earth's surface, just breaking through the planet's atmosphere. If it repeats the feat inside two weeks, it will claim the $10m Ansari X-Prize set up to encourage the private space flight business. We can infer that _ . A. after this space flight, Spaceship One will get the $10m Ansari X-Prize B. it is dangerous for a spaceship to re-enter the earth atmosphere C. Terence will be very safe on the flight D. Spaceship One is just an ordinary plane Answer: B. it is dangerous for a spaceship to re-enter the earth atmosphere
Taking exams in a large group setting can be stressful for students and for the staff members who are watching over them. When classrooms are crowded and desks are close together, cheating might be tempting. One university in Thailand came up with an anti-cheating hat that makes it almost impossible for students to see other students' papers. A photo of the students wearing the anti-cheating hats made its way to the Internet, and the university was criticized for making students wear those ridiculous looking homemade hats. The hats were made by stapling pieces of paper onto a headband, one to each side of the head. After being criticized, senior academic staff at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, released a statement saying that the hats idea came from students. They said that in a bid to prevent cheating they asked the students for ideas on how to prevent cheating in the upcoming exam, which was being taken by almost one hundred students. Students came up with different ideas, then the paper hat idea was selected by them as the most suitable. The university claimed that no one was forced to use the hat, but they all chose to do so."When wearing the hat during the exam, students felt more relaxed, "Nattadon Rungruangkitkrai, a lecturer at the university said."It was not meant to indicate that Kasetsart students often cheat on exams. I apologize if the photo makes other people look at my students in a negative way, "Rungruangkitkrai added. According to the text, in which case cheating will become easy? When too many students are sitting in a classroom. Many people think that the most popular way of communicating with other people is through the mouth. But what they don't know is that actual communication using mouth accounts for only around 10% (or even less) of all the means to communicate a message. Moreover, you can never determine the honesty of people by what they say alone. In fact, words expressed through mouth do not reflect what people really think or feel. The only way you can determine their true inner feelings and thoughts is by reading their body language. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you can "see through" the emotions of other people? For example, you ask a person if he can do an important task. He says "OK". But deep inside, you are questioning yourself, "Is he really willing to do this job?" or "Does he have the confidence to finish this task?" You can't question him directly because that would be like belittling him. And even if you ask him those questions, his replies will not tell you what he really feels or thinks. Then what is the final solution? Here are just a few of the magic tricks you're about to discover: Actions to make someone like or trust you. How to win in a negotiation . How to attract the opposite sex using body language. How to increase your sales using body language. *How to help you find out who is telling a lie. And a lot, lot more! Body language is very easy and fun to learn. With this book, you will make body movements to achieve the success you've always longed for. Do yourself a big favor and get a copy of Body Language Magic. According to the passage, people communicate with each other mainly by _ . the passage doesn't tell us It must be something in the air as every company that possibly can is having a baby contest. Of course, babies are wonderful , and many parents would be the first to agree. Companies really bring in much money. Walgreens Baby Contest If you play the new Baby Milestones Challenge Contest by BabyCenter & Walgreens, you could be entered to win $1,000 in Walgreens & Beauty.com Gift Cards and Certificates. You can play the instant win to see if you get a $25 Walgreen's gift card, but you have to plug in your email address and receive all their sales and other information for the contest. Kids and Babies Kids and Babies are accepting entries for May 2012 Free Photo Contest. Baby Photo Gallery with theme albums and age group albums is moved to the new website Cute Baby Gallery. Check KidsandBibs.com for their Baby Photo Contest blog's latest update. Grand prize is $25,000. The catch: Winners are decided by the visitors coming to the site and voting for their favorite babies, so you have to advertise their site for them. Parents.com Perents.com has a website only for their members, but if you are into "baby" photos, it is well worth surfing. You could receive offers on free samples, money- saving coupons , and chances to win the latest contests. Avon Avon is another company that has a baby photo contest this spring. Avon is advertising their newest collection. It is Avon's only collection for the photos of babies. Babies' age: newborn to 2 years. Just go to TinyTillia.com and upload your recent baby's photos. First place Baby will be featured in a Tiny Tillia Storybook and win a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond. The Cuties will win $300 in Tiny Tillia products. The tip is to run a search engine for all the latest contests going on and start entering them today. You could be lucky and win enough to put "Baby" through college! Have fun! If your baby enters for the 2012 Free Photo Contest, you will _ . have to help to advertise their site Music is an international language. The songs that are sung or played by instruments are beautiful to all people everywhere. Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly as they drive on the street. Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, politics ,and activities of the American people. Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state. Once the popular singer is heard throughout the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, ail the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star. There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music. Serious music for the concert halls is called classical music. Music for instruments is called orchestra music,such as the symphonies of Beethoven. There is opera for singers. There is ballet for dancers like the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai in China. How many kinds of music are mentioned in the passage? 7. A son inherits a feature from his father through DNA, so the son is likely to have his dad's nose
Mom was a teacher most of her life. When she wasn't in the classroom, she was educating her children or grandchildren: correcting our grammar; starting us on collections of butterflies, flowers or rocks; or inspiring a discussion on her most recent "Book of the Month Club" topic. Mom made learning fun. It was sad for my three brothers and me to see her ailing in her later years. At eighty-five, she suffered a stroke and she went steadily downhill after that. Two days before she died, my brothers and I met at her nursing home and took her for a short ride in a wheelchair. While we waited for the staff to lift her limp body back into bed, Mom fell asleep. Not wanting to wake her, we moved to the far end of the room and spoke softly. After several minutes our conversation was interrupted by a muffled sound coming from across the room. We stopped talking and looked at Mom. Her eyes were closed, but she was clearly trying to communicate with us. We went to her side. "Whirr," she said weakly. "Where?" I asked. "Mom, is there something you want?" "Whirr," she repeated a bit stronger. My brothers and I looked at each other and shook our heads sadly. Mom opened her eyes, sighed, and with all the energy she could muster said, "Not was, say were!" It suddenly occurred to us that Mom was correcting brother Jim's last sentence. "If it was up to me..." Jim leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Mom," he whispered. We smiled at each other and once again shook our heads...this time in awe of a remarkable teacher. Which of the following is the best title of this passage? A. Once a teacher, always B. Mom's will C. A teacher's life D. A teacher's devotion Answer: A Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman in Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert said on Tuesday. The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used special infrared and three-dimensional technology to study the paint layers on the work, which now sits in the Louvre museum in Paris. Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Center for Research and Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin transparent gauze veil. "This type of gauze dress was typical of the kind worn in early 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine," he told a news conference. "We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted in memory of the birth of the second son of Mona Lisa, which helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503."The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. She had five children. "People always wrote that Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of young girls and women of poor virtue ," he said. The team had hoped to discover more details about Leonardo's painting techniques, which the artist used to create a hazy effect. But scientist John Taylor said the team had been disappointed by the lack of brush stroke detail on the painting. According to the latest research, Mona Lisa was _ . A. a woman of poor virtue B. da Vinci's second wife C. a woman who was pregnant D. the wife of Florentine merchant Answer: D It's a time when school,homework,active social lives and pare-time jobs keep teenagers busy from early in the morning until late at night.They are likely to try to make up for a lack of sleep by "sleeping in" on the weekends.Unfortunately,this causes irregular sleep and actually makes the problem worse. Most teenagers are not able to fall asleep until late at night.Since many teens aren't sleepy until around 11 pm.but need to be at school by 7:30 or 8:00 am .They cannot get enough sleep .During puberty ,the biological clock in the brain naturally re-sets to a later time ,and this causes teens to fall asleep later.Then ,when it's time to get up ,a teen's body clock is likely to still be producing the night-time hormones .This makes it hard for them to feel active and energetic in the morning. A growing body of research suggests that starting high school later improves attendance,achievements and grades.A few years ago in an important study ,test scores on the SAT college entrance exams in Edina,Minnesota jumped more than 100 points on average,when the morning school bell rang an hour later.Unfortunately,most schools are not set up to start later and fail to satisfy teen's sleep needs. The text helps us to know more about teenagers' _ . A. daytime activities B. sleeping habits C. mental problems D. studying methods Answer: B Over 70 percent of the "double single-child couples" in China need help from their parents in taking care of their own kids, according to a recent survey. "Women of China" magazine and a consulting company carried out a survey recently on young couples of the "single-child" generation, the Morning Post reports. The couples surveyed were around 29 and have been married for three years on average, with university education and monthly income of 4.000 yuan ($531). Among them, 43.5 percent have kids. Results show that 71.9 percent of the young couples have help from their parents in taking care of their kids. Grown up as the "single-child", the only child in a family since the family planning policy was adopted in 1979, this generation depends much on their parents. The parents of the "single-child" generation focused more on their children's physical well-being rather than their attitudes and values, according to some psychologists. The research also found that the "double single-child couples" follow a rather traditional value system. Survey shows that 27.5 percent of them got married after dating for one to two years, 25.2 percent two to five years, and 20 percent didn't tie the knot until dating for five years. Also, 30 percent of the couples were schoolmates, while 43.8 percent were introduced by someone. Since their marriage are based on enduring relationships, 65.2 percent of the husbands and 62.9 percent of the wives think that compromise and tolerance are necessary in their marriage. Meanwhile, 21.7 percent of the husbands and 37.1 percent of the wives support the idea that happiness is the key standard for a marriage. According to the passage, we can learn that _ is necessary in marriage. A. wealth B. health C. understanding D. education Answer: C Has anyone noticed how, with the passage of time, one's relationship with one's grown-up daughters and sons becomes changed? I've been aware of this for some time but I'm not quite sure how to deal with it. Take the kitchen sink for example. Following a family get-together at my place, I walked into the kitchen to find Kate, my daughter carefully cleaning the sink. "Don't do that; what are you doing that for?" I said, unhappy about the hidden criticism. "Mum," she said, "you really ought to put your glasses on when you clean the sink. Behind the tap here was black!" But it's not just things like kitchen sinks. Another time Kate arrived to pick me up to lunch. She looked at me and then asked, "Mum, why do you use brown eyebrow pencil when your hair is grey?" A sudden memory of her, aged 14, going to her first mixed party flooded back. She had come in to say goodbye. For a moment I thought she'd been an accident. Both eyes were black. I remember suggesting that perhaps a little less eye make-up might be more effective. Now I told her, "My hair used to be brown." "It looks absurd." "Mrs. Menzies had dark eyebrows with grey hair." "Yes, but you're not Mrs. Menzies, are you?" she said triumphantly, as if that proved her point. But a recent event made me realize that something really must be done. She had returned some for a few weeks before getting married. One evening I went out on a dinner date. By the time my companion left me at the front door, it was about 2am. As I stepped in, an angry figure in a white nightgown stopped me. "Well, what time of night is this to be coming home?" she shouted. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" Shades of the past come back to disturb me. But what should I do about all this? Nothing, probably. Maybe, after all, it's only a stage young people are going through. From the passage we know the daughter_. A. didn't want to help with the sink B. didn't like brown eyebrow pencils C. had an accident when she went to her first party D. shouted at her mum because she came home late Answer: D
Which disease is a result of abnormal cell division? Answer: If you are a wealthy resident of India, madly in love and planning your big fat wedding--or being pressured into arranged marriage--Thailand wants you to exchange vows in Bangkok, Phuket or elsewhere in this "wedding Paradise ". This wedding business starts from overseas with the Indians. Thai embassies in India give quick services for the visas. Not only the couples, you can bring anyone, say, your own cook. So, feel free to invite hundreds of your friends and relatives. Why would Indians want to spend so much on weddings in Thailand? Because they have similarities in religion. When Indian weddings want to have some religious prayer for the couples, Thailand can do that. But the more obvious appeal are Thailand's fancy hotels, tropical islands, and delicious Thai food, allowing newlyweds to include a honeymoon in Thailand after they say "I do" while their guests also celebrate on a holiday here. But on the other hand, love does have a price. Kasu Rajagopal arranged for his daughter to have a wedding in Phuket. They arranged entertainment to begin three days before the wedding, because guests' arrival time varied. Yachts were chartered to take guests to small islands, while a DJ, flown in from Bangalore, India, was booked to help them dance in the evening. Kasu also arranged priests for the Hindu wedding, and cooks to prepare Indian food. The approximate costs are around half a million U. S. dollars, including the airfares, hotel accommodation, food, transportation, the yachts on hire and the wedding ceremony expenses, for 225 to 250 guests. Thailand wants to make itself a wedding paradise for all couples, not just from India, but from around the world. Last year, there were around 500 to 600 couples from China, and the numbers are slowly coming up. Westerners also arrive to get married, but in much smaller numbers. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: Of these research projects, which is the best choice for a student who is interested in environmental issues to study? Answer: Eve was waiting in the corridor outside her class.She was feeling sick.She had two exams that day and physics was first.She really hated physics.It was her worst subject.Lisa looked back at her, and then looked away quickly.Eve thought she looked guilty.She didn't have a problem with physics.She didn't have a problem with anything...Miss Perfect! "Hi, Eve! So what's wrong with you and Lisa?"asked Tina,"I thought you were friends.""Yes, so did I," said Eve."But she hasn't spoken to me for two weeks now.She promised to help me review for the physics exam too, but then she's ignored all my calls and texts." While in the exam, Eve found Lisa was holding her phone on her knee under the table and reading from it.Eve couldn't believe it! Is that how Lisa always got such good grades? She thought about telling the teacher, but she hesitated.The next exam was history.That was Eve's favorite subject but she couldn't concentrate.She didn't know what to do about Lisa.Just then, Mr.Reed, their teacher, walked past."Mr.Reed..." Lisa was called to the teachers' office and there waited Mr.Reed... The history test was over.Eve was walking towards the school gate when she heard footsteps behind her.It was Lisa.Eve could see that she had been crying."Listen," said Lisa."I'm really sorry I haven't answered your calls, but my dad had a heart attack two weeks ago and he's in hospital.He had a big heart operation today and I was very worried about him.So I was reading texts from my mum, but Mr.Reed caught me.He thought I was cheating.He believes me now, but I have to take the exam again.I'm sorry I didn't tell you what was happening.Will you forgive me?" At the end of the story Eve probably felt _ . Answer: Emilia wished her daughter would eat all her broccoli at suppertime, but it was beginning to seem like it was not going to happen. She was disappointed and felt a bit like a bad mother. She wondered how her own mother had gotten her to eat the food when she was a silly little girl like her daughter, Elise. She grabbed the telephone to ask her mother how she had done it. She had to wait a second before the older woman picked up, but she was greeted with a happy voice. She learned from her mother that she had tricked her into believing her broccoli was a forest of trees. Emilia thought this was a good plan. After she hung up the phone she picked up her son's pacifier off the floor. She then washed it off. She did not want there to be any dirt from the floor on the pacifier. When he daughter Elise came down the stairs for dinner she told her daughter a story about how she was a giant and broccoli was a small forest of trees. After that Elise always ate her broccoli. Why did Elise always eat her broccoli at the end of the story? Answer:
Driving a car at high speed along a highway seems to be fun. You need only to follow the bright traffic signs beside the highways and it will take you to where you wish. But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job. A taxi driver has to have not only good driving skills but also a good knowledge of the city of a London, from the smallest lane to the most popular bar around. He has to be at the service of all kinds of passengers at all times. A certain London taxi driver told of his job as follows. During the night it is quite usual for him to stop two or three times for some refreshments . He said. "I never drink when I'm working ---- I would lose my licence ." He normally goes home between 2 and 3 O'clock in the night, There are times he has to stay longer and try to make more runs. He said, "That's the worst thing about working for yourself. If you don't make the money , no one is going to give it to you." London taxi drivers not only 'take' but also 'give' , Every summer hundreds of children from London will go for a day at the sea--- by taxi! Their rides are paid by the taxi drivers, and these fares all go to the 'London Taxi Fund for Underprivileged Children.' At the sea. they are met by the mayor, and a lunch party is also held in honour of the taxi drivers and the children. After a happy day running around the sea beaches and visiting the market, the children go home again-- by taxi, and free of charge, of course! The London taxi drivers _ . Answer: work hard because no one would give them money for doing nothing It was Andria Baker's high school graduation party, and the time had come for her father to make good on a promise that he had made her years ago, when she was a fourth-grader. "After you started on your first day of kindergarten and continue it through your last day of high school, and I'll buy you a car." Tim Baker had told the child. Through the years, Andria Baker kept up her end of the bargain, willing herself to go to school on those days even when she felt under the weather. She did carry out her 13th year of uninterrupted coming to the classroom with her final day at Constantine High Sehool even when she was ill. At Sunday's party, her father gave the young woman the keys to a new, $17 000 Pontiac G6. Tim Baker, who teaches seventh grade at prefix = st1 /ConstantineMiddle School, said he has no regrets about the deal. "Without a doubt, it was worth every penny I spent," he said. The look on his daughter's face when she saw the car was great. Baker said, "When she turned around after seeing the car, she did not know what to do. We got her into the car and she just sat there. Then she ran into the house to get her driver's license, and she and her best friend got in the car and drove down the road." Andria Baker, 19, said she thinks she would have gone ahead with that even if a new car had not been promised her. "A lot of my friends thought I was crazy, but I just kept going." she said. Baker plans to go after an education degree at AlmaCollege. "In my sophomore year I hurt my ankle in a basketball game, and it was really painful," she said. "Also that day I caught a cold and the teacher looked at me and said, 'I'm not the teacher who's going to send you home.'" What does the phrase "she felt under the weather" mean? Answer: She didn't feel good. The brothers Grimm , Jacob and Wihelm are synonymous with fairytales. The stories they gathered have been read by millions of children in all countries over the last two hundred years. It's difficult to think that any children could not be attracted by a tale like Red Riding Hood ,which never seems to grow old. This year, Dec20 marked the 200thanniversary of publication of the tales. The Brimms collected the stories and gave them to the world because they wanted to show what German culture was about. In their time, Germany was not yet a nation; it was a collection of little states. Like many patriotic intellectuals ,they thought they could help people in German territories to understand their own traditions. Quite a few adult were shocked by brothers Grimm's work. They wrote about a wolf who eats a little girl's grandmother and an awful old woman who wants to put Hansel and Gretel in a stove. In fact, the original Grimm fairy tales are often far more unpleasant, and more adult in theme .There is a lot of cruelty too. In the wedding scene of Snow White ,the stepmother dances in red-hot iron shoes that kills her. However, other people came along and made these stories more "suitable" for children. The modern children's writer Philip Pullman recently published a book of his versions of some Grimm tales. He points out that the Grimms themselves changed the stories, but for the better. They knew how to hold the attention of readers. "A Grimm tale," he says, "moves with a dreamlike speed from event to event, pausing only to say as much as is needed and no more." So, when we read a story from Grimms' collection, we're getting something from old Germany, but our enjoyment is also thanks to the brothers' great storytelling skills. According to Paragrah1, Red Riding Hood _ . Answer: is popular with children all the time. "Hurry, Mommy! Let's go trick-or-treating!" My daughter waited by the door in her pink princess skirt while I prayed in the living room. Usually I liked taking her out on Halloween, but this year I was sad. I was worried about my mother, who was in China on vacation. I got a call that afternoon that she had slipped and fallen on the hard floor of her hotel and broken her leg. She was taken to a hospital in Beijing. Mom was nervous because she couldn't understand any of the doctors. If only I could do something to help her! I knew I couldn't let my worries spoil my daughter's fun. There was nothing I could do for Mom except pray, I thought. We left the house and went down the block. I was so upset that I hardly took notice of the kids around me. There came the man to whose son I'd once given piano lessons. "Hello there," I said, greeting him and the boy at his side. "Hello," the father answered. "Having fun?""I'm trying," I said. "Why, what's wrong?" he asked. I told him the whole story. "My mother, in China, broke her leg and didn't understand any of the doctors. And I'm too far away to do anything!" I said. He raised his eyebrows. "Beijing, you said?" he asked. I nodded. He smiled. "Believe it or not, my sister is a doctor at an English-speaking hospital there. If you want, I'll make a call right away and we'll try and get your mom transferred ." A few days later I sat in the living room with my daughter as she finished the last of the candy. "Mommy, how far away is China?" she asked. "Not as far as I thought," I said. The author hardly took notice of the kids around because _ . Answer: she felt very sad at that time Museum Visit and Discovery Space When you visit the museum in the Sciencenter, your class can also have a visit to Discovery Space. It is hosted by a Sciencenter educator. Discovery Space provides school-age kids with a place to explore the world of science the way they like. Students will have self-directed independent learning experiences as they try to find the truth about science through activities, games and experiments. A Sciencenter educator can help you find the discovery boxes that are suitable for your school subjects and class interests. Ticket price The Sciencenter welcomes your school group and is pleased to offer discounted tickets to schools for field trips of 10 or more students. For groups smaller than 10, there is no discount. September 1 - February 28: come early and SAVE! Museum Visit Plus Discovery Space: $3.50 per student March 1 - August 31 Museum Visit Plus Discovery Space: $4.50 per student Duration Discovery Space reservations last about 30 minutes. Sciencerter educators will divide large groups into small ones. Each group has 20 persons at most. Please Note Individual Sciencenter memberships are not to be used by school groups for the purpose of cutting school field trip costs. Questions and Reservations For more information or reservations, contact Shannon McSurely, Educator Program Manager, at 607-272-0666 ext. 23 or smcsurely@sciencenter.org. What do we know about Discovery Space from the passage? Answer: It is open all the year round.
What is the most common element in a star such as the Sun? A. helium B. oxygen C. nitrogen D. hydrogen Answer: D. hydrogen the decrease of something required by an organism has a negative impact on that organism 's what? A. soil B. being C. survival knife D. wood Answer: B. being Descending air pressure leads to A. a lower chance of rain B. an ascending chance of showers C. a decreased likelihood of showers D. has zero effect on the weather forecast Answer: B. an ascending chance of showers In China,people born in and after the 1980s are called the post-80s generation .Most of them come from single-child families. However,this generation is playing a more and more important part in China,and their image in people's minds is changing.Han Han,a popular youth writer,is one of them. Han Han was born in 1982 in Shanghai.His talent for writing was clear at an early age.When he was 17,he drew the public's attention with the article Viewing the People through the Glass. The article won first prize in the national New Concept Composition Competition.Later,Han Han again surprised the public by leaving high school. "I did poorly in Grade One of high school and failed to move up to the next grade. I tried my best to improve my studies,but failed ,so I gave up. However ,I am always learning, since learning and going to school are two different things." Han Han said. Han Han's first novel Three Folded Gates sold very well in China.Later the book wastranslated into several languages and sold abroad. In the following years,Han Han wrote a lot of books. All of them were welcomed by the market.In 2006,he started blogging and had great success. Today,Han Han's blog has become one of the honest blogs on the Internet. When did Han Han begin to write a blog? A. When he was seventeen. B. When he was fourteen C. When he was twenty D. When he was twenty-four. Answer: D. When he was twenty-four. In a far away land known as Board, there was a great man named Pawn. This was a very odd land because the only thing to do was play chess. Pawn did not very much care for chess as he was very bored with it. Another problem Pawn had was that he didn't like some of the other people in this land. They had names like Bishop, Queen, Rook, and Knight. And most of all, there was King. He was the greatest person in Board. One day, during their normal battle, Pawn saw an opening to move to the far end of Board. He almost got hurt by Knight but he got away. Amazingly, when he got to the other end he became as powerful as Queen. With this amazing power, Pawn chose to help keep King safe. All was well until Pawn woke up and knew that it was only a dream. He was still Pawn. Who was the greatest person in Board? A. Pawn B. Knight C. Rook D. King Answer: D. King
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. Why was the day renamed as Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day later? A Because some parents were against only girls' having the chance. B Because some parents wouldn't like to take their daughters to work. C Because some employers were against parents' taking their children to work. D Because some schools didn't want to give any students' time to leave school. Answer: A There are four seasons in a year.They are spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring is a beautiful season. It is from March to May. In spring, the trees turn green, and the flowers _ . Everything loooks new. Summer is a happy season. It is from June to August. In summer, we can swim and eat a lot of ice cream. Of course, we have a long holiday,summer holiday! At that time, we can join the summer camp. That's great! Autumn is a colourful season. It lasts from September to November. In autumn, the leaves on the trees turn yellow. Sometimes they are yellow or red. The colors are beautiful. Winter is a cold season. It's from December to February. In winter, it begins to snow in most places of China. Snow is white, and everything looks white. The children like playing with snow. How many seasons are there in a year? A Six B Five. C Four. D Two. Answer: C Some trees can survive a long time without water. Think of trees that grow in the desert. But other trees may need more moisture than they can get from rainfall or from the air . Trees and other plants can look thirsty. Leaves can become weak and hang downward. They can also turn yellow. Yellowing can be a sign of too much water. But it can also be a warning sign of too little water. With a newly planted tree, the roots have not yet spread out from the root ball. The root ball can become dry faster than the dirt around it. So put water on the area of the root ball and the surrounding soil until the roots become established. Once a tree is well established, water deeply instead of watering often. The amount of water needed depends on the tree and the soil. Clay soils hold water for longer periods while sandy soil holds less water. During the hottest season, a deep watering may satisfy a tree for anywhere from ten days to four weeks. Ted Swiecki is a plant scientist . He says people should not water established trees at the base of the trunk . This can harm the tree. Too much water in the soil at the base of a tree can lead to the growth of fungi . If the area is too wet, harmful organisms have a better chance to invade the tree and cause disease. Mr. Swiecki says this is true especially in Mediterranean and semi-dry climates. Many trees in these climates have adapted to having a dry area near their base during the hottest season. He said, "Water displaces (,)air in the soil. And roots are aerobic ; they require oxygen for the soil to function properly. So if you keep the soil completely wet and there's no air there, then the roots are starving for oxygen." Which of the following situations requires the most watering? A Newly planted trees in sandy soil B Newly planted trees in clay soil C Well-established trees in clay soil D Well-established trees in sandy soil Answer: A It's important to learn things about protecting environment. Here's a 5Rs rule for us. Reduce If you want to reduce waste, you should use things wisely. A large number of trees are being cut down to make paper. If everyone uses paper carelessly and then throws it away, soon we would not have any trees left. Some other things are also being wasted, and people don't know what to do with waste in big cities, so it's necessary to reduce waste. Reuse You should always think of reusing the usable things before throwing them away. Give your clothes or things you don't use to the poor. In a family, you may pass such clothes on to your younger brothers or sisters. Recycle Bottles, cans and paper can easily be recycled. By doing so we save lots of time and money, for example, cola cans are sent to a factory, where they're smashed flat and smelted , and the metal things are made into new cola cans. Recover When you buy a box of apples, there may be a few rotten apples, you have two choice: one is to throw the whole apples away, or you should cut off the rotten parts and use the good parts. In this way, you are recovering the eatable parts of food. *Repair If one of the legs of your table is broken, you can repair it instead of throwing the table away. If you want to change for better ones, it's better for you to sell the old ones or give them to other people who can use them after doing some repair. Which sentence is about the "Repair" rule? A When you leave a room, turn off the lights. B Take a cloth bag when you go shopping. C Don't use plastic bags. D If your chair is broken, you can repair it. Answer: D During winter, the white fur of an arctic fox blends in with the snow. This adaptation is called A hibernation B migration C camouflage D movement Answer: C
In England ,people don't often talk to each other when they travel. If you get on a bus or a train. you can see people sitting and looking out of the window. Other people may read books or newspapers. When you meet English people, they often start a conversation by talking about the weather . So when you meet somebody in England, you can say, "Nice weather for the time of the year!" "But it was a little cold yesterday, "somebody may answer. "But it will get a bit warmer later,"you can say. Talking like this, they will think,"How friendly you are!" When you meet English people, you can start the conversation by talking about the _ . Answer: weather What happens at the boiling point of a substance? Answer: liquid becomes a gas Which has molecules? Answer: a Popsicle I have two kids, a boy and a girl. I don't worry about my girl; I'm sure she'll be well trained in mixed martial arts. I worry about my son. I'm pretty sure he's going to be feminine . Sorry to say that, but let's face it. No dad wants his son to go feminine. At the rate we're moving in a couple of years you won't be able to tell the difference between boys and girls. Sound extreme? Think about this. In every movie where advanced time-traveling beings come to our planet, there's one constant: You can't tell the male aliens from the female aliens! But that's the future. Kids today are soft and fat. People ask why. Is it junk food? No. Junk food has been around for fifty years. Is it video games? No. Video games have been around for thirty years. None of the kids playing them back in the day were terribly obese. We're all scratching our heads trying to figure out what we've introduced to society to ruin our kids. But it's not anything we've added that has ruined our kids. It's stuff we've gotten rid of. Take the gym rope for example. Remember that thing that stretched from the floor to the ceiling in your gym class that you could never climb? Most of the kids couldn't make it to the top. But that wasn't the point; the point was you had to try while some middle-aged guy who couldn't make it up a flight of stairs shouted at you. We should have put our son on that rope, and given him a head start. But we didn't want to shame the boy, so we took it down. Taking down the rope would be a good idea if there were no ropes in life. But they're everywhere. You just can't see them. They're in every goal unrealized and expectation not met. The point everyone missed about the rope is you weren't supposed to make it to the top. It was there to create a fire that burned in the oversize belly of every kid. What is the example of aliens used to show? Answer: Boys are going feminine. Below you will find a selection of helpful books to learn more about effective campaigns and one-to-one permission email marketing and more. * Advanced Email Marketing Email is specially brilliant: low cost, high speed, personal, moving , and interactive. But there's a big difference between knowing that email is a powerful marketing tool and proving it. --A1 $15.00 * Sign Me Up! Imagine it: prospects actually ask you to email your marketing information to them. At a time when people wouldn't give out their email addresses and don't believe most emails, it's harder than ever for ordinary marketers to separate their emails from waste emails.--A2 $13.00 * The Quiet Revolution A revolution is taking place which will forever change the world of marketing. The strategies and techniques that have served marketers for years will not only decline in effectiveness, but will begin to quietly decline the very brands and the customer relationships that companies have worked so hard to create. --A3 $18.00 * Permission Marketing Seth Godin, one of the world's foremost online promoters, offers his best advice for advertising in Permission Marketing. Godin argues that business can no longer rely only on traditional forms of "interruption advertising" in magazines and mailings, or radio and television commercials.--A5 $19.05 * TOTAL E-Mail Marketing Total E-Mail Marketing shows how to run effective e-mail campaigns aimed at both getting and keeping customers. The book covers much more than simply guidelines on e-mail creativity. It explains how to plan and carry out e-mail campaigns which connect with other online and offline communication. --A6 $39.5 * Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank This copy of the book offers the most comprehensive (and immediately usable) information on "how to make your website usable" in the fewest amount of pages possible. --A7 $31.4 It can be inferred that all the books can be relative to _ . Answer: the Internet
At present, in many American cities especially, many teachers in the public schools say they are underpaid. They point to jobs such as secretary or truck driver, which often pay more to start than of a teacher. In many other fields, such as law, medicine, computer science, a beginning worker may make more than a teacher who has taught for several years. Teaching has never been a profession that attracted people interested in high salaries. It is by history a profession that has provided rewards in addition to money--the satisfaction of sharing knowledge, of influencing others, of guiding young people. But in the past several years, there are more difficulties in teaching, for many, than there are rewards. Unruly students, especially in big cities, large classes and a lack of support from the public in terms of money and understanding have led many public school teachers to leave the profession. As a result, many of the best students, who would have chosen teaching as their life career in the past, are going into other fields. Another reason for this change in teacher candidates is the changing status of women in the United States. Until the late 1960s and 1970s, one of the most popular choices for women was teaching. But as other professions, such as law and medicine opened up to women, women stopped pouring into teacher training programs. Thus, a major pool of excellent candidates for the teaching profession dwindled. Bit by bit government officials and others realized that the status of the teacher had suffered. They talked about change. But the change in a vast society like the United States is not easy. People's attitudes have formed over many years, and sometimes change takes many years. What is the present situation of the teaching? Answer: Teachers work harder and get underpaid. Where would you hear sound reflecting off surfaces? Answer: canyon Dear Disney, Last weekend, the four members of my family spent an enjoyable holiday at the Magic Kingdom - Disneyland. And one event made our visit seem truly magical. We got to the front of the line at Space Mountain, only to find out that our little daughter Gloria couldn't take her ice-cream on the ride. We were so excited that we all forgot ice-cream was not allowed on the ride. Gloria broke into tears and we all had no idea what to do. Then Murphy, one of the staff members, came over. She bent down and told Gloria that she would hold the ice-cream for her and give it to her when she finished the ride. Gloria said, "Promise?" Then she gave Murphy her ice-cream, and she completely enjoyed the ride. Sure enough, as we walked out the exit, there was Gloria's new friend with "her" ice-cream. Now you and I both know what happened, because we know that an ice-cream won't last twenty minutes on a summer afternoon in Florida. Murphy knew what time we would get off the ride. she went to the nearest shop and bought a brand-new ice-cream thirty seconds before we walked out the exit. Gloria said, "Thank you," but I'm sure she thought it was the same ice-cream. We know that _ tried hard to make our visit special. Thanks so much for going above and beyond! Your fan, Carmen Rivera The family's visit to the Magic Kingdom was _ . Answer: enjoyable Electricity to play your radio can be made using renewable or nonrenewable resources. Which of the following resources are renewable? Answer: wind and sunlight Chinese government has decided to give up the rules of food with no checking .According to the Xinhua News, from September 17th , 2008, Chinese government decided to give up the rules of food with no checking. Many people said yes to it. The officer said that these days, the food safety accident about children milk of Sanlu made the government decide to give it up. In order to keep the food safe and people healthy, Chinese government said that all the food must be checked. The rule of food with no checking made in 1999 was given up from that day. "I think if the companies get the food with no checking, they will never check their food. It gives them the chance of making the food of poor quality," an old man said in the shop. " I hope our government not only gives it up, but also makes some strong rules to manage the companies," a young woman told us. " The important point is our government should send officers to the companies and check their food every time," a shop owner said. A young expert of food safety said, " The department of government should take the food from the shop or supermarket and check, not ask them to send. In that way, we can get the real checking." But in order to keep people's health, the government asks the officers to check all the food before they are sent to the shop or supermarket. That means all the food must be checked before they are sold. Chinese government decided to give up _ from September 17, 2008. Answer: the rules of food with no checking
Living and dealing with kids can be a difficult job these days, but living and dealing with parents can be even more complex. If I have learned anything in my 16 years, it is that communication is very important. With any relationship, you need to let other people know how you are feeling. If you are not able to communicate, you drift apart . When you are mad at your parents, or anyone else, not talking to them doesn't solve anything. Communication begins with the concerns of others. It means that you can't just come home from school, go up to your room and ignore everyone. To keep a good relationship, you must keep communication, even if it's just by writing a note. When dealing with parents, you always have to make them feel good about how they are doing as a parent. If you are trying to make them see something as you see it, tell them that you'll listen to what they have to say, but ask them politely to listen to you. Yelling or walking away only makes the situation worse. This is an example: one night, Sophie went to a street party with her friends. She knew she had to be home by midnight after the fireworks, but she didn't. She was late getting home. Her parents were mad at first, not giving Sophie a chance to explain why she was late. Later, they kept calm and listened to her. Communication is the key factor here. If Sophie's parents had not been willing to listen, Sophie would have been in a lot of trouble. Which is the key to a happy relationship? A. Children should always obey their parents. B. They should be equal. C. Parents play the leading part. D. Both make the opposite know their anger. Answer: B. They should be equal. Laughter healing benefits and healing with laughter have become synonymous with Norman Cousins, the man who laughed himself to wellness. Norman Cousins was the editor of SaturdayReviewfor over 30 years. His story began in 1964, when doctors found that the connective tissue in his spine was becoming worse, which is a condition known as Ankylosing Spondylitis . The doctors, one of whom was a close friend of Cousins, said that his chance of survival was approximately 1 in 500. He read about the theory that negative emotions do harm to the body, so he thought that if negative emotions were damaging to health, then positive emotions should improve health. Faced with the real possibility of his approaching death, Cousins thought long and hard and eventually did three things completely contrary to medical opinion. First he began his own research on all of the various drugs he was on. He discovered that his condition was removing Vitamin C from his body and, based on Cousins' personal research, doctors agreed to take him off several of the drugs he was on and inject him with large doses of this supplement , as Cousins felt this may be his last hope. Secondly, Cousins made a decision to check out of the hospital and into a hotel room. The third thing Cousins did was get a movie projector and a large supply of funny films. On his first night in the hotel Cousins found that he laughed so hard at the films that he was able to stimulate chemicals in his body that allowed him several hours of pain-free sleep. When the pain returned he would simply turn the projector back on and the laughter would help sleep, and he was able to measure the changes in his body by measuring his blood sedimentation rate , and found that this rate dropped by at least 5 points each time he watched one of these videos. The treatment proved to be so effective that in very little time Cousins was off all painkillers and sleeping pills. He found that the laughter relieved the pain and helped him sleep. He returned to work and wrote about his experimental treatment in his book Anatomy of an Illness. In 1989, it was finally acknowledged in the Journal of the American Medical Association that laughter therapy could help improve the quality of life for patients with chronic illness and that laughter has an immediate symptom-relieving effect. Which of the following can be the title for the passage? A. Norman Cousins and laughter therapy B. How to fight against diseases C. New discovery on laughter D. Laugh to relieve the pain Answer: A. Norman Cousins and laughter therapy In my eyes, the most basic and powerful way to communicate with another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it's given from the heart. When people are talking,there's no need to do anything but receive them. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don't value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me a long time to believe in the power of simple saying "I'm so sorry," when someone is in pain. One of my patients told me that when she tried to tell her story people often interrupted to tell her that they once had something just like that happening to them. Her pain became a story about themselves. Eventually she stopped talking to most people. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand,we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen,they know we care. I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the handkerchiefs,until I realized that passing a person a handkerchief may be just another way to shut him down,to take them out of their experience of sadness. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry,they find me there with them. This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too shy to speak or did not know the answer. But now I know that a loving silence often has far more power to heal than the kindest words. Which of the following might be the author's opinion about communication? A. Just listen. B. Keep silent. C. Be careful. D. Tell your own story. Answer: A. Just listen. What do you call a school with no tests, no grades, no classes, and no teachers? Students of the Met School and their parents think it to be the best school in the world. The school is in Rhode Island, USA. Dennis Littky opened it in 1996. He was fired from two other schools, because many parents of the school students were happy with his unusual ideas. The school takes poor kids who are failing at schools. Nearly everybody has already given up these students and their parents want to try anything. The Met School gives Littky a great place to try out his new ideas. "The word that most kids use when they talk about high school is 'boring'," says Littky. "But no one would say the Met was boring." Advisors (not teachers) work with small groups of students for four years. Students spend almost half of their school time learning real-life skills , such as working for business , spending time with government people, and helping teach younger children. Instead of tests, the students give shows about their work outside school. In fact, students work harder here than in other schools. All the students from the Met graduate and can choose to go to a good university . Now, Bill Gates is starting schools like this one around the USA. According to the passage, which of the following if TRUE? A. Life at the Met School is very easy because there are no tests. B. Teachers at the Met School give students much more homework than at normal school. C. Students can choose to go to a good university. D. Students at the Met School spend all their time working outside school. Answer: C. Students can choose to go to a good university. I have happy memories of trips to Europe, but my trip to Romania was unique. When I was there as recalled, it was like being in a "James Bond" movie. My husband was born there, but his family sent him to study in Italy. Before he left, his mother told him, "As long as I write in pencil, don't come back. When I write to you in pen, it's safe to return." But she never wrote in pen. My husband lived a poor life in Italy. He applied to go to America, but there was a limit in number and he was rejected. He was accepted by Canada, though, and from Calgary he jumped onto a train to San Francisco. There he stayed --illegally. He became a US citizen when we got married. By then he was a charming European with a Romanian accent and the manners of a prince. With seven years' experience in America, a US passport, and two children later, he felt it was safe to visit Romania. He hadn't seen his mother, two sisters, and two brothers since he was sixteen. We flew to Munich, Germany; picked up the German-made car we had purchased in the States; and drove to Romania via Austria and Hungary. When we reached Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, his family was waiting outside his sister's house to greet us. After a long time of hugging, kissing, and crying, his family also hugged me, the American wife with two young children. They had great interest in me. Few Americans visited Romania at that time, and most Romanians had little chance to travel. I had brought an English-Romanian dictionary with me and managed to communicate, using only nouns, with no verbs. My Romanian improved, and the family's stock of English words increased, but mostly I spoke in broken, New York-accented Romanian. The sisters loved their gifts of skirts and purses, the brothers loved the radios, and the children loved the candy. We made side trips to the Black Sea and enjoyed sightseeing in beautiful mountains. Dining at outdoor cafes to the music of violins was fantastic with fancy flavor, but nothing was as special as family dinners. Romania didn't have many dry cleaners. Most homes had old-fashioned washing machines but no dryers, and it was a hot summer. My husband's relatives didn't want to risk dirtying their clothes. Their solution was as simple as it was shocking: the women only wore their bras and slips at dinner table. The men were eating without shirts. They all had jobs, so time was precious. Having dinner without proper clothes was a small inconvenience compared with the effort of washing clothes --at least in my husband's home, perhaps all across Romania. I, of course, having just met them, ate fully clothed. I washed my clothes by hand and hung them outdoors to dry. On the last night of our three-week stay, we had a large family dinner. I was tired of washing my clothes. So I pulled my dress over my head and placed it on the chair behind me. All men and women applauded for my action. Even with my poor Romanian, I understood that they were saying, "She's part of our family now." My children were 4 and 5 at the time, but they still have memories of that trip. They know how to say, "Good morning." and "There are apricots on the tree." I can still say, "Do you speak Romanian?"and "I swim in the Black Sea." But most of all, I remember sitting at a long dining-room table in my bra, enjoying meatballs with fresh garlic . The writer was completely accepted by her husband's family when _ . A. she offered gifts to the whole family B. she spoke her husband's language C. she washed all the clothes by hand D. she had dinner in bra like other ladies Answer: D. she had dinner in bra like other ladies
An old gentleman who lives a few doors away from me can always be seen with a bag. He goes out by himself and picks up plastic bottles, plastic bags and pieces of paper everywhere. He does it all carefully and never complains. The children in the nearby school are probably responsible for some of that litter. "There will come a time when they know better," he said. "It's just not yet. So, I'll do it for them." Well, this morning I was out walking my neighbor's dog when I saw another neighbor, a much younger man, out doing the same thing! He had his two little sons with him and they were having good fun trying to pick up the litter. "What a good job you are doing", I said to him. "Well, an older fellow in our street does this", said he. "And my friend and I thought it wasn't fair that he had to do it all the time, so now we take turns." Not only was he taking a turn, not only did he have a friend join in as well, but he was passing on the lesson to the nextgeneration ! By the time I had returned the dog to my neighbor, I looked again and his children's friends had joined in! This man was teaching a whole group of young children to keep their own streetclean. An older man had set an example for him and now he was passing it on--the next generation is doing what he did and the generation to come after that! The old gentleman picks up the litter _ . A to make money B to help the cleaners C to have a good fun D to keep the environment clean Answer: D One day when I was driving on the freeway, I noticed all the way there were large dividing walls, which had been built between it and the road running parallel to it, for noise reduction and a sense of separation. The purpose was to create a sense of privacy for people on the other side. This got me thinking: How often do we put up mental barriers that keep us distant from others? Lifting the artificial barriers that keep us apart can offer opportunities to express our goodwill and create better relationships. If we can do like this, maybe our life will be a little different. There is a little post office in a nearby town, and since it is closer to me than the post office in my own town, I go there. One day, with many people jammed into the little building, a man came hurrying in to mail a letter, and the girl at the counter saw he had too little postage on it. She told him he needed 2 more cents. Obviously he was a little at a loss. He had hurried over from his office, and didn't have any money on him or time to stand in line. He was going to run back to get the needed money and wait in line again, but he hurried to get the letter mailed in the first place. As we were watching him, one woman volunteered a two-cent stamp, and the whole line became very quiet. It was a beautiful moment. The man hesitated for a little while and asked her if she was sure, and she assured him she was fine with giving him the stamp. He offered to go back to his office to get the two cents, and she told him not to bother. It was a small thing, but it meant something to both of the people involved, and to the rest of us. We aren't a yard that needs defining or a freeway that needs barriers. We are human beings who can contribute to each other's wellbeing by taking time to pay attention and interact. After all, we are all parts of a whole living in society. What happened after the man being told he needed two more cents? A The man went back to his office immediately. B The man turned to a lady for help. C A woman offered a stamp to the man. D The man waited in line patiently. Answer: C So you have been called for an interview---well done?Your effort has been paid off? You will feeI better at the interview if you show an understanding of the nature of the organization. Ask someone who already does it,or check it with one of the advisers. Ask a member of your family or a friend to act as the employer and to give you an unreal interview.Be as realistic as possible,answer the questions seriously.Afterwards discuss how it went.Think about how the employer would prefer to see your look.Remember---the majority of employers are over 30. It is not wise to rush out and buy new clothes.which will be worn for the first time at the interview.You'll feel more at ease in a familiar dress. Carelessness in any of these could cost you the job.Arrive at least 15 minutes before time,this will give you a chance to have a look around,read the notice board and get the feel of the place.Being late at the interview produces a bad impression.The first impression that the interviewer gets of you is formed as you walk through the door,so take a couple of deep breaths. Be ready to shake hands if the interviewer offers. Don't take a seat until asked.Then sit comfortably. Make eye contact when you are greeted and again if you shake hands.And during questioning,eye contact is a form of non-verbal greeting. Remember the interviewer's name and use it from time to time. Be ready for the question "Is there anything you want to ask?" Before the interview you should get ready for two or three such questions.Look on these not just as a chance to get information but as a means to give your employer a better impression.Asking can show knowledge but avoid asking about holidays,pensions and so on.It looks as if you are tired even before you begin.You can check on these later,when the hope for job is offered. And if you fail, look upon the interview as an experience in itself.Learn from it.We wish you good luck and good job hunting. Why do you prepare yourself for some Is--there-anything-you*-want--to-say questions? A To give the employer more information. B To get information about holiday and pension. C To impress the employer better and get further information from the company as well. D To show that you are the most knowledgeable. Answer: C Psychology tells us that many people hate to take risks. But it is good for us to take risks, especially when the risk is to achieve a desired result. In that way, we become stronger and braver. Our human nature should be to take risks, but some people just sit and wish they didn't have the fear to move on. This is because of one or two failures in their lives. Please step out and don't let the past hold you back from living life to the fullest. Move forward and move on! In studying the psychology of taking risks, we find that human nature provides us with the desire to experiment and take chances. Risk taking is a great benefit that allowed our ancestors to become stronger and stronger day by day. By taking risks they fought off enemies and discovered new territories . _ has become a part of our modern culture. Riding a roller coaster is a common risk taking activity that even the average person seems to enjoy although they have the understanding that it is dangerous. This psychological and biological connection creates an interesting connection between what is unsafe and what humans enjoy. Getting in a car each day is a risk. Getting out of bed is a risk. There is such thing as perfect safety. We need to take risks so that we can complete (finish) many things. Astronauts take risks when they get inside a rocket; however, the things they achieve are great. Businessmen take a risk when they buy parts of a company. However, without doing that, they could not make more money. We need to take risks so that we can gain something. It is impossible to move forward in life, earn money, enjoy a relationship, play a sport, or do anything else without taking a risk. It is all part of the game. It's one of the most important parts of life. What would be the title for the passage? A Taking risks is easier said than done B On risks taken by ancestors C Live our life to the fullest D No risk, no gain. Answer: D My name is Jane. I'm now living in a small house with my parents. Life for us is difficult but happy. I must study hard to buy a big new house someday. I call it a dream house. My dream house is near the sea. It has three floors with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two big dining rooms and two living rooms. When my friends come to visit me, I will have enough bedrooms for them. We have a swimming pool behind the house and a garden in front of the house. In the morning, my parents can _ in the garden to keep them healthy. The air will be very good and nice. When it's hot, we can have a swim in the swimming pool. Life will be easy for us. Which is NOT true about Jane's dream house? A It has a swimming pool. B It has a garden. C It has five bedrooms. D It has five floors. Answer: D
People use water in different ways. Which of these activities wastes water? Answer: leaving a faucet on A large number of women in Western European countries wish that they were born men. The number is said as high as 60% in West Germany. "Women often wish that they had the same chance as men have, and believe it is still men's world," said Dr James Holden, one of the scientists who did the study. Anne Harper has a very good job for an international oil company. She also believes in "Women's Liberation". "I don't wish that I were a man," she says. "And I don't think many women do. But I do wish that people would stop looking down upon us women. At work, for example, we often do the work that men do but paid less. There are still a lot of jobs that are usually the best ones and open only to men. If you are a man, you have a much better chance of leading an exciting life. How many women pilots are there... or engineers or scientists?" A lot of women in _ wish that they were born men. Answer: West Europe For thousands of years humans have used herbs , roots, and other things from nature to cure disease. Scientists looking for new cures often visit traditional healers. They find out what plants are used in healing. Then they look at what the plant contains. They find the active ingredient , which is the chemical in the plant that works to heal. Many of the drugs we use, including aspirin, have come from these natural medicines. In recent years, many people in the US have taking what are legally known as dietary supplements . They may be vitamins or minerals. They may be herbs that help with health problems, such as depression. Some of them are teas. Others are capsules or tablets. They are sold in natural food stores, drug stores, and groceries. Most people think that because these products are natural they are also safe. This is not always true. There are many plants that are poisonous. There are others that have bad side effects. The New England Journal of Medicine publishes medical research. A recent edition called for the government to _ dietary supplements. Several doctors wrote to the Journal and told of bad experiences people have had with dietary supplements. Dietary supplements aren't tested in the same way as drugs. There is not always proof that the supplement really does what it is supposed to do. There is also a problem with purity of the supplements. Supplements have been found to contain things that are bad for the body. For example, the California Department of Health found that of 260 herbs grown in China, one third contained heavy metals. These are minerals such as lead and mercury . They are very poisonous, even in tiny amounts. The scientists study the cures from the healers in order to _ . Answer: find out what in the plant works to cure disease Battle of the Books Each year in April, the "Battle of the Books" teams from each school meet for the Semi-Battle competition. The top three teams from each division go on to the Final Battle to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. The gold medal winners go on to compete in the Regional Championship. Battle of the Books Rules and Goals Goals: Students: Have fun reading good books from a wide variety of authors and genres . Educators: Encourage reading, foster friendly competition, and nurture the love of books in young people. Rules: One team of six students from grades 7 or 8 will represent each school. 1. Each team will have a spokesperson. While the team is encouraged to discuss possible answers, team answers will only be accepted from the spokesperson. 2. The Semi-Finals will consist of three rounds of play, and the Finals will have one round. Each round features a Regular Battle and a Lightning Battle. 3. Regular Battle questions will be addressed to teams alternately , regardless of the last correct answer. There will be 12 Regular Battle questions per round. When asked a question, teams will have 20 seconds to provide the book's title and author. 4. Five points will be given if the team correctly identifies the exact title, and three points will be awarded for correctly identifying the author's surname. The author's first name does not need to be identified. 5. The Lightning Battles will be featured at the end of each round. Lightning Battles consist of a 2 minutes, 30 seconds time period during which each team is asked up to 12 questions. These questions concern details of the books and will not require teams to identify titles or authors. Each correctly answered Lightning Battle question will be worth three points. PLEASE NOTE: A warm-up practice question will be given to each team at the beginning of its first Semi-Battle and at the beginning of the Final and Regional Final Battles. There may be no assistance from the coordinators and audience members. Teams will not be punished for incorrect answers. Any team demonstrating poor sportsmanship will not be invited back. If a team doesn't compete fairly, it _ . Answer: won't be allowed to compete next time American black bears appear in a variety of colors despite their name. In the eastern part, most of these bears have shiny black fur, but in the west they grow brown, red, or even yellow coats. To the north, the black bear is actually gray or white in color. Even in the same litter , both brown and black furred bears may be born. Black bears are the smallest of all American bears, ranging in length from five to six feet, weighing from three hundred to five hundred pounds. Their eyes and ears are small and their eyesight and hearing are not as good as their sense of smell. Like all bears, the black bear is timid and rarely dangerous, but if attacked, most can climb trees or cover ground at great speed. When angry or frightened, they are formidable _ . Black bears feed on leaves, roots, fruit, insects, fish, and even larger animals. One of the most interesting characteristics of bears, including the black bear, is their winter sleep. Unlike squirrels and many other woodland animals, bears do not actually sleep through the winter months. Although the bear does not eat during the winter months, sustaining itself from body fat, its temperature remains almost normal, and it breathes regularly four or five times per minute. Most black bears live alone, except during the mating season. They prefer to live in caves. Baby black bears are born in January or February after a gestation period of six to nine months, and they stay with their mother until they are fully grown or about one and a half years old. Black bears can live as long as thirty years in the wild, and even longer in some nature reserves. We cannot read the passage _ . Answer: in an advertisement
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. Obama's mother, Ann, died of cancer in about _ while his father died in _ . A 1982; 1967 B 1967; 1982 C 1979; 1967 D 1995; 1982 Answer: D. 1995; 1982 Which of the following is a typical example of a unicellular organism? A earthworm B bacteria C fungi D green algae Answer: B. bacteria You know what it' s like. You' ve just arrived in Washington D. C. after a long journey and all you really want to do is lie down and relax in your hotel room. But first you have to make a few quick notes for tomorrow's meeting, check your e-mails, and perhaps print out a few- things. And you need to make a few local telephone calls, and one call to your family. And what do you usually get? Your desk is just about big enough for a cup of coffee, and there's no desk lamp~ the stationary is only several pieces of paper and the only pen there doesn't work at all. If you want to print something, you have to go to the Reception ,and when you try to use your cell phone, you find that it won't work in the U. S. A. Well, Harmony Hotel is different. Just tell us ahead of time what you're going to need, and we'll make sure that it's waiting for you when you arrive. There will be a printer in your room if you want one, and a cell phone that really works. All you have to pay for is the calls you make. We can also provide a room for business meetings, even a secretary to take notes. All we ask is a few days' notice. All of our rooms are of the same high standard and we promise not to increase prices in the next twelve months. But book now, because many people are already calling to book rooms, and we'd hate to disappoint you. Harmony--the hotel you've always wanted, but never been able to find before. The advertisement is probably written for A teachers B business people C secretaries D tourists Answer: B. business people He was surprised to see that the chicken was keeping up with him. Looking at his speedometer , he found that he was doing 50 miles per hour (MPH). Then he drove at 60 MPH, and the chicken stayed right next to him. He sped up to 75 MPH and _ still kept up. The man then found that the chicken had three legs. Growing even more curious , he followed the chicken down a road and into a farm. He got out of his car and saw that all the chickens around him had three legs. He asked the farmer, "What's up with the three-legged chickens?" The farmer said, "Well, whenever we have chicken for diner, everyone in the family fights over the legs, but there are only two. I have raised a kind of three-legged chicken. It's going to make me richer." "How do they taste?" the man asked. The farmer said, "Don't know yet, I haven't been able to catch one." Which following statement is TRUE according to the passage? A The farmer knew the three-legged chickens tasted good. B The farmer had become richer because of the three-legged chickens. C The chickens ran too fast for the farmer to catch. D There was only one three-legged chicken on the farm. Answer: C. The chickens ran too fast for the farmer to catch. Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously. Jason was determined not to go against their father's wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loved experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father. "Dad will be really mad if he finds out you've been playing with his new computer." Jason said, "He told us not to touch it." "He won't find out." Mark said, "I'll just have a quick look and shut it down." Mark had been scolded before for touching his father's equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him. It was a strange-looking machine -one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. "It's an experimental model," his father had explained, "so don't touch it under any circumstances." But his warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later, the screen turned into color1s, shifting and changing and then two big white words appeared in the center of the screen: "SPACE TRANSPORTER." "Yes!" Mark cried excitedly, "It's a computer game. I knew it! Dad's only been pretending to work. He's really been playing games instead." A new message appeared on the screen: ENTER NAMES VOYAGER 1: ... VOYAGER 2: ... Mark's fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names. INPUT ACCEPTED. START TRANSPORT PROGRAM. AUTO-RETRIEVE INITIATED The screen turned even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume. "I think we'd better shut it off, Mark," Jason yelled, reaching for the power switch. He was really frightened. But his hand never reached the switch. A single beam of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow , until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed. TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL. DESTINATION: MARS. RETRIEVE DATE: 2025. What happened to the boys at the end of the story? A They were blown into the air. B They were sent to another planet. C They were hidden in the strong light. D They were carried away to another country Answer: B. They were sent to another planet.
Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Susan wants to give a present to her mother. Father tells her to go to the shop and try to find something. Susan hurries to the shopping center and goes to the women's store. She has $3.00. First she thinks she will get her mother something to wear. Then she thinks she will buy something for her to use . But she only has $3.00. She can't buy any nice dress. She sees a nice red hat. She knows her mother will like it. But it is too expensive. It is $10.00. The saleslady looks at her and then looks at the hat. She takes off the price tag and says, "That's exactly $3.00. " What is the price on the price tag? Answer: After my brother died in an accident, my mother was in deep sadness. I was only a four-year-old girl at the time, but I still understood the sudden shift in my mom's attitude towards safety. Suddenly everything around us was potentially dangerous. Overnight, the world had gone from a playground to a dangerous zone. I grew up with a lot of limits and rules. I couldn't walk home from school by myself, even though everyone I knew already did. I couldn't go to summer camp because what if something happened to me? As I got older, the list of things of fear got longer. My whole life was divided into "things you should avoid", and "things you needed to do in order to have a good, long life." I became a natural worrier. I worry about things like getting cancer, losing my wallet, car accidents, earthquakes, and losing my job -- disasters big and small, real and imagined. The funny part is that you'd never know it by looking at my life. In fact, I've developed a rule for myself: If it scares me, then I have to do it at least once. I've done lots of things that my mom would have worried about: I've ridden a motorcycle; I've traveled --a lot. I've performed stand-up comedy, and I'm planning my second wedding. There's something else I don't usually talk about, but it's a cornerstone in my belief: When I was 14, my mother died suddenly in a car accident. At my mom's funeral I remember making a choice. I could either live out the rest of my life trying to be "safe" or I could be brave enough to live out a fulfilling, exciting and, yes, sometimes dangerous life. I worry that I may have betrayed my mother by writing her in this light, but she has been a driving force in my life and, in the end I think she would have been proud of me. Courage isn't a natural character of human beings. I believe that using courage is like developing a muscle. The more often I do things that scare me or that make me uncomfortable, the more I realize that I can do a lot more than I originally thought I could do. Even though I inherited my mother's cautious nature. I've also come to believe that fear can be a good thing, if we face it. Believing that has made my world a less scary place. In the writer's childhood, the limits and rules were used to _ . Answer: They once seemed more at home on the busy streets of Asia like Delhi, Calcutta and Bangkok but cycle powered rickshaws can now be seen taking people across town in many European cities. Many people believe that rickshaws are a good way of experiencing a city close-up, while also cutting down on traffic jams and pollution. In Berlin, one of the first cities to introduce this new model of transport, more than 200 bike-taxis go along at 15km per hour, past many tourist attractions and city parks. "It is completely environmentally friendly; we have new models with an engine to help the driver up the hills but they use renewable energy." said a spokesman for VELOTAXI, the leading rickshaw company which has carried a quarter of a million people this year. While the city still has 7,000 motor-taxis, rickshaw company officials say their taxis' green ideas, speed and safety make them more than just a tourist attraction. While now increasingly out of fashion in Delhi, Berlin people have eagerly accepted the new fleet since their launch in 1997. "It's better than a taxi, better than a bus, better than the train," said ULF Lehman, 36, as he leapt out of a rickshaw near the world famous Brandenburg gate. "It feels so free." " _ ," said another traveler. In Amsterdam, driver Peter Jancso said people like to be driven around in his bright yellow rickshaw and pretend to be a queen in a golden carriage. "I like my passengers to feel important," he said as he dropped off another passenger. Another visitor noted how cheap it was compared with a normal taxi. Although increasingly popular in Europe, it is the opposite in India, where hand-pulled rickshaws are considered inhuman and a symbol of India's backward past. Nearly 500 bike-rickshaws are running in London and are not required to pay the city's road tax but things may change as other taxi drivers complain of unfair treatment. Where are rickshaws becoming more popular? Answer: The lower East Side is neither rich nor beautiful, but it can be a good place to shop. On Sundays, its streets are crowded with visitors and shoppers like these. They are trying to find a coat or a pair of shoes at a good price. Most people prefer to shop in the big department stores like Macy's, Gimbel's, or Bloomingdale's because there they can find clothing, furniture, toys, and food in one store. Some people like the smaller stores of Greenwich Village or other areas when they are looking for an unusual present. Some streets have only one kind of stores. Bracelets and rings shine in the windows of Canal Street, and wedding dresses fill the stores of Grant Street. There are streets for furs, and, in one area, there are 600 shops for antiques! Fifth Avenue is the most famous place to shop, and it is usually the most expensive. There you can find the latest styles from Paris, Italy, or New York. You can spend thousands of dollars on Fifth Avenue, or you can just _ and admire the sights for free. If you want to buy something fashionable to wear, you'd better go to _ . Answer: Richard Wagner was a German musician has been a very controversial person, but he has gained great fame by writing opera, a form of performance combining singing, music on instruments, and drama. While he wrote excellent music, many people think his operas are too dark and serious, lacking the fun common in operas written before his time. Wagner, on the other hand, thought the opera of his time was too simple.He wanted to make opera a serious form of art that combined drama and music to tell deep stories that would have a strong effect on the audience. Some people thought Wagner's new kind of music was too different from the operas they were used to hearing.Wagner agreed with them.In fact, he didn't call his works "operas" at all, using instead a German word that means "Musical Festival" or "Musical play". While many people today still do not like Wagner's operas, they cannot deny that Wagner has had a lot of influence on opera as a form of art.Wagner invented the tradition of turning off the lights before starting a play.He also was the first person to make the whole audience sit down for an entire play.Today, almost all operas are performed in this manner. Wagner as a man was even more controversial than Wagner as a writer of music.He hated Jewish people, and made many people angry, which we would today think of as evil.Some would say he was a good musician, while others would say that he was a bad musician.But it would be difficult to say he was not an important person in music and in the world. Wagner's works were different from normal opera of his time NOT because _ . Answer:
If there is any single factor that makes for success in living, it is the ability to profit by defeat. Every success I know have achieved because the person was able to analyze defeat and actually profit by it in his next undertaking. Confuse defeat with failure, and you are doomed indeed to failure. For it isn't defeat that makes you fail: it is your own refusal to see in defeat the guide and encouragement to success. Defeats are nothing to be ashamed of. They are routine incidents in the life of every man who achieves success. But defeat is a dead loss unless you face it without _ , analyze it and leave why you have failed. Defeat, in other words, can help to cure its own cause. Not only does defeat prepare us for success, but nothing can arouse within us such a compelling desire to succeed. If you let a baby grasp a rod and try to pull it away, he will hold more and more tightly until his whole weight is suspended. It is the same reaction as should give you new and greater strength every time you are defeated. If you exploit the power which defeats give, you can accomplish with it far more than you are capable of. What is the author's attitude towards defeat? Answer: One of being hopeful. "In the online world you don't need to fill buildings or lecture theatres with people and you don't need to be trapped into a lecture timetable," says Peter Scott, director of the Open University's Knowledge Media Institute. The Open University, the UK's open access university, which allows people to study from home in their own time, has been an international pioneer of degree courses online. The university, with more than 263,000 students in 23 countries, has become a record breaker on the iTunes U service, which provides a digital library of materials for university students and staff.Instead of music or movies, Apple's iTunes U provides a download service for lectures and resources from universities around the world.Top universities from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard in the US to Oxford and Cambridge in the UK have been making their materials available, with no charge to the users. There have been 31 million downloads of OU materials, more than any other university, representing roughly 10% of all iTunes U downloads.Nearly 90% of these users are from outside the UK.In this online era, the OU student is also getting younger.A quarter of students are aged under-25 and only 10% are aged 50 or over.That change can only be accelerated as the cost of going to university increases in many countries.The prospect of learning from Harvard from your own bedroom is getting closer. "We have a belief that a degree and an opportunity are rights for all citizens.And we have got to enable the population of students attending higher education to scale up.What I am most excited about is that the privilege of going for higher education is not something only for the wealthy or for the smartest or for the most well-equipped students in the future," an American educator says.Online education will be a way of opening up more choices and getting beyond the big brand names of the most exclusive universities. At the Open University, Peter Scott says they are trying to develop services that give students exactly what they want, from face-to-face learning to the fully online experience."We can produce brilliant televisual material and get it to you on YouTube, on iTunes U or even on the web. OU students use iTunes U service to _ . Answer: download educational materials Think about the last time you felt afraid. Was it a fear of height? Did you oversleep on a weekday and fear you'd get into trouble at the office? In any case, you know what it feels like to feel fear. But one woman doesn't the woman, code-named "UM", gave her first-ever interview after years of being studied by a team of researchers. The woman is given a code name because the researchers want to protect her from anyone who would take advantage of her inability to feel afraid. UM can't tell you what fear is because she's never experienced it. "I wonder what it's like to actually be afraid of something," she said. The formal name for the disease is Urbach-Wieth disease, which is characterized by a hoarse voice,small bumps around the eyes, and calcium deposits in the brain. In the case of UM,the disease has transformed the part of her brain that controls the human response to fear. In the interview, UM talks about an event in her life where she was held at knifepoint and gunpoint, "I was walking to the store,and I saw a man on a park bench.He said. "Come here,please," so I went over to him. He grabbed me by the shirt,put a knife to my throat and told me he was going to cut me. I told him, "Go ahead and cut me," I wasn't afraid at all. And for some reason,he let me go." Doctors who have been studying UM's condition for years have been trying different things that could strike fear into her. They finally figured something out--increasing UM's carbon dioxide levels.Extra carbon dioxide concentration in the blood is known to cause fear and panic in health individuals. Increasing UM's carbon dioxide levels did manage to give her a fright. From UM's case,we can know that Urbach-Wieth disease may _ . Answer: stop the brain from functioning normally Beijing Opera is my favourite. Bao Zheng always has a black face and Guan Yu has a red face in Beijing Opera. But many people don't know why. I come from America and I have lived in China for six years. I like Beijing Opera very much. I think Beijing Opera is very interesting. I can learn a lot about Chinese history. Now let me tell you the art of Beijing Opera facial paintings . In Beijing Opera facial paintings, different colours and patterns are for different roles. For example, a black face for fair people. A red face is for brave people. A white face is for bad people. Blue and green faces are for heroes . The gold face is for gods. The writer thinks he can learn a lot about _ by watching Beijing Opera. Answer: Chinese history Teaching and research are supported by the University's extensive collections--the Yale University Art Gallery, the Yale Center for British Art, the Peabody Museum of Natural History, and the Collection of Musical Instruments. All the collections are open to the public. Yale University Art Gallery The Yale University Art Gallery, founded in 1832, today houses a collection that has grown to rank with those of the major public art museums in the United States. Its two connected buildings house ancient, medieval, and Renaissance art, Near and Far Eastern art, archaeological material from the University's excavations , Pre-Columbian and African art, works of European and American masters from actually every period, and a rich collection of modern art. Across the street, the Yale Center for British Art, which was opened in 1977, holds the largest collection of British art and illustrated books anywhere outside the United Kingdom. Peabody Museum of Natural History Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History, founded in 1866, contains one of the great scientific collections in North America. Among its holdings are the University's comprehensive mineralogical and ornithological collections, the second-largest repository of dinosaur artifacts in the United States, and the largest undamaged Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus ) in the world. The Peabody is truly a working museum, where public exhibition, research, conservation, teaching, and learning intersect . Yale Center for British Art Institutions like the Art Gallery, the Center for British Art, and the Peabody Museum hold only a portion of the treasures in the University's collections. From paintings by Picasso, to pterodactyl remains, to a 1689 tenor viol in the Collection of Musical Instruments, Yale's possessions are meant to be accessible to the communities they enrich. Collection of Musical Instruments Exhibitions are also frequently mounted at the following venues on campus: Art + Architecture Gallery (School of Architecture), Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Green Hall Gallery (School of Art), and Sterling Memorial Library, including the Arts of the Book Collection. What is the text mainly about? Answer: Introduction to collections in Yale.
Randy Grim brought home his first stray dog when he was only 5 years old. The fear that he saw in the eyes of that first dog-eventually replaced by gratitude and love-moved Grim so deeply that even at that young age he knew he had found his life's work. In 1998, Grim formed a nonprofit group called Stray Rescue. The group's goal: to save as many of St. Louis's stray dogs as possible. Today, Grim heads up an organization with a $3 million annual budget, a staff of more than 50 paid workers, thousands of volunteers, and a well-equipped shelter that houses as many as 200 dogs. The money that supports Stray Rescue has been raised through donations and through the force of Grim's outspoken advocacy . A man who sees himself as shy is anything but that when it comes to speaking out for dogs. The impact has been significant. While there are no good estimates as to the number of stray dogs on the streets of St. Louis, today 40% more dogs are being picked up off the streets than just two years ago, about 98% are now adopted into homes. Stray Rescue also funds a massive education campaign. The group's bill-boards advocating adoption and neutering of dogs are everywhere, as are brochures informing the public of free medical care for dogs and volunteer opportunities at Stray Rescue. "The whole landscape has changed,"says Pam Walker, St. Louis city health director. Since Grim's involvement, she says, St. Louis has become a model for good practices in the area. Officials elsewhere sometimes ask how St. Louis deals with its dog problems. Walker says,"My answer is:We have Randy Grim." Grim says he is delighted at the way the city has responded. Many St. Louis citizens"were already there,"he says, in terms of concern for dogs. "I'm really proud of my city." Which of the following is true of Randy Grim? Answer: He decided to rescue stray dogs when young. As the population grows and temperatures rise, it will become more difficult to grow enough food for everyone. So, scientists are exploring the planet for plants that do not need as much water as today's crops. The Mojave Desert in the US state of California is home to some of these plants. Scientist Heather Rose Kates of the University of Florida is in that desert. She is searching along roads for a plant called coyote melon which is a kind of squash .Coyote melon may not taste good, but it can be grown in places that have little rainfall. The desert where it grows gets just 15 to 20 centimeters of rain per year, or less. Other kinds of squash need at least two and a half centimeters per week to grow. Scientists are considering combining wild coyote melon with regular squash to see if they can make a tasty vegetable that doesn't need as much water to grow. That could be useful on a planet growing warmer and more crowded every day. Andy Jarvis works at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. He says farmers will need to produce 50 to 70 percent more food by 2050 to feed the world. So, he says, researchers are studying the wild versions of farm-grown crops. But he says there is a problem. He says many wild versions of farmed plants are disappearing. He says they are threatened and scientists have not collected their seeds for future use. Scientist Kates is part of an international effort to gather these plants and save their seeds while it is still possible. Workers are collecting wild potatoes in Argentina and wild peppers in Para-guav. The plants and seeds will be sent for storage to the Global Seed Vault in Norwav and at Kew gardens in Britain. Ms Kates spends most of her time in a laboratory. She says gathering plants has helped her understand more about them. Why do scientists study coyote melon? Answer: It only needs little water to grow. There are more than 100 million cars in the United States. An ordinary car gets less than 15 miles from each gallon of gas. It travels about 10,000 miles each year. In that time, it uses about 650 gallons of gas. In all , automobiles use up some 70 billion gallons of gas a year. That comes out to be four-and-a-half million barrels a day. The importance of saving gas, then, cannot be stressed too much. Let's say, the fuel used by each car could be cut back just 15 percent. This could be done by making fewer trips each day. It could be done by keeping the automobiles in good shape. It could be done through better driving habits. If these were done, the nation's use of fuel would fall by close to two-thirds of a million barrels per day. Everyone can help to save gas. One way is to ride buses. Some could walk to work. Others could ride their bikes. Another way is to share a ride. People could share cars. About one-third of all cars are used for going to and from work. You can go shopping with a friend from time to time. If two people use a car instead of two, they all save. Driving stress would be less, too, with fewer cars on the road. The savings on gas around the nation would come to more than one-half million barrels a day. Still another way to save is by cutting out trips one does not need to take. Can you find one car trip per week that could be done by telephone? Can you combine trips? If each car travelled 10 miles less each week, they could save three-and-a-half billion gallons of gas a year. This comes to nearly 5 percent of the total passenger cars demand for gas. The way people drive decides how much fuel they save. Careful drivers may get 20 percent more miles per gallon than ordinary drivers. They obey the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit. If just one gallon of gas were saved each week for each car in the country, a total of five-and-a-half billion gallons could be saved a year. According to the passage, it is possible to save five percent of the total passenger cars demand for gas each year, if _ . Answer: all the cars cut off one trip of 10 miles each week Wei Hua had a busy day yesterday. She got up before 7 o'clock in the morning, and quickly washed her hands and face. She got to school early. She had a little rest after lunch, but worked hard in class all day. She played basketball after school, and then she walked home. Wei Hua's pen was broken, so she needed a new one. On her way home she bought a new pen at a shop. When she reached home, she had a short rest and a glass of water. After that she helped her parents. She quickly cooked the supper, and cleaned the house. She watched TV for half an hour after supper. Then she started her homework. She finished it at half past nine. She went to bed before a quarter to ten. What did she buy on her way home? Answer: A pen A qualified doctor who rarely practiced but instead devoted his life to writing. He once said: "Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my lover." Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, was a great playwright and one of the masters of the modern short story. When Chekhov entered the Moscow University Medical School in 1879, he started to publish hundreds of comic short stories to support his family. After he graduated, he wrote regularly for a local daily newspaper. As a writer he was extremely fast, often producing a short story in an hour or less. Chekhov's medical and science experience can be seen through the indifference many of his characters show to tragic events. In 1892, he became a full time writer and published some of his most memorable stories. Chekhov often wrote about the sufferings of life in small town Russia. Tragic events control his characters who are filled with feelings of hopelessness and despair. It is often said that nothing happens in Chekhov's stories and plays. He made up for this with his exciting technique for developing drama within his characters. Chekhov's works combined the calm attitude of a scientist and doctor with the sensitivity of an artist. Some of Chekhov's works were translated into Chinese as early as the 1940s. One of his famous stories, The Man in a Shell, about a school teacher's extraordinarily orderly life, was selected as a text for Chinese senior students. In 1880, Chekhov _ . Answer: studied medicine in Moscow University
Don't drive your kids to school. Let them ride a bike to school. In England 8.3 million children travel to school every day. It is reported that only a small number of pupils cycle to school (under 2%), although one in three children would actually like to. Experts say that to stay healthy, children need at least one hour of moderate exercise every day. But only six out of ten boys and four out of ten girls get that. One of the reasons is that parents have developed a habit of driving their children to school when they could just walk or ride a bike to school. Teachers often say that children who walk or ride a bike to school are more ready to listen to their classes, ask and answer questions in class than those driven by car, and the school journey is a good chance for children to learn about road safety and other life skills. Also, for many children, riding a bike is more fun than going to school by car. Most parents know the benefits . Then what's stopping them from letting their kids ride a bike? Safety is the number one worry for them. But actually riding a bike is not as dangerous as parents think it is. When you decide to buy a bike, you should be aware that a bike that is too big or too small is dangerous. Don't try to get a bike that your child will "grow into". Get the right size in good working order. Generally, 20-inch wheels are on bikes for 5-8 year olds; 24-inch wheels are for 9-11 year olds; 26-inch wheels are suitable for those over 11, and some older children should even take bikes with 28-inch wheels, but the main thing is that the bike fits your child. This passage is mainly written for _ . Answer: parents who drive their children to school Mrs. King: Oh,Bill, where are my gloves ? They aren't here. Mr. King: Maybe they're in the dining-room. Mrs. King: No, they aren't in our dining-room. Are they there? Mr. King: No, they aren't here. Mrs. King: Are they on the table? Mr. King: No. Oh, here is a glove under the chair. It's black. Mrs. King: No, that isn't my glove. My gloves are white . Oh ,Bill ,are they in the car? Mr. King: No, they aren't there. But are they in your bag? Mrs. King: No,they aren't. Mr. King: Are you sure? Mrs. King:Yes... oh,Bill, they are here. Yes , they're my gloves. They're in my bag,Bill, I'm very sorry. The glove under the chair is _ . Answer: black Which of the following is a reason life in the outermost planets is less likely than life on planets nearer the Sun? Answer: Their surfaces are extremely cold. "My kids really understand solar and earth-heat energy," says a second-grade teacher in prefix = st1 /Saugus,California, "Some of them are building solar collectors for their energy course." These young scientists are part of City Building Educational Program (CBEP) , a particular program for kindergarten through twelfth grade that uses the stages of city planning to teach basic reading ,writing and math skills , and more . The children don't just plan any city . They map and analyze the housing , energy , and transportation requirements of their own district and foretell its needs in 100 years . With the aid of an architect who visits the classroom once a week , they invent new ways to meet these needs and build models of their creations . "Designing buildings of the future gives children a lot of freedom," says the teacher who developed this program. "They are able to use their own rich imagination and inventions without fear of blame , because there are no wrong answers in a future context . In fact , as the class enters the final model-building stage of the program , an elected "official" and "planning group" make all the design decisions for the model city , and the teacher steps back and becomes an adviser ." CBEP is a set of activities , games , and imitations that teach the basic steps necessary for problem-solving ; observing , analyzing, working out possible answers , and judging them based on the children's own standards . Who is the designer of the program ? Answer: a teacher . Brighton: It is a seaside resort on the English Channel. Only 50 miles from London, it offers a good variety of lively entertainment. It is a cheerful place, busy and crowded in the summer, but alive in every season of the year. Its royal pavilion is a masterpiece of English architecture. Durham: Whatever travelers see or don't see in England, they must see this city, in the northeast, just south of NewcastleuponTyne. No one will forget the sight of its cathedral and castle rising together on a steep hill overlooking a loop in the River Wear, which almost surrounds them. The cathedral itself is one of the great medieval(,476~1500)buildings in Europe. Liverpool: A port in the northwest of England which possesses a quality that is not found in quite the same way anywhere else in England: the quality of grandeur . Liverpool has this grandeur in its site on the broad River Mersey (more than half a mile wide) with the houses rising near it; in its great dock buildings, its broad streets, and its two enormous cathedrals. Edinburgh: It has long been the capital of Scotland. Edinburgh Castle is Edinburgh's important building, controlling the city from its perch on a rock over a hundred meters above sea level. Another important building is the Palace of Holyrood House, begun by James III around 1500. Between the castle and the palace is the Royal Mile, which was the center of Edinburgh life before the 17th century and is fascinating to visit now. This article can be found in _ . Answer: a travel magazine
The Garden Burgers located in Truman was recognized by the Garden Burgers head office in Kansas City, Missouri.The Truman location of Garden Burgers recorded the highest sales last year.It brought in over $ 1 ,500,000 for the entire year.But what is more important is that Truman only has a population of 40,000.The store directly behind the Truman store in terms of sales is located in a city of over 300,000. Fred Laster and Jasper Watts bought into the Garden Burgers franchise only 3 years and a few months ago.They have used the combination of a good restaurant location and a series of promotional events to make Garden Burgers one of the most visited restaurants in Truman.However, they are quick to add that these are not the main reasons the store has done so well."We found a franchise with a solid image and great franchise - wide marketing, " Watts said in a phone interview. Laster and Watts expect this year to be just as productive as last year.After 4 months, they are on pace to exceed last year' s sales by more than $70,000.Each year the head office awards the owners of the store achieving the highest sales with a weekend stay at the best hotel in Kansas City and tickets to a Kansas City Chiefs football game.However, due to the extremely good sales performance of the store in Truman, the head office decided to change the tradition.Laster and Watts said their staff, which consists of only 5 university students, would be joining them in Kansas city as well. Tom Justins, the president of Garden Burgers has also sent his congratulations and he hopes that all their stores can look at the example the store has set. How is the prize different this year? A The prize is worth $70,000. B All the staff are invited. C The company permits a longer holiday. D The prize includes tickets to a football game. Answer: B An oral drug, named ERDRP-0519, was invented. It is specifically designed to protect people who got infected measles from spreading the virus to others. Like the flu, measles spreads through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing. There is typically a time, about two weeks, between becoming infected with the virus and the beginning of symptoms like skin rash , runny nose, heavy cough and high fever. "This therapy application determines the desired characteristics of the drug, which are orally available, cost-effective manufacture and high stability," Richard Klemperer, professor of Georgia State University, told reporters last Wednesday. "With these criteria in mind, we have developed a small drug that blocks the measles virus over the past years, which is essential for copy of the virus." The researchers tested the drug in rats infected with canine distemper virus , which is a close relative of measles virus. They found that all of the infected rats treated with the drug survived the deadly infection, showed no clinical signs of disease and developed a strong protective immune response. The drug could be used to treat friends, family and other social contacts of a person infected with measles virus, which have not developed symptoms yet but are at risk of having caught the disease, Klemperer said truthfully. "The emergence of strong antiviral immunity in treated animals is particularly encouraging, since it suggests that the drug may not only save an infected individual from disease but contribute to closing measles immunity gaps in a population," Klemperer said. The researchers emphasized the drug is not intended as a substitute for vaccination, but as an additional weapon to get rid of the measles. They planned to test the drug's safety in larger animals, before moving into clinical trials in humans. "If our next series of studies confirms that the human situation mirrors what we have seen in rats, then this drug may make a major contribution to getting rid of measles by preventing local outbreaks" Klemperer said. Despite the existence of an effective vaccine, annual measles deaths worldwide have remained constant at around 150,000 since 2007. The reasons for this are the highly infectious nature of the virus, in the developing world largely due to issues of resources, and in many developed countries in particular in the European region due to parental concerns regarding vaccination safety. If a boy got infected by measles virus, he might NOT show the symptom like _ . A runny nose B bad cough C high fever D sick stomach Answer: D It was on a cold night of December. The rain was pouring on the car roof as Albert and Andy drove through the empty country roads towards their friends' house, the Harrisons,where they were going to attend a party to celebrate the engagement of the Harrisons' daughter,Lisa. When they drove, they listened to the local radio giving a news announcement:The New York police have issued a warning after a man escaped from Shangdi Mental Hospital earlier this morning .The man ,John, is a murderer who killed six people. Andy felt frightened, "A crazy killer is out somewhere." "Don't worry about it ," said her husband. "We're nearly there now. Anyway, we have more important things to worry about. This car is losing power for the engine." As he spoke, the car began to slow down. Finally the engine died completely. "Now we'll have to walk in the rain." "But that'll take us an hour at least," said Andy, "And I have my high-heeled shoes and my nice clothes on, which will be ruined!" "Well, you'll have to wait while I run to the nearest house and call the Harrisons. Someone can come out and pick us up,"said George. "But George! Have you forgotten what the radio said? There's an insane person out there!" "You'll have to hide in the back of the car. Lock all the doors and lie on the floor in the back. When I come back, I'll knock three times on the door. Then you can open it." Albert opened the door and disappeared into the darkness. Some time later she heard the sound of vehicles, running quickly down the road. The three vehicles were all police cars. One of them rushed towards the car as Andy opened the door. A policeman said, "Get out of the car and walk. You're safe now. Just don't look back." something in the way he spoke filled Andy with cold horror. About ten yards from the police car, she stopped , turned and looked back at the empty vehicle. Albert was hanging from the tree, a rope tied to his neck. Where would the Albert and Andy go before this incident happened? A To the mental hospital to visit their friend. B To the police station to report the murder C To their friend's home for the party D To the radio station for the programme Answer: C I'm telling Mother about a new girl in school,and she suddenly looks up and says,"Who're your two best friends?" I'm not sure what to say.I've been friends with Jill since I was three or so,and I really like Jaime,a friend in kindergarten."Well,what about Karen and Cindy?" She seems upset,like I hurt her feelings."But they're my sisters." "Yes,but they can still be your best friends.Friends may come and go,but your sisters will always be there for you." At the time,the idea of my two sisters being my closest friends seemed strange to me.We fought all the time over toys,food and attention.How could my sisters be my best friends?They weren't the same age as I.We all had our own friends in school.But my mother never let the three of us forget it:Sisters are lifelong friends.Her wish was to give us something that she never had.Growing up an only child,she longed for siblings .When she gave birth to three daughters,the fulfillment of her dream had only just begun.She'd given us each a gift and she wanted to make sure we did not take that gift for granted.She'd frequently tell us how lucky we were.She never showed favoritism to one daughter over the other.And when we were teenagers,Mom always punished us equally. We didn't always get along beautifully and fought just like any other siblings.But we realized that our mother was right.Today I share things with my sisters that I do with no one else.My sister Cindy and I ran the New York City Marathon together,sidebyside,even holding hands when we crossed the finish line.When my sister Karen got married,I was her maid of honor.The three of us trust each other with our greatest secrets. It was twentythree years ago that my mother first asked me who my two best friends were.Today she doesn't have to.She already knows. Why does Mother say that my sisters can be my best friends? A Because we fight over toys,food and attention. B Because my sisters are the same age as I. C Because my sisters will always be there for me. D Because we are always punished by Mother equally. Answer: C As any housewives who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more. Lewis carried out his study by videotaping the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents' efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. "In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children's IQ scores," Lewis says. "And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is." The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings. Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. " _ ," says Lewis. "When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it's the middle child." There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: "When the TV is on," Lewis says, "dinner is nothing." The writer's purpose in writing the text is to _ . A show the relationship between parents and children B teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table C report on the findings of a study D give information about family problems Answer: C
There are many types of tea. They have their own functions. Green tea is the best choice for office workers People who always work in places with air condition may face skin problems such as easily dry skin. Among all the drink, green tea is the best choice. Because there are important things in green tea and they are often called catechins . Moreover, drinking more green tea can prevent computer radiation. Winter is the season to drink black tea Chinese medicine believed that different people should drink different tea based on the different characteristics and tastes of each kind of tea. Black tea can warm the stomach and quicken digestion . Therefore, drinking warm black tea in the cold winter is a most suitable choice. Do not drink strong tea Strong tea may make the body far too excited and can badly _ the cardiovascular as well as the nervous system. For a person who has problems with these parts, to drink overly strong tea cause heart and blood pressure illness, or even make the old illness much worse. Do not drink too much tea when you are eating Drinking too much tea or strong thick tea may not be good for taking in many constant elements and trace elements .Also, people should not drink tea with milk or other milky food. Too much strong tea may cause _ . Answer: France The France company that spread a Europe-wide cheating of food supply by passing off 750 tons of horse-meat as beef was allowed on Monday to restart production of minced meat, sausages and ready-to-eat meals. But the company will no longer be allowed to stock frozen meat, Agriculture Minister Stephane Foll said. United Kingdom A new virus that broke out in the Middle East last year and killed five people is well adapted to infecting humans but could practically be treated with drugs that improve the immune system. "The virus is from the same family as the common cold and as SARS." a scientist from Oxford on Tuesday. South Africa Olympian runner Oscar Pistorius broke into the door of a small bathroom where his girl friend was bathing after a shouting match on Valentine's Day, hitting her three times, a South African prosecutor said on Tuesday as he charged the sports star with planned murder. Egypt Former Egyptian prime minister and presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq was referred to the Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday over corruption and money laundering charges, the official News Agency reported. Shafiq has left Egypt for the United Arab after losing the presidential race. This passage is taken from the section of _ in a newspaper. Answer: Joe is interested in getting exercise and competing on a team. He reads about the events at the local pool and finds the perfect activity. Swimming Programs Summer Swim Team Join a Summer Swim Team and compete with other swimmers! The program is offered at eight different local pools for youths to 17 years old. The season runs June 21--August 21. Practices are daily (Monday through Friday) throughout the summer. The championship meet is August 21. Cost: $50.00 Pools & Practice Times Buckman 2-3 P.M. Montavilla 8-9 A.M. Creston 7-9 A.M. Peninsula 4-7 P.M. Dishman 8-9 A.M. Pier noon-1 P.M. Grant 8-10 A.M. Sellwood 7-9 A.M. Junior Swim Instructor Two weeks, 20 hours of instruction, two hours per day for children 11-14 years old. Pre-training for youths interested in becoming swim instructors($45 per child) Two weeks, 30 hours of instruction, three hours per day for children 11-14 years old. Pre-training in lifeguarding, and customer service ($45 per child) Junior Swim Instructor & Junior Lifeguard Training Dates June 28-July 9 August 9-August 20 June 12-July 23 August 23-September 3 June 26-August 6 Special Offer Anyone who takes part in both junior swim instructor and junior lifeguard programs at the same time need only spend $75 instead of $90 for 50 hours of training. Register Online You can now register online! Visit our website at http://www.example.com You can choose an area of town, a specific local center, a program, or search for classes which can meet the needs of students of different ages. Just visit our website, and you're on your way! What's the main purpose of this text? Answer: Doctors in Britain are warning of an obesity time bomb, when children who are already overweight grow up. So, what should we do? Exercise more? Eat less? Or both? The government feels it has to take responsibility for this expanding problem. The cheerful Mr. Pickwick, the hero of the novel by Charles Dickens, is seen in illustrations as someone who is plump and happy. In 18th century paintings, beauty is equated (...) with rounded bodies and soft curves. But nowadays being overweight is seen as indicating neither a cheerful character nor beauty but an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. So what do you do? Diet? Not according to England's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson. He says that physical activity is the key for reducing the risks of obesity, cancer and heart disease. And the Health Secretary John Reid even said that being inactive is as serious a risk factor in heart disease as smoking. So, having bought some _ , how much exercise should you do? According to Sir Liam Donaldson, at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week. Is going to the gym the answer? Luckily for those who think that running machines are boring, the Health Development Agency believes that physical activity that fits into people's lives may be more effective. They suggest taking the stairs rather than the lift, walking up escalators, playing active games with your children, dancing or gardening. And according to a sports psychologist, Professor Biddle, gyms "are not making the nation fit", and may even cause harm. There's new scientific evidence that too much exercise may actually be bad for you. Scientists at the University of Ulster have found that unsuitable exercise releases dangerous free radicals that can adversely (oppositely) affect normal function in unfit people. The only people who should push their bodies to that level of exercise on a regular basis are trained athletes. So, should we forget about gyms and follow some expert's advice to reduce sedentary activities and increase exercise in our daily life? After all, getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way can't do any harm! One final thought. How come past generations lacked gym facilities but were leaner and fitter than people today? At present being overweight indicates _ . Answer: Square Dance ABC is an exciting new way to practice square dancing. Enjoy a fan, easy beginner's square dance, with no experience needed. There are three different dances. The A, B and C dances can be experienced in any order. This is the main difference between Square Dance ABC and the traditional "lesson-based" way. You can do the three beginner's dances in any order. Instead of waiting until a class starts once a year, people can start Square Dance ABC any time! After all three dances (in an order), dancers have learned 22 square dance movements. The next step is the experienced ABC dance, using all 22 movements. It is easy to convince people to try square dancing any time. Most people that try it will like it. Square Dance ABC will bring lots of opportunities for fun, fitness and friends! Come on, we'll make this project as easy as A-B-C! If you have questions or comments about this site, please e-mail us at Webmaster@Square Dance ABC.com. If you join the Square Dance ABC, you can _ . Answer:
Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy( ) drinks kills pests. Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals-- although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks. N. Hamunayya, who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides. "We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became dead and fell to the ground, "he said. He said the drinks had all the elements they needed : they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which ate the young of the pests. But Thinupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri-Research Station, Guntur, says tests had proved such results wrong. "We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests, "he says. Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was " no scientific basis" for _ . But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales. Mantan Wall, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales rose up, thanks to the farmers. " For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business. Instead of just 30 cases( each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola, I started selling almost 200 cases, "he said. " We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues( ) in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers, "he said. In February, an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards. The U. S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe. The drinks can kill pests because _ . A there is some pesticide left in them B they are sticky and fizzy C they have elements that kill pests D they made the pesticide more effective Answer: D. they made the pesticide more effective Do you speak English? Do you speak e-mail English? Maybe you don't. E-mail English is a new kind of English that many people use to save time. A lot of e-mail English words come from a computer program called QQ, which means I seek you. Ian Lancashire, a Canadian teacher, likes QQ, "People can use QQ to talk with each other using computer. But, you have to be able to type quickly or the other person will be bored. So e-mail English can give some help." A message in e-mail English mostly uses two kinds of new words. The first kind is made up of the first letters of the words. These are called acronyms. The second kind is homophones,letter combination , symbols that sound like other words. Acronyms in an e-mail save space and time. It takes a long time to writeby the way. BTW is much faster. Other acronyms are F2F which stands forface to face, CSL forcan't stop laughingand DBEYR fordon't believe everything you read!Some of the acronyms look like strange words, such as SWAK. But this one meanssealed with a kiss. Homophones often use letters and numbers that sound like words or parts of words. For example, 8 sound like--eatingreat, to save time, people write gr8. Another example is CU forsee youor sometimes CU l8r (see you later) The number 2 is used fortoortoo and the number 4 is used instead offor. Another part of e-mail is emotive symbols which make faces when you look at them sideways. The most common emotive, is the happy face :). A comma is often used to help add other parts of the face and show different expressions. E-mail English is fun. An e-mail message with lots of e-mail English starts to look like secret code . Your best friend will probably understand it, but your parents and teachers may not. In fact, many teachers don't like e-mail English. It's not just because they can't _ what it means. It's because students start to use e-mail English in their everyday writing. E-mail English is great for writing quickly. But most teachers say that e-mail English should only be used in e-mails to one's friends. What's the title for this passage? A E-mail English on Computer. B American E-mail English. C The Forms of E-mail English. D The Changing of English. Answer: A. E-mail English on Computer. Although women lead healthier, longer lives, the cruel opinion that they become "old" sooner than men is widespread in the workplace , research shows . A survey of more than 2,600 managers and personnel professionals showed that age discrimination is not only common in the workplace , but is shot through with inconsistencies . Six in ten managers reported being a victim of age discrimination--usually because they were turned down for a job for being too old or too young . Yet more than a fifth admitted that they used ages as an important standard . Although the survey found widespread agreement that older workers were better than younger colleagues when it came to reliability , commitment , loyalty and customer service , these qualities were not necessarily considered to be worthy of advancement . A large number of persons believed that workers between 30 and 39 had the best promotion chances , with only 2 percent giving example of 50 year-olds or above. There was evidence that people were considered old at different ages in different jobs . A young man working in IT said he was considered too old by the age of 28. In fact there was no evidence to suggest that older workers were less valuable to companies than younger workers , in fact the opposite was often true because older workers often brought experience . The findings also suggested that the Government's ideas on age in the workforce may also be out of step with reality. Older workers are better than younger colleagues because they have many advantages except that they are_. A dependable B married C faithful D helpful Answer: B. married If Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is today one of the best-known and most popular figures of 20th-century Mexican art, it is undoubtedly because of her personality and the originality of a body of works. Her work is, above all, the expression of a life -- a tragic and stormy life, one that challenged all conventions. The mere mention of her name excites enthusiasm and admiration, but her work is rarely exhibited, and has not been shown in France for fifteen years. The selection to go on show at the Musee de l'Orangerie includes major works by the artist, with masterpieces from the Museo Dolores Olmedo. The life and work of Frida Kahlo cannot be separated from those of her companion Diego Rivera (1886-1957). Together they became figures of legend , and both have a place in the pantheon of 20th-century Mexican artists. Famous for his large wall paintings, Rivera's easel paintings, drawings and prints, which form a large part of his artistic production, are less well-known to the public in Europe. The exhibition aims to trace his artistic career from the early Cubist images, revealing his links with the Paris artists whose works are a key element in the Orangerie collections, to the paintings that established him as the founder of the 20th-century school of Mexican art. His travels throughout Europe influenced his vision and his skills without ever distancing him from his roots, thus confirming his place in history as the founder of the nationalist school. The exhibition devoted to the legendary couple Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo presents their works together, as if to confirm the impossibility of their divorce that was in fact finalised but reconsidered after just one year apart. It also gives us a better view of their respective artistic worlds, so different and yet so complementary , through the deep-rooted attachment they shared to their country. Why does the author write the passage? A To praise the celebrities. B To introduce two famous artists. C To make an announcement. D To encourage people to learn art. Answer: B. To introduce two famous artists. Surprises often come in boxes. Birthday presents wrapped in colorful paper, brown paper packages mailed from a friend. No matter what kind of box it is, people like to open it up and see what's inside. In America, and in many other countries, one special kind of box contains the future. It's called a ballot box. What people put into the box on election day can change the course of history. Elections are the lifeblood of a democracy. The word democracy literally means "the people rule," an important concept in American history. In the mid-1700s, England began passing laws that made the American colonies angry. The colonists had to pay more and more taxes and enjoyed less and less freedom. They felt the government of England didn't represent their interests. On July 4, 1776, the colonies declared their independence from England. They wanted to establish a democracy where people could have a voice in government. An effective democracy holds regular elections. In America, elections are held every two years for members of Congress. In these elections, all seats in the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate seats are up for grabs. In addition, every four years, voters go to the polls to elect the nation's president and vice-president. Voters also regularly cast their ballots for state and city government leaders and local school board members. Sometimes they also have to vote on a proposed law. In the American electoral system, people don't really vote for presidential candidates. Instead, voters cast their ballots for "electors" who support each candidate. Each state has as many electors as the total number of its representatives in Congress. This equals two senators per state plus the number of its representatives in the House (which is based on the state's population). The candidate who has the most votes in a state wins all of the state's electors. To win the presidential election, a candidate must gain at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes. Over the years, the U.S. has made a number of election reforms. Some early reforms outlawed cheating, giving bribes and threatening voters. They also limited the amount of money candidates could receive from donors and spend on their campaigns. In 1870, black people gained the right to vote, and in 1920, that right was extended to women. In recent decades, laws against unfair rules for voting have been passed. No longer do people have to pay a special tax or pass a test in order to vote. In 1971, the voting age was lowered to 18. Other reforms made voting easier for the blind, the disabled and people who couldn't read. In some areas, ballots had to be printed in languages besides English. In November, Americans will again elect those who will represent them in government. Although some citizens aren't even registered to vote--and some registered voters don't bother to go to the polls--most Americans exercise their right to vote. They realize that their future is wrapped up in a special package--the ballot box. It's a package that must definitely be "handled with care." Which one is RIGHT about election reforms? A People have to pay a special tax to vote. B There are bribes and threatening in elections now. C People above eighteen years old can vote now. D The disabled or the blind have tough access to voting. Answer: C. People above eighteen years old can vote now.
My 16-year-old son, Anton, had gone to the local swimming hole. Most of the kids swim there, and there are plenty of rocks for them to use as safe harbors, so I had no fears for his safety. Still, the firefighter's first words "You need to come up here to the Stillwater River" made me catch my breath, and his follow-up words gave me relief: " Your son is OK." When I got to the river, I immediately saw the firetruck, ambulance and Anton, wrapped with a towel about his shoulders, sitting quietly on a low platform of the fire engine. I hurried over to him. "You OK?"I asked. "Yeah," was all he said. But my eyes begged for an explanation, I didn't get it from my son, however, _ . The story was this: A woman was being swept under water. Hearing the cries, Anton and his friend Tyler, without hesitation, swam out to her, and brought her safely to shore. In an age in which the word "hero" is broadcast with abandon and seemingly applied to anyone who make it through the day, I realized the real thing in my son. The teens are stubborn and self-centred, but that didn't mean they have no desire to do good. Still shocked by my son's daring, I drove him home. Along the way, I tried to dig out some more information from him - but he had precious little to say. The only words he said were, "What's for supper?" I spent some time alone that evening, thinking about the tragedy that might have been. The next morning, when Anton got up, I half expected him to tell me the story. But all he did was toast some bread, pull himself together, and head for the door to start a new day. Watching from the window,1 was reminded that still water often runs deep. Why did the mother allow her son to swim there? Answer: The rocks can be of help if there's danger. If a person dies from a snake bite, the person was probably bitten by a Answer: black mamba An old farmer lived with his little grandson. Every day the farmer got up early to read books. One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I want to read books just like you, but I don't understand them. What are the advantages of reading?" The grandfather said, "Take this litter basket to the river and bring me back a basket of water." he boy did, but all the water _ before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, " You'll have to walk faster next time." This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. The boy said, " See Grandpa, it's useless!" So you think it is useless?" the old man said. "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It was clean, inside and out. "That's what happens when you read books. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read them, you will be changed, inside and out." The passage might be written for _ to read. Answer: children who dislike reading Here are some books published this year. The following introductions of these books may help you choose a book to your own taste. Life Simplified If you are looking for a book that will transform your life for good, Life Simplified is that book. If you are looking for a guide to inspire and lead you back to your inherent self, Life simplified will act as your compass. Life Simplified provides readers with a carefully mapped approach to create life changes. The reader will develop a sense of personal pride in their progress as each chapter is completed, motivating them further. The book is an absolute must read if you would like an uncomplicated method in positively improving your life. Building the Best You How can you become the person you've always dreamed of being? Personal transformation begins when you take stock of where you are and what you are doing right now...and work to change it. All you have to do is to answer some basic questions and take five minutes of "focus time" daily to get there. You are responding to questions like "What am I grateful for today?", "What challenged me?" and "How can I overcome that challenge?" The Gifts of Imperfection In this latest book, the writer Brown emphasizes that above all other ingredients of living an emotionally healthy life is the importance of loving ourselves. The point is to embrace life and oneself with all the imperfections, releasing the stress of overdoing and overworking. Brown offers exercises for readers to understand their own emotions and begin to develop the kind of resilience needed to refuse unrealistic expectations of others and ourselves. The Strengths Book You are remarkable. But do you always realize it? Realize your strengths and you will be realizing the best of you. Do you want to be confident, successful, and sustainably happy? Do you want to achieve your goals and enjoy better relationships? The Strengths Book reveals the sixty strengths that make us who we are. If you are a manager, a parent, a career changer, or even just you, remarkable as you are, The Strengths Book is for you. Discover your strengths--what you do best and love to do--and transform your life by realizing the best of you. Building the Best You helps you achieve personal transformation by _ . Answer: answering some questions Is been a dream for 30 years but now the world's first flying car is set to hit the roads this year. Ever since the"Back to the Future"movies lit up our screens in the 1980s,designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button. And now pilots can order their own "roadable"plane for just PS 127,000. The plane,which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 ft,has a range of flying distance of 460 miles and can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land,it can also travel at"highway speeds" in car mode . Fuelling the 19 ft long plane couldn't be simpler--you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up. A spokeswoman said,"You can keep you 'light-sport airplane'in your garage. But because _ needs a short runway to take to the air,you will have to drive to your local airport,fly up to 460 miles,land,and drive directly to your destination. You will always be ready to drive or fly. " The spokeswoman added,"Never let bad weather change your trip. You call simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather clears. " There's no risk to you--This is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future. According to the text,the"roadable"plane_. Answer: is a kind of car with fold-out wings
Which is an example of organic weathering of rocks? Answer: Has planning your next wonderful, energy-recovering and care-free vacation--- ever stressed you out? Whether you're planning a group trip, couple's escape, girlfriend getaway or family vacation, a travel agent can make the entire process easier for you and everyone involved. First of all, travel agents can recommend the best destinations for your specific trip. But they can do much more than that. Travel specialists can also put together your entire travel route and schedule, no matter how complex, so that you don' t have to plan a thing. They're truly in the business of creating possibilities that most people would have never dreamed were possible. Yes, travel agents can handle every single aspect of your upcoming trip, from airline tickets to accommodations to ground transportation to various activities, area tours and much more, all while keeping in mind the needs and interests of every member of your travel group, what's more, they're also constantly communicating with the travel community in your intended destination, so they have the most up-to-date information to answer any questions you might have along the way. Find Your Travel Agent Now! You're probably sold already. So how do you find an excellent, knowledgeable travel agent, you ask. That's where Tripology comes in. Tripology.com exists to connect travelers like you with expert trip planners who specialize in the type of trip you wish to take. There are a lot of expert travel professionals out there with useful knowledge and terrific deals, but many people don't have a good way of finding them. And they don't have a good way of finding you. We help you find each other. What is the article written for? Answer: Beaches are not only great for lying on and doing water sports, and in fact one of the best ways of enjoying them is a classic beach walk. Here at iWantSun. Co. Uk, we've been searching the globe to find you the world's best and most glorious beach walks, and here's our pick of the top. The Footpath of the Gods, Amalfi Coast, Italy The name says it all really and you truly do feel up there to walking along this wonderful mountain coastal path, which offers some of the most striking views on the planet. The path begins at town of Bomerano to charming Positano along the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Amalfi Coast. The whole walk will take you approximately four and a half hours to complete and pass over narrow rocky paths, past sheer cliffs and shining blue bays. Sydney's Great Coastal Walk, Australia Sydney's coastline is one of the most beautiful and diverse in the world. Here you have national parks, historic sites, steep cliffs, sparkling beaches and quiet bays all in one place. Sydney's Great Walk runs all the way from Barrenjoey in the north to Royal National Park in the south and takes an incredible seven days to complete. However, if you're not up to doing the full walk, then there are many different parts of the walk that you can do right in the city. Walking from the city's famous Bondi Beach to the sweeping curve of Bronte Beach takes just an hour, which takes in some top scenery. Great Ocean Walk, Australia The Great Ocean Walk stretches 104 km along Victoria's famous Great Ocean Road, located on the southern coast of Australia, from the resort town Apollo Bay to the magnificent Twelve Apostles. The Twelve Apostles are the area's famous stone landmarks which stand out like giants from the sea. The walk passes through a range of landscapes and sights, from national parks, famous surfing spots and deserted beaches, to wild coastlines, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, historic lighthouses and ghostly shipwrecks. Day walks and shorter three-hour walks such as the Wreck Beach Walk or the Lighthouse Cemetery and Lookout Walk can also be enjoyed. So next time when you're looking for a beach holiday don't just think about the resorts and the sand, but consider a more active sun holiday, discovering some of the best beaches in the world. When you arrive at the Amalfi Coast _ . Answer: Kid Power in Action! Kids wanted aChicken Soup book of their own, so here it is!Children Soup for the Kid'sSoul is for kids ages nine through thirteen, and it's "all that!" Sometimes you feel like life is a complete blast , from scoring the winning goal to hanging out with your friends. Yet other times, life is too difficult: You seem to see violence everywhere you turn, more parents are getting divorced , your best friend moves away, or you feel like you don't fit in. Now there is a place to find answers and encouragement and to help you realize that your dreams really can come true. With funny stories about friendship and family, and serious stories about brave kids and difficult choices, this book will make you laugh, cry, think, and feel good about yourself. Ever since the firstChicken Soup for the Soul was published in June 1993, we have been getting requests from kids all over the world asking for a Chicken Soup book just for them. So here it is, the first full-lengthChicken Soup for the Kid's Soul, written by kids and by grown-ups who haven't forgotten what it's like to be a kid. We would like to know how the stories in the book will affect you and which ones are your favorites, please write to us and let us know. We also invite you to send us any stories that you would like us to consider for the second book: Helping of Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul. You may send stories and poems that you have written, or ones that you have read and liked. For more information, you can visit the Chicken Soup for the Soul site on American Online at keyword:chickensoul. What problems might the kids meet with in their life according to the passage? Answer: dry wood easily Answer:
Vellumsound presents Social Distinctions: Patrons and Partnerships 8:00 pm-9:30 pm Harry and Mildred Remis Auditorium (Auditorium 161), Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston Ticket Required MFA Members $20.00 Nonmembers $25.00 Activities The exhibition"Class Distinctions: Dutch Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer"and the MFA collection show many purposes that artists have created works -- for the open market, wealthy patrons, religious organizations, and royal commissions. Music has been composed for these reasons as well. Examine how artists create their magnificent works. First, from exhibition curator Ronni Baer, hear an overview of"Class Distinctions", an exhibition designed to encourage close looking at paintings to recognize clues embedded in the works that refer to social rank and status. Then listen to beautiful works for string quartet by Purcell, Mozart, and Bartok. Tips Entry or re-entry after the event starts is not guaranteed and will be at the discretion of the house manager. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975; to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk. For $5 more, enjoy guaranteed Premium Seating in the first three rows of the auditorium. If you are an MFA member and want to best enjoy the activity, you should pay . A $20.00 B $25.00 C $30.00 D $35.00 Answer: B. $25.00 Harrison School Spring Fundraisers From the zoo to the art museum, Harrison students look forward to spring field trips. Please take part in these school fundraisers to help make these exciting experiences possible. Share a Harrison Recipe What is your favorite food? Share your recipe in the Harrison community. Ask relatives and friends for a recipe for the school cookbook Bring the recipe to Mrs. Voltz in the front. Office either before or after school by February15. We will announce the beginning of the sale when the cookbooks arrive. Buy a cookbook for $4.50 to see your friend's recipes. Your family will surely enjoy these delicious dishes. Try Your Luck in a Raffle Teddy bears, posters, games and pencils are just some of the prizes for the lucky winners. Buy a raffle ticket at the front office for $1.00 *The winners will be announced at the end of the day on March21. Good luck! Celebrate at the school Fair Saturday, May2 10:00a.m.~3:30p.m Join family and friends on the field behind the playground for a fun-filled day . Race down the huge slide, Jump or test your skills at one of the many exciting games. Don't forget to stop by one of the food stands for delicious snacks and drinks. Tickets for food and rides will sell for 50 cents each. With everyone's help , we can make the Harrison fundraisers and field trips successful ! How much is the cookbook ? A $ 1.00. B 50cents. C 30cents. D $4.50. Answer: D. $4.50. A way to ingest more fiber for a bear is to A eat meat B consume fish C devour water D masticate leaves Answer: D. masticate leaves Which best explains how the Appalachian Mountains formed? A an ancient river flooded B an earthquake folded land C tectonic plates pulled apart D tectonic plates collided Answer: D. tectonic plates collided An athlete is running a race. The athlete's body needs energy. Which organelle(s) in the athlete's cells supply the energy for cellular functions? A Golgi apparatus B mitochondrion C ribosome D nucleus Answer: B. mitochondrion
Question: Every day, millions of shoppers hit the stores in full force--both online and on foot--searching for the perfect gift. Aside from purchasing holiday gifts, most people regularly buy presents for other occasions throughout the year, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and baby showers. This frequent experience of gift-giving can cause _ feelings in gift-givers. Many enjoy the opportunity to buy presents because gift-giving offers a powerful means to build stronger bonds with one's closest persons. At the same time, many fear the thought of buying gifts; they worry that their purchases will disappoint rather than delight the intended receivers. What is surprising is that gift-givers have considerable experience acting as both gift-givers and gift-recipients, but nevertheless tend to overspend each time they set out to purchase a meaningful gift. In the present research, we propose a unique psychological explanation for this overspending problem -- i.e., that gift-givers equate how much they spend with how much receivers will appreciate the gift (the more expensive the gift, the stronger a gift-recipient's feelings of appreciation). Although a link between gift price and feelings of appreciation might seem intuitive to gift-givers, such an assumption may be unfounded. Indeed, we propose that gift-receivers will seldom tend to base their feelings of appreciation on the significance weight of a gift than givers assume. Why do gift-givers assume that gift price is closely linked to gift-recipients' feelings of appreciation? Perhaps givers believe that bigger (i.e., more expensive) gifts convey stronger signals of thoughtfulness and consideration. According to Camerer (1988) and others, gift-giving represents a symbolic ritual , by which gift-givers attempt to signal their positive attitudes toward the intended receiver and their willingness to invest resources in a future relationship. In this sense, gift-givers may be motivated to spend more money on a gift in order to send a "stronger signal" to their intended receiver. As for gift-receivers, they may not consider smaller and larger gifts as representing smaller and larger signals of thoughtfulness and consideration. In practical terms, people spend hundreds of dollars each year on gifts, but somehow never learn to measure their gift expenses according to personal insight. The authors indicate that people value gift-giving because they feel it _ . A. functions as a form of self-expression B. is an inexpensive way to show appreciation C. requires the gift-receivers to return D. can serve to strengthen a relationship Answer: D Question: It's school time again! You're probably feeling excited and maybe a little sad that summer is over. Some kids feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and even a new school. Luckily, these "new" worries only stick around for a little while. Let's find out more about going to a new school. Most teachers kick the new school year by introducing themselves and talking about all the stuff you'll be doing that year. Some teachers give students a chance to tell something about themselves to the rest of the class, too. When teachers do the talking on the first day, they often go over classroom rules and school rules so you'll know what's allowed and what's not. Please pay close attention. You might already know a lot of people in your classes on the first day, but it's a great day to make a new friend, so try to say hello to kids you know and new ones that you don't. Make the first move and you'll be glad you did, and so will your new friend! Seeing friends you haven't seen in a while can make the first day a good one. You can make the day feel special by wearing clothes that you really like. Maybe you got a great T-shirt on one of your vacations, or a pair of sneakers . It also can make you feel good to be prepared and have all the things you need, such as pencils, folders, and whatever else you'll be needing. But make sure that you pack them the night before in case you don't have time in the morning. According to the passage you usually do everything on the first day of school except _ . A. introduce yourself B. learn about the school rules C. make new friends D. go over your new lessons Answer: D Question: This is a family tree. It's a very big family. Tim and Gina are very old . They have a son, David and a daughter, Sally. David and his wife Jenny have the twins , Jack and Bob. Jack is single , but Bob is married . His wife is Lucy. They have a cute son, Sam. They love Sam very much. Sally's husband is Paul. They are the parents of Peter and Lily. Peter is married .His wife is Jane. They have a daughter. Her name is Kate. Lily has a dog. It's very cute . She loves it very much. Which of the following is TRUE ? A. David and Jane are cousins. B. Paul is Sam's uncle. C. Bob has a son. D. David has a granddaughter and a grandson. Answer: B Question: Have you ever wished that you could make your little sister's teddy bear talk to her? Or have you ever wanted to bring a puppet to life? If so, you may be interested in learning the art of ventriloquism . A ventriloquist can make an ordinary object seem to be alive by giving it a personality, movement, and speech. Your object can be a puppet, or a doll. Give your new "friend" a name, and then decide on the personality that he will have. The next step is to give your friend movements that agree with the personality you have chosen. Now you can learn to make your "friend" talk. A ventriloquist will control his mouth and lips so that it will appear that his voice is coming from the object he is using. This will take practice, but you can do it. First, decide on a voice that is different from your own. It could be higher or lower than yours, or could even have a special accent. Then, find a clean teaspoon and hold the handle between your front teeth. Now, using the voice you created for your friend and holding the handle of the teaspoon tightly between your teeth, look into a mirror and talk. Practicing with the spoon in your mouth will help you learn to keep your mouth from moving. Now try telling a joke in your normal voice and have your friend speak in his voice. Practice those words until you can say them without your lips moving at all. Ventriloquism is fun. It also requires hard work to become good at it. The most important thing to do is practice. But if you are willing to take the time to give your friend an interesting personality, to practice lively movements, and to work on good mouth control, then you will be well on your way to becoming a ventriloquist! If you want to be good at ventriloquism, you _ . A. need to spend much time practicing B. must learn from famous ventriloquists C. should learn at least one special accent D. must have a great doll to practice with Answer: A Question: Have you ever been talking to somebody at the party? Do you focus entirely on the person you are speaking with or does your attention keep jumping around the room to all the other people there? Generally speaking, if the person is someone you really want to talk to you will focus on them. Most other people will only get about half of your attention. You may think that this is OK, because if you don't really want to talk to them then what does it matter if you don't give them your full attention? Consider two things. First, you may just not realize the importance of that conversation. If you are at a networking meeting and you hope to meet the CEO of Company X but you end up talking to someone who has a low-level job at a different company, then you may let your attention wander as you speak to him. But maybe you don't realize that this person has already met the CEO and could introduce you. Do you think he will do that if he feels you don't really care about speaking to him? This doesn't mean you need to spend the entire time talking to him. Five or ten minutes of real attentive conversation can be worth 30 minutes to an hour of partial attention interaction. Second, whether you want to speak to someone changes based on the situation. You love your spouse , but if he or she tries to talk to you while you are watching something you like on TV, where is your attention going? Make your own decision, but if you want them to feel valued, give them your 100% attention. "The nice thing is that in many cases you can give them your attention for a few minutes and then return to what you were doing. You miss very little, they feel valued, and all is good." What would be the best title for this passage? A. Be Always Friendly to Others at the Party B. Improve Your Communication by Paying Attention C. It Is Important for You to Be Active at the Party D. Your Spouse Should Be Respected Any Time Answer: B
Question: The Namib Desert in Africa is one of the driest places on earth.With half an inch of rain falling every year,humans call barely survive there for a week with no water.But the Namib beetle does just fine.It collects morning dew that condenses on its back. Inspired by this little creature,27--year--old Edward Linacre,a former student from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne,Australia,has designed a new"Airdrop" irrigation system which can pull water from even the driest desert air.His invention won the 2011 James Dyson Award,an international design award.Hopes are high that the system will be able to solve the problems of growing plants on dry land,according to the may Mail. Linacre studied the Namib beetle and found that it had hydrophilic skin on its back,which helped catch water molecules passing in the air.These water molecules accumulated into small drops of liquid water.He realized that as long as the air temperature was low enough,even the driest air contains water molecules that can be extracted . Following this principle,he designed the new system which works by pumping air through a network of underground pipes to cool it to the point at which water condenses.The water is then delivered directly to the roots of plants. According to the research,about 11.5 milliliters of water could be collected from every cubic meter of air in the driest desert.Further development could raise that number even higher . The idea of getting water from the air is not new.However,the Airdrop has certain advantages compared with its competitors.Similar systems often require great amounts of energy because they use refrigeration equipment to lower the temperature.But Airdrop simply uses the temperature difference between the air and the cool earth underground According to the author, the benefit of the invention is _ . A. having advanced equipment B. delivering water directly to plant roots C. saving great amounts of energy D. collecting water from the air direetly Answer: C. saving great amounts of energy Question: Every day Yang Hongwei takes the bus home from work, staring silently at the European-style villas , luxury cars and twinkling lights from the shopping center that he sees through the window. Yang works for a software company in Zhongguancun. He dreams of such a life, away from poverty, and that hope has kept him in Beijing for three years since he graduated from university. Soon Yang squeezes his way off the bus to the reality of his life: his home--a 10-square-metre room that costs 550 yuan(81 US dollars) or about one-fifth of his salary in rent every month. It's very cold inside the house as it has no central heating system. He has to stand the long and cold winter. Determined to achieve his dream, Yang says he has changed jobs "numerous" times in the past three years and is considering quitting his present job. Yang's frustration over his life as a migrant is shared by many other graduates that have moved into big cities. Together they have come to be called the "ant tribe", a term created by Chinese sociologists to describe the struggles of young migrants, who, armed with their diplomas, flood to big cities in hopes of a better life only to put up with low-paying jobs and poor living conditions. They share every similarity with ants. They live in colonies in crowded areas. They're intelligent and hardworking, yet unknown and underpaid. The term, sociologists have said, also reflects their helplessness in a world governed by the law of the concrete jungle--only the strongest survive. A survey in Ant TribeII found nearly 30 percent of the "ants" are graduates of famous key universities--almost three times the percentage of 2009. Most have degrees in popular majors, such as medicine, engineering, economics and management. In addition, 7.2 percent of the "ants" have at least a master's degree compared to 1.6 percent in 2009. Most said the economic recovery did not really improve their financial situations, and 66 percent said their incomes fell short of their expectations, the survey also found. For two years, Lian Si, a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Chinese and Global Affairs of Peking University, who has studied the phenomenon, led a team of more than 100 graduate students to follow the groups in university towns like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Xi'an. Lian evaluates the total population of the "ant community" in major cities at one million across China, with about 100,000 found in Beijing alone. Lian predicts that an increasingly challenging job market will see the ant tribe growing further in number. Another 6.3 million graduates are expected to join migrant workers and other job hunters in what promises to be a fierce labour competition. The ant tribe's embarrassing living situations have become a serious social issue, and the government should develop "second-and-third-tier cities" to attract more graduates from big cities. However, "ants" expect more study and training opportunities in big cities, which keeps them in positive mindsets despite their situations. As in the case of Yang, he is optimistic about getting a new job soon, having received eight interview offers in a week after sending out his resume. The prospect of landing a higher-paying job keeps him hopeful of moving out of the slum district soon. The sooner the better. . What does the writer think of the phenomenon of "ant tribe"? A. "Ant tribe" has become too serious a social problem to solve. B. It is the government's duty to solve the problem of "ant tribe". C. Both the government and the graduates have the responsibility. D. The existence of "ant tribe" has little influence on job markets. Answer: C. Both the government and the graduates have the responsibility. Question: Some years ago industries had more freedom than they have now, and they did not need to be as careful as they must today. They did not need to worry a lot about the safety of the new products that they developed. They did not have to pay much attention to the health and safety of the people who worked for them. Often new products were dangerous for the people who used them; often conditions in the work place had very bad effects on the health of the workers. Of course sometimes there were real disasters which attracted the attention of governments and which showed the need for changes. Also scientists who were doing research into the health of workers sometimes produced information which governments could not ignore. At such times, they inquire into the causes of the disasters or the problems. New safety rules were often introduced as a result of these inquiries; however. the new rules came too late to protect the people who died or who became seriously ill. Today many governments have special departments which protect customers and workers.In the U.S, for example, there is a department which tests new airplanes and gives warnings about possible problems. It also makes the rules that aircraft producers must follow. Another department controls the foods and drugs that companies sell. A third department looks at the places where people work. and then reports any companies that are breaking the laws which protect the health and safety of workers. Of course, new government departments and new laws cannot prevent every accident or illness. but they are having some good results. Our work places are safer and cleaner than before. The planes and cars which we use for travel are better. Producers are thinking more about the safety and health of the people who buy and use their products. It can be inferred from the passage that in the past _ . A. workers often got ill because of the poor working conditions B. companies were free to put out any products they wanted to C. many people were killed by dangerous products D. industries were as careful in management as they are today Answer: A. workers often got ill because of the poor working conditions Question: In America, just as in Europe, men usually open doors for women, and women always walk ahead of men into a room or a restaurant, unless the men have to be ahead of the ladies to choose the table, to open the door of a car or do some other things like the above. On the street, men almost always walk or cross the street on the closer side of the ladies to the traffic. But if a man walks with two ladies, he should walk between them. Then if the host or hostess or both of them come in a car to get their guest for dinner, the guest should sit at the front seat and leave the back seat though there is no people sitting on it. ,. If Mrs. Green wants you to her house in a car, you should _ . A. sit beside a guest B. sit at the front seat C. sit at the back seat D. drive the car Answer: B. sit at the front seat Question: Military training has long been considered a ritual that freshmen must go through in order to officially start their college lives. While some question the necessity of such training. Many students see military training as a campus tradition that should be maintained. Early in February, the Ministry of Education issued a new regulation that colleges and universities should carry out a minimum of 14 days compulsory military training for freshmen. In a report by Beijing Evening News, Hou Zhengfang, a Beijing-based education PhD, questioned the benefits of military training. "The training routine does little to improve students' physical fitness over only two weeks' time. Maybe some disaster prevention training, such as earthquake survival or escaping from fires would be of greater benefit." Meng Yang, a 19-year-old freshman at Guangxi University, fainted during training. She said that many students, especially girls, are willing to train under direct sunshine. "For me, military training is physically challenging and even damages my health." According to Li Jian from the student affairs office of Guangzhou University, feeling dizzy happens frequently during military training and the school has received a lot of complaints from both students and parents: "But I still think military training is a good thing. Students are easier to manage after the military training. They became more positive about their new environment after the training." Although autumn is fast approaching Beijing, the noon heat burns 3300 freshmen on Tsinghua University's campus. Chu Jinjing, a freshman majoring in medicine, did feel some discomfort while training in sweaty clothes in the glaring heat, the 18-year-old still enjoyed being part of group going through strict exercises. "By going through this tough training, students bond faster and a sense of belonging to the school can be formed. I've made a lot of friends already." According to the Ministry of Education, the purpose of military training is to teach students discipline, the spirit of teamwork and endurance. But in reality, according to Xiong Bingqi, deputy director of the 21stCentury Education Research Institute, the effect is not satisfying. "Such goals require long-term development. It is unrealistic to expect military training to make a difference in only 14 days." He thus suggests that it should be up to schools to conduct military training in a way that best suits their students. However, Wang Wenhui, an 18-year-old freshman from Xi'an Jiaotong University, sees military training as a tradition that reaches beyond character building. "From junior and senior high school to college, we join military training to start a new journey. I would feel a bit incomplete without it." What is the best title for the passage? A. A Policy Made by the Ministry of Education B. Military Training under Fire C. A New Journey D. A Best Way to Teach Students Discipline Answer: B. Military Training under Fire
SmartWR PENS is your No. 1 source for promotional pens, advertising pens, and logo pens. We have been in business since 1976, so you can be confident that you're dealing with a trusted name in the industry. Everyone loves a free pen, and by providing your customers with a pen featuring your company name, logo, or message, you can be sure that your company name will always be on their mind! Our custom imprinting service comes at no extra charge, so the price you see is the price you pay for the personalized pens. Do you need pens fast? In a RUSH for trade shows or a company events? Try our 48 hour promotional pens rush service free of charge. We present you with many styles and types of printed pen. Let us know which promotional pen you like and within 48 hours you will have the pens. Want to use the traditional method of promotional pens to reach out to customers, but don't want to cause more damage to the environment? SmartWR PENS now offers eco-friendly advertising pens to suit any company's promotional needs. SmartWR PENS can confidently offer products which are made from eco-friendly materials, including paper, cardboard, cornstarch, pine, bamboo and even recycled plastic water bottles. SmartWR PENS offers a selection of eco-friendly retractable and stick-type ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils and highlighters, all for less than $2.00 each. Imprinting of logos and company information is available in sixteen different color1s. Each pen has the universal recycling symbol printed on it, showing clients the company's commitment to the environment. Feel free to call us at 8447367 or email us info@SmartWRPENS.com if you have any questions. The main purpose of the passage is to _ . Answer: persuade people to order the products Do you know how to study better? Let me give you some advice about studying. First, don't put off studying. Many students do that. Then they have to cram the night before the exam. In fact you need good study habits and study a little every day. This way, you will prepare better for the exams. Second, plan _ into your study time. For example, if you read 20 pages of the book, you can play one computer game. But only one. Third, stay in a quiet place and turn off your mobile phone. Then you can put your heart into your study. Last, believe it or not, sleeping is part of studying. It can help you learn better. Try to sleep more than eight hours a night. Take the advice, and you will study better. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Studying a little every day is good for your study. Too many cars have created a lot of serious problems in our world. Besides congestion , accidents and fast fuel consumption , cars are responsible for a good part of air pollution in big cities. All the time, they are pumping huge amounts of waste gases into the atmosphere. These gases are very harmful, causing disease and even death. Last winter, car fumes formed heavy smog over Beijing, making the sky gloomy for weeks and deteriorating people's health. One possible solution is to design and develop clean cars and clean fuels. In Tsinghua University, campus buses are driven by electricity. In Beijing some of the public buses begin to run on natural gas, which does not give off as much carbon dioxide as the petrol. But it may take decades for the new models of clean cars to completely replace the traditional ones. Another solution is to develop modern public transportation systems and restrict the use of private cars. If the price of petrol rises constantly and the public vehicles are efficient and convenient enough, most people will not use private cars. And the total number of cars in big cities will reduce greatly. On the whole, the elimination of air pollution needs the co-efforts from the government, the public and the environments. This problem will be solved only with the help of science and technology. What is the best title of this passage? Answer: Air Pollution and Cars Robots are common in today's world. They manufacture cars, work in space, explore oceans, clean up oil spills and investigate dangerous environments. And now, scientists at the University of Manchester are using a robot as a laboratory partner. The researchers at the university created the robot in 2009 and named it Adam. Despite the name, Adam is not a humanoid robot. It is about the size of a car. Adam was built to do science and make discoveries. Ross King is the leader of the University of Manchester research team. He says the robot made a discovery about yeast , a kind of fungus used in science as a model for human cells. "Adam hypothesized certain functions of genes within yeast and experimentally tested these hypothesizes and confirmed them. So it both hypothesized and confirmed new scientific knowledge." Adam's success as a scientist led to the creation of another robot scientist named Eve. Researchers developed Eve to design and test drugs for tropical and neglected diseases. These diseases kill and infect millions of people each year. Drug development is slow and costly. Experts say it can take more than 10 years and about $1 billion to discover and develop new medicines. Drug manufacturers are unlikely to get their investment money back. So the University of Manchester developed a low-cost test that shows whether or not a chemical is likely to be made into an effective medicine. Mr. King says that other drug testing methods were not very effective. "How it works conventionally is you use robotics as well and you have a large collection of possible drugs. You test every single compound. And you start at the beginning of your library and continue until the end, and stop. So it's not a very intelligent process. The robotics doesn't learn anything as it goes along, even if it's tested a million compounds, it still doesn't have any expectation of what will happen next when it tests a new compound." Mr. King says that Eve is different because the robot learns as it tests different compounds. He says the robot is designed to ignore compounds that it thinks unlikely to be good. It will only test the compounds which have a good chance of working. Eve has discovered that a compound known to be effective against cancer might also be used to fight against malaria and other tropical diseases. Mr. King says he hopes to completely automate the drug testing process with robots like Eve to create and test new chemicals. But he says humans remain in control of the manufacturing process. Thepurposeofbuilding Adam is to _ . Answer: do science and make discoveries A person has a glass of water and a friend pranks them by making their water taste different. They prankster added Answer: soda
Question: 12-year-old John Thomas Robertson is a born train fan. "I've liked trains probably from the day I was born," he told Good Morning America. "When I was very little," he said, "my grandpa got me a train model. I would just watch it go round for hours and hours." When Robertson finally had the opportunity to ride on a train, he felt great. His journey was so _ that he couldn't keep it to himself: he decided to take all his classmates to go on a ride with him. When he found that some of his classmates couldn't pay the fare, he collected cans and bottles and raised more than $1,000 for them. That trip was such a happy one that he made it a yearly action. "It never gets boring for some reason; it's just fun," he said. "It really lets people get away from their busy life and have fun. Every October, Robertson takes a new group of children to ride on the train --but now, he has a problem. Several disabled children were refused because the train was not accessible to disabled people. "He was angry to think that children of his own age couldn't ride a train," his mother said. But he wouldn't say no: he recently sent a letter to the train office for help. To his surprise, the leader, Ty Pennington, accepted the letter in person. He said that he and his workers would work on making a train accessible to disabled people. The disabled children were refused to get on the train because _ . A. the trains then weren't accessible to the disabled B. Robertson had not saved enough money for the tickets C. they couldn't afford the train tickets D. the driver would not allow them to do so Answer: A Question: The Internationa1 Space Station allows astronauts to live in space for extended amounts of time, enabling them to explore the outside universe and conduct many experiments. However, nothing like that exists for our oceans, and thanks to the high water pressure, ocean researchers are able to explore what lies undersea for very short periods of time. They are therefore never able to fully explore the deep inside areas of our oceans. However, if French architect Jacques Rougerie has his way, that will change soon. Jacques has designed a ship that will allow researchers to spend a long period of time observing the sea life and conducting experiments. The huge l67ft. ship, named 'Sea Orbiter', consists of two areas--one above the water where the scientists and crew will live, and a lower pressurized deck , where scientists will be able to spend as much time as they wish. Since it is powered by sea currents and wind, he expects it to drift along the oceans slowly, taking about two years to _ the globe. Jacques will make their life as comfortable as possible in the ship. Besides being equipped with the latest sailing tools and communication equipment, the ship will also have a gym, a television and a DVD player! And these guys will not be eating freeze-dried food like astronauts. Instead, Jacques, an accomplished chef, plans on cooking them delicious meals every day. The biggest problem to this giant ship is the cost, which is expected to be over $500 million--per ship! However, Jacques, who strongly believes that the secrets of our oceans may be the key to solving global warming and a vital supply for food and medicine in the future, is confident he will be able to convince governments all over the world to help out, and expects to start construction on not one, but four or five of these amazing ships soon! In Jacques' opinion, which of the following is not the purpose of the undersea research? A. To find supply for food in the future. B. To find supply for medicine in the future. C. To draw governments' attention to the construction of the ship. D. To solve the global warming. Answer: C Question: More than half of teachers in a UK survey said they thought _ from the Internet is a problem. Some students who steal essays wholly from the Web, they said, are so lazy they don't even bother to take the ads off the cut-and-pasted text. 58 percent of the teachers interviewed in the Association of Teachers and Lectures(ALT) questionnaire had come across plagiarism among their pupils. Gill Bullen from Itchen College in Southampton, for example, said pieces handed in by two students were the same and significantly better than either of them could have done." "Not only that, the essays given in didn't quite answer the title question I had set." A teacher from Leeds said, " I had one piece of work so obviously 'cut and pasted' that it still contained ads from the Web page" Connie Robinson from Stockton Riverside College, Stockton, said, " With less able students, it is easy to spot plagiarism as the writing style changes mid-assignment, but with more able students, it is sometimes necessary for teachers to carry out Internet research to find out the source of the plagiarism." Mary Bousted, general secretary of the ALT, said, "Teachers are struggling under a mountain of cut-and-pasting to spot whether work was the student's own or plagiarism." She called for strong policies to oppose plagiarism, and asked for help from the government in providing resources and techniques to delete cheats. What can be the best title for the passage? A. UK students are lazy B. punishment on plagiarism C. Internet plagiarism -a problem in UK D. Hard to prevent plagiarism from the Internet Answer: C Question: As a little boy I read a book with a picture showing a man reading while floating in the Dead Sea. What a miracle! How would it feel to lie back in water so thick with salt that it was impossible to sink? Fed by the Jordan River and smaller streams, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the earth's surface, and its water is ten times saltier than the Mediterranean. As evaporation is its only outlet, salt and other minerals become super-concentrated. Earlier this year, I drove down the long, steep hill to realize my dream. The shoreline was a broad area of bare salt-mud, but the water edge was out of sight. It seemed as if somebody had pulled the Dead Sea's plug . Eli Dior, an Israeli official, explained the problem "The Dead Sea is drying up. Every year, the surface falls about one meter, and as the water level falls, shallow areas are left high and dry." Over the last half-century, the five neighboring countries have used up almost all the water flowing into the Dead Sea to meet human and agriculture needs. Result the Dead Sea is being emptied. With population in the neighbouring countries to double at least in the next 50 years, there is little hope of restoring the water being used in this area. No country has a drop to spare for the Dead Sea, where they know it will just evaporate. To dream of opening the dams and restoring natural balance is unrealistic. Yet one ambitious high-tech dream may turn out to be not only the solution to the Dead Sea but also a ticket to peace around its shores. The "Red-Dead" is a proposed $5 billion project to bring sea water some 240 kilometers by pipeline and canal from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The Red-Dead may be the only solution, but even if the project is carried out successfully, the Dead Sea will be 10 to 20 meters lower than now and two thirds of its current size. Whatever the future holds, the Dead Sea's magical mix of sun, mud, sea and salt will surely survive. Many might complain that the Dead Sea is half empty--but for me the Dead sea will always be half full. What is the writer's attitude towards the future of the Dead Sea? A. reserved B. concerned C. doubtful D. optimistic Answer: D Question: Human beings have a natural desire to explore the unknown. People with a strong interest in space like to say it is the last place left to explore. But scientists are warning that space exploration for long periods is not going to be easy. They say the human body is not designed to stay in space over an extended period. The New York Times recently published a report about scientists who are preparing astronauts for a trip to the Moon. The newspaper said the scientists want to make sure that their crews return home in good health. But there are many problems to be solved before people are ready for long trips to the Moon, an asteroid or even the planet Mars. Humans developed on a planet with a surface that is more than 70 percent water. Our bodies are also about 70 percent water. When there is no gravity that water moves up toward the head, raising pressure in the skull. Arms and legs grow weaker at what is called zero gravity because they no longer need to push against the force of gravity. Five years ago, astronauts who spent weeks in space reported a change in their eyesight. These astronauts were members of the crew on the International Space Station. Research showed a change in the shape of their eyes. Normally-round eyeballs had become flat during time in space. The research also showed that the right eye was affected more than the left, and that men were more affected than women. Scientists could not find an explanation for the differences. Bone loss was one of the problems first reported by astronauts returning to Earth after longer stays in space. So scientists designed exercise machines to use on the space station. Tests showed that the exercise equipment helped space travelers keep their bones almost as strong as when they left Earth. There are other health issues for astronauts who spend a long time in space. They may have problems eating and sleeping. But the biggest health issue is exposure to radiation. On Earth, human beings are protected by the atmosphere and the planet's magnetic field. In outer space, there is no such protection. What will happen to human bodies in space? A. Arms and legs grow stronger at what is called zero gravity B. Blood moves up toward the head. C. Pressure in the skull will be raised. D. All of the above. Answer: C
You're in a department store and you see a couple of attractive young women looking at a sweater. You listen to their dialogue: "I can't believe it -- Lorenzo Bertolla! They are almost impossible to find. Isn't it beautiful? And it's a lot cheaper than the one Sara bought in Rome." They leave and you go over to see this unbelievable sweater. It's nice and the price is right. You've never heard of Lorenzo Bertolla, but those girls looked really stylish . They must know. So, you buy it. You never realize that those young women are employees of an advertising agency. They are actually paid to go from store to store, talking loudly about Lorenzo Bertolla clothes. Every day we notice what people are wearing, driving and eating. If the person looks cool, the product seems cool, too. This is the secret of undercover marketing. Companies from Ford to Nike are starting to use it. Undercover marketing is important because it reaches people that don't pay attention to traditional advertising. This is particularly true of the MTV generation -- consumers between the age of 18 and 34. It's a golden group. They have a lot of money to spend, but they don't believe in ads. So advertising agencies hire young actors to "perform" in bars and other places where young adults go. Some people might call this practice misleading, but marketing executive Jonathan Ressler calls it creative. "Look at traditional advertising. Its effectiveness is decreasing." It is true, because everyone knows an ad is trying to persuade you to buy something. However, you don't know when a dialogue you overhear is just a performance. Lorenzo Bertolla is _ . A. the brand name of clothes B. an advertising agency C. a clothing company in Rome D. a very popular male singer Answer: A I learned how our attitudes made a big difference in our everyday lives from my friend Mary. She doesn't have any pets. I happened to see her outside on a -30 degree morning walking a dog. I felt sorry for Mary, out there walking a dog that's not hers in such cold weather. I thought maybe she was saying to herself, "Yeah, this is why I don't have any pets! I hate walking dogs." Later that day I saw Mary and said, "I saw you out there walking a dog this morning. Are you unhappy because you had to walk it on such a cold day?" To my surprise, she said that she enjoyed getting out there and walking the dog and that she got good exercise because of the dog. She also said she had talked to her brother, the dog's owner, who was on holiday in Orlando, Florida with his family. He said his children were enjoying Disney World and the resorts . His four-year-old son had breakfast with Mickey Mouse and said it was the best day in his life. Mary said, "If I can help my brother and his family have a wonderful time relaxing for a week, knowing that their pet is being loved and cared for, what more could I ask for?" She added, "It's worth it for me to make the sacrifice so that they can go and have fun." I learned a lesson from Mary. Mary's brother and his family could have a wonderful holiday because _ . A. the children could have breakfast with Mickey Mouse B. the children enjoyed Disney World and the resorts C. Mary did not go with them D. Mary looked after their dog Answer: D I was being interviewed by a senior manager for a major insurance company. I told him honestly why I wanted the job----I needed to keep my family in Boston. My wife recently died of a heart attack. A job in Boston would help me reduce some of the extreme trauma and pain of the loss for my 16-year-old daughter. It was important for me to keep her in her high school. I could still hardly talk about the loss of my wife. Bruce, the interviewer, was politely empathetic, but he didn't probe any further. He admitted my loss and with great respect, moved on to another subject. After the next round of the interview, Bruce took me to lunch with another person. Then he asked me to take a walk with him. He told me that he, too, had lost his wife. And, like me, he had also been married 20 years and had three children. In his sharing, I realized that he had experienced the same pain as I had -----a pain that was almost impossible to explain to someone who had not lost a beloved one. He offered his business card and home phone number and suggested that, if I need help or just want someone to talk to, I should feel free to give him a call. Whether I got the job or not, he wanted me to know that he was there if I ever needed help. When he had no idea if we would ever see each other again, he helped our family deal with one of the greatest losses. He turned the normally cold business interview into a caring support for another person in need. What is the best title for the passage? A. An Act of Kindness B. A Pleasant Interview C. The Same Experience D. An Important Lesson Answer: A Emma and Hannah are 13-year-old school girls from Minnesota, USA. They are good at making new things and both of them are also good at sales. They are selling charms made out of bottle caps. The girls came up with the idea last summer when they saw charms were popular with kids. They talked with their parents about the idea. Since then they have sold enough charms to buy a bike for Hannah. The girls collect bottle caps and then clean them. They find some interesting pictures on the Internet or on paper, and then glue them onto the inside of the caps. There are different kinds of pictures. "Peace signs are popular with girls, and single-letter charms are popular with boys whose names start with those letters," Emma and Hannah said. Now, charms can be found everywhere at Dakota Hills Middle School in Eagan. "Students put charms on purses, backpacks, and their lunchboxes," said Emma. Emma and Hannah also have a shop on the Internet. They hope they can sell their charms to more kids. They're thinking about selling their charms at the Eagan Market Festival next summer. Their business is not only for getting money. At their Valentine's sale, 20% of the income went to charity. Which of the following is TRUE? A. The two girls love their parents and money. B. Boys like charms with signs. C. They won't sell charms next summer. D. The charms are popular with students. Answer: D My bookshelves are full of dust--and with good reason.When iIt comes to cleaning that part of my home,I suffer from the most serious case of avoidance . The thing is this:when I do set out to clean and re-organize my books,which seldom happens,I place myself into a really bad situation.No sooner do I take a title from the shelf, blow off the dust,and wipe down the cover thanI find myself sitting on the floor with legs crossed and my back against the wall.Pretty soon books get piled up on my legs as I am reunited with old friends. It is as if these boobs have voices,and each wants to say its piece."Remember me?I was given to you when you went into the Navy , so that you would never lack for companionshlp,"one whispers.Another says,"I was your first book of poems,given to you before you learned to love poetry."And a third,"I was the book that made history so attrctive to you." Perhaps thegreatest pleasuret of re-organizing my books are the surprise--or better said,reunions--that occur. During my latest book cleaning adventure,I found one that had fallen behind the shelf:"Tales of Edgar Allan Poe."Not an unusual title,but the words written on the first page made it very special"With Love from Mom and Dad,Christma 1965." What's this? A book on the physics of lasers .It is filled with mathematical statements,and I had bought it at a library sale when I was 12,not long after the laser had been invented.I couldn't understand a bit of it,bul I did learn what "laser"meant. What I end up with when I empty my bookshelves is a cross-section of my personal history. It's like a road cut whre one sees all the layers of rock going back through time to the beginning of the simplest life forms.The books I've read--and kept--are not just old fiends.They' re my _ . By saying that his book have voices,the author means _ . A. they bring back happy memories B. they are recorded in human voice C. they say a lot about human history D. they offer good topic for discussion Answer: A
In today's fast-paced society, few people take time to enjoy the midday meal.Most of us just rush right through it. We grab a quick salad, or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers, Sometimes, if there is a deadline around the corner, we just _ The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either.We are constantly distracted by e-mail, social media, and 24 - hour news.Even when we do sit down for lunch, we are more connected to our hand - held electronic devices. Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems, and many developed countries have put in place labor laws specifically regarding the lunch break.These laws give employees the right to take a break during a long work shift, but it's up to them whether they do so or not. Frank Partnoy, a former Wall Street trader, says that employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch.This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both individuals and society. Writing in The Guardian, Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective . A break from work allows us to think strategically and outside the box.It also puts our daily tasks into a broader context . What we eat at lunch is also important.In Partnoy' s opinion, a fast food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all. And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food.Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think. However, if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues, we are more likely to slow down, something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and over -- packed fast food chain. Despite these benefits, some employees might still be unwilling to take time off for lunch.Partnoy's suggestion? Make skipping lunch difficult: Employers could ask workers to fill out a form stating their reasons for skipping the meal. Which of the following is true according to the text? How is the theory of plate tectonics different from a hypothesis regarding a certain aspect of plate movement? Michelle, a famous lady, has found that more than 25% students are too fat in her country. It is a very serious problem. So she starts a health program to deal with it. The health program is to reduce the amount of fat students today and in the future. The program will get families, schools, newspapers, magazines and TVs to join together and deal with the students' obesity so that students will be at a healthier weight. The program includes: Food stores should sell healthier foods. Schools should serve healthier meals with less fat and should also offer gym classes. The lady is trying to fight the students' obesity all over the country because it can cause illnesses and higher health cost. She wants the students to eat right, exercise more and control their weight. She also wants the students to understand it is important to have less sweet food, and drink water, milk and fresh juices, but not to choose cokes. At the same time she has also set a good example by planting a vegetable garden. She hopes that the garden will encourage more people to plant one, too. The health program is really helpful to the students today and in the future. As she says, we cannot always build the future for youth, but we can build our youth for the future. Michelle encourages fat students to have _ . Jean is a bright young lady who comes from a rich and famous family. She goes to a good university and has everything that money can buy. Well, almost everything is good. But the problem is that Jean's family are so busy that they can hardly find time to be with her. So Jean spends a lot of time on her QQ. She likes being anonymous , talking to people who do not know about her famous family and her rich life. She uses the name Linda on QQ and has made a lot of friends who she keeps in touch with quite often. Last year Jean made a very special friend on QQ. His name was David and lived in San Francisco. David was full of stories and jokes. He and Jean had a common interest in rock music and modern dance. So it always took them hours to talk happily on QQ and sometimes they even forgot their time. Of course, they wanted to know more about each other. David sent a picture of himself: He was a tall, good looking young man with big, happy smile. As time went by, they became good friends and often sent cards and small things to each other. When Jean's father told her that he was going on a business trip to San Francisco, she asked him to let her go with him so that she could give David a surprise for his birthday. She would take him the latest DVD of their favorite rock singer. But when she knocked on David's door in San Francisco, she found that her special friend was a twelve-year-old boy named Jim! The following states are true about Jean EXCEPT that _ according to the passage. Christopher Thomas, 27, was a writer by night and a teacher by day when he noticed he was always tired and was losing weight fast. Diagnosed with diabetes , Thomas would need to inject himself with insulin three times a day for the rest of his life or risk nerve damage, blindness, and even death. And if that weren't bad enough, he had no health insurance. After a month of feeling upset, Thomas decided he'd better find a way to fight back. He left Canton, Michigan for New York, got a job waiting tables, nicknamed himself the Diabetic Rockstar , and created diabeticrockstar.com, a free online community for diabetics and their loved ones--a place where over 1,100 people share personal stories, information, and resources. Jason Swencki"s son, Kody, was diagnosed with type diabetes at six. Father and son visit the online children's forums together most evenings. "Kody gets so excited, writing to kids from all over," says Swencki, one of the site's volunteers. "They know what he's going through, so he doesn't feel alone." Kody is anything but alone: Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 24 million diagnosed cases. And more people are being diagnosed at younger ages. These days, Thomas's main focus is his charity, Fight It, which provides medicines and supplies to people--225 to date--who can't afford a diabetic's huge expenses. Fight-it.org has raised about $23,000--in products and in cash. In May, Thomas will hold the first annual Diabetic Rockstar Festival in the Caribbean. Even with a staff of 22 volunteers, Thomas often devotes up to 50 hours a week to his cause, while still doing his full-time job waiting tables. "Of the diabetes charities out there, most are putting money into finding a cure," says Bentley Gubar one of Rockstar's original members. "But Christopher is the only person I know saying people need help now." What can we learn about Fight It?
Online Degrees Today, you can earn a degree from a major university without ever having sat in one of their classrooms. Many colleges and universities are offering online courses and degree programs now. Online Learning Programs With a computer and an Internet connection, you can earn a degree from home, work, or anywhere else for that matter. Online degree programs follow much the same routines as traditional learning, with a few twists. There are lectures, but they won't be in person. There are assignments , but you won't hand them to your instructor. In most situations, you are free to "go to class" when it fits your"schedule. If you get a phone call during class, you don't have to miss anything. If you get sick, you don't have to ask for someone's notes, and you just visit the lecture later. You'll communicate with your instructor by e-mail, chat room and instant messaging. Your classroom will live in a special software program. Contrary to popular belief, you will have close contact with other students and the instructor. Evaluating the Program There are a lot of questions to ask before you make your selection, such as: How do students interact with each other? Online programs can use chat rooms, instant messaging, teleconferencing, and video conferencing to communicate. The key is to find a program that has this interaction built into it and even requires it. What kind of reputation does the school have? It may seem simple-a good school will have a good online program. This reputation,however, may not be as straightforward as you think. It's not uncommon for a great school to have a weak program or two. So you'd better look at the overall quality of the school and make a judgment. The Employers' View As more and more employees get online degrees and use them in the workforce , hiring managers will begin to feel more secure about the quality of education these people have. For whom is the passage probably written? Answer: Adult students. When we walked into Papillon Bleu, a Chinese restaurant around the corner from Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal's Old Port, the sole waiter on duty looked surprised to see us. At 7:45 on a Saturday night, at the height of tourist season, just one young white family sat in the dining room. We walked past them to a table in the back, Chopin drifting quietly from the speakers into the certain shade of dim light that only Chinese restaurants seem to have. At our seats, bright yellow napkins, folded into fans, rested on a blue tablecloth next to cutlery . Sometime in the last 18 years of operation, Papillon Bleu stopped bothering with chopsticks. "How did you find out about us?"our waiter politely asked. I told him that my family used to own a Chinese restaurant that served peanut butter dumplings and I wanted to taste them again. Papillon Bleu came up when I googled"Best Peanut Butter Dumplings in Montreal". He shook his head and told us that while it might have been the case a few years ago, they had switched peanut butter brands to cut costs. But the significance for me wasn't which brand they used, it was that they served peanut butter dumplings. Commonly known as Hunan dumplings, this specialty exists neither in China, nor anywhere else in North America. Instead, Hunan dumplings are a unique Quebecois tradition, and a slowly dying one, found in the second-generation Chinese family restaurants. Peanut butter dumplings taste exactly how they sound, but also unlike anything else. It is a kind of dumpling that coats your mouth with a distinct store-brand quality, a little too sweet, but buttery, and luxuriously warm, perfectly suited to resist the bone-chilling effects of the Montreal winter. How does the author sound when telling the story? Answer: Affectionate. TOKYO (Reuters) - "Who played the father in the movie 'Kramer versus Kramer'?" That's one of the 50 questions Japanese men could face in a "daddy exam", meant to raise awareness about fatherhood in a country where men tend to work long hours and leave their wives in charge of childcare and household work. Even men who remember Dustin Hoffman struggling as a father in the movie may have a hard time answering questions ranging from baby food to politics. Tetsuya Ando, director of Fathering Japan, a Tokyo non-profit organization that came up with the test and will offer it to eager dads from next March, said the exam was an attracting way to get fathers into parenting. "There just isn't enough information about parenting for fathers. Through the exam, we want men to realize that they don't know anything about bringing up kids," he said. For the price of 3,900 yen ($34), fathers can find out whether they qualify as a "Super Dad," or are in need of more effort as a "Challenge Dad." "We have received inquiries from fathers, single men, to-be-dads, grandfathers ... even an aunt who was concerned that her nephew is too busy with work to notice the fun of parenting," Ando said. The image of fathers is gradually changing in Japan as younger men _ their own dads' hands-off way in favor of closer involvement, and a wave of new parenting magazines for male readers has been hitting newsstands. But it is still hard for Japanese fathers to cut down on their work hours and spend more time with their families. Only 0.5 percent of employed men in Japan took parental leave in 2011, compared with 14 percent in the United States and 12 percent in Britain in 2000. The "daddy exam" is intended to _ . Answer: have fathers realize their responsibility for their families Corals are animals that live in tropical oceans. Fossils of corals are found in Ohio. What does the presence of coral fossils suggest about how the environment of Ohio has changed over time? Answer: Ohio was once covered by warm seas. Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, was born in Kingfish, Oklahoma on March 29, 1918. He was raised in Missouri where he worked in his father's store while attending school. This was his first retailing experience and he really enjoyed it. After graduation, he began his own career as a retail merchant. He soon opened his first Wal-Mart store in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Wal-Mart specialized in name brands at low prices and Sam Walton was surprised at the success. Soon a chain of Wal-Mart stores sprang up across rural America. Walton's management style was popular with employees and he founded some of the basic concepts of management that are still in use today. After taking the company public in 1970, Walton introduced his "profit sharing plan". The profit sharing plan was a plan for Wal-Mart employees to improve their income dependent on the profits of the store. Sam Walton believed that "individuals don't win, teams do". Employees at Wal-Mart stores were offered stock options and store discounts. These benefits are commonplace today, but Walton was among the first to implement them. Walton believed that a happy employee meant happy customers and more sales. He also believed that by giving employees a part of the company and making their success dependent on the company's success, they would care about the company. By the 1980s, Wal-Mart had sales of over one billion dollars and over three hundred stores across North America. Wal-Mart's unique decentralized distribution system, also Walton's idea, created the _ needed to further encourage growth in the 1980s during growing complaints that the "superstore" was stopping smaller and traditional stores from developing. By 1991, Wal-Mart was the largest US retailer with 1,700 stores. Walton remained active in managing the company, as president and CEO until 1988 and chairman until his death. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom shortly before his death. What is the purpose of Walton's carrying out "profit sharing plan"? Answer: To encourage the employees to work hard and make joint efforts.
Wax is on some plant leaves for what purpose? Answer: keep the ongoing hydration Nowadays women appear to have a positive image of themselves as safer drivers than men. In a survey done for insurer MetLife, 51% of women said they drive more safely. The evidence is on their side: Men are 3.4 times more likely than women to get a ticket for careless driving and 3.1 times as likely to be punished for drunk driving. "Women are on average less aggressive and more law abiding drivers, which leads to fewer accidents," the report says. However, not all male drivers share the same opinion. Of the men surveyed by MetLife, 39% claimed male drivers were safer. The findings did back them upon one point: automotive knowledge. The report showed that more men are familiar with current safety equipment such as electronic stability control,which helps prevent rollover accidents. Auto safety unavoidably matters to Money. Insurance companies focus on what classes of drivers have the lowest dollar amounts of claims, and for now, that mainly includes women. In general, women pay about 9% less for auto insurance than men. A study by the website Insweb also showed that auto insurance rates are lower for women in most states. Among individual states, women get the greatest, advantage in Wyoming (where they pay 20% less), South Dakota and Washington, D.C, where their insurance costs are 16% lower. "More than 11,900 male drivers died in US traffic accidents in 2009,compared with just under 4,900 women drivers" according to the study. "Based on miles traveled, men died at a rate of 2.5 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, vs.1.7 deaths for women." We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: women are generally safer drivers than the opposite gender In one of the strongest indications of the power of the mind to influence the body, a growing collection of evidence finds that people who are depressed have a greatly higher risk of developing heart disease. In a study of almost 3, 000 men and 5, 000 women, depressed men were 70 per cent more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who weren't depressed. While depressed women were just 12 per cent more likely to develop heart disease, those who were severely depressed were 78 per cent more likely. In fact, a 1998 study found that women who are depressed have a risk of dying from heart disease equal to that of women who smoke or who have high blood pressure. The link works the other way around, too: While about 1 in 20 American adults experience major depression in a given year, that number jumps to about one in three among those who have survived a heart attack. The more severe the depression, the more dangerous it is to your health. But some studies suggest that even mild depression, including feelings of hopelessness experienced over many years, may damage the heart. Other studies suggest depression may affect how well heart disease medications work. Researchers are n' t sure what the connection between depression and heart disease is, but theories exist. One is that people who are depressed tend not to take very good care of themselves. They' re more likely to eat high-fat, high-calorie "comfort" foods, less likely to exercise, and more likely to smoke. But beyond lifestyle, there is probably also a physiological link between depression and heart disease. Recent studies found that people with severe depression tended to have a lack of heart-healthy 0-3 fatty acids. People who are depressed also often have high levels of stress hormones . These keep the body primed for fight or flight, raising blood pressure and causing the heart to beat faster, all of which put additional stress on coronary arteries and prevent the body' s natural healing mechanisms from working properly. A whole branch of medicine is devoted to the complex links between mental health, the nervous system, the hormone system and so on. This science is gradually sorting out how the mind-body connection affects us, or defenses against heart disease. Generally, an estimated 10 per cent of American adults experience some form of depression every year. Although available treatments can ease symptoms in more than 80 per cent of people treated, less than half of those with depression get the help they need. According to the passage, the possible connections between heart disease and depression are the following EXCEPT _ . Answer: severe heart disease may cause people to feel hopeless and depressed For some people, it's easy to get dressed for work. Pilots and police officers, for example, don't have to make decisions about their work clothes. They wear uniforms to work every day. For many office workers, however, it is more difficult to choose clothes for work. They do not wear uniforms to the office. Also, many organizations are changing their _ . They are allowing their employees to wear casual clothes to work. The change to casual work clothes began in the 1990s. At first, many companies in the United States allowed employees to wear casual clothes on one day of the week--Friday. Friday became "Casual Friday" or "Dress-down Friday". Today, however, many companies are allowing their employees to wear casual clothes every day of the week. Some studies show that people are producing and achieving more when they are wearing comfortable clothes. Some companies also like the casual dress code because they don't need to buy special clothes for work. They can save money this way. Unfortunately, a casual dress code can also cause problems. Sometimes employees think they can wear anything. Many companies have rules about casual clothes. They list the kinds of clothes that are not "business-casual" clothes. Blue jeans, sandals, and sportswear are examples of clothes that are usually too casual for the office. Why do some companies agree to the casual dress code? Answer: It is difficult for them to choose clothes for work. Recently,a solar powered plane took to the sky for the first time. It had passed an important test on the way to travel around the world. The plane took off from an airport in Switzerland at 45km an hour. It slowly rose above the fields and into the sky. "There has never been an airplane of that kind that could fly -- never an airplane so big, so light, using so little energy," said Bertrand Piccard, a leader of the project. During the 90-minute flight, the plane did several turns. It climbed nearly 1.6km above the countryside. Engineers plan to test a night flight before July. Then they will use the results of the tests to build a second plane. They plan to travel around the world in that plane in 2012. The plane flies at 70 km an hour. That is faster than a bike and slower than a car. Piccard and pilot Andre Borschberg will take the plane around the world. The pilots will keep the plane in the air for up to five days at a time. "We want to fly it day and night with no fuel ," Piccard said How long did the first flight of the solar powered plane last? Answer: 90 minutes
Zoology is the part of science that deals with the study of the animals' growth, home and behavior. It has nothing to do with people, so many students are left wondering why they have to learn it. Our nature includes not just humans but plants and animals as well. Everything in our environment is connected in a complex cycle. If you have a better understanding of how animals would behave and work with us, then you would value nature better. Some animals are actually misunderstood by people like sharks and snakes. These creatures are thought of as human killers, and this is mainly because we don't understand why they behave that way. In zoology you would be able to learn natural behavior as well as their homes so you would completely understand why they would behave in a defensive manner when they seem to be threatened. Studying zoology would help people achieve clearness over the common myths we have on different wild animals. Studying zoology would help people know the real facts about animals. One of the negative facts is the decreasing numbers of some species of animals. It makes people realize that there is a need for nature to be always balanced. We need animals to keep the balance in our environment and for humans to survive as well. It would help us learn the needs that animals lack and we can respond by thinking of solutions we can give to the endangered species of animals. Modern progress is needed for a country to grow in terms of its economy; however, it should not force us to destroy our rainforests and oceans. People should realize that our modern lives should include the lives of the animals that live with us. They should not be contained in zoos but in their natural homes as well. We will learn that every living creature on the earth has the right to own a home and we need to fight for them to have permanent homes. According to the text, nature should be _ . Answer: treated seriously Toyota Motor Corp, Japan's biggest carmaker, said on Friday it will recall 1,489 Lexus sedans sold in China. "It will take us some time to ship the fuel tanks and vent pipes to China to change those in these Lexus sedans for customers free of charge, if problems are found," said Yang Hongjian, a spokes- woman of Toyota's China representative office. The expected recall will affect Lexus LS430 sedans made in Japan from July 29, 2003 to January 14, 2004, the representative office said in a statement. Toyota has not received complaints from Chinese customers, according to the statement. The move will be part of Toyota's global recall of 18,200 Lexus LS430s. It will be the third car recall in China in two weeks. Although automobile recall is a common practice in developed markets, it remains new to Chinese customers. The Chinese government published long-awaited automobile recall rules on March 15, which will be officially carried out at the beginning of October. China's auto market is forecast to reach 10 million units by 2010. Automakers, especially Chinese producers, will face greater pressure from automobile recalls, which could be very costly sometimes, and should be in full preparations, according to the expert. The Japanese carmaker sold 1, 549 Lexus vehicles on the Chinese mainland during the first five months of this year, according to Yang. Lexus sales on the mainland reached 4,000 units last year, up from 1,600 units in 2002. (China Daily July 3, 2004) What can we learn from the text? Answer: Toyota will have a worldwide recall of Lexus LS430 sedans. The sound of the rain hitting the windows wakes me up and it sounds just exactly as it did 15 years ago, which reminded me of my girlhood. It was my second day of school and it was raining heavily. I could not resist the habit I had at home, so I fell asleep right at my desk. I woke up to find myself not in the classroom but carried on Dad's back. We were halfway home. It was the last time I felt close to him. After that, he never carried me or hugged me as other fathers did to their children. I was not bothered much by this thought. I was proud of it, for I felt independent and "grown up." However, there were times when I felt depressed by not having sought comfort from him. One day, I was writing Chinese characters as homework. I hated doing this more than anything. Dad came and stood behind me for a moment, watching me scratching the paper. Then he said, "This kind of writing needs patience. Your writing is not strong enough. Press harder." I follow his advice for the next two words, but as I could see little improvement, I followed my own method----the fast way. His advice did not improve my writing but our relationship. As I grew older, I found out that he had finished his schooling in Grade 6, which was the highest grade in the town then, so he was considered to be a scholar. People used to ask him to write something to put on the walls, but he never felt very useful. He often said to me, "As you can see, this family is going to count on you. We are useless to improve you anything for your future.You have to get an education to change the life for yourself." As a result of his expectation, I have made it through high school and through college. Why did the author feel depressed sometimes? Answer: She never sought comfort from her father. A driver stopped his car on a street side to have a rest. When he sat in the seat and closed his eyes, a pedestrian came up and knocked at his window to ask the time. The driver opened his eyes and looked at his watch, "It is 8 o'clock." He said. Then he went to sleep again. But soon he woke up because a second pedestrian was knocking at the window, "Sir, do you have the time?" he asked. The driver looked at his watch again and told the man it was 8:30. If it happened again, he could not have a good rest. So he wrote a short note and put it on the window for all the people to see. It said, " _ " Again the man sat in the seat and slept. A few minutes later a third pedestrian came along and began knocking at the window. "Hey, sir," she said, "It's 8:45." I don't have the time. The driver wanted to tell pedestrians " _ ." Answer: Don't ask me the time At the age of 11, Peter Lynch started caddying at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, Mass. "It was better than a newspaper carrier, and much more profitable," the Fidelity vice chairman recalls. He kept it up during the summers for almost a decade. "You get to know the course and can give the golf players advice about how to approach various holes," he says. "Where else, at age 15 or 16, can you serve as a trusted adviser to high-powered people?" One of those people was George Sullivan, then president of Fidelity's funds, who was so impressed with Lynch's smarts that he hired him in 1966. "There were about 75 applicants for 3 job openings," Lynch says now. "But I was the only one who had caddied for the president for 10 years." In between caddying and managing money, Lynch went to Boston College on a scholarship from a program called the Francis Ouimet Fund. Named after the 1913 winner of the U.S. Open, the fund launched in 1949 which is open to Massachusetts kids only. Ouimet executive director Robert Donovan says, "Help with college is a logical extension of friendly relation between golfers and their favorite caddies, because there is a close tie to train up them to be excellent that happens between the players and the kids who carry their golf poles. And for the teens, caddying is all about being around successful role models." It is obvious that caddies who are finally successful include all kinds of outstanding personnel, from actor Bill Murray, to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, to former GE chairman and CEO Jack Welch. Of course, the great number of financial giants who caddied in their youth might be coincidence, but Dick Connolly thinks not. "Caddying life teaches you a lot about business, and about life," he says. "You learn to show up early and look people in the eye when you shake their hand, and you learn how to read people -- including who's likely to cheat and who isn't." Connolly is a longtime investment advisor at Morgan Stanley's Boston office, a former Ouimet scholarship student and, along with Peter Lynch and Roger Altman, one of the program's biggest supporters. He wants to share the most important lesson he learned on the links, so he says: "One golfer I caddied for told me that if you want to succeed in any field -- golf or business -- you have to spend a lot of lonely hours, either practicing or working, when you'd rather be partying with your friends. That's true, and it stuck with me." According to Dick Connolly, caddying experience in your youth _ . Answer: teaches you a lot about business and life
An example of a learned trait is Answer: A powerful earthquake struck the northeastern coast of Japan at two forty-six p.m. local time on March eleventh.2011. Japan's Meteorological Agency released its first tsunami warnings just three minutes later. The country has one of the best earthquake early warning systems in the world. There are more than four thousand Seismic Intensity Meters in place throughout Japan to measure earthquake activity. These meters provide information within two minutes of an earthquake happening. Information about the strength and the center of the earthquake can be learned within three minutes. There are also concrete sea walls around much of the Japanese coastline. But these measures proved no match for the powerful earthquake and tsunami. Costas Synolakis ,a tsunami expert at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles said,"Japan is one of those most well-prepared countries on earth in terms of tsunami warning. They had a warning. I think what went wrong is that they had not expected the size of this event." He says there are two reasons for this. Japan has not had any event anywhere near as big as this one in the last one hundred fifty years. And scientists had not expected such a large earthquake happening off the coast of Japan. The nine point zero magnitude earthquake was the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded worldwide. It was also the worst earthquake ever to hit Japan. The tsunami waves that followed were reported to have reached as high as thirteen meters in some areas. Costas Synolakis says Japan's concrete sea walls were not built to handle such high waves. Experts say early warning systems will continue to be limited by these facts until earthquakes and tsunamis can be predicted According to Costas Synolakis, why did Japan suffer such a loss? Answer: The 1800s saw many firsts, including the invention of the bicycle and ready-to-eat cereal. Another interesting event also debuted in the 1800s. In 1888, the world's first beauty contest was held in Spa, Belgium. Though little is known about that first competition, the idea caught on. Today, beauty contests can be found in countries from Argentina to Zambia. Most people agree that the business of beauty contests began in America. In 1921, local businessmen in Atlantic City, New Jersey, wanted summer tourists to stay longer. So they came up with the idea of beauty pageant. The pageant was successful, and 100,000 tourists stayed to see the first "Miss America" crowned. After a few years, the annual event no longer focused only on girl's beauty. A talent competition was added in 1938. And not long after that, college scholarships became the official contest prize. These were just the beginning of the changes for the beauty contest industry. www.ks5u.com From the mid-to late-20th century, beauty contests began popping up everywhere. In 1951, the Miss World Pageant got its start in London. Over time, this contest has changed its focus from beauty alone to beauty and intelligence. Miss Universe began in 1952,Miss International in 1960 and Miss Earth in 2001. Today, these still are considered the four most famous international beauty contests. Through the years, controversy has surrounded beauty contests. Many people have objected to women competing in swimsuits as it only calls attention to one's looks. Outside pressure and changes in society, therefore, brought about changes in the beauty contest world. Today, women are judged on areas other than just appearance. These include intelligence, speaking ability, poise and talent. The women who compete in the pageants are often asked why they do it. Many say it's because the contests build their confidence and public speaking skills and offer scholarships. Today, millions of women worldwide compete for these very reasons. According to the passage, the beauty contest in New Jersey in 1921 was held to _ . Answer: Which are examples of inherited traits? Answer: Scientists say they have discovered a promising treatment for sleeping sickness, a killer disease that infects about 60,000 people in Africa a year. British and Canadian experts say drugs could attack the parasite causing the illness needs to survive. They say the drug could be ready for human medical test in about 18 months. The disease, spread by the bite of a fly, is caused by a parasite attacking the central nervous system. It has similar symptoms to malaria , making it difficult to diagnose. Left untreated, it moves to the brain, resulting in mental confusion and final death The "breakthrough" came at the University of Dundee in Scotland, where scientists were offered money to research diseases ignored by major drugs companies. Professor Paul Wyatt, director of the programme, said: "This is one of the most significant findings made in recent years in terms of drug discovery and development for ignored diseases." He said the research, published in the journal Nature, represented "significant progress" in the development of a full blown drug against the disease. The World Health Organization said there are between 50,000 and 70,000 cases of the disease a year, with a further 60 million people at risk of infection. The research in Dundee was _ by partners at the University of York in England and the Structural Genomics Consortium in Toronto, Canada. The two drugs currently available to treat sleeping sickness both have problems. One is with side effects that kill one in 20 patients and the other is costly, only partially effective and requires long-time hospital treatment, the scientists said. We can read this passage _ . Answer:
Question: People are being lured onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service, and don't realize that they're paying for it by giving up loads of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages. Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Facebook, because people don't really know what their personal details are worth. The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you could keep everything private. That was the great thing about Facebook--you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things--your city, your photo, your friends' names--were set, by default , to be shared with everyone on the Internet. According to Facebook's vice president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information, they have a "less satisfying experience." Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. Its original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the page, totally failed. Who wants to look at ads when they're online connecting with their friends? The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April, Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites. "I think the senators rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits. I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning,which is why I'm considering deactivating my account . Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't trust. That is too high a price to pay. What does the author say about most Facebook users? A. They don't know their personal data enriches Facebook B. They are unwilling to give up their personal information C. They don't identify themselves when using website D. They care very little about their personal information Answer: A Question: As the saying goes, "Change is not always for the better". Take social interaction, for example! We now live in an era in which many teenagers spend hours locked away in their bedrooms shooting virtual soldiers and hitting zombies over the head with digital baseball bats, while others sit home alone, chatting with friends, not in person, but through social networks. Teachers, politicians and parents have genuine reasons to argue that young people like this are in danger of losing the ability to connect with one another, to develop genuine relationships and to separate the fictional world of the Xbox or the Play Station from the real world. Others worry about the increasing breakdown of the family unit within the UK and link that to the increase of youth crime and antisocial behavior, or the problems that some young people have with drugs or alcohol. These issues are particularly common in areas of poverty and, in the light of the economic crisis, are unlikely to improve. Indeed, the gap between rich and poor in the UK could well increase, as unemployment figures rise and the cost of higher education increases. But being a teenager in the 21st century is not all doom and gloom, Young people in the UK today can enjoy living in a far more multicultural, integrated society in which opportunities are more equal and which is increasingly environmentally aware. They benefit from better child protection policies, a wider range of educational activities and clearer guidance on leading healthy lifestyles. And as they grow up, this generation will benefit from huge technological inventions which will have an impact on almost every aspect of their lives, from entertainment to transport. They will see medical advances which could put an end to diseases like malaria and rid the world of AIDS. They will live longer, work smarter and they will even have a greater understanding of nature and the universe. According to the article, which of these issues may NOT be a problem for life in the 21st century? A. Teenagers playing computer games B. Broken homes and unstable families C. The rising cost of university education D. AIDS and Malaria Answer: D Question: Producing money requires both artistic and technological skills. Dollar bills are made so that they are interesting to look at but very hard to copy. In total, there are sixty-five separate steps required to make a dollar bill. The money making process begins when. a yearly order is sent by the Federal Reserve Board. That order will then be divided in half. Half will be done here in Washington, D. C.and the other half will be done in Fort Worth, Texas. Next, the Bureau orders special paper which is actually cloth since it is 75% cotton and 25% linen. This paper is made so that it can last a long time. And, it is made with details that make it hard to copy. For example, bills contain security threads. These narrow pieces of plastic are inside the paper and run along the width of the bill. This special paper is also made with very small blue and red fibers. Once the money is printed, guillotine cutters separate the sheets into two notes, then into individual notes. The notes are organized in "bricks," each of which contains forty one-hundred-note packages. The bricks then go to one of twelve Federal Reserve Districts, which then give the money to local banks. Ninety-five percent of the bills printed each year are used to replace money that is in circulation, or that has already been removed from circulation. You may know that America's first president, George Washington, is pictured on the one- dollar bill. But do you know whose face is on the two, five, ten, twenty, fifty and one hundred-dollar bills? They are, in order. President Thomas Jefferson, President Abraham Lincoln, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, President Andrew Jackson, President Ulysses Grant and statesman Benjamin Franklin. The average life span of a one-dollar bill is twenty-one months. But a ten-dollar bill lasts only about eighteen months. The one hundred-dollar bill lasts the longest, eighty-nine months. One popular question is about the two-dollar bill. This bill is not printed very often. This is because many Americans believe two-dollar bills are lucky, so they keep them. How many presidents are printed on the American money? A. Four B. Five C. Six D. Seven Answer: B Question: Sleep is like food for the brain. Enough sleep helps the body and the brain grow and develop. However,many Chinese do not sleep well,and many do not pay enough attention to sleep. The Chinese Medical Doctor Association released the 2013 China Sleep Quality Index on March 19 to mark World Sleep Day---March 21. According to the index,nearly a quarter of Chinese people don't sleep well.Half said that they feel tired after getting up and 15 percent people have trouble falling asleep. Ye Jingying,a sleep expert at Beijing Tongren hospital,says:"If people often wake up during the night,or always feel weak and tired in the day,they should pay attention to their sleep pattern." Many people play with their cell phones or i pads before sleeping.The report said that this is one of the main reasons for bad sleep.Other reasons include stress and bad moods. How to sleep well? Above all,get enough sleep.Seven to nine hours of sleep every night is perfect for an adult,and eight to nine hours is best for a teenager. Forming good sleep habits is important.The report suggested that people need to keep away from digital devices for at least an hour before sleep. The lights keep their brains excited for a long while.Other suggestions include:try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day,even on weekends and during holidays,and do the same relaxing things before bed each night,like listening to soft music. From the article,Which of the following may NOT cause sleeping problems? A. Having sad or angry feelings. B. Reading a book late at night. C. Playing with digital devices before sleeping. D. Being under strong stress about their life or work. Answer: B Question: Mr Black works in an office. He's very busy and he has no time to rest. Every evening, When he comes back from his office, he always feels tired and wants to go to bed early, but his wife often has something interesting to tell him after supper. She keeps talking until it's too late. But Mr Black has to get up early in the morning. One day Mr Black felt terrible and couldn't go to work. He went to see a doctor with Mrs Black. Before he said what the matter was him, his wife told the doctor all. The doctor got the reason and said to Mrs Black, "Here is a bottle of medicine for your husband and some pills for you." "For me?" the woman said in surprise, "I'm fine. I don't need any medicine!" "I don't think, madam," said the doctor, "They're sleeping pills . Your husband will soon be all right if you take them!" The doctor wanted to make Mr Black feel better by _ . A. curing Mrs Black first B. giving him a bottle C. telling him to stay at home D. asking him to do exercise Answer: A
Dogs may not know exactly what you are doing especially when you're trying to figure out a square root or diagram a sentence. But according to a new study, dogs can understand what we're thinking and feeling by reading our facial expressions and body language and following our eyes. Researchers studied 29 dogs. The dogs were shown a movie where a woman looked directly at them and said "Hi dog!" Then, the woman looked at a flowerpot sitting next to her. The researchers found that when the woman looked at and spoke directly to a dog, the dog usually followed her eyes to the flowerpot. It proved that the dogs knew that the woman was thinking about the flowerpot. "By following the eye movements of dogs, we were able to get a first-hand look at how their minds are actually working," said Jozsef, the senior researcher. Later in the movie, the woman said "Hi dogs" in a low voice and didn't look at the dog before looking at the flowerpot. In that situation, the dogs didn't seem to understand what the woman was thinking. There was no eye contact, and the woman didn't appear to speak to the dogs directly. That comes as no surprise to dog trainer Jones. "Dogs normally speak through nonverbal signals. It's more natural to them," she said. "If you've ever watched dogs at a dog park, you've seen it. Within 30 seconds they enter the park, much information has passed between the new dog and the ones already in the park. They're exchanging looks, observing eyes and body posture. On the other hand, when you speak to a dog, they are learning a foreign language." Picking up your nonverbal signals seems more natural. So, if you were hoping that all this means your dog could help you solve your math problems, you're probably out of luck. But he or she might a lot more what you're thinking than you previously thought. It is implied in the text that dogs can read your emotions only if _ . Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder. Your child will rise from bed and walk or engage in other activities that they would normally do when they are awake. Their eyes will be open but they will appear to be in a dream-like state, and will probably not answer when you talk to them, although they may carry out conversations. Sleepwalking can last a few seconds , a few minutes, or more. Sleepwalking can be an indication that certain parts of the brain may not be relaxing properly at bedtime. It can be caused by illness or fever, tiredness, stress or anxiety. It is thought to occur in the beginning, slow-wave stages of non-rapid eye movement sleep before dream sleep. It may be related to the lack of magnesium , and it is very possible that hormonal changes in body could cause it. Certainly a child is more likely to be a sleepwalker if one of his parents suffered, too . Sleepwalking itself is not dangerous and is generally not a sign of any more worrying problems. But if your child sleepwalks regularly, you have to take safety measures to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself while sleepwalking. Makes sure that any doors can't be opened by a child, and lock doors to the cellar, kitchen and other dangerous places. Check each night before lights go out for sharp objects or, indeed , anything on the floor which your child could trip over or hurt himself on. A child may sleepwalk once and never sleepwalk again. Others may sleepwalk once a month or so. Still others may sleepwalk almost nightly. If you are worried you should consult your doctor. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . LONDON(AP)---A suburban house that starred onscreen as Harry Potter's childhood home is on the market---complete with a cupboard under the stairs. Fans of the boy wizard will recognize 12 Picket Post Close as 4 Privet Drive, home of Harry's cruel aunt and uncle, the Dursleys. The couple unwillingly took Harry in after his parents were murdered and made him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. The house in Bracknell, 30 miles(50 kilometers)west of London, was a location featured in the 2001 film "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." A studio set of the house was built for later films of the eight series. Real estate agency Chancellors says the three-bedroom house has recently been made over to an extremely high standard." It's listed at a price of 475,000 pounds$616,000.)" Real estate agent Paul Bosanko said, "the original plan was to take this property to market without using any reference to Harry Potter. But since news of the connection got out, interest has shot up, and that may or may not influence the final price that we achieve at this property," Bosanko said. Neighbor Karen Field said that the house still attracts Potter fans a decade-and-a-half after the film crews left. When the movie first came out, "there were tour buses, literally tour buses coming down the road," Field said. "It's a lot quieter now," she said. "School holidays, you still get people coming along." What happened to the suburban house west of London? One day, a young man visited a small farm in the countryside. As he got closer to the farm, he saw many chickens and an eagle playing together. He then went up to the farm house and talked to the farmer, "Sir, I was just passing by and I saw that you have many chickens and an eagle." The farmer smiled and said, "That's not an eagle. It's a chicken." The young man kept saying that it was an eagle. He said to the farmer, "Sir, that is an eagle! I can proveit to you." The farmer laughed, "Sure, go ahead." The young man then pulled that big bird out and climbed a high mountain. He held the bird in his hands and said, "You are an eagle, fly!" But the bird failed. The young man tried the second time. He said to the bird, "I don't care you have been _ as a chicken for those years. But I know what you were created to be. You are an eagle, now fly!" After the young man tried another three times, the bird began to flap its wings. Finally, it flew high and began to fly around the farm. It is true to us. Some people around us have continued to keep us down by lying to us. Over all of those years, we were told to be a failure, not to be good enough and to accept the "reality". They are wrong. We should try our best to reach our highest potential to prove that we are eagles. According to the passage, during all of those years, "we" were told all of the following EXCEPT _ . To the students of Class3 Examinations start on June22nd and end on June23. For the PE test, go to the gym. For the music test, go to the Piano Room. All else are written tests. They will be held in classroom3. English June22 8:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Math June22 10:30 A.M.--12:00 A.M. History June22 2:30P.M.--3:30 P.M. PE June23 8:00A.M.--10:00A.M. Music June23 1:00P.M.--3:00P.M. If you have questions, go to the Teachers' Office before the test. Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), characterized by fever, sores in the mouth and rashes on hands and feet, is not a new infection and is common among(......)infants and children. It is caused by up to 20 types of virus but has similar symptoms . But it usually does not lead to death. Many kindergartens have to be shut because of it. When you have completed a writing task, allow 5-10 minutes to read it and check for mistakes. In particular, look for: incorrect agreement of subject and verb: My friend likes... NOT My friend like... * incorrect use of tenses * wrong expressions The 2008 Olympic torch which was named "lucky cloud" was lighted on Monday in Ancient Olympia, marking the start of the domestic and international torch relay that will end on August8 with the Games' opening ceremony . The Beijing Games relay is the longest ever planned, lasting 130 days and covering 137,000 kilometers worldwide, traveling to 20 countries. When were the written tests held?
So many of us expect everything we do to be successful. We look forward to success to show us our value or to be the top of the group wherever we are. How many times in our schooling did we hope for a high mark? We want it and then feel like a failure when we don't achieve what we want. Even when we succeed we still pass that and go onto the next success and then the next. We are not often taught how to face failures. For me, failure taught me more than success did. Success is of the moment and temporary but failure means we have ever done. It makes me stop and think. It opened my eyes and brain to different possibilities. Failure is just a choice in redoing not in giving up. Experiencing failure,I looked deeper and further. I have a grandson who plays hockey and as all players do,he went through a _ . So I saw he was unhappy with himself. Then I said to him, "Why don't you think of it differently rather than being unhappy?" And I asked, "Scoring is your goal, right?" He answered,"Of course." "Why aren't you scoring now? Do you need a readjustment ?"All of a sudden he calmed down--he was thinking of what I had just said. So in the next game I saw him trying different things to do better. Later he started scoring. Now when something is wrong, he takes the time to think it over rather than just keeping the "failure" mode . Look at failure differently. Failure is what gives us power to try a different way of doing things. It teaches us to rethink, redo, and then success will come about. Don't give up but learn to use a different way. Why did the author's grandson do better in playing hockey in the end? A He grew up and learned more skills. B He thought and tried in a different way. C He used the skill his grandma taught him. D He didn't make a change and kept the "failure" mode. Answer: B. He thought and tried in a different way. Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest hunger rate. But according to a new report, African farmers also have ideas that could help the world fight hunger and poverty. Danielle Nierenberg from the Worldwatch Institute in Washington spent a year visiting twenty-five countries south of the Sahara. In Nairobi, Kenya, for example, Ms Nierenberg found women farmers growing vegetables just outside their doorsteps in the Kibera settlement. She says they are finding ways to make their lives better. The women feed their families and sell their _ They use the money to send their children to school. Last year, about 925,000,000 people worldwide did not get enough to eat. Half of all people in the world now live in and around cities. Researchers like Ms Nierenberg are looking increasingly at creative ideas to feed those who don't have enough good food to eat. She says there are a lot of lessons that people in the Western world can learn from Africa. And what they are doing can certainly be done in other developing countries. Farmers in the developing world lose between twenty and forty percent of their harvest before it ever reaches market. There are many reasons why food gets wasted. Farmers are without electricity and cold storage. They lack good seeds and fertilizer. They lack good roads. Conditions like these keep small farmers in poverty. Ms Nierenberg says more attention needs to be paid to protecting harvests. She says, "Given all that we invest in producing food in the first place, we need to devote the same amount of attention to making sure that it is not wasted." In Nigeria, village processing centers are helping farmers reduce their losses and earn more money. They centers process cassava, a root vegetable, into basic food products. In Uganda, the Worldwatch report says some schools are teaching children how to grow local kinds of crops. And in South Africa and Kenya the report praises the breeding of local kinds of livestock. These animals may produce less milk or meat than other breeds, but they can survive heat and drought conditions. The best title of this passage should be _ . A A New Report About African Farmers Fighting Hunger B Creative Ideas to Feed Those Who Have No Enough Food C Looking to Africa for Ideas About How to Fight Hunger D Animals That Can Survive Heat and Drought Conditions Answer: C. Looking to Africa for Ideas About How to Fight Hunger A long weekend is a great opportunity to do something a little different. Many people use a long weekend for a getaway, a short trip to leave the stress of their everyday lives behind and explore, learn, or relax. Hotel Romance Many hotels and resorts feature something special to start the getaway, such as champagnes , flowers, or a fruit basket in the room on arrival. Getaway packages usually include a room with something special, a heart shaped bed, for example. Additional benefits could be room service meals or other private dining, plus tickets or discounts for local attractions. Visit a Spa Spa getaways can take place at a location that focuses only on spa services or at a hotel that offers a spa as one of its features. Some spas emphasize treatments fit for their geographic area or a local attraction. A spa in a grape growing region might provide grape juice masks, or a hotel near a hot spring could offer mineral baths. Most spas offer a range of massage , health and beauty treatments, so a spa getaway can be relaxing with other benefits. Learn a Skill A long weekend may not be enough time to become an expert at something new, but it provides a way for people to begin their explorations. Some organizations offer intensive courses that last two or three days. People with special interests can get away from their routines while learning such things as how to make beer, speak a new language, or take better photos. Help Others Some organizations cooperate with businesses to have accommodations and activities for short-term volunteers. Most volunteer vacations involve ecology friendly or charity activities. A volunteer getaway is a way to relieve stress and help others at the stone time. Stay in a National Park For those who want to relax in a rural environment, a national park fits the bill. Most national parks provide camping areas for tents and trailers. Several have cabins within the parks available to rent. A getaway to a national park provides privacy, stress relief, and the time to get to know some important natural resources. The best title of the passage can be _ . A Away from Our Busy Work B Good Ways to Relieve Stress C Enjoy Life and Help Others D Long Weekend Getaway Answer: D. Long Weekend Getaway Laughter Yoga is one form of yoga. Madan Kataria, a doctor in Mumbai, India invented it. He believed that people had forgotten how to really laugh. Through his research he made an interesting discovery. The human mind does not know the difference between forced laughter and real laughter. Forced laughter can also lead to a feeling of happiness. And then Kataria had the idea for a group of people who would laugh together. He gathered a few of his friends together. They met in a public park in Mumbai. That small group grew and grew! And this is how people began to do Laughter Yoga. People doing Laughter Yoga usually meet together in a Laughter Club. Kataria's friends formed the first Laughter Club in 1995. Today, there're over 5,000 Laughter Clubs in 53 countries. But what exactly do people do in a Laughter Club? People in Laughter Yoga meetings usually do a series of exercises. The exercises include body movement, correct breathing, and of course, laughter! At the beginning of the meeting, people may have to force themselves to laugh. But by the end, everyone is usually laughing in a real way! Each meeting is a little different. But there are common exercises groups may do. Experts say that the exercises help blood move around the body faster. They also say that Laughter Yoga helps people deal with the bad things in their lives. They say that a person may go into a Laughter Club meeting feeling sad, angry, or worried. But then, people act happy. After a time, forced laughter becomes real laughter. This is one reason why people may enjoy laughter Yoga so much According to experts, _ . A anyone can join in a Laughter Club. B laughter is a very good form of exercise. C Laughter Yoga makes blood move slowly. D it takes a long time for people to be free of bad feelings. Answer: B. laughter is a very good form of exercise. You ought to have fun when you study English. That way, you'll want to spend more time using the language. One way to do this is to watch amusing TV shows in English. Chuck is an action comedy TV series about a character named Chuck. One day Chuck receives a classified e-mail from an old friend who is working at the CIA. The e-mail contains an entire database filled with classified U.S. government information. Chuck is the kind of person who naturally commits large amounts of information to memory, and all of the spy secrets are accidentally embedded in his mind. So Chuck becomes the most important person to the government. As a result, Chuck hides his identity and works as a computer expert at a store called Buy More. There are two secret agents who protect Chuck from danger. To ensure his safety, they also take undercover jobs as his girlfriend and a store employee. [:Z _ xx _ k.Com] Without a doubt, watching Chuck is going to provide you with hours of rib-tickling laughter while you learn English. Two secret agents protect Chuck from danger because _ . A Chuck works at the CIA B Chuck is a computer expert C Chuck is their friend D Chuck knows all of the spy secrets Answer: D. Chuck knows all of the spy secrets
Question: What is the color1 of the universe? Astronomers had not answered this question, until two months ago. That is when two American astronomers reported on their study of all the light in the universe. They said that the universe would appear to the human eye to be a light greenish color1, called turquoise . Karl Glazebrook and Ivan Baldry of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, reported their finding in January. They presented the research at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society. They said that finding the color1 of the universe was not part of their serious scientific research. They did it for fun. However, earlier this month, the scientists admitted to making a mistake. They said their finding was much more color1ful than it should have been. They now say the light from our universe is closer to white. It is more like a milky or creamy white color1. Their study attempted to show what people might see if they could observe the universe from far away. The scientists found the average color1 by combining light from about two-hundred-thousand star systems. Their information came from an observatory in New South Wales, Australia. These scientists and color1 engineers attempted to reproduce the result. Mark Fairchild of the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York was the first person to identify a mistake. He discovered a mistake in the computer software program used by the Johns Hopkins scientists. When the mistake was corrected, the results changed. The new color1 of the universe is much less color1ful. It is very close to white. The scientists have apologized for the mistake. They are now working with the Rochester Institute of Technology to produce more images of the color1 of the universe. They also asked for suggestions for a name for the new color1 of the universe. We can infer from the passage that _ . A. .the color1 of the universe was not the main problem the scientists studied for. B. the color1 of the universe is turquoise, but now it's turned into milky white gradually. C. The new color1 of the universe hasn't been named now. D. The mistakes of people's eyes leads to the mistakes of observation result. Answer: C Question: A federal statute sets up a program of dental education. The statute provides that the Secretary of Health and Human Services "shall, on a current basis, spend all of the money appropriated for this purpose" and "shall distribute the appropriated funds" by a specified formula to state health departments that agree to participate in the program. In the current year Congress has appropriated $100 million for expenditure on this program. In order to ensure a budget surplus in the current fiscal year, the President issues an executive order directing the various cabinet secretaries to cut expenditures in this year by 10 percent in all categories. He also orders certain programs to be cut more drastically because he believes that "they are not as important to the general welfare as other programs." The President identifies the dental education program as such a program and orders it to be cut by 50 percent. Assume that no other federal statutes are relevant. To satisfy constitutional requirements, how much money must the Secretary of Health and Human Services distribute for the dental education program this year? A. $50 million, because the President could reasonably determine that this program is not as important to the general welfare as other programs. B. $50 million, because as chief executive the President has the constitutional authority to control the actions of all of his subordinates by executive order. C. $90 million, because any more drastic cut for the program would be a denial of equal protection to beneficiaries of this program as compared to beneficiaries of other programs. D. $100 million, because the President may not unilaterally suspend the effect of a valid federal statute imposing a duty to spend appropriated monies Answer: D Question: While the rest of his family was happily feasting during Spring Festival, Zu Xinming, a Senior 2 student in Shaanxi province, was frowning. "Every time my s leave after dinner, almost half of the dishes are unfinished," he said, and we throw away a lot of food. Nowadays in China, food waste is a widespread problem. Each year, Chinese people throw away the equivalent of about 50 million tons of grain, an amount which could feed 200 million people, according to Xinhua News Agency. One reason is that people are unaware of the issue. "Some of my friends don't care at all when they can't finish the food on their plates," said Zu, "and they even throw it away if they don't like the taste." Gong Tao, an official from the Communist Youth League of China Committee of Central South University in Hunan province, is worried about the decreasing awareness of food waste on his campus in recent years. "Students don't know how much hard work others go through in order to provide their food," Gao told China Education Daily. One deeper factor is the Chinese cultural value of "face". In a Chinese banquet setting, the host feels great shame when guests' plates are empty. "Serving lots of food is the Chinese way of showing respect to guests and displaying generosity," Yu Changjiang, a sociologist at Peking University, told Xinhua. Huge public spending on government banquets is also worsening the situation. Government banquets at the taxpayer's expense have become "a major source of waste", commented People's Daily. The good news is that people are already beginning to take action. On Jan 16, 10 restaurants with 749 outlets in Beijing joined an "eating up" campaign promoted by Xu Xiake, deputy director of China Land and Resources News. These restaurants have begun serving half-sized meals and small dishes. So, how can you help reduce food waste? Discuss with your family regularly about your food preferences and how much you want to eat. Eat all of the food on your plate and in your bowl. And each week, help your parents clean the fridge so that all of the food gets eaten before it goes to waste. Where is the passage most probably taken from? A. Textbook B. Newspaper C. Magazine D. Guidebook Answer: B Question: Nowadays, there is a heated debate on whether pollutants should be cleaned in the air. Cleaning up the air, while good for our lungs, could make global warming worse. And the pollutants still go up around the air, along with carbon dioxide. These pollutants are called aerosols and they include soot as well as mixtures of nitrogen and sulfur and other stuff into the air. Natalie Mahowald, a climate researcher at Cornell University, says so far, scientists have mostly tried to understand what those aerosols do while they're actually in the air. "There are so many different kinds of aerosols," she says. "Some warm and some cool. But in fact, humans are giving out a lot of extra aerosols, and they tend to cool for the most part." The aerosols reflect sunlight back into space, or keep us cool. But it turns out that's not all they do. These aerosols also influence how much carbon dioxide gets drawn out of the air by plants on land and in the sea. "They can add nutrients, for example, to the oceans or to the land," Mahowald says. "But also while they're in the atmosphere they can change the climate, and thus that also can influence the amount of carbon, the land or the ocean can take up. So there are quite a few different ways that aerosols can act on each other." Mahowald's results suggest that reducing those pollutants could be an even bigger problem than realized, when you consider that aerosols help remove carbon dioxide from the air by encouraging plant growth. Hard numbers on this effect are highly uncertain at the moment, but this could turn out to be quite significant. And studying it is not easy because the effects aren't well understood. For example, nitrogen can be a fertilizer , but it can stop plant growing when nitrogen comes out of the air in acid form. Right now it seems like we're much more likely to clean up aerosol pollution, while increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. So scientists, unfortunately, may have a chance to see whether this experiment on our planet should continue or not. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage? A. Pollutants in the Air. B. The Experiment on the Planet C. The Reason for Global Warming D. The Influence of Aerosols Answer: D Question: The most important holiday in spring, especially for Christians , is Easter. This Christian holiday is not on the same date every year, but it's always on a Sunday. It can be any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Many people celebrate Easter by buying new clothes. Children celebrate by hunting for color1ed eggs that their parents have hidden around the house. People also give Easter baskets filled with candy and other goodies to one another to celebrate the day. But the holiday is more than new clothes and good things to eat. On Easter, many people go to church to celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Most people color1 them. Some people hide them. Others just eat them. But no matter what one does with Easter eggs, they are an important Easter tradition throughout the Western world. People from many different cultures celebrate Easter. In both America and Belgium, children look for Easter eggs hidden on lawns and in bushes. In America, children believe the eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny . But in Belgium, the hidden eggs are supposed to have fallen from church bells. In Bulgaria, red Easter eggs are lucky in churches; Bulgarian families also hit these Easter eggs together to see whose is the strongest. The winner looks forward to good fortune that year. Still dozens of other Easter traditions exist. In parts of Austria, for example, children sing from door to door and are rewarded with color1ful eggs. Easter comes _ . A. on the same date every year B. on Sunday on March 22 C. on Sunday on April 25 D. on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 Answer: D
The University of Wales, Bangor has been rated the top university in the UK for the help and support provided for students by theTimes Higher Education Supplement.We want to make sure all our students are happy and that they enjoy their time here in Bangor. We realize that you may need some support during your time here to solve some personal problems or difficulties. Our Student Services Centre and the Students' Union can offer the following: * An advice service that is free and confidential. * You'll have a personal teacher in your department. * A Peer Guide will welcome you to Bangor during your first week and answer any question you might have. * Student Services and Security are on call during the day and there is a warden on call at evenings and weekends at all our halls of residence. * Personal support and advice on a variety of problems through the Students' Union Welfare Advice Centre. * Nightline, a confidential support service run during the night by students for students. * A team of staff volunteers are available to deal with any serious incident which happens outside normal university hours. * Health care in daily surgeries where you don't need an appointment. You will need to register with a local General Practitioner . We also have a nurse who can make visits to your place when necessary. * An adviser for international students. * A room where local postgraduate students who live at home and travel to the university each day, can spend their free time. The university welcomes applications from disabled students and aims to provide equal opportunities for all. For more information please see our Student Services pages. The passage is mainly about _ at the University of Wales, Bangor. A health service and welfare B education and training C the student service organizations D the daily life of students Answer: A Exploit your parking space An unused parking space or garage can make money. If you live near a city center or an airport, you could make anything up to PS200 or PS300 a week. Put an advertisement for free on Letpark or Atmyhousepark. Rent a room Spare room? Not only will a lodger earn you an income, but also, thanks to the government-backed "rent a room" program, you won't have to pay any tax on the first PS4500 you make per year. Try advertising your room on Roomspare or Roommateeasy. Make money during special events Don't want a full-time lodger? Then rent on a short-term basis. If you live in the capital, renting a room out during the Olympics or other big events could bring in money. Grashpadder can advertise your space. Live on set Renting your home out as a "film set" could earn you hundreds of pounds a day, depending on the film production company and how long your home is needed. A quick search on the Internet will bring up dozens of online companies that allow you to register your home for free--but you will be charged if your home gets picked. Use your roof You need the right kind of roof, but some energy companies pay the cost of fixing solar equipment(aroundPS14,000) and let you use the energy produced for nothing. In return, they get paid for unused energy fed back into the National Grid. However, you have to sign a 25-year agreement with the supplier, which could prevent you from changing the roof. If you earn PS5000 from renting a room in one year, the tax you need to pay will be based on _ . A PS300 B PS500 C PS4500 D 5000 Answer: B Everyone has got two personalities-the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real. You don't show your secret personality when you're awake because you can control your behavior, but when you're asleep, your sleeping position shows the real you. In a normal night, of course, people frequently change their positions. The important position is the one that you go to sleep in. If you go to sleep on your back, you're a very open person. You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas. You don't like to displease people. So you never express your real feelings. You're quite shy and you aren't quite sure of yourself. If you sleep on your stomach, you are a rather secretive person. You worry a lot and you're always easily upset. You always stick to your own opinions or judgment, but you don't raise your hopes too much. You usually live for today not tomorrow. This means that you enjoy having a good time. If you sleep curled up, you are probably a very nervous person. You have a low opinion of yourself and so you're often defensive. You're shy and you don't normally like meeting people. You prefer to be on your own. You're easily hurt. If you sleep on your side, you have usually got a well--balanced personality. You know your strengths and weakness. You're usually careful. You believe in yourself. You sometimes feel anxious, but you don't often get sad. You always insist on what you think even if it makes people rather angry. What the author mainly intends to tell us is that _ . A one's sleeping position has something to do with one's character. B everyone has got both real and secret personalities. C the position in which one goes to sleep is the most important one. D when awake, one does not show one's secret personality. Answer: A Many children act in TV shows. They work several hours every day, so they cannot go to a regular school. How do they get an education? In Hollywood, where many TV shows are made, about forty teachers give lessons for the children in the shows. They teach wherever their pupils are working. They teacher's job is very important. She is responsible for making sure that the child works only the permitted hours each week. She is also responsible for making sure that the child learns the required subjects. She makes sure, too, that the child gets enough rest and play, along with his education. Child actors are required to attend classes twenty hours each week. California law says that they must be taught from September to the middle of June. If they do not get good marks in school, they are not permitted to continue working in TV shows. TV children are usually good pupils, and most of their teachers like this special kind of work. Their classes are held in many interesting places. Sometimes the"classroom"is a Mississippi riverboat. Sometimes it is the inside of a spaceship. Often the pupils become famous stars. What information about TV teachers does this selection provide? A Some of them are paid twice as much as the teachers in regular schools. B Most of them enjoy their work. C Many of them hope to become TV actors and actresses. D Few of them come from foreign countries. Answer: B The discovery that language can be a barrier to communication is quickly made by all who travel, study, govern or sell. Whether the activity is tourism, research, government, policing or business, the lack of a common language can severely delay progress or can stop it altogether. Although communication problems of this kind must happen thousands of times each day, very few become public knowledge. Publicity comes only when a failure to communicate has major results, such as strikes, lost orders, legal problems or deadly accidents--even, at times, war. One reported example of communication failure took place in 1970, when several Americans ate a species of poisonous mushroom. No remedy was known, and two of the people died within days. A radio report of the case was heard by a chemist who knew of a treatment that had been successfully used in 1959 and published in 1963. Why had the American doctors not heard of it seven years later? Possibly because the report of the treatment had been published only in journals written in European languages other than English. Several comparable cases have been reported. But isolated examples do not give an impression of the size of the problem--something that can come only from studies of the use or avoidance of foreign-language materials and contacts in different communicative situations. In the English-speaking scientific world, for example, surveys of books and documents consulted in libraries and other information agencies have shown that very little foreign-language material is ever consulted. Library requests in the field of science and technology showed that only 13 percent were for foreign language journals. The language barrier presents itself entirely to firms who wish to market their products in other countries. British industry, in particular, has in recent decades often been criticized for its assumption that foreign buyers will be happy to communicate in English, and that awareness of other languages is not therefore a matter to be considered first. In the 1960s, over two-thirds of British firms dealing with non-English-speaking customers were using English for outgoing letters; many had their sales language only in English; and as many as 40 percent employed no one who was able to communicate in the customer's languages. A similar problem was identified in other English-speaking countries, especially the USA, Australia and New Zealand. And non-English speaking countries were by no means free from the same problem--although the widespread use of English as an alternative language made them a bit more able to communicate with other countries. The criticism and publicity given to this problem since the 1960s seems to have greatly improved the situation. Industrial training projects have promoted an increase in language and cultural awareness. Many firms now have their own translation services. Some firms run part-time language courses in the languages of the countries with which they are most involved; some produce their own technical glossaries , to ensure consistency when material is being translated. It is now much more readily accepted that marketing efforts can be delayed, damaged or ruined by a failure to take the language needs of the customer into consideration. Which of the following ways has been used by the British companies to solve the problem of language barrier since the 1960s? A Employing foreign workers. B Setting up their own translation services. C Providing English training for foreign customers. D Stopping exporting goods to foreign countries. Answer: B
An old man was going home late one night with his horse and cart after a day's hard work. When he was not far from his house, the light on the cart went out. He tried but could not mend it. He was near his home, and so he went along the road without a light. When a policeman saw this, he stopped the old carter. "Where is your light?" asked the policeman. "No man may take a cart along the road at night without a light. You know that. You have broken the law ." "I had a light, but it has just gone out," said the old man. "I don't believe that story," said the policeman. He took out a book and got ready to write. What's your name and where do you live?" he asked. "Please don't take my name," said the old man. "My home is just there. You can see it from here. I had a light nearly the whole way. I haven't come far without a light." "You came all the way without a light. What's your name?" The carter quickly took the policeman's hand and put it down on top of the light. The light was still hot and burnt the policeman's hand. The policeman jumped and he was very angry. "Now, what do you think?" said the carter. "Did I come all the way without a light?" The old man drove home _ . A on the back of his horse B late one night C very late every night D with a policeman Answer: B. late one night City College Union Inc Secretary/Typist The Union is a student-run organization with a permanent staff of 20.Typing speed:at least 60 wpm. The ability to take shorthand dictation and a working knowledge of filling procedures are essential requirements. The basic salary for the position is $ 18,500 per year. Enquires to R.Barbar 387-5075. Emu Airline Secretary Emu Airline is now offering a part-time position for a secretary. The position offers at least 20 hours' work a week, with a view to full-time work in the future. Monthly salary is about $ 1,400. Phone 899-3264 for an appointment. Word Processor Operator (full-time) We need an operator to work in an office associated with the building industry.Only experienced operators are expected to apply. Starting salary:$ 17,950 yearly. Apply in writing to: The Personnel Officer Hill Morgan Pty Ltd 38 Green Hill Rd.Kensington 2033. Sewing Machinist Wanted Jeans Industry We are an expanding clothing company located south of the city.Our products include jeans,skirts,shorts and so on.We are looking for sewing machine operators. The factory works a 38-hour week over 4-5 days.Wages for this are $ 18,050 per year.Wages and conditions are in line with the current industrial award. If you are interested, come over and pick up an application form from Ripper Jeans,23 North Ave,Beaudesert. The applicants for the post of a secretary in City College Union Inc should have the following qualities except _ . A ability of organization B knowledge about filling the form C typing skill D writing rapidly Answer: A. ability of organization How to Fight Winter Blue Winter's short days are more than cold. For many people, winter depression, the most common type of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is as much a part of the season as hats and scarves. Winter serious SAD sufferers may need medical treatment. Those feeling a little blue can help themselves by sticking to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips: Pace yourself. Don't expect to do everything you normally can. Set a realistic schedule. Don't listen to negative thinking, like blaming yourself or expecting to fail. Get involved in activities that make you feel good or feel like you've achieved something. For example, play table tennis or badminton. If you are feeling depressed, you may feel like staying away from friends. Yet this is a time when friends' support can be helpful. Call them regularly. Remember, the more we put off calling or visiting a friend, the harder it is to rebuild a friendship. Think clearly about what's wrong or right. Instead of giving in to vague feelings of sadness, look at your problems objectively. Break down problems into specific issues that you can work on. Regular exercise helps to prevent and . Eat well. Studies show that a healthy diet can help to maintain (keep) a healthy body and mind. The vitamins, minerals and micro--nutrients found in balanced diet may help our bodies to produce feel-good hormones . Foods containing chemicals to help produce feel-good hormones include bananas, turkey, nuts and seeds. Eat at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables every day. P.S. Symptoms of SAD: No interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Increased need for sleep. A change in eating habits, especially an appetite for sweet or starchy foods. Weight gain A heavy feeling in the arms or legs A drop in energy level Difficulty in concentrating Overly emotional Avoidance of friends and social situations Frequent feelings of guilt Long-term feelings of hopelessness, and physical problems, such as headaches We may infer that _ , according to the passage. A more darkness will make us sad B we should wear hats and scarves in winter C a healthy lifestyle prevents us from serious SAD D staying away from friends makes us depressed Answer: C. a healthy lifestyle prevents us from serious SAD There are always times in the day when you catch yourself clenching your teeth if you are trying to focus on something important or concentrating on something. Of course, if you are doing this in your sleep you won't be able to catch yourself and stop. The good news is that there are things you can do to help relieve the pain that is caused from bruxism and help keep your teeth healthy as well. If you wake up in the moming with sore jaws, pain in your neck and shoulders, or a persistent headache, you are more than likely to have bruxism. A lot of medical professionals think that a major aspect of bruxism is from stress. Everyday life can be filled with stressful situations and this stress gets released at night when you are sleeping. If you suffer from stress on a regular basis you can try a relaxation technique before you go to bed. The hope is that by relaxing your body and mind you will let go of the stress that will cause you to grind your teeth while you are sleeping. This routine has worked for millions of people and is a good thing to try first. While relaxation to relieve stress sounds pretty good, there are people that this technique doesn't work for. For these people, there are mouth guards that you can wear while you are sleeping that will help protect your teeth. These mouth guards will put a protective layer between your teeth in order to ease any issues that grinding your teeth may cause. If you want to get the best possible relief you should try both the relaxation techniques and a mouth guard. The mouth guard will keep your teeth from damage and the relaxation techniques will help ease the stress that your body might be feeling. Nothing can be better than relieving both pain and stress when you need it most, while you are sleeping. According to the text we can know _ . A mouth guards are used at any time B a protective layer is effective in stopping teeth injury C mouth guards are only fit for the old people D stressful people should avoid using mouth guards Answer: B. a protective layer is effective in stopping teeth injury JAMES shook his money box again. Nothing! He carefully counted the coins that lay on the bed. All that he had was $24.52 . The bicycle he wanted was at least $90! How on earth was he going to get the rest of the money? He knew that his friends all had bicycles. It was hard to hang out with people when you were the only one without a bicycle. He thought about what he could do. There was no point asking his parents, for he knew they had no extra money. There was only one way to get money, and that was to earn it. He would have to find a job. He decided to ask Mr Clay for advice. "Well, you can start right here," said Mr Clay. "You see, my windows need cleaning and my car needs washing." That was the beginning of James' part-time job. For the next three months he worked every day after finishing his homework. He took dogs for walks, cleared out cupboards and mended books. The day finally came when James counted his money and found $94.32. He wasted no time and went down to the shop to pick up the bicycle he wanted. He rode home proudly, looking forward to showing his new bicycle to his friends. It had been hard working for the money, but James knew that he valued his bicycle far more because he had bought it with his own money. He had achieved what he thought was impossible, and that was worth even more than the bicycle. James did the following jobs EXCEPT _ . A walking dogs B clearing out cupboards C cooking meals D mending books Answer: C. cooking meals
Question: Just 25 years ago, the top three career hopes for young people in Britain were teacher, banker and doctor.Now, they want to be sports star, pop star and actor, according to survey by the Guardian newspaper. Rachel, a character in the popular TV show Glee, may be said to speak for British teenagers."Nowadays being nobody is worse than being poor." He said. Emma Brockes, a reporter with the Guardian, believes it is "the bad influence of celebrity culture" that is to blame."When children wanted to be doctor, it wasn't because they were really more interested in the functions of human organs than they are now; you go where the respect is." She wrote. It could explain why there has been such an increase in levels of anxiety and depression.Dr Carlo Stranger, of Tel Aviv University, studied the sense of self for his new book The Fear of Insignificance: Searching for Meaning in the 21st Century.He told the Daily Mail that young people now are "affected by the close connection to the global entertainment network, which has turned ranking and rating people according to wealth and celebrity into an obsession ." "As humans, we naturally measure ourselves to those around us, but now we live in a global village.We are comparing ourselves with the most 'important' people in the world and finding ourselves wanting," he said.Today, even high achievers constantly fear that they are insignificant when they compare themselves to success stories in the media. The way out? Simply stop measuring your achievement through a fantasy of wealth and celebrity.Dr Strenger said that it is a process called "active self-acceptance through a constant search for self-knowledge through life." "The fear of insignificance can only be overcome through strong individual and cultural identity over and above measurable achievement," he said. Which of the following is true of Dr Carlo Strenger? A. He is a newspaper reporter. B. He is the spokesman of teenagers. C. He tells success stories on TV. D. He is against ranking people with wealth. Answer: D Question: Gina has a small room at home. Look! This is her room. Some things are in her room. Her schoolbag is on her desk. Her red jacket is on her bed. An E-dictionary is on her bed, too. It's Grace's. Grace Smith is her friend. Her books are on the sofa. And her teacher Mr. Green's pen is in the bookcase. She borrowed it. She has a set of keys in her desk. She has a computer game. A model plane is under her desk. It is her father--Tim Miller's. Her mother--Emma Miller's sweater is in her room, too. The model plane is _ . A. Emma's B. Tim's C. Gina's D. Grace's Answer: B Question: It was mother's Day, but the young mother was a little unhappy. Because she was 800 miles away from her parents. In the morning she phone her mother to wish her a happy mother's Day, And her mother told her about the beautiful lilacs in the garden. Later that day, when she told her husband about the lilacs. He said. "I know where we can find all that you want. Get the children and come on."So they went, driving down the country roads. There on a small hill, they saw a lot of beautiful purple lilacs .The young woman ran quickly to enjoy the flowers .Carefully, she picked a few here and a few there. On their way home there was a smile on her face .When they were passing a nursing home ,the young woman saw an old granny sitting in a chair .She had no children with her .They stopped the car and the young woman walked to the old woman, put the flowers in her hands , and smiled at her .The old granny thanked her again and again . She smiled happily, too. When the young mother came back to her car , her children asked her ,"Who is that old granny ? Why did you give flowers to her ?""I don't kown her ."Their mother said ,"But it's Mother's Day , and she has no children. I have all of you , and I still have my mother . Just think how much those flowers meant to her ." The young woman gave the flowers to the old granny because _ . A. she knew the old granny B. she didn't like the flowers C. her mother asked her to do so D. she wanted the old granny to be happy Answer: D Question: The following question refers to the following information. Rafael lives near a road at the bottom of a hill. His parents are concerned that soil will wash off the hill and rocks will fall onto the road. Rafael conducts an investigation to find out if grass growing on a hillside will help stop soil erosion. He collects two samples of the same size and type of soil. One sample of soil has grass growing on it and the other does not. He places each sample of soil in a small tray. After pouring the water onto both pieces of soil, Rafael makes an observation. The water collected in the tray under the soil with grass looks clearer than the water collected in the tray under the soil without grass. What conclusion can Rafael make from his observation? A. The grass helped to hold the soil in place. B. The grass helped to move the water through the soil. C. The soil without grass was sticky, so more water stayed in the soil. D. The soil without grass was loose, so more water stayed in the soil. Answer: A Question: The blue tits have been inspecting the nest-box again this year. The male is the house-hunter but the female will make the final choice. He lands at the hole and turns his head to expose his white cheeks as a signal to attract the female from where she has been feeding. Among many birds that nest in holes, the male has a light-coloured patch on its plumage which acts as signal for drawing the female's attention to a suitable nesting-place. Unlike the blue tit, the redstart may be only the male that strikingly coloured and the female is not beautiful. A few years ago I was lucky enough to spot a pair of redstarts in action in a Walsh wood. The male was leading an interested female to holes that he had previously checked out. He sat at the entrance of each hole and put his head on to show off his white forehead, or his head in to reveal his tail. If the female failed to react to his visual signals, the male sometimes sang for extra effect, while gliding towards her on spread wings and tail. Once the female accepts by following the male through the hole the displays stop, you must be at the right place at the right time to watch them. The writer is probably _ . A. a bird expert B. a bird-hunter C. a bird raiser D. a scientist Answer: A
The sum of all chemical reactions in the human body is known as Answer: metabolism A scientist put several different plants in a sealed container. Every hour, she checked the oxygen in the container to see if it changed. How did the oxygen in the container most likely change? Answer: The amount of oxygen increased. YOU probably think you know about London's problems. The people are unfriendly, it's way too expensive, and the food is terrible - so why do so many tourists flock there? London was named the world's most popular city between July and September 2013. It _ other world-famous cities such as New York and Paris, welcoming 4.9 million visitors, according to the UK Office for National Statistics. Amazingly, this was an increase of almost 19.5 percent on 2012 - the year when the Olympics happened in summer. So can London's success be explained? Well, maybe. As the English writer Samuel Johnson once said, "when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life". London life is often crazy and expensive, but if you can think of something, you can probably do it there. Anywhere in the city, you can often look around a great museum such as the British Museum, watch a concert at a historic venue like the Royal Albert Hall, or dance the night away in a cool nightclub such as Fabric. And it's not just about culture - there are also world-famous sporting venues around the city. Many tourists like to watch soccer matches at stadiums such as Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, or Tottenham's White Hart Lane. Tourists even came to watch British tennis player Andy Murray's famous victory at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in 2013. Yes, but what about the food? Well, even if you don't like British food - and if you've never had real fish and chips, or a summer pudding, then perhaps you should wait until you've tried them - there is plenty of great food from all over the world available in London's many restaurants. London, like many of its buildings, has a long history, but also never lacks a vibrant pulse . All over the city, history and modernity come together to make it an essential place for tourists to discover. In Samuel Johnson's eyes, life in London is probably _ . Answer: colorful The terracotta warriors have guarded the Qin Shihuang Tomb for over 2,000 years. The construction of the tomb started in 247 BC, and it took 36 years to complete. There are thousands of pottery figures of warriors and horses in this magnificent tomb. The museum is located five kilometers east of Xi'an, in Lintong County. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Guangzhou was built in memory of Dr Sun Yat-sen. The Hall is a beautiful building in the style of a Chinese palace. It can seat an audience of 5, 000, but not a single pillar is found inside. In front of the Hall stands a bronze statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen. The Potala Palace in Lhasa was built in the seventh century. However, the construction of today's buildings began in 1645. It took three years to complete . The Potala Palace is thirteen stories high and has more than 1,000 rooms. To help _ the buildings, only a few people are admitted each day. The construction of the Qin Shihuang Tomb completed in _ . Answer: 211 BC People usually think it is very easy to cook instant noodles . They usually put the noodles into the boiling water and add in the MSG, together with the other things like eggs or vegetables. However, have you ever wondered if this is the correct way of cooking them? Do you know what is on the surface of the noodles? People use something like wax to cover the noodles when they make them, so that the noodles can join together nicely before they are put into the _ . Many people enjoy eating them without thinking of this. But a report said the wax covered on the noodles was very bad for our bodies. They said it needed about 2-3days to clear away the wax in our bodies after we ate it. So it is dangerous to have too much wax stayed in our stomachs. But it is not difficult to wash away the wax. Before you cook the noodles, wash them with hot water and then pour away the water. Do it like this twice, and you can wash the wax away. Then and you can cook the noodles as usual. According to the report, _ . Answer: the wax is bad for our bodies .
Outlook Outlook is back with a new series of reports to keep you up to date with all that's new in the world of entertainment. Stories go all the way from the technical to the romantic, from stage to screen. There will be reports of the stars of the moment, the stars of the future and the stars of the past. The director with his new film, the designer with the latest fashion, and the musician with the popular song are part of the new Outlook. The program is introduced by Fran Levine. 9:00 PM Discovery When a 10 -year -old boy gets a first class degree in mathematics or an 8-year- old plays chess like a future grand master, they are considered as geniuses. Where does the quality of genius come from? Is it all in the genes or can any child be turned into a genius? And if parents do have a child who might become a genius in the future, what should they do ? In this 30-minute film, Barry Johnson, the professor at School of Medicine, New York University will help you discover the answer. 10:00 PM Science/Health Is it possible to beat high blood pressure without drugs? The answer is "yes", according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins and three other medical centers. After a study of 800 persons with high blood pressure, they found that after 6 months, those devoted to weight-loss exercise and eating a low-salt, low-fat food lost about 13 pounds and became fitter. Plus, 35% of them dropped into the "normal" category. This week, Dr. Alan Duckworth will tell you how these people reduce their blood pressure to a level similar to what's achieved with Hypertension drugs. Who will be most probably interested in Discovery? Answer: Parents who want their child to become another Albert Einstein. As we drove along, my spirits went up again, and I turned, with pleasure, to the thought of the new life which I was entering. But though it was not far past the middle of September, the heavy clouds and strong north-easterly wind combined to make the day extremely cold; and the journey seemed a very long one, so that it was nearly one o'clock before we reached the place of our destination. Yet when we entered the gateway, my heart failed me, and I wished it were a mile or two farther off. For the first time in my life I must stand alone: there was no retreating now. I must enter that house, and introduce myself among its strange people. But how was it to be done? True, I was near nineteen; but, thanks to the protecting care of my mother and sister, I well knew that many a girl of fifteen, or under, was gifted with a more womanly address, and greater ease and self-possession, than I was. Yet, anyway. I would do very well, after all; and the children, of course, I should soon be at ease with them. "Be calm, be calm, whatever happens," I said within myself; and truly I was so fully occupied in steadying my nerves and keeping down the rebellious beat of my heart that when I was admitted into the hall and into the presence of Mrs. Bloomfield, I almost forgot to answer her polite greeting; and it afterwards struck me that the little I did say was spoken in the tone of one half-dead or half-asleep. With due politeness, however, she showed me my bedroom, and left me there to take a little refreshment for a little while and led me into the dining-room. Some beefsteaks and potatoes were set before me; and while I dined upon these, she sat opposite, watching me (as I thought) and trying to keep something like a conversation-- consisting chiefly of commonplace remarks. In fact, my attention was almost wholly absorbed in my dinner: not from appetite, but from the toughness of the beefsteaks, and the numbness of my hands. "I have had so little time to attend to their education myself, but I think they are clever children, and very willing to learn, especially the little boy; he is, I think, the flower of the flock-- a generous, noble-spirited boy, one to be led, but not driven, and remarkable for always speaking the truth." "His sister Mary Ann will require watching," continued she, "but she is a very good girl on the whole, though I wish her to be kept out of the nursery as much as possible, as she is now almost six years old, and might acquire bad habits from the nurses. I have ordered her bed to be placed in your room, and if you will be so kind as to look after her washing and dressing, and take charge of her clothes, she needs to have nothing further to do with the nursery maid." I replied I was quite willing to do so; and at that moment the children entered the room. Tom Bloomfield was a well-grown boy of seven. Mary was a tall girl, for her age of six, somewhat dark like her mother. The second sister was Fanny, a very pretty little girl, looking little younger than Mary. The remaining one was Harriet, a little broad, fat, merry, playful thing of scarcely two, whom I had more desire for than all the rest -- but with her I had nothing to do. Which of the following statements best describes how the writer felt when she entered Mrs. Bloomfield's home? Answer: She was nervous, dissatisfied with her manners but still confident. A recent survey shows that the alarming rate of child suicide in Hong Kong, raising levels of stress and anxiety among young people, increasing conflicts between children and teachers, and children's complaints that their parents do not understand their problems--all point to a drop in "emotional quotient" (EQ) , the ability to handle relationships. EQ is defined as the ability to deal with oneself and others effectively. High EQ, psychologists say, is easy to spot. Some of the greatest humanitarian leaders have high EQ, along with successful managers and inspirational and respected teachers. The problem is not how to spot high EQ but to improve on low EQ, so society as a whole can benefit. In the United States, declining EQ among young people is seen as one of the factors behind rising young people's crime because youths fail to understand others' feelings--one of the key components of EQ. While the situation in Hong Kong is not so bad, there are warning signs that the levels of anxiety among youth may become critical. Declining EQ among Hong Kong teenagers has been acknowledged by several studies including a key study by the education concern group, the Learning-Teacher Association, which found a high degree of anxiety among students over the future and also that young people lacked confidence in dealing with problems. Parents and teachers will also need to develop their own EQ skills in order to deal with them effectively. Daniel Goleman cites a number of basic elements of high EQ: first, awareness of your feelings as you experience them which is very important to making good decisions in life; second, feeling or awareness of what others are feeling. "90% of emotional information is expressed non-verbally and people vary in their ability to pick it up," Dr. Goleman says in his book. Dr. Goleman argues that without high EQ even highly-educated, highly-intelligent people will not find success in life. Or those with low EQ, even though they may be brilliant, tend to lack feeling and impulse control. They fail easily, and they are easily intolerant and often aggressive in interpersonal relations. Some educational psychologists believe work on EQ may be important in Hong Kong with _ high rate of suicide among school children. EQ test may be able to help predict those most at risk, and those least able to deal with their own emotions or unable to deal with others, including parents and teachers. We can infer from the passage that people with low emotional quotient _ . Answer: are least likely to become good leaders Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. Jordan is the fourth of the five children in his family. His family moved to North Carolina when he was just a baby. As a young boy, his favourite sport was baseball, but he soon found that he could play basketball as well. At the age of 17, he began to show people just how talented he really was. Throughout his basketball career, Michael Jordan has won many scoring titles. Many boys and girls look up to Michael Jordan as their hero. Do you know he has a hero, too, when he was growing up? He looks up to his older brother, Larry. Michael Jordan, a basketball superstar, is not just a star on the basketball court. He also works hard to raise money for many children's charities. He encourages children to develop their talents by practice, practice, and practice! Michael Jordan says that children can develop their talents by lots of Answer: study Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881.His father was a painter and art teacher who gave his son the first lesson in drawing.He won a prize--"Science and Charity" for his first important painting when he was only fifteen.He studied in several cities in Spain.But there was no one to teach him all that he wanted to know.When he was nineteen,he visited Paris. Paris was then the center of the world for artists.Everything that was new and exciting in the world of paintings seemed to happen there.When he was twenty-three,Picasso moved there to live and lived in France for the rest of his life. When he was over ninety,this great painter still lived his life like a young man.He was still looking for new ideas and new ways to use his artistic materials. When he died in 1973,he was ninety-one years old. ,. How old was he when he moved to Paris and how old was he when he died? Answer: Twenty-three and ninety-one.
A group of old classmates, who have succeeded in their work, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaining about the stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and many cups-china , plastic and glass, some plain looking, some expensive and some lovely. The professor told them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "Can you notice all the nice looking expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones? While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress." "What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups." "Now think about this: life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and do not change the quality of life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cups, we fail to enjoy the coffee. So don't let the cups drive you, enjoy the coffee instead." What cups did the old professor give to his students? A All china cups. B Plastic and glass ups. C Beautiful cups. D Cups which are different in price, material and appearance. Answer: D. Cups which are different in price, material and appearance. Galaxy saw a man and a woman who communicated with the sign language at the train station when she was on the way home one evening. She noticed that the woman asked the mon for the direction. He told her that he did not know. Galaxy decided to help them. She had learned the sign language when she served as a volunteer in the deaf and mute school. Then she showed the woman the direction and left her email address to them in case they needed her help later. She received an email from that man the next day. Kazrim was his name. Galaxy replied his mail sincerely. They both started chatting online soon after and began seeing each other. Although they only communicated with the sign language, it never bothered her. Galaxy was fond of him gradually. Obviously, Kazrim was the same too. He presented Galaxy with a bunch of sunflowers and asked her sincerely, "Are you willing to be my girlfriend?" Galaxy was pleasantly surprised. She requested him to give her some time to persuade her parents. As she had expected, her parents were very angry after they had learned of their love story. Galaxy explained, "Kazrim is an excellent and a very optimistic person. He has a very positive attitude towards life and work. He cares for others always. He is 100% better than the normal. Moreover, the mute is still a human. He should possess a perfect and wonderful love. " Her parents asked to see him, then. The very worried Galaxy took Kazrim home a few days later. When they were on the train, Kazrim told her, ''I'm going to tell your parents I'll be looking after you well with all my life!" Galaxy was deeply moved. As soon as they had entered the house, Galaxy introduced him to her parents. She said, ''This is Kazrim." Just right after her speech, an unbelievable thing happened. Kazrim threw the gift away and held her in his arms tightly. He said, "YOU CAN TALK?" It was the same question that Galaxy wanted to ask, too. The four people were shocked all of a sudden. As a matter of fact, Kazrim always believed that Galaxy was a mute and he still fell in love with her deeply. What can we learn about the two young people from the passage? A They fell in love at the first sight. B They cheated each other to win love. C They mistook each other for being mutes. D They ignored the anger of Galaxy's parents. Answer: C. They mistook each other for being mutes. Are you taking good care of your hair and using the right products? Could your shampoo be damaging your hair? Should you brush your hair more or less? The following are a few tips to help you keep your hair healthy and shining. A balanced diet will help you have nice-looking hair. Try to eat more green vegetables, eggs and beans every day. Wash your hair every day, or every two days. Always use cool, clean water to wash the shampoo out of your hair. Use shampoo that is specially designed for your hair type (dry, oily, etc.).When using shampoo, be sure to massage your hair, including the roots, softly. Allow your hair to dry naturally whenever possible. Hair is at its weakest when it is wet, so never brush or comb your wet hair hard, and use a wide-toothed comb. Give your hair a good brushing before going to bed. Do this by bending over so that your head is hanging down, and brush from back to front. This will help remove the dirt from your hair. Strong sunlight is bad for your hair. So remember to wear a hat to protect it on hot summer days. We should brush our hair _ before going to bed. A from left to right B from back to front C from front to back D from right to left Answer: B. from back to front When Mr. Jones went to a restaurant one day, he left his coat near the door. There was nothing in the pockets of the coat when he left it, so he was very surprised when he took his coat after his meal and found the pockets full of jewelry .There was a waiter near the door, so Mr. Jones said to him, "Somebody has made a mistake. He has put some jewelry in my coat. Take it, and when he comes back, give it to him." The waiter took it and went away. Suddenly another man came in with a coat just like Mr. Jones's. "I'm sorry ",said this man. "but I made a mistake. I mistook your coat and you have got mine. Please give me my coat and jewelry ."Mr. Jones answered, "I gave the jewelry to the waiter. He will give it to you." Mr. Jones called the manager of the restaurant at once, but the manager said, "We have no waiter here. We only have waitresses." "You gave the jewelry to a thief !" Shouted the other man. "I shall call the police!" Mr. Jones was frightened and paid the man a lot of money for the jewelry. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A We have no waiters here. B Mr. Jones. C Jewelry in Mr. Jones' coat. D A clever waiter. Answer: A. We have no waiters here. Bill is ten years old. One day his friend Tom says to him, "I am going to have a birthday party on Sunday evening. Bill, can you come to my party?" "I'll be glad to," answers Bill. Before Bill goes to the party on Sunday afternoon, his mother says to him, "Now, Bill, don't forget to be polite . Don't ask for food until someone gives it to you.""All right, Mum." Bill answers, and he goes to Tom's house on his new bike. There are a lot of children at the party. They play for an hour. Then Tom's mother gives them some food. But she forgets to give Bill any. He waits politely for ten minutes and then holds his plate up in the air and says loudly , "Does anyone want a nice and clean plate?" How old is Bill? A Eight. B Ten. C Twenty. D Eleven. Answer: B. Ten.
Question: Nancy Tillman's wonderful On the Night You Were Born is one of my very favorite books. Its celebration of the uniqueness of each and every child told in lyrical language makes it the gift I choose most often for expectant or adoptive parents. I also read it regularly with my grandchildren and talk with them about how special they are. Tillman feels that the most important message for children to receive is simply, "You are loved." And it's that message that is the focus of this, her newest book, Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You. Once again, it is her turn of phrase that most fascinates me: In the green of the grass ... in the smell of the sea ... in the clouds floating by ... at the top of a tree ... in the sound crickets make at the end of the day ... "You are loved. You are loved. You are loved," they all say. Phrases encourage children to grow, to try new things, to "march to the front" of their "own parade" and assures them that, no matter how far they go or what they do, they will be loved. Though the words alone would convince me to buy, share and recommend this book, Tillman is also a gifted artist and her lovely work makes this book a visual treasure as well. Through the pages, a child rides hippos, splashes in the surf with elephants, plays hide and seek with rabbits, shares a trampoline with a kangaroo and enjoys some quiet time with a pair of pandas. My favorite drawing has the child walking away along a wide path that runs between trees covered in mist. In all of the drawings, swirls of sparkling lights wrap around the child--the love that will always be with him/her. I've read On the Night You Were Born dozens of times and with every single reading, I am incredibly touched. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You creates the same feeling of wonder, peace and happiness in me. It's a keep-forever book and I'm so happy to have it in my collection to share with the children I love most. Pick out the true statements according to the passage. A. The words alone makes Tillman's books the writer's favorite. B. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You is published earlier than On the Night You Were Born. C. My favorite drawing shows the feeling of wonder with the child swirling in sparkling lights. D. The drawings in Wherever You Are convey love with pictures involving animals. Answer: D. The drawings in Wherever You Are convey love with pictures involving animals. Question: Father of TV Invention of television began in 1922 in Rigby, Idaho, the hometown of Philo Farnsworth. At the age of 16, Philo was a very shy boy. Only his science teacher, Justin Tolman, realized that Philo was a special person. One day after school Mr. Tolman found Philo in the classroom. The boy was making drawings on the chalkboard. "What are you doing?" Mr. Tolman asked with interest, "What are these drawings?" "I want to invent things," Philo answered, "and these are the drawings of one of my first inventions. I have an idea for a way of sending pictures through the air. Please, just let me tell you about it. _ " In the school library Philo had read about a man who had worked on an idea for television, but had failed. Philo was sure that his own idea was better and that he could succeed. Mr. Tolman was not sure and asked Philo many questions about the drawings. Giving facts and figures, Philo answered every question. In 1926, Philo sent his drawings to Washington, along with a letter asking for the patent rights on television. Since then, television has become an important business all over the world. When he lived in his hometown, Philo was _ . A. quite different from others B. an active boy C. an inventor D. a hard-working boy Answer: A. quite different from others Question: In all one's lifetime it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. But it is exactly oneself that one has the least understanding of. When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself, mistaking difficulties for your own incompetence. To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself-aware of both one's strengths and shortages. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for ideals can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts. That's to say so long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself there won't be difficulties you can't overcome. To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you think you are a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own value. If you earnestly admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation, which will give you confidence. As soon as you gain full confidence in yourself, you'll be enabled to fight and overcome any adversity. To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires doing oneself a favor when it's needed. In time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep. As you are aware, what a person physically has is but a human body that's vulnerable when exposed to the elements. So if you fall ill, it's up to you to take a good care of yourself. In a word, to get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full control of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor. If this passage is divided into three parts, the second part should consist of _ . A. Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3 B. Paragraph 2 to Paragraph 5 C. Paragraph 3 to Paragraph 5 D. Paragraph 4 and Paragraph 5 Answer: C. Paragraph 3 to Paragraph 5 Question: A professor told his students to go into the city slum to study the life of 200 boys.He asked them to write reports about each boy's life and future.Every one of the students wrote,"He doesn't have any hope." Twenty-five years later.another professor read about the earlier study.He told his students to find out what had happened to these boys.Of the 200 boys,20 had moved away or died.Nobody knew what had happened to them.They tried very hard and found the other 180 people.Among them 176 had become successful as doctors,teachers and scientists. The professor was very surprised and decided to study it further.Luckily,all the men were living near the place and he was able to ask each one,"What made you successful?" Each one answered with feeling."There was a teacher." The teacher was still living there,so the professor found her and asked the old woman what she had used to pull those out of the slums,and change them into successful people. The teacher's eyes began to shine and she said with a sweet smile,"It's really very easy.I loved those boys." What changed the boys' life? A. The professor's study B. The teacher's love C. Their parents D. The slums Answer: B. The teacher's love Question: How much time is required for a bicycle to travel a distance of 100 m at an average speed of 2 m/s? A. 0.0 B. s B 50 s C. 100 s D. 200 s Answer: B. s B 50 s
Today, in many high schools, teaching is now a technical miracle of computer labs, digital cameras, DVD players and laptops. Teachers can e-mail parents, post messages for students on online bulletin(,) boards, and take attendance with a quick movement of a mouse. Even though we are now living in the digital age, the basic and most important element of education has not changed. Most students still need that one-on-one, teacher-student relationship to learn and to succeed. Teenagers need instruction in English, math or history, but they also want personal advice and encouragement. Kids talk with me about their families, their weekend plans, their favorite TV shows and their relationship problems. In my English and journalism classes, we talk about Shakespeare and persuasive essays, but we also discuss college basketball, the war in Iraq and career choices. Students show me pictures of their rebuilt cars, their family vacations, and their newborn baby brothers. This personal connection is the necessary link between teachers and students that no amount of technology can improve upon or replace. A few years ago I had a student in sophomore English who was struggling with my class and with school in general. Although he was a humorous young man who liked to joke around, I knew his family life was far from ideal. Whenever I approached him about missing homework or low test grades, he always had the same reply, "It doesn't matter because I'm quitting school anyway." Even though he always said this in a half-teasing way, I knew he needed to hear my different opinion and my "value of a high school education" lecture. He needed to hear this speech from me. After he left my class, he struggled through the next two years of school. But, he did finally graduate because we kept telling him to hang in there. We'd cared about him finishing school. Recently, I saw this former student working at a local Italian restaurant. I told him again how proud I was of him. He said that he was hoping to go back to school to become a certified electrician. I encouraged him to get that training. Students rely on _ teachers to guide, to tutor, to listen, to laugh and to cry with them. Teachers provide the most important link in the educational process--the human one. The author states his view of education by _ . A example B description C figure D Comparison Answer: A. example Japanese people work very hard at studying English. They start studying English at the age of 12. Most young Japanese people spend a lot of time and work hard at studying English, but Japanese people are not good at English. Here are the reasons: There are few people from English-speaking countries in Japan. They don't have enough chances to speak with them. Japan is an island country and they feel that other countries are far away. So they don't use English very often. And the Japanese feel that it is strange to talk to each other in English. The Japanese education doesn't always follow the educational trends in the world. It puts a lot of importance on grammar and vocabulary, and less on speaking, listening and reading skills. Many Japanese students' English becomes worse after they go to university .They have to learn English again if they work in English-speaking countries. Sometimes the Japanese feel shy about speaking wrong or broken English. Most young Japanese people _ English. A are good at B work hard at C don't like D spend little time on Answer: B. work hard at University of Maryland student Ben Simon and his friends couldn't stand to see good food thrown out on their campus."We basically noticed that some of the extra food from the dining hall was going to waste at the end of the day.And we met with the dining services and asked them whether it would be okay if instead of throwing out the food we would donate it.And they were on board," he said. So 18 months ago,the students began what they call the Food Recovery Network.Each night,volunteers would show up at a campus dining hall to pick up leftovers and deliver them to area shelters and food banks.So far,they have donated more than 23 000 kilos of food that would otherwise have been thrown out. Nationwide,$165 billion worth of food is wasted each year,according to the National Resources Defense Council.Spokesman Bob Keefe says that is about 40% of the country's entire food production."If we can reduce our waste in this country by 15%,we can feed 25 million hungry Americans.That is a huge benefit.That is what programs like this Food Recovery Network are doing," he said. Christian Life Center is one of the beneficiaries of the students' efforts.Ben Slye,the senior pastor ,said,"It has been just amazing to see these students take their own time,their own vehicles and own gas money and be able to make an effort like this.Each week we are able with this food probably to feed over hundred people." The University of Maryland's Food Recovery Network now has 200 volunteers and the program has expanded to 18 schools across the country."I want to grow 18 chapters to a thousand chapters within five years.And once we get to the Food Recovery Nation being at every college campus in America,we want to expand to restaurants and farms." said Simon. The volunteers are committed to making that happen. We can learn from the text that _ . A over 40% of the country's entire food is wasted each year B altogether 25 million Americans suffer from hunger nowadays C Simon aims to expand the program to restaurants and farms D every college has started the Food Recovery Network Answer: C. Simon aims to expand the program to restaurants and farms In 1953, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary, then 33, joined a British Qomolangma expedition led by Colonel John Hunt. Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans were the first team to attempt the summit . Despite a violent storm, they reached the South Summit -- at 28,700 feet (8,748 meters) -- by 1 p.m. on May 26. But both men knew they would run out of oxygen if they went on. They agreed to turn back. Two days later, Hillary and Norgay, set out from Camp IX at 25,900 feet to make the next attempt. At 27,900 feet they made a temporary camp on a six foot wide rock to spend the night. At 6:30 the next morning, cheered by clearing skies, the team moved out. Roped together, cutting steps with their ice axes, they inched up a steep, knife-edged ridge southeast of the summit. They reached the South Summit by 9:00 a.m. Farther up, they met a 40-foot icy rock face, which was later named the Hillary Step. "...looking up at the rock step at 29,000 feet, it really did look extremely difficult to overcome," said Hillary. But they found a narrow crack on the surface of the rock, just large enough to move inside on hands and knees, and managed to climb it by supporting feet against one side and backs against the other. Hillary said, "That was really the first moment during the whole of the expedition that I was confident that we were going to get to the top." The last few yards to the summit were relatively easy. "Then I realized that the ridge, instead of rising ahead, now dropped sharply away," Hillary said. "I looked upward to see a narrow ridge running up to a sharp point. ...and we stood on the summit." It was 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953. What is the passage mainly about? A The climbing history of Qomolangma. B The life and achievements of Edmund Hillary. C How Hillary and Norgay conquered Qomolangma. D How the Hillary Step got its name. Answer: C. How Hillary and Norgay conquered Qomolangma. The death list in a school bus accident that happened on Wednesday morning in the northwest province of Gansu has risen to 20 following the death of one child later Wednesday. It's known that the accident happened around 9:40 a.m. in Yulinzi town of Zhengning county, according to a report from the police. The report said five people including four children and their bus driver died just at the moment that the accident happened. While 15 others, their teacher included, were sure to be dead by the afternoon. It's reported that another 44 children were injured in the accident and have been sent to hospital. Twelve of the injured are in badly hurt. The truck which caused the accident was carrying coal. Another reason for the accident was the bus itself. The police has blamed _ for the accident, saying that the bus -- a van with nine seats -- was carrying 64 people. How many more people did the bus carry than it could be carried in? A 9 B 15 C 64 D 55 Answer: D. 55
LOS ANGELES, the US Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled Michael Jackson's father can receive some medical records related to his superstar son's death.The judge will review the records first before making them accessible to Joe Jackson's lawyer,Brian Oxman.Beckloff said the man can only receive records on or after June 25the day Michael Jackson died. VANCOUVER,CANADA World number one Zhou Yang overcame three South Korean players to win the women's short track speed skating 1,500 meters final at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.The l8-year-old made perfect debut as she set an Olympic record of a winning time of 2 minutes and l6,993 seconds among other seven skaters. China has never won the women's l,500 meters in the Olympics before,and this time Zhou's performance gave China its third gold medal in Vancouver. BElJING,CHINA China's first compulsory, safety regulation on primary school buses,which requires every seat to have a seat belt,will take effect on July l to help ensure safer transportation for the country's 100 million students. Each primary school bus must also be equipped with a "black box",0r a recording monitor,to record speed,travel time and distance.Also,the bus must be staffed by teachers who will ensure student safety.In addition,the new rule states that the color of the school buses should be yellow,and each bus must have at least two emergency exits. Texas,the US A software engineer who crashed his plane into a Texas building housing a United States tax agency office,killing himself and at least one worker,apparently left behind an angry anti-government manifesto detailing his financial difficulties and tax problems.The pilot took off from an airport in Georgetown.about 48 km from Austin.He flew low over the Austin skyline before plowing into the building. It seems the software engineer crashed into the US tax office mainly because of _ . Answer: financial and tax problems I'm Jenny. Nothing is cuter than my dog, Marley. He sleeps near my bed at night and gives me kisses every morning. He gets sad when I leave for school. But he's always there waiting when I get home., ready to go for a walk or play a game. On a Christmas Eve , Marley walked with my family to a store. My mum tied him up outside. When we came out of the store, Marley had gone. My mum called the police to report that he had been stolen. We couldn't find him anywhere. I was very sad. It was the worst Christmas Eve ever. That night, I didn't sleep well. My cat seemed to know I was sad and hugged me to make me feel better. On Christmas morning, I woke up and called for Marley. Then I remembered that he had gone. Even though it was Christmas, I didn't want presents. I didn't want anything, except my friend. Then my mum got a phone call. Someone found him! A woman saw a man on the street trying to sell a scared dog. She felt bad for the dog and used her own money(more than $200)to buy him. She took him to a vet . The vet scanned the dog for a microchip .The vet found our phone number in the microchip and called my mum. I was so excited when I saw Marley. I want to say thanks to that woman. She's my hero. Getting Marley back was the best Christmas present ever. What can we infer from the passage? Answer: The woman is a very nice lady Sherwood Forest Farm Park Lamb Pens Farm Edwinstowe, Mansfield Tel: 01623 823558 _ Lovely traditional breeds of farm animals, horses, wallabies, fallow deer, water buffalo and Kune pigs are waiting to greet everyone. Play areas, pets' corner, bird garden, a tearoom and a gift shop make this the ideal venue for the whole family. Open daily 3rdApril ---17thOctober 10. 30 am---5. 15 pm. Just off A6075 between Edwinstowe and Mansfield Woodhouse Admission: Adult: PS5.00, Child: PS 3.50 Under 3 FREE (All children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult) Family Ticket 2 Adult +2 Children PS 15.00 Season Tickets Adult PS18.00 Child PS12.00 Visit as many as you like during the season Excellent reductions for pre-booked groups/school A family of four----father, mother and two children who are seven and two, will visit the park, how much will they pay? Answer: PS13.50 A person who wants to avoid wasting a manufactured box will Answer: use it for new purposes When I was younger, bedtime was always my favourite part of the day. Wearing soft pajamas and with Lan, my stuffed monkey, in my arms, I felt no pressure at all. I named Lan after my uncle when I compared Lan's long arms and legs to his. One night I ran up to Uncle Lan at a family party and told him I had named my monkey after him. His eyebrows wrinkled in confusion, then a chuckle escaped his lips. I guess he didn't understand how important it was to me. Even if Uncle Lan didn't think my monkey was special, I certainly did. I dressed him in a white baby nightgown. My mother thought that Lan was the best-dressed stuffed animal in the world. Yes, he was certainly a fashionable creature. The strong cologne I used on him years ago makes him still smell "pretty". For a long time, Lan went everywhere with me. He was my best friend, and I told him everything. But when I turned twelve, I realized I was too old for stuffed animals. I thought people would think I was babyish, so I put him in the cupboard with the rest of my teddy bears and dolls. I begged him to understand why I was doing this, but at the same time I longed to talk to him again. It took me several years to realize that it was OK to miss Lan. I know now that maturity doesn't only mean growing up and taking on more responsibility. It also means holding on to your childhood and acting young sometimes. Lan has been with me since I was six years old. Holding him in my arms connects me to my past and my present as I continue to grow and understand myself. We can learn from the text that the writer believes _ . Answer: one should keep to his childhood and act young sometimes even when he has grown up
When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to grandma's generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and silver, and the dress code will be Sunday best. But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware and stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times. Last week _ , the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000 jobs -- one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4, 000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier. Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shifts. A spokesman for Royal Doulton admitted that the company "has been somewhat slow in catching up with the trend" toward casual dining. Families eat together less often, he explained, and more people eat alone, either because they are single or they eat in front of television. Even dinner parties, if they happen at all, have gone casual. In a time of long work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that it's better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or a "real" dinner party. Too often, the perfect moment never comes. Iron a fine-patterned tablecloth? Forget it. Polish the silver? Who has time? Yet the loss of formality has its down side. The fine points of etiquette that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (" Chew with your mouth closed." "Keep your elbows off the table. ") must be picked up else-where. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be able professionally but inexperienced socially. Why do people tend to follow the trend to casual dining? Busy schedules leave people no time for formality The Islands of Hawaii Hawaii The "Big Island" of Hawaii is a paradise playground where visitors can enjoy a popular lifestyle and at the same time, witness the attraction of nature: thousands of square miles form a wonderland, featuring breathtaking beaches, forests, snow-covered mountains and amazing active volcanoes. A visit to Volcanoes National Park, which has been described as a true wonder of the world, is a must. It is the state's biggest attraction. Accommodations Seasons Resort Hualalai from $ 205.00Fairmont Orchid: from $108.00 Sightseeing and Experiences Circle Island Tour: from $48.00 Kauai The beautiful landscape of Kauai has led to it being called the "Garden Isle", but it is also referred to as the "Island of discovery", and with good reason - a land of striking natural contrasts just waiting to be explored. Green mountains, a breathtaking coastline and white sand beaches combine to make it one of the world's most relaxing locations. Accommodations Grand Hyatt Kauai: from $ 101.00Sheraton Kauai Resort: from $ 79.00 Maui Voted the "World's Best Island", Maui is widely regarded as one of the most romantic destinations on earth. It is known as the "Valley Isle" and was the ancient playground for Hawaiian royalty. The island is largely rural with a small and wonderful population and a host of attractions and nature wonders. Accommodations Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: from $ 87.00 Sheraton Maui: from $ 99.00 Oahu Oahu has a unique rhythm, filling the air with sweet fragrances , music and language: from lovely beaches and amazing nightlife to beautiful rainforests and quiet valleys. Adventure, history, romance, discovery--Oahu waits for you. Accommodations Halekulani: from $ 121.00 Hilton Hawaiia: Village: from $ 73.00 Sightseeing and Experiences Royal Circle Island Tour: from $ 34.00 Paradise Cove Lu'au: $ 44.00 # All prices are based on per person per night. For a couple spending two nights in one of the accommodations, they have to pay at least _ . $292.00 "Get your hands off me, I have been stolen," the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft (the crime of stealing): a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken. The program allows users to displayalerts (warning)on the missing computer's screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners _ . Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow "lost or stolen" sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version of the software, users can also send a spoken message. The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes _ . "One customer sent a message saying, 'You are being tracked. I am right at your door'," said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever. In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop's speakers will say: "Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now." The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs. Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password immediately if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access (, ) details. If a thief accesses the Internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the Internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location. Thousands of laptops are stolen every year from homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply. Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer. One function of the program is that it allows the owner to _ at a distance. change some access details for switching on the laptop Getting a good education is more important today than ever before. It is the best thing you can do to build a better future for your children and yourself. Most children in Canada attend public schools. Public schools are completely founded by governments through tax income. Boys and girls attend the same school and share the same courses and classes. Schooling in Canada is provided in English and in French. The rest of Canadian children attend private schools,which are supported mainly by fees paid directly by parents. Some private schools enroll only boys or girls. By law,children must attend school from age 5 to 16.Children are usually in school between 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.,and 3:00 or 4:00 p.m.Monday through Friday,from September to the middle of June. There are several different levels in the Canadian education system. The first is called Elementary Schools. In most provinces Elementary Schools include Kindergarten through Grade 7 or 8. From Grade 8 or 9 through 12 or 13,children go to Secondary School or High School. High School students must take certain courses for several years,such as English or French and mathematics. Some courses help students get a job after they graduate from school. Other courses prepare students for college or university. In Canada,teenagers usually make these choices for themselves,with the advice of their teachers,guidance counselor and parents. Schools usually offer extra activities at the end of the normal school day. These include sports,games,music and clubs. Most elementary and high schools encourage parents to take part in school activities. Parents' nights are organized from time to time. These are chances for parents to discuss their children's progress with teachers. You may wish to bring a friend with you. After graduating from high school,many young adults continue their studies through postsecondary education. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? There are only boys in some public schools. True to their reputation as leisure-loving gourmets ,the French spend more time sleeping and eating than anyone else among the world's wealthy nations,according to a study published on Monday. The average French person sleeps almost nine hours every night,more than an hour longer than Japanese and Korean,who sleep the least in a survey of 18 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).Despite their siesta habit,Spaniards rank only third in the poll after Americans,who sleep more than 8.5 hours. And while more and more French people grab a bite at fast-food chains these days or,wolf down a sandwich at their desk,they still spend more than two hour's a day eating. That means their meals are twice as long as those of the average Mexican,who dedicates just over an hour a day to food,the OECD's "Society at a Glance" report on work,health and leisure in Asia,Europe and North and South America found.The Japanese,scrimping on sleep and burdened with long working hours,still manage to spend close to two hours a day eating and drinking,placing them third behind New Zealanders. Despite the limited amount of time Americans spend eating each day---about an hour and a quarter--U.S.obesity) rates are the highest in the 30 members of OECD. The Japanese like to spend what remains of their rare free time watching television or listening to the radio.This takes up 47 percent of leisure time in Japan.Norwegians spend the most time at leisure,just over a quarter of their day,while at the low end,Mexicans spend just 16 percent of their time having fun. The OECD has 30 members.The survey covers only the countries for which appropriate figures were available. As to eating time,the CORRECT order is _ . The French > New Zealanders> Japanese> Mexicans
It was a painful 100 hours from the moment the earthquake struck until rescuers pulled Liu Deyun from the ruins of a factory yesterday. When he went to work on Monday morning, he had never thought that he would spend the next week in the ruins of his workplace. "It was a miracle , but that happened through our hard work," said Zhao Hongxing, an army doctor who joined in rescue. "His first words were 'The army is great. '" Chinese troops may have been the ones to physically free Mr Liu, 50, but it was his daughter who didn't give up looking for her father that saved his life at last. On Thursday night, running around the fallen factory, the family search party headed by his daughter, heard a low cry. "Father! Father!" Mr Liu answered in a low voice "Yes". Then, after more than three days buried under the fallen building, came two simple words: "I'm thirsty". The reply was probably not what he was wanting: "Father don't talk! You need your air! I will go and find somebody to rescue you!" The entire first floor of the building fell down, with the second floor completely damaged and pushing the building to one side. The 12-hour rescue operation to save Mr Liu was filled with danger. Mr Liu was freed yesterday at 6:28 p. m. His family had agreed to cut off one of his feet so that he could be pulled out. "I just want him to live," his daughter Yuan, 23, said in tears. Mr Liu, wrapped in a blanket, was welcomed by a large number of people who was concerned about him. And with the latest survivor taken to a waiting ambulance , the rescue workers went back to the ruins where two more factory workers were waiting for their turn to be dug out. From the text, we can know _ . A the Chinese troops first found Mr Liu in ruins B his daughter played an important part in finding him C Mr Liu would be sent back to his home at once D Mr Liu could walk out the ruins by himself Answer: B. his daughter played an important part in finding him People have flown kites in Japan for more than 1,000 years. There are different kinds of kites there.Some look like bats ;others look like birds. Most have pictures on them.There are many interesting stories about kites in Japan.One story tells about a thief who used a kite.He wanted to steal the gold from the top of a high tower.The thief and his friends made a large kite.One dark windy night he caught hold of the kite.His friends raised it into the air.Then they moved the kite near the top of the tower.The thief was able to steal the gold.Another story tells about a father and a son.They were in trouble on an island near Japan.The father made a large kite.His son flew in it back to Japan. The young men of Japan have kite matches.When the kites are flying, the match starts.The young men try to break each other's kite strings . The last kite left in the sky is the winner. The father in the passage made a large kite to help his son to _ . A fly over the sea B fly over the island C return home D steal gold Answer: C. return home Meet the "Tutor Kings and Queens" "If you want to be a top tutor, it definitely helps if you are young and attractive. Students look at your appearance," said Kelly Mok, 26, a "tutor queen" at King's Glory, one of Hong Kong's largest tutorial establishments. Richard Eng from Beacon College, a former secondary school teacher, is often credited with being the first of Hong Kong's "star tutors". "In school all the teachers look the same, there's no excitement," he said. The celebrity tutor phenomenon is a result of the huge growth in outofschool tutoring in Asia. It is fuelled by highly pressured examination systems and ambitious parents wanting their children to secure places at top universities and highstatus secondary schools. In societies where success _ good exam results, parental anxiety converts into a "steady stream of revenue " for tutoring establishments, according to a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The tutoring industry, or "shadow education" as the ADB calls it, has become very widespread in Asia, fed by the growth in universities and the rising proportion of school leavers aiming for university. Hong Kong University's professor Mark Bray, one of the authors of the ADB study, said a staggering 72% of finalyear school students in Hong Kong now go to private tutors. It's not just Hong Kong. Tutoring has "spread and intensified in Asia and become more commercialized," said Professor Bray. In South Korea, 90% of primary school children attend such classes. In China, New Oriental Education and Technology has grown to become one of the largest tutoring schools in Asia with around 2.4 million students this year. In South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, tutorial schools use star tutors to attract even more students. Who is probably a "tutor king" in Hong Kong? A Kelly Mok. B Richard Eng. C Mark Bray. D Not mentioned. Answer: B. Richard Eng. The oldest and most common source of renewaBle energy known to man, Biomass is one of the most important forms energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Since such a wide variety of Biomass materials is everywhere ---- from trees and grasses to agricultural and city ---- life wastes ----Biomass promises to play a continuing role in providing power and heat for millions of people around the world. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists(UCS), Biomass is a kind of renewaBle energy source that produces no carBon dioxide , Because the energy it contains comes from the sun. When plant matter is Burned, it gives off the sun's energy. In this way, Biomass serves as a sort of natural Battery for storing the sun's energy. As long as Biomass is produced continuously ----with only as much grown as is used--- the "Battery" lasts forever. According to the Energy Information Administration, Biomass has Been one of the leading renewaBle energy sources in the United States for several years running through 2007, making up Between 0.5 and 0.9 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. In 2008----although the numBers aren't all in yet----wind power proBaBly took over first place Because of the rapid development of wind farms across the country. Producing power from Biomass helps reduce some 11 million tons of carBon dioxide each year. Some homeowners also try to make their own heat By using Biomass materials. Such practice may save homeowner's money, But it also produces a lot of pollution. So, the Best way is to encourage power plants to use it. Why is Biomass considered as " a sort of natural Battery"? A It Burns merely plant matter. B It keeps producing electricity. C It stores the energy from the sun. D It produces zero carBon dioxide. Answer: C. It stores the energy from the sun. Ginger and Joey were two young dogs. They were happy because it was now the summer and they could play outside more often. Today Ginger and Joey were running around in their big backyard. They had fun barking at many things. They barked at squirrels. They barked at a bus. They barked at the mailman. They barked at a weird bug. They barked so much, they were never quiet! The neighbor was a grumpy old man. His name was Bert. Bert threw a shoe at them because they were barking too much. He couldn't take a nap because they were so loud. Bert got too angry and Bert throws things when he gets too angry. The shoe missed both Ginger and Joey, but they barked a little less. Now they ran even faster. After a very long time, they began to get tired. They sniffed around the edges of the yard and found some old watermelon. That's a good snack for young dogs like Ginger and Joey! Next, they rolled around in the dirt. Then they chased their tails. Finally, their mom came out and told them to come inside. They were so dirty, they needed a bath. Ginger loved baths and jumped right into the tub. Joey was scared and ran away to hide. After a little bit, his mom found him and he got a bath in the end, too. What was Joey scared of? A A weird bug B Ginger C The summer D A bath Answer: D. A bath
First,I want to tell you how proud we are.Getting into Columbia is a real testament of what a great wellrounded student you are.Your academic,artistic,and social skills have truly blossomed in the last few years.You should be as proud of yourself as we are. College will be the most important years in your life.It is in college that you will truly discover what learning is about.You often question"what good is this course".I encourage you to be inquisitive,but I also want to tell you:"Education is what you have left after all that is taught is forgotten."What I mean by that is the material taught isn't as important as you gaining the ability to learn a new subject,and the ability to analyze a new problem.That is really what learning in college is about-this will be the period where you go from teachertaught to masterinspired,after which you must become selflearner. Do not fall into the trap of dogma .There is no single simple answer to any question.Remember during your high school debate class,I always asked you to take on the side that you don't believe in?I did that for a reason-things rarely"black and white",and there are always many ways to look at a problem.You will become a better problem solver if you recognized that.This is called"critical thinking",and it is the most important thinking skill you need for your life.This also means you need to become tolerant and supportive of others.I will always remember when I went to my Ph.D.advisor and proposed a new thesis topic,he said"I don't agree with you,but I'll support you." Follow your passion in college.Take courses you think you will enjoy.Don't be trapped in what others think or say.Steve Jobs says when you are in college,your passion will create many dots,and later in your life you will connect them.Enjoy picking your dots,and be assured one day you will find your calling,and connect a beautiful curve through the dots. Most importantly,make friends and be happy.College friends are often the best in life,because during college you are closer to them physically than to your family.Also,going through independence and adulthood is a natural bonding experience. Bonne chance,my angel and princess.May Columbia become the happiest four years in your life. By mentioning Steve Jobs,the author intends to tell us that . A. your dream of connecting dots to form a beautiful curve will be realized. B. following your own heart in college may guarantee opportunities of success. C. Steve Jobs is a typical example to illustrate that freedom and enjoyment count. D. Steve Jobs owes his success to his critical thinking. Answer: B Hero Carl West is an unassuming all-American 24 year old . You might think that because he works in a convenience store that he's not the brightest guy you're likely to meet. Yet this slightly scruffy young man in his Nike sneakers , was smart enough to break a fake story that successfully fooled the world for 35 years . "I guess I just got lucky," West smiles. " It just goes to show you don't have to finish high school to be smart." Forty Years' Study "I've spent 40 years in astronomical study, and 20 years of that specifically in Satellite Systems study. I have a University chair in three major Universities and sat on 5 different governmental committees on Space Exploration. Hell, I wrote a research paper on the Lunar Landings that took 18 months to research, then a further 3 months just to correct it." Steven pauses to scratch his head. "Yet not once did it occur to me to wonder who filmed Armstrong as he stepped onto the moon. How could I have been so stupid? " The Evidence * If Armstrong was the first to walk on the moon, then who filmed him walking down the ladder? * There's no gravity on the moon, so why didn't the astronauts just float away? * It's really hot on the moon, so Armstrong should have died of thirst. * The deadly radiation belts around the Earth turn everyone radioactive and make your eyes boil unless you are wearing 18 inches of lead . So how did they get through it? Which of the following is NOT mentioned in THE EVIDENCE? A. protective measures B. weightless condition C. an astronaut D. a film-maker Answer: D Here is a passage about learning a foreign language. Outside of class, the most natural way of finding out if you are making mistakes is from other people's responses. If the mistakes are too serious, your listeners will be asking you all the time what you mean. If they are not so serious, then people may be asking you whether you said such and such. That will tell you how close you are to speaking "cogently". Of course, there are other times when it is important to have errors pointed out. Your class assignments are probably marked in this way, in which case you need to spend time going over them to take advantage of the individual feedback. In some classes the teacher gets better and better at grammar because she does all the corrections, but the students make slow progress if, when an assignment is returned, they quickly stuff it into their folders without looking. You are the person who should be connecting your error, even if the marker has signaled them, when you look at them; there are some steps to work through. One distinction that has been made about learners' language is this. You make mistakes about rules that you already know but you make errors about points you haven't learned yet. In other words, you can find your own mistakes, but not your errors. First, make sure you understand what you have written or said, or your correction will simply be another stab at the right answer. Next, decide on the best way of practicing the correct form. Would it help you to write out the sentence once more? Can you make up another similar sentence? Then you could test yourself in a few days time to see whether you have remembered the right form, anyone can get it right immediately after being told. He challenge is to remember it and apply it later. The writer thinks some students make slow progress because_. A. they understand what they have written or said. B. they have remembered the right form C. they hardly pay attention to their marked assignments D. they decide on the best way of practicing the correct form Answer: C What would be best for healthy ferns? A. dog food B. houseplant food C. cat food D. planted food Answer: B Alan Izhar-Bodner, an Israeli inventor, has developed a swimming suit for divers to breathe underwater without carrying heavy oxygen tanks. His suit makes use of the air that is dissolved in water, just like fish do. The system uses the Henry Law which states that the amount of gas that can be dissolved in a liquid is proportional to the pressure on the liquid. Raise the pressure ---more gas can be dissolved in the liquid. Decrease the pressure --- less gas dissolved in the liquid releases the gas. This is exactly what happens when you open a can of soda; carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in the liquid and is under pressure in the can. Open the can, releasing the pressure, and the gas fizzes out. Bodner's System obviously uses a special machine to lower pressure in part of a small amount of seawater taken into the system; dissolved gas is taken out. The patent reads: A self-contained open-circuit breathing instrument for use within a body of water naturally containing dissolved air. The instrument is adapted to provide breathable air. The instrument contains an inlet for taking out a quantity of water from the body of water. It further contains a separator for separating the dissolved air from the quantity of water, thus gaining the breathable air. The instrument further contains an outlet for expelling the separated water back into the body of water, and another outlet for removing the breathable air and supplying it for breathing. The air is supplied so as to enable it to be expelled back into the body of water after it has been breathed . Human beings have been thinking about how to breathe underwater since they started swimming. This long-held desire plays an important part in one of the first great science fiction novels, Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. the less pressure it is, the less carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in the liquid B. the deeper one dives into the ocean, the less gas is dissolved in the water C. the greater pressure it is, the more carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in the liquid D. the deeper one dives into the ocean, the more gas is dissolved in the water Answer: D
A dense wave of smog began in the Chinese city of Harbin and the surrounding Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Provinces on 20 October 2013. Unseasonably warm temperatures with very little wind across northeastern China coincided with the smoke from local farmers' burning straws and the start-up of Harbin's coal-powered central heating system. Record densities of fine particulates were measured in the city. In Harbin, the levels of PM2.5 (particulate matter) rise to 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, worse than Beijing's historic highs. Visibility was reduced to below 50m in parts of Harbin, and below 500m in most of the neighbouring Jilin Province. On Fa Yuen Street in Harbin, visibility of less than 5m was reported. The smog reduced after October 23, 2013 and completely broke up on October 28, 2013 by the first local snow and icy rain due to a cold front moving in from Russia. Harbin lies in the north of China where winter temperatures can drop to -40degC, demanding a six-month heating season. Daily particulate levels of more than 40 times the World Health Organization recommended maximum level were reported in parts of Harbin. The smog remained till 23 October, when almost all monitoring stations in Heilongjiang, Jilin,and Liaoning Provincesreported readings above 200mg/m3forPM2.5. PM2.5 is the amount of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter in the air, with the WHO recommending a maximum 24-hour mean of 25 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m3). On the morning of 25 October, PM2.5 measurements in Harbin had fallen to an average of 123mg/m3. All highways in the surrounding Heilongjiang Province were closed. In Harbin, all primary and middle schools were closed for three days and authorities stopped flights at the airports. Hospitals reported a 23 percent increase in admissions for breathing problems. However, this smog will have no influence on Harbin Ice Festival events later in December 2013. Air pollution in Chinese cities is of increasing concern to China's leadership. Particulates in the air can affect human health and also have influences on climate and rainfall. Pollution from the burning of coal has reduced life expectancy by 5.5 years in the north of China, as a result of heart and lung diseases. One cause of the heavy smog in the northeastern Chinese cities may be _ . A. the lasting cold weather B. farmers' burning of forests C. too much strong wind D. the start-up of heating system Answer: D. the start-up of heating system Almost every child in cities has the chance to go to school, but not all children in the countries are so lucky. There is a girl called Xiao Fang. She is eight years old and lives in a small village in Guangxi. When she was young, she wanted to go to school. But she could not, because her family was too poor to afford the school fees for her, so her parents had to keep her at home. Instead of studying, Xiao Fang worked in the fields with her parents every day. Then Hope Project heard about Xiao Fang. It agreed to help Xiao Fang to go to school. Her wish of study came true, and now she is studying in a school. Unluckily there are many thousands of children who can not go to school. You can join in Hope Project and help these children. You know all the good work needs money. Hope Project needs your help. If you give Hope Project Y=300 each year, it can pay for one child to go to school for a whole year. With more money, Hope Project can build new schools, buy good desks, chairs, blackboards and books. let's help the children together and give them a chance to have a good start in life. _ can go to school. A. Almost every child in the world B. Almost every child in China C. Almost every child in big cities D. Almost every child in small villages Answer: C. Almost every child in big cities People use money to buy food, books and hundreds of other things they need. When they work, they usually get paid in money. Most of the money used today is made of metal or paper. But in the time long ago, people used to use all kinds of things as money. One of the first kinds of money was shells. In China, cloth and knives were used as money. Elephant tusks , monkey tail and salt were used in some parts of the world. Rice was also a kind of money used by the people in some islands. Some animals were used as money, too. The first copper coins were made in China. They were round and had a square hole in the center. Different countries have used different metals for their money. Later, some countries began to make coins of gold and silver . But gold and silver were heavy to carry when people needed a lot of coins to buy something expensive. The Chinese were the first to use paper money. The first paper money looked more like a note from one person to another than the paper money used today. Money has had an interesting story from the days of shell money till today. The first paper money _ A. looked like the same as the paper money used today B. 1ooked interesting C. 1ooked like a note D. had a square hole in the center Answer: C. 1ooked like a note Being physically active three times a week reduces the odds of being depressed by about 16%, according to new UCL research carried out as part of the Public Health Research Center. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found a two-way relationship between depression and physical activity. People who increased their weekly activity reported fewer depressive symptoms but those with more depressive symptoms were less active, particularly at younger ages. Researchers followed 11,135 people born in 1958 up until the age of 50, recording depressive symptoms and levels of physical activity at regular intervals in adulthood. They found that each additional activity period per week reduced odds of depression by 6%. In England 19% of men and 26% of women are currently classed as "inactive", and this study suggests that activity could significantly improve their mental as well as physical health. "Assuming the association is causal, physical activity has a protective effect against depression. If an adult between their twenties and forties who isn't physically active became active 3 times per week, they would reduce their risks of depression by about 16%." says Dr Snehal of the UCL Institute of Child Health, lead author of the study. Professor Mark, Director of the Public Health Research Center, said, "Many people are already aware of the benefits of physical activity on their general health, but now we are seeing more evidence that suggest it also has a positive effect on a person's mental well-being. The latest research highlights just how important it is to ensure that people are working and living in environments that allow them to be both physically active and mentally healthy." What is the author's purpose in writing the passage? A. To tell us a fun story about how to protect us against depression. B. To introduce a research on the link between activity and depression. C. To persuade readers to increase their weekly activity. D. To describe the disadvantages of physical activity. Answer: B. To introduce a research on the link between activity and depression. Emily and her mother enjoy doing things together often. Many days they like to go to the park or to the swimming pool but today they chose to go to the grocery store. They went into the store and straight to look at the fruit. Emily looked at the lemons, the bananas, the apples and the pears. In the end, Emily chose the apples and put them in a bag. She handed the bag to her mother to put into their shopping cart. The pair went to the dairy section next and looked at the kinds of yogurt they store had. There was blueberry, peach, strawberry and vanilla. Emily asked her mother what kind of yogurt they would be getting and her mother said they wanted the blueberry yogurt. When they got to the checkout, Emily helped her mother when they needed to pay. Emily gave the cashier two dimes and four pennies. They gathered up their bags, packed them into their car and drove home. What kind of yogurt did Emily choose? A. strawberry B. vanilla C. peach D. blueberry Answer: D. blueberry

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