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Rock House Museum Take a journey through history with a visit to the exciting museum and historic sites of Wytheville . The Rock House Museum offers glimpses into daily life in the 19th century . The museum is part of the 50 structures featured in Wytheville's Historic Walking Tour . 540/233-3330 . Grand Caverns Grand Caverns is America's oldest cave . Beautiful and massive formations . Union troops visited the caverns . Thomas Jefferson visited--you should , too ! Open weekends in March , daily April--October , 9 a.m.--5 p.m. Hour tours leave every 30 minutes . 703/249-5705 . The News Museum The News Museum in Arlington is the world's only interactive museum of news . Visitors can be reporters or television newscasters , see today's news as it happens on a block-long video news wall , and be taken behind the scenes to see how news is made . The News museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a. m.--5 p. m. You can visitwww. News museum .Org . Kenmore Plantation & Gardens Kenmore Plantation & Gardens has over two hundred years of history from the Revolutionary War , Civil War and into the 21st century . Home of Betty Washington , George Washington's only sister , and Patriot Col. Fielding Lewis . Explore this historic building and city block of restored gardens . Tea and ginger cookies served . 540/373-3381 . Virginia Beach Virginia Beach offers 11 000 hotel / motel rooms , plus cottages and campgrounds . Enjoy miles of clean beaches and a variety of family attractions . Fine restaurants , various shopping areas , exciting nightlife , and special events are offered throughout the year . 800/822-3224 . If you want to enjoy yourself in the evening , you may go to _ . YUXI, China -- Many people of this city in southwester China spent Saturday night in tents, too scared to sleep in their homes after an earthquake which killed 188 people early that morning. Countless homes were destroyed and lots of people became homeless after the earthquake which is believed to have a magnitude of 7. The quake was not as serious as the 7.9-magnitude earthquake in 2008 that left more than 70,000 people dead in the Wenchuan area. But villagers who work in Chengdu, about 100 miles away, hurried back home Sunday morning, many on foot, the lucky ones on motorbikes, to check on their homes. Song Yuanqing, 43, a worker, arrived back after a 22-hour trip and found his house was still there but had already been very unstable . "We would like to do something, but we can't do anything," Mr. Song said as he sat with neighbors around an outdoor fire built by the village leader in his backyard. In all, the government sent about 7,000 soldiers and People's Armed Police officers to the earthquake-hit area. By Saturday evening, there were so many rescue workers in the area that the government asked volunteers to stop coming. Li Keqiang, China's prime minister, flew to the area and slept in a tent on Saturday evening in Lushan County. The earthquake shook Sichuan Province at 8 a.m., when people were getting up a little later than usual because schools and universities were closed. "We were just getting up and getting dressed in our dormitory when the building shook, and I looked outside from our window and saw a row of houses had collapsed," Xu Yan, 22, a student at the Agricultural University in Ya'an, said in a telephone interview. " _ ." The Chinese government said early Sunday that the death toll was 174, and about 5,700 people had been injured. The earthquake was also felt in Chengdu, one of China's biggest cities and the capital of Sichuan Province. People described water getting out of home aquariums and things like balls falling to the floor. In the town of Longmen, another hard-hit area near Ya'an, a local man, Zhang Yan, said 90 percent of the buildings had collapsed. "About 100 people died around here," Ms. Zhang said in a telephone interview. "Rescue teams have not yet arrived. There is no water or electricity." In the 2008 quake, many schools of poor quality collapsed and killed thousands of students. This time, many people also expressed their worries about students on their micro-blogs. Sichuan Province is also one of China's best-known hometowns for pandas, and at the Bifengxia reserve, about six miles north of Ya'an, workers said that 20 pandas in the park were safe. "We examined the panda area after the quake, and they were not affected," said Chen Yong, an officer of the reserve. Where would you most probably read this passage? Posted: 06/19/2014 12:00 a.m. Lucy Li, an 11-year-old girl, is the youngest person to qualify for a US Women's Open golf tournament . She was qualified for the US Women's Open in May. When she set a new record by seven strokes .And today she is playing against some of the best female golfers in the world. Earlier this week Li said that she wasn't nervous about becoming the centre of attention at today's game. "I just want to have fun and play the best I can and I really don't care about the result. I can learn a lot from these great players." Li doesn't spend all her time golfing. She is home-schooled in an online Stanford University programme. Her favourite subjects are Maths, History, and Science and she loves to read. She also loves medicine, diving, badminton, dancing, and table tennis. But golf is her favourite sport. "I like golf because it's different from other sports. Anybody can play it." she said. Some female golfers are worried that Li isn't quite ready for the Open. "When I found out she was qualified, I said, where does she go from here? You qualify for an Open at 11, what do you do next? If she was my kid, I wouldn't let her play in the US Open at all, but that's just me," said world champion Stacy Lewis. Dottie Pepper, an ESPN analyst , thinks that the most important thing is that Li doesn't think of winning. "If the success for her is not based on score, then I don't think she's too young. The important thing for her is to treat the whole experience as a kid on the golf score. Forget expectations." Dottie said. Lucy Li qualified for a US Women's Open Golf tournament _ . It was May 5. It was Mary's birthday. She came home, and saw a card on the table. It said, "There's a present for you, Mary. Go and look for it in your room." Mary ran to her room. Her parents were watching her. They were smiling. On her bed she saw a new red box. She thought, "What's in the box?" She opened it. There was nothing but a card in it. Mary took it out and read. "Dear Mary, I'm your present. My first letter is in the word 'book', but not in 'look'. My second letter is in 'ink', but not in 'thank'. You can find my third letter in both 'ink' and 'book'. And my last letter is in 'she', but not in 'ship'. What am I?" Mary thought hard. B-I-K-E! She smiled and said, "Aha, I know, Mom. But where is it?" Her mother said, "Look at the back of the card." Mary turned it over and read, "Come and look for me in the garden." Mary hurried to the garden. There under a big tree she found her present--a nice new bike! "Happy birthday, Mary!" her parents said. "Thank you, Mom and Dad." The first card was on the table. The second card was _ Publicity offers several benefits. There are no costs for message time or space. An ad in prime-time television may cost $250,000 to $5,000,000 or more per minute, whereas a five-minute report on a network newscast would not cost anything. Publicity reaches a mass audience within a short time and new products or company policies are widely known. Credibility about messages is high, because they are reported in independent media. A newspaper review of a movie has more believability than an ad in the same paper, because the reader associates independence with objectivity. Similarly, people are more likely to pay attention to news reports than to ads. For example, Women's Wear Daily has both fashion reports and advertisements. Readers spend time reading the stories, but they skim through the ads. Furthermore, there may be 10 commercials during a half-hour television program or hundreds of ads in a magazine. Feature stories are much fewer in number and stand out clearly. Publicity also has some significant limitations. A firm has little control over messages, their timing, their placement, or their coverage by a given medium. It may issue detailed news releases and find only portions mentioned by the media, and media have the ability to be much more critical than a firm would like. For example, in 1982, Procter & Gamble faced a massive publicity problem over the meaning of its 123-year-old company logo. To fight this negative publicity, the firm had a spokesperson appear on Good Morning America to disprove the rumor . The false rumors were temporarily put to rest. However, in 1985, publicity became so troublemaking that Procter & Gamble decided to remove the logo from its products. What's the author's attitude towards publicity?
In the year 1986 there was a terrible explosion. The explosion was at a nuclear power plant in another country called Ukraine. The radiation caused a lot of damage. It polluted the soil and other things. People lived in the area when the explosion happened. Twenty years later those people are still suffering. Effects from the explosion will go on for a long time. Over two million people still live in the polluted areas. Only 56 people died from the explosion but many other problems have been caused because of it. Some types of cancer are more than 200 times above world average. Many children have cancer now and birth defects have doubled since the accident. Some people in the United States are worried about the children living there. One group has been trying to raise money. They are called the Chernobyl Children's Project. They want to bring children from the Ukraine to the U.S. each summer. A spokesperson for the group says that radiation is the highest in the summertime, so it is a good time to get the children out of the country. They want to help the children get away for a little while. The Project wants them to be safe from radiation. It costs $1,500 to bring each child to the United States for six weeks. The group raised enough money to bring 28 children to the United States. The children were able to do lots of fun things. They enjoyed clean air, healthy food, and plenty of outdoor fun. One little nine-year-old girl who got to come to the United States said that she likes America. A spokesperson for the Project said that the children that come to America during the summer miss less school when they return home. The birth defects are_as many as that before the accident. As we all know , the language is a very important tool for people to communicate with each other. In most of the languages , people usually begin their conversations by a kind of small talk -a casual form of conversation that "breaks the ice" or fills an awkward silence between people . That is to say , small talk means the little things we talk about to start a conversation . In English-speaking countries such as Britain, people often make small talk about the weather. " Nice day, isn't it?" "Terrible weather , isn't it?" However, we still have something special about small talk. It must be about something which both people have the same opinion about. The purpose of small talk is to let both people agree on something. This makes meeting people easier and more comfortable . People usually agree about the weather, so it is a safe topic for small talk. But people often disagree about religion or politics so these are not suitable topics for small talk. The topics for small talk also depend on where the conversation is taking place. At basketball matches, people make small talk about the game they are watching. "Great game , isn't it?" At train stations, people may talk about the transport system . " The train service is terrible, isn't it?" When we say "Great game, isn't it ?" what do we mean in fact? The seasons in Australia are not like ours. When it is winter in China, it is summer there. Australia is a southern country. It is in the south of the world. June, July and August are the winter months; September, October and November are spring; the summer is in December, January and February; and March, April and May are the autumn months. The north of the country is hotter than the south. A very large part of this country has no rain at all. The east coast has rain all year, and there are no dry months. The southeast winds blow the whole year. They bring rain from the sea. There is not much rain on the west side. The southeastern part of Australia has summer rain from the southeast winds. They only blow here in summer. The southwestern part of Australia has winter rain. The west winds blow over the southwest in winter only. In summer, the southwest of the country has no rain. In the north of Australia, there is no rain in winter. The rain comes in summer. The northwest winds bring it. It is _ in Australia in November. My life as a 'runner' began by running in a playground near my home in order to lose weight about 2 years ago. As time went by, I found myself so good at running that sometimes, I even forgot how many rounds I ran around the playground. Thanks to all this practice, I was able to win the 5thplace in short course marathon game at 'BASF Yeosu Site Athletic Competition' held in October 2002. This event inspired me to take part in public short-course marathon games such as 10km, 20km and half-course competitions. Finally, in May 2003, I was able to complete a full course marathon for the first time of my life. My next challenge was the Boston Marathon race, which is the world's oldest and most famous marathon races. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, one should meet the designated time standard of their age group at a certified marathon. So I took part in ChunCheon Marathon in Korea. I had to finish the full coursewithin 3 hours and 30 minutes to meet the time standard for my age group (45 to 49 years old). But to my pleasant surprise, I recorded 3 hours 22 minutes, which is 25 minute faster than my previous best record! In April 2004, I was finally able to go to Boston. I was very pleased and proud because I could play a role to promote BASF all across the world through this sport. And it really happened! When I ran in the Boston Marathon wearing BASF logo , people along the streets rooted for me shouting 'BASF! BASF!'. I was very touched and so proud of my company. Of course I completed the full course successfully. After the game, I was interviewed by Korean local newspapers and had an opportunity to appear on several TV shows, which helped me to promote BASF in the community. The author first began running in order to _ . Last Saturday was the best day of Timmy's summer. After waking up at nine and turning on his lamp, Timmy ran downstairs, counting the steps as he always did. There were always seven. At the bottom, he jumped over his dog Lucky who was licking himself clean. Timmy took a bite of toast and a sip of the orange juice his mom Suzie had left on the table for him before running outside to check the mail. Before he made it down the steps, he almost tripped on a big package waiting for him. It was here! Timmy's birthday present from his grandmother Betty had arrived. He brought it into the kitchen, where his dad Ryan was waiting for him with a grin on his face. As Timmy tore into the package, he found the greatest present he could have asked for. It was a huge water gun! Timmy immediately filled it up and ran outside to begin playing. His neighbor Maeby came outside with her water hose after eating her sandwich and the two got in a water fight! Soon, Timmy's dad came outside to play too! He brought 11 water balloons. Soon all five of Timmy's friends were playing in the water with each other. Timmy's water gun was the best toy out there. It worked by winding up the handle before firing the water. Soon it was evening and Timmy's dad was firing up the grill to cook hotdogs and hamburgers for Timmy's friends and their families. What did Timmy's dad cook for dinner?
In a nation with a one-child family planning policy, it's understandable for parents to worry over whether they are petting their children. Are the children truly as fragile as sometimes made out to be? The concern has been brought into focus with the popularity of a hit reality TV series, Hunan TV's Dad! Where Are We Going? and Zhejiang TV's First Time In Life. In both, children as young as three have become new public figures. In the show First Time In Life, children chosen from ordinary families are given small tasks to complete by themselves;the ongoing Dad! show centers on five celebrity fathers and their children who are forced to live a simple life in rural areas, far outside their comfort zone. Regardless of their family background, the children's reactions to new environments have struck the public. In one episode of Dad! , the five-year-old daughter of former Olympic diving champion Tian Liang cries and hides behind her father when they arrive at a rural village. In an episode of the other series, a young girl in Tianjin breaks down into a tearful fit after being asked by her father to go out alone to buy eggs and a pancake. In the eyes of some observers, these kids show no sense of independence, and the reason is put down to parents who are overly sheltering. But television viewers and parents were heartened when the sobbing Tianjin girl finally wiped away her tears as she returned holding the pancake. In the case of Tian's daughter, she eventually began to take care of her younger companions and learned to seek help from people she didn't know. The father of the Tianjin girl felt "delightfully shocked" and said. "She used to have to be accompanied by her mother or grandmother. Now she has the courage to do it all by herself. " The shows have led many parents to change how they raise their children. Shanghai mother Liang Jing said she would try to "give some training" to her shy son, asking him to tidy up his toys. Lin Yi, a parenting expert in Beijing, said giving kids a chance to do things for themselves helps to raise their sense of achievement, which carries benefits throughout their lives. " The children in the two programs are different in_. A family background B age group C personality D popularity Answer: A After being laid off from her job, Ann Bauer struggled financially. She worked at several lower-paid jobs, relocated to a new city and even declared bankruptcy. Then in December, she finally moved back into her parents' home at age 52. "I'm back living in the bedroom that I grew up in," she said. Taking shelter with parents isn't uncommon for young people, especially when the job market is poor. But now the declining economy is forcing some children to do so later in life---even at middle age. Financial planners report receiving many calls from parents seeking advice about taking in their grown children after divorces and lay-offs. Kim Erickson, a financial planner in California, said she has never seen older children, even those at 50, depending so much on their parents as in the last six months. "These are 40-and-50-year-old children of my clients that they're helping out. We have a hard time saying no as a culture to our children, and they keep asking for more," she said. Bauer's parents won't take rent money. She's trying to save several hundred dollars a month for a house while working as a meeting coordinator. Bauer would prefer to live on her own, but without her parents' help, she would "probably be renting again," she said. "Buying groceries for another person isn't stretching my budget too much," said her mother, Shirley Smith, aged 80. Parents usually feel guilty if they don't offer help. But a large number of well-meaning parents must delay retirement or scale back their dreams because they have to help their children, Erickson said. And the sliding economy might threaten their jobs. "I almost have to act like a financial therapist," she said to Shirley. "Here is the line I'm drawing for you. That's fine. You can do up to this point, but at this point, now you're starting to erode ( ) your own wealth." How did Ann Bauer's parents act after learning about her situation? A They at first refused but finally allowed her to move back. B They didn't hesitate to invite her back home. C They allowed her back on condition that she bought groceries. D They preferred her to love on her own because of their tight budget. Answer: B It's September, and we're back to school. It's good to see all my teachers and friends again. They all look fine. We are in Grade Eight this year. We are going to have some new subjects. My name is Wu Ming. Wei Fang and I are in the same class. I'm not very good at Chinese, but Wei Fang says she's going to help me. I think I can do better than last year. I like English very much. This year I'm going to do more speaking. Zhang Hong also likes English, but he needs some help. I'm going to help him. This term I'm going to work for the wall-newspaper. My classmates say I draw well. I like it, too. I'm going to do my best this year. Wei Fang and Zhang Hong are _ A in Grade One B in the same class C in the same row D in different grades Answer: B Here is some information from a tourist guide to Patapsco Valley state Park Maryland, USA. Wildlife and Nature Appreciation While visiting Patapsco Valley State Park, you will see a variety of natural habitats. Throughout spring and fall, dogwoods, maples, redbuds, and many varieties of wildflowers color the forest. This park is also home to many small mammals and birds. If you pause during your journey through tile forest, you are likely to see rabbits, grey squirrels, and red foxes. Along the banks of tile river, birdwatchers will spot Canada geese and wood ducks all year round Fishing The Patapsco River meanders through the park and is a popular attraction for anglers . The Department of Natural Resources' Fisheries Service assigns the river as a put-and-take fishery with adult rainbow and brown trout in spring and fall. Anglers also enjoy catching naturally reproducing smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish and yellow perch. Fishing opportunities have been specially set aside at Lost Lake for youth under 16 and seniors 62 years of age and older. This area is also designed for anglers with disabilities. Trails Adventure seekers will enjoy hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding on the park's popular trail system. More than 17 miles of challenging and rough single track trails follow the ridges, steep hillsides and stream valleys in the park. These trails are also excellent gateways for wildlife viewing, bird watching and general nature appreciation. Please respect the rights of nearby private property owners by using only blazed trails. Remember that the park is a natural area with certain dangers, such as poison ivy, slippery trail surfaces, insects, etc. You are responsible for having the necessary skills, knowledge and equipment for a safe visit. Discover History Along the Trail Enter another time as you explore Patapsco's trails. Layer upon layer of history tells the story of man's interaction with nature. Native American hunted, gathered and fished here for centuries. In the 1700s, the valley became one of the earliest sites for America's Industrial Revolution. Early settlers cut down trees for charcoal used to fire iron furnaces . The river's current was dammed and channeled to power iron, paper, grain and textile mills . Towns and tobacco farms were established throughout the valley. Which of the following is forbidden to fish at Lost Lake? A A pupil in grade six B A 30 - year - old woman without disability C An old man in his seventies D A person in a wheelchair Answer: B David Brown and Anne are two patients in the Adult Day Care Program at Mercy Hospitals. David Brown is seventy-two years old. He's friendly and likes to talk. He lives with his wife in the city. But David is becoming forgetful. His wife says, "He'll heat up some soup, then forget to turn off the gas." She is sixty-one and still works. She is worried about leaving her husband alone. Anne is eighty and lives with her 60-year-old daughter. Her daughter says that she needs a rest. "Mom follows me everywhere. She follows me when I read newspapers. I need a rest and she does, too." And so, several times a week, David and Anne's families take them to the Adult Day Care Center. Many hospitals have this program. Patients come to the Center for a full or half day, from one to five days a week. All the patients live with their families and most are old people. Mrs. Carol Johnson is the director of the Center. She says, "We are offering both the patients and their families a service of great value. Patients have the chance to get out of their houses. Husbands, wives or grown children can work or have a rest. Most important of all, families are able to stay together." Why did David Brown become a patient of the Adult Day Care Center? A Because he is seventy-two years old. B Because he is lonely at home. C Because he is becoming forgetful. D Because he is seriously ill. Answer: C
I will always remember my mother's last days in this world. On February 14th, 2008, my class went on a field trip to the beach. I had so much fun. When we returned to school, my teacher told me to go to the headmaster's office. When I got into the office, I saw a police officer. Suddenly, I realized something was wrong. The police officer told me what had happened and we went to pick my sister up. After that, we went to the hospital and waited. Time went slowly. Finally, we got to see our mother. It was terrible. On the next day, the headmaster came and told my two teachers what had happened. I was taking a test that day. I knew it had something to do with my mother. I kept thinking that she either died or had gotten better. How I wished that she had gotten better. When my teacher took me outside, my sister ran up to me. She started crying, "She's gone, Terresa, mommy's gone. She's dead." I couldn't believe it. We jumped into the car and drove straight to the hospital. Most of my family were there. The silence was terrible. I knew I had to say goodbye. Today when I look back, I still miss my mother very much, but I know that I will live. My mother was a strong mother, who had the biggest heart. She was an angel walking on the earth. I will always remember her as a living. When someone is asked who their hero is, they usually say someone famous, like Michael Jordan or Britney Spears. When someone asks me who my hero is, I tell them, my mother. My mother lives everyday. That is what makes her a true hero. Where was the writer when she learned her mother was sick? Answer: E-book is short for electronic( ) book. It is usually read on personal computers. Some mobile phones can also be used to read e-books. Earlier e-books were written for a specific group of readers and were about only a few subjects. With the development of the internet, knowledge and answers to a lot of questions mainly come from e-books. This is why the e-book business is increasing quickly E-books have many advantages. First, they save time. We don't need to go to a bookstore to buy books, besides, we can find the topic we want to know about on the Internet, and then we can quickly get many e-books on similar topics. Second, e-books save money. Some e-books cost a little money, and there are millions of e-books on the Internet that we can get for free. Third, more trees are saved because e-books don't need to be printed on paper. Fourth, e-books make reading more convenient. You can carry a whole library of hundreds of books with you in a small computer or any e-book reader without worrying about their weight. But e-books have certain disadvantages. They need a personal computer or an e-book reader and the information can be lost if its file format is not supported or changed in the reader's computer. However, e-books provide us with a new way of reading. That is good. ,. Why is the e-book business increasing quickly? Because _ . Answer: Pollution is reducing the fragrance of plants and thus preventing bees from pollinating them--endangering one of the most essential cycles of nature, a new study suggests. The potentially hugely significant research, funded by US National Science Foundation, has found that gases mainly formed from the emissions of cars prevent flowers from attracting bees and other insects to pollinate them. And the scientists who have conducted the study fear that insects' abilities to drive away enemies and attract mates may also be disturbed. Professor Jose Fuentes, who led the study, said, "Scent molecules produced by flowers in a less polluted environment could travel for roughly 1,000 to 1,200 meters. But today they may travel only 200 to 300 meters. This makes it increasingly difficult for bees and other insects to locate the flowers." The researchers, who worked on the molecules of snapdragons ,found that the molecules are volatile and quickly bond with pollutants, mainly formed from vehicle emissions. This chemically changes the molecules so that they no longer smell like flowers. A harmful cycle is therefore set up where insects struggle to get enough food and the plants do not get pollinated enough to multiply. Already bees, which pollinate most of the world's crops, are in such a great decline that has never been known before in Britain and across much of the globe. At least a quarter of America's 2.5 million honey bee colonies have been mysteriously wiped out by colony collapse disorder(CCD),where hives are found suddenly deserted. The crisis has now spread to Europe. Politicians insist that CCD has not yet been found in Britain, but considering the present number of bees, the agriculture minister Lord Rooker has sent the warning, "The honey bee population could be wiped out in 10 years." Although the researchers are not certain whether this is the real cause of CCD, they say that pollution is making life more difficult for bees and other insects in many ways. In what way does pollution prevent flowers from attracting bees? Answer: One day my teacher said, " _ ." From that moment, I knew I had to enjoy my life. Do not waste time, because, you know, time will not come back. You cannot buy it. It is one of those things in life that you must really, really value. When you see an opportunity, take it. You might not get it back. Never let an opportunity pass. And if it is too hard, remember that in the middle of every difficulty lies an opportunity. Remember, you cannot choose how you' re going to die, or when. You can only decide how you' re going to live. Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow. Don' t just think of the present, but also think of your future. Your future is yet another chapter in your life and another way to live it. Every single living thing has a purpose in life. "The purpose of life is a life of purpose," said Robert Byme. Learn to use time wisely, take opportunities, and enjoy life. We can discover the meaning of life in three different ways: (1) by doing a deed; (2) by experiencing a value; (3) by suffering life. So, what are you buying with yours? According to the author, what can you decide? Answer: It's important for us to be healthy.But how can we keep healthy? First,you should eat fruit and vegetables three or four times a week.Then eat sonic tofu every day because it's good for people,both the young and the old Milk is also necessary ,especially for women.So you should have milk twice a day.It can help you to be strong Next,doing more exercises is better.You can do morning exercises or evening exercises.After supper you should take a walk. You should have milk _ . Answer:
Who's building the new China? It's not the factory owners or the business men.It's someone else. We see them every day.They work day and night in the terrible working places and weather.They build the roads,the theaters,the cinemas and the supermarkets.They even clean up our rubbish.They are China's migrant workers . Over 140 million workers left their homes in the countryside to look for jobs in big cities around China.They hope to be rich,but they find they have many difficulties in making enough money.And one of the difficulties is the pride and discrimination from the people in cities. When night falls.I see the sad faces of the migrant workers.Many are living far away from the people whom they love. Yes,they dress differently,they speak differently,and they have different habits,but they work hard.The people in cities think they are outsiders,and most governments refuse to give them medical care and public schooling for their children. If China hopes to move into the future.many things need to change.The first is discrimination! We need to stop our discrimination against the migrant workers of China! They may not make as much money as some people in cities,but they are good people just trying to _ . These workers are very important and necessary to China's economic development and play an important role in changing Chinese society .They are building the new China,so we should help them. China's migrant workers work _ . Answer: One morning, the students of Class Three, Grade One are having an English lesson. Mr. Zhang finds Li Lei doesn't listen to him. He goes to Li Lei and has a look. Oh, Li Lei is drawing a boy. The teacher asks Li Lei to stand up. "Do you like drawing?" "Yes, Mr. Zhang," answers Li Lei. "And I draw very well." "You can draw after class, I think," says the teacher. " _ ." "You are wrong, Mr. Zhang. I can draw when I have an Art class. And I like it very much," says Li Lei with a smile. "You are right. And you must draw one hundred boys before the class is over," says the teacher angrily. After five minutes, Li Lei finishes drawing and puts up his hand. The teacher looks at the picture and asks, "I ask you to draw one hundred boys. But you draw only two. One is standing at the door and the other is standing in front of the window. Where are the others?" "The others are sitting in the classroom. You can't see them," answers Li Lei. How many boys does Mr. Zhang ask Li Lei to draw? Answer: Invisible forces work to keep the moon near the Answer: In England, traffic keeps on the left.Cars, buses and bikes all move on the left side of the road.But the traffic keeps on the right in China.So when you are in England, you must be very careful in the street.Before you cross a street you must stop and look both ways.Look right and look left and look right again.If the traffic lights are red, the traffic must stop.Then the people on foot can cross the road.If the traffic lights are green, the traffic can go.People on foot mustn't cross. In the morning and in the evening, when people go to or come back from work, the streets are very busy.Traffic is very dangerous . When you go by bus in England, you have to be careful, too.Always remember the traffic moves on the left.If you don't have a look first, you will go the wrong way. In many English cities, there are big buses with two floors.You can sit on the second floor.From there you can see the city very well.It's very interesting. ,. Some people like sitting on the second floor of a big bus because _ . Answer: Generic Name: ASPIRIN Pronunciation: ['aesp@rin] Why it is prescribed : 1. Aspirin relieves mild to moderate pain. 2. It reduces fever, redness, and swelling. 3. It prevents blood from clotting . When it is to be taken: 1. Aspirin is often taken without a prescription. 2. Follow the instructions on the label and package. 3. If your doctor prescribes aspirin for you, you will receive specific instructions for how often you should take it. 4. Keep in touch with your doctor. How it should be taken: 1. Aspirin comes in the form of suppositories , capsules, and regular, coated, extended-release, and chewable tablets. 2. Regular, coated, and extended-release aspirin tablets and capsules should be swallowed with a full glass of water or milk after meals to avoid stomach upset. 3. Chewable aspirin tablets may be chewed, crushed, dissolved in a liquid, or swallowed whole; a full glass of water, milk, or fruit juice should be drunk immediately after taking these tablets. Special Instruction: 1. Children should not take aspirin for fevers associated with flu or chickenpox because such use has been linked with a serious illness known as Reye's syndrome. 2. Adults should not take aspirin for pain for more than 10 days (five days for children) without consulting a doctor. 3. Aspirin should not be taken by adults or children for high fever, fever lasting longer than three days without a doctor's supervision . 4. Do not give more than five doses to a child in a 24-hour period unless directed to do so by a doctor. 5. If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and _ the prescribed schedule. Side Effects: 1. Although side effects from aspirin are not common, they can occur. 2. Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, indigestion and heartburn are common. Take aspirin after meals, with a full glass of water or milk. If these effects continue, contact your doctor. 3. Ringing in the ears, bloody or black stools , difficulty breathing, dizziness, mental confusion and sleepiness are rare. Stop taking the drug and contact your doctor. Other Precautions: 1. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding women, inform your doctor before taking aspirin. 2. Do not take aspirin if you are within three months of delivery. 3. Do not take aspirin if you are allergic to it. 4. If you have diabetes , regular use of eight or more regular strength aspirin tablets a day may affect test result. 5. If you are taking large doses of aspirin on a long-term basis, avoid having alcoholic drinks because alcohol can increase stomach problems. 6. To prevent an overdose of aspirin, read the labels before taking other pain relievers and cold products to be sure that they do not contain aspirin. Storage Conditions: 1. Store aspirin in a cool place or in a refrigerator. 2. Throw away aspirin that smells strongly of vinegar. 3. Keep this aspirin out of the reach of children. Which of the following about Aspirin is correct? Answer:
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make 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, tapped to his waist in black mud, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the boy from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman' s 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, I can' t accept payment for what I did," 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 boy 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 Hospita l 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. Someone once said, "What goes around, comes around." What can we learn from the passage? A It was Farmer Fleming' s great deed that helped his son achieve success later. B Sir Alexander Fleming achieved success all by his own hard work. C Sir Alexander Fleming achieved success all by the nobleman' s help. D A good relationship between a farmer and a nobleman is of great use. Answer: A Some students who took the International English Language Testing System(IELTS) exam in August and September, 2015 have had their results"withheld permanently", sending a strong signal that the examiners intend to stamp out cheating, some senior language tutors said. Yang Yuting, chief language training tutor at Amber Education, an overseas education consulting agency, said there have been a few cases in which candidates' IELTS results were canceled in recent years, leaving the students with no qualification but this is the first time he has heard that results, including those of some of his students, were"withheld permanently", meaning IELTS will not give the students their results, nor will they give them to others. Wang Xin, a senior student at the Communication University of China in Beijing, took an IELTS test on August 1 and the results were due within 10 working days. But she was then informed that her results were undergoing routine checks. Soon after that, she received an e-mail telling her that"a decision has been made to withhold this result permanently"and stating that Wang had"breached IELTS test rules and regulations". A number of students who took the test during the past two months in cities including Nanjing, Changsha and Guangzhou, have had the same experience. Many test takers said they were confused because they didn't know how they had breached the rules and regulations. IELTS authorities said in an e-mail toChinaDailythat IELTS takes the responsibility of providing test results very seriously. Results are only withheld in cases where there is strong evidence to suggest that the candidates have not observed IELTS regulations."In these cases, we are unable to guarantee that their result is a true reflection of their English language skills,"they said in the e-mail, although they gave no figures of how many students were involved."We regret any inconvenience this may cause, but these measures are essential to protect the value of the results for more than 2.5 million test takers every year. Hundreds of thousands of people take IELTS in China every year and the number of results which are permanently withheld is a tiny proportion ,"they said. Hu Min, president ofNew Channel International Education Group, an English-language tutorial agency in China, said a major cause of results being withheld might be an extreme imbalance in performance levels in the four sections of the test."For example, if a student scores very high in the reading and listening sections while performing poorly in writing and speaking, IELTS authorities may suspect that the test taker has memorized the reading and listening questions -- a practice that is very popular among Chinese test takers,"he said."IELTS authorities discourage such a practice and would determine that the scores can't reflect the real English level if test takers do so." What can we know about IELTS results? A They are announced through an e-mail. B All results will be rechecked by examiners. C They are announced in at least ten days. D The results include scores of four different parts. Answer: D The Save the Children Fund is known as Save the Children. It is an internationally organization that protects children's rights and helps support children in developing countries. It was set up in the United Kingdom in 1919 in order to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic chances, it also provides food and water for the children in natural disasters, war, and other serious situations. Except for the UK organization, there are 30 other national Save the Children organizations who are members of Save the Children International, a global network of charity organizations supporting local partners in over 120 countries around the world. Save the Children helps the local government change so that it can help young people get more rights, it works very well, especially with the support from the UN. Save the Children joins all the members' efforts to protect children from the effects of war. How many Save the Children organizations all over the world? A 30 B 31 C 120 D 121 Answer: B the energy of the ocean can be harnessed to charge a battery that eventually powers a A cupcake B rock C nosehair trimmer D tree Answer: C Jason lay in his bed after a night of no sleep. He was too excited for today. There was a football game that he was going to play with his friends. It would be him, Jack, James, and John competing with David, Ruth, Parsons, and Mike. David, Rush, Parsons, and Mike were much bigger than them, and were big bullies at school. When Jason got up, he had the choice to eat cereal, candy, chocolate milk, or pizza. He chose to eat cereal because he thought that eating something good for you would make him play better. They were going to play at the school, but the school was closed. They then went to the park, and got their teams set up. Jason's team got the ball first and they scored! David's team got the ball next, but they also scored. Unfortunately, it started raining. Everyone was getting wet, and people were starting to get angry. A fight soon broke out, and they all started fighting with each other. Eventually, Jason yelled for everyone to stop. They all stopped and chose to eat pizza together and forgive each other. Jason then went home bruised and dirty, and his parents grounded him for getting into a fight. What did Jason eat for breakfast? A candy B chocolate milk C cereal D pizza Answer: C
A turtle eating worms is an example of Answer: taking in nutrients There once was an alligator named Albert (who wore an office shirt). He had two good friends - Lock the cat and Gary the hamster. Gary often rode around in Albert's shirt pocket, since it would be hard for him to keep up with Albert and Lock as they walked around. One day, as they were wandering around, a storm popped up, forcing them to hurry indoors to deal with it. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't find a building quickly, so they ended up being frosted over by the dangerous weather. "If we don't get out of this soon, I might die!" yelled Gary, who was cold. "Don't worry, no one's going to die!" yelled Albert, who, as a reptile, was even worse off than Gary. Luckily, they found a house after leaving the forest, which happened to be near the ocean. They ran inside, and dried off, before they headed to sleep. Where did Gary stay as Albert walked? Answer: In Albert's shirt pocket The Ring of Fire covers 4,000 km around the edge of the Pacific Ocean.It includes the countries of Japan,Indonesia and the Philippines.More earthquakes and volcanoes occur in this area than anywhere else in the world.The name Ring of Fire refers to areas below the earth's surface.These areas move suddenly and often cause earthquakes and create volcanoes. Many areas of Asia,such as the Philippines,Japan,and Indonesia, sometime experience earthquakes and volcanoes.There are occasionally landslides ,mudslides,and tidal waves as a result.Fortunately, these natural disasters do not happen very often. Southern China is about 600 km away from the Ring of Fire.Sometimes, people in this region feel earthquakes too.The worst earthquake felt in southern China was in 1918 in Shantou.It measured 7.3 on the Richter scale.Any earthquake of 6 or more on the Richter scale is very dangerous to people. People in Hong Kong sometimes experience the effects of earthquakes and volcanoes.In September 1994,for example,the strongest earthquake to hit Hong Kong for 76 years shook buildings and scared thousands of residents.Frightened workers and families ran out of their offices and homes.The earthquake measured 6.5 on the Richter seal. It is difficult to predict when an earthquake will occur In countries within the Ring of Fire, buildings must be very strong because the effects of earthquakes on buildings are terrible. In June 1991, Mt Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted.Many people were killed and the area surrounding the volcano was badly damaged.Hot ash and liquid rock from the volcano forced people to leave the area.They only returned many months later.The ash spread over a large area.Even people in the Guangdong region of southern China saw ash in the air. Earthquakes_. Answer: occur suddenly and are difficult to predict I think the Buddy Club is great. I really enjoy talking with the older students about school life and growing up. They can tell me a lot. One student told me how he relaxed before exams. Another student told me about great websites about learning History and English. The Buddy Club is also a good place to just forget about school altogether! One of the older students taught us origami . We made paper planes, birds and hats together. The table tennis tournament was a great idea. I didn't do very well, but I learnt a lot from watching the doubles tournament won by a fourteen-year-old girl and a seventeen-year-old boy. Last year, we had the annual Buddy Club Picnic. Everyone enjoyed the games we played. After I learnt how to fish, I caught two fish in the lake. I think it might be a good idea to change the Buddy Club Picnic to a weekend camping trip. We could learn how to put up tents and how to find our way through a forest. Many of the older students know how to do this already, and I think they would like to teach the younger students. I want to say again how much I enjoy the club. When I'm older, I will make friends with younger students. Then, I can tell them all about school life and growing up. What does the writer enjoy doing at the club? Answer: Talking to older students. How you end a computer session depends on how you use the computer, your views on energy conservation , and what you have been told about how your decision will affect your investment's longevity: will frequent starting and stopping cause its circuits to burn out sooner? Rest easy, your computer is more likely to be damaged by a virus picked up from the Internet than by being turned off and on too much. They are also energyefficient: such efficiency has reached the point where most computers place themselves in sleep mode if they remain idle for a certain period of time. So your computer will likely slip into sleep mode anyway, even if you leave it on overnight. Sleep mode itself, once a pretty unreliable option--you never knew if you would be able to wake your computer without having to reboot it--has been vastly improved with newer operating systems. If you want your computer to consume as little energy as possible when not in use, shut it down. If you want it to consume zero energy, you're going to have to unplug (......) it. Your computer can be in only three states: on, sleep or off--each of which draws some level of electric current. A computer that is "on" will either be actively processing information or sitting idle, depending on whether the user is typing a document, reading an email or has stepped away briefly. The amount of wattage drawn when the computer is on varies greatly depending on whether it is a laptop or a desktop computer. The latter uses more energy because desktop power supplies are less efficient and require a separate and often larger, powerhungry monitor. It also varies based on the type of work being done: complex calculations requiring intensive processing are more powerhungry, whereas writing or Web browsing consumes far less electricity. The reason why a desktop computer uses more energy than a laptop computer is that _ . Answer: a desktop computer's monitor is separate and often larger
The British are very polite and have good manners--they are never tired of saying "Thank you","I am sorry", or "Excuse me." They have good table manners. They enjoy their breakfasts and most of all the traditional tea around 4 or 5 o'clock. The normal working week has five days. Factory workers usually start at 8 am and offices, shops and schools open at 9 am. Workers have 3 weeks' holidays and professional workers(people with higher education ) have usually longer holidays (a month or more). Except these holidays they have public holidays: e.g. New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. An average Englishman like to live in his own house. Houses are made of red bricks, stone and wood. The house usually has from 4 to 6 rooms, two floors, small front and back gardens. On the ground floor there is a hall, a kitchen, a living room with a fireplace and on the first floor there are parents' and children's bedrooms and a bathroom. The prices of houses depend on the area--the most expensive are the houses in London and South England (about 200,000 pounds); smaller houses in other areas may cost about 50,000 pounds. Social Welfare--The National Health Service gives largely free treatment for everyone living in Britain. People can choose their family doctors. In case of emergency you can call the ambulance by dialing 999 from everywhere. Health centres are run by local authorities. About 7 percent of hospitals, dentists and family doctors work as private. There are about 130 daily and Sunday newspapers and a lot of weekly papers and magazines. The oldest newspaper is The Times. Other famous newspapers are Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Financial Times, etc. If you find someone seriously ill in Britain, what is the best thing you should do? Answer: Dial 999. One night Mrs. Riley, an elderly woman, was walking along a dark prefix = st1 /Londonstreet. She was carrying her handbag in one hand and a plastic carrier bag in the other. There was nobody else in the street except two young men. They were standing in a dark shop doorway. One of them was very tall with fair hair, the other was short and fat with a beard. The two young men waited for a few moments, and then ran quickly and quietly towards Mrs. Riley. The tall one held her from behind while the other one tried to seize her handbag. Suddenly Mrs. Riley threw the tall one over her shoulder. He crashed into the other one and they both landed on the ground. Without speaking, Mrs. Riley struck both of them on the head with her handbag and walked calmly away. The two surprised young men were still sitting on the ground when Mrs. Riley crossed the street towards a door with a lighted sign above it. Mrs. Riley paused, turned round, smiled at them and walked into the South West London Judo Club. How did the story end? Answer: The woman taught the two young men a lesson. This famous mountain range in Europe came about due to Answer: the folding of numerous layers of rock Do you want to live a happier, less stressful life? Try laughing for no reason at all. That's how thousands of people start their day at Laughter Clubs around the world. The first Laughter Club was started in Mumbai, India, in 1995, by Dr Madan Kataria. "Children laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh between 7 and 15 times a day," says Dr Kataria. "Everyone's naturally good at laughing -- it's the universal language." There are now more than 500 Laughter Clubs in India and over 1,300 worldwide. Many doctors are also interested in the effects of laughter on our health. According to a 5-year study at the UCLS School of Medicine in California, with laughing there is less stress in the body. Laughter improves our health against illness by about 40%. So what happens at a Laughter Club? I went along to the nearest club in the south of London to find out. I was quite nervous at the beginning of the class. I had no interest in laughing with a group of strangers, and I was worried about looking stupid . Our laughter teacher told us to clap our hands and say "ho ho ho, ha ha ha" while looking at each other. Although we couldn't tell the differences between _ laughter and real laughter, they still produced the same healthy effects. Surprisingly, it worked! After ten minutes, everybody there was laughing for real and some people just couldn't stop! At the end of the class I was shocked by how relaxed and comfortable I felt. So if you're under stress, then start laughing. Which is the BEST title for the passage? Answer: Try laughing at Laughter Clubs He met her at the party. She was so outstanding, with many boys around her, while he was so normal, with nobody paying attention to him. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but due to being polite, she agreed. They sat in a nice coffee shop. He was too nervous to say anything, and she felt uncomfortable, thinking, "Please let me go home." Suddenly he asked the waiter, "Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee." Everybody stared at him---so strange! His face turned red, but, still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, "Why do you have this hobby?" He replied, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea. I liked playing in the sea, and I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood. I miss my hometown so much. I miss my parents who are still living there." While saying that, tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That's his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell about his homesickness must be a man who loves home, cares about home, and has a good sense of responsibility. Then she also started to speak, about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands: he was kind-hearted, warm and careful. He was such a good person but ! Thanks to his salty coffee! Then the story was just like every beautiful love story, the princess married the prince, then they were living a happy life...And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee. After 40 years, he passed away, leaving her a letter which said, "My dearest, please forgive my whole-life lie. This was the only lie I said to you ---the salty coffee." "Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time. Actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead." "I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything." "Now I'm dying, I'm afraid of nothing so I tell you the truth: I don't like the salty coffee. What a strange and bad taste! But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life!" "Since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for a second time, I still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again." Her tears made the letter totally wet. Someday, someone asked her, "What's the taste of salty coffee?" "It's sweet," she replied. Why did the man have salty coffee all his life? Answer: To keep his word.
Sports shoes that work out whether their owner has done enough exercise to promise time in front of the television have been devised in the UK. The shoes- named Square Eyes- contain an electronic pressure sensor and a tiny computer chip to record how many steps the wearer has taken in a day. A wireless transmitter passes the information to a receiver connected to a television, and this decides how much evening viewing time the wearer deserves , based on the day's efforts. The design was inspired by a desire to fight against the rapidly ballooning waistlines among British teenagers, says Gillian Swan, who developed Square Eyes as a final year design project at Brunel University in London, UK. "We looked at current issues and childhood overweight really stood out," she says. "And I wanted to tackle that with my design." Once a child has used up their daily allowance gained through exercise, the television automatically switches off. And further time in front of the TV can only be earned through more steps. Swan calculated how exercise should translate to television time using the recommended daily amounts of both. Health experts suggest that a child take 12,000 steps each day and watch no more than two hours of television. So, every 100 steps recorded by the Square Eyes shoes equals exactly one minute of TV time. Existing pedometers normally clip onto a belt or slip into a pocket and keep count of steps by measuring sudden movement. Swan says these can be easily tricked into recording steps through shaking. But her shoe has been built to be harder for lazy teenagers to cheat. "It is possible, but it would be a lot of effort," she says. "That was one of my main design considerations." Which of the following is true of Square Eyes shoes? Answer: One afternoon, Coyote went hunting. Suddenly, a large frog laughed in front of him. Coyote pounced and pinned Frog to the ground. Frog thought quickly and came up with a plan. "Brother Coyote," he called. "You must not eat me today!" Coyote laughed loudly, _ "Why, I have a bet to make with you," Frog stated. "Tomorrow there is to be a race." Coyote's ears twitched. "A race?" "Yes," Frog continued. "You and I will race. If you win, then you may eat me." Coyote agreed. Frog hurried to the lake. In the morning, the animals gathered to watch as Coyote and Frog agreed on the course they would run. They were to start at the large stone and circle all the way around the lake. The first one back to the stone would be the winner. When the sun reached the noonday mark, they were off. Coyote ran as quickly as he could. Frog bounded into the grass and waited. Coyote looked behind him. Seeing no sign of Frog, Coyote was sure he would win. As Coyote was beginning to tire, Frog's look-alike friend jumped onto the course from behind an alder tree ahead. Coyote was surprised to see what he thought was Frog, and ran even faster, determined to win. Coyote dashed past him and called, "You may be fast, but I'm faster, I'll wait at the finish line to eat you up, Frog!" When Coyote came in sight of the finish line, Frog had appeared from his hiding place and easily hopped across the line. "You may be fast, Coyote, but I've managed to beat you!" Frog joyfully called out. Silently, he added, "With the help of my friends." Coyote went home puzzled and hungry again. How does Frog solve his problem in this passage? Answer: People who cannot tell all colors apart are said to be color-blind. Most color-blind people can see yellows and blues, but confuse reds with green. It is very rare for a person to be blind to all colors, but they may see everything in shades of black, white and gray. It is interesting to point out that many color-blind people don't even realize that they are color-blind, they don't know that the colors they are seeing and naming are not the actual colors that people with normal vision can see. This can be dangerous when a color-blind person confuses the red and green of a traffic light. Color blindness is thought to be inherited and although doctors have tested color blindness, there is no cure to treatment for it. It's especially dangerous for a color-blind person to cross a street when _ Answer: You've just found your dream job, but it pays less than the one you've working hard at right now. What should you do ? How can you make the right decision ? When you have a difficult decision to make , you may probably think it over and over again for hours, weighting up all the advantages and disadvantages before coming to a decision .Or ,maybe you decide it quickly without thinking carefully .But according to scientific research, there's a better way to do this: Sleep on it . In a resent study , scientists made an experiment . They offered the participants some information about different types of cars .And they asked them to decide hypothetically which one would be the best fit. Some of them were asked to make the decision right away ,while others were asked to choose the next morning. The result of the survey was interesting. The people who had a good night's sleep were energetic the next morning .And they choose the best quality cars. But those who made quick decisions chose cars with bad quality. So ,if someone asks you to make a big decision ,don't rush to give an answer at once .Instead ,take a step back and get a good night's sleep. Chances are that ,in the morning , you'll know exactly what to do . Which are the two ways to make a decision according to the passage/ Answer: It had been snowing very hard for days. Jigs and Reads had nothing to eat for a day. They know that things weren't right at home. So yesterday morning they wanted to go out. Bob helped them get out through a window, because the snow was so deep outside that he couldn't open the door. Last night, they didn't come back. Bob said to himself, "They are only five months old. This weather will kill them." But just then Bob heard them calling him. He looked out and could not believe ----they were drawing a big hare through the snow. They dropped it through the window into Bob's hands. A hare for dinner. Finally, Jigs and Reads returned with a big _ . Answer:
Old people are easy to feel lonely because their children are busy with their work and have little time to spend with them.Most of them have to be companied by pet dogs.However,it is sometimes impossible for some old people to keep pet dogs because they are too old or ill to take care of pet dogs. Experts are studying the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression ,physical activity,and life satisfaction.Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to see whether they can improve the quality of life for old people.Alan Beck,an expert in human-animal relationship,said,"Old people should be more active,challenged,excited.The problem is how we promote that,especially for those without friends or help.A robotic dog could be a solution." In the study,the robot,called AIBO,is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone.These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO.Researchers will collect basic data for six weeks.Then,the researchers will review the data to decide if there are any changes in the life of its owner. "I talk to him all the time,and he responds to my voice,"says a 70-year-old lady."When I'm watching TV,he'll stay in my arms until he wants down.He has a mind of his own." The AIBOs respond to certain orders.The researchers say they have some advantages over real dogs,especially for old people.Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it.A robotic dog needn't any exercise and feeding concerns. "At the beginning,it was believed that no one would prefer the robotic dog because it was metal and not furry ,"Beck says."But it's amazing how quickly we have given up that belief." Hopefully,these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper.They will record their masters'blood pressure,oxygen levels,or heart rhythms.AIBOs may even one day have games that can help exciting older people's minds. The author may believe that the future robotic dogs can . Dear Mrs.Denner, Over the past five months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. Our complaints against Mr.Denner are listed below: July 2:Set all the alarm clocks in house-wares to go off at 5-minute intervals . July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom. August 4: Took a bag of _ from the candy shelf and handed out to the passing children to eat. September 14:Moved a "CAUTION--WET FLOOR" sign to a carpeted area. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department. September 23:When a clerk asked if they could help him ,he began crying and screamed,"Why can't you people just leave me alone?" October 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were. December 3:Darted around the store while loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme. December 6:In the auto department, he practiced his "Madonna look" by using different sizes of funnels. December 18:Hid in a clothing rack and when people looked through, yelled "PICK ME!PICK ME!" December 21:When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fatal position and screamed "OH NO!IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!" December 23:Went into a fitting room , shut the door, waited a while, and then yelled very loudly,"Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!" Our video surveillance cameras recorded all these. Never once did our reminding and warning work and therefore we are forced to ban him from the store. Regards, Wal-Mart M&M's may be the brand of _ . .Chris is not a traditional explorer --he usually works in an office for a large organization. However, Chris' job can be just as exciting and dangerous as being an explorer. Chris works for MSF, an organization also known as Doctors Without Border . Since 1971, MFS has sent trained doctors all over the world to help people who have suffered from disasters, such as wars and illnesses. Chris is a doctor from France who has traveled to many places to organize programs that help people. At the moment, over 27,000 trained doctors have taken part in MSF projects. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. All kinds of doctors can volunteer for MSF. They need to be ready to go almost anywhere in the world and, of course, they should face difficulties. Most of MSF's work is in Africa. When MSF chooses a doctor for a task, they have to go for at least six months. When doctors have completed a few tasks, they might be sent on an emergency task following a disaster, such as an earthquake. But why would doctors leave a comfortable life and a good pay to join MSF? According to Chris, the experience they have is a great help in their life. What's more, just like the explorers of the past, they need to keep an open mind and learn to get on well with the people they meet. One thing that they can say at the end of any task is that they have made a real difference to people's lives. What may MSF's work be like? Most students hate their endless homework. The students from Class 2, Senior 2 of the High School Affiliated to Peking University certainly did so before they published their own collection of English novels at home. Their small book contains stories about a holy war, the happy life of a self-taught artist and the story of a laid-off worker who devoted his last breath to playing his beloved accordion . The book becomes an instant hit on campus. About 3,000 copies have been sold and the class is already working on the second volume. "We're up to our ears in homework. Exercises and exams make us out of breath. But to do something creative and full of imagination is such a great achievement," said Yu Xiaoxiao, 16. "I took the writing as an ordinary homework at the beginning, but after I finished the first part of my story, I could not help but let it flow," said Wang An, who wrote "Accordion". Inspired by "Lord of the Rings", Jiang Lu wrote his story about magic wins between angels from the light and the dark side. "The main message of the story was to look at the balance of the world. Both dark and light angels fight with love as their weapons. I want to tell people that selfish love might bring hate," Jiang said. "I was shocked by their work and felt so proud to be the editor of my students' book," said Nathaniel Timmermann, the oral English teacher at the school. Liu Xiuqin, an English teacher, started the project by asking students to write whatever was in their mind every week. "They have performed beyond expectation," Liu said. "They wrote interesting stories and their English has improved after they started to express their real minds." "We never imagined that our homework would be so popular and profitable . We sell the novels at five yuan, but many teachers pay more to encourage us," said Yuan Mengyao. What is the best title of this passage? Have you ever noticed that some people am able to effortlessly remember even the most boring details, and quickly understand new things, and wished that you too could be like that? To unlock the full potential of you brain. you need m keep it active and acute. But how? Check out these tips: .Exercise&get your body moving Exercising doesn't just exercise the body; it also helps to exercise your brain. Without regular exercise your blood vessels<<)begin m lose the ability to effectively pump blood and it also mduws the amount of oxygen and nutrients thatyour blood carries to your brain. When the nutrients don't make it them, the brains ability to function is compromised. To prevent this from happening, make sure you get moving every day. Walking, swimming and dancing arc all excellent activities. Get rid of stressorsbnd seek help for depression Among the most brain-damaging stressars is severe depression, which is actually often mistaken for a memory problem since one of its primary symptoms is the inability to concentrate. If you can't concentrate, yon might feel like you am conrtantly forgetting things. Depression increases the levels of codisol in your brain, which affects your memory. Seek professional help to get rid of your depressionyour brain will thank you. .Feed you brain 50 to 60 percent of the brain's overall weight is pure fat, which is used to insulam its billions of nerve cells. The better insulated a cell is, the quicker you will be thinking. This is exactly why paints are advised.feed their young children whole milk. Thus. eating foods chat contain a healthy mix of fats is vital for long-term memory. Some excellent food choices include fish end dark leafy green vegetables. Where does the rest probably come from?
A poor man has an orange tree in his garden. There are many fine oranges on it. He finds one of the oranges much bigger than the others. It is as big as a ball. the poor man takes the orange to the king. The king is very happy. He gives him a lot of money. A rich man hears of this. He takes his gold cup to the king. He hopes to get much more money from the kind. The king likes the cup very much. He says, "This cup is very nice. I'm going to show you something nicer. Please take this orange." The rich man is very angry and throws the orange away. The poor man _ . A. grows an orange tree B. can make money C. makes cups D. sells fruit Answer: A In today's world many people seem to be hungry for money. Some of them even lose their lives for it. Money does have its most useful effect on the poor,but once a person has a rich life,a lot more money doesn't mean more happiness. If money was everything,all millionaires would have true love, true friendship,good health and a long life. However,this is not always true. Nothing else is more pleasant than the three words which are "I love you". But can love be bought?I'm afraid not. Love means to give,not to take. To every person,health and long life are probably the most precious things. Well,can health and a long life be bought with money?The answer is "No". Of all the longest living people in the world, few of them are millionaires. True friendship can't be bought either. In a word,Where money is worshiped ,money can cause brothers to quarrel,lovers to hate,strangers to fight and so on. No matter how much money you have,it is still not enough to make you a happy person if you have no one to laugh with,no one to cry for. What does the sentence"Love means to give, not to take." mean ? A. ,. B. ,. C. ,. D. , Answer: C The Basics: First of all, there is nothing basic about this movie. The closest thing to the description this film has is about a Texas family of five struggling to relate and exist together when they are all very different people. They deal with death, fear, growing up, and just making it through a day. However, the story itself is woven into other visuals that make it just a part of what director Terrence Malick is trying to say. If you want something basic, stay away from this movie entirely. But if you're stricken by movies that make you say. "Wait, huh?" then you should rush out to see it immediately with someone and plan to hold a summit afterward discussing what it means. A Method To His Madness? The loose, disjointed style of the story involved both the 1950s version of the O'Brien family as well as the present-day version of their oldest son Young Jack. There are no solid beginning-middle-ends in any scene; they play out more like a merory or a dream does in your head. Therefore, the audience is left with less of a definitive statement about what's going on, and more of an emotional connection to what they see on screen. We drift through scenes, getting a vague idea that Mr O'Brien is overbearing and Mrs O'Brien is very nurturing , and that the children are growing up with a strong sense of how to move around the imbalance between their parents. Now, throw in scenes of Sean Penn wandering around the high-tech modern city, looking like the rug has been pulled out from underneath his soul. Add in a dash of nature shots, including but not limited to magrna, the ocean, dinosaurs, and hillsides... What Does It All Mean? It is very clear that Malick wants us to have a sense of this family as a part of the entire universe. A child frightened at his father's touch is a microcosm of the dark expanse above our heads, and it exists alongside the tides, animals, and even God. It all depends on what you believe, which is why this movie is so interesting. The text suggests that the relationship between Mr O'Brien and his children is _ . A. harmonious B. tense C. enjoyable D. close Answer: B Face book, the world's biggest social networking site, is celebrating its sixth birthday. The site's founder, Mark Zuckergerg, states that Face book will continue to work as hard as it has worked in the last six years in order to stay the web's number one communication site. The company started in a dorm room in 2004. Today it has 150 million active users, more than the 130 million of its competitor MySpace. Face book set itself apart from other social networking sites because you can communicate with people you really know and trust. Before, most people didn't want to share their real identities online. Face book has given people a safe and trusted environment for people to interact online. It has changed the way people view the world. A friend from any country is only a few clicks away. It was back in February 2004 when Zuckerberg started "the Face book" from a Harvard student's room. The aim was to help students get in touch with each other over the Internet. Within 24 hours over a thousand students had signed up and soon after that the network spread out to other universities. By 2005 a research study showed that about 85% of the students in the network had a Face book account. Another survey showed that Face book was almost as important as an iPod. At the end of 2005 Face book came to the UK. And up to today the site has been translated into 35 languages. Six years after its start, Face book has escaped the universities and colleges. More than half of its users are not at college any more and the fastest growing group are the 30 to 40-year-olds. Every day 15 million users update their profiles to tell their friends and the world what's happening to them. They also share photos, upload videos, chat, make friends, join groups and simply have fun. Face book is different from other social networking sites mainly because _ . A. it is set up by Zuckerberg in a dorm room B. it has changed the way people view the world C. it makes people communicate with each other online D. it provides a safe and trusted environment to communicate online Answer: D Hammond decided to kill his wife by poisoning her. He asked his friend, Jordan, a pharmacist, to obtain some curare, a deadly poison, and to give it to him without recording the transaction. Because Jordan suspected Hammond's motive, she supplied Hammond with a small quantity of Marvane, an antibiotic, instead of curare. Marvane is harmless if administered in small quantities, except for the less than one percent of the population who are allergic to the drug. Hammond injected his wife with the Marvane while she slept. She was allergic to the drug and died from the injection. Jordan was distraught and confessed the entire affair to the police, explaining that she had failed to report Hammond's conduct to the authorities because she feared that it would end their friendship if she did.". Jordan is an accomplice to A. murder. B. manslaughter. C. criminally negligent homicide. D. no degree of criminal homicide Answer: D
One year ago Bertha and Grace became close friends at a college in Dartmouth. One day, Bertha said that her aunt Margaret had invited her to spend the summer holiday with her. And they would have picnics and parties as well. But Grace told Bertha that she planned to stay in Clarkman's bookstore until the new term began. Grace had to do something to feed herself because her parents died many years ago. Bertha watched her friend's pale face. Just then she got a good idea. The next day when Grace came back, Bertha showed her an invitation letter from her aunt Margaret. "Grace, would you like to spend your holiday with us? I will help you find a part-time job in our town." Grace cried after reading it. "Grace, please spend the holiday with me, or Margaret will be disappointed . I want you to be happy," Bertha said. The holiday quickly passed by, and finally one letter from Margaret came to Bertha. "Bertha, Grace is the sweetest girl in the world, and I am very grateful to you for sending her here." Margaret was Bertha's _ according to the passage. Answer: aunt Dubai boasts that it has just built a "new global landmark"---the Dubai Tower, which stands 512.1 meters high now and has just become the tallest building in the world. The Dubai Tower now _ Taiwan's Taipei 101, which is 508 meters tall, and has 141 storeys, more than any other building in the world. The Dubai Tower, being built by South Korea's Samsung Corporation and scheduled for completion next year, is one of a series of great projects taking shape in Dubai. The final projected height of the tower has remained a secret since the project was launched in January 2004; however, it is rumored that the tower will be more than 700 meters tall and have more than 160 storeys. The Dubai Tower has become the tallest building in the world in just 1,276 days, leaving behind other tall buildings. The Dubai Tower will house 30,000 apartments in addition to the world's largest shopping mall. It is the centerpiece of the 20-billion-dollar venture. Another venture gradually emerging across the desert sands is Dubailand, a series of multi-billion-dollar projects claimed to be the Middle East's very own Orlando. Dubai also paid 100 million dollars to buy the Queen Elizabeth II, one of the world's superb cruise liners , which it plans to turn into a luxury floating hotel. Faced with decreasing oil wealth, the Western-oriented emirate has raced to turn itself into a business and leisure hub and it aims to more than double the number of tourists to 15 million by 2015. Which building was the tallest in the world before the Dubai Tower began to be built? Answer: Taiwan's Taipei 101 This is No. 12 High School. My friend Dongdong is in this school. Dongdong has short hair, a big nose, a small mouth and big eyes. He is thirteen. He is in Class Two, Grade Seven. He's a good student. He has two good friends in his school. They are Jim and Jack. They're brothers . They are fourteen. They have small noses, small eyes, but they're very tall . Jim, Jack and Dongdong are in the same class. Mr. Lee is their teacher. They are good friends. ,. (10) How old is Dongdong? He is _ . Answer: thirteen Thousands of years ago, people only ate food that was grown near their homes. Some kinds of food were only grown in one place, so people from other places didn't know about them. When Europeans first traveled to Central and South America in the 1500s, they discovered strange kinds of food that they had never seen before. Today, these are grown in a lot of different countries and they're sold in supermarkets all over the world. They don't seem strange any more! Potatoes were first grown in the Andes in South America. In 1586, they were taken to Europe by explorers . In 1719, they were taken to North America. Before 1719, nobody in North America had ever seen or eaten a potato. Today each American eats more than 60 kilos of potatoes a year. Tomatoes were also first grown by native Americans. When European explorers visited the south of America in 1500, they took tomato seeds back to Europe. Soon, tomatoes were grown in Europe, but people in England didn't eat them. At that time, a lot of English people thought that tomatoes were _ ! Chilies have been eaten in Central and South America for more than 8,000 years! In the 1500s, chilies were taken to Europe by explorers. Today, they are grown in hot countries all over the world. People in Central and South America have eaten chilies for more than _ years. Answer: 8,000 The customs in different countries are rather different. If I have dinner with a Chinese host, he always puts more food onto my plate as soon as I have emptied it. That often discomforts(......) me greatly. I have to eat the food even if I do not want to. I have also noticed that when a Chinese sits at an American's dinner party, he very often refuses the offer of food or drink though he's in fact still hungry or thirsty. This might be good manners in prefix = st1 /China, but it is not in the West at all. In theUnited States, it is impolite to keep asking someone again and again or insist on his accepting something. Americans have a direct way of speaking. If they want something, they will ask for it. If not, they will say, "No thanks." When an American is served with beer by the host, for example, he might say, "No, thanks. I'll take some orange juice if you have it." That is what an American will do. So when you go to theUnited States, you'd better remember the famous saying: "When inRome, do as Romans do." When in Rome, do as the Romans do means _ . Answer: You should get used to the local customs wherever you go
Aggressive pedestrians are in fact as dangerous as careless drivers. They cause traffic accidents, injury and death. These dangerous walkers can be seen in any big city over the world. About 69% of last year's pedestrian deaths in the US occurred in urban areas. They cross streets ignoring "DON'T WALK" signals, suddenly appear without warning from behind parked vehicles, walk slowly at crossroads with cell phones attached to heads, blocking traffic. These pedestrians and drivers share a common disregard for the rules of the road, both for selfish reasons. The drivers believe in the power of their machines. If their machines can go faster, they believe they have the right to go faster. If their machines are bigger, they believe they have the right to push smaller vehicles aside. Aggressive pedestrians, on the other hand, believe in the primacy of the individual, the idea that they are first in any environment, under any circumstances, even when they are on foot in a roaring tide of steel and rubber. Last year, an estimated 5,220 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. Some 69,000 pedestrians were injured. On average, that worked out to one pedestrian killed in a traffic crash every 101 minutes, and one injured every eight minutes. The good news is that the accident rate is dropping. For example, the number of pedestrians killed last year was 24 percent less than the number killed in traffic accidents a decade earlier. The bad news is that the basic causes of pedestrian deaths remain pretty much the same----disregard for traffic signals, inattention and crossing roads under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol, in fact, was involved in 46 percent of the traffic accidents that resulted in pedestrian deaths. Of those, 31 percent of the pedestrians were found to be drunk. The bottom line is that the pedestrians must do more to protect their lives as well as the lives of other road users. They can start by obeying traffic signals, using marked cross-walks and calling a cab when they've had too much to drink. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: Science Daily--Kids may roll their eyes when their mothers asks them about their school day, but answering her may actually help them learn. New research from Vanderbilt University reveals that children learn the solution to a problem best when they explain it to their mom. "We knew that children learn well with their moms or with a peer, but we did not know if that was because they were getting feedback and help," Bethany Rittle-Johnson, the study's lead author and assistant professor of psychology at Vanderbilt's Peabody College of education and human development, said. "In this study, we just had the children's mothers listen, without providing any assistance. We've found that by simply listening, a mother helps her child learn." Rittle-Johnson believes the new finding can help parents better assist their children with their schoolwork, even when they are not sure of the answer themselves. Although the researchers used children and their mothers in the study, they believe the same results will hold true whether the person is the child's father, grandparent, or other familiar persons. "The basic idea is that it is really effective to try to get kids to explain things themselves instead of just telling them the answer," she said. "Explaining their reasoning, to a parent or perhaps to other people they know, will help them understand the problem and apply what they have learned to other situations. We saw that this simple act of listening by mom made a difference in the quality of the child's explanations and how well they could solve more difficult problems later on. Who will be the least help to a kid when he is explaining, according to Rittle-Johnson? Answer: Country music is one of the most popular kinds of music in the United States today because it is about simple but strong human feelings and events-love, sadness, good times, and bad times. It tells real-life, stories and sounds the way people really talk. As life becomes more complicated , it is good to hear music about ordinary people. Country music, sometimes called country-western, comes from two kinds of music. One is the traditional music of the people in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern Unite States. The other is traditional cowboy music from the west. The singers usually play guitars, and in the 1920s they started using electric guitars. At first city people said country music was low class. It was popular mostly in the South. But during World War II, thousands of Southerners went to the Northeast and Midwest to work in the factories. They took their music with them. Soldiers from the rest of the country went to army camps in the South. They learned country music. Slowly it became popular all over the country. Today country music is also popular everywhere in the United States and Canada--in small towns and in New York City, among black and white, and among educated and uneducated people. About 1, 200 radio stations broadcast country music twenty-four hours a day. English stars sing it in British English, and people in other countries sing it in their own languages. The music that started with cowboys and poor southerners is now popular all over the world. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: A goose needs to move to warmer states for the winter. Leaving its summer home, it heads out without a map, because it can always find the right way by using Answer: Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has a good heart, but always feared applying for a new job. One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appointment was at 10 am and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus to the office where he was supposed to be interviewed, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of his car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man asked him how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said, "Well, I could take you to the office for your interview. It's the least I could do. Please, I insist." Jimmy agreed. Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applicants waiting to be interviewed. Jimmy still had some grease on him after the car repair, but he did not have much time to wash it off or have a change of shirt. One by one, the applicants left the interviewer's office with disappointed look on their faces. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked, "Do you really need to be interviewed?" Jimmy's heart sank. "With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?" he thought to himself. Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy's surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. It turned out he was the General Manager of the company. "Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into the office. I just know you'd be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!" Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee as he landed himself a new job. What did Jimmy see on the way to the interview? Answer:
In a country that defines itself by ideals, not by shared blood, who should be allowed to come to work and live here? In the wake of the Sept.11 attacks these questions have never seemed more pressing. On Dec.11, 2001, as part of the effort to increase homeland security, federal and local authorities in 14 states staged "Operation Safe Travel"---raids on airports to arrest employees with false identification.In Salt Lake City there were 69 arrests.But those captures were anything but terrorists, most of them illegal immigrants from Central or South America.Authorities said the undocumented workers' illegal status made them open to blackmail by terrorists. Many immigrants in Salt Lake City were angered by the arrests and said they felt as if they were being treated like disposable goods.Mayor Anderson said those feelings were justified to a certain extent."We're saying we want you to work in these places, we're going to look the other way in terms of what our laws are, and then when it's convenient for us, or when we can try to make a point in terms of national security, especially after Sept.11, then you're disposable.They are whole families being uprooted for all of the wrong reasons," Anderson said. If Sept.11 had never happened, the airport workers would not have been arrested and could have gone on quietly living in America, probably indefinitely.Ana Castro, a manager at a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop at the airport had been working 10 years with the same false Social Security card when she was arrested in the December airport raid.Now she and her family are living under the threat of deportation .Castro's case is currently waiting to be settled.While she awaits the outcome, the government has granted her permission to work here and she has returned to her job at Ben & Jerry's. By saying "...we're going to look the other way in terms of what our laws are", Mayor Anderson means " _ ". A there are other ways of enforcing the law B we will examine the laws in a different way C we will turn a blind eye to your illegal status D the existing laws must not be ignored Answer: A. there are other ways of enforcing the law Today Grandma comes for a visit. She gives my sister and me a box of chocolate candies. We say "thank you!" Then Jenny quickly takes off the box. The pieces all look the same! I can't tell which pieces are hard inside and which are soft! I only like the soft ones. Jenny does not care. She is happy to get any kind of candy! I slowly look at all the pieces; I don't know which one to choose. Just then Dad calls us Grandma is going home, He wants us to say goodbye to her. I hurry to the front door where they are standing. Jenny comes a few minutes later. I say, "Grandma, I hope to see you soon. I always feel sad when you leave. "Jenny stands behind me and doesn't say anything. After Grandma goes home, I find out why Jenny doesn't say anything. She has most of our candies in her mouth! Only a few pieces are left in the bottom of the box! Then I'm sad! What kind of chocolate candy does Jenny like? A Any kind of candy B Hard ones C Soft ones D Big ones Answer: A. Any kind of candy Community service is an important component of education here at our university. We encourage all students to volunteer for at least one community activity before they graduate. A new community program called "One On One" helps elementary students who've fallen behind. Your education majors might be especially interested in it because it offers the opportunity to do some teaching, that is, tutoring in math and English. You'd have to volunteer two hours a week for one semester. You can choose to help a child with math, English, or both. Half-hour lessons are fine, so you could do a half hour of each subject two days a week. Professor Dodge will act as a mentor to the tutors-he'll be available to help you with lesson plans or to offer suggestions for activities. He has office hours every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. You can sign up for the program with him and begin the tutoring next week. I'm sure you'll enjoy this community service...and you'll gain valuable experience at the same time. It looks good on your resume, too, showing that you've had experience with children and that you care about your community. If you'd like to sign up, or if you have any questions, stop by Professor Dodge's office this week. What does Professor Dodge do? _ A He advises students to participate in certain program. B He teaches part-time in an elementary school. C He observes elementary school students in the classroom. D He helps students prepare their resumes. Answer: A. He advises students to participate in certain program. I'm Mrs. Smith. Here are some lost things . They're in the "Lost and Found" box. This is a watch. It is blue. David found it this morning. Is it yours? That is a jacket. It is yellow and black. Alan found it this afternoon. Those are two pencils. One is blue. One is red. Mary found them in the classroom. By the way, Jack lost his key . It's a white key. He must find it. Can you help Jack? Boys and girls, if you lose something, you can ask me for help, Call me. My telephone number is 887-9569. _ lost something. A Mrs. Smith B David C Jack D Alan Answer: C. Jack Two thieves came to a house to steal something. They dug a hole in the wall of the house. There lived many mice in the house. The woman in the moonlight saw a mouse crawl into the house."Look!In comes one,"she said to the man in the house. The thief was so frightened that he hurriedly crawled out of the house and said to the one waiting outside,"She found me when I was just in." But the thief outside didn't believe him,so he said,"Let us two try to crawl into the house together."At that time two mice happened to crawl into the house,too. The woman saw the mice and shouted,"In come two,catch them!" The two thieves were terribly frightened. The man in the house said,"You saw them come in but where are they? I will catch them tonight."The two thieves started running away at once. The two thieves wanted to make it clear whether they had been found or not the night before. The next day they acted as men selling sweet potatoes and came before the house. The man and the womanwere ploughing in their fields. The rein broke and the woman came home for a rope. She saw two men selling sweet potatoesand wanted to buy some. She picked out two which looked like mice. At the time the man couldn't wait for her any longer in the fields and he ran back from the fields to hurry her up. The woman showed the sweet potatoes to the man and said,"How they look like the two of last night."The man said,"I asked you to fetch a rope,why don't you hurry for it?"The two thieves ran away quickly without their sweet potatoes. The two thieves failed to steal anything from the house because _ . A they were found out B they were frightened by what they had heard in the house C they didn't work together well with each other D mice stopped them from doing so Answer: B. they were frightened by what they had heard in the house
Electrical devices could soon use power make by human energy, Scientists say they have developed an experimental device that produces electricity from the physical movement of a person walking , British scientist Max Donelan and other scientists in Canada and the United States developed the device. The device connects to a person's knee, As the person walks, the device captures energy each time the person slows down, To do this ,the device helps with the slowing sown movement of the leg, The movements of the walking person push parts of a small machine that produces electricity, Using the device, an adult walking quickly could produce thirteen watts of electricity in just a minute, Donelan says walking at that speed could produce enough power to operate a laptop computer for six minutes. There are several possible uses for the device ,Developers say it could help people who work in areas without electricity to operate small computers, The deice could also be used in hospitals to operate heart pacemakers ,It could even be used to assist in the movement of robotic arms and legs. The experimental version of the device weighs about one and a half kilograms, but it is too costly for most people to buy, But the researchers hope to make a lighter, less costly version.An improved version should be ready in one year. The developers hope the device will one day help developing countries, Nearly twenty five percent of people around the world live without electric power. A similar product was invented in 2005 by Larry Rome of the University of Pennsylvania,He created a bag carried on a person's back that also produces power from walking, The knee device does not produce as much electricity as the bag ,But the bag requires the walker to carry a load of twenty to thirty kilograms. What would be the best title for the passage? A. First device powered by walking will soon be on the market B. Advanced technology brings in a new way to operate heart pacemakers C. Device gives new meaning to the idea of power walking D. Human energy will become a main source of electricity Answer: C Mr. Smith is telling two funny stories of his police work. Story A I remember catching a "thief" in a clothes shop once. It was strange. The man was hiding a yellow sweater inside his coat. I thought he had stolen it, so I caught him. We found later that his wife gave him the sweater for his birthday, but he hated it. He just wanted to return it to the shop for money, but he didn't want his wife to see him! We soon let him go. Story B Another day, a man called Bob went into a bank on Sixth Street. He wrote on the back of an envelope, "Give me the money! Or I'll kill you." and gave it to the bank clerk. She gave him $100,000 and the man ran away. Then we received a phone call from the bank clerk. She told us to go to the man's house in Candy Town and get him. We caught him as soon as he got out of the elevator. He couldn't believe that we found him so quickly. We told him that the front of the envelope he used his name and address on it! What do you think of Bob? A. He is brave. B. He is careful. C. He is careless. D. He is foolish Answer: C Parents are often amazed at how fast their child grows and develops. New research has determined that the ability to quantify may develop much sooner than most parents realize. Kristy vanMarle, professor of the University of Missouri, has determined that contrary to what previous studies have shown, infants are able to quantify substances --like sand or water--as early as 10 months. As long as the difference between the two substances is large enough, infants will choose the larger amount, especially when it comes to food. With the assistance of her team researchers, vanMarle tested the quantifying skills of babies by presenting them with two cups: one containing a small amount of food, and one containing a larger amount. Consistently, the babies chose the larger amount. "Several studies throughout the last 15 years have shown that infants are very good at telling how many objects they see; however, infants don't seem to count things like water or sand," vanMarle said. "What we're saying is that they can quantify substances; The infants can see how much food goes into each cup and compare that in their memories. They decide which amount is larger, and they almost always select the larger one." This information further refutes the long-held idea that babies "know nothing of the world," vanMarle said. "Since psychologists have begun studying infants with sensitive measures, we've discovered a lot of early abilities. I think for parents, it should be exciting to know that there's somebody there that has some fundamental and basic knowledge of the world, and that knowledge is guiding their development," vanMarle said. In the future, vanMarle says this kind of study could be linked to a child's progress in math-related skills, although programs marketed to increase those abilities, such as "Baby Einstein," still have mixed reviews when it comes to academic study. What's the best title of the text? A. Breakthrough in Baby Studies B. Amazing Baby-training Ideas C. Early Human Abilities D. Unique Quantifying Methods Answer: A There are many festivals in Argentina during the year. Therefore, you can enjoy the different interesting festivals when traveling there. First of all, we should talk about the Tango Festival in Argentina, which is held in the capital of this country -- Buenos Aires, from February to March. You ought to know that Argentina is the home of tango, so Argentineans admire this dance very much. Even if you cannot dance perfectly, you should join the people and try to perform this dance. The next festival in Argentina is Open Polo Tournament. You should go to Palermo to see this festival in Argentina. This festival is held every year and is the most important polo tournament in Argentina. This kind of sport is considered the most important in Argentina. Attending this festival in Argentina, you will be able to communicate with different people, admire the fascinating competition between the teams of different countries, such as Argentina, England, Australia, as well as the US. This festival in Argentina is usually held between November and December every year. So don't miss the opportunity if you travel to Argentina at this time. The other festival in Argentina is the Semana Musical Llao Llao. This is a festival of classical music. The festival was created in 1993 and is held at the Llao Llao Hotel, near Bariloche. The festival is held yearly in October. So if you admire this kind of music, you should travel to Argentina in October. There are also many carnivals in October. There are also many carnivals in Argentina in summer. Of course, it's impossible to put everything about festivals in Argentina into just one article. We hope that you have found this article interesting and eye-catching. Which of the following is a sport festival? A. The Semana Musical Llao Llao. B. Open Polo Tournament. C. The Tango Festival. D. Argentina Carnivals. Answer: B Cyprus is the third largest island and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea. It attracts over 24 million tourists every year. It gained independence from the UK in 1960. Cyprus is a developed country and has been a member of the European Union since 1 May ,2004. It didn't begin to use the euro until 1 January. 2008. As a tourist destination, Cyprus has clean beaches and fine weather all the year round. There are Roman and Greek ruins on the island, which attract tourists most. You can enjoy skiing and hiking in its huge mountains and charming villages. In the towns and cities, there are some modern hotels, bars and clubs with bright lights and rich nightlife. The story of the island can date back over 10,000 years. Cyprus has long been seen as an important strategic base. Many civilizations have swept through it over the years. In 1974 the Turkish army arrived on the northern coast of Cyprus. They were invited by the Turkish Cypriot leader in order to protect the Turkish villages. Since then the Turkish army took control of the northern third of the island. The Greek Cypriot controlled the other. UN peacekeeping forces kept the peace between the two sides. Although it has political problems, Cyprus is a country that easily links modern European culture with its past. Here, visitors can discover clean beaches, all kinds of grape wine and ancient ruins. With fruit trees around, the old stone villages make tourists feel that modern Europe seems a very long way away indeed. From the text we can learn that Cyprus . A. is the third largest island in the world B. has a population of more than 24 million C. is rich in fruit, especially grapes D. is under the control of the UK Answer: C
A relationship is defined as a state of connectedness between people. Although in today's society with its crazy rhythm of everyday life, when people tend to live in thickly populated cities, spending most of their time in the office and hardly knowing their neighbor's name, we still find ourselves in some kinds of relationships-with friends, family, or colleagues. Family relationships are the first relationships people enter. Parents and relatives influence our emotional development by creating a model that we are sometimes bound to follow all our lives, often subconsciously . In day-care, at school, then in the office we spend a lot of time among fellow students and co-workers. We learn to keep business relationships, to work in a team environment, then form smaller groups of like-minded people and finally select some of them as our friends. What is a true friendship? How does it start? Are we destined to become friends with certain people or can we actually plan whom to be friends with? "Everybody's friend is nobody's." said Arthur Schopenhauer. Unlike a companionship based on belonging to the same team or group, friendship is a very personal and selective type of relationship. It calls for trust, sincerity, and emotional bonds. Sociologists believe that most people are looking for similarities in views, social status, and interests when choosing friends. No wonder that our friends are often people of the same age, sex, and education. Another important factor is joint activity and solidarity. This is the reason why many of us befriend our colleagues and other people who work in the same field. Most people would agree that a friend is someone who always listens and understands. Understanding in this context implies a lot of meanings-compassion, sympathy, and emotional closeness. It's a process in which your friend reads your emotional state, shares your feelings, identifies himself or herself with you. Why are our friends usually of the same age,sex,and education? Answer: Because most of us are looking for similarities in views,social status, and interests when choosing friends. Are you aged between 14 and 19 years old? Do you care about your local environment?Would you like to help make the area you live in better, cleaner, safer and more friendly? If your answers are "yes", "yes" and "yes", then read on! You may be surprised to hear that you can actually get money for improving your local community. The "Big Lottery " is giving money to a group of teenagers who want to become active citizens. We're looking for young people to take part in projects near to where they live. Here are a few easy things you could do to get started: Meeting the neighbors Everybody needs good neighbors. Knock on people's doors and find out what they would like to improve in your area. If you don't want to go round to their houses, then you could always put a note through their doors. Neighborhood watch Neighborhood watch plans are very popular in the UK. If you go away on holiday and leave your house, it's very nice to know that a neighbor is keeping an eye on it. It's a good way to make the area you live in safe. Lending a hand There are often elderly people living in the neighborhood who may not be able to do the things that you can do. You can offer to do their shopping once a week, look after their gardens for them or maybe walk their dogs! So, go on...Just tell us what kind of project you want to become involved in, then we'll send you more details. Take active action and help make your neighborhood a better place to live in. What does "lend a hand" mean? Answer: It means to help someone who needs help. Feng Huan was born in a far village in Jiangxi Province. She is 13 years old, but she is only as tall as a six-year-old girl. She is an unlucky child. Born with an illness,she can't walk as others. Family elders once tried to abandon her because of her poor health, but her mother never gave up. She named her Feng Huan, which means happiness, hoping her daughter would grow up to have a happy life in the future. The illness brought so much pain to Feng Huan over the years. Her legs have become deformed as she has been unable to walk since she was born. She could hardly walk or go to the washroom without help. What's worse, her illness is getting worse and worse, which puts pressure on one of her kidneys . Her mother has taken her to Shanghai to see a doctor, and her parents have done everything they could to treat her illness. Thanks to great love from her mother, Feng Huan is able to go to school as other children. She says she loves school because she can learn many things there and chat with her classmates. After she goes home on her mother's back from school, she does her homework with her favorite doll by her side. She takes the doll everywhere with her, even when she sleeps. Luckily, when her story is reported, many kind-hearted people have lent helping hands. Feng Huan is now r _ after corrective surgery on her legs in Shenzheng, Guangdong Province. Perhaps we can see a healthy girl soon. How does Feng Huan come home from school? Answer: On her mother's back At 20 year of age F.W. Woolworth found work in exchange for room and board at a local dry goods store , and after his employers held a successful clearance sale he saw the possibilities of a discount store. His key improvements were having the goods on open display instead of behind the counter , and having prices plainly marked instead of bargaining. With borrowed funds he opened his first F.W. Woolworth store in the suburb of Utica, New York in 1879, but the store closed the following year . Deciding that his problem had been a poor location. He opened a new store in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylyania in 1881. Within months he was opening multiple stores in business partnerships with local retailers,and within a few years Woolworth was a millionaire. In 1909 he opened his first store in England, and in 1913 the company opened its new headquarters in New York's Woolworth Building--then the tallest building in the world. Woolworth had a deep fear of dentists , allowing his teeth to rot ,and died of a dental lunch counters in many stores , Woolworth was America's largest restaurant chain through the 1940s. The company peaked as the world's largest department store chain in the late 1970s, with more than 4 . 000 stores. By the late 1990s business was sputtering , and the company closed all of its American department stores,renamed itself Venator, and sold the Woolworth Building . In 2003 Venator renamed itself after the company's most successful division, Foot Locker, Inc . Under separate ownership , Woolworth stores are still operated in Austria , Germany , Mexico, South Africa , and the United Kingdom. We know from this passage that _ . Answer: Woolworth had no chain stores in America for about 20 years Doctors are the persons helping people keep healthy. Some doctors use magic, some use needles and others use pills. Who are they? Among the Indians of North America the "medicine man" was a very important person. He could cure illnesses, and he could speak to the spirits--the supernatural forces that controlled the world. The Indians believed that bad spirits made people ill. So, when people were ill, the medicine man tried to help them by using magic--he spoke to the good spirits and asked for their help. Many people were cured because they thought that the spirits were helping them. But really these people cured themselves. Sometimes your own mind is the best doctor for you. The medicine men were often successful for another reason, too. They knew about plants that really can cure illnesses. A lot of modern medicines are made from plants that were used by medicine men hundreds of years ago. For more than five thousand years only Chinese doctors have used needles to fight illnesses. This method is called acupuncture . The doctor studies the sick person carefully. Then he puts needles into that person's body at the right places for his illness. Chinese doctors believe that they can control the body's natural forces in this way. At first, doctors in the West thought that this was just another kind of magic. Recently, however, they have found out that it is possible to cure many illnesses like this because the needles help the body to produce its own "medicines". In this way the body cures itself. According to this passage modern medicines _ . Answer: have nothing to do with the supernatural forces
Fri, Jun. 1 Nightlife Back to the Age of Innocence This performance, organized by the group Lifetime Wharf, will celebrate Children's Day and commemorate the lost childhoods of office workers. Five bands will perform: DH & Chinese Hellcats, DUDE, Candy Monster, Residence A and Island Mood. Where: Yugong Yishan Livehouse, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu. Dongcheng District When: 8 pm Admission: 60 yuan pre-sale. 80 yuan at door Tel: 64042711 Sun. Jun. 3 Movie Chinese Girlby Guo Xiaolu The indie film Chinese Girl directed by Guo Xiaolu, is about the life of a girl who lives in the countryside. The lead actress, Huang Lu, will attend the screening and answer participants' questions afterwards. Where: UCCA, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District When: 7pm Admission: 15 yuan (10 yuan for students, free for VIP) Tel: 57800200 Mon, Jun. 4 Script Reading Scripts written by students from the 166thMiddle School of Beijing will be performed. They include:Love Sleeping Beauty, Lucky Ferris Wheel Production, Jane Eyre, Our Self-study Class and Farewell -- Bing Xin. Where: Penghao Theater, 35 Dongmianhua Hutong, Dongcheng District When: Until Jun. 5, 7: 30 pm Admission: 80 yuan (40 yuan for students) Tel: 64006472 Thu, Jun. 7 Movie Invictus This film is directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, both of whom were nominated for Academy Awards. Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Haidian District When: Until Jun. 8, 7:30 --10 pm Admission: 120 -- 480 yuan Tel: 66550000 If Marry would like to know the content of Jane Eyre, where will she watch the program? Answer: Have you ever had travel problems because your airplane was late? It is a common problem and it is getting worse. Airport delays make people angry and cost the country billions in lost work time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the government agency that oversees air travel. They studied the problem of airline delays. They found eleven major problems and suggested eleven ways to fix them. Some of the problems are caused because different regions of the country do things differently. The regions don't talk to each other enough. Some of them need new computers. Also, more planes are flying. A strong economy has more people using airplanes to get around. Airplanes are a form of mass transportation now, like trains and buses were in the past. More planes in the airport cause delays. The airport in San Francisco is a good example. It is growing fast. Many people go through San Francisco to get to other places around the world. Ron Wilson of the San Francisco International Airport says, "If you've got 18 flights that all want to take off at 8:00 am and you're on the 18thplane in line, you're going to be 40 minutes late." Weather is another main reason for delays. Weather causes about 70% of delays. Fog or freezing rain can cause delays. The first thing the FAA wants to do is take control away from the regions during heavy traffic times and bad weather. A national center would make decisions on things that affect the whole country. The FAA also wants to put more distance between planes in the sky when the weather is bad. This rule could cause even more delays. The FAA knows that their solutions will not solve the problems with airport delays. But, they hope to make things better. There are just too many planes, too few traffic controllers, and not enough new technology. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason for airline delays? Answer: Modern society cannot well do without the contribution that women can make in the professions and other kinds of work. There is a serious shortage of nurses and teachers, to mention only two of the occupations followed by women. It is a waste to give years of training at public expense only to have the qualified teacher or nurse marry after a year or two and be lost forever to her profession. The training, it is true, will help her in her duties as a mother, but if she continued to work, her service would be more widely useful. Many factories and shops, too, are largely staffed by women, many of them married. While here the question of training is not so important, industry and trade would be seriously short of staff if married women did not work. We can see then that there are good reasons for regarding it as desirable that married women should have some occupation outside the home. However, there are serious objections. Schools do not keep children occupied the whole day and school holidays are long. The mother's working day will almost certainly end well after the school day and her holiday will not begin at the same time as her children's. There will be therefore a period when children are not taken care of unless a substitute for the mother can be found, or unless it becomes more generally possible for women to work part-time. There seem to be some grounds for believing that there is more bad behavior among the children of working mothers than among those of mothers who stay at home, but more evidence is required before we can be certain of this. What we can be certain of, however, is that many more will continue to do so. According to the writer, women nurses and teachers ought to carry on their occupation after marriage because _ . Answer: The term "multitasking" originally referred to a computer's ability to carry out several tasks at one time. For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success. In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time. Although checking e-mail while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, many times multitasking can make us less productive, rather than more. And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss. In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex . Brain scans of volunteers performing multiple tasks together show that as they shift from task to task, this front part of the brain actually takes a moment of rest between tasks. You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex "moment of rest" yourself if you've ever dialed a phone number and suddenly forgotten who you dialed when the line is answered. What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to anther thought or task, and then took that "moment" to come back. Research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency declines while multitasking, as compared to when they perform only one task at a time. Multitasking is easiest when at least one of the tasks is habitual, or requires little thought. Most people don't find it difficult to eat and read the newspaper at the same time. However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes. We often don't remember things as well when we're trying to manage several details at the same time. Without mental focus, we may not pay enough attention to new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory stores. That is one of the main reasons we forget people's names--even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves. Multitasking can also affect our relationships. If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may come off as absent-minded or disinterested. It can also cause that person to miss or overlook key information being passed on to them. People tend to make mistakes when _ . Answer: "Earworms", some people call them. Songs that get stuck in your head go round and round, sometimes for days, sometimes for months. For no clear reason you cannot help yourself from humming or singing a tune by Lady Gaga. To a psychologist, the most interesting thing about earworms is that they show a part of our mind that is clearly outside of our control. Earworms arrive without permission and refuse to leave when we tell them to. They are parasites living in a part of our minds. If you have got an earworm you can suffer an attack of it simply by someone mentioning the tune, without having to hear it. This proves that earworms are a part of long-term memory. Humans have an "inner ear", for remembering phone numbers, for instance. When it gets infected with earworms, rather than review our plans for the day, or lists of things to remember, the inner ear gets stuck on a few short bars of music or a couple of phrases from a song. A part of us that we normally do not have to think about, that should just do what we ask, has been turned against us, upsetting us with a request that we never asked for. The mind is an inner world which we do not have complete knowledge of, or have control over. Fortunately psychology can provide some advice on how to deal with an uncontrollable mind. Consider the famous "don't think of a white bear" problem, which tells you to try not to think about white bears, or to do something else, to avoid both thinking of the white bear and not thinking of the white bear. For earworms, the solution may be the same. Our inner ear has become infected with an earworm. This is a part not under our control, so just sending in instructions to "shut up" is unlikely to be of much help (and has been shown to make it worse). Much better is to employ the inner ear in another task. If your mind is poisoned by Brittany Spears' Toxic, for instance, then try singing Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You out Of My Head. Let me know if works! What is the passage mainly about? Answer:
Radio, TV, film, and new video technology bring to mind visions of bright, exciting, high-paying careers. Many young people are attracted to wonder: Is there a place for me in the broadcast media field? People in the business warn that the road to a successful broadcast media career can be very rocky. They point out that getting started in the field is often difficult. To begin with, competition for most broadcast jobs can be fierce. Then, once on the job, the pressure is often big. Many jobs in broadcasting require long working hours, including nights and weekends. In most cases, the salaries are not very high. What can you do to prepare for a career in broadcast media? Getting some kind of broadcasting experience during high school or college can be extremely important. Because the field is so popular, many employers are in a position to select beginners with developed skills. You can start by becoming familiar with media while still in high school. If there is a media resource department in your school, volunteer to do anything. If there is no media department, take photos of games and social events. Work on the drama productions or write for the school newspaper. Many beginners in broadcasting start at small local radio or TV stations. Such stations are usually more willing than the networks to take on people with little or no experience. Here, you have a chance to be involved in many aspects of the broadcast industry and get trained on the job. According to the writer, jobs with the TV networks _ . Answer: are harder to find than jobs with local stations I was feeling a little blue because my mother had been laid off from her job and she had lots of bills to pay. It left me wondering what was going to happen to us now. But it reassured me some when my mother told me she was relieved to be leaving since her boss wasn't the nicest person to be around. I got off the college shuttle bus and started walking. That's when I heard piano music and singing rising above the noise of the people and the traffic. I walked a little slower so I could find out where it was coming from. Through the crowd I saw a young lady sitting at a piano with a carriage next to her. She was singing songs about love, keeping on trying, and not underestimating the power within yourself. The way she was singing comforted me a bit. I stood there watching her play for about fifteen minutes, thinking that it must take courage to perform on your own in the middle of a crowded New York ferry terminal. So I stood there listening. She must have felt my presence because she would occasionally look in my direction. By now I was telling myself that if she could perform in front of hundreds of people she didn't know then I could at least tell her how good she sounded. I walked over and put some money in her carriage and she said, "Thank you." Instead of continuing my way home, I said to her, "I have been going through a rough time lately, but you've made me hopeful again." "I'm happy that I could help," she replied. "Why are you so sad?" "Well, my mum told me she had got fired from her job, and that made me sad. I'm not so sure what to do ..." "You see, here's the problem," she explained. "The way you were walking, your head was down. Don't look defeated, because opportunity comes in different ways and if your head is down you might never see it. You should smile more ... lift your head up." I smiled faintly, amazed by how she was encouraging me. So, I asked her, "Why are you playing the piano in the middle of a crowded place? I've seen you do this more than once." She explained to me that she sees a lot of negative people in the world and she tries to alleviate the pain and bring more positivity by sharing motivational music. She told me that when she wasn't making music she studied psychology. So, that was how she knew some of the things she was telling me. I smiled a little wider because I knew that she was doing a good thing. So, after that we parted, my heart touched and lightened by a musical soul! We can learn from Paragraph 3 that the young lady sang to _ . Answer: inspire others to live positively Stephen Hawking was one of the most famous scientists in this century. He was born in 1942. He's a world well-known on space and time. Stephen is researching some very big questions, such as: How did the universe begin? How will it end? Stephen was a student at Oxford University. He studied math and science. Then, at the age of twenty, he became sick. He was so young, but the doctors said to his family, "He has only two more years to live." As a matter of fact, the doctors were wrong---- he didn't die. He can't walk now but he uses a wheelchair . He can't feed himself and get in or out of bed himself. But he refused to give in to the condition. He talks with the help of a computer. After Oxford, Stephen went to Cambridge University. Three years later, in 1965, he became a doctor of philosophy . Because of his serious health problems, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams or to write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he became one of the most famous scientists in the world. In 1991, he met the Pope in Rome. They talked about his ideas. Then in 1998, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It sold more than 5.5 million copies in 33 different languages. He was once invited to China, he impressed us with his self-confidence, humorous and witty conversation. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Stephen has had the answers to some very big questions. If you are in a crowd, a first and most important thing is to make yourself familiar with your surroundings and mentally notice alternate exits. No matter where you are, make sure you always know how to get out. Make sure you know the type of ground you are standing on. For example, in a crowd of moving people wet ground can be dangerous, causing you to fall. You should know the general atmosphere of the event, as panic situations can often be predicted. When in danger, a few seconds can make all the difference, giving you the possibility of taking advantage of your escape route. Always stay closer to the escape route If you find yourself in the middle of a moving crowd, do not fight against the pressure, do not stand still or sit down, because you could easily get injured or even be killed by being stepped on by other people. Instead, move in the same direction of the crowd; take advantage of any space that may open up to move sideways to the crowd movement where the flow is weaker. Keep your hands up by your chest, which will protect your chest during the movement. If you fall, get up quickly. If you can't get up because you are injured, get someone to pull you back up. If you fall and can not get up, keep moving by crawling in the same direction of the crowd. Do not lie on your stomach or back, as this is dangerous for your body. The worst situation is to be pushed by the crowd against an immovable object. Try to shun High walls, as the crowd pressure can build up rapidly. After you're pushed forward, the way you move is on a diagonal . There's always space between people. You work your way out that way till you get out of the crowd. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: How to survive the rush crowd Local businessmen are increasingly facing competition from on line retailers. Larry Pollock, owner of Camera Co/Op on South Congress, said he has been dealing with this kind of problem for years, even before the Internet. The struggle began with mail-order catalogues, which are similar to online retailers in that they have few employees to pay, no sales tax fees and no business venue to lease and manage. "Their overhead is lower, but they don't offer a service like we do," Pollock said. Pollock, however, said providing a valuable service to customers does not always guarantee continued sales. "We spend 30 minutes to an hour with somebody and they go home and buy it online," he said. According to the state comptroller's office, online shopping is developing at a more rapid rate than traditional businesses. In spite of how fair or unfair online shopping may be to the local businessmen, consumers will continue to turn to the Internet for its variety and accessibility, said Mitch Wilson, an online shopper. "You have a larger selection and it's easier to compare prices." Wilson said he built his personal computer and paid a third of the price by shopping online. "Before the Internet, I would have had to go and buy an assembled computer from somebody like Dell," he said. "Before I started shopping online I could never find all the pieces I wanted. No single store had everything needed, so shopping online saved me from having to buy from Dell." Janny Brazeal, a psychology freshman, said online shopping is too impersonal. "I'd rather see it in person, touch it, know that I'm getting it," she said. Brazeal also said she would not give out her credit card number or other personal information online no matter how safe the site claims it is. Larry Pollock has been facing the problem _ . Answer: since there were mail-order catalogues
I'm Lisa from London,England,and I'm a vegetarian.That's someone who don't eat meat.Why am I a vegetarian? Well,I love animals,so I don't want to eat them.We can stay healthy if we eat onlv fruit and vegetables. A lot of people are vegetarians in England.There are a few shops and restaurantints that sell food Just for us.For example,there's a store near my house that makes lots of dishes with cheese and tofu. The tofu is great but I can't eat the cheese.It has too much fat. It's easy to be a vegetarian when I'm at home.1 cook lots of interesting dishes from grains and vegetables.I can make many different kinds of food,and I often cook meals for myfamily they aren't vegetarians,but they don't mind vegetarian food In some restaurants it is difficult to get vegetarian food.Last Sunday, I went to Steve's Steakhouse with my friends.They all wanted to eat roast beef. I looked for vegetarian food,but every dish had meat in it.I asked the waiter;"Can you give me something with no meat?"He asked,"Would you like some fish?""No,thanks,"1 said."I only want vegetables--no meat,and no fish.""But this is a steakhouse."said the waiter."People come here because they want to eat meat!" So we didn't eat in Steve's Steakhouse.We went to an Italian restaurant.My friends had meat pizzas(yuck!),and Ihad a big salad. Which Of the fo1lowing is TRUE according to the passage? A. Lisa's family 1ike dishes with no meat because they are animallovers. B. There are few shops that sell food just for vegetarians in England. C. Lisa's friends didn't have dishes in Steve Steakhouse because there was no meat. D. It is easy for Lisa to cook different kinds of dishes with no meat. Answer: D. It is easy for Lisa to cook different kinds of dishes with no meat. Interviews can be quite frightening but our tips can help you. Don't worry--relax! Remember these things and you'll be fine. Be on time. Find out exactly where the interview is and how to get there. Remember that buses and trains can often be late so allow plenty of time. It's better to be early than late. Be prepared. Think about what the interviewer will ask you. He or she will probably ask about your qualifications and your experience but they'll also ask you why you want the job. Think of some possible questions and prepare your answers before you go. Wear comfortable clothes. If you wear something new it will make you feel uncomfortable. It's best to wear something smart but something you like and feel happy in. Make eye contact . In the interview, don't sit looking at your feet. Make sure you sit up and look the interviewer in the eye. This makes you look honest and more confident . Ask a question. It's a good idea to ask questions at the interview. Ask about the company or the job. Prepare some questions before the interview. It makes you look more interested if you do this. Finding out exactly where the interview is and how to get there will help you to _ . A. receive some advice B. be on time C. prepare your answers D. remember the timetable Answer: B. be on time Imagine yourself on a boat looking out at the horizon and all you can see is the water meeting the sky with no land in sight and you are sailing straight ahead to meet the world. Jesse Martin does not have to imagine: he is living in it. On Dec. 7, 1998, at 17 years old, Jesse set sail from Melbourne, Australia on his boat, attempting to become the youngest person to sail alone and nonstop around the world. He sailed south of New Zealand, through the South Pacific, around South America, north on the Atlantic, back south past Africa, through the Indian Ocean and back to Melbourne. Even as a young child, Jesse had been an adventurer who traveled all over Europe and Asia with his parents. Born in Munich, Germany in 1981, he moved to Australia with his family when he was only two years old. They moved close to a rainforest in Cow Bay, about 3500kms north of Melbourne, where they built a small house with no electricity or running water. Jesse grew up at the beach enjoying the outdoors to its fullest. At 14, he sailed for the first time with his father and brother, Beau. It was after this trip that he began to dream about sailing around the world. Jesse's family played an important role. "I was made to believe I could do anything." he says. Although, he says, there were others that were not so encouraging or supportive, "People that I looked up to, respected and trusted told me I couldn't. Thankfully, I trusted myself. There were people that said that the boat couldn't be ready by the time I had to leave." However, through perseverance and belief in himself he was able to do what many told him was impossible. On Oct.31, 1999, more than 10 months after he set sail, Jesse Martin went down in history as the youngest person to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted. Which of the following made Jesse decide to sail alone around the world? A. His childhood adventure experiences. B. His journeys to Europe. C. His first sailing trip with his family. D. His love for outdoor activities. Answer: C. His first sailing trip with his family. Chinese Valentine's Day is on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar . It is a traditional festival for Chinese people. It comes from a romantic ancient Chinese story. Niu Lang and Zhi Nv, two lovers who got separated by the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens, can only meet that night. Thanks to this touching story, Chinese people regard the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar as Chinese Valentine's Day. In China people also call it "Qixi". Meanwhile, February 14 of the solar calendar is European Valentine's Day. It is related to a moving story too. The story goes that, there was a cruel king in ancient Rome whose name was Claudius. He forbade the youth to get married during the wars, which made the lovers angry. There was a monk named Valentine who was very angry at the rule and the king. One day a couple of lovers came to his temple to ask for help to get married. Valentine helped them. Later, many couples got married with Valentine's help. But Claudius knew it soon. He put Valentine to death cruelly. And that day was February 14, the year of 270. Compared with European Valentine's Day, Qixi is less popular in China though it is a traditional Chinese festival. There may be many reasons. First of all, the lunar calendar is not easy to remember for most of the young people who are used to the solar calendar. Secondly, to many businessmen, European Valentine's Day is not only a festival for lovers but also a good chance to make money. Most of the flower shops can sell their flowers at a good price on European Valentine's Day while the business drops in Qixi, because on European Valentine's Day lovers know more about how to enjoy it. They exchange cards, flowers and go out to date. But most of them don't know the culture of Chinese Valentine's Day or how to celebrate it. Qixi is less popular than European Valentine's Day because _ . A. businessmen think that European Valentine's Day is more important than Qixi B. the government encourages people to celebrate foreign festivals C. the costs on Qixi are higher than those on European Valentine's Day D. the lunar calendar is not easy to remember and people don't know how to enjoy Qixi Answer: D. the lunar calendar is not easy to remember and people don't know how to enjoy Qixi Since the beginning of time never has there been another with my mind, my heart, my eyes, my ears, my hands, my mouth. None that came before, none that live today, and none that come tomorrow can walk and talk and move and think exactly like me. I'm a unique creature. Vain attempts to imitate others no longer will I make. Instead will I place my uniqueness on display in the market place. I will begin now to highlight my differences; hide my similarities. I am rare, and therefore I am valuable. I am the end product of thousands of years of evolution; therefore, I am better equipped in both mind and body than all the emperors and wise men before me. But my skills, my mind, my heart, and my body will weaken, rot, and die for fear that I put them to good use. I have unlimited potential. Only a tiny part of my brain do I employ; only a small amount of my muscle do I apply. So never again will I be satisfied with yesterday's accomplishments nor will I lose myself, anymore, in self-praise for deeds which in reality are too small to even acknowledge. I can accomplish far more than I have, and I will. I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy. I will increase my knowledge of mankind, myself, and the goods I sell. I will practice, and improve, and polish the words I speak to multiply my sales, for this is the foundation on which I will build my career. Also will I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracteD. I have been given eyes to see and a mind to think and now I know a great secret of life that all my problems, discouragements, and heartaches are, in truth, great opportunities in disguise. I am nature's greatest miracle. And nature knows not defeat. Eventually, she achieves victory and so will I, and with each victory the next struggle becomes less difficult. According to the text, which of the following is fundamental to the author's career building? A. Knowledge of mankind. B. Speaking skills. C. Prediction of the market. D. sense of victory. Answer: B. Speaking skills.
The legal age for drinking alcohol in the Unite States is twenty-one. Underage drinking is a crime but also a common part of college social life. This week in our Foreign Student Series, we look at alcohol rules at American colleges and universities. These rules differ from school to school, but many schools have been moving to strengthen their rules. The United States has more than 17,000,000 students in higher education. Each year, 1700 of them die from alcohol-related road crashes and other injuries. 600,000 more are injured while under the influence of alcohol. And almost 700,000 are attacked by another drunken. One behavior that college officials are trying to prevent is too much drink. Some researchers have found that students who think binge drinking is normal often think extremely how much other students really drink. A person can die of alcohol poisoning. At Oklahoma University, a nineteen-year-old student died from drinking heavily at a party in 2005. Now alcohol is banned from all sorority houses and university housing. Student organizations can serve alcohol at events but only on Friday and Saturday nights. Other new requirements include an alcohol education program that first-year students take online. The rules govern behavior on campus and off. With a first violation ,students pay seventy-five dollars and their parents are told. They must also take an alcohol education class. For a second "strike", they have to pay one hundred fifty dollars. A third strike means that they have to be suspended school for at least one semester. Since 2005,363 students have had a first strike. 30 have had a second strike-and only one hasn't allowed to go to school for one semester. The president at Oklahoma tells us the aim is not just to punish but to change the behavior and culture at the university. Which of the following is TRUE? A College students are not allowed to drink alcohol at any time. B If students take an alcohol program online, they can drink alcohol. C Students having a first strike only receive punishment of fine. D Students with a second strike pay twice as much as students with a first strike. Answer: D. Students with a second strike pay twice as much as students with a first strike. Welcome to Wen Feng's Clothes Shop! Big Sale ! Goods Colors Price (each) Pants Black, white, brown Y=65 Coat Black Y= 95 Cap Blue, white Y= 15 T-shirt Red, green Y= 60 Shoes Black , white Y= 80 Bag Blue Y= 35 We can buy _ T-shirts in Wen Feng's Clothes Shop . A no B red and green C black, white and brown D white and blue Answer: B. red and green In the sunny night, look up at the clear night sky. You can probably see thousands of stars. The biggest thing you'll see, of course, is the moon. For thousands of years, people have wondered about this big thing in the sky. Earth's moon is a satellite. A satellite is a body that orbits a planet. All moons are satellites, and many planets have them. Some have many moons. Earth, of course, only has one. It's a special moon, though. It's the fifth largest moon in the solar system! In fact, the moon is much smaller than the sun. But it's much closer to Earth, so it looks as big as the sun. The moon is so close that you can see its dark and light spots without a telescope. Men flew and landed on the moon's surface many times by spacecrafts in the 1960s and 1970s. Neil Armstrong was the first human to step on the moon. He walked on the moon on July 20th, 1969. The flights to the moon have helped us learn much about it. Astronauts even brought rocks home with them! There's still a lot to learn about the moon. Now people still can't live on the moon because it does not have oxygen or water like the Earth. But I'm sure that humans can live there one day in the future. ,. What is a satellite? A A planet. B A spacecraft. C A body that orbits a planet. D A black star. Answer: C. A body that orbits a planet. A good place to use a thermometer is A your butt B a radio C a wall socket D a bookbag Answer: A. your butt Mr. Gregory Gale is one of the few people in England who are 100 years old. On the day of his birthday, he played a game of tennis and went for a long walk. A few days later a radio reporter came to his house and asked him if he had any "secrets of long life". This is what Mr. Gale said, "No, I don't know any secrets like that, but there are a few simple rules of good life. I've always kept them all my life. The first is this: Don't listen to those fools who tell you to give up all the pleasures of life! The second is to enjoy all the pleasures of life in moderation . For example, I've always smoked a few good cigars every day. Not many, mind you! Only two or three! I've always also drunk a little good wine with my meals, perhaps two or three glasses. The third rule is to take a little exercise every day. I've taken a little and on Saturdays I've played a little tennis or golf." Which of the following isn't true? A Mr. Gale is still young. B Mr. Gale is 100 years old. C Mr. Gale is one of the oldest men in England. D Mr. Gale was interviewed by a radio reporter after his 100th birthday. Answer: A. Mr. Gale is still young.
Enjoy a museum visit with your class! Available Programs: Art Tells a Story: By looking at the subject matter and by drawing from personal experiences, students can find the story in some works of art. ( All grades) Learning to Look: An interactive tour that explores a variety of art using storytelling, movements, music, games, and other techniques helps introduce children to a museum. (Preschool~ Grade 3) Native American Collection: This program explores relationships that exist between art, culture, the geographic location and natural resources. Students will see a bowl made by Maria Martinez, a Towa storyteller, a Northwest coast mask, and Inuit clothing. ( For Grades 2~5) The Language of Art: Classes are welcomed into the museum to take part in an interactive tour of American Art. It gives participants a new set of vocabulary while helping them feel comfortable. Art-on-the-Move: Teachers may borrow suitcases filled with art objects. Free organizations with Education Membership. Planning Your Visit: Booking: Booking is necessary for all tours and programs. Please book at least a week in advance. Teachers are encouraged to organize self-guided visits for their classes during public hours. Tour Hours: Tours can be organized between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Program Fees: Tours are free for those with Education Membership. There is a charge of $6 per student of non-member organizations. Tour with art activities cost $12 per student (non-members) or $10 per student (members). Chaperones :We require one adult chaperone for every 10 children. Chaperones help to make your museum visit a success. A chaperone must pay $5 admission. Lunch: We regret that no lunch facilities are available at the museum. Museum Rules: Don't touch works of art. Don't take photographs. Ask questions. Look, and then LOOK again! Enjoy! Why does the museum feel sorry? Visitors are not able to have lunch at the museum. NBA commissioner David Stern was in Orlando on Thursday night, getting ready for Sunday's All-Star Game. Of course, all he could talk about was the only player anyone wants to talk about these days: New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin. Hours before Lin took the court against the Heat, a few hundred miles South down I-95 in Miami, Stern told reporters that Lin's instant popularity hasn't ever been matched in sports history, not even by Sunday's biggest names, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant. The Associated Press had the details. "I haven't done a calculation, but it's fair to say that no player has created the interest and the craze in this short period of time, in any sport, that I'm aware of like Jeremy Lin has," Stern said Thursday. Lin, an undrafted guard from Harvard, has become the NBA's biggest story since coming off the Knicks' bench earlier this month to lead them to nine wins in 11 games heading into their matchup with Miami on Thursday night. With Lin's popularity in Asia as the league's first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, and with the religious community because of his strong Christian faith, Stern says he's "never quite seen anything like" the attention on Lin. "It's fascinating," Stern said after the All-Star Jam Session opening ceremonies. The top five videos on NBA.com since Feb. 4, when Lin joined the circulation, are all Lin or Knicks related. Lin went from 190,000 followers on Sina, China's version of Twitter, on Feb. 2 to more than 1 million as of Feb. 16. Indeed, Lin's popularity is so _ that the NBA made a late list switch to ensure his participation in the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star Saturday, a game that includes the NBA's best rookies and sophomores. Lin is in such high demand that all of the game's other participants will meet with the media following a team practice on Friday while Lin will have his own, separate press conference later in the night. This is Jeremy's world, folks. We're all just living in it. Even David Stern and the rest of the league's All-Stars, at least for the moment. What can we learn from the above passage about Jeremy Lin's instant popularity? Every dog has its day. A job is more than just a job,especially to the older generation."It's not the money that matters,but the sense of selfworth," 56yearold Cheng Wonlan said.So,every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels,letters and documents of all shapes and sizes and does her rounds in North Point.She's a courier . Five years ago,Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic.She had worked there for almost 30 years but was made jobless when the doctor migrated .It was extremely difficult for her to find another job."People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am," she said.After two years of searching,the mother of two eventually found another nursing job.But then after two years,she quit.Why? "My colleagues were young and they didn't understand me because of my age.They often asked me,'You are so old;what are you working for?' I was very unhappy." she said.So while the rest of her family left for work,she was left to lonely boredom at home.The urge to work drove her to suffering.Then,one of Ms Cheng's neighbours told her about Employee's Retraining Board (ERB) offering retraining courses for older people on specific occupations,such as convenience store assistants,junior clerks and so on. "I was interested in courier work.I didn't think my age was a barrier because I was fit and healthy.So I thought why not give it a try." she said.Upon graduation from the ERB,Ms Cheng was offered a job by the Speeding Shuttle Courier Service Company Limited.But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict:she was caught between honour and employment.It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind and eventually came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job.So she took heart and went off to work as a courier. Ms Cheng's employer is delighted with her,"Ms Cheng has been working with us for two months and has shown a good responsible attitude to work."Anthony Chong,who runs the company,said.Currently,Mr Chong has 60 couriers working for his company:five of them are over fifty,four of whom have been through the ERB plan.Mr Chong said he hired older people because they were able and reliable."Age is not an important factor but attitude is.Many old people are more capable than the youngsters.They will not run from difficulties but the young ones will," he said."It is not easy to recruit young people since they shy away from hardship and challenges." Ms Cheng left her second nursing job because _ . the other staff made her feel uncomfortable A pile of mulch is broken down and when searching for the culprit, a gardener notes wriggling organisms There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns.It is sometimes placed among "situations vacant", although it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among "situations wanted", although it is not placed by someone looking for a job, either.What it does is to offer help in applying for a job. "Contact us before writing your application", or "Make use of our long experience in preparing your curriculum vitae or job history", is how it is usually expressed.The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment.It is also an indication of the growing importance of the CV, with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right. There was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application."Just put down your name, address, age and whether you have passed any exams", was about the average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school.The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview.And in those days of full employment the technique worked.The letter proved that you could write and were available for work.Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest. There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the CV. The CV has become such an important document because _ . there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degrees
Cameron thought of himself as merely organized. He certainly did not consider that he took great pains over anything, he did just enough to get it right. Exactly right, of course, for as he was fond of telling his staff, "if it's not exactly right, it's wrong". Occasionally a worker might be sad on hearing these words, because it meant another hour or so of going over the same bit of work, correcting the mistakes which Cameron had patiently pointed out. And doing the corrections exactly right of course. Strangely enough, his department had the reputation for performing the highest quality work in the company, and it was seen, and not only by those who worked in the department, as a sort of elite unit. Those programmes that had to work first time, straight out of the box, Cameron's men got those. "It's mission critical--give it to Cameron" was almost a catch-phrase with his team. It helped that Cameron was not merely particular about things. He wanted things done just so, not because of a personal taste, but because he had discovered through patient experimentation that this was the best way for it to be done. In Cameron's dictionary, "Take as long as you want" meant that you could work on your task not just in office hours, but that evening, and late into the early hours of the following morning if you so desired. But the project had to be in by its completion date, and yes, done exactly right. Or you did it again. But he would always be regarded, and not least by himself, as someone who had failed to meet requirements, one of those _ . You had to face it, if you were not working for Cameron, you were second best. So when word got out that Cameron had messed up, big time, the news was greeted with a mixture of sympathy, and entire relief that this perfection too was human. The attitude of the author towards Cameron is that of being _ . Answer: Are you a problem shopper? The answer is "Yes" , if you or someone else thinks that you sometimes get carried away with shopping .In other words ,do you or does someone else think you are occupied in extreme shopping ? If people have regrets later about their shopping , or have an "out-of-control" feeling about the quantities of what they buy or the amount of credit they use , they may be considered to be problem shoppers. Extreme shopping can lead to a more serious problem -addictive shopping . Addictive shoppers feel driven by the desire to shop and spend money . They experience great tension which drives them to shop and spend money and they feel a "rush" during the time they are occupied with the shopping activity. Extreme or addictive shopping may result from long-time unpleasant feelings, of which anxiety ,pain and shame are common ones,. When we feel bad inside ,we often do something to make ourselves feel better . In this case ,we often go shopping . A few people shop to relieve their boredom or emptiness .For some people ,the motivation is a desire for status ,power ,beauty or success .Some love to shop as it makes them feel valued in the eyes of the shop assistants .Others shop simply because it makes them forget , at least temporarily , tension ,fear or unhappiness in their life. Besides ,shopping malls are designed to encourage continual shopping . For instance ,there are some malls where you can't see clocks displaying the time because they don't want you to become too aware of the time you spend there .What's more ,food courts, coffee shops and restrooms are provided ,so you don't have to leave the mall because of your physical needs. Therefore ,once you become aware of how market forces work ,you will certainly come to control your shopping behavior .For example ,how much time you will spend an d what areas you will visit can be decided before you enter the mall. Keep a written account of what items you will buy and how much money you will spend . Make a plan for what you are going to buy before you feel the urge to shop and then stick to it . That is vital for gaining self0control. What does the author suggest to control our shopping behaviour? Answer: Hello, I'm Kan. I like different kinds of food. I like hamburgers, ice cream, salad and orange juice. For breakfast, I often have some milk and hamburgers. I don't like dessert. My favorite football star, Ronaldo eats lots of healthy food. He likes eggs and vegetables for breakfast. For lunch, he eats hamburgers, potatoes, chicken, oranges and apple juice. For dinner, he likes meat and French fries. He doesn't have dessert. " I like football better." He says. Ronaldo likes _ better. Answer: One of the most popular items in the school newspaper is the advice column. No one knows who writes it. The students think their teacher does, but it might be a student using a false name. The students enjoy thinking up problems for the advice column. Here are some of them and their answers. Ask the Wise Owl Q: I'm always late for school. I try not to be, but I can't help it. Please advise me what to do. Tommy. A: You are probably late for school because you don't really like school. My advice to you is to try and enjoy school more, then you won't be late so often. Q: I find it difficult to make friends. What do you think I should do? Sara. A: I can't advise you until I know more about you. Your problem may be that you are shy. On the other hand, it may be the opposite. You may be too bold . Write and tell me more about yourself. Q: I'm always at the bottom(,) of the class. What do you advise me to do? Molly. A: I advise you to concentrate on improving your grades in one subject to start with. If you can do this, you should move a little way up from the bottom. Next, try to improve your grades in another subject, and so on. If you concentrate on one subject at a time, by the end of the year you should be quite a long way up from the bottom in all your classes. What does the Wise Owl want Sara to do? Answer: American schools begin in September after the long summer holidays. There are two terms in a school year; the first term is from September to January, and the second is from February to June. Most American children go to public schools. High school students study only four or five subjects at a time. They usually go to the same classes every day, and they have an assignment for every class. After class they have many activities. After high school, many students go to college. They can go to a small one or a large one. They usually have to pay a lot of money for college education . But there are scholarships for good students, and many college students work part time in order to get money for their education. Most American children go to _ . Answer:
A dog can learn how to do something that it is taught to do, called learned behavior, such as lean back and accept having nails trimmed Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short television program can tell you all that you want to know? _ . Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbooks , which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times. Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia , though expensive, is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books, science textbook, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun. The triathlon promises to be one of the most popular Olympic sports. Recently it has drawn huge crowds attracted by athletes swimming 1,500m, cycling 40km, and then running 10km, without stopping. But what makes an attractive 17-year-old give up everything for the doubtful pleasures it offers? Melanie Sears has not yet learnt those often-repeated phrases about personal satisfaction, mental challenge and higher targets that most athletes use when asked similar questions. "You swim for 1,500m, then run out of the water and jump on your bike, still wet. Of course, then you freeze. When the40kmcycle ride is over, you haveto run10km, which is a long way when you're feeling exhausted. But it's great fun, and all worth it in the end," she says. Melanie entered her first triathlon at 14 and she won the junior section. Full of confidence, she entered the National Championships, and although she had the second fastest swim and the fastest run, she came nowhere. "I was following this man and suddenly we came to the sea. We realized then that we had gone wrong. I ended up cycling 20 kilometers too far. I cried all the way through the running." But she didn't give up. "Sometimes I wish I could stop, because then the pain would be over, but I am afraid that if I let myself stop just once, I would be tempted to do it again." Such _ draws admiration from Steve Trew, the sport's director of coaching. Melanie was top junior in this year's European Triathlon Championships, finishing 13th."I was almost as good as the top three in swimming and running, but much slower in cycling. That's why I'm working very hard at it." She is trying to talk her long-suffering parents, who will carry the PS1,300 cost of her trip to New Zealand for this year's world championships, into buying a PS2,000 bike, so she can try25kmand100kmraces later this year. But there is another price to pay. "I don't have a social life," she says. "After two hours' hard swimming on Friday night, I just want to go to sleep. But I phone and write to the other girls in the team." What does she talk about? Boys? Clothes? "No, what sort of times they are achieving." What upset Melanie during the National Championships? She made a mistake during part of the race. Although international students want to dive into American culture, it is easier to stay close to the families. "Most international students told me that they want to meet and make friends with as many Americans as they can," said Mark Galloway, Institute for International Studies (IIS) student adviser at prefix = st1 /StateUniversity. "But in reality, they are comfortable with being around people from their own country, if possible. " Testing of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an admission test for international students enrolling in American universities. Galloway said students' scores decreased when they spend less time with American students. More than 450 international students are on campus at MurrayStateUniversity. Thailand, Japan,South Korea,ChinaandGermanyare countries with the most students this semester, according to an IIS report. Wichien Eampromate, Thai Student Association President, said poor English ability and cultural differences make it difficult for Thai students to spend time with Americans. "We eat different things; we do different kinds of things," said Eampromate. On the other hand, Joon-Seong Bae, an exchange student from KoreaUniversity, said he tried to avoid hanging around other Koreans. But it is not easy for him. He said he is less comfortable with Americans because he cannot say everything he wants to say, and not all Americans are patient with his limited English. "There were two or three Americans and me," Bae said. "We talked about something. As time went by, I was kind of excluded because they talked to each other. While international students venture outside their comfort zones, American students also have the opportunity to be exposed to other cultures. "I know there are a lot ( of American students) who want to get to know international students," said Philip Lee, senior from Boonville,Indiana. "They are just uncomfortable. " Lee said he has learned about life from his international friends, although it is sometimes a challenge. " I can't live a comfortable life all the time," Lee said. " I realized there is a great benefit of stepping out of my comfort zone to meet people. " It can be inferred from this passage that _ . it is necessary for international students to make friends with Americans On Jan. 13th, 2009, the Peanut Corporation of prefix = st1 /Americaissued a recall for products it had made over the past six months, after five people had died and more than 400 had fallen ill with salmonella poisoning as a result of contamination. Two weeks later, the recall was extended to more than 400 consumer products made since Jan. 1, 2007, including Jenny Craig nutritional bars and Keebler Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, while the toll from the contamination had reached eight dead and more than 500 sickened in 43 states, half of them children. The company's factory in Blakely,Ga., which was the source of the contamination, supplied some of the largest food makers in the nation. The outbreak showed the complexities of the industrial food chain, and left consumers to figure out if some food in their cabinets had a danger. The recall of peanut products is the latest in a series of increasingly severe food contamination scares involving tomatoes, spinach, cantaloupes and other foods. TheGeorgiaplant, which is closed, packed peanut butter in bulk ranging from 5 to 1,700 pounds, much of which was shipped to institutions. Many school districts have pulled peanut butter from menus, with some substituting more commonly recognized supermarket brands. New York City school officials said they had not bought any peanut butter or products with ingredients that originated at theGeorgiaplant. An F.D.A. inspection team that visited the plant on Jan. 9 discovered that on 12 occasions in 2007 and 2008 tests conducted by the company found salmonella contamination in its products but that it shipped the contaminated products to customers after a retest found no contamination and did nothing to clean the plant. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? It is the first time that the virus has been found in the products in this company.
Many years ago, I went through a tough time. One afternoon, I picked my girls up. It was late when we returned home. I went to unlock the door and found my key wouldn't go in. I kept trying while my daughter went to get a flashlight. When she returned with it we found somehow the lock had been "stuffed" with sunflower seed shells. Thinking that one of the neighborhood children had been up to no good, I really didn't give it much consideration. I found all windows were locked up tight. So I returned to the back door. Oh my God, I will never forget the shock of that moment. The house was empty! Other than a few things remaining on the back porch, everything was gone! Then I heard a car pull into the driveway and found two policemen walking up. They inquired why I had broken into the house. They then asked me for proof that I lived at that address, so I asked them to wait a minute while I went to get my rent receipt and identification from inside the house. I explained the matter to them and showed them the door lock. I could tell from their actions and tone of voice that they thought I was breaking into an empty house for somewhere to sleep. I asked a neighbor for the phone number of house owner and the officer made a call. The owner was quite shocked to hear my story. She said that my roommate had been going through an eviction process with the court when I moved in with her and had lost the case. She had been ordered to move by 10 am on that date. The court order had been issued the same day I had paid her 1/2 of the rent and a deposit of $300,000. The owner was very kind and understanding but there was nothing she could do. The house had been rented already and the people were to move in the following weekend. The officers let me go and I went to gather my girls into the car. They were both exhausted and old. Also very frightened, because they thought their mamma was going to jail. I had to pull over because the tears took control. I couldn't believe it! Everything we owned was gone, I had used up all our money moving in and paying my "friend" our share of costs. I knew very few people in town, as we had just moved there recently. I went to sit back in the car with the girls, I talked to the girls, explaining our situation to them so that they wouldn't be afraid. During this time there was a "street person" with a bag, looking in the garbage for cans, bottles, and anything that might bring him some cash. But I didn't pay much attention to him. I decided to get the girls something to eat for breakfast. We grabbed some bread, and chips and returned for a "picnic". When we got there, I noticed that the man was not alone. He was with a small group of others like him and they were passing a hat amongst themselves. I was busy setting up our little "picnic" when I heard a voice saying, "MaAm, please excuse... but...well...I overheard the situation you are in, and well... I and the fellows took up a collection for you and your little girls. It's not very much, but maybe it'll help a little." I looked up at this man---dirty, needing a shave ----and saw the face of an angel. I started crying. The man tried to hand me $30. I folded his hand back over the money and just hugged him as tight as I could. I told him, "Thank you for your more than generous offer, but we are going to be just fine." He didn't believe me at first, but I convinced him that it was okay. Later that afternoon I went to the market and bought the making for a barbecue and off to that little park. It didn't take us very long to find those gentlemen and invite them to join us for lunch. I had a wonderful afternoon that day, sitting there with those old guys, singing songs. They had some of the most entertaining stories and they shared the dreams they once had. They shared themselves... from the heart. The writer couldn't open the door because _ Answer: On a freezing-cold February morning in Indiana, Jhaqueil Reagan,18, left home to walk to a job interview--ten miles away, over snow-covered roads. Reagan had been looking for work for months. His mother had died two years earlier, and he was the only caretaker of his younger brother, Cole, 16, and sister, Jazzlyn, seven. He was desperate for a regular salary after cutting lawns and doing other temporaryjobs. Three hours into his hard trip, Reagan had covered only three miles. He paused outside a Cajun restaurant called Papa Roux to ask for directions from owner Art Bouvier, who was clearing ice and snow from the parking lot. "I told him to get on the bus," says Bouvier. "He thanked me and went on his way." Fifteen minutes later, Bouvier pulled up in his car beside Reagan as he walked along. "You've really got to be on the bus," he told Reagan. "I don't have money for the bus," Reagan replied. Bouvier offered him a lift. On the way, he asked the boy about his job search. "I thought, This is the kind of kid I want working for me," says Bouvier. He got the teen's phone number and dropped him off for his interview. Later that day, Bouvier wrote about Reagan on Facebook. "He doesn't know it yet, but he starts on Monday," Bouvier wrote. "It's been a while since I've met someone so young with a work ethic like that!" A few hours later, Bouvier called to offer Reagan a job. Shocked, the teen accepted on the spot. A television reporter _ the story and interviewed the pair on camera that night. Today, Reagan is washing dishes, filling orders, and greeting Papa Roux customers for $8.50 an hour. The publicity has brought in so many new customers that Bouvier plans to open a second restaurant by the end of the year. Which of the following words best describes Bouvier? Answer: One day in Australia I decided to try hang gliding . I went up with an instructor, floated and flew above the waves for about 20 minutes, then landed on the sand. His wife was there to meet us so she could drive us back. Their son, about 8 years old, was with her. As the four of us were standing there a woman named Sue came up with a big smile. She gave a warm hello to the couple, and then asked the boy, "How's school, mate ?"With a troubled look on his young face, the boy quietly said, "Not good." In response Sue exclaimed ,sounding surprised , "Not good ?I bet it is fun." Then she turned her attention back to the boy's parents. They started talking about some of their friends, smiling and laughing . Meanwhile, all three of them completely ignored the boy . But I watched his head drop.I watched him turn away from the group, take a few steps ,and just stand there ,alone. I still find it hard to believe that anyone could miss a child's reaction that completely. I wondered how the three adults could stand there and laugh while that boy stood there alone, troubled not only about school but also that no one was interested in his troubles. Maybe his father tried to distract his son with risky sports. As long as you are active, you can't feel your emotional pain. But what if his son is not interested in sports? These were what most people would say are "good parents" . But I say that what they did was child abuse. It was total emotional neglect at that moment . And that is why I am writing this story. To remind everyone that it is little interactions with children that make a difference in their lives and in society. Why does the author write the text? Answer: Ashley and Chris work in the same department designing postcards. Chris had a college degree in art and deeply felt that the degree of his designs was excellent. His last postcard showed the depth of a desert's beauty and delights. "It's just a picture of the desert," Ashley said. "Not deep at all." "Some people desire seeing beauty," Chris replied. "Mine delivers that". Ashley laughed and said, "well, that depends on what you think beauty is." Days later, someone delivered a letter to Ashley. The letter said, "You are worthy of the bad things that will come your way. You will know the taste of defeat, and I will destroy you." Ashley suddenly felt very cold. It was as if the room temperature had dropped 30 degrees. "Who would do such a shocking deed?" she wondered. "I will not let a simple letter defeat me." Just then, Chris came into the room and offered Ashley a piece of his sandwich. "Try some," he smiled widely. "It's delicious." "Are you trying to poison me?" Ashley asked. Chris's answer was delayed from confusion. "What's your problem?" he asked. The next day, Ashley brought a bat to use to defend herself. When Chris saw her bat, he joked, "Defend and win one for the team." Ashley took no notice of him. She spent the whole day reading self-defending books and placed her work on delay. "You can't delay your work. Our job demands us to do our work on time," Chris said. "We must meet the demands of our job." "You're not the boss," Ashley replied. "Don't make demands of me." Because Ashley failed to do her work, she was fired. Chris glanced at Ashley's empty desk and smiled. What did Ashley think of the last postcard designed by Chris? Answer: If you think English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven't you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language? According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes _ . This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles. The study also found the earlier people learn a second language, the greater the effect is. A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London(UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of"early bilinguals ", who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners. Scans showed that grey matter density in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference was. "Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,"said the scientists. It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn. Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. "Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible,"he said,"You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas." The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2 and 34. Reading, writing and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the earlier they started to learn, the better."Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,"explained the scientists. What's the main idea of the passage? Answer:
Thirty years ago not many people would have dreamed of doing the repairs and decorations in their own homes. In those days labor was fairly cheap and most people would have thought it worthwhile to employ a professional painter and decorator, unless of course they were either very hand up or were in the trade themselves. Today, however, it is quite a different story. Men and women in all walks of life turn their hands to all sorts of jobs round the house including painting, papering, putting up shelves and wall units, and tiling walls and floors. Some people with no professional training of any kind have even successfully built their own houses. These jobs have been made easier today by the introduction of prepared materials, which require the minimum amount of skill to use. In every high street throughout Britain nowadays there is at least one "Do-It-Yourself" shop containing a vast range of timber, tiles, paints, wallpapers and floor coverings besides tools of every description including power drills and many accessories. "Do-It-Yourself" is a booming business; all these shops do a roaring trade and look like continuing to do so. Probably the main reason for the craze is the high cost of present-day labor and the shortage of building firms willing to do small jobs. What is the speaker telling us ? A. How DIY comes into being. B. Changes in building. C. Changes in housing. D. Great changes in these thirty years. Answer: A. How DIY comes into being. Uncle Li and Uncle Wang are good friends. They live next to each other and their farms are both at the foot of the mountain. So they can help each other. But neither of them likes to use his head. They work hard but they are both poor. Most villagers have built new houses, but they still live in the low and broken houses. They never find out why. Once Uncle Li went to town to buy some medicine for his wife. In the town he heard the apples in a city were expensive. He told Uncle Wang about it as soon as he went back. They decided to carry some apples to the city. They borrowed some money from their friends and bought nearly 1,000 kilograms of apples in the villages and carried them to the city on a tractor . Bad luck! A lot of apples were in the city when they arrived. A few days later they had to sell them at a low price. They felt unhappy and returned to their village. "I can't understand why we sustained losses in business while others always profit " Uncle Li asked one day. "The tractor was too small" Uncle Wang said without thinking. "We'll carry more apples on a truck next time!" "I agree!" said Uncle Li. "How foolish we were!" The two farmers carried the apples to the city to _ . A. make a journey B. visit some places of interest C. meet their friends D. make a profit Answer: D. make a profit Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight , and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He shouted at her loudly, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses in the box. I filled it with my love. All for you, Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her for forgiveness . My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. What's the meaning of the last sentence--"There is no more precious possession anyone could hold."? A. The possession is too heavy to hold. B. There's no more precious thing for us to hold. C. It's not necessary to hold the possession. D. The present contained with children's love and kisses is the most precious thing. Answer: D. The present contained with children's love and kisses is the most precious thing. Who is your role model? Normally the answer to this question would be anyone around you who you find truly inspiring. It could also be someone like J. K. Rowling or Martin Luther King Jr. who have proven to be strong and intelligent people. However, in today's world, stars are regarded as role models along with the heroes listed above, despite their intentions or actions. Teens attempt to imitate their actions for two major reasons. First, to be fashionable and accepted by popular culture, and second>>because stars' actions are so well documented by the media that it seems to grab our attention and turns it to following stars' lives. Much of the reports about stars is shocking and exhibits bad morals or lifestyles that aren't right for teenagers. In addition, almost everything stars do is described beyond truth to make a shocking story by taking it to the next level. However, teens must take responsibility for their actions. We can't always blame stars for influencing us. Only you have control over yourself and only you choose to do something. Our bodies and actions are in the hands of no one else. Now, who ever said stars are role models? Whether they choose to be or not, stars set examples as soon as they step into the spotlight. With reporters following and recording every move they make, it is impossible not to be watched and then be imitated. These people influence, teens whether or not they want to. Why should someone who doesn't want to be setting an example set one? So,should we look up to them or to people who are true and good role models? It's our responsibility as teens to know right from wrong, and it's time for us to take responsibility for our actions. In doing so,we will lean toward those inspiring people that want to be setting an example, and follow in their steps to be like them. What are the major reasons for the teens to imitate stars? _ . A. Interest in stars' life and expectation of getting rich B. Motivation for being fashionable and inspiration from popular examples C. Intentions to gain acceptance and encouragement from stars' lifestyle D. Desires to be stylish and great influence from the mass media Answer: D. Desires to be stylish and great influence from the mass media There was once a little fairy named Twinkles who lived in an old willow tree. The tree grew next to a river in a large, green forest. Twinkles loved to fly around the forest with her best friend Betsy the Bat. Betsy was a very forgetful bat. One day Twinkles and Betsy were playing next to the bushes by the river bank when Betsy shouted, "Oh no, I've forgotten my lunch that my mom packed for me today! It is late in the afternoon and I am hungry." "Do not worry," said Twinkles. "I am going to wait here for you until you get back." With that, Betsy flew off toward her home in the wet cave near the other end of the river. An hour went by and Betsy still had not returned. "Hmm," thought Twinkles, "I wonder where Betsy went off to." Twinkles flew off to find her best friend. Soon, she heard a voice calling from down below. "Help me! I'm stuck!" Twinkles looked down. Sure enough, it was Betsy! She had been caught in a pile of sticky mud near the mouth of the cave. "Don't worry, I am coming to save you!" cried Twinkles. Twinkles swooped down to the ground. She found a strong stick nearby that she could use to help her pull Betsy out of the thick mud. Betsy grabbed the end of the stick that Twinkles held out to her. After some heavy tugging, Betsy was free. "Thank you so very much for pulling me out of the mud! I was looking for some berries to use for jam down by the river. They grow on the bushes there. I wanted some for a little dessert after my lunch. I accidentally walked into the pile of mud on the floor and got stuck." "No problem," said Twinkles. "That's what friends are for." How did Twinkles free Betsy from the mud? A. She held one end of the stick, Betsy held the other, and then she pulled very hard B. She used water from the river to rinse away the mud C. She called Betsy's mother for help D. She used a stick to slowly scrape away all of the mud Answer: A. She held one end of the stick, Betsy held the other, and then she pulled very hard
Which of the following statements best explains why it is warmer at the equator than at the North Pole? Answer: The equator receives more direct sunlight than the North Pole. On a Friday night, a poor young artist stood at the gate of a New York subway station, playing his violin. Many of passers-by slowed down their paces and put some money into the hat of the young man. The next day, at the same place, he put his hat on the ground gracefully. Different than the day before, he took out a large piece of paper and laid it on the ground and put some stones on it. Then he adjusted the violin and began playing. It seemed more pleasant to listen to. The words read, "Last night, a gentleman named George Sang put an important thing into my hat mistakenly. Please come to claim it soon." Seeing this, people wondered what it could be. After about half an hour, a middle-aged man ran there hurriedly and rushed through the crowd to the violinist and grabbed his shoulders and said, "Yes, it's you. You did come here. I knew that you're an honest man and would certainly come here." "Are you Mr. George Sang"? asked the young violinist. The man nodded. "Did you lose something?" "Lottery. It's lottery." "Is it?" The violinist took out a lottery ticket and asked. George nodded promptly and seized the lottery ticket and kissed it, then he danced with the violinist. The story turned out to be this: George Sang bought a lottery ticket, winning a prize of $500,000. After work, he passed the station and felt the music was so wonderful that he took out 50 dollars and put it in the hat. However, the lottery ticket was also thrown in. The violinist was a student at an Arts College and had planned to attend further study in Vienna. He had booked the ticket and would fly that morning. However when he was cleaning up he found the lottery ticket. Thinking that the owner would return to look for it, he cancelled the flight and came back to where he was given the lottery ticket. When asked why he didn't take the lottery ticket for himself, the violinist said, "Although I don't have much money, I live happily; but if I lose honesty I won't be happy forever." George Sang was so _ that he kissed the lost ticket and danced with the violinist. Answer: pleased Of the thousands of different kinds of animals that exist in the world man has learned to make friends with an enormous number. Some are pets, and offer him companionship; some give protection, and some do hard work which man cannot do for himself. Dogs, which serve man in all three capacities, are found in various species in all countries of the world. The Husky can live in the cold polar regions, and the Saluki is at home in the hottest parts of Central Africa. The inhabitants of certain countries are dependent for their very lives on the camel. In the West Indies the little donkey, strong and sure-footed, carrying heavy loads even in mountainous places, is a familiar sight. Trained and tamed for many generations, domestic animals are not accustomed to roaming in search of food and shelter. They look to their masters to provide for their needs, and as long as these are supplied, they are content to do what their masters require. All domestic animals need proper food. It must be suitable for them, sufficient in quantity, fresh and clean. Some people feed a pet dog or cat on odds and ends of table scraps , and then wonder why the animal seems tired and dull. The quantity of food depends on the size of the animal and the amount of exercise it takes. Overfeeding is as bad as underfeeding. Containers for food and water must be washed regularly if the animal is to maintain good health. Even well cared for animals may sometimes fall ill. If this happens, the wise master seeks the best advice he can get. All sorts of medicines and treatments are available for sick animals, and in some countries organizations exist to provide them free or at a cheap price. Useful, friendly, hardworking animals deserve to have some time, money and attention spent on their health. When an animal doesn't get enough food, it will probably _ . Answer: refuse to obey its master A sense of humor is just one of the many things shared by Alfred and Anthony Melillo, 64-year-old twin brothers from East Haven who made history in February 2002. On Christmas Eve, 1992, Anthony had a heart transplant from a 21-year-old donor. Two days before Valentine's Day in 2002, Alfred received a 19-year-old heart, marking the first time on record that twin adults each received heart transplants. "I'm 15 minutes older than him, but now I'm younger because of my heart and I'm not going to respect him," Alfred said with a big smile, pointing to his brother while talking to a roomful of reporters, who laughed frequently at their jokes. While the twins knew that genetics might have played a role in their condition, they recognized that their eating habits might have also contributed to their heart problems. "We'd put half a pound of butter on a steak. I overdid it on all the food that tasted good, so I guess I deserved what I got for not dieting properly." The discussion moved to Anthony's recovery. In the five years since his heart transplant, he had been on an exercise program where he regularly rode a bicycle for five miles, swam each day, and walked a couple of miles. He was still on medication, but not nearly as much as Alfred, who was just in the early stage of his recovery. "Right now I feel pretty young and I'm doing very well," Anthony said. "I feel like a new person." Alfred said his goal, of course, was to feel even better than his brother. But, he added, "I love my brother very much. We're very close and I'm sure we'll do just fine." This article is mainly about _ . Answer: the twin brothers who received heart transplants The English language is changing fast,thanks to the rapid progress of technology. We all have a rapid choice: we can either bury our heads in the sand and spend the rest of our lives wishing Shakespeare were alive and well. Or we can embrace the new English,enter into the spirit of the Internet age called Weblish. "You can't avoid it,for the simple reason that whenever a new variety of language comes along,it inevitably impacts on the language as a whole." says Dr. David Crystal, honorary professor of linguistics at the University of Wales in Bangor, whose book Language and the Internet has just been published. The trouble with keeping up with the new English is not so much that there are so many new words but that the old words no longer mean what we thought they did. In the past, if someone said they did not have Windows, you would have to suppose they lived in a cave.These days,it is probably because they use a Mac(which is a computer, not a rain coat). Spam is as disliked as it ever was ,but it once meant an unappetizing canned meat.It now stands for unwanted "junk" email. Spellings are changing, too. Not only is text-messaging playing "hvc wth vrbs" (havoc with verbs), but the conventions of email communication place little emphasis on "perfect speaking". Weblish loves to see nouns happily become verbs("please bookmark this site"),and verbs become nouns ("Send me the download"). Verbs and prepositions are regularly thrown together to become new nouns or adjectives(e.g. dial-up, logon, print-on-demand, pull-down, upload), while others are created from simply pairing nouns: cyberspace, Etl, hyperlink, netspeak. The best title of this passage would be _ . Answer: Keep Up with the Latest Weblish
My name's Molly. I'm a lion. I am three years old .My favorite food is meat and I like to eat little animals .I like the forest ,but I live in the zoo now, I live in a big cage. I can't run and I can't see my parents,I don't like the zoo or the cage. Every day I get up in the cage ,I have breakfast,lunch and dinner in the cage. I sleep in the cage .I really want to run in the forest and live with my parents. _ is Molly's favorite food . Venus is known as the Earth' "twin" because the planets are so like each other in size. The diameter of Venus is about 7,520 miles (12,100km), about 400 miles (644km) smaller than that of the earth. No other planet comes closer to the earth than Venus. At its nearest approach it is about 25,000,000 miles (402,000,000km) away. As seen from the earth, Venus is the first planet or star that can be seen in the western sky in the evening. At other times, it is the last planet or star that can be seen in the eastern sky in the morning. When Venus is near its brightest point, it can be seen in the daylight. Early astronomers called the object that appeared in the evening Hesperus, and Phosphorus in the morning. Later they realized these two objects were the same planet. They named it Venus in honor of the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Which of the following is NOT a fact about Venus? Nowadays, the food that you buy comes from many different countries.Have a look in your fridge, cupboard, and fruit bowl and check the origins of the food.Perhaps there are apples from California, lamb from New Zealand, or potatoes from Egypt? You will probably be surprised how far food travels to get to your plate.This journey, from "field to plate", is called "food miles". A food mile is the distance that food travels from the farmer's field to the person who buys the food.Nowadays, food often travels thousands of miles to get to the consumer .Why is this, and what are the effects of these long distances? Traditionally, farmers sold their food in the local market so the food didn't have to travel very far.The consumers also did not travel very far, because they went to their local market to buy the food.This was a good system for farmers and consumers.However, there were some disadvantages.For example, consumers could only buy food that farmers produced locally.In addition, they could only get food that was in season.Now, because of modern technology, food comes from all over the world.We do not have to wait for spring or summer to buy strawberries or tomatoes.They are _ in winter if we want. Some countries have to import most of their food.This is because they have difficult climates.The United Arab Emirates(UAE), for example, gets 85% of its food from other countries.Even food made in the UAE often uses imported materials. What's wrong with "food miles"? Is this not a good way of increasing international trade? I believe these miles are worrying for a number of reasons.First of all, because food travels such long distances.we need more planes, lorries, and ships to move the food.This means we use more oil or petrol, so there is more pollution and more global warming.In addition, food that travels a long way is not fresh and usually not very tasty.Tomatoes, for example, are picked early and stored for their long journey.For this reason, they are usually tasteless when they get to the consumer.Local food has a better taste, and it also reduces the amount of global pollution.We need to buy more local food. What is called "food miles" according to this passage? I Don't Have to Be Like Them All students have to face their own problems when they are growing up. You may not think that having a good family is a problem. But for me , it was. I had to face the problem of being the youngest of the Smith girls. We live in a small town in Pennsylvania, US. There are three girls in the Smith family, Amanda, Theresa and me . People often say things to me , like " Oh, the three of you , you're such nice girls. Your sisters are so pretty and so thin! You're really nothing like them . " That made me sad. At school , all of my teachers had taught my sisters . On the first day of school , they said , "Oh , the youngest of the three! I hope you're just like your sisters. They're such wonderful students." People always compared me with my sisters . So I couldn't help comparing myself with them , too. Theresa was smarter , Amanda was prettier . I began to work hard to be more like them . What my sisters did , I did , too. At last , I became drum major of our school 's marching band . Both Amanda and Theresa had been drum majors . I became editor of the school's newspaper . Theresa had been the editor two years before. But last year, Amanda went to college , and Theresa went to high school . Now I'm by myself at junior high . Everyone knows me , because I'm the drum major and the newspaper's editor . Now I don't feel like a Smith girl any more , I feel like myself . I'm proud of doing all of the same great things that my sisters did . But the best thing I did was to learn to stop comparing myself with them . When people compare the author with her sisters , she feels _ Gary and Gavin were twin brothers who worked in a department store owned by their father. After their father had passed away, they took over the store. Everything went well until the day a twenty-dollar bill disappeared. Gary had left the bill on the cash register. But when he returned, the money was gone. Gary then asked his brother Gavin, "Did you see that twenty-dollar bill on the cash register?" Gavin said that he had not. But Gary did not let it go and kept questioning. "Twenty-dollar bills can't get up and walk away by themselves! Surely you must have seen it." There was accusation in Gary's voice. Tempers began to rise and anger grew. "I said I didn't see it!" Gavin raised his voice. The quarrel divided the young men and they could no longer work together. Later, a wall was built in the center of the store. For twenty years, they never said a word to each other. One day, a strange man came to the store. He walked in and asked Gary, "How long have you been here?" Gary replied that he'd been there all his life. "Then you are the person I'm looking for, since I must tell you the truth," the customer said emotionally. "Twenty years ago, I was totally _ and hungry. I entered this store from the back door and saw a twenty-dollar bill on the cash register. And I took it. All these years I hadn't been able to forget that. I had to come back and ask for your forgiveness ." The stranger felt very surprised when seeing tears come to the eyes of the middle-aged man in front of him. "Would you please go next door and tell the same story to the man in the store?" Gary asked. Then something surprised the stranger even more --- after hearing his story, the two middle-aged men hugged each other and cried together in the front of the wall of the store. After twenty years, the wall of anger that set them apart finally came down. What happened to the twin brothers after they quarreled with each other?
How do you design a pay plan that motivates people to do their best work? A new study by three Harvard researchers suggests a novel answer: Shortly after you hire new workers, give them a raise. "Previous research has shown that paying people more than they expect may elicit reciprocity in the form of greater productivity," notes Deepak Malhotra, a Harvard business-administration professor who worked on the study. What he and his colleagues found, however, was that the connection between more pay and extra effort depends on presenting the increase "as a gift--that is, as something you've chosen to do purely as a nice gesture, with no strings attached." Malhotra and his team studied 267 people hired by oDesk, a global online network of freelancers, to do a one-time data-entry project for four hours. All of the new hires were people in developing countries, for whom hourly wages of $3 and $4 were higher than what they had been making in previous jobs. The researchers split the group up into three equal parts. One group was told they would earn $3 an hour. A second group was initially hired at $3 an hour but, before they started working, they got a surprise: The budget for the project had expanded unexpectedly, they were told, and they would now be paid $4 an hour. The third group was offered $4 an hour from the start and given no increase. Even though the second and third groups were eventually paid the same amount, the second group worked harder and produced more--about 20% more--than either of the other two. People in the second group also showed the most _ , maintaining their focus all the way through the assigned task and performing especially well toward the end of the four hours. Interestingly, the more experienced employees in the high-performing group were the most productive of all, apparently because their previous work experience led them to appreciate the rarity of an unexpected raise. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Malhotra points out that higher pay, in and of itself, didn't promote productivity: People who made $4 an hour from the beginning worked no harder than those who were hired at $3 and were then paid $3. To get the most impact from their pay plans, he adds, companies might consider not only what to pay new hires, but when to pay it. "The key thing is how you present [the reason for an increase]," he says. Doling out extra money could promote productivity most "if you make it clear that the pay raise is something you're choosing to do just because you can. Our theory is that people will reciprocate. If you do something nice, they'll do something nice back." Which of the following is true about the research? Doctor Seuss was born in 1904. By the middle 1950s, he had become one of the best-loved and most successful children's book writers in the world. His books are very popular with young readers. They enjoy the invented words and the pictures of unusual funny animals and plants. In 1954, life magazine published a report about school children who could not read. The report said many children's books were not interesting. Doctor Seuss strongly hoped to help children and decided to write books that were interesting and easy to read. He used words with the same ending sound, like fish and wish. He did not receive training in art. Yet, he drew the pictures for most of his books. In 1957, Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat. He used less than 230 words to write the book and even a six-year-old should be able to read it. It was a fun story and easy to read. Children loved it. Their parents loved it, too. Today it is still one of the stories they like best. The success of The Cat in the Hat made him want to write more books for children. In 1960, he wrote a book using less than fifty words. The book is called Green Eggs and Ham. In 1984, Doctor Seuss won a Pulitzer Prize . He was honored for the education and enjoyment his books provided American children and their parents. He died at the age of 87, but his influence remains. Millions of his books have been sold worldwide. People say his books helped change the way American children learned to read. Yet, his books are loved by people of all ages. Doctor Seuss once said, "I do not write for children. I write for people." Doctor Seuss learned from the magazine that _ . Alice always wanted to be a singer. Music was the most important thing in her life, but to tell you the truth, she took lessons for years, practiced every day, but in spite of all this, her voice didn't improve. Honestly, it didn't get better, it just got louder. Her teacher finally gave up and stopped the lessons, but Alice refused to quit , and one day she decided to give a concert and invited her mere teacher to attend. The teacher was very worried about what to say after the performance. She knew it would be terrible and it was. She didn't want to tell a lie, but she didn't want to hurt Alice's feelings either. Finally, she got an idea and went backstage to greet her former pupil. "Well," said Alice, "what did you think of my performance?" "My dear," said the teacher, "you'll never be better than you were tonight." Alice's teacher stopped the lessons because_. One evening, a young man at a certain college who was known to be something of a poet read one of his poems to a small group of his friends in a room.The poem was greatly admired.But afterwards, one of them, who was called Crick, said, "I was very interested in Hand's poem, but it was stolen from a book." His words were reported to Hand, who was very angry and required an apology."Well," said Crick, "I don't often take back what I said, but this time I admit I was mistaken.When I got to my room, I looked in the book which I thought the poem was stolen from, and I saw it was still here!" When Hand required an apology, Crick _ . One day the students were having painting lessons. Everyone began to draw pictures .Li Lei did nothing. When the bell rang for the break , Li Lei passed his picture to the teacher . The teacher looked at it and got angry "Why do you give me a piece of paper with nothing on it , Li Lei ?"asked the teacher. "I'm sorry, sir. I drew a dog and some bread on the paper"says Li Lei ."Where is the dog and bread ?"asked the teacher again. I drew some bread first . When I finished drawing the dog , it ate up the bread . When I gave it to you , the dog ran away ."says Li Lei.. The students would _ when they heared Li Lei's words.
Jenny didn't know how her school dance team could pay for the travel to Florida for a national competition. It was difficult enough just to raise money for their dance costumes . What were they going to do? As the team leader, Jenny felt she needed to come up with an idea. . At lunch, Jenny found that a lot of students were throwing empty juice bottles in the rubbish. She remembered the school had a recycling program a few years ago, but it had ended. Nobody wanted to bring the bags of bottles to the recycling center. Jenny saw a chance. She went to see the headmaster. "If members of our team pick up the recyclable bottles every few days, may we use the money we collect at the recycling center for our dance team?" asked Jenny. "I think that's a great idea, Jenny," said Ms. Weaver. "But if another team wants to take over next season, I'll have to give them a chance, too. " Jenny agreed that it was fair. She ran to the dance team to give them the good news. Jenny knew that the money raised from empty bottles might not be enough to get them all the way to Florida, but they were a lot closer. She would find more ways to raise money for the dance team. What's the best title for this passage? A closer dreaming. Say Yes to Reading Write a one-page report titled "The Best Book I Read This Year" and enter it in the Boy's Life 2012 "Say Yes to Reading!" contest. The book can be fiction or nonfiction. But the report has to be in your own words-- 500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories : * 8 years old and younger * 9 and 10 years old * 11 years old and older First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 gift certificate good for any product in the Boy Scouts official retail catalog . Second-place winners will receive a $75 gift certificate and third-place winners a $50 gift certificate. Everyone who enters will get a free patch . In coming years, you'll have the chance to earn different patches. The contest is open to all Boys' Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade in school on the entry. Send your report to: Boys' Life Reading Contest S306 P.O. Box 152079 Irving, TX 75015-2079 Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2012 and must include entry information and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Winners of the 2011 reading contest will be announced in the July 2012 issue of Boys' Life magazine. And the 2010 first-place winners are: 8 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER Tyler Bergmann chose "Can You Keep a Secret?" by PJ Petersen as his favorite book. "It talks about honesty and the importance of being trust-worthy, which really matter between friends," Tyler writes. 9 AND 10 YREARS OLD Nathaniel Griffis read "The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones" by Rick Riordan. Writes Nathaniel: "As I read, I learned about places I have never been and things I have only imagined." 11 YEARS OLD AND OLDER Devin MacGoy, 12 chose "The Red Badge of Courage" by Stephen Grane. "A reader can take away many lessons," Devin writes. After Nathaniel Griffis read "The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones", he might be _ . excited The library is one of the most popular places at a western university.Students turn to it for research,conversations about class,and many other services. Compared with Chinese libraries,college libraries in the US and UK tend to offer more resources.A postgraduate at Yale University can borrow as many as 225 books at a time. In addition to borrowing books,there are online and electronic resources.These include a database search of popular and academic material,such as LexisNexis Academic,which offers items from newspapers and magazines. Although books and articles are the items that students ask for most frequently,some libraries provide audio and video recordings,maps and sheet music .At some schools,teachers and tutors put electronic copies of their teaching PPTs on the library web to give easier access for students. Another useful service in western college libraries is the Interlibrary Loan.This allows a student at one school to borrow books from another school.The loan request is made through the student's college library,which gets the book,gives it to the user,and arranges for its return. Technology has brought more services to students and has made libraries attractive.Some universities have services for students to send messages through the computer or mobile texts to ask the library staff for information. Earlier this year,Harvard University introduced a new Scan and Deliver service,allowing students to make requests for parts of books and articles.Requests made through the system are handled by library staff.The student receives an email with an Internet link to the scanned pages.The service is free and all material comes within four days. It used to be that libraries didn't allow food or drinks.But that rule is changing and many of them now contain a cafe so students can spend as much time as they want in the library. Actually,some US university libraries are now allnight affairs,or have at least one study room open all night. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Library staff play an important role in college library service. Which of these locations in the solar system contains the most asteroids? between Mars and Jupiter The national schools' first aid competition is an interesting way for young people to practice their first aid skills in a safe environment. A school may have three teams. The deadline for this competition has now been continued to April 21, 2012. All teams will compete at an elimination round, with the winners going forward to the National Final for the chance to become the winner. A team has three formal members, and a reserve is also needed. All team members, together with the reserve, will take part. There are two age sections: Junior: 7 to11 Senior: 12 to 16 This competition is based on the Young First Aid Course from St. John Ambulance Training Officer. Support will be given to make sure everyone has equal chances to win. The winners of this competition will be invited to take part in the Young Grand Prior Competition. This competition improves the practical first aid skills of young people and tests their knowledge and skills with a series of realistic accidents and injuries. Youth teams are aged between 12 and 16 years old and should have three members. Young adults are aged between 17 and 21 and should have two members. All teams may bring a reserve. The Young Grand Prior Competition will be held at the Spa Complex, Scarborough, on November 28, 2012. Those who want to take part in the national schools' first aid competition will have to complete our application form. Form the passage we can learn that the Young Grand Prior Competition will _ . have a test with realistic accidents and injuries
Published in 1896 and one of the most memorable horror stories ever written, Dracula, by Irish writer Bram Stoker,is the story of a vampire ,someone who lives on human blood. Stoker wrote the book after reading stories about Central European vampires and set his novel in Transylvania. Even today,there are readers of the book who believe that Transylvania is a mythical country,a figment of Stoker's imagination. Nothing could be further from the truth. Transylvania is part of modern-day Central European country Romania,and the country does indeed have a history of mythological vampires. However,Romanians are always puzzled by the description of the novel's central character, Count Dracula,a tall,elegant aristocrat with impeccable manners who also happens to speak very good English. This is a world away from the images of vampires that they have grown up with. Romanian vampires are half-human creatures who live solitary lives in the forests,not aristocrats living in castles with well-stocked libraries. So where did Stoke get the image for his Dracula? The answer becomes clearer when one learns of his relationship with a man called Henry Irving,the greatest British stage actor of his time. Stoker was working as a civil servant in his home city of Dublin when he first met Irving. Bored with his tedious life and work, Stoker took every opportunity to visit the theatre and for a while was the drama critic for the Dublin Evening Mail. One of the reviews he wrote was of a performance of Shakespeare's play Hamlet,with Irving in the lead role. Irving was so pleased with Stoker's review of his performance that he asked to meet him. Stoker couldn't believe his luck when one night,he was invited to a dinner party where Irving was the guest of honour. Irving entertained the assembled dinner guests with some renditions of famous poems and speeches from Shakespeare. Stoker was already writing the first chapters of Dracula and began to base the central character on Irving,in the vain hope that if it ever became a stage play, Irving would play the central character. Sadly,Irving never did,but the two men became close friends,and in 1878 Stoker left the civil service and became Irving's manager in London. What was Stoker's hope? A. That the book would become a stage-play. B. That Irving would play the central character in the stage play. C. That he could live in London. D. That Irving would work for him. Answer: B. That Irving would play the central character in the stage play. When I got up, Mom was already awake. I could hear her doing something in the kitchen. It's was my birthday, and I was afraid. What if my husband had neglected to take Mom shopping for a card? Once Mom found it was my birthday, she would be sad that she had forgotten and had nothing to give me. She even can't remember what we did two hours ago because of dementia . Birthdays are not a big deal to me. I hate growing older. I don't mind if Mom forgets my birthday as long as she still remembers me. That someday she might not recognize me has been my biggest fear ever since Mom got dementia. I can't imagine anything more devastating than being forgotten by my own mother. When Mom was diagnosed with vascular dementia seven years ago, I was told she did not have Alzheimer's disease . I hoped that meant she would never forget her family. But as Mom's dementia progressed, I realized that I had no idea whether vascular dementia could be as bad as Alzheimer's. I really didn't understand the difference. The sleeping house was quiet except for the sound of Mom washing the bowls left last night in the kitchen. Will Mom live long enough to forget me? Will the day come when she no longer worries about remembering my birthday because she no longer knows that I exist? In the kitchen, Mom heard me come near. She hurried to the door, face ringing with smiles. "Happy birthday to you," she sang. We laughed as I hugged her tightly, and both of us were very surprised that she had remembered. Moments later she said, "Oh, there seems to be something here for you." She brought me her card. My husband did, after all, take her shopping. The birthday-for-a-daughter card was filled with expressions of love in pink. The passage mainly describes the importance of _ . A. good physical health B. a happy family C. birthday gifts D. a mother's love Answer: D. a mother's love Prague is an ancient European city, featuring one of the most magnificent Old Towns in Europe, along with delicious food, inexpensive shopping and friendly people. Prague is also famous as being home to one of the most famous 20th century writers, Franz Kafka. The famous Czech beer is also one of the reasons to visit Prague. The narrow streets of the older parts of the town are appealing the visitors to take nice long walk and settle in some of the many restaurants, which offer top-quality foods at a low price. The buildings there are mostly tower-shaped,and so Prague is called "city of a hundred ." Mauritius Also known as the Paradise on Earth, Mauritius lies about 560 miles (900 km) east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It is a place of magnificent natural beauty coupled with excellent customer service, which makes for an unforgettable romantic experience at the edge of the world's warmest ocean. There are lots to see and do in Mauritius: the coral reefs surrounding the island offer stunning beauty and great underwater adventures to those who want to dive into the precious waters. The nature of Mauritius mostly resembles that of Paradise, allowing every couple visiting this island to feel like Adam and Eve. That is an experience nobody would want to miss! Cyprus The very name Cyprus, it has been said, glitters with an age-old myth. Today, history and hedonism are comfortably mixed on the island. Some five-star resorts within walking distance of well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins offer the convenience the modern traveler has come to expect. Cyprus features a romantic history, as it was Anthony's gift to his beloved Cleopatra during the glorious days of the Roman Empire. Maybe that is why you feel always a little special once you set foot on Cyprus. For more information about many other most romantic places in the world, just log on at http://www.jurgita.com. What makes Cyprus different from the other two places? A. It is located on an island. B. It offers charming resorts. C. It was given as a present. D. It has a very long history. Answer: C. It was given as a present. Nikki was brought up from a very early age by her father while her sister was raised by her mother. Nikki spent a very small amount of time with her mum and sister when she was about 6 years old, but soon after contact stopped when communication broke down between her parents. She never felt she wanted to find her family while she was growing up. But now with a husband and a son she decided it was the right time. Nikki didn't know where to start, but her husband's mum had used 192.com for finding people before and recommended it to her . With the help of her son, she started by searching for her sister's full name on the electoral roll without a location, because she had no idea where she lived, even her date of birth. From that one search , the site returned two results listed in the area they used to live. Nikki decided to call the first number. To her surprise, it was her long lost sister ! So after 20 years, it was one phone call that helped her contact her sister! Her sister then passed her number on to her mother, who called Nikki straight away, and it was like they had never been apart. Her mum was so glad to find out Nikki was well that they arranged to meet everyone that Saturday (3 days after the phone call) where she was reunited with her sister and met her 2 nephews for the first time . Nikki also found out she had a half sister and brother. When talking about the reunion , Nikki said , "192.com made finding my long lost family very easy. I was not on any social networking sites before and surprisingly neither was my sister or mum, so we would never have found each other that way. What can we learn about Nikki from the passage? A. She knows much about the Internet . B. Her sister has not got married so far. C. Her mum gave birth to four children in all. D. She got in touch with her mum on Monday. Answer: C. Her mum gave birth to four children in all. Chinese Ancient Science & Inventions Chinese Inventions--Can You Name Them? The Invention of Paper and find out everything about paper-making at The Rober C.Williams American Museum of Papermaking. The Art of Printing(Matteo Ricci) The Origin of Chinese Books and Printing Chinese bookmaking an ancient craft Paper,a contribution to human progress The History of Chinese Mathematics Chinese Ancient Science & Technology Chinese Ancient Agriculture The Coins of Ancient China Chinese Agriculture The Coins of Ancient China Chinese Agriculture Invented in China? The History of Calculating(abacus) Return of the Dragon:Hazards of Man-Made Magnetism(a discussion) Chinese Ancient & Modern Think-tanks Kong Fu Zi--Confucius(James A.A.Tucker) The Philosopher Confucius (551~479 B.C.) The Analects--Confucius (English text) The Great Learning--Confucius (English text) The Doctrine of the Mean--Confucius (English text) Mencius--Meng Zi and some text (GB) Mao Zedong--A Great Man in China History Man of the Year--Teng Hsiao-ping (Times) The Tao Te Ching--Lao Tzu (Translated by S.Mitchell) XUN KUANG (Xunzi--25 B C) Han Fei Welcome to Taoist Resource Center A Complete Guide to Taoism and its many applications. ASIAWEEK--MAO NOW--The Great Helmsman led China into some of the most monumental disasters of the modern era.Now,20 years after his death,Mao Zedong's star is shining asbrightly as ever.How can it be so? Chairman Mao's Poems--In Chinese (GIF). Dr. Sun Yat-Sen--The founding father of Republic of China. Mao Zedong--An unofficial site which collects quotations of Mao and some articles on Mao.(CHINESE GB) (CHINESE PS) Mao Zedong--A Great Man in China History--Internet resources on Mao & his era. Sun Yat-Sen:Fundamentals of National Reconstruction--"This book is Sun Yat-sen's most important political statement.It enunciates his famous three principles whereby he set China on the road to modernity." DENG Xiaoping--Deng Xiaoping leads a far-reaching,audacious but Risky Second Revolution.(Man of the Year 1985,Time Magazine)(in English) ...For more information Click the Underlined. This passage is probably take from _ . A. magazine B. a webpage C. text book D. TV programme Answer: B. a webpage
Mr. Green is quiet and doesn't like talking with people. He likes reading newspapers and playing computer games. He never exercises. Sometimes he watches soccer or basketball games on TV. He likes milk very much and drinks it three times a day. Mrs. Green is a bank clerk .It's a busy but boring job. She works with people and money every day. So she is always tired after work. She likes to take a good rest and goes to bed early after dinner. Usually she goes to bed at 8:30 in the evening and gets up at 6:30 in the morning. Mr. Green is very happy with that. But Mrs. Green isn't, because Mr. Green always talks in her sleep. One morning, Mr. Green sat at table and had breakfast. Mrs. Green asked him,"Why do you always talk in your sleep?"Mr. Green said,"Because I have few chances to talk in the daytime " The next morning after their children all went to school, Mrs. Green asked Mr. Green angrily,"Why did you scold me in your sleep last night?""Because I'm afraid to do it when I'm awake ." Mrs.Green works in a _ Answer: Judy had very bad luck yesterday. In the morning, she came to school late, because her alarm clock didn't _ . Usually she goes to school at 7:20 am. But yesterday, it was already 8:00 am when she got up. The teacher was angry and asked her to stay in the classroom after school. At 5:00 pm, it was time for students to go home. But Judy couldn't. She stayed until 5:30 pm. When she just went out of the classroom, it began to rain. She didn't have an umbrella. On her way home, she fell off her bicycle. When she got home, she was wet all through. When did Judy's classmates go home? Answer: Some school officials want to change class time from 8:00 a. m. to 9:00 a. m. What do you think ? Here are some students' ideas. Jill : I think it's a good idea ! I usually get up at 6:10 and it's difficult for me . At night I have to do lots of homework and I like to watch TV . I go to bed at about 10:00 p. m. I usually can't catch the bus at 7:30 in the morning . I am often late for school Sally : I don't think it's a good idea . I always get up at 5:30 in the morning . it's the best time of the day . First I do some morning exercises . Then I read and have breakfast . So I will be happy if class begins at 8:00 Bill: I get up at 6:30 . I always go to school without breakfast . A morning class is not good for me . I hope I can go to school after 8:30. , Which of following sentences is TURE ?? Answer: Should students do the grading? The Supreme Court says the practice doesn't violate a student's right to privacy, but is it right for students to grade one another? Walter Potenza, California The Supreme Court was absolutely correct to say it's OK for students to grade one another's homework, quizzes, and tests: in fact, it's a great idea. By grading one another's papers and seeing the problems their classmates have, students double their exposure to the troubles that they may meet on future exams and tests. Grading one another's papers may be one of the best ways for students to _ within themselves the ways to master the most difficult parts of what they are learning. Teachers are underappreciated and underpaid for the number of hours they have to work to be able to teach really well. Grading all their students' papers can take hours. Some of that time and energy can be saved by spending a few minutes in class, while providing an extremely valuable learning experience. I understand that some individuals are sensitive to their classmates seeing their work or grades. Any good teacher would be considerate of students who don't want their classmates to grade their assignments. Winston Smith, North Carolina A girl moves back as her classmate announces her failing test grade and hands her the paper. The quiet classroom heats up. With the increase in student grading over the past few years, scenes like this have become a bitter reality in schools across the nation. Teachers and schools should not advocate student grading and public announcement of grades because it provides a violation of privacy for students and causes unfair judgments and treatment by their classmates. Since 1974, a law known as the Buckley Amendment has forbidden the release of education records in order to protect the privacy of students and their families. I strongly disagree with the Court's ruling that this law does not include student grading. I can think of no greater violation of privacy than the exposure of one's personal information to a group of peers . This can be very embarrassing. Releasing this sort of personal information should be avoided, especially by institutions that seek to provide a supportive environment during essential years of human development. Walter Potenza suggests that _ . Answer: I believe you can do your best. Not being the best but toughing the limits of what you're capable of. I gained this belief from my third grade teacher, the most special, honored, trustworthy, and loved person in my life. Mr. Myrus was always perfectly dressed and spoke with the belief that talking to eight-year-olds didn't mean he had to sacrifice proper statements or grammars. And he was demanding but he wasn't unreasonable or cruel. He simply felt that no matter what your best was, you should achieve it. As luck would have it, I met him again as my eighth grade math teacher. I was not, nor ever will be, gifted in math. I remember my struggles in class. "I don't know the answer," I would say, "I can't do it!" "Perhaps you don't know the answer," he would say quietly. "Do you think we might figure it out together? How do you know what you can do until you try?" Mr. Myrus lived around the corner, and I would often stop by to talk while he worked in his garden. I knew there was someone who let me know that if I had really tried, that was enough. "Don't be so hard on yourself," he'd say. "Stop blaming yourself. Did you try your best? Well, then you're not a failure," he often told me these words. Mr. Myrus died in 1978. I had never thought about his death. He was too young. I felt sorry. But when I think about him now, I don't feel so sorry. He taught me to be kind, not only to others, but to myself. He taught me my own value. He taught me about honor, about truth, and about doing my best--and that all feelings and beliefs have dignity and deserve respect. And of all the things I know, this I believe: We can't all be "the best", but we can, each of us, be our best, and I know that's true because Mr. Myrus told me that. What can we know about Mr. Myrus according to the passage? Answer:
The whole world is helping tsunami victims. Students in the U.S. are also taking part. A friend of mine suggested that we organize a relief effort for the victims. We are officers of the American Red Cross at Yale (I'm the chairperson). After sending a letter to the other members of the Red Cross, I received a large number of responses from students interested in helping. We decided to organize a charity concert to raise money for tsunami-ravaged areas. All ticket earnings will go directly to our parent organization, the American Red Cross. Currently, we're in the process of inviting Yale's numerous song, dance, and chamber music groups to perform at the concert. So far, we've had a great response from these groups and volunteers have continued to pour in with their ideas and feedback. When I checked my inbox this morning, I had 56 tsunami fundraiser-related emails waiting for me. Although, everyone is still on winter vacation and away from school, we have the Internet to link up Yalies from around the globe. We share ideas not on the latest video games, but on how best to provide help. The Red Cross at Yale is not alone in its aid effort. Student organizations across campus are working hard to raise funds and provide help to those who need it. Yale's South Asian Society (SAS) and the Asian American Students Alliance (AASA), which is an umbrella organization for many other groups including the Sri Lankan Students Association, are organizing charity dinners. The food will be donated by restaurants from around campus. Every last penny of the earnings will be donated to a non-profit organization providing aid to South Asia. After some discussion with the SAS and AASA, our groups have decided to plan our two events together. Students can attend the benefit dinner then go to the charity concert. There is no doubt in my mind that both events will have a fantastic turnout. Which of the following is NOT right? Answer: Loneliness is like a disease, and what's worse, it's contagious. It can spread from one person to another, according to the recent research that stresses the power of one person's emotions to affect even people they don't know. The new analysis, involving 4,793 people who were interviewed every two years between 2005 and 2015, showed that a friend of a lonely person was 52% more likely to develop feelings of loneliness by the time of the next interview. A friend of that person was 25% more likely, and a friend of a friend of a friend was 15% more likely. ''Loneliness is not just the property of an individual. It can be transmitted across people--even people you don't have direct contact with," said John T. Cacioppo, a psychologist of University of Chicago who led the study published in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Loneliness has been linked to medical problems, including depression, sleep problems and generally poorer physical health. Identifying some of the causes could help reduce the emotion and improve health, experts said. Although the study did not examine how loneliness spreads, Cacioppo said another research has provided clues. "Let's say for whatever reason you get lonely. You then interact with other people in a more negative fashion. That puts them in a negative mood and makes them more likely to interact with other people in a negative fashion and they _ their social ties and become lonely," Cacioppo said. According to Cacioppo, loneliness spread more easily among women than men, perhaps because women were more likely to express emotions. Lonely people become less and less trusting others. This makes it more and more difficult for them to make friends--and more likely that society will reject them. Therefore, it is important to recognize and deal with loneliness. Cacioppo emphasizes people who have been pushed to the edges of society should receive help to repair their social networks. The word " minimize" in Paragragh 5 is closest in meaning to . Answer: Which of these materials on the walls of a room would work best to keep sound from making an echo? Answer: The moon goes through phases as it revolves around Earth. During which phase of the moon would it be possible for a solar eclipse to occur? Answer: It is well known that the United States' population come from all over the world. The immigrants can learn the language, English, to keep this country united, but it is unnecessary to change their culture for an American way of life. I believe that recent immigrants should learn English in order to live in the country. They should learn the "public language". If they don't learn English, they won't be able to communicate and do what they want. For example, my mother's friend came to the United States from Ecuador three years ago. She doesn't speak English. One day, her daughter, Anita, couldn't breathe. Anita didn't know what was going on, but she told her mother to call an ambulance. When her mother called the hospital, she couldn't communicate. The operator couldn't understand what Anita's mother was saying. Fortunately, her mother's sister arrived and called the ambulance. The doctor told her sister that if she hadn't arrived at the hospital on time, Anita could have died. A pill had gotten stuck in her throat. Immigrants should learn English to speak with the public, but they can also keep their language at home. The children of immigrants should learn how to speak their parents' language. It is very important to communicate with our relatives and family. If we learn English only and forget our private "language", we won't be able to communicate with our parents. For example, Florence, my co-worker, speaks English only. Her mother didn't teach her Spanish (her mother's mother language). Now, Florence can't communicate with her grandparents or other relatives in Puerto Rico. She has lost her mother's mother language, tradition and culture. Immigrants have the freedom to keep their culture and values. Immigrants should know where they come from and what their family's culture is. In this way, they can transmit it to future generations. In conclusion, immigrants should learn English in order to communicate with the public and to keep the country united, but they shouldn't give up their own culture. Who played the most important part in calling an ambulance fro Anita? Answer:
The elements sulfur (S) and oxygen (O2) combine to form a substance called sulfur dioxide (SO2). Sulfur dioxide is also formed when coal and oil are burned. Sulfur dioxide can best be described as A. a metal B. an atom C. a compound D. a nonreactive gas Answer: C. a compound One night I was at my friend's house where he threw a party. We were enjoying our dinner at night when all of a sudden we heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and saw this guy who had scar on his face. I asked my friend "who is that guy?", and he told me that it was his friend. I didn't trust that guy because he looked very strange. After we had dinner the strange guy asked my friend to come outside because he wanted to talk to him. A few seconds later I heard a noise from outside and when I ran outside I saw that the strange guy was trying to beat my friend. I ran towards him and asked him to leave our house. He left the house but after half an hour he came back and this time he was dressed up as superhero and he also had a sword. As soon as I saw him I ran inside the house and called the cops. The cops came and the guy ran away as soon as he heard the cop car coming. We never found out what happened to that guy after that day. Who was the strange guy dressed up as? A. a sword B. a car C. a superhero D. a cop Answer: C. a superhero Bob and his family like eating fish very much. He often buys some fish in the shop and takes them home for dinner. His wife often asks her friends to their home to have lunch and eat fish. One day, Bob buys some fish home and goes to his office to work. His wife sees the fish and thinks, "Good! I can ask my friends to come for lunch." When Bob comes home from work in the evening, he can't find his fish. His wife says, " Oh, It's your cat. Your cat eats it." And she gives Bob some bread for dinner. The husband is very angry . He takes the cat and his wife to the shop near their home to _ the cat. Then he asks his wife, "You see, my fish is one kilo, and this cat is one kilo, too. My fish is here. Then where is my cat?" ,. What does Bob do? A. A farmer. B. A cook. C. A driver. D. An office worker. Answer: D. An office worker. Coffee is a powerful beverage.On a personal level,it helps keep US awake and active.On a much broader level,it has helped shape our history and continues to shape our culture. Coffee didn't take off until the l400s when people figured out they could roast its seeds.By the l500s,the drink had spread to coffeehouses across the Arab world.Within another l50 years,it took Europe by storm. "It actually had a major impact on the rise of business," historian Mark Pendergrast says.Coffeehouses became a spot not just to enjoy a cup but to exchange ideas.The insurer Lloyd's of London was founded hundreds of years ago in one of London's 2,000 coffeehouses.Literature,newspapers and even the works of great composers like Bach and Beethoven were also spawned in coffeehouses. It is often said that after the Boston Tea Party of l773,when American colonists attacked British tea ships and threw boxes of tea into the harbor,Americans universally switched over to drinking coffee.In a letter John Adams wrote to his wife,Abigail,the Founding Father claims his love of tea but says he will have to learn to embrace coffee instead,because drinking tea had become a symbol of not loving the country. For all the upsides coffee has brought the modern world,it also led to its fair share of downsides,too.Europeans carried coffee with them as they colonized various parts of the world,and this frequently meant they enslaved people in order to grow it.In Brazil -- where slavery was legal until l888 -- coffee plantations would use slash-and-burn agriculture,tearing down rain forests and planting coffee trees.Once the soil had been exhausted,growers would move on to another place. And yet,coffee,as Pendergrast says,"had a very good impact in many ways on our civilization,even though it was,for a long time,grown by slaves." Why did people enjoy going to coffeehouses? A. Because it was a fashion to drink coffee. B. Because coffeehouses provided a better flavor. C. Because they could stay awake and active there. D. Because they could exchange ideas there. Answer: D. Because they could exchange ideas there. From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age. We are free from many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modern medicine. It is almost certain that one day medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased greatly. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads. Man vs the motor-car. It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen. It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel , his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man's very worst qualities.People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They say, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish.All their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving. The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten. It is high time a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievably lax and even the strictest are not strict enough. A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate.Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person's driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Speed limits should be required on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for car factories, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may not sound good enough. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths. After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars. The author's attitude towards the present traffic situation is _ . A. positive B. unsatisfied C. appealing D. unclear Answer: B. unsatisfied
In some dry areas, large amounts of water have been pumped from underground sources where water has been naturally stored for thousands of years. If the water is not replaced, what type of land feature is most likely to result? The parents of a troubled teen may feel unsure as to whom to turn to in order to find help for their child. They may feel as if they have exhausted all of their options, and sometimes they are on the verge of giving up. But there is hope. Schools for troubled teens offer discipline and in some cases, drug treatment programs that can provide important life skills, and more importantly, a fresh start. The following is a list of the most effective types of schools for troubled teens. Not every facility is a match for every child, but by knowing the differences between them, parents can make a better educated decision about where to send their teenager. Boarding Schools When a child is unable to deal with the relative freedom of a standard school day, boarding schools might be a good choice. At boarding schools, the child lives in a dorm setting, where almost every minute of the day is scheduled by school administrators. Treatment Centers When a teenager has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a residential center that specializes in young people is an outstanding way to help them break the cycle of addiction. Treatment centers feature individual and group counseling to help identify the root causes of the drug problem and help develop the life skills needed to stay clean when the program is over. Wilderness Programs Designed to help improve the discipline and self-reliance of the child, wilderness programs send kids back to nature. By placing them in a foreign and sometimes uncomfortable setting, wilderness programs hope to improve children's behavior. Programs generally include hikes, exercise programs and team building exercises. Boot Camps Boot camps are the most extreme style of school for troubled teens. These facilities are modeled after actual military boot camps, where the individual must get into shape, work as part of a team, and follow a long, hard set of rules and regulations. However, boot camps might not be the best choice for a teen with a drug addiction. As the author suggests, schools for troubled teens _ . Music comes in many forms; most countries have a style of their own. The US is well known for jazz , which has gained world-wide popularity. In contrast to classical music, which follows formal European traditions, jazz is natural and free-form. It is full of energy, expressing the moods, interests, and feelings of the people. It has a modern sound that makes people very excited. In the 1920s jazz sounded like America. And So it does today. The origins of this music are as interesting as the music itself. Jazz was produced by American blacks, who were brought to the Southern States as slaves. They were sold to plantation owners and forced to work long hours in the cotton and tobacco fields. This work was hard and life was short. When a Negro died, his friends and relatives formed a group to carry the body to the cemetery. A band often went with them. On the way to the cemetery the band played slow and sad music. But on the way home the mood changed. _ Everybody was happy. Death had removed one of their members, but the living were glad to be alive. The band played happy music, which made everyone want to dance. It was an early form of jazz. Music has always been important in their lives. Coming mainly from West Africa, the black men who were brought to America already possessed a rich musical tradition. This music centered on religious ceremonies in which dancing, singing, clapping and stamping to the beat of a drum were important forms of musical expression. As these people settled in to their fields, they made up work songs. Singing made the hard work go faster. Another musical form that helped to develop jazz was the blues. Blues songs always describe something sad -- an unhappy love affair, a money problem, bad luck. To this day, the expression "feeling blue" means being sad. Through jazz, people can express _ . Eight years ago, Orben, prior to moving to a distant city, conveyed Blackacre, an isolated farm, to his son, Sam, by a quitclaim deed. Sam paid no consideration. Sam, who was 19 years old, without formal education, and without experience in business, took possession of Blackacre and operated the farm but neglected to record his deed. Subsequently, Orben conveyed Blackacre to Fred by warranty deed. Fred, a substantial land and timber promoter, paid valuable consideration for the deed to him. He was unaware of Sam's possession, his quitclaim deed, or his relationship to Orben. Fred promptly and properly recorded his deed and began removing timber from the land. Immediately removing timber from the land. Immediately upon learning of Fred's actions, Sam recorded his deed and brought an appropriate action to enjoin Fred from removing the timber and to quiet title in Sam. The recording act of the jurisdiction provides: "No conveyance or mortgage of real property shall be good against subsequent purchasers for value and without notice unless the same be recorded according to law." In this action, Fred should This column is part of a series on websites that are useful for English language learning.Activities for ESL Students Includes various types of tests, exercises and puzzles designed to help people studying English as a second language (ESL).The activities include grammar, vocabulary and idiom tests at easy, medium and difficult levels.The specially designed Chinese-English vocabulary tests can help Chinese memorize English words. http://a4esl.org/ Interesting Things for ESL Students Contains a comprehensive list of audio clips from the Special English programs of Voice of America (VOA).The list covers news of all kinds on VOA.The listening and vocabulary exercises and the word list designed with the clips will help English learners improve listening ability and increase vocabulary. http://www.manythings.org/voa/ World-English This site provides a list of radio or TV channels offering English news clips.It includes the BBC radio program clips from England, CNN and ABC news clips from the US, and other news clips from other English-speaking countries.Click on the links and you will be taken to channels where you can listen to clips.This is a good way to practice listening. http://www.world-english.org/listening.html Listen to English Offers a large number of materials for English learners to practice listening.The materials include business English, English literature, history, movies, and politics.Students can improve their English while enjoying the beauty of the English of literature, songs, movies, and news in different countries. http://eleaston.corn/listen, html If you want to test how well you are learning English, which website can you enter?
Alex looked at an electric toothbrush that had a plug with three metal prongs. Why are these prongs made out of metal? A Metal doesn't get hot and melt when you plug it into the outlet. B Metal is strong and is less likely to break when you plug it into the outlet. C Metal is an insulator and prevents shocks when you plug it into the outlet. D Metal is a conductor and completes a circuit when you plug it into the outlet. Answer: D On February 14th,2000,my class went on a field trip to the beach. I had so much fun. When we returned to school,my teacher told me to go to the headmaster's office. When I got into the office,I saw a police officer. Suddenly I realized something was wrong. The police officer told me what had happened and we went to pick my sister up. After that,we went to the hospital and waited. Time went slowly. Finally,we got to see our mother. It was terrible. On the next day,the headmaster came and told my two teachers what had happened. I was taking a rest that day. I knew it had something to do with my mother. I kept thinking that she either died or had gotten better. How I wished that she had gotten better. When my teacher took me outside,my sister ran up to me. She started crying,"She's gone. Teresa,mommy's gone. She's dead." I couldn't believe it. We jumped into the car and drove straight to the hospital. Most of my family were there. The silence was terrible. I knew I had to say goodbye. Today when I look back,I still miss my mother very much,but I know that I will live. My mother was a strong mother,who had the biggest heart. My mother was an angel walking on the earth. I will always remember her as living. When someone is asked who their hero is,they usually say someone famous,like Michael Jordan or Britney Spears. When someone asks me who my hero is,I tell them,my mother. My mother lives every day. That is what makes her a true hero. What did the headmaster tell the two teachers on the next day? A Her mother had been very ill. B Her mother had been dead. C Her mother had gotten better. D Her sister came to see her. Answer: B A Special Opportunity for Customers of Producers Choice Dear music producers, If you LOVE producing music, then you are going to LOVE our new monthly sample pack club. With Producers Choice Monthly, you'll get every single sample pack we'll ever make at theproducerschoice.com. You'll get every new pack we put on the website -- sent directly to your email inbox even before they go on our website! Also, you'll get a new sample pack (worth $36) to get started immediately. Other Benefits: Only $29.95 per month. Cancel the order anytime you like. Get sample packs that NO ONE else will get. Keep your inspiration flowing with new samples each month. I'm excited to be able to offer this subscription service to both new and existing customers. I hope you are looking forward to taking your music to the next level with our award-winning samples being sent to you each month -- good for keeping your inspiration flowing. 3 (8 ) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Producers Choice Monthly: Q -- How many sample packs will I get with my subscription? A -- You'll usually get 1--3 new sample packs per month. The sample packs are different in size, each of which is usually from 300MB to 2GB+, so you will get great value for money! Q -- How will my samples be delivered to me? A -- We send our members an email with a download link, so you can download your sample packs quickly and easily. Q -- How does the payment/billing work? A -- If you join our monthly plan, your credit card will be billed once a month. You can stop at any time. How will you pay if you subscribe to Producers Choice Monthly? A By bank card. B By credit card. C In cash. D By check. Answer: B Unknown to most Facebook users, the social network actually offers a lot of privacy controls and security features which can help you lock your account, so you can speak freely. If it's used properly, you'll never have to worry about whether you will have to "friend" your boss or your mom. You can friend anyone you want while staying comfortable in the knowledge that not everyone gets to see everything you post. The problem with carrying out these privacy options is that they're just too confusing for most non-tech clever people to handle. And often, most people don't want to bother to take the time to learn. To simplify the process, we're offering one easy step you can take today to help make your Facebook experience safer, more secure, and more private. Just make "Friend Lists". Yes, it will take some time, especially if you're connected to a couple of hundred friends already. But this step, while not the quickest, is fairly simple. And it will be one of the most useful things you can do on Facebook. Friend lists, as the name suggests, are lists for classifying your friends into various groups. The nice thing about this feature is that once you set these lists up, you won't have to do it again. We suggest that you put your work colleagues and professional acquaintances into a friend list named "Work", personal friends you're not very close with into a list called "Acquaintances", and people you're related to into a list called "Family". Those three main categories will separate out the groups of "friends" who you may want to hide some information from. To create a friend list, click on "Friends" at the top of the Facebook homepage. In the left-hand column, click "Friends" again under the "Lists" section. Now you'll see a button at the top that says "Create New List". Click it. In the pop-up that appears, you can name your list and pick members. If you've ever shared an application with your friends, the process of doing this will be very familiar. When you've finished making lists, you'll be able to use them when selecting who can see what (or who can't!) when configuring the security settings described below. What function isn't understood by most people on Facebook? A Surfing the Internet. B Setting safety protection. C Sharing personal information. D Making foreign friends. Answer: B People think of ice cream as an American food. Yet, ice cream really came from Asia. In the late 1200s Marco Polo, the great explorer, is said to have seen rich Asians eating dishes of ice. Camels had brought the ice from distant mountains. Before it was served, the ice had been flavored with fruits. Marco Polo brought this new dish to Italy, In France cooks changed the ice recipe and made ice cream. At first, cooks tried to keep the recipe a secret. They wanted it to be a special dish for rich people. By the late 1700s, though, ice cream was sold throughout Europe and America. Some great Americans loved ice cream. George Washington was the first to buy a special machine for making it. When Thomas Jefferson returned from France, he brought an ice cream recipe home with him. Dolly Madison, wife of President James Madison, also liked ice cream, and she often served it at the White House. Actually, a famous brand of ice cream was even named after her. In the late 1800s, the ice cream industry began to grow. A way of keeping ice cream frozen had been found, so ice cream makers did not have to worry about ice cream melting anymore. Who do you think was the most important person in the history of ice cream? A Marco Polo. B Dolly Madison, C Thomas Jefferson. D George Washington. Answer: A
Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words. For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents' home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement and have strong opinions about everything. Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired. But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me. That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They'd get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air. We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons. We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories. I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence. Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey----and the best part of yourself. Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents' home? A. She needn't stop on the way. B. It would be faster and easier. C. Her kids would feel less confined. D. She felt better with other drivers nearby. Answer: B From Earth, we see the sun in the day sky and other stars in the night sky. Nighttime stars look like tiny points of light. Which statement explains why nighttime stars appear so much smaller than the sun? A. The stars are much smaller. B. The sky is much darker at night. C. The stars are much farther away. D. The moon blocks out most starlight. Answer: C Goodreads. com is a website for book lovers everywhere. If you love to read, and if you love social networking, you should check out Goodreads. The website marries social networking and books in such a way as makes your friends' reading progress easy to follow and makes it simpler than ever to find your next reading material. Goodreads is a social network for readers. Like Facebook or Twitter, it allows you to share information. Unlike most popular social networks, Goodreads also allows you to show your friends your progress on the book you are reading and to write reviews for everything you've ever read. You can see and comment on your friends' reading progress. Goodreads is simple to use. When you sign up for an account, you will be able to find your friends by their email addresses or other social network accounts. Once you have some friends, every time you log in, you will see a timeline of their updates. You can see when they've added a book to a list, or when they've finished or reviewed a book. As soon as you have an account, you can also start looking for books you've read or that you want to read and added them to your lists. Once you finish reading a book, you can go to the book page and review it by giving it any number out of five stars. If you wish to write a longer review, you can do that, too. If you have ever finished a book and needed a recommendation for what to read next, Goodreads has the answer. Finding your next book has never been easier. Now, not only can you search for individual books you know you want to read and add them to your "to read" list, but you can also easily see what your friends have recently read. When you search through your friends' reviews, you can also see who likes what books, making your selection process even easier. Adding books to your "to read" list can help you keep track of what you want to read next, and seeing what books your friends enjoy - or don't enjoy- can help you better your list of books to read next. Like all good social networks, Goodreads has apps for mobile phones and ways to connect to other social networks. You can get Goodreads for iphone and Android by downloading them from the App Store or Andorid Market. You can also connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts so all of your networks know what you're reading. Furthermore, you can connect your Amazon Kindle to automatically update your progress on your e-books. Last but not least , you can set up Goodreads to auto- publish book reviews to your Wordpress or blog. Sharing your favorite books has never been easier . If you want to create a web space for your own book club, you can do that easily; just start a new group on Goodreads and update the page to show what books you're reading. You can also create events to easily share with members where and when book club meetings and author readings are taking place. Goodreads. com is young, but we will do our best to attract more people and we hope you can use it and give us your advice. Para.4 is mainly about _ . A. the apps on Goodreads B. how to use Goodreads C. functions of Goodreads D. how to find books Answer: A Running like the wind, roaring like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world. But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China. This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund. The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China. In the 1950s, there were over 4,000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country. But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species. Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China. But they are nothing like their wild cousins. They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing. If they were set free they could not look after themselves. "Breeding has damaged the quality of the species," said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo. To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa. Four of them have already arrived. Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base. "South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild. The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in," said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Centre. "We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain and there was a lack of space." The tigers should return to China in 2009 when the reservations in Fujian are ready. What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species? A. Because it has lost its natural instincts. B. Because there is not a complete eco-chain. C. Because there is no space for it. D. Because of uncontrolled hunting and destroyed its natural living conditions. Answer: D Come And Join Us! We warmly welcome you to the Shine Sports Centre! All the young people in this city can become members of the Shine Sports Centre and each member should pay $10 every year. To be a member of us and get your membership card ,you need to come to us between 2 pm and 6 pm, Monday to Thursday. I have to tell you that we don't accept new members on Friday. Now, there are three things that you must remember to bring with you when you come for a membership card. They are your ID card, a recent passport-sized photo of yourself and the money. We can't give you the card unless you bring all the three. Once you have got your membership card, you need to bring it with you whenever you come to book or use any facility in Shine Sports Centre. Booking over the phone is not allowed, so you have to come here with your card when you want to book. There is one more thing I have to tell you. Our opening hours is from 9 am to 10 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 6 pm on weekends. We hope that every member can have a great time in the Shine Sports Centre. You can use the facilities in the Shine Sports Centre at _ . A. 9 am on Sunday B. 5 pm on Wednesday C. 7 am on Thursday D. 9 am on Saturday Answer: B
Which two systems of the body are interacting when a runner sprains his ankle? A the nervous system and the digestive system B the digestive system and the circulatory system C the respiratory system and the nervous system D the muscular system and the nervous system Answer: D Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have existed on the planet, and they can grow to a length of 100 feet and weigh more than 330,000 pounds. But recently researchers have found that these whales are on the move and they have migrated (moved) from California waters to areas off Canada and Alaska for the first time since commercial whaling ended in 1965. The researchers identified 15 blue whales that have appeared off the coast of British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since 1997. Four of these whales were recognized as ones that were once sighted off California shores, suggesting that the whales are returning to an old migration pattern between the coasts. Before commercial whaling began in the early 1900s, blue whales were found widely throughout the North Pacific and California waters. But from the 1920s to the 1960s, whaling severely reduced the whale populations. Blue whales never recovered in the Northern Pacific, making sightings in this area rare. However, much larger groups of whales have been observed close to California since the 1970s. The scientists had previously thought that the California population was separate from the population that had historically lived in North Pacific waters. But the current study shows that whales off the coast of British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska are likely part of the California population.[:] To identify the blue whales, the researchers looked at photos of _ taken in the North Pacific Ocean and compared them with a library of blue whale pictures taken along the West Coast of the United States and Southern Pacific. Up to now, the researchers are not quite sure why the whales are changing their migration patterns, but they suspect that the whales may be following their food moving farther north by the changes in ocean conditions. The whale population in the northern Pacific _ . A is different from the California population B has become the largest group since the 1970s C is probably part of the California population D has lived there since the 1960s. Answer: C Which process drives most of the ATP synthesis in a chloroplast? A flow of protons across an electrochemical gradient B flow of tRNA across an electrochemical gradient C exposure of ADP to electromagnetic waves D exposure of carbohydrates to electromagnetic waves Answer: A A group of people decided to climb a mountain together. They thought it was going to be an easy climb, so they laughed and talked among themselves and didn't notice the sky growing darker. They soon got lost for they couldn't see very far in front of them. They _ together that night over a fire. No one walked too far away from the group by themselves because it would surely lead to death. They sat close to each other throughout the dark hours not just for warmth, but for the fact that staying with the group was their only hope for survival. After what felt like a century, the sun started its slow climb up the sky. They were now able to see as far ahead of them as they liked, so they began to go down the mountain. They still remained as a group at this time even though there was no real need. A bond had formed throughout the group that could not be broken or ignored. They knew each other just as well as they knew themselves. As they reached the place where they had started their journey, they knew it was time to say goodbye. Feeling at peace, they bowed deeply to each other. All of them kept the love they created as a group close to their hearts as they made their way out into the world alone. What was the difficulty the group of people met in the mountain? A Damaged roads. B Animals' attack. C Losing their way. D Running out of food. Answer: C A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders : Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences? Certainly! there are some differences between British and American English. 'There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say "in hospital" and "Have you a pen?" Americans say "in the hospital!" and "Do you have a pen?". Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like "bird" and "hurt". Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, "colour" and "honour" are British, "color" and honor" are American. These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language. Most _ say "Do you have a watch?" A British people B Americans C children D teachers Answer: B
There is good and bad news for parents today. The word "mother" has been voted the most beautiful word in the English language. But "father" failed even to make it on the list of the 70 best words in a survey of thousands of non-English speakers across the world. From Ankara to Zurich, "mother" was voted above "love", "smile" and "blossom". In second place was "passion", followed by "smile", "love" and "eternity", with "fantastic", "destiny", "freedom", "liberty" and "tranquility" completing the top 10. The results were given by the British Council which carried out a huge survey of more than 40,000 people in 102 non-English speaking countries. The study was done to celebrate the group's 70th anniversary --and it threw up a few surprising words to the list. "It's interesting that 'mother', the only word of the 70 that describes a direct relationship between people, came top of the poll ",said British Council spokesman Greg Selby. "It is great to see words in the survey that are so positive and suggestive of the British Council' s purpose -- words such as 'freedom', 'liberty', 'peace'." Those surveyed were allowed to choose their words on either meaning or sound, said Mr. Selby. This explained why words that are satisfying to pronounce, like "flip-flop", made the list. Famous mothers like Kate Winslet, Elle Macpherson and Claudia Schiffer have all done their bit to make the word popular. Kate, 28, even stopped shooting Woody Allen's new film to spend more time with her young family. Singer Robbie Williams is proud to express his love for his mother, while actor Peter Kay went through a marathon British tour to pay for a new house for his mom. The mood was added to by Britney Spears, yesterday as she showed her love for her mother. She said: "My mom was and still is a supermom. She is just so much fun and I think the reason why I love so much her is because she's a young mom." She added: "Mom, thanks for being the best role model--you rock." What can we infer from the passage? Britney Spears took pride in her mother. Mark Eklund was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minn. He was neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful. Mark liked talking. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving: "Thank you for correcting me, sister!" One day in class, I asked pupils to list the names of the other students on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that student. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my father met me at the airport. "Mark was killed in the war," he said." The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend." I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. As I stood there, Mark's father said, "We want to show you something. They found this on Mark when he was killed." He took a wallet out of his pocket. Opening the billfold , he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it." That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. Why did Mark's parents want the author to attend Mark's funeral? They wanted to thank her for what she had done for Mark. Hello, my name is Mike.I am from England. I am a new student in Jason School. I am in Class 2, Grade 1. I go to school 5 days a week and there are 6 classes a day. There are 25 students in my class. I am very happy to meet them. English is my favorite lesson. Miss Green is my English teacher. She is 27 years old. I like having her class. There is a computer in my classroom. Miss Green likes playing English songs on the computer in her class and we like these songs. Now I can sing many English songs. There are some pictures in the classroom because some students like drawing pictures and they draw very well. I like my classroom and my new school. Welcome to my school! What's Mike's favorite lesson ? English 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. What might the man be? a robber Over the past few months, PSY's funny video for "Gangnam Style" has become a YouTube sensation, resulting in over 112,000,000 views since July 15. It's also been Tweeted more than 780,000 times and received over 260, 000 likes on Facebook, reportsMashable.com. With the rapper making an appearance at Thursday's MTV Video Music Awards, here's what you need to know about the break-out artist. His real name is Park Jae-Sang. The 35-year-old Korean pop rapper is known for his comedic music videos and performances. The video for "Gangnam Style" is no exception. When his first albumPSY--From the Psycho World!was released in 2001, he was nicknamed "PSY" because of his unusual dress, special lyrics and funny dance movies. Gangnam is a wealthy neighborhood in Seoul . Gangnam may only be 15 square miles, but the district in Seoul, South Korea, is home to the headquarters of some of the country's most influential companies, including Samsung, Hyundai and LG. The region also makes up 7% of South Korea's GDP. 41% of students at Seoul University, a very famous college, come from Gangnam. The lyrics of PSY's song describe the personality of a girl and a guy. He studied in the U.S. Born in South Korea on December 31, 1977, PSY attended Banpo Elementary School, Banpo Middle School and Eva High Sch ool. But when it came time to achieve a college degree, the rapper attended both Boston University and Berklee College of Music in the U.S. "Gangnam Style" is giving K-pop international fame. "Gangnam Style" is currently No.1 on the iTunes music video chart. The video has surpassed Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"; Justin Bieber's "As Long As You Love Me"; and Katy Perry's "Wide Awake". This is the first time a Korean artist has ranked this high on iTunes. Which of the following about Gangnam is TRUE? It is rich and better developed.
As the summer time approaches, more and more commercials and advertisements can be seen on the mass media encouraging students to join English study tours abroad. The purpose of these tours is to provide students with an opportunity to learn English in a native speaking environment and use English in real situations. Parents always believe that their children will automatically speak good English after attending these study tours. However, for me, as an English major and former participant of many English study tours, I find these summer tours ineffective. Parents who send their children abroad for a summer to study English usually believe that the native speaking environment, including the courses, teachers, and host families, can help their children to learn English better. This might be true if the students really study hard and they really get an all-English environment. But the fact is that, most of the time, the tour part is more important than the study part. Although these tours take place in foreign countries, students are rarely exposed in an all-English environment. You will find that, in the morning classes, Taiwanese students would like to stick together and speak Chinese with each other, even though there are some students from other countries. In the afternoon, the students go on a sightseeing excursion with their companions from Taiwan; they speak Chinese of course. In the evening, when students return to the host families, they would stay in their room and share the day with their roommate, another Taiwanese student. People who speak the same language with you is like a log in the ocean when living in a foreign country where you can not express yourself well, so that you would naturally stick with them. This is especially true with children. Another unrealistic expectation parents have for these tours is that the experience of living abroad can make their children more independent and mature. However, maturity does not come overnight. It takes time and practice. The most important of all is that they need a good _ . None of these exist in the study tours. What makes the parents send their children to join English study tours abroad according to the text? Parents' unrealistic expectation. if you push something harder, it will cover more length Where has the Time gone? is the hottest song that has moved thousands of Chinese. Chinese parents give their children endless love and want nothing from them. However, sometimes, daughters and sons are too busy growing up and forget that their parents are getting older and older. What should we do? Let's have a look at a letter of a father's. Dear son, One day if you see me old and I am not myself, have patience and try to understand me. If I get dirty when eating.. ., if I cannot dress.. ., have patience. Remember the hours I spent teaching it to you. If, when I speak to you, I say the same things one thousand and one times, do not stop me and listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you one thousand and one times the same story until you get to sleep. When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame me nor scold me. Remember when I had to chase you with a thousand excuses I made, in order that you wanted to bath. When you see me meet something new, give me the necessary time and don't laugh at me. I taught you how to do so many things _ to eat well, to dress well... to face life. If I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well when I need to and when not. When my legs do not allow me to walk, give me your hand the same way I did when you gave your first steps. When sometimes I lose the memory during our conversation, let me have the necessary time to remember. And if I cannot do it, do not become nervous because the most important thing is not my conversation but to be with you and to have you listen to me. Yours, Father Who does the writer write this passage to? Daughters and sons. My favourite quilt is always on my bed. Even in warm weather. It is not a large quilt but very beautiful: made up of many brightly color1ed woolen squares of every imaginable color1--red, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, cream. From the start, I loved this quilt. Just to look at it is to feel comforted. How many years have passed since my mother gave the quilt to me and my husband Ray Smith? I can only guess: thirty years? thirty-five? The beautiful little quilt in all the color1s of the rainbow has followed me from one house to another. The same bed, in different bedrooms in different houses in different periods of my life. In this most recent period, the quilt is laid on my bed in a house in Princeton, New Jersey, into which I moved in 2009. My mother visited this house. When she'd visited Ray and me in my former home, less than five minutes from this house, Mom had always helped out in the garden; we would garden together, and we would prepare meals together, while my father, a gifted amateur pianist, played my piano in the living room. Whenever my parents came to visit us, my mother would bring gifts for us: mostly items she had knitted, or sewn. For years, I wore dresses and jackets my mother had sewn. There is nothing so comforting as wearing clothes your mother has sewn or knitted for you. In February 2008 when my husband was in hospital, and after he died unexpectedly a week later, often I lay in bed too exhausted to move, beneath the rainbow-color1ed quilt. The bed became my shelter, and my "nest". My mother's quilt made me realize how love lasts in the most comforting way. We desire comfort, but comfort can come to us from only a few sources. I know that I have been very fortunate. I never stop giving thanks to my wonderful parents who gave me their love, for this quilt on my bed, as special and beautiful in 2013 as it was in the late 1970s. According to the text, the author's mother _ . loved handmade things Saturday 28 April, 2001: Dennis Tito was setting off on his holiday. Mr. Tito's journey was certainly unusual! So was the transport he chose, and the price of his trip. The 60-year-old multi-millionaire from New York was sitting on board a Russian spaceship. He was on a journey to the International Space Station. It might have been a routine trip for the two astronauts who were traveling with him, but for him it was certainly no ordinary journey. Dennis Tito was the first tourist ever in space, and he had paid the sum of $20 million to go there. As the spacecraft left the earth's atmosphere, Tito drank a glass of fruit juice to celebrate and looked down at the earth's blue-green surface. Two minutes later, he was sick. Luckily it was only a minor problem. He soon recovered, and from then on enjoyed a smooth journey. When he arrived at the space station, there was a big smile on his face. "A great trip!" he commented. "I love space." For a long time space travel was something for heroes. But all this is going to change. Companies like ProSpace are investing large amounts of money in space travel. They want space and space travel to belong to the public, not just governments. There are other plans, like voyages through space from one side of the world to the other. Maybe we will be able to depart from New York at nine o'clock in the morning, and arrive an hour later-- in Tokyo! Such a schedule would allow the business traveler to return to New York on the same day, and still have eight hours for a meeting! It can be expected from the passage that _ . travel between two places on earth will be made through space
WASHINGTON (October 10, 2014) -- This year's Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to inventors of LEDs, now being used around the world. However, according to the International Energy Agency and the World Bank, more than a billion people in the world still do not have access to electricity. After sunset, most of them use candles or oil lamps. A company in the Netherlands is trying to change that with its products based on LEDs. When darkness falls, many kids in rural parts of Haiti, Rwanda, or refugee camps in Syria read or do their homework by candlelight or a kerosene -burning lamp. The open flames sometimes cause fires, while poisonous gases lead to respiratory problems. Portable electric light is safer, healthier and now, even cheaper. "This is the first time that artificial light or solar LED is now less expensive than kerosene," said Camille van Gestel, head of a Dutch company called WakaWaka, over Skype. He added WakaWaka, which means "Shine Bright" in Swahili, is the most efficient solar-powered light and phone charger in the world today. When fully charged, it shines for up to 16 hours. It is affordable, sustainable, and its battery lasts for a long time. It can be set up on any flat surface, hung from a ceiling or set on top of a glass bottle. Van Gestel said his company operates like any other business, but some of the money made from selling its products is used to make WakaWaka lights affordable to poor people. He said the plan is supported by international non-government organizations. "The International Rescue Committee was one of the first to actually take the WakaWaka power into Syria, to provide light and power for Syrian refugees, and now the WakaWaka is the most valued non-food item in Syria," said Van Gestel. In the past 24 months, the company has distributed around 300,000 units in places such as Syria, Hati, Rwanda, Indonesia and the Philippines. Its goal is to reach 1.2 billion people by 2030. Which of the following is true with WakaWaka? Answer: It is a kind of solar energy-saving light. The best afternoon I ever had with my grandfather was when we went down to the river and fished. It was a hot July day, and I was bored. My grandfather was sitting in the backyard, reading. "Hey, you look like you need some fun," he said. "Want to go fishing?" I said sure, and he went to the garage. He came out with two poles, some hooks, and some fishing line. Everything was in pieces, but he showed me how to put it all together. I asked if we needed worms, and he said no. Then, we set off to the river. It was only about ten blocks to the river, but walking along past the library and the store, he told me about how he used to go fishing with his friend Steve. They used to catch catfish, then take them home so that their mothers could cook them for dinner. When we got to the park at the river, my grandfather went right to the bank, then turned and walked up along the side of the river until we were off in the shade under the trees right at the edge of the park. There, he taught me how to throw my line in the water. Then we sat down to wait. While we were fishing, my grandfather told me lots of stories about what he and Steve did as kids. We didn't have any worms, so we never caught any fish, but sitting there as he told me stories made it a great afternoon. What was the grandfather doing in the back yard? Answer: Reading The year is 2094,It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth.Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth. On 17 July, a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth's atmosphere with a massive explosion.About half of the piece is destoryed but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200times the speed of sound.The sea boils and a huge gole is made in the sea bed.Huge waves are created and spread outwards form the hole.The eall of water,a kilometer high,rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour.Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned. Before the waves reach South America.the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina.Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Moutains.The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles,San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes,Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead,but the north won't eacape for long.Because of the explosions the sun is hidden by clouds of dust,and temperatures around the world fall to almost zero.Crops are ruined.The sun won't be seen again for many years.Wars break out as countries fight for food.A year later,no more than 10 million remain laive. Could it really happen?In fact,it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth.The dinesaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years,Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared.Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space. The dinosaurs couldn't live through the cold climate that followed and they died out .Will we meet the same end ? We may guess that the writer is _ . Answer: full of imagination Another Way of Thinking "Failure" In one way of thinking, failure is part of life. In another way, failure may be a way towards success. The "spider-story" is often told. Robert Bruce, the leader of the Scots in the 13th century, was hiding in a cave from the English. He watched a spider spinning a web. The spider tried to reach across a rough place in the rock. He tried six times to span the gap. On the seventh time he made it and went on to spin his web. Bruce is said to have taken heart and to have gone to defeat the English. Edison, the inventor of the light bulb , made hundreds of models that failed before he found the right way to make one. Once he was asked why he kept on trying to make a new type of battery when he had failed so often, he replied, "Failure? I have no failure. Now I know 50 000 ways it won't work." So what? First, always think about your failure. What caused it? Were conditions right? Were you in top form yourself? What can you change so things will go right next time? Second, is the goal you're trying to reach the right one? Try to do some thinking about what your real goals may be. Think about this question: "If I do succeed in this, where will it get me?" This may help you prevent failure in things you shouldn't be doing anyway. The third thing to bear in mind about failure is that it's a part of life. Learn to live with yourself, even though you maybe have failed. The thing the writer does NOT tell you to do to deal with failure is to _ . Answer: avoid things that are beyond you To write a great news story, you have to make sure it is correct, relevant and fresh. For a start, all the information in a story must be correct. Not only the spelling and grammar, but also the facts. Any mistakes that show up in a story can get a newspaper into big trouble. For example, if a newspaper said that Yang Liwei was the first man to go into space, it would be wrong. He wasn't the first. The newspaper would probably lose lots of readers because of that mistake. A news story does not only have to be correct, but it must also be relevant to its readers. People are mostly interested in news that happens near to them. That's why you care more about what happens at your school than at schools in America. It's also why newspapers in Beijing don't talk much about news in Shanghai or Hong Kong. Make sure it's fresh. Finally, news must always be fresh. When you pick up your evening newspaper, you want to read about news that happened that day. You don't want to read about news from last week! So, now you know what makes a good news story. Have a look at our paper and see if it's full of good news! You can try writing a news story for our paper like a real reporter. People are mostly interested in news that happens near to them, so newspapers in Beijing talk much about news in _ Answer: Beijing
Question: As Earth revolves around the Sun, the number of daylight hours varies from place to place. In which location would the number of daylight hours remain constant? A. North Pole B. Prime Meridian C. Equator D. Antarctica Answer: C Question: Cameron thought of himself as merely organized. He certainly did not consider that he took great pains over anything, he did just enough to get it right. Exactly right, of course, for as he was fond of telling his staff, "if it's not exactly right, it's wrong". Occasionally a worker might be sad on hearing these words, because it meant another hour or so of going over the same bit of work, correcting the mistakes which Cameron had patiently pointed out. And doing the corrections exactly right of course. Strangely enough, his department had the reputation for performing the highest quality work in the company, and it was seen, and not only by those who worked in the department, as a sort of elite unit. Those programmes that had to work first time, straight out of the box, Cameron's men got those. "It's mission critical--give it to Cameron" was almost a catch-phrase with his team. It helped that Cameron was not merely particular about things. He wanted things done just so, not because of a personal taste, but because he had discovered through patient experimentation that this was the best way for it to be done. In Cameron's dictionary, "Take as long as you want" meant that you could work on your task not just in office hours, but that evening, and late into the early hours of the following morning if you so desired. But the project had to be in by its completion date, and yes, done exactly right. Or you did it again. But he would always be regarded, and not least by himself, as someone who had failed to meet requirements, one of those _ . You had to face it, if you were not working for Cameron, you were second best. So when word got out that Cameron had messed up, big time, the news was greeted with a mixture of sympathy, and entire relief that this perfection too was human. Mission-critical work was given to Cameron because _ . A. Cameron's work was error-free B. Cameron was critical C. he didn't mind working late D. he had a good team Answer: A Question: Two people are pushing a car. One person is pushing with a force of 450 N and the other person is pushing with a force of 300 N. What information is needed to determine the net force applied to the car by the people? A. the direction of the road B. the direction of the forces C. the weight of the two people D. the weight of the automobile Answer: B Question: Which mechanism helps carbon to cycle from the atmosphere to living organisms? A. tissue decomposition B. cellular respiration C. photosynthesis D. transpiration Answer: C Question: One day, a middle school teacher comes into the classroom and says to his students: "Today I want you to write about yesterday's football match. I'm going to take your exercise books home with me. Now please begin. " The students all take out their pens and exercise books and begin to write. A boy called Tom thinks hard. At first he doesn't write down a word. But five minutes later, he finishes. He stands up and looks at the teacher. The teacher asks, "What is the matter, Tom?" "I have finished, "sir," says the boy. "Well, give me your book." The boy goes to the teacher and gives him the exercise book. The teacher opens it and reads: "Rain, no match. " Where is the teacher going to read the students' exercise books ? A. In class B. At home C. At school D. In the classroom Answer: B
When I was a boy, my father told me that he could do anything he wanted to.Dad said that he wanted to be the first to develop color1 prints in our city, and so he did. When I was 16, Dad looked closely at the violin I played and announced that he wanted to make one. He read about violin making, and then became a violinmaker at the age of 43.He bought the tools and materials, opened a small store and set Mom up as the shopkeeper, while he worked at a local company. He retired from the company 17 years later and continued to make violins and other instruments. Dad often guessed why the Stradivarius violins sound so beautiful. Some experts claimed that it was the unique varnish that gave those instruments their beautiful sound. Dad argued that chemists could analyze the varnish--if that were the answer. One of Dad's friends asked him once which kind of wood was used to make violins.When Dad explained that the top was made of spruce , his friend said that he had an old piece of spruce Dad might be interested in. He worked for the next 12 months making a violin from the wood that his friend had given him. It proved to be a superior violin and it would become Dad's masterpiece. He was convinced that the secret of the Stradivarius sound was in the wood itself. Later, the instrument was stolen.Dad's spirit was broken by the robbery, and he stopped making instruments. But he kept the music shop until he was 80 years old, selling guitars and violins. My father has been gone for 14 years now. The violin has been missing for more than 25 years.Somewhere a musician is playing a late 20th century violin with an excellent tone. The owner today may never understand why this ordinary-looking violin sounds so much like a Stradivarius. The author mentions his father's developing color1 prints _ . Answer: to prove that his father could do anything he wanted to What is larger then the human planet and causes cycles of day and night? Answer: sun Which of the following areas would most likely contain a sandbar? Answer: where water continuously moves sand and small rocks downstream Look! This is a photo of my family. My name is Brooklyn. I am 11 years old now. You know my father? Yes, he is David Beckham. He is a good football player . He is thirty-nine years old now. This is my mother. Her name is Victoria. She is thirty-six years old now. I have a brother. But he is not in this photo. He is only 1 year old. His name is Romeo. We are very happy. ,. _ is my mother. Answer: Victoria Jane Austen, a famous English writer, was born in Steventon, Hampshire, on December 16, 1775, and died on July 18,1817. She began writing early in life, although the prejudices of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously. . But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bath's many famous local people and visitors. She paid two long visits during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806, Bath was her home. Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels, Northanger Addey and Persuasion, which are largely set in Bath. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, keeping its streets and public buildings the well--ordered world that she described so well in her novels. Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austen's Bath can be enhanced by visiting the Jane Austen Center in Gay Street. Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bath in her life and work. The Center has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society. After your visit to the Center, you can look round the attractive shop, which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books, cards and many specially designed gifts. Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy. You can also have walking tours of Jane Austen's Bath, which is a great way to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath. The tour lasts about one and a half hours. The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived, walked and shopped. After you have visited the Center, you can get the following things EXCEPT _ . Answer: the quizzes written by Austen to keep the children busy
a reptile that was brown an hour later is now green because it's sitting in a leafy shrub and using camouflage On Saturday 17 September 2016, you may catch sight of hundreds of apes running around the streets of London. They'll have been filming a new Planet of the Apes movie, you'll probably think. But in fact, when the starter's pistol sounds for the Great Gorilla Run next year, this highly popular event will have been raising money for thirteen years. People from all over the world will run, jog or walk 8km in gorilla costumes through the capital's streets, passing such iconic landmarks as The Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. By the time the last ape crosses the finishing line, the runners will have raised millions for endangered species and education projects in Central Africa. Unusual charity events such as these are a huge trend for raising money for worthwhile causes. If, however, you're looking to really like the idea of running through mud and freezing cold ice, then The Tough Mudder is perhaps what you've been searching for. In this difficult and tiring team event, participants finish a 10 to 12-mile barrier course that tests physical strength and mental courage. It's more about friendship than winning. Over 150 such events worldwide have raised PS5 million. But fundraising doesn't have to involve physical effort. Students at a school in Illinois played Justin Bieber's song 'Baby' over loudspeakers and urged fellow students to pay to stop the song. They needed to raise $1,000 in one week to achieve this. Beyond expectations, they exceeded the goal within three days. Even teachers _ If you want to join the ranks of gorillas next September, you only have to pay PS60 to register. This includes the gorilla suit, which you can keep. If you take part, not only will you have been helping the gorillas and people who depend on their habitat, you'll never have to buy another set of fancy clothes again! What is the Great Gorilla Run held for? To collect money for Central Africa Hello! My name is Mike. I am from America. Now I am with my parents. I like breakfast at home. I have an egg, some bread and porridge for breakfast. I do not like milk. I have no time to go home for lunch. So I have it at school. The lunch in our school is good. I can have different food for lunch. I eat rice, meat and vegetables. Sometimes I have noodles and dumplings. I have dinner at home with my parents. Sometimes we go out to eat with friends. We have chicken, vegetables and fruit. For breakfast, Mike has _ . an egg, bread and porridge The Round Bird is not like any other birds. He has a big round body but with little wings. He can not fly but he expects to play with other birds in the sky. Every day and in many ways, he tries to fly. And he tries again and again. But nothing works. Then he thinks it will be better use the tree. It is very hard for a little bird to do so, but he climbs up the tree! The Round Bird really wants to learn to fly. A few minutes later, he sits on a branch and gets ready to jump and flap his wings. He practices many times and flap some more, but they don't work! In the end, he climbs down the tree and starts thinking seriously. After thinking for a long time, he knows that although he really wants to fly and tries hard, there are some birds are not able to do. He can't fly because of his body and his little wings. But he knows that there are still some things he is able to. Then the only job for the Round Bird is to find those special things that only special birds like him can do. What's the Round Bird like? Hard-working and good at thinking. A farmer bought an old and run-down farm. The fields were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling apart, and the fences were broken all around. The roads were hidden because of the grass that were growing madly. And there were not any animals on it. However, the farmer planed to turn it into a pleasant and loving place. During his first day of work, the town preacher passed by. He looked at the farmer and then the mess, saying, _ A few months later, the preacher stopped by again to call on the farmer. He was so surprised to see a completely different place -- the farmhouse is rebuilt and in excellent condition, there were plenty of cows, sheep, hens and other livestock eating happily in the fence which had already been well repaired, and the fields were filled with crops planted in rows. A lot of flowers and small trees were growing along the road. He even saw some ducks swimming in a small pool. "Amazing!" the preacher said. "Look what God and you have finished together!" "Yes, " answered the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!" What was the farm like at first? Both A and B
Noah felt like he was always hitting the books. While his friends were meeting for pickup soccer games after school, he was back home in his room reading and rereading the same material. But no matter how hard Noah studied, he had difficulty remembering things and his grades stayed average. Meanwhile, his friend Sean, who never seemed to study, always aced tests. It didn't seem fair. Because Noah was so frustrated , his dad and teachers made an appointment with the school psychologist. She diagnosed Noah with a learning disability. Although Noah felt relieved to know what was going on, he was also worried. He didn't like the "disability" label. And he was concerned about what it might mean for his future. Would he be able to go to college and study engineering as he'd hoped? For someone diagnosed with a learning disability, it can seem scary at first. But a learning disability doesn't have anything to do with a person's intelligence. After all, such successful people as Walt Disney, Alexander Graham Bell, and Winston Churchill all had learning disabilities. Learning disabilities are problems that affect the brain's ability to receive, process, analyze, or store information. These problems can make it difficult for a student to learn as quickly as someone who isn't affected by learning disabilities. The way our brains process information is extremely complex --- it's no wonder things can get messed up sometimes. Take the simple act of looking at a picture, for example: Our brains not only have to form the lines into an image, they also have to recognize what the image stands for, relate that image to other facts stored in our memories, and then store this new information. It's the same thing with speech - we have to recognize the words, interpret the meaning, and figure out the significance of the statement to us. Many of these activities take place in separate parts of the brain, and it's up to our minds to link them all together. If, like Noah, you've been diagnosed with a learning disability, you're not alone. Nearly four million school-age children and teens have learning disabilities, and at least 20% of them have a type of disorder that makes it difficult to focus. No one's exactly sure what causes learning disabilities. But researchers do have some theories as to why they develop. What do you guess the author will go on writing? _ What causes learning disabilities. The weekend is usually a period of time for resting. But today's Chinese students can hardly rest during the weekend. According to a survey, 25%of the Grade 8 students in Beijing have classes on the weekend. Over 38% of the middle school students have less than eight hours' sleep, because of the hard study. Nan Weitong is a Grade7 student in Hubei. The girl has to get up at 6:30 am on Saturday. Then she has a whole day of classes. On Sunday, she has classes for math and English. She says her classmates all work very hard. However, some students are much luckier. They don't have to go to school on weekends. Zhang Qian, a Grade 9 student from Jinan, is one of them. On the weekend, she usually gets up at 8:00am. Then she spends some time on her homework. After that, she goes shopping or watches TV. Zhang Qian said her mother once wanted her to try extra classes. "But my teacher said it was unnecessary. Learning well at school is enough," Zhang Qian said, "I feel pretty lucky." Over 38% of middle school students have less than eight hours' sleep each night because of _ . studying My Family Is Very Poor A little boy comes to a new city. His name is Peter. Of course ,he lives with his mother and father. His family is very rich . They have a driver and a lot of servants . Peter is going to a new school. On the first day his parents say to him," peter,be modest at your new school. Don't say we are rich. "And Peter says," Yes,Dad,mom. " So Peter goes to school. He sees his new teacher. And he sits down with the other children. The teacher says. "Good morning,children. The first exercise today is a composition . The topic of the composition is 'My Family'."So every child writes a composition. This is Peter's composition: "My name is Peter. My family is very poor . Both my father and my mother are very poor. Our driver is very poor and all the servants are poor..." ,. The teacher asks the children to write _ . a composition Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in order to cut the greenhouse gases they send out, which is thought to be responsible for global warming. Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence contains nomethane and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who produce large quantities of the harmful gas. While the usual image of greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack pushing out carbon dioxide, farm animals' passing wind contributes a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions in some countries. "Fourteen percent of emissions from all sources in Australia is from enteric methane from cattle and sheep," said Athol Klieve, a senior research scientist with the Queensland state government. "And if you look at another country such as New Zealand, which has got a much higher agricultural base, they're actually up around 50 percent," he said. Researchers say the bacteria also make the digestive process much more efficient and could potentially save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers. But it will take researchers at least three years to isolate the bacteria, before they can even start to develop a way of transferring it to cattle and sheep. Another group of scientists, meanwhile, has suggested Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos. And about 20 percent of health-conscious Australians have eaten the national symbol already. "It's low in fat, it's got high protein levels and it's very clean in the sense that basically it's the free-range animal," said Peter Ampt of the University of New South Wales's institute of environmental studies. Athol Klieve seems to believe that _ . farm animals are to blame for the increase of greenhouse gases John is my best friend. We live in the same building. We study in the same school but not in the same class. We often play football together after school. We have been good friends for two years. John is tall and strong with black hair. He has a round face, a small nose and big, brown eyes. I like his eyes because they are always bright and smiling. John is always friendly and helpful. When I feel bored or unhappy, he tells me funny jokes and makes me laugh. He'll give me help when I need. John is very smart. He reads a lot of books. He is good at singing and acts very well. He would like to make people happy with his songs and performance when he grows up. I believe that he can become as popular as Jackie Chan and travel around the world in the future. The writer and John are _ . friends
From Avatar to Lord of the Rings, plants are no strangers to playing big movie roles. However, no one has ever shot a film that plants themselves can watch until now. In a New York art gallery, seven house plants have spent the last seven weeks watching Strange Skies, the first travel documentary for a vegetable audience. All the plants sat in the cinema in rows, enjoying themselves in Italian sunshine. The movie was made by American artist Jonathon Keats. It consists of Italian skies recorded over two months and made into a six-minute-long movie. The film shows the clear dawn , high clouds, amazing dusk and then beautiful night. The movie has no sound and the plants, of course, do not applaud. But Stephen Squibb, a professor from Harvard University, said these plants could benefit from it--the light of the movie keeps them alive because they can continue the process of turning light into energy. "I realized there was a much larger audience--plants--that were not being serviced, "Keats said. "I wanted to provide plants with entertainment that companies such as Disney provide for humans. "Meanwhile, Keats also wants to explore plants' sensibilities further. He plans to open a"restaurant for plants"at a Californian museum. One visitor, photographer Abbas Ebrahimi, admired the green audience, "Plants are better than us. We die and go, while in spring they come back each time. "But when talking about the movie, he said after thinking for a few minutes, "It doesn't mean anything to me at all. It's just about light. For some people, it might mean something. " What can we learn about Keats according to the passage? A He is an artist from Harvard University. B He opened a restaurant for plants. C He made the film Strange Skies. D He liked recording Italian skies. Answer: C. He made the film Strange Skies. The pink rabbit is sitting on a bench in the park. The pink rabbit loves being at the park because she loves bird watching. She watches birds, and sometimes feeds them. She doesn't feed them corn, candy bars, or pizza. She feeds them sunflower seeds. Across from the pink rabbit, a blue dinosaur is sitting alone at a seesaw. The blue dinosaur likes playing on the seesaw because he thinks it's fun. The blue dinosaur is sad, because he can't ride on the seesaw by himself. The pink rabbit sees the blue dinosaur. She sees that he is by himself. She feels sad because she knows he cannot play on the seesaw. The pink rabbit hops over to the blue dinosaur and asks, "Would you ride the seesaw with me?" The blue dinosaur said, "Sure." And they rode on the seesaw for the rest of the afternoon. It was the best afternoon of their lives. Why does the rabbit love being in the park? A She loves sitting on benches. B She loves bird watching. C She loves eating sunflower seeds. D She loves riding on seesaws. Answer: B. She loves bird watching. When you learn reading, nlath, and other subjects taught in school from your parents or teaehers who come to your house, it's called homeschooling. A kid may be the only one, or he may be taught with brothers, sisters, or kids from the neighborhood. Parents choose to homeschool their children for many different reasons. Sometimes a kid is sick and can't go to regular school. But more often, kids are homeschooled beeause their parents feel they can give their children a better education than the local school can. Patents also may choose homeschooling because they want their children's education to include religious instruction, which isn't offered at puhlie schools. If you don't like school, homeschooling might seem like the perfect solution. But it's better for everyone if homeschooling isn't chosen just as an escape from school or prohlems there. Finding solutions to the problem should be the first step. Kids who are homeschooled may benefit from the one-on-one attention. For example, if you don't understand something in math, the whole class won't he moving on without you. You might be the whole class! It's also possible that you might learn more than you would in a regular classroom, because if you really good at something, you can keep learning more at your own pace. Kids who are homeschooled also may get out in their communities more than other kids. They may get to experience hands-on education at museums, libraries, businesses and other community resources. They also might volunteer or take part in "service learning" where they take on local projects. No matter where a child goes to school, the key to learning is listening to the teacher and asking for help when you need it. A homeschooled child might feel more comfortable with his teacher (a parent), but the child still needs to pay attention and cooperate. Just like in a traditional school, teachers and students need to work together to achieve goals in the classroom. The similarity of homeschooling and learning at school is that _ . A students all should cooperate with their teachers B students don't feel lonely C students all have many classmates D studenls all have more opportunities to get out Answer: A. students all should cooperate with their teachers The workers who brought the girl to the orphanage knew little about her. The street where they found her had been her home for many years. Her parents were unknown. They left her long ago. At the orphanage, the girl, like all the children there, was taught to read and write. While she was studying at the orphanage, she learned something else-to be independent . At twenty-one, she left the orphanage and began to work as a secretary. And then, in 1975, while she was still working as an ordinary secretary, something special happened. She entered the Miss Hong Kong Competition and won it. This was the turning point in her life. Now her name, Mary Cheung, was known to everybody. Mary entered the competition because she wanted to show that orphanage girls could be something. Winning the competition gave her the chance to start a new life. This led her first into television and then into business as a manager. When she was working as a manager, she had trouble with her reports. "My English just wasn't good enough." she says. Luckily, she had a boyfriend (who later became her husband) to help her. Mary studied management at Hong Kong Polytechnic and graduated in 1980. She started her own business in 1985. But she did not stop developing herself. She then studied at the University of Hong Kong. Since 1987, she had spent a lot of time on photography . She has held several exhibitions of her works in many places-China, New Zealand and Paris. She still found time, however, to work on TV, write for newspapers and support her family. The girl from the street has come a long way, but her journey has not finished yet. According to the passage, which of the following sentences is TRUE? A All the children at the orphanage liked Mary. B Mary was not happy working as a secretary. C Mary's boyfriend was good at English. D Mary's life in the orphanage was difficult. Answer: C. Mary's boyfriend was good at English. As I write this, I have half an eye on an old James Bond film that is showing on my computer. But this is a story about how I stopped watching TV and began reading again for pleasure, after ten years in which I hardly turned a page. I suppose I was an enthusiastic reader of "literature" between the ages of nine and fourteen. I had enough time to be White Fang, Robinson Crusoe, and Bilbo Baggins and Jeeves. Of course there was room in the schoolboy's imagination for some real historical figures: Scott of the Antarctic, all of the Vikings, and Benjamin Franklin were good friends of mine. Then, in adolescence, I began a long search for strange and radical ideas. I wanted to challenge my elders and betters, and shock my fellow students with amazing points of view. Of course, the only place to look was in books. I hunted out the longest titles and the authors with the funniest names; I searched the library for completely unread books. Then I found one which became my bible for the whole of 1982, it had a title composed of eleven long words and an author whose name I didn't know how to pronounce. It was really thick and looked dead serious. Even better, it put forward a whole world-view that would take days to explain. Perfect. I took it out of the library three times, proud to see the date-stamps lined up on the empty library insert. Later, I went to university. Expecting to spend long evenings in learned discussion with clever people, I started reading philosophy. For some reason I never found the deep-thinking intellectuals I hoped to meet. Anyway, I was ready to impress with my profound knowledge of post-structuralism, _ and situationism. These things are usually explained in rather short books, but they take a long time to get through. They were the end of my youthful reading. Working life was hard to get used to after so much theory. It was the end of books for me. There didn't seem to be much in books that would actually get things done. To do things you had to answer the telephone and work a computer. You had to travel about and speak to people who weren't at all interested in philosophy. I didn't stop reading, you can't avoid that. I read all day. But no books came my way, only manuals and contracts and documents. Maybe most people satisfy their need for stories and ideas with TV and, to tell the truth, it was all I needed for ten years. In those days I only had a book "on the go" for the duration of aeroplane flights. At first I would come home and watch TV over dinner. Then, I moved the TV so I could watch it from bed. I even got a switch so I could turn it off without getting out of bed. Then, one fateful day, my TV broke and my landlady took it away. My new TV is an extra circuit board inside my computer. It's on a desk in front of a working chair and I can't see it from the bed. I still use it for the weather forecasts and it's nice to have it on while I'm typing this... but what to do last thing at night? Well, have another go with books. Now, I just like books. I have a pile of nice ones by my bed and I'm reading about six at the same time. I don't want to be any of the characters. I don't care if a thousand people have already read them. I don't have to search through libraries. There are books everywhere and all of them have something to read in them. I have the strange feeling that they've been there all along, waiting for me to pick them up. The main reason the writer stopped reading books was that _ . A he found watching TV was more interesting B he became too busy to read any books C he found books were of little use to his work D he had to read a lot of manuals, contracts and documents Answer: C. he found books were of little use to his work
About 97% of the world's water is salty and is found in our oceans and seas. But, as we can't drink seawater, how can it be important? Every part of our seas and oceans contains an amazing number of animals and fish that live at different ocean depths. Most of the different species of animals and fish depend on simple plants for their food. These simple plants called algae drift near the surface of the ocean and use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into food and oxygen. In fact, algae produce over half of the oxygen people breathe. How important seawater is! Each plant or animal in our seas and oceans is an important link in a food chain. The algae are eaten in large amounts by microscopic animals, which are in turn consumed by larger animals. These food chains are delicately balanced. The bad news about the food chains in the oceans is that they are under threat because of man. People once thought that the oceans were so big that it didn't matter if we dumped rubbish into them or caught huge quantities of fish and whales for food. But we now know this is not true and fish stocks in the oceans have started to drop. Thankfully, the world is taking steps to protect the future of our oceans by introducing international agreements to protect marine habitats. Most countries have introduced fishing restrictions to protect fish stocks in the oceans and new techniques are being pioneered to cope with pollution. Finally, the importance of protecting oceans is being made known to more people. This is just the beginning of a long process to protect the oceans for our future. We depend on the oceans for fish which are an important part of the human diet. How important seawater is! From the passage, we learn that _ . A. most fish and sea animals live at the surface of the seas B. it is very difficult to break the balance of a food chain C. excessive fishing has caused the decrease in fish stock D. it won't be long before the problems concerning oceans will be solved Answer: C. excessive fishing has caused the decrease in fish stock Tattoos and body piercings have moved up on the trend list in recent years. Around Western schools lots of teens are sporting new holes and flesh ink. Like all other subjects, we'll surely be faced with such situation. To get a better view of what has happened in the West, let's sit down and hear what they say. Kerstin Otto from Washington: The hotter it gets and the more layers of clothing disappear, the more tattoos and piercings appear on various places of the human body, I wouldn't be caught dead with a snake tattooed on my ankle or with a piece of metal stuck in my belly button. Erin from Indiana: I think body piercing is cool. In most situations, you don't really have to worry about it getting torn out. I go to Noblesville High School. I am a sophomore (that is the l0th grade). Body piercing can be cool, only if it is not taken to too much of an extent. I would not want to get my nose pierced, just because I think I'll look bad. But that is my personal opinion. I guess that type of thing is a cultural difference. Tiara from Indiana: I personally think body piercing is sickening. If there were supposed to be holes in your body, you would have been born with them. I do, however, think that ear piercing, is not wrong. There is a difference between ear piercing and belly button piercing. Ear piercing is not nearly as dangerous. I would be sick if someone stuck a needle in my belly button. Lee from Illinois: Hi! I live in Illinois. I am 23. I have 12 tattoos and three piercings. I love my tattoos and consider myself an art collector. You would be surprised at who has given me the thumbs-up on my art work. People on the street stop me to look at that on my leg. Most of them don't know what it is. They just think the work itself is great. Subotai from California: I'm not prohibitive of self-expression, but when I see high school students getting these piercings, I really wonder. In some cases, the drive is deeper and darker than mere fashion. A friend of mine tried piercing her own tongue with a safety pin. It got infected and she had a tongue the size of a cow's. Nagib from Washington: I wanted an earring. My friends had them and it looked like a cool thing. I wanted to get a nose ring, but my mum wouldn't let me. Now I'm glad I didn't get it. I just wanted a little stud, but I wouldn't have looked good with it. Jackson from Ohio: I don't think it's wrong, but when people do it all over the place like their face and everything --I think that's ridiculous. People who get the big dragons that cover your whole body--I don't think that's necessary. When I see naked chicks on guys, I think. "You have no respect for women." Brittney from New York: You don't want to do stuff to your body. You don t need to do that because you were made perfect. You don't need to add piercings. If it will make you feel beautiful and you really feel like you need to do it for yourself, then okay. If it really makes a big difference impacting your self-esteem and how you are towards others, then do it. But otherwise, don't mess with what you got. Maybe you should try something more substantial to find beauty in yourself. We can conclude that _ . A. tattoos and piercing are a new kind of elegant art B. all the teachers in the West are in favor of tattoos and piercing C. everything is changeable with time going on D. it is necessary to live with all different views of beauty Answer: D. it is necessary to live with all different views of beauty Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896. He was an American writer of novels and short stories, whose works are the typical writings of the Jazz Age, a term he created himself. Born into an upper middle-class Irish Catholic family, Fitzgerald was named after his famous second cousin, Francis Scott Key. He was also named after his deceased sister Louise Scott, one of two sisters who died shortly before his birth. He spent 1898-1901 in Syracuse and 1903-1908 in Buffalo, New York, where he attended Nardin Academy. When his father was fired from his company, the family returned to Minnesota, where Fitzgerald attended St. Paul Academy from 1908 to1911. He is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest writers. Fitzgerald is considered to be a member of the "Lost Generation" of the 1920s. He finished four novels, This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned, Tender Is the Night and his most famous classic novel, The Great Gatsby. A fifth, unfinished novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon was published after his death. Fitzgerald also wrote many short stories that dealt with themes of youth. His first literary work, a detective story, was published in a school newspaper when he was 12. When he was 16, he was forced to leave St. Paul Academy for neglecting his studies. He attended Newman School, a prep school in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1911-1912, and entered Princeton University in 1913 as a member of the Class of 1917. There he became friends with future critics and writers Edmund Wilson (Class of 1916) and John Peale Bishop (Class of 1917), and wrote for the Princeton Triangle Club. He was also a member of the University Cottage Club, which still displays Fitzgerald's desk and writing materials in its library. A poor student, Fitzgerald left Princeton to enlist in the US Army during World War I; however, the war ended shortly after Fitzgerald's enlistment. Fitzgerald had been an alcoholic since his college days, leaving him in poor health by the late 1930s. Fitzgerald suffered a mild attack of tuberculosis in 1919, and died of a heart attack in 1940. Which is the most famous work of Fitzgerald? A. This Side of Paradise. B. The Beautiful and Damned. C. Tender Is the Night. D. The Great Gatsby. Answer: D. The Great Gatsby. The cold wind cut through my enthusiasm as a tourist in Washington D.C., so I entered the nearest restaurant for warmth. I ordered a hot cup of coffee, and began observing people. Some people were having dinner in the great hall, which made me consider an early dinner. At that time, I observed a man seated nearby and, from his eager eyes, I realized that he noticed the delicious food. His tired body and worn clothes shouted, "Homeless, homeless!" I wondered how long it had been since he had eaten. I expected him to approach me for a handout . He never did. A silent war broke out in my head --one side was telling me to mind my own business, and the other was urging me to offer him the food. While my inner debate moved on, a well-dressed young couple walked up to him. "Excuse me, sir," the husband began. "We just finished eating, and our appetites weren't as big as we thought. We hate to waste good food. Can you help us out and put this to use?" He gave the man some food. "Thank you. Merry Christmas!" the man replied. The man carefully watched his new food, and was about to drink the soup and eat the food seriously. Something that happened next shocked me. An old man, with pants, an old jacket and open shoes, entered the hall and walked to our direction. The man who was just offered the food saw the situation. Setting aside his meal, he stood up and guided the old man to the table. Then he put his worn jacket over the old man's shoulders. "Hi, my name's Jack," he said, "and one kind person brought me this meal. I just finished eating and hate to waste good food. Can you help me out?" The old man answered gratefully, "Sure, but only if you go halfway with me on that sandwich." I left the restaurant that day feeling warmer than I had ever thought possible. When the author realized the man nearby was homeless, she _ . A. came up to the man to help him B. invited him to have a cup of coffee C. was wondering whether to offer him food D. continued to focus on her own business Answer: C. was wondering whether to offer him food December 25 is Christmas Day . Christmas is an important holiday in many countries. On Christmas Day, most families get together for a big dinner. They give presents to each other and visit friends. The Christmas tree is an important part of the Christmas holiday. Most families buy trees. The families decorate the tree together. Parents usually tell their children that Father Christmas comes during the night and brings presents to good children. Of course, Father Christmas isn't real. The parents of the children are really "Father Christmas". They put the presents under the tree or into their children's stocking after the children go to sleep. Who is really "Father Christmas"? _ . A. Their parents B. Their father C. Their mother D. Father Christmas Answer: A. Their parents
Which of the following can cause erosion? Answer: flowing water Which of the following is an example of a container that is filled with a pure substance rather than with a mixture? Answer: a balloon filled with helium Welcome to Adventureland! Everyone loves Adventureland !The Parks and Exhibitions were built for you to explore ,enjoy,and admire their wonders.Every visit will be an unforgettable experience.You will go away enriched,longing to come back.What are you going to do this time? The Travel Pavilion Explore places you have never been to before,and experience different ways of life.Visit the Amazon jungle village,the Turkish market,the Tai floating market,the Berber mountain house and others.Talk to the people there who will tell you about their lives,and things they make.You can try making a carpet,making nets,fishing... The Future Tower This exhibition shows how progress will touch our lives.It allows us to look into the future and explore the cities of the next century and the way we'll be living then.Spend some time in our space station and climb into our simulator for the Journey to Mars! The Nature Park This is not really one park but several.In the Safari Park you can drive among African animals in one of our Range Cruisers:see lions,giraffes,elephants in the wild.Move on to the Ocean Park to watch the dolphins and whales.And then there is still the Aviary to see... The Pyramid This is the center of Adventureland.Run out of film,need some postcards and stamps?For all these things and many more,visit our underground shopping center.Come here for information and ideas too. The Travel Pavilion is built to help visitors _ . Answer: learn something about different places in the world How men first learnt to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters. These letters could be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letters, we call words. The power of words, then, lies in their associations---the things they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience, and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increases. Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and vulgar . What does this passage primarily concern? Answer: The Power of Words. No one really knows how the ancient Egyptians build the pyramids. But Maureen Clemmons has a theory . She thinks the Egyptians may have used kites. "If you look at ht top center of every monument , you see wings," Clemons said. "I think the Egyptians have been trying to tell us in pictures for 3,000 years that this is how they built the pyramids." She thinks that earliest Egyptian workers might make use of kites to lift the stones with the help of the desert wind. She got a team of aeronautic engineers to help her test the theory. Yesterday, in the Mojave Desert, they put their theory to the test using a nylon kite, three pulleys and an obelisk that weighs nearly four tons. The wind speed had to be just right. And amazingly, it worked. "There's ly no evidence for kites in ancient Egypt," said Professor Carol Redmount of the University of California. "There's no evidence of pulleys as we know them today." Redmount says the historical evidence points to the "Charlton Heston method," which basically relies on the theory of the muscle of slaves pushing and pulling huge stone blocks to create the pyramids. But the kite-lifting group will have none that. "All I can remember from history is that Egyptians drank beer for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and as someone who has done field research on drinking beer, I know after I've had two beers and it's really hot. I'm not pushing or pulling anything," Clemmons said. "So, I figured I'd try to think another way." Why did Clemmons NOT agree with the theory of the muscle of slaves pushing and pulling stones to create the pyramids? Answer: Because of the Egyptians' habit of drinking beer at three meals and the beer effect on people.
Does handwriting matter? Not very much, according to many educators. However, scientists say it is far too soon to declare handwriting is not important. New evidence suggests that the link between handwriting and educational development is deep. Children not only learn to read more quickly when they first learn to write by hand, but they are also better able to create ideas and remember information. In other words, it's not only what we write that matters -- but how. A study led by Karin James, a psychologist at Indiana University, gave support to _ . A group of children, who had not learned to read and write, were offered a letter or a shape on a card and asked to copy it in one of three ways: draw the image on a page but with a dotted outline , draw it on a piece of blank white paper, or type it on a computer. Then the researchers put the children in a brain scanner and showed them the image again. It was found that when children had drawn a letter freehand without a dotted outline or a computer, the activity in three areas of the brain were increased. These three areas work actively in adults when they read and write. By contrast, children who chose the other two ways showed no such effect. Dr. James attributes the differences to the process of free handwriting: Not only must we first plan and take action in a way but we are also likely to produce a result that is variable. Those are not necessary when we have an outline. It's time for educators to change their mind and pay more attention to children's handwriting. What do scientists mean by saying "it is far too soon to declare handwriting is not important"? A. Handwriting is not very important to children. B. Handwriting has nothing to do with education. C. Handwriting should not be ignored at present. D. Handwriting can not be learned in a short time. Answer: C. Handwriting should not be ignored at present. When I was in college, I remember hearing about a book titled "Looking Out for Number One". I never read the book, but the title has always stuck with me. I think it was because the title _ I hadn't been taught to be so selfish that I should be focused on only me . I thought I needed to be helping others and, along the way, I would also be helping myself. Now, I realize I should have at least considered learning more about looking out for number one. Over 30 years after seeing the book about looking out for number one I'm realizing number one, me, is the person I should be concerned about first. Jeffrey Gitomer asks the question, "Who is the most important person in the world?" Most people answer, the customer. He then asks, if there were only two people left in the world, the customer and you, who would you want to survive ? Now the answer is me. It makes me sense that if we can't help ourselves first, we will never be prepared to help others. We all need to learn to control our lives and make the best decisions for ourselves. That will put us in a position to help others in the future . But many of us are slow to understand this. It has been said that happiness will bring success, but success doesn't always bring happiness. We all want to be happy and successful. For some of us can be very happy when our basic needs are met and our family are safe. Others will seek high levels of success thinking that will bring happiness. I'm sure we can think of a person who is very successful, according to the world's standards , but they don't appear to be happy at all. This is because they have been so busy working for somebody else's goals that they haven't considered their own needs. Why do some successful people not feel happy at all? A. Because they don't believe success always brings happiness. B. Because their basic needs are not completely met. C. Because they seek for too high levels of success. D. Because they haven't been working for their own goals. Answer: D. Because they haven't been working for their own goals. Hello,everyone.let me introduce myself.My name is Wang Mei.I'm 1.7 metres tall.My eyes are black.I have long red hair.My favourite colour is blue.My favourite clothes are dresses.I feel happy every day because I have many friends.They look different,but they are very kind to me.Jenny has short blond hair.Her eyes are brown.She is 1.65 meters tall.Li Ming is my friend ,too.He has short black hair.He is 1.7 metres tall,too.Danny has three hairs and they're green.His favourite colour is green .He is 1.6 metres tall. Wang Mei's hair is _ . A. long B. short C. red D. A and C Answer: D. A and C Grant Wood's American Gothic caused a stir in 1930 when it was exhibited for the first time at the Art Institute of Chicago and awarded a prize of 300 dollars. Newspapers across the country carried the story, and the painting of a farmer and a younger woman posed before a white house brought the artist instant fame. In 1930, Grant Wood, an American painter with European training, noticed a small white house built in the small southern Iowa town of Eldon. Wood was so fascinated by it that he decided to paint the house along with the kind of people he thought should live in that house. In the painting, the farmer is modeled on his dentist. Dr. Byron McKeeby. His younger sister Nan served as a model for the woman (imagined to be the farmer's wife or daughter). Wood wanted to give a description of the traditional roles of men and women as the man is holding a pitchfork symbolizing hard labor. Each element was painted separately; the models sat separately and never stood in front of the house. The Gothic style of the house inspired the painting's title. American Gothic remains one of the most famous paintings in the history of American art. The painting has become part of American popular culture. Some believe that Wood used it to satirize the narrow-mindedness that has been said to characterize Midwestern culture. The painting may also be read as a praise of the moral virtue or rural America or even as a mixture of praise and satire. American Gothic is one of the few images to reach the status of cultural symbol, along with Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Which of the following is true about American Gothic? A. It won a prize of 300 pounds. B. The two characters in it posed before the White House. C. It was the first painting by Grant Wood. D. It was on show at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1930. Answer: D. It was on show at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1930. A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months. The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20% - 40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue. Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel. A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound the driver's response. Tiredness is directly related to a driver's response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy. In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver's response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible. The device has been delivered to the department's laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months' time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year. We can learn form the text that the driver needs to stop for a break when his response time is _ . A. about 400 milliseconds B. below 500 milliseconds C. over 500 milliseconds D. about 4 minutes Answer: C. over 500 milliseconds
Finally, the long-awaited flying car is almost here. AeroMobil, a Slovakian company, plans to start selling its creation, the AeroMobil3. 0, in 2017. The company claims on its site that the vehicle "transforms in seconds from an automobile to an airplane" by using "existing infrastructure created for automobiles and planes."The vehicle is petrol-powered and has wings that fold, which allows it to be parked like a car, though it is nearly 20 feet long. The company's website features a video where the AeroMobil 3. 0 drives out of a hangar ( )and goes down a highway, sharing the road with ordinary cars until it arrives at an airstrip. The car then unfolds its wings and takes off from a stretch of grass, rather than a paved tarmac , and flies through the air like any other small airplane. AeroMobil spokesman Stefan Vadocz said his company hasn't decided on an exact price because it's not ready yet."The prototype is a work in progress," he said in an email. But he said the price would be several hundreds of thousands of euros---somewhere in between a sports car and a light sports aircraft. The vehicle seats two people---the pilot and a passenger---and its single propeller is located at the rear of the plane. The company said the car's top speed on the road is at least 99 mph and while flying it is at least 124 mph. It can fly for 435 miles before running out of fuel. It has a steel framework and carbon coating and is powered by a Rotax 912, a four-cylinder aircraft engine from BRP of Austria. Flying cars aren't exactly new. The concept has been around since long before The Jetsons popularized the idea in the 1960s. It has been a regular topic in Popular Science ever since World War I ace, Eddie Rickenbacker, wrote about it in 1924. But getting a practical, reliable flying car off the ground has been a serious challenge. Glenn Curtiss discovered this in 1918 when he developed the Curtiss Autoplane. It turned out to be more of a hopper than a flyer, so it failed to become popular with the public. What can be inferred from the passage? A. The AeroMobil3. 0's price will fall very soon. B. The design work on the AeroMobil 3. 0 is still in progress. C. The price of the AeroMobil 3. 0 will be higher than a light sports aircraft. D. The price of the AeroMobil 3. 0 will be the same as a sports car. Answer: B What would life be like without rich, creamy, mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate? Life would be bitter for most Americans. They spend about $13 billion a year buying all sorts of chocolate treats. However, for the African children who toil under slavelike conditions on cacao plantations, life is not sweet. The cacao bean is the main ingredient in the chocolate. According to a 2002 survey by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the US Agency for International Development, about 284,000 children work in dangerous conditions on cacao farms in western Africa. More than half those children are younger than 14. Many were sold into forced labor to work 12 hours or more a day on the cacao plantations. A number of international organizations, including several African governments, recently began a program to eliminate child labor on cacao plantations. Under the program, government officials will remove children from abusive working situations while teaching farmers about child labor issues. The program will also make borrowing money easier for cacao farmers. Officials hope farmers will use the money to invest in their farms and hire paid laborers. From the passage, you can reasonably conclude that _ . A. cacao farms in western Africa rely heavily on child labor B. children in Africa know how to make the best chocolate C. candy bars sold in the United States are made on plantations in Africa D. eating too much chocolate is bad for your health Answer: A Rose usually wakes up early in the morning. She always has her breakfast at half past six. She leaves home at about seven o'clock.. She is never late for school. She has many classes in the morning. At about twelve fifteen, she comes back for lunch. In the afternoon, she isn't so busy. After school she does her homework and plays with other children. In the evening, her parents come back from the factory. The family has supper together. After that, they usually read newspaper or listen to the radio for a little time. Sometimes, they watch TV. Rose goes to bed at half past nine. But her father often works late at night. What do they usually do after supper? They usually _ A. watch TV B. read newspaper C. do their homework D. play with other children Answer: B A bird is about to lay an egg, so it needs to construct a safe, round place to place the egg in. The bird constructs using A. sticks B. gum C. rocks D. tape Answer: A 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. What's the best title of this passage? A. Good Diet Makes a True Olympian. B. Olympians Have Olympic-size Appetites. C. Olympians' Strange Eating Habits. D. The Diets of some Top Olympic Athletes. Answer: D
Super Dan Lin Dan is a famous badminton player. Now he plays for Badminton team of the People's Republic of China. Many people around the world know him because he won the gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He is from Fujian. He was born on October 14, 1983. He lives with his parents, grandmother and his wife now. Lin Dan's favorite player is Jordan. Jordan is a basketball player. Lin loves Coke. He likes pets, but dog is his favorite. Many young people love him very much. They think Lin Dan is their super star. They also call him Super Dan. Which sentence is right? A Lin Dan plays for Badminton team of Jiangsu now. B He won the gold medal in 2012 only. C He loves dogs best. D Old people don't like him. Answer: C An Australian 3-year-old boy was described as a hero after saving his mum from an almost certain death by calling emergency services right after she collapsed because of an epileptic attack . Aiden McDonald amazed the doctors who arrived at Jeanine McDonald's house 10 minutes after Aiden called 000. The boy was very calm and spoke to the doctors as his mother got into an unconscious state. Sacha Lewis took the strange call and sent out an ambulance immediately. Aiden answered questions during the 19-minute call that made it clear it was a serious matter. Lewis said, "He sounded worried and was telling me things like 'Mummy is not awake', so I got an idea that it was a fairly serious matter." This is part of the "conversation" they had: "Can I talk to Mummy please?" "Mummy's not well." "How old are you, sweetheart?" "I got a duck." "Can I talk to Mummy?" "I can't get my Mummy." "Where is she?" "On the floor. Mummy's had a faint " "Do you live in Kallangur?" "We've got milk in the fridge and, urn, (pause) I can't find the ambulance (crying,) Mummy, Mum...Mum...Mum..." Mrs. McDonald, who was making a cup of tea when she collapsed, was taken to hospital and allowed to leave the same night. "After hearing what he did I thought, no, that can't be right," Jeanne McDonald said. "But I'm so proud." Jeanine McDonald received medical help about _ after she suddenly became unconscious. A 10 minutes B 20 minutes C 30 minutes D one hour Answer: C High school graduation -- the bittersweet feelings are as much a part of me now as they were twenty-one years ago. As graduation day came near, excitement increased. Being out of high school meant I finally grew up. Soon I would be on my own, making my own decisions, doing what I was interested in without someone looking over my shoulder . There was never any question in my mind that I would go to college. But which college I would attend seemed like a never-ending list of unknowns: What would college be like? Would I make friends easily? Would I miss my family so much that I wouldn't be able to stand it? What if the college I selected turned out to be a terrible mistake? Then panic set in. My feelings took a 180-degree mm. I really didn't want to leave high school at all. It had been nice being respected as a Senior by the underclass students for the past year; I didn't enjoy the idea of being on the bottom of the ladder again. Despite months of expectation, nothing Could have prepared me for the impact of the actual day. As the familiar tune of "Pomp and Circumstance" echoed in the background, tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes, and I was consumed by a rush of sadness. I rose from my seat when I heard my name called and slowly crossed the stage to receive my diploma. As I reached out my hand, I knew that I was reaching not just for a piece of paper but for a new life. Exciting as the future of a new life seemed, it wasn't easy to say goodbye to the old _ -- the familiar faces, the' familiar routine. I would even miss that chemistry class I wasn't particularly fond of. That September, I was lucky to attend a wonderful university. I needn't have worried about liking it. My years there turned out to be some of the best years of my life. And as for friends, some of the friendships I formed there I still value today. The author writes the passage mainly to tell us _ . A his high school life B his university life C his bittersweet memories D his graduation ceremony Answer: C Chinese police arrested around 8,500 suspects in more than 4,500 environment-related criminal cases in 2014, as the country waged war against pollution, the leader of the Chinese environment authorities, Chen said. Environmental authorities handed more than 2,000 cases of suspected environmental law violations to the police, more than double the figure for the past 10 years combined. Close to 3,400 companies and 3,700 construction sites were also found to have violated environment laws and more than 3,100 workshops were closed following air quality inspections by Ministry of Environmental Protection ( MEP) officials and drones , Chen said. The announcement came as a result of long lasting heavy smog in Beijing and the neighboring Tianjin and Hebei province for the better part of a week. The next step is to further optimize the country's industry, and energy structure and cut back one missions of air pollutants, Chen said. Authorities will go on cutting back on outdated factories this year, shut down l,000 small coal mines, improve the quality of coal on the market, guarantee stable supply of natural gas, and promote the use of clean energy and energy-saving buildings. Chen said efforts will also be made to improve the evaluation of governments' carrying out of air pollution control measures, deepen regional cooperation, step up technological research and sharpen laws and regulations in the field, to make polluters nay the "unaffordable price". Chen said environmental authorities would "bring new tools introduced in the law into full play, conduct more secret inspections and seek heavier punishment for companies guilty of illegal emissions and those which deliberately change pollution data. " Government officials who overlook their duties or abuse their power will be examined in line with law, he said. How many cases were handed to the police by environmental authorities each year in the past 10 years? A About 450 B About 370 C About 220 D About 100. Answer: D Seeing stars may become more difficult as A stars are condensed in the sky B a greater amount of light is condensed in an area C floodlights are used at sea D spaceships begin to hover over earth Answer: B
Students study human body structure to learn how the body functions. Which life-size model would best represent the size, shape, and location of human internal organs? A. a two-dimensional upper body diagram with magnetic stickers of the organs B. a three-dimensional plastic upper body with removable parts C. a two-dimensional detailed wall poster D. a three-dimensional paper body Answer: B. a three-dimensional plastic upper body with removable parts When you think of your hair, you probably think of the hair on your head. But there's hair on almost every part of your body. (some places that don't have hair include the lips, the palms of the hands ,and the soles of the feet.) Some of the hair on your body is easy to see, like your eyebrows and the hair on your head, arms, and legs. But other hair ,like that on your cheek, is almost invisible. Depending on where it is, hair has different jobs. The hair on your head keeps your head warm and provided a little cushioning for your skull. _ protect your eyes by decreasing the amount of light and dust that go into them, and eyebrows protect your eyes from sweat dripping down from your forehead. What is the purpose of the hair on your head? A. Protect your eyes. B. Protect your eyes form sweat C. Keep your head warm. D. Protect your forehead. Answer: C. Keep your head warm. Terrible disasters in the last 50 or 100 years have become increasingly common. Over the last 30 years, the number of weather-related disasters has increased quickly, and the disasters have also affected more people and caused more economic loss. However, much of this could be avoided through disaster risk reduction(DRR). A meeting, held in Sendai, Japan last month, opened one day after Cyclone Pam(Pam)hit Vanuatu, which struck the islands with winds of up to 340km/h and destroyed the island nation. The speech by the President of Vanuatu was given shortly after that. He begged the international community for support and stronger commitment to helping them manage climate and disaster risks. In the face of disasters, it is always the developing countries that suffer most. Damage in these countries is often worse and unluckily, there is limited money and technique to prevent these disasters. In fact, we have seen Asian countries-especially those that have suffered a lot in disasters can't pay the price. Great loss Asia has suffered comes to a total of almost $ 53 billon yearly over the past 20 years. At the same time, studies have shown once again that proper prevention saves lives and damage. With this in mind, people at the Sendai meeting were able to come up with new agreements that effective ways of disaster risk reduction will be carried out in the coming years for those who easily get damaged in disasters. We can know from the passage that _ . A. The Sendai meeting was held one day after a cyclone hit Vanuatu B. Vanuatu was terribly destroyed by an earthquake C. The president of Vanuatu begged his country to prevent the disaster D. Vanuatu is a small island in Japan Answer: A. The Sendai meeting was held one day after a cyclone hit Vanuatu Superman, Spider-Man, Batman and Iron Man ... .There is no shortage of superheroes. You find them in comic books, on the TV and the big screen. In a survey of fans by the sci-fi and fantasy website, SFX.co.uk, Batman, 70 years old this year, was voted Britain's favorite superhero. Unlike many crime-fighting superheroes Batman has no special powers. He can't fly like Superman or shoot a sticky web like Spider-Man. Bruce Wayne is born to a wealthy Gotham City business family. However, when his parents are murdered his life changes completely. Wayne feels anger at their deaths and guilty that he did not prevent them. He travels around the world learning how to fight. Upon returning to Gotham, he creates a disguise to enable him to fight crime without being recognized. A childhood fear of bats leads him to choose to dress as one. His idea is that through the bat person he can prove to himself that he has overcome his childhood fears. Wayne is the CEO of the company he inherits from his father. He seems to live the lifestyle of a millionaire playboy. But this is a ruse . He works hard at the image to allow himself the freedom he needs to do his work as a crime fighter. "Bruce Wayne, playboy" is the disguise Batman is the real person. "Wayne is not a born superhero. Instead, he is a real, complex person," said Dace Golder, editor of the website. "He is the most realistic of all the superheroes. I am particularly interested in the emotional process by which a boy becomes a hero. His superhero qualities come from within." Why does Wayne live like a playboy? A. He prefers the lifestyle of a playboy. B. He doesn't know how to run a company. C. He loves freedom more than anything else. D. He needs to disguise his crime fighting activities. Answer: D. He needs to disguise his crime fighting activities. This week is National Volunteer Week, a time for the Canadian Red Cross to recognize our dedicated volunteers who devote their time and talents from coast to coast. Over the course of the week we will use this blog to share stories about our volunteers and the amazing work they do --- a small part of the outstanding individuals across the country. Take Saskatchewan for example. Last year that province was hit by wide-spread flooding, a hurricane and forest fires. Canadian Red Cross staff and volunteers went to work right away and helped more than 2,100 adults and 775 children recover the basic necessities of life. It's important to share stories from volunteers to truly appreciate what they do. Christine Hoffman is a Disaster Response Volunteer in Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan. She's a _ Red Crosser for about 16 years. Still nothing could have prepared her for the call she took in the Recovery Center last year in response to flooding in Maple Greek. This story is best told in her own words. This is what she said: "I will never forget the first phone call I took in the Recovery Centre. A young man called asking what services Red Cross was offering in town. As we were talking, he told me he had a rope in his backyard but he thought he would be using it for other reasons. _ I told him to come to see us so we could work together on a plan to improve his situation. He came in a little while later. Nearly two hours later he left standing straight up with tear- filled eyes. He thanked me for convincing him to come in. His home had been destroyed, but together we put together a plan and he was eventually able to move back into his own home." During National Volunteer Week 2011, let's thank Christine, and the many other volunteers like her. Thanks for making us proud! What can we infer from what Christine Hoffman said? A. The young man felt sad for Christine Hoffman because of her poor experience B. The young man was persuaded by Christine Hoffman and decided to live on C. Christine Hoffman made the young man sad and he cried D. Christine Hoffman offered to give the young man a little money to help him Answer: B. The young man was persuaded by Christine Hoffman and decided to live on
When 47-year-old volunteer Susan Boyle stepped on to the stage of Britain's Got Talent and announced she was unemployed and had never been married, few in the audience would have wondered why. This Ms. Boyle, looking unfashionable, from a village in Scotland, shocked the three judges and the audience with the song "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical Les Miserables on a show of "Britain's Got Talent", one of the hottest reality shows in Britain. She couldn't hide the awkwardness when walking to the center of the stage in a housedress, and everyone--including the judges--seemed laughing at her when she said she wanted to be as successful as Elaine Paige. As soon as she began singing, however, everyone present fell silent, then rose within seconds to applaud her incredible voice as the celebrity judges sat open-mouthed, and remained standing to the end. After her performance, one of the judges Piers Morgan said, "Without doubt that was the biggest surprise I've had in three years of this show. When you stood there everyone was laughing at you. No one is laughing now. That was amazing." Actress Amanda Holden followed, "I am so thrilled because I know that everybody was against you. I honestly think that we were all being cynical and I think that's the biggest wake-up call ever." Susan obviously won over the hearts of millions around the world with sensation spreading across the Atlantic. Hollywood actors Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore--who between them have nearly 1.5 million followers--speak highly of her. Kutcher posted a link to the video clip . The Scottish talent made her live American debut via satellite connection on CBS's The Early Show, doing an interview and singing live from her room. And she already accepted an invitation from talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Now Boyle has become one of the world's hottest celebrities. The video clip of her performance has been viewed more than 50 million times on YouTube, becoming a hit on the Internet. Not long ago she came to China and was warmly welcomed. We can infer that _ contributed most to her global popularity. the Internet Look! This is Li Mei's room. What's in her room? Her books are on the desk. This is one of her shoes. Where is the other one? Oh, It's under the desk. She can not find her school bag. Where is it? Oh, It's behind the door. Li Mei can not look after her things. Her mother often says to her, " Li Mei , you must look after your things." ,. (5) Li Mei's _ often helps her. mother In some science fiction movies, evil robots refuse to die, no matter how hard people fight back. Now science fiction has become science fact. For the first time, scientists have made a robot that can take a beating and keep on going. Scientists from Cornell University made the robot, which looks like a spider with four legs. Until now, even the most advanced robot was almost certain to break down when it was damaged . That is because its computer inside simply doesn't know how to make the machine work after its shape has changed. To deal with this problem, the scientists put eight motors and two sensors that read how the machine is working. They all give signals to the machine's software. Using this information, the computer can then figure out the machine's shape at any moment. The new technology is a big advance in robot-making, scientists say, and it's far from scary. It may someday help scientists create better artificial arms and legs and give new freedom to people who lose _ . It might also help scientists understand how people and animals figure out their own sense of place in space. "It has been difficult to design robots that can work well when the environment changes or when it's damaged," says Olaf Sporns of Indiana University in US. "With this work, we are nearer to solving this problem." How do the sensors in the robot work? They help the computer learn the robot's condition. Does it feel right? This is an excerpt from Oprah Winfrey's 2008 Stanford Commencement Address: A year after I left college, I was given the opportunity to co-anchor the 6 o'clock news in Baltimore...Yet, it didn't feel right. The first sign, as President Hennessy was saying, was when they tried to change my name. The news director said to me at the time: "Nobody's going to remember Oprah. So, we want to change your name. We've come up with a name we think that people will remember and people will like. It's a friendly name: Suzie."... I grew up not loving the name, but once I was asked to change it, I thought, well, it is my name and do I look like a Suzie to you? So, I thought, no, it doesn't feel right. I'm not going to change my name. And if people remember it or not, that's OK. And then they said they didn't like the way I looked... So, they sent me to a salon where they gave me a perm , and after a few days all my hair fell out and I had to shave my head. And then they really didn't like the way I looked, because now I am black and bald and sitting on TV. Not a pretty picture. But even worse than being bald, I really hated, hated, hated being sent to report on other people's tragedies as a part of my daily duty, knowing that I was just expected to observe, when everything in my instinct told me that I should be doing something, (and that) I should be lending a hand... It felt right. And that's where everything that followed for me began. And after eight months, I lost that job. They said I was too emotional. I was too much. But since they didn't want to pay out the contract, they put me on a talk show in Baltimore. And the moment I sat down on that show, the moment I did, I felt like I'd come home. I realized that TV could be more than just a playground, but a platform for service, for helping other people's lives improve. And the moment I sat down, doing that talk show, it felt like breathing. And I got that lesson. When you're doing the work you're meant to do, it feels right and every day is a bonus , regardless of what you're getting paid. What was the most important reason for why Oprah hated her job reporting the news? She didn't like just standing around and talking. "Where there is a will, there is a way." Perhaps not many students can understand this better than 22-year-old Michael Ha. Because of his story of success, he has become an example of young people. Michael Ha was born in a very poor family. His parents worked in Vietnam before they moved to Britain in 1980. They couldn't find work in Britain because they spoke little English. The whole family had to live on benefits and they lived in a small house in Hackney, a poor area in East London. Growing up is not easy for Michael, but he never gave up. At the age of ten, he set his heart on going to Cambridge University. It was not easy, either. Michael studied at a school, which used to be called "the worst school in Britain". However, young Michael made his mind to try his best, no matter what kind of school he was studying at. The smart boy studied very hard and did well in every subject at school. Once he made a bet with his friend to learn further math. As a result, after just spending four months teaching himself from a textbook, he got an A in AS-level further math. Now Michael is the star medical student in John's College, Cambridge and has just won an award for his excellent grades. He hopes he will be an inspiration for other young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. what does Michael learn about in Cambridge University ? Medicine
Two females usually can produce A children B a progeny C offspring D nothing Answer: D. nothing These days we hear a lot about how air pollution is changing temperatures on the earth. New evidence from a mountaintop in China now suggests that pollution can also change the amount of rain and snow that falls in some places. Usually, more rain falls in mountainous places than in flat areas upwind from the mountains. That's because air can hold a lot of water. When wind blows wet air up a mountainside, the air gets colder. This temperature change often forces water to fall as rain or snow. In recent years, however, many mountainous areas in the western United States have been getting less rain than normal. Mountains that are downwind from cities have experienced the biggest drops. Some scientists have theorized that pollution drifts from the cities into the mountains, affecting rainfall, but proving this link has been difficult. Searching for answers, a team led by a scientist from the Hebrew University went to s mountain in China called Mount Hua, which is 2,060 meters tall and lies about 120 kilometers east of the Chinese city Xi'an. Since 1954, scientists have been collecting details about rainfall, humidity , and visibility in the area. Using this data, the scientists compared rainfall on Mount Hua to rainfall in the nearest city, Huayin, on days with different levels of visibility. When the air was clear and people could see as far as 20 km, the scientists found that 65% more rain fell on the mountain than in the city. But when the air was smoggy, allowing only 8 km of visibility through the mist, the mountain received just 20% more rain than the city. The new data supports the theory that pollution affects rainfall. Some scientists believe that there are other explanations for the numbers. It's possible, for example, that natural particles in the air, rather than particles produced by pollution, are affecting visibility. Why did the team led by a scientist go to Mount Hua? A They wanted to pay a visit to Mount Hua. B They wanted to collect the data for their theory. C They wanted to measure Mount Hua. D They wanted to have a good rest on Mount Hua. Answer: B. They wanted to collect the data for their theory. What is your favourite colour? Ask famous persons like Cate Blanchett,Searlett Johansson and Bono,and maybe they will say"green."That's not because these artists particularly like the colour green.Instead,they are interested in green fashion. Green fashion is about making(and wearing)clothes that are good for humans,animals,and the Earth.In the past,green fashion made people think of hippies and ugly clothes.But today,green fashion is different.It is about looking good and caring about the Earth and other people.You can have interesting clothes and be green. Around the world,green fashion is becoming popular.For example,the U.K.company People Tree sells men's and women's clothing and accessories .They are made from natural fabrics like cotton and wool.Workers who make the clothes are from countries like Nepal,Kenya,and Bangladesh.People Tree pays the men and women good money for the clothes they create. Singer Bono and his wife also started a clothing company called EDUN.When the clothes sell,EDUN uses most of the money to help people around the world. In the past,what did people often think of when they heard"green fashion" A Dangerous animals. B Beautiful women. C Colourful accessories. D Ugly clothes, Answer: D. Ugly clothes, Fifty people died, over 11,000 were injured, and 100,000 houses were heavily damaged or destroyed in an earthquake that struck North China's Hebei Province. The quake, measuring 6. 2 on the Richter scale (6 .2) , hit the area 220km northwest of Beijing at 11: 50 a. m. on January 10, 1998. Scientists made a report of the recent quake. They said that the area of northwestern Beijing, the joint of Shanxi and Hebei Provinces and the Inner Mongolia were most easily attacked by earthquakes measuring 6 to a bit over 7 on the Richter scale. However, scientists did not see the recent earthquake earlier. Clouds covered a large area in the northern part of North China before the earthquake and experts say that this prevented satellites from correctly watching the temperature at the correct altitude . Experts say that in the last ten years, about 305 earthquakes have taken place in China with 9 measuring over 7 on the Richter scale, 60 measuring over 6, and 236 measuring over 5. Tens of thousands of people died or were injured. Loss valued over 10 billion yuan. The report shows that about nine earthquakes in the past ten years are measured over _ on the Richter scale. A 7 B 5 C 9 D 6 Answer: A. 7 It is well known that the Japanese people's love of fish is almost as strong as a bee's interest in honey. As fish populations were decreasing, fishing companies were forced to fish further and further away from the shore. Then they had a big challenge -- how to keep the fish fresh for longer. So they decided to keep the fish stored in freezers on the boats. But the public did not like frozen fish. So again the fishing companies had a new bigger challenge. What they decided to do was to have fish tanks on their boats. After catching fishes, they would put them in the tanks and keep them living there until they got back to shore. But in this protected environment, lacking predators , the fish stopped moving around. The Japanese public felt these dull fish did not taste fresh, which had an unpleasant effect upon sales. Once again the fishing companies had an even bigger challenge ... Stop for a minute! Before we go any further, I would like to ask "What are your challenges? How do you handle an unexpected challenge? " May I think it this way that you should try to attack your challenges? Conquer them with a Swiss Army knife. Take the most proper and simple tool that you can adopt to deal with your situation. Now back to our story. How did the Japanese finally figure out the fresh fish problem? Sharks! You might think the same. Sharks were caught and put into the tanks with other fishes. Don't sharks EAT fish? Well, they do eat a few fish, but they did also keep more fish active and alert . The fish stay fresh because they are challenged. _ to offer yourself achallengein your own business and career. Which was the best way for the fishing company to keep fishes fresh? A Getting the fishes frozen. B Storing the fishes with salt. C Putting the fishes in tanks. D Keeping the fishes with sharks. Answer: D. Keeping the fishes with sharks.
A few weeks ago, I went into Chase's class for help. I e-mailed Chase's teacher one evening and said, "My son keeps telling me that the thing you're sending home is math -- but I'm not sure I believe him. Help, please." She e-mailed right back and said, "No problem! I can help Chase after school anytime." And I said, "No, not him. Me. Hegets it.Help me." And that's why I stayed with Chase's math teacher. We talked about teaching children. We agreed that subjects like math and reading are not the most important things that are learned in a classroom. We also talked about something else ---- kindness and bravery. And then she told me this. Every Friday afternoon Chase's teacher asks her students to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of four children with whom they'd like to sit the following week. She also asks the students to nominate one student who they think is the most popular student that week. They needn't write down their names on the paper. After the students go home, she takes out those pieces of paper, and studies them. In fact, Chase's teacher is not looking for a new seating chart or "popular students." She is looking for lonely children. She's looking for the ones who are unwilling to connect with others. She is discovering whose gifts are not noticed by their classmates. Then she gets to know who needs help. After watching Columbine the wise woman realized that all violence comes from loneliness. So she decided to start fighting violence early and often, and what she is doing is SAVING LIVES. And she finds the lonely kids through those lists and tries to help them. It's math to her. All is love - evenmath. The best title should be _ ? Answer: Australian scientists say an organic compound used by Indian women to paint dots or bindi on their foreheads could hold the key to a breakthrough in cancer treatment. Rose Bengal was first used in the early 1900s as a dye for food, textiles and cosmetics. But now it is proving to be a useful weapon in the fight against skin cancer. Television advertisements constantly warn of the dangers of overexposure to the fierce sun. Among them is the possibility of the disease melanoma , a type of skin cancer. More than 1,200 Australians die every year from the disease. Initial trials of a solution of Rose Bengal injected into some melanoma cells have had a 75 percent success rate in controlling the disease. Professor John Thompson, the director of the Melanoma Unit at the University of Sydney, says this organic dye could become a powerful cancer-fighting treatment. "We believe it works by getting into the tumor cells and causing them to self-destruct. But the exact mechanism by which it works is not totally clear. It's not useful for people who have a primary melanoma. The treatment of primary melanoma is surgical excision ,"he said. "It's useful to inject tumors for people who have recurrences; when the primary treatment has failed and when recurrence in the area, or at more distant sites has occurred." About 90 percent of Australians who develop melanoma survive thanks to early diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, however, the disease can be fatal. Convincing younger people in Australia about the dangers of overexposure to the sun is a battle campaigners are constantly waging. Veronica Manock, a 21-year-old student, had two major operations to remove a cancerous tumor from her leg. "I've had a lot of friends who just said 'I thought it was just, you know, I'll get a mole cut out and that's it', whereas I don't think people realize how much danger they're putting themselves into and how easy it is to stop something like this happening to you just from doing little things,"said Marock. Other researchers in Australia are investigating genetic treatments to skin cancer. There is a pressing need for such research to produce effective treatments. Australians, the majority of whom are fair-skinned , are four times more likely to develop a melanoma than people in Canada, the United States or Great Britain. The information about Rose Bengal is wrong EXCEPT that _ . Answer: Although Zhang Bichen, a 25-year-old songstress with a powerful yet delicate voice, took the crown of this year's The Voice of China, runner-up Parhat Halik, 32, seems to have impressed more of the audience with his husky , natural and, most of all, distinguished sound. Despite his unmistakable voice, Parhat Halik's music is also special. Generally, it's rock -- but influenced and mixed by different styles within the genre. Read on and find out where Halik's music gets its inspiration. Blues rock Representative artists: Guns N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, John Maye Blues rock combines improvisation with rock 'n' roll style. It began to develop in the mid-1960s in Britain and the US, when rock bands such as the Rolling Stones experimented with music from older African-American blues musicians. It borrows the idea of instrumental combo from blues but is played at a faster tempo and louder volume, distinguishing it from the blues. The sound is created with the electric guitar, piano, bass and drums. As the root for several contemporary rock styles, such as heavy metal and hard rock, blues rock had a rebirth in the early 2000s, with artists including John Mayer and The Black Keys. Folk rock Representative artists: Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds As the name indicates, folk rock is a genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. Also developed in the mid-1960s, folk rock was pioneered by the US band The Byrds, who began playing traditional folk music and Bob Dylan-penned material with rock instruments, in a style heavily influenced by The Beatles and other British bands. The genre was most popular among teenagers and college students at the time, because it includes both rock 'n' roll's free spirit and the more serious, culturally authentic and socially aware sounds of folk music. Soft rock Representative artists: Bryan Adams, Eagles, Elton John, James Blunt Compared to hard rock's loud and aggressive nature, soft rock, or light rock, uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer and less threatening sound. Derived from folk rock, it uses acoustic instruments and puts more emphasis on melody and harmony. Although the genre gets quite a bad name among hardcore rock fans, who see it as "wimpy" , it doesn't mean soft rock is without merit . Soft rock songs often deal with themes like romantic relationships and everyday life in a thoughtful and complex way hard rock simply couldn't. Which of the artists playing traditional folk music and Bob Dylan-penned material with rock instruments first? Answer: There are about 34,000 different known species of spiders in the world, but only a dozen of them are harmful to humans. Four of the deadliest spiders in the world are the following. These spiders should undoubtedly be avoided. Brown Recluse Spider The brown recluse spider is native to the United States. It prefers areas that are dark and quiet. They can be found both indoors and outside. Their characteristic marking is a dark violin shape on top. The brown recluse spider is not an aggressive spider, but will inject venom into its victims if it is pressed against the skin. In children, the elderly, and those with lowered immune systems, the venom will cause serious illness or death. Black Widow Spider The black widow can be found in the southeastern United States. Their characteristic marking is a red hourglass shape on their black stomach. It is not an aggressive spider. The black widow injects a neurotoxin into its victims. The neurotoxin can interfere with nerves to muscle tissue. In children and the elderly, the neurotoxin can be fatal. Brazilian Wandering Spider The Brazilian wandering spider has a few names such as the banana spider and the armed spider. They can be found in the regions of Central and South America where the climate is warm. These are highly aggressive spiders and are extremely dangerous. They wander around the forest floor and are commonly found in people's homes. It injects a neurotoxin which can cause death. Sydney Funnel-Web Spider The Sydney funnel-web spider resides near Sydney, Australia. They can grow to 3 inches in length and have a dark and smooth body. They are extremely aggressive and are the most poisonous spiders. They will strike repeatedly, possibly causing death by injecting a neurotoxin into their victims. These four species of spiders are not all aggressive, but all can cause painful bites and serious bad reactions. Keep your eyes open because the best way to deal with these dangerous creatures is to avoid them. What do we know from the passage? Answer: What's in name? Well, apparently, our general happiness. Psychologists say that what we are called has a direct connection with our happiness. Those called Judy and Joshua are the happiest, while Lynn or Ben is likely to be the unhappiest, according to research. Psychologist Dr David Holmes found that this can cause the association that others make with the name. Hearing the name Judy may make them think of actress Judi Dench or TV presenter Judy Finnigan, and people who are considered good-natured and happy. On the other hand, people think Paulines are unhappy because of the character Pauline Fowler from the TV programme East Enders. The research claims that this association influences the person with the name and so their personality is shaped to fit in. Dr David Holmes said, "This also has some relation with the original meaning of the name, for example, the original meaning of Judy is 'praised'." Certain names also work well in certain aspects of life. In the workplace Richard and Judy are the happiest, while those called Ruth and Carly are the happiest in relationships. At the other end of the scale the unhappiest workers are Stuart and Liz, with the unhappiest in relationships being Frank and Harriet. Dr Holmes said, "The relation we have with certain names, particularly important namesakes , also shapes how we see ourselves and so may have an effect on our confidence. Names are like product brands in having a powerful effect on attitudes and should therefore be chosen with care." "Other names are connected with being brave, outgoing or serious. Therefore, many celebrities change their names to ones which reflect these characteristic. This, in turn, influences parents when they choose names for their babies," said Dr Holmes, "while names connected with ordinary people are rarely chosen for their babies." Which of the following is connected with names according to the passage? Answer:
Save the Childrenis the world's leading independent organization for children that works to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. Our founder Eglantyne Jebb drafted the "Declaration of the Rights of the Child" in 1922 which was adopted by the League of Nations in 1924. Save the Childrenworks to bring about a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our Approach: Save the Childrenactively works with the communities, the State governments and the national government to bring lasting changes for children by: Providing them with immunisation and nutrition. Ensuring that they have a chance to join formal school. Exposing and preventing exploitative child labour practices and running prevention programs. During emergencies, we provide emergency supplies as well to ensure that children are protected in safe places as well to continue schooling. We cannot do this without your support. Please contribute by choosing an amount below. Rs. 20,000 can provide Child Friendly Space for 50 children ensuring that they receive Psycho-Social and Educational support. Rs. 10,000 can provide hygiene kits and house-hold cooking utensils for 4 families affected by emergencies. Rs. 5,000 can provide education kits and uniforms for 5 under-privileged children who have lost belongings in an emergency. Rs. 2,500 can provide a hygiene kits and house-hold cooking utensils for a family during an emergency. You will receive your Tax Exemption Certificate within 12 days of making a donation. Save the Children is an organization _ . Answer: Which is the best thing to do for a neighborhood? Answer: In my country, daily meals usually start with breakfast. People usually have something to drink for breakfast, like tea with sugar and lemon, cold or warm milk or Coke. Many people have some bread, egg, hamburgers and so on. We must always remember that breakfast must be healthy and light. The noon is lunchtime, many people take their meals to schools or their workplaces, but some people like going to a restaurant or having fast food in McDonald's. I think that these meals are not healthy. We can have some rice with some vegetables or meat. More healthy fish and poultry slowly _ beef and pork. It's healthy to drink one glass of water, juice or tea after each meal. At six or seven in the evening, it's time for dinner. At this time, family members usually get together. We often have warm dishes. Sometimes we go out to restaurants. Where can we read this passage? Answer: Last week a study of one hundred ninety-nine countries confirmed what many people may have already noticed. People around the world are getting fatter. The study found that obesity has almost doubled since 1980. Majid Ezzati, who led the research team, says the results show that obesity, high blood pressure and high blood pressure are no longer just found in wealthy nations. These are now worldwide problems. The study appeared shows that in 2008, almost ten percent of men were obese. That was up from about five percent in 1980. That same year, almost eight percent of women were obese. By 2008, the rate of obesity among women was almost fourteen percent. Obesity is commonly measured by body mass index , or BMI. This is a measure of a person's weight in relation to height. A person with a BMI of twenty-five to twenty-nine is considered overweight. The World Health Organization defines obesity as a body mass index of thirty or more. Pacific island nations have an average BMI of around thirty-five -- the highest in the world. But the study found that the United States had the single highest average among wealthy countries. Men and women had an average BMI of over twenty-eight. New Zealand was next. Japan had the lowest, at about twenty-two for women and twenty-four for men. The report had some good news, however, about high blood pressure. The percentage of people with this major cause of heart attacks and strokes has fallen since 1980. Dr. Ezzati credits improved testing and treatment in wealthy countries. He says a decrease in the use of salt and unhealthful fats probably also helped. In the United States, new guidelines urge Americans to reduce salt, sugar and fatty meats and to eat more fish and whole grains. People are being urged to choose water over sugared drinks and to eat more fruits and vegetables. But whatever they eat, Americans are being urged to follow new advice from the government: eat less. What is the advice on reducing obesity from the government of America? Answer: Every year on April 22, People all over the world celebrate Earth Day. It is a time to work to keep our earth clean. People plan projects to clean up the land, air and water. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson first thought of the idea for Earth Day in 1962 when he saw polluted rivers and cities with smoke. He needed to get support from Americans to clean up the earth. Finally, on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day! Now many countries around the world celebrate it, and you can, too. How can you celebrate Earth Day? Here are a few ideas: Join a clean-up project------Clean up your street or a favorite beach. Save energy------Turn off the lights when you leave a room, and use public transportation. Use less water. Reduce / Reuse/ Recycle ------ Practice the three Rs: First, reduce how much you use. Then reuse or recycle what you can. You can make a difference on Earth Day and every day! How do people around the world celebrate Earth Day? Answer:
The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and the finest example of the late style of Indian architecture . It is at Agra in northern India. It lies beside the River Jumna in the middle of gardens with quiet pools. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jehan, who ruled India in the 17th century. It is used to honour his favorite wife, known as Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The building, which was completed between 1632 and 1638, was designed by a local Muslim architect , Ustad Ahmad Lahori. The whole building, with gardens and gateway structures, was completed in 1643. The Taj Mahal stands at one end of the garden tomb with marble path. The room is softly lighted by the light that passes through double screens of carved marble set high in the walls. The building now is kept in good condition. The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build. Shah Jehan planned a similar building, but in black instead of white, to lie on the other side of the river. But before it could be built, Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son and buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal. Why do you think Shah Jehan was buried next to his wife? A. His own tomb hadn't been built. B. He hoped to be buried there. C. King and Queen should be buried together. D. He liked Mumtaz all his life. Answer: A. His own tomb hadn't been built. In a writing signed by both parties, Paul Plannah, a renowned architect, agreed for a fee of $25,000 to design and supervise construction of a new house for Phoebe Threedee, a famous sculptor, the fee to be paid upon completion of the house. Plannah and Threedee got along poorly, and, when the design plans were about two-thirds complete, they had a heated argument over the proper location of a marble staircase. Hoping to avoid such encounters, Plannah, without Threedee's knowledge, assigned to Donna Drafty, a newly licensed architect practicing solo, "all of my rights and duties under my design and construction supervision contract with Threedee." Drafty expressly promised Plannah to carry out the work to the best of Drafty's ability."". For this question only, assume that Threedee allowed Drafty to proceed with the design work but that Drafty without legal excuse abandoned the project shortly after construction began. Which of the following legal conclusions are correct? I. Plannah is liable to Threedee for legal damages, if any, caused by Drafty's default. II. Drafty is liable to Threedee for legal damages, if any, caused by Drafty's default. III. Threedee is indebted to Drafty, on a divisible contract theory, for a prorated portion of the agreed $25,000 architect's fee promised to Plannah. A. I and II only B. I and III only C. II and III only D. I, II, and II Answer: A. I and II only Cheating is nothing new. But today, education and administrations are finding that examples of academic dishonesty on the part of students have become more frequent--- and are less likely to be punished---than in the past. Cheating appears to have gained acceptance among good and poor students alike. Why is student cheating on the rise? No one really knows. Some blame the trend on a general loosening of moral values among today's youth. Others have attributed increased cheating to the fact that today's youth are far more practical than their idealistic ancestors. Whereas in the late sixties and early seventies, students were filled with visions about changing the word, today's students feel great pressure to survive and succeed. In interviews with students at high schools and colleges around the country, both young men and women said that cheating had become easy. Some suggested they did it out of hate for teachers they didn't respect. Others looked at it as a game. Only if they were caught, some said, would they feel guilty. "People are competitive," said a second-year college student named Anna, from Chicago. "There is an potential fear. If you don't do well, your life is going to be ruined. The pressure is not only from parents and friends but from yourself. To achieve. To succeed. It's almost as though we have to surpass people to achieve our own goals. Edward Wynne, editor of a magazine blames the rise in academic dishonesty in the schools. He claims that administrators and teachers have been too hesitant to take action. Dwight Huber, chairman of the English Department at Amarillo sees the matter differently, blaming the rise in cheating on the way students evaluated. "I would cheat if I felt I was being cheated," Mr. Huber said. He feels that as long as teachers give short-answer tests rather than essay questions and rate students by the number of facts they can memorize rather than by how well they can combine and process information, students will try to beat the system. " The concept of cheating is based on the false belief that the system is legal and there is something wrong with _ who're doing it," he said, "That's too easy an answer. We've got to start looking at the system." The phrase "the individuals" in Line 8, Para 3 refers to _ . A. students who practice cheating B. parents who put pressure on their children. C. school administrators who approve of short-answer tests. D. teachers who are too hesitant to take actions against cheating. Answer: A. students who practice cheating Can dogs help with OCD? You might watch and laugh when your dog chases its tail because it looks cute. But did you know that, even though it might appear like a fun game, it could mean your pet is sick? Researchers have found that if a dog runs after its tail, chases cars and barks at flies that are not there, it may have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD, ). In fact, OCD is even more common among humans. The symptoms are varied: some people check and recheck the locks before they go out; others are extremely afraid of germs and have to wash their hands many times a day. English soccer star David Beckham, for example, cannot stand odd numbers of items in his fridge. So if he has three cans of drink he will throw one out, according to his wife Victoria. Hoping to better understand OCD in humans, a team of scientists from the University of Helsinki, Finland, studied 368 dogs, including those that chase their tail for several hours daily or a few times a month, according to Sciencedaily.com. They also examined dogs that had never chased their tails. Scientists took the dogs' blood sample and asked their owners some questions about their pets' daily life. Findings showed that among all kinds of dogs, bull terriers and German shepherds were likely to chase their tails, which led scientists to believe that genes can cause OCD. Diet also plays a part. It was found that dogs that eat food with certain vitamins and minerals chased their tails less. "Interestingly, there are indications that vitamins and minerals are helpful in human OCD treatment," said researcher Katriina Tiira. Moreover, tail-chasing is often found among dogs that were separated from their mothers too early or ones that didn't receive enough care. They are also more likely to turn out to be shyer and more afraid of loud noises at a young age. The study can help us understand the causes of OCD in humans. "Dogs share the same environment with humans, and large animals are physiologically close to humans," said Hannes Lohi, leader of the study. The English soccer star David Beckham is mentioned in the article to _ . A. show the trouble caused by OCD B. give an example of the symptoms of OCD C. prove stars are more likely to get OCD D. show how OCD affects family life Answer: B. give an example of the symptoms of OCD Jane was an old woman. She was rich and lived in a big house. One morning, Jane opened the window and looked at her garden. The sun was shining brightly. "What a good day!" she said. Suddenly she saw a man eating grass in front of the garden of her house. She walked to the man and asked, "Why are you eating grass? Are you very hungry?" The man answered, "I have no money to buy any food. I haven't had meals for days. I'm dying of hunger." "Poor boy," said Jane, "come to the back door." Then she walked into the house again. "The rich lady will give me some food to eat. It's so kind of her." The man thought. But when he went into the house, Jane opened the back door and said to him, "The grass is taller behind the house." Which statement is TRUE? A. Jane was very kind, and she gave the food to the man. B. The man was rich. He hasn't had meals for days. C. The man didn't get any food from Jane. D. The man eat some food in Jane's house Answer: C. The man didn't get any food from Jane.
Do you remember the things happened many years ago ? Do you remember all the names of your friends? Do you have a good memory ? A good memory is a great help in learning language . Everybody learns his own language by remembering what he learns when he is a little child. And some children , who live abroad with their parents ,seem to learn two languages more easily . In native school it is not easy to learn a second language because the pupils have so little time for it . and they are busy with other subjects . A man's mind is like a camera, but it takes photos not only of what we see but of what we feel ,hear, smell and taste . When we take a real photo with a camera ,there is much to do before the photo is finished and ready to show to our friends . In the same way there is much work to do be done before we can keep a picture forever in our mind . Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us . ,. The children who live in abroad can learn two languages more easily , because _ . A. they are very clever B. they have good teachers C. they have more chances to use these languages D. they have a better life Answer: C Each organ in the digestive system has a specific function. During digestion, food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. Which statement best describes what takes place in the small intestine? A. Nutrients are absorbed from the food. B. Wastes are prepared to pass out of the body. C. Food is churned with acid to break down proteins. D. Excess water is reabsorbed into the blood stream. Answer: A "Can't hold a candle to" is a popular expression.When there wasn't electricity, someone would have a servant light his way by holding a candle.The expression meant that the person who cannot hold a candle to you is not fit even to be your servant.Now,it means such a person cannot compare or compete. Another expression is"hold your tongue."It means to be still and not talk."Hold your tongue"is not something you would tell a friend.But a parent or teacher might use the expression to quiet a noisy child. "Hold out"is an expression one hears often in sports reports and labor news.It means to refuse to play or work.Professional football and baseball players"hold out" if their team refuses to pay them what they think they are worth. The expression"hold up" has several different meanings.One is a robbery.A man with a gun may say,"This is a hold up.Give me your money."Another meaning is to delay.A driver who was held up by heavy traffic might be late for work.Another meaning is for a story to be considered true after an investigation.A story can hold up if it is proved true. "Hold on"is another expression,which means wait or stop.As you leave for school,your brother may say,"Hold on,you forgot your book." It is used to ask a telephone caller to wait and not hang up his telephone. Our final expression is"hold the line."That means to keep a problem or situation from getting worse--to hold steady.For example,the president may say he will"hold the line on taxes."He means there will be no increase in taxes. The author introduces the expressions mainly by _ . A. giving examples B. making comparisons C. raising questions D. quoting famous remarks Answer: A Humans cry when they are born, horses can walk when they are born, and birds can chirp when born because of A. TV B. learning from mom C. instinctive behavior D. school Answer: C The Erie Canal was the first important national waterway built in the US. It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River. It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west, and materials could pour into the east. The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation's largest city. The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York. It cost $ 7 143 789, but it soon gained its price many times over. Between 1825, when the canal was opened, and 1882, when toll charges were stopped, the state collected $121 461 891. For a hundred years before the Erie was built, people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Witt Clinton. Those who were against the canal laughingly called it "Clinton's Ditch ". Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it. He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal, but they were unsuccessful. Clinton became governor of New York in 1817, and shortly afterwards, on July 4, 1817, broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. The first part of the canal was completed in 1820. As the canal grew, towns along its course developed fast. The length of the canal is 363 miles. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. Clinton broke ground for the canal at both ends. B. Clinton started building the canal before he became governor. C. All parts of the canal were completed at the same time. D. Construction of the canal took eight years. Answer: D
Suzhou is an old city with a long history. The city is very clean and has fresh air. There are a lot of nice gardens in Suzhou and Suzhou gardens are famous in the world. When you enjoy the beauty in the gardens, you will feel very peaceful and happy. Besides (......) the gardens, Suzhou silk is also very famous. On the streets, you can see many silk shops. You should buy some beautiful silk scarves because they are really beautiful. Suzhou food is so sweet and some people may not like it. But you can have different kinds of foods here. Suzhou is close to Shanghai. It takes about only one hour from Suzhou to Shanghai by bus. The traffic is very convenient here. Welcome to Suzhou! You will have a good time here. What does the writer want to do? A To tell about the long history of Suzhou. B To tell about the beauty of Suzhou gardens. C To tell about the Suzhou food and Suzhou silk. D To attract visitors to Suzhou. Answer: D Every time you turn on the television or take a ride in a car ,you could be adding to a problem called acid rain . In this article, you'll learn how acid is created, and how it affects us, and more importantly, what we all can do to prevent it. How is acid rain created? When people use fuels , such as coal and gasoline, poisonous gases are given off. When these gases mix with rain, acid rain forms. Many power stations burn fuels in order to create the electricity that we use in our homes and offices every day. Cars and trucks also send these gases into the air when they burn gasoline .When rain mixes with these gases, harmful things called acids form. This is acid rain. How does acid rain affect us? Acid rain damages everything that it touches. It poisons our rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans along with all the life in them. It pollutes our soil and crops, harms trees, and can even kill fish and plants. Acid rain also eats away at buildings. How can we prevent acid rain? We need to cut down on the pollution that gets into our air. Turn off lights, television, and other electrical appliances if you are not using them, Walk or take a bike whenever possible. If you are travelling a long distance, take a bus or train to save fuel. As research shows, acid rain harms our environment. But people everywhere can take small steps now to help protect our environment for future generations. When power stations burn fuel, _ . A acid rain form B air pollution is caused C noise pollution is caused D acid rain gets heavier Answer: B India is a developing country. It has thousands of years of tradition and culture. Different types of people live in India. In the old days the educational institutions were called "ashramam" and teachers were "gurus". A guru was a respected person in society. Now we are living in the technological world. Big changes are occurring in people's living. The influence of television, telephone, radio, computer, Internet and mobile phones is very strong in everyday life. But even today, teachers are role models for students. Teaching is still a respectable job. But there are great changes in the education system. One of the most obvious changes is that the influence of Western culture has increased. We are paying too much attention to doing business, just like the Western world. Teachers are likely to to be influenced by this too, but it is not good. Teachers are nation builders. The development of any country depends upon its education system. All types of development are possible through education. Another change has happened in the curriculum . The curriculum connects the teacher and the student. While education is about learning, curriculum means the situations in which one learns. When we say that education deals with "what", then curriculum deals with "how" and "when". But at the moment, it is hard to say whether the curriculum is playing such a role. In modern society, teaching is considered as a job that _ . A is respected B brings good luck C is hopeless D connects with the fashion Answer: A Jealousy is a very common problem in daily life. It's everywhere. For example, if someone does better than you, you will get annoyed because you want to be No. 1. We may become jealous of a best friend's top marks in an exam, or of the girl in art class who is praised by the teacher all the time. We get annoyed because these good things are happening to someone else but not to us. It's bad to feel jealous. We should be pleased with the things we have. But we still wish we had the money of this person and the talent of that person. Instead of sharing their happiness, we just feel jealous and unhappy with ourselves. And, too often, these feelings are expressed by _ the people weenvy. However, envy is also a kind of compliment to others. We see that other people have styles and talents different from our own. By comparing ourselves with others, we can know what we lack. And we can turn this comparison, the envy of others, into a kind of power. Therefore, being a bit jealous of others lets us know what we are like and what we want to be like. It can push us to become what we really want to be. ,A, B, C, D. (3,1.5,4.5) What should be the right attitude towards jealousy? A It's a good thing. B It's just a bad thing. C It's a kind of compliment to others. D It makes us know what we are like and what we want to be like. Answer: D One day three Frenchmen who did not know English very well were talking about the English language. The first Frenchman said, 'I heard someone shout 'look out' ,I put my head out of a window and a basin of water fell on me. It seems that 'look out' may mean 'don't look out!' The second one followed, ' I was once on a ship and heard the captain shout, 'All hands on the deck ' I put my hands on the deck and someone trod on them.' The third one told his friends his experience too, 'One early morning I called on my English friend and the maid said, 'He is not up yet, come back in half an hour.' When I went again for him, she said, 'He's not down yet.'I said, 'If he's not up and he is not down, where is he then? What a strange language it is!' What did the maid mean when she said, "He's not up yet"? A He has not risen to his feet yet. B He's not back yet. C He has not got up yet. D He was ill in bed. Answer: C
Welcome to the zoo Day open : Fees : Monday to Friday Adults : $ 8. 00 10:00 am~6:00 pm Ages 8~14: $ 3. 00 Saturday to Sunday Ages 15~18 : $ 6. 00 8 :00 am~8 :00 pm Under 8 : Free Try our train ride for $ 2. 00 per person! ,. Which of the following statements is true? A Those over 18 have to pay 17 dollars to go into the zoo. B You can not take a train ride in the zoo for 2 dollars per person on weekdays. C Children under 8 can go into the zoo at any time without paying anything. D The zoo has longer business hours on Saturday and Sunday than on other days. Answer: D. The zoo has longer business hours on Saturday and Sunday than on other days. The Great Fire of London started in the very early hours of September 2,1666.In four days it destroyed more than three quarters of the old city,where most of those houses were built out of wood and close together.One hundred thousand people became homeless but only few lost their lives.The fire started on Sunday moring.By eight o'clock three hundred houses were on fire.On Monday nearly a kilometer of the city was burning along the River Thames.Tuesday was the worst day.The fire destroyed many well-known buildings. The fire stopped only when the king finally ordered people to destroy hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire.With nothing left to burn,the fire became weak and finally died out. The Great Fire of London destroyed more than _ of the old city. A 25 percent B 30 percent C half D 75 percent Answer: D. 75 percent Is there someone you hate? Well, maybe you don't really hate them. But you get really angry every time you think of them. If you don't let this anger go, it can turn into bitterness Bitterness appears when we can't forgive someone who has hurt us or made us angry. Someone might say or do something that hurts us. But Instead of controlling the anger, we keep it deep inside. Before long, a bitter feeling begins to grow. We may think we're hurting that person by criticizing him or her often, but we're really only hurting ourselves. Bitterness can not only lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, but also hurt our relationships with friends and family members. No one enjoys being around an anger person for very long. If you see bitterness in your life, here are some ways to deal with it. Accept it Instead of trying to your anger, make it clear to yourself and accept it. See your anger for what it is and quickly deal with it. Stop making excuses for it You may feel you have a right to be anger. You may think you're right and the other person is wrong. You may even secretly enjoy making the other person look bad. But in the end, bitterness hurts you much more than the other person. The bitterness will hold you back, and the other person will go on with his or her life. Forgive and forget it You probably can't completely put the anger out of your mind. But you can decide to forgive the other person. Forget it and move on. You'll enjoy better health and peace of mind. ,, What can we learn from the passage? A We should enjoy someone who hurts us. B We should pay more attention to our friends. C The peace of mind is more important than the hurt itself. D It's better to let bitterness go along with the other person. Answer: C. The peace of mind is more important than the hurt itself. Reading is very important. World Book Day falls on April 23 every year. It encourages people, especially teenagers, to discover the pleasure of reading. It is also the day to honor great writers. Many countries celebrate World Book Day. On that day, millions of school children can buy books at a much lower price than usual in any bookstore in England. It has been done every year since 1998. World Book Day is also celebrated in China. Wen Jiabao, Premier of China, is an avid reader. He does lots of reading every day though he is very busy. On World Book Day 2009, he called on people to do more reading. Wen suggested that young people should spend more time reading. "Books can not change the world, but people can change the world by changing themselves through reading," he said. Reading helps us become more knowledgeable and smarter. Reading helps us to follow the latest developments of science and technology . Reading gives us information about other cultures and places in the world. Reading is also one of the most important ways to learn a foreign language like English. We all know that it is difficult to learn everything in the classroom, for example, the ways English people are living and working today can be learnt by reading. Books, magazines, newspapers and other kinds of reading materials can help us to know more about the outside world. Therefore, it is necessary for us to spend time reading every day. What's the best title for the article? A World Book Day in England. B Suggestions on Reading. C World Book Day in China. D World Book Day and the Advantages of Reading. Answer: D. World Book Day and the Advantages of Reading. One day this same friend invited me to a party . It was not a real party , it was some kind of informal get-together . Since it was summertime he had a cookout where most of his American friends and s were known to me , but there were others I had never met before . It was the most embarrassing party for me when I noticed that everyone was wearing jeans and simple T-shirts for the day , while I arrived in proper dress with my shoes and my hair all fixed for a fancy party . It was hard to explain my embarrassment to the other guests . When one of them turned around and said "What nice clothes ! What's the occasion ?" I felt my face burning hot with embarrassment . I did not answer at all . Many times I thought about going home and changing , but I knew that they would notice . It would be even worse for me , because I knew they would quickly think that I felt out of place . So I wanted to pretend that I was okay . People often wear _ for an informal party according to the passage. A . a tie B a T-shirt C a dress D a hat Answer: B. a T-shirt
Elephants are the largest land animals and they need plenty of living space. They have seasonal migration routes. As human populations rise, elephant land is being cleared for agriculture and other kinds of development. When animals are effectively trapped on small areas of land, it restricts the gene pool and also results in a shortage of food. Where elephant reserves border agricultural areas, elephants are often attracted to leave parks to attack crops and barns. Only the strongest walls will stop an adult elephant (males can weigh 6,000kg), so farmers have great difficulty protecting their fields. In prefix = st1 /India, elephants don't only attack for food. Some even have developed a taste for rice beer. InAssam, elephant-human conflict has resulted in the death of more than 150 people and 200 elephants in the space of two years. Poverty leads to the killing of elephants for meat. If people don't have enough food and their governments cannot afford to enforce poaching bans, it's not difficult to predict the outcome. Ivory comes form elephant tusks , which can grow to be 3 meters long. Both male and female African elephants have large tusks. Most new ivory comes from Africa and is sold as a high status material in Asian countries such as Thailand, mainlandChinaandJapan. It can fetch $150 an pound and is carved to make decorations, chopsticks and ink stamps. The conservation priority here is to change public attitudes. In some countries in southern Africa, where conservation efforts have been successful, there is not enough room for a growing elephant population and animals have to be killed. A CITES meeting in November 2002 ruled that Botswana,NamibiaandSouth Africamay sell stock-piled ivory, starting in2004. Many conservationists are convinced that _ will fuel the demand for ivory and lead to more illegal poaching, they say it is almost impossible to tell legal from poached ivory. The governments argue that the sales will be used to fund conservation work. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A. The increasing human population is the main reason for less elephant land. B. All elephants don't attack for food. C. People in some southern African countries have to kill elephants because elephant-humanconflict is too fierce there. D. Within two years, over 150 people were killed in the elephant-human conflict. Answer: C. People in some southern African countries have to kill elephants because elephant-humanconflict is too fierce there. A man died and was on his way to another world, either heaven or hell . He saw an extremely grand palace half way and the owner of the palace asked him to stay and live in the palace. The man said, "I have been working hard during my life and now I just want to eat and sleep without any work." The owner of the palace said, "If so, there is nowhere else better than here for you. There is plenty of seafood and delicacies in my palace, and you can eat whatever you like without anyone stopping you. And nothing needs to be done by you." Then, the man settled down in the palace. At the beginning, the man felt very happy at the cycle of eating and sleeping. But gradually, he felt a bit lonely and void. So he went to the palace owner and said, "It is very bored to live by just eating and sleeping every day. Now I show no interest in this kind of life any more. Could you help me find a job?" The owner replied, "Sorry, there is no job here at all." After another several months, the man could not go on with the life and went to the palace owner again, "I really can not stand this kind of life any more. If you do not offer me a job, I would prefer to go to hell instead of living here." The owner of the palace smiled contemptuously , "Do you think it is heaven here? It is actually hell!" ,. (10) Why did the man want to find a job in the palace? A. Because he was too poor to live. B. Because there were many jobs for him. C. Because he wanted to make more money. D. Because he felt lonely and bored with the life. Answer: D. Because he felt lonely and bored with the life. If you are above the age of 40 then there are chances you would not know much about Snap Music. But if that is the case, then ask your daughter or son, and perhaps, they'd even perform it for you. Indeed, Snap Music is one of the cool hip hop rap styles that support hip hop music. In simple words, Snap Music is the music to which you "snap your fingers and move with the rhythm. This may seem ly easy, but sure enough, it has its share of uniqueness which makes it stand apart. The theoretical and technical characteristics of Snap Music are slow-paced beats, regular and timed snapping of fingers, which created pleasing rhythms. Often as rappers rap, they get the audience clapping or snapping along with them. Snap Music was from Atlanta. It gradually made its way to the other parts of America. It is generally believed that Snap was inspired by Crunk Music and it is Atlanta's Crunk style. But they are quite different. While Crunk has high energy, Snap has an unhurried feel to it . An occasional whistle or a polyrhythmic combination can he heard; this is done to improve the feeling of the music. It is also said that the music was made for the club-crowd and at first was meant for dance lovers; but as the form developed, it turned out to be rather slow. There is a wide audience for this type of music. Here , this type of hip hop music is often simple with not much depth or story. But then again, how many rap songs have depths and story these days? So , if you are a teenager or a young adult, you might just enjoy the change that Snap offers. Which of the following is NOT the characteristic of Snap Music? A. simple stories B. high energy C. whistles D. diverse rhythms Answer: B. high energy Changes to abiotic factors in an environment can impact biotic factors. Which statement is the BEST example of this situation? A. Heavy rainfall increases soil erosion. B. Melting glaciers cause sea levels to rise. C. Cold temperatures cause rocks to weather. D. Drought conditions increase competition among consumers. Answer: D. Drought conditions increase competition among consumers. The iPhone, the iPad, each of Apple's products sounds cool and has become a fad . Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter "i" - and many other brands are following suit. The BBC's iPlayer - which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet -adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear - popular in the US and UK - that plays music and video is called "iTeddy". A slimmed-down version of London's Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name "i". In general, single-letter prefixes have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use. Most "i" products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent's "i", it's no surprise that they've selected this fashionable name. But it's hard to see what's so special about the letter "i". Why not use "a", "b", or "c" instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King's College, London, "i" works because its meaning has become _ When Apple uses "i", no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. "Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn't have one clear definition," he says. "However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability ."adds Thorne. Clearly the letter "i" also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason. Along with "Google" and "blog", readers of BBC Magazines voted "i" as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade. But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with "2000" in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared. People use iPlayer to _ . A. listen to music B. make a call C. watch TV programs online D. read newspapers Answer: C. watch TV programs online
Harry is from London. But he is in China with his parents now. He is 13 years old. He is a student of Grade 7. Harry is a clever student. He works very hard. He is good at all his lessons. He says he likes Chinese best. He can speak some Chinese now. His teachers and classmates are all nice to him. Harry gets up at 6.20 on weekdays. He has his breakfast at home. Then he walks to school. His lessons begin at 7.50 every day. In the morning, they have four classes. Harry has lunch at school with his classmates. They have three classes in the afternoon. And school is over at 4.40. After school, Harry plays ball games in the playground. He goes home at about 5.30. He has supper with his parents every day. In the evening, he does his homework and watches TV. And then he goes to bed at 9.30. "I like living in China very much. The people here are friendly and the food is very nice. I like all the things here," He says to his parents. What does he like in China? Answer: Defendant is on trial for robbing a bank in State A. She testified that she was in State B at the time of the robbery. Defendant calls her friend, Witness, to testify that two days before the robbery Defendant told him that she was going to spend the next three days in State B. Witness's testimony is Answer: The south and east of the Great Lakes is famous for the huge amounts of snow it receives. When the snow starts to fall every year, people start discussing the phrase "lake-effect snow". Lake-effect snow which is influenced by the movement of cold air over the relatively warm water of the Great Lakes often comes in late autumn and early winter. Because of the at least 20 degrees' difference between the lake water and the overrunning air, it's easy to form huge amounts of snow. As the cool air crosses the water of Great Lakes, the lowest levels of the atmosphere begin to warm and pick up moisture. This newly warmed atmosphere is lighter than the cold air above it, so it starts rising. As the changed air continues to climb higher and higher, it finally meets much colder atmosphere which changes the moisture into water drops and ice, forming clouds. After this course repeats a number of times, the clouds become heavier and heavier, and then they are changed into snow and fall down. The most important point that decides the amount of snowfall is the direction of the wind. If the wind runs perpendicularly across the lake, there won't be plenty of time for clouds to develop. However, if the wind runs in the opposite direction, clouds will form easily. The longer the cold air travels over the lake, the more moisture it is able to produce, which leads to a greater amount of snow. The largest amount of the lake-effect snow was found across the U.P. of Michigan, the northwestern Pennsylvania and the far southwestern and northwestern New York, which are all along the south or east of the Great Lakes. It has been over 100 inches of snowfall in a winter season. The level of the snowfall depends on _ . Answer: We always celebrated Dad's birthday on Thanksgiving Day, even after he entered a nursing home. When we knew it might be his last birthday, the whole family decided to get together for a huge birthday celebration at the nursing home. Dad was a good storyteller and we were always his listeners. During a quiet moment, I announced it was now Dad's turn to listen to stories for a change. I wanted everyone to tell Dad what we loved about him. The room became quiet. Then one after another, people told stories from their hearts, while Dad listened with tears in eyes. Everyone seemed to have more than one story. Even the little grandchildren couldn't wait to tell Dad why they loved him. For a man who had been kind to so many hundreds of people in his life, here was our chance to tell him how much we love him. A few months later, at Dad's memorial service, we more fully realized what we had given to Dad that night. Those are the stories people normally tell at a funeral after a loved one is no longer alive to hear the words. They tell stories, full of tears. But we had given those memories to Dad in his life, and we had told them through laughter, together with hugs and joy. He had them to hold and enjoyed them from time to time in his mind during his last days and months. Words do matter, and they are enough. We just need to say them or to speak them publicly the ones we love. That's the ways to give back love and that's our chance to celebrate a person in his or her life. The writer's family decided to have a huge birthday celebration because _ . Answer: People with less education suffer fewer stressful days,according to a report in the current issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. However,the study also found that when lesseducated people did suffer stress it was more severe and had a larger impact on their health. From this researchers have concluded that the daytoday factors that cause stress are not random .Where you are in society determines the kinds of problems that you have each day,and how well you will deal with them. The research team interviewed a national sample of 1,031 adults daily for eight days about their stress level and health.People without a high school diploma reported stress on 30 percent of the study days,people with a high school degree reported stress 38 percent of the time,and people with college degrees reported stress 44 percent of the time. "Less advantaged people are less healthy on a daily basis and are more likely to have downward turns in their health."lead researcher Dr.Joseph Grzywacz,of Wake Forest University Medical Center,said in a prepared statement."The downward turns in heBaptistalth were connected with daily stressors and the effect of daily stressors on their health is much more devastating for the less advantaged." Grzywacz suggested followup research to determine why lesseducated people report fewer days of stress when it is known that their stress is more acute(severe)and chronic (lasting). "If something happens every day,maybe it's not seen as a stressor"Grzywacz says."Maybe it is just life." The less advantaged people are,the greater. Answer:
Droughts are common in Kenya . Before ,they came every 10 years ,but now they seem to be hitting us more often and for a longer time . We gave the droughts names :"longoza"was the drought when many animals died ; there was the drought of the "planes" because food was dropped from the air by planes; and one particularly bad drought was called " man who dies with his money in his fist ",because ,even if there was money , there was simply no food to buy . I was born in 1951 in Machakos. From what my mother tells me , when I was 7, there was a serious drought . I clearly remember the terrible weather and the hunger. I can't tell you how many times I went to bed without eating . " I slept like that ," is how we described it . I can't count the number of days when " I slept like that," or describe the feeling of going to sleep hungry ,knowing I'd wake up and there would still be no food for breakfast. My father would leave early in the morning carrying a little basket to ask for food on credit . Each night he would return home around 10:00p.m. My mother would try to encourage me by telling me to keep the water in our pot boiling so that when my father arrived we could quickly cook any food he brought in the already prepared water . I would keep the fire burning and the water boiling , along with the hopes that we would eat that night. But my father would arrive frustrated and empty -handed. And I would sleep like that. The sentence "I slept like that " means " _ ." A I was disappointed when my father came back empty-handed B I felt sorry because my family got hungry again C I went to sleep with no food for breakfast. D I went to bed with nothing to eat Answer: D. I went to bed with nothing to eat Deep into the night, the bus pulled in to a Howard Johnson's restaurant and everybody got off the bus except Vingo. The young people began to wonder about him , trying to imagine his life. One of the girls sat beside him and introduced herself. After a long time, slowly and painfully, he began to tell his story. He had been in prison in prefix = st1 /New Yorkfor the last four years, and now he was going home. "Well, when I was in prison I wrote to my wife. I said, 'Martha, I understand if you can not stay married to me'. I said I was going to be away for a long time, and that if she couldn't stand it , if the kids kept asking questions, if it hurt her too much, well, she could just forget me . Get a new young man---she's a wonderful woman---and forget all about me. I told her she didn't have to write to me and she didn't. Not for the three and a half years." "Last week, when I was sure freedom was coming through, I wrote to her. I told her that if she had a new young man, I would understand. But if she didn't, if she would take me back, she should let me know. We used to live in the town,Brunswick, and there's a great big oak tree just as you come into the town. I told her if she would take me back, she should put a yellow handkerchief on the tree, and if she didn't want me, forgot me, no handkerchief and I'd keep going on through." Soon all the others were in it. When they were 20 miles fromBrunswick, the young men took over window seats on the right side, waiting for the approach of the great oak tree. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex-con's mask. Then it was 10 miles, and then 5, and the bus became very quiet. Then suddenly all of the young people were up out of their seats, screaming and shouting and crying, doing small dances. All except Vingo. The bus became quiet when it came near the town because all the passengers_. A got tired after a long journey B got too sad to say anything C grew excited and anxious to see the oak tree D were attracted by the story Answer: C. grew excited and anxious to see the oak tree Do you have to carry a heavy bag to school? Does it make your back hurt? Well, students at a high school in Kansas , America, have a meeting with their city's mayor to complain about their heavy bags. They say their bags are giving them headaches , and making their necks and backs hurt. The mayor says he is very sorry. He says students may do more of their homework on the Internet. Kansas is in _ . A China B America C Australia D Canada Answer: B. America Presents For Children's Day Charles M. Schulz was born in 1922 in Minneapolis, the only child of a housewife and a barber. His interest in comics was encouraged by his father, who loved the funny pages. Charles M. Schulz sold seventeen cartoons to the Saturday Evening Post from 1948 to 1950 and Li'l Folks to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Peanuts debuted on October 2, 1950, and ran without interruption for the next fifty years. Charles M. Schulz died in 2000. IT'S A DOG'S LIFE SNOOPY It's a Dog's Life, Snoopy brings all your familiar friends together for great times and fun. IT'S A BIG WORLD CHARLIE BROWN Charlie Brown faces some of life's little challenges with the help of Snoopy, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Linus, and the rest of the gang in It's a Big World, Charlie Brown. *PEANUTS 2000 The last one is the special edition Peanuts 2000, which includes all the last year's Peanuts comic strip and Charles M. Schulz's famous farewell strip. Come and visit our website at www.ballantinebooks.com or come to Ballantine Bookshop, you'll have a big surprise. Why did young Charles become interested in comics? A He wanted to sell cartoons B His mother encouraged him. C Cartoons brought him great times and fun D His father's love for the funny pages influenced him. Answer: D. His father's love for the funny pages influenced him. Step into Pat Lundin's home and you'll be greeted by 500 smiling faces of dolls. Lundin, 82, describes herself as "doll crazy". And she's not alone. As a member of Timeless Treasures Doll Club of Largo, she frequently meets with 25 other women who share her hobby. Once a month, they gather at the Palms of Largo to show off their latest finds and catch up on news in the world of doll collecting. On Saturday, the club will hold the Palms of Largo Fifth Annual Doll Show. The program will include 37 vendors with both classic and contemporary dolls for sale. "Timeless Treasures is a club that's open to doll lovers regardless of the age of the doll," said Judy Smith, president of the organization. "Some doll clubs require members have a certain number of antique dolls, but we don't. we make sure we are not terribly formal." Smith, 71, is a retired schoolteacher who owns Judy's Doll Hospital, a part-time business she operates out of her home. She will have a table offering repair and appraisal services. Smith firs began studying and collecting dolls in her early 20s,in Glassboro, New Jersey, she does not know how many dolls she owns, or how many repairs she has made over the years. But she does know the age of her oldest doll. "She's 129," Smith said. "It is a German-made doll that belonged to my grandmother , and it sits in my living room." The show is for both the beginner as well as the experienced collector, said Anita Munson, one of the show's organizers. Over the years, Munson, 82, has learned how to identify a valuable doll. "Generally speaking porcelain dolls are the most valuable," she said. "But the porcelain will not be shiny." Smith believes many people will attend to find out how much their dolls are worth. She wants them to know more. "Because the dolls reflect what the children were wearing and doing at a particular period of time, they can be a great history lesson for children now," she said. Smith wants people to know _ . A porcelain dolls are not valuable B collecting dolls is a way to make money C dolls have nothing to do with tradition D dolls may help children learn about history Answer: D. dolls may help children learn about history
I don't like my parents. They always tell me I should do this, and should not do that. It sometimes makes me angry," said Liu Dan, a middle school student in Beijing. Do you have the same problem? Perhaps your parents had the same problem when they were your age long ago. Why does it seem that some parents are not so friendly in their children's eyes? One of the biggest things is when someone becomes a parent, he or she likes worrying things. They worry about everything about you from the time you were born. They do a lot for you, though something would make you angry, because they care about you and worry about you. They worry about your choice of friends, the food you eat, your work at school, how much sleep you get, etc. All these things are part of your life. They want you to grow up healthily and happily. So how can you make things easier on yourself? It's easier than you think. Just make sure your parents know what you're doing. Get them to know your friends. Call them if you stay somewhere else later than usual. Say sorry to them when you make mistakes. Take responsibility for what you have done. Talk about your ideas with them. They may talk about theirs with you. Most of all, try to think about why your parents do this or do that. They are still practicing being parents and need help you can give them. Someday, when you become a parent, they may be able to help you how to get on with your children. The main idea in this passage is that _ . Answer: children and parents should understand more about each other Palm trees use the sun to Answer: eat Steve Jobs-A surprising success. Nothing in the early years of Steve Job's life suggested that he would be so successful. Born in San Francisco, the child of two students, he was adopted and grew up close to Silicon Valley. While at company-and he and his best friend Steve Wozniak got summer jobs there. After finishing high school in 1972, Jobs studied at an expensive liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon but he dropped pout after one after one term. He grew his hair and a beard, slept on friends' floors, and sometimes went to a Hare Krishna temple for free meals. Like many drop-outs at that Beatles-inspired time, his ambition was to visit a guru([])in India, which he eventually did with a friend. When they got there, the guru had died. At this point, Jobs has a limited education, and no obvious talents, apart from a notorious ability to talk. However, he did have a devoted friend who was an electronics genius. They were a great team. Without Jobs' s ambition, high design standards, the ability to make deals and great maketing skills-Wozniak might well have spent a quiet life designing hardware at HP. STEVE Jobs went to a temple because_. Answer: He had very little money Six volunteers are about to find out what it would be like to live on Mars without ever leaving the Earth. Three men and three women will spend eight months living in a special place on the side of a volcano in Hawaii. They are part of an experiment that is designed to mimic life on Mars. Their mission began on October 15, 2014. NASA says it could send astronauts to Mars as early as the 2030s. The mission would take more than two years, so NASA needs to know how people would react to living in a small group, isolated from the rest of the world, for such a long time. Some people may become depressed or bored living under those conditions. By studying people living in similar conditions here on Eares NASA hopes to learn how to choose the most suitable people for a space mission, and how to help them get along. They will live in a two-story building. The ground floor is about 86 square meters, roughly the size of a small two-bedroom apartment. It includes shared areas like kitchen, dining room, bathroom, laboratory and an exercise room. The upstairs is less than half the size of the downstairs. It contains another bathroom and six small bedrooms. The building is located in an abandoned quarry about 2,400 meters up the side of Mauna Loa, the second biggest volcano in the world. It is constantly monitored for signs of volcanic activity. NASA chose the location because the appearance looks very similar to Mars. To make it more like being on Mars in the future, they are only able to communicate by email during the experiment. Meanwhile, there will be a 20-minute delay between the time when a message is sent and that when it is received. When they go outside, they will have to suit up in full spacesuits, just as if they were on Mars. The commander is Martha Lenio, a 34-year-old Canadian. During the mission, she will run experiments on growing food. The other members have backgrounds in physics and so on. None of them are astronauts. What's the main purpose of the experiment? Answer: To prepare for a space mission to Mars. v Happiness Happiness tells the story of two people (acted by Lisa Turbot and Danny Roy) who work for different advertising companies. They talk on the phone all the time and don't like each other. But then they communicate by mail and fall in love. This movie will be very popular with teenagers and people who like romances. It also has beautiful music. v I Scream In the movie, Paul (acted by Colin Jacks) is a young man who joins a thriller club. Each of the members tries to frighten the others. Paul is told to stay in an old house for the night. Everyone who had tried to stay in the house before has died. This movie is very frightening but also quite silly. It doesn't make sense for Paul to stay in the house when things start to go wrong. Only for people who like thrillers. v Paul's Heros This is a very funny war movie set in World War Two. Six soldiers (including Sammy Turblow) have to get to Italy to take secret message to the American army there. During the movie, they dress up as women and fight with Italian workers. You can guess the ending, but it's great fun getting there. v _ This is a very good drama with Jake Ross, who plays a hard-working truck driver. His wife becomes ill and he has to find a doctor who can help her. In his travels he meets Dr. Lioyd (acted by Phil Driver) who has found the cure for the illness, but Jack Ross has only twelve hours to get the medicine back to his wife on the other side of America. This is an excellent movie, which is very exciting and well worth seeing again. Which of the following is the best title for the fourth movie? Answer: Twelve Hours.
The old man walked with a cane slowly into the restaurant. His poor jacket, patched trousers, and worn-out shoes made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes that shone like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips held in a steady smile. He walked toward a table by the window. A young waitress watched him and ran over to him, saying, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair." Without a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Supporting him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she pushed the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss." "You are welcome, Sir." She replied. "My name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment. If you need anything, just wave at me!" After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and lemon tea, Mary brought him the change, helping him up from his chair and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!" He nodded a thank you and said softly with a smile, "You are very kind!" When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under his plate she found a business card and a note written on the napkin , under which was a $100 bill. The note on the napkin read, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine though those who meet you." The man she had served was the owner of the restaurant. This was the first time that she, or any of his workers, had seen him in person. The man came to the restaurant _ . A. to have breakfast B. to see his workers C. to find out how the workers in his restaurant were working D. to see how Mary served customers Answer: C. to find out how the workers in his restaurant were working It's easy to observe an athlete like Tiger Woods and feel like he's from another planet. He has won 14 major tournament titles and about $122 million in prize money and ads. He also has a happy family. It seems that he is too perfect to be one of us. But Woods has more in common with you than you might think. Woods' parents -- particularly his father -- set high expectations for him when he was a child. Before Earl Woods' death in 2006, he told Golf magazine, "My purpose in raising Tiger was not to raise a golfer. I wanted to raise a good person." By age two, Woods was already swinging a golf club. But once he entered school, Woods' father was careful to send the message that school work came first. Woods wasn't allowed to practice until his homework was done. When Woods finally reached the professional tour, his father continued to expect a lot of him. "Tiger will do more than any other man in history to change the course of human. The world is just getting a taste of his power," he said in 1996. Clearly, Earl Woods had great expectations of his son. In this way, Tiger Woods is actually like a lot of us. Many of us feel a similar pressure to make our parents proud. When this happens, it's easy to let that pressure overwhelm us. In a perfect world, we would all grow up to be Tiger Woods-like successes in our own fields. But that isn't possible. There are many things that we can't control in this life, despite our best efforts. There is, however, one thing that we can do: we can try to be a "good person", as Earl Woods asked his son to do. According to the passage, which of the following statements about Tiger Woods is TRUE? A. Tiger Woods is too perfect to be one of us. B. Tiger Woods wasn't allowed to play golf after class. C. Tiger Woods did very well in golf as a child. D. Tiger Woods didn't like playing golf when he was a child. Answer: C. Tiger Woods did very well in golf as a child. People have been growing chrysanthemums for more than 2,000 years. Mums make bright and colorful gardens. People in China and other Asian cultures make tea with the flowers. One basic kind of mum is the garden mum. The other basic kind is the florist mum. The garden mum is better able to handle different growing conditions. There are many varieties of mums. The decorative mum is often seen in gardens. Another popular type, the quill mum, has long, straight petals like a tube or needle. Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow, gold, red or other colors. The plants often grow one meter high. The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moist but well drained so it does not get too wet. Newly-planted mums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground may do well just with normal rainfall. Mums grow best in full sunshine. They produce colorful blooms when days get shorter and nights get longer. The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight. This is why experts advise against placing mums near night lights or street lights. The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too soon. In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant mums at least six weeks before the first frost. That way, the plants will be well established for cold weather. Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentation comes from planting mums close together. But be sure to leave enough space to let air flow between the plants. If not, there may be a greater chance of disease. To get more blooms, gardeners pinch back the branches when new growth has reached fifteen centimeters. Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch. Pinch it again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters. Stop the pinching about one hundred days before you want the plants to bloom. What has a great effect on the life cycle of the mum? A. The conditions of the soil. B. The amount of daylight. C. The amount of rainfall. D. Cold weather. Answer: B. The amount of daylight. Barry collected four different rocks. The rock with the GREATEST mass will feel the ___. A. heaviest B. smoothest C. sharpest D. hardest Answer: A. heaviest It is most difficult for parents to decide whether to have a second child or not. It is often heard that a single child is like to be a lonely child. There are no other children in the family for the child to talk or play with. An only child is not able to get along well with children of his age. Some parents regretted making the decisions to have only one child. But the number of parents choosing to have only one child is increasing in many parts of the world. In the US, for example, more than14 percent of women between 18 and 34 plan to have just one child. The same can be seen in the UK. In Japan, the average number of children born per family had gone down to 1.42 by 1996. For some single-child parents, especially who are busy working every day, time and energy seem to be _ . They don't have enough time and energy to share with more children. For other people, money is their first consideration. Many couples in Japan choose not to have large families as the cost of supporting a child up to the age of 18 reaches around US$160,000. What do people not think about when they choose to have a second child? A. time B. energy C. money D. food Answer: D. food
A neighbor of mine, while visiting his mother in Boston, took her to a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes. While she was trying on different styles, my neighbor took the manager aside. "When she picks out a pair that she likes," he said, "Just tell her that the price is 12 dollars. I'll pay the regular price. I don't care how much it is." The following week, my neighbor was walking by the shoe store and the manager recognized him and called him in. "What's the problem?" asked my neighbor as he entered the store. "Wasn't my check any good?" "That's not it," answered the manager, "The problem is that your mother is bringing all her friends in for those 12-dollar shoes!" The manager called my neighbor in when he saw him because _ . A he didn't have enough shoes for his customers B my neighbor's mother had taken a wrong pair of shoes C there was something wrong with his check D he found it hard to satisfy his customers Answer: D. he found it hard to satisfy his customers 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 do we know about Eric's watch? A It was quite expensive. B It was made especially for Eric. C It was a prize for his good behavior. D It helped to organize his life. Answer: D. It helped to organize his life. As they went to the doors they saw they had the letters A, B, C, and D on them. What did it mean? Alpha, the leader, told everyone to stop and look at the doors, so as to see which door they would go through. The walls were brown and dirty. The lights were yellow. Door A was blue. This was Beta's choice. Door B was red. Door C was the same color as door A. Door D a color no one had seen before. Gamma felt that Alpha needed to make a choice soon before the monsters caught their scent. Delta was the first to voice a choice. He wanted to go in the red door. Alpha told him that the old books said to go in the blue door. This is why it was so hard for Alpha right now. Two doors were blue. Being a good leader, Alpha asked everyone what they wanted to do. The final choice was door D. They went in and enjoyed all of time in a world with odd colors. What color was the door that Delta wanted to go in? A blue B yellow C red D brown Answer: C. red Shenzhen's fast development has made it become China's most crowded city! There are about 15 million people living on its 1991square kilometers. On each square kilometer averagely live 7500 people. It is 1080 more than that in Hong Kong, and nearly 800 more than that in Guangzhou. Besides, Shenzhen owns 2 million local vehicles, and about 300000 vehicles from other places also run on the local roads every day. The total length of the city's road is 6041 kilometers. It means each resident only owns 0.58 meters of road! As a result, the city is facing serious environmental and resource problems. One of the problems is water shortage. The amount of fresh water for each person of the city is only 25% of the country's average. What's more, most of the water drunk by Shenzhen people comes from other areas. In Hong Kong, there are _ people on every kilometer? A about 7500 B about 1080 C about 800 D about 6420 Answer: D. about 6420 Do you feel like sleeping after lunch? What should you do about it? Don't drink coffee or tea! Instead, take a nap .A nap may make you more energetic . You will remember things better and make fewer mistakes. Also, you can learn things more easily after taking a nap. It may even cheer you up. But there is some advice you should follow about taking a nap. First, take a nap in the middle of the day, about eight hours after you wake up. Next, a 20-minute nap is good. If you sleep longer, you may fall into a deep sleep. After a deep sleep, you will feel worse. And you should set an alarm clock. Then you can fully relax during your nap. You won't have to keep looking at the clock.21cnj*y The next time you feel like sleeping after lunch, don't get worried. Put your head down, close your eyes and take a nap. What can help you a fully relaxing nap according to the passage? A cup of coffee. B A quick meal. C An alarm clock. D A big meal. Answer: C. An alarm clock.
It was 1504,and Columbus was making another trip to the New World. Columbus and his men needed fresh water and food after three months at sea. They saw an island and went on shore. On the island there were unfriendly Indians who refused to give food to them. Columbus' men were afraid of the Indians, but he had a clever plan. He used sign language to tell the Indians about his mysterious power to turn off the light in the sky. He knew about a lunar eclipse the next night because the information was in his almanac . Columbus told the Indians, " Tomorrow night I'll turn off the light in the sky." But they didn't believe him . When the eclipse began the next night ,the Indians became very frightened . They begged Columbus to turn on the light again , and they quickly gave him all the food and water he wanted. Immediately Columbus and his men hurried back to the ship and sailed away in the moonless night. The light in the sky here means _ . Fifty people died, over 11,000 were injured, and 100,000 houses were heavily damaged or destroyed in an earthquake that struck North China's Hebei Province. The quake, measuring 6. 2 on the Richter scale (6 .2) , hit the area 220km northwest of Beijing at 11: 50 a. m. on January 10, 1998. Scientists made a report of the recent quake. They said that the area of northwestern Beijing, the joint of Shanxi and Hebei Provinces and the Inner Mongolia were most easily attacked by earthquakes measuring 6 to a bit over 7 on the Richter scale. However, scientists did not see the recent earthquake earlier. Clouds covered a large area in the northern part of North China before the earthquake and experts say that this prevented satellites from correctly watching the temperature at the correct altitude . Experts say that in the last ten years, about 305 earthquakes have taken place in China with 9 measuring over 7 on the Richter scale, 60 measuring over 6, and 236 measuring over 5. Tens of thousands of people died or were injured. Loss valued over 10 billion yuan. It can be inferred from the report that the damage caused by the earthquakes could be much less heavy if _ . It's believed that a bad job is worse than no job at all. I'm not convinced, but here's the argument anyway. Researchers at the Australian National University in Canberra compared the mental health of more than 7,000 working age Australians. They found that those with jobs had an average score of 75 in a test of mental well-being. Jobless people averaged 68.5. If you remained unemployed a long term it lowered your mental health score by 1.1 points. But getting a poor quality job lowered your score ever further - by 5.6 points. The results suggest that having a bad job may be worse for your mental health than having no job at all. So what is a bad job? According to the study it's one where you have little control over decision-making; the job makes heavy demands on you; there's no job security; and you feel underpaid. My advice would be that if a reasonable offer of employment comes along, seize it. If you discover that you don't like the work, that's OK. You've given it your best shot and discovered that this type of work isn't for you. In my own case my first job was as a trainee social worker. I very quickly learned that I was too young, too inexperienced and innocent to become a social worker. I cut my losses and tried something else. I worked as an economic researcher - and was miserable. These experiences taught me that I was a person. But from my short time as a trainee social worker I had discovered an ability for interviewing people and writing reports. That led finally to journalism. So take up that first job offer and find out about the world of work. If you realize the job isn't what you expected, that's OK. Look around for something else. So I disagree that a bad job is worse than no work at all. Remember, it's always easier to find a job if you are already in work. From the writer's experience, we could learn that _ . On November 1, Debbit, an accountant, and Barrister, a lawyer, contracted for the sale by Debbit to Barrister of the law books Debbit had inherited from his father. Barrister agreed to pay the purchase price of $10,000 when Debbit delivered the books on December 1. On November 10, Barrister received a signed letter from Debbit that stated: "I have decided to dispose of the book stacks containing the law books you have already purchased. If you want the stacks, I will deliver them to you along with the books on December 1 at no additional cost to you. Let me know before November 15 whether you want them. I will not sell them to anyone else before then." On November 14, Barrister faxed and Debbit received November 14, Barrister faxed and Debbit received the following message: "I accept your offer of the stacks." Debbit was not a merchant with respect to either law books or book stacks. Debbit is contractually obligated to deliver the stacks because This brief book is aimed at high school students, but speaks to anyone learning at any stage of life. Its formal, serious style closely matches its content, a school-masterly book on schooling.The author, W.H.Armstrong, starts with the basics: reading and writing.In his opinion, reading doesn't just mean recognizing each word on the page; it means taking in the information, digesting it and incorporating it into oneself just as one digests a sandwich and makes it a part of himself.The goal is to bring the information back to life, not just to treat it as dead facts on paper from dead trees.Reading and writing cannot be completely separated from each other; in fact, the aim of reading is to express the information you have got from the text.I've seen it again and again:some-one who can't express an idea after reading a text is just as ineffective as someone who hasn't read it at all. Only a third of the book remains after that discussion, which Armstrong devotes to specific tips for studying languages, math, science and history.He generally handles these topics thoroughly and equally, except for some weakness in the science and math sections and a bit too much passion regarding history to his students, that was a hundred times more than my history teachers ever got across.To my disappointment, in this part of the book he ignores the arts.As a matter of fact, they demand all the concentration and study that math and science do, though the study differs slightly in kind.Although it's commonly believed that the arts can only be naturally acquired, actually, learning the arts is no more natural than learning French or mathematics. My other comment is that the text aged.The first edition apparently dates to the 1960s--none of the references seem newer than the late 1950s.As a result, the discussion misses the entire computer age. These are small points, though, and don't affect the main discussion.I recommend it to any student and any teacher, including the self-taught student. According to Armstrong, the goal of reading is to _
Erik wants to climb Mount Everest. He loves to climb, and there is no place greater for climbers than the top of 29,035 feet, the world's highest mountain. Erik is blind. He has been blind since age 13, when an eye disease robbed him of his sight. His new book, Touch the Top of the World: A blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See, describes his blindness and climbing. He is the first blind man to attempt Everest. The team reached the base camp at 17,800 feet last Wednesday and began its climb Saturday. If all goes well, Erik will reach the top on about May 15. "I'm not just some broken blind guy," Erik, aged 32,said for hours before he left Los Angeles on Friday for Katmandu, Nepal. "1 put my life in my fellow climbers'hands, and they put their lives in my hands. It's an honor to reach that state. " "I want to experience the sense of adventure. Blindness has nothing to do with that. But a message of the climb is that a blind person can join a team and climb the highest mountain in the world. " Erik has climbed the highest tops on four continents: North America's Mount McKmley, South America's Aconcagua, Africa's Kilimanjaro and Antarctica's Vinson Massif. He is an expert rock and ice climber, having scaled El Captain in Yosemite National Park. When he was 16, he attended a school that taught blind people to be independent. One day, a group went rock-climbing. "1 really liked it," Erik said, "You can solve problems. It is sense in your inner mind. People didn't think blind people could go out and become expert rock climbers. Erik expected the climb of Mount Everest to be_. Answer: adventurous "Everyone makes mistakes in life, but that doesn't mean they have to pay for them for the rest of their lives. Sometimes wise people make foolish choices. It doesn't mean they're foolish; it means they're improving!" Sometimes mistakes mean something that you are trying new things. It's good to try new things. Because when you are trying new things, you are growing. If you never have a try, you will never make progress. Look around you, everything you see is the result of someone trying new things. I remember clearly what life was like back in 2006. I was 17 years old and in a really bad place. In a chemistry 1ab, I was doing an experiment . I tried twenty times, but I couldn't succeed. So I decided to stop doing the experiment. I felt a little unhappy. Mr. Green seemed to understand my thought. He touched my head with a smile, "Young man, you have done a lot and you've got a lot. At least you know that there are twenty ways you can't use to do this experiment." After hearing the words, I became excited again. I kept doing the experiment and at last I did succeed. The writer felt unhappy in the lab because he _ . Answer: failed many times in the experiment Frank was clever, but he never liked to work hard. He often said to his friends, "If you work hard, you will make a lot of money, but it is not so good. I want easy work and a lot of money. That's the most interesting thing in the world."So he could only be a thief. But he still thought it was too much work, so he only told his friends what to do and got money from them. One day, Frank sent one of his friends to a very large and beautiful house. He told him to get money from that rich family. It was evening, and a man and a girl were in the room. They were playing a duet on a piano. Then the thief came into the house. When he returned, Frank asked him what he had got. But he said, "I didn't take anything. That family can't have much money. You know, two people were playing on the same piano there. They did not have money to buy another piano." Which is the best title for the passage? Answer: Easy Work and More Money Alexandra Scott was born to Liz and Jay Scott in Manchester, Connecticut on January 18, 1996, the second of four children. Shortly before her first birthday, Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. On her first birthday, the doctors informed Alex's parents that if she beat her cancer it was doubtful that she would ever walk again. Just two weeks later, Alex slightly moved her leg at her parents' request to kick. This was the first indication that she would turn out to be a courageous and confident child with big dreams and big accomplishments. By her second birthday, Alex was able to stand up with leg braces . She worked hard to gain strength and to learn how to walk. She appeared to be overcoming the difficul-ties, until the shocking discovery within the next year that her tumors had started growing again. In the year 2000, the day after her fourth birthday, Alex received a stem cell transplant and informed her mother, "When I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand. " She said she wanted to give the money to doctors to allow them to help other kids, like they helped me. True to her word, she held her first lemonade stand later that year with the help of her older brother and raised an amazing $ 2,000 for her hospital. People from all over the world, moved by her story, held their own lemonade stands and donated the earnings to Alex and her cause. In August of 2004, Alex passed away at the age of 8, knowing that, with the help of others, she had raised more than $ 1 million to help find a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex's family--including brothers Patrick, Eddie, and Joey--and supporters around the world are committed to continuing her inspiring cause through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Which of the following can best describe Alex? Answer: Determined. This year, the World Mental Health Day on Oct 10 was marked by the theme: "Depression: A Global Crisis". According to the World Federation for Mental Health and the WHO, depression has moved beyond the medical domain to become a social problem. Statistics from the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center show that of the 287,000 people who commit suicide in China every year, 70 percent are victims of depression. "This equates to one depression victim taking their life every three minutes," cited CCTV recently. According to the Beijing-based Capital Medical University, the number of depression patients has been on the rise in the past years and now accounts for 5 to 10 percent of the population, more than the global average of 5 percent. Wang Shaoli, vice-president of Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, a medical center specializing in mental health, said that what makes depression so widespread is that everybody can get it. "No one is immune to depression," said Wang. "It has become a social problem because depression kills one's social capabilities, such as communication, and leads to a negative social mentality." According to Wang, depression can be treated with medicine and early psychological consultation. The real problem is the lack of awareness surrounding the issue. "People with mental health illnesses are discriminated against," said Wang. "So they are reluctant to go to hospital and often keep the pain to themselves, which only makes matters worse." Only one in 10 depression victims are properly treated in China, according to the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center. "When people get depressed, it becomes part of their thoughts, making them negative, even desperate," said Wang. "And the ideas are difficult to change." That's why Wang suggests early intervention. "Normally it takes about nine months to treat depression," said Wang. "But in most cases, patients drop treatment half way when they feel some progress." According to the passage, which of the following are true EXCEPT _ ? Answer: depression can destroy people's immune system and social capabilities
I've been writing for most of my life. The book Writing Without Teachers introduced me to one distinction and one practice that has helped my writing processes tremendously. The distinction is between the creative mind and the critical mind. While you need to employ both to get to a finished result, they cannot work in parallel no matter how much we might like to think so. Trying to criticize writing on the fly is possibly the single greatest barrier to writing that most of us encounter. If you are listening to that 5th grade English teacher correct your grammar while you are trying to capture a fleeting thought, the thought will die. If you capture the fleeting thought and simply share it with the world in raw form, no one is likely to understand. You must learn to create first and then criticize if you want to make writing the tool for thinking that it is. The practice that can help you past your learned bad habits of trying to edit as you write is what Elbow calls "free writing." In free writing, the objective is to get words down on paper non-stop, usually for 15-20 minutes. No stopping, no going back, no criticizing. The goal is to get the words flowing. As the words begin to flow, the ideas will come from the shadows and let themselves be captured on your notepad or your screen. Now you have raw materials that you can begin to work with using the critical mind that you've persuaded to sit on the side and watch quietly. Most likely, you will believe that this will take more time than you actually have and you will end up staring blankly at the pages as the deadline draws near. Instead of staring at a blank start filling it with words no matter how bad. Halfway through your available time, stop and rework your raw writing into something closer to finished product. Move back and forth until you run out of time and the final result will most likely be far better than your current practices. When the author says the creative mind and the critical mind "cannot work in parallel" in the writing process, he means _ . A. one cannot use them at the same time B. they cannot be regarded as equally important C. they are in constant conflict with each other D. no one can be both creative and critical Answer: A. one cannot use them at the same time The kite was originally called Zhiyuan in North China, and Yaozi in South China. Early in the Five dynasties, a man named Li Ye used to make and fly a kite in the emperor's court. He once attached a whistle made of bamboo to the kite. Sound was let out when the kite was flying. The kite was named after Zheng, a kind of Chinese music instrument. Then it was named Fengzheng in Chinese. The earliest kite in the world was made by Motse, a famous Chinese philosopher, who lived 2,300 years ago, for military purposes. He spent three years making an eagle and managed to fly it. The eagle was later regarded as the first kite in the world. Kite-flying became a recreation probably from the Tang dynasty when the royal family and people of the highest class were addicted to it. It was said that the Emperor Xuanzong in the Tang Dynasty once was interested in a kite named Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea flying in the air. Later, the paper-made kite was invented, which cost less and spread quickly among the common people. As time went on, kites flew to various countries in the world. 'The well-known British scientist, Dr. Needham, once described kites as an important scientific invention which spread to Europe from China in his book, A History of China's Science and Technology. The invention of the kite inspired men's dream of flying and led to the invention of the airplane. The kite made by Li Ye was named after a Chinese music instrument because _ . A. it was made of bamboo B. it could sound in the sky C. Li Ye was a musician D. it looked like a whistle Answer: B. it could sound in the sky You may have heard of the famous saying,"East or West,home is the best."What does the word"home"mean to you? How do you say the word in French? In Chinese? In your language? Although people usually know what the word means,it sometimes has no exact translation.It's not surprising,because the idea of home is different from country to country,and from person to person.A home is more than a roof and four walls.It's the cooking,eating,talking,playing and sleeping that go on inside.And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed. Homes look different in different countries.They also have different things inside.For example,in cold northern Europe,there's a fire in the living room or kitchen and all the chairs face it.In the south,where the sun shines a lot and it's more important to keep the heat out,there are small windows and cool stone floors. We asked some people about their homes. How often do people move house in your country? "In my country many people don't stay in one place for a very long time.They often move every ten years or so." --Chery,Boston,USA. What are features of homes in your country? "In Britain,even in town,there's always a garden.We have separate bedrooms and living rooms.But we don't often have balconies .The weather isn't warm enough!" --Pat.Exeter,England Which one of the sentences below is true? A. People in Britain seldom have balconies because it's so hot outside. B. Some Americans move house several times during their lifetime. C. Homes look the same in different countries. D. Houses in northern Europe have big windows and cool stone floors. Answer: B. Some Americans move house several times during their lifetime. TOKYO--Applicants to a private high school for girls in Sasebo in southern Nagasaki Prefecture will be asked lo hold and move various small objects including beans and marbles with chopsticks as part of the entrance exam. "This is simply one factor to assess whether these girls can handle chopsticks correctly, which is really the most basic element in education," said Katushi Hisata, the vice principal of Hisata Gakuen Girls' High School. "It's surprising to see how many children don't know how to hold chopsticks correctly, which is part of the Japanese culture's beauty," he told AFP by telephone, adding that only 20 percent of elementary students use chopsticks correctly. The westernization of Japan's eating habits means that use of the knife and fork is increasingly common, while a growing number of children with working parents eat alone, leaving them less _ in chopsticks etiquette . The school's vice principal accused celebrities appearing on television food and cookery shows of using chopsticks wrongly. The school, built in 1902, has traditional classes in tea ceremony, kimono-fitting, etiquette and cooking as part of the wider curriculum."We are aware that this kind of exam won't make students jump up and come running to us, because this is unlike normal high schools that advertise success rates of students entering prestigious universities," Hisata said."But we do know that education is not only about having brains, but also etiquette," he added. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? A. Chopsticks at Japanese Dining Tables B. Traditions over Stressed in Japan C. Traditional Chopsticks Etiquette D. Some Japanese Students Faced with New Tests Answer: D. Some Japanese Students Faced with New Tests There are three kinds of goals: short-term, intermediate and long-term goals. Short-term goals are those that usually deal with present activities. Such goals can be achieved in a week or two, or possible months. It should be remembered that just as a building is no stronger than its foundation , our long-term goals cannot be achieved without the achievement of solid short-term goals. Upon completing our short-term goals, we should date the time and then add new short-term goals that will build on those that have been completed. The intermediate goals build on the foundation of the short-term goals. They might deal with just one term of school or the entire school years, or they could extend for several years. Any time you move a step at a time, you never allow yourself to become discouraged. As you complete each step, you will have more belief in your ability to grow and succeed. Long-term goals may be related to our dreams of future. They might cover five years or more. Life is not a static thing. We should never allow a long-term goal to limit us or our course of action. The long-term goals mean _ . A. something static and easy to get if we complete our short-term goals B. something easy to reach if we complete a short-term goal in time C. nothing but our dreams of future D. a lot, such as a dream, and aspiration or a wish in our life Answer: D. a lot, such as a dream, and aspiration or a wish in our life
By 2012,the world may need to cope with as many as 50 million people who have fled their homeland,not for political or economic reasons but because the environment has been so badly changed that it cannot support life. The statement has been released by the United Nations to mark UN Disaster Reduction Day. More people are made homeless by environmental disasters than by war,according to the research by the Red Cross. That reality is proved by the earthquake in Pakistan. The widely publicized disaster has brought aid from the global community,according to Janos Bogardi,director of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security. "If we can move swiftly in and give them a new start where they are,then they may stay in the area. Otherwise,they become environmental refugees. Environmentalrelated migrations are most acute in SubSaharan Africa,but they also affect millions of people in Asia and India. Meanwhile,the United States is witnessing increased pressure from victims of mismanaged and worsening soil and water conditions in Mexico and Latin America." he says. Janos Bogardi says these refugees suffer from the impact of gradual environmental change--global warming,sea level rise,air and water pollution and more intense storms,floods and droughts that degrade the land. This is a slow process,but unfortunately a process that is very difficult to go backwards once final damage is done. Janos Bogardi says they are calling on the global community to recognize the serious situation of environmental refugees and to work together to lessen the impact of environmental disaster. According to the passage,the following are the main reasons for migrations except _ . Answer: global community A team of researchers in the UK has shown that children who were taken to the library more often and owned more books at two years old achieved higher scores in school tests when they began primary school. The research also showed that although social background has a noticeable effect on a child's readiness for school, attending pre-school and having their parents teach them a wide range of activities have a positive effect---while extended exposure to television lowers their scores. "One message coming through loud and clear is that how a child learns in his very early years is critical for a smooth transition into the educational system," said Professor James Law. "This is a very positive message, as it gets us away from the belief that a child's educational future is pre-determined by standard measures of socio-economic disadvantage, such as income, housing, or the mother's education." Data from the study shows that children from a positive communication environment had a better expressive vocabulary by their second birthday. These children went on to achieve higher scores in language, reading and maths tests when they entered school. In the early years, the communication environment was a better predictor of children's success with language than their general social background. Most children develop speech and language effortlessly, but some are slow to acquire these skills and go on to struggle with literacy and academic skills throughout their schooling. This project set out to uncover what factors contributed to these problems. Professor Sue Roulstone said, "These findings are an encouragement to all parents to provide a positive communication environment for their children from the very start of their lives. The project did identify particular aspects of the communication environment, such as having children's books around and not having the television on too much. But the main message is that, as parents, we can have an impact on how our children learn to talk by providing a range of communication experiences. And the better our children are at talking by the age of two years, the better they will do when they start school." From the research, Professor James Law concluded that _ . Answer: the very early years had a big effect on children's school performance I had once helped a friend of mine run a watermelon stall. I noticed something interesting. Almost every buyer would lift the melon up to their ear,smartly tap it, apparently trying to listen to something. I wondered what they expected to hear. Finally I could no longer hold back my curiosity and made bold to ask a customer--an elderly gentleman--about this. Hearing my question,he roared with laughter. Then he replied in a selfmocking tone."Young lady,I have been doing this for more than fifty years. All I know is that everybody would stare at you as if you were a fool if you just pick up the melon and leave!" Not long after that,my watermelon stall friend unexpectedly sent me an invitation for her wedding,which really surprised me. I asked her, "How come you are seized by a sudden desire to get married? I don't remember ever hearing you mention that yon've got a boyfriend." She answered while counting money,"Everyone has to get married anyway,so it is better to get married sooner than later." I could think of no word to refute her. It seems that everybody is living for everybody else and has forgotten the need of their own heart. It may be safe and save a lot of worries by following others' suit in doing things. The use of We or Us will give one a steady and sure sense of pride. But using the pronoun "I" would often give one a guilty conscience. I find all these things somewhat funny. We have got used to taking cue from others and follow their suit. In turn,we also take it for granted that we should judge the right and wrong of others by our own standard. As a matter of fact,this massive practice is still wrong though we all follow others' suit like this, but we feel at ease and, _ simply because this is the way of us, and so we can have an easy conscience because this has been practiced by so many people. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? Answer: My experience of helping my friend run a watermelon stall was interesting. Twice in the past few days, I've witnessed families arguing to the point of having major 'falling outs' (when you get so angry with each other that there is threat of withdrawing love from a family member and/or abandoning the relationship). Last night, one of those situations occurred and a friend contacted me on QQ and asked my advice. Their situation arose where a son-in-law had disagreements with his wife and then got into a quarrel with his mother-in-law and father-in-law. In the end, the son-in-law threatened to cut off all relationship with his in laws and also to deny his in laws a relationship with his own daughter, their granddaughter. Not only did the son-in-law threaten his wife's parents, but he has followed through with his threat and hasn't allowed his wife or his child to have any contact with his wife's parents in almost a year. The first question my friend asked me was, "Michael, what do you do when you get into a quarrel with your family?" I said, "I don't know." They said, "Well what about when you quarrel with your mother or one of your siblings (brother or sister)?" I said, "I don't know." He said, "Well, what would you do if you got into an argument with your in laws when you were married?" I said, "I don't know." He said, "What do you mean that you don't know?" I said, "Well, I never got into a quarrel with my in-laws, my mother or my siblings." He said, "Be serious, Michael. I need some help with this situation." I said, "I am serious. I never quarreled with mother, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law or brother-in-law. At least not in my adult life (since I turned 18 years old)." My friend found it hard to believe that I never did any of these things. I suppose (I really don't know; Ha!) that many people wouldn't believe that an entire family could maintain a such a level of peace, harmony, respect and love. The truth is, my family doesn't do those things. You may wonder 'why' we don't do that. Well, I never really thought about 'why' we don't do that. But I do know, we don't. So, I did the most logical thing I could think of. I asked my mother 'why' we don't quarrel, argue, fight and have such situations. Some people believe that if you don't argue, quarrel and fight, then, you don't care enough. I would say that my family cares very deeply for each other and love each other and express our love to each other, very often. We don't believe that you have to quarrel, argue and fight in order to show that you care and that you love the other. Instead, we show that we love, care and respect each other by, well, loving, caring and respecting each other. What can we infer from the passage? Answer: The writer has cultural differences with his friends. San Russell is not your average baseball fan. He is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. He has a season ticket and he arranges his work schedule so he does not miss a game. San also attends game dressed in their uniform, and his car is red. He has even lost some friends by choosing to watch the Red Sox instead of going to their weddings. Is this healthy behavior? Although Russell's case is extreme, being a sports fan can be healthy for you. According to a study at the University of Kansan in the USA, sports fans suffer from depression less than people who are not interested in sports, fans also experience other effects from watching their team play. When their team wins a game, their own confidence and happiness increase, just like the athletes. Losing, on the other hand, always leads to some sense of disappointment. What about die-hard fans whose team always loses? The team spirit keeps those fans from losing hope. Knowing that other fans are probably feeling the same way also helps them. In addition, there is always the hope that their team will win the next game. Russell has lost some friends because of his love for baseball and although you may think that would make him unhappy, he has made many more new friends because of his team spirit. For Sam Russell, supporting the Red Sox is not just a hobby; it is a way of life and the secret of his happiness. From the reading we can infer that a die-hard fan _ . Answer: prefers going to a game to a friend's wedding
John Smith was a writer, who wrote detective stories for magazines , though he never dealt with criminals . One evening he could not finish an end for a story. He sat in his study , but he had no ideas. So he decided to go to the cinema. When he came back, he found that he had had a visitor. Someone had broken into his house. The visitor had had a drink, smoked several of his cigarettes and had read his story. The visitor left him a note. "I have read your story and I don't think it is very good. Please read my suggestions and you can finish it. By the way, I am a thief. I'm not going to steal anything tonight. But if you become a successful writer, I will return." John read the thief's suggestions. Then he sat down and wrote the rest of the story. He is still not a successful writer, and he is waiting for his "visitor" to return. Before he goes out in the evening, he always leaves a half-finished story in his study. The visitor came to John's house in order to _ . I love to tell the story about how I met my best friend-Tiger. We met at the school fair . Each year, all the fourth-grade classes hold a school fair. Everyone in the fourth grade works at the fair. Some sell ice cream, drinks and snacks, others take care of the little children who ride the horses. I got the second job and I've never forgotten it, because that's where I met Tiger. My job was to help little children get on the back of a little horse. I kept telling the children to wait their turn and holding ice cream for them while they rode about. It's clear that I was growing older and should be more responsible. Suddenly, a boy came to the horse. He took the little horse's reins ! The horse stopped, and the girl on its back started to fall. I was trying to reach the girl when I saw Tiger go by my legs. It held the horse's reins and pulled the horse away from my legs. I caught the girl just before we both hit the ground. The girl sat on top of me. She was laughing at the ice cream on my face. The horse's reins were in Tiger's mouth! Thanks to Tiger's fast action, I saved the little girl. We were both heroes. And Tiger, the fastest dog I've ever known became my new best friend. From the passage we can know that the writer is _ . A driver stopped his car on a street side to have a rest.As he lay down in the seat and closed his eyes, a person came up and knocked at the window to ask the time. The driver opened his eyes and looked at his watch. "It's five past eight." he said. Then he went to sleep again. But soon he was waken up again because a second person was knocking at the window."Excuse me, what time is it now?"he asked. The driver looked at his watch again, and told him it was half past eight. In this way, the driver thought he couldn't have a good rest, so he wrote a short note and stuck it on the window for all to see. It said,"I don't know the time."Again, he lay down in the seat for his sleep. A few minutes later,a third person came and began to knock at the window, "Hey, sir."he said, "It's a quarter to nine." The driver _ in his car. Whenever someone begins to talk to me about how horrible it is to eat meat and suggests that a nice piece of tofu would be just as good, I just smile and show them those nice pointy teeth we all have in the corners of our mouths. They are called canines , and they are there only for the purpose of eating meat. When it comes to satisfying this kind of desire, soy food can never match a well-prepared tri-tip (also know as triangle beef steak ). Just the thought of the beef, burning on the grill with the smell of wood smoke gets the mouth watering and brings back memories of summer barbecues. When the knife cuts through the tri- tip, exposing the red meat bursting with juices, it's more than just cooking. It's a cultural event, showing we are at the top of the food chain, like no other food can. Nutritionally speaking, the tri-tip is one of the better cuts of beef. It is lower in fat than many other cuts, and the proteins you get from eating meat are more complete than those that come from vegetables, making meat a better choice for building and keeping up your muscle tissue healthy. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, one thing to be aware of with soy products in general is that while they are high in iron, a necessary mineral for the body, they also contain something that blocks the body's absorption of iron. We can cook them in various ways to make them tasty. Anyway, the tri-tip goes a lot better with ice-cold beer than a large piece of bean-curd cheese would, no matter how you cook it. I guess I should say at least e good thing about tofu. If you cook it just right, you can make it taste a little like the tri-tip, but only a little. What's the author's attitude towards eating meat? As you probably know, J.Paul Getty was one of the richest and moat successful American industrialists in history.Quite ambitious from an early age, Getty made his first million at age 23 in 1916.He later went on to found the Getty oil company, In 1957, Fortune magazine named him the richest living American and in 1966, the Guinness Book of Records named him as the world's richest private citizen. Although he is highly regarded by vast numbers of people for his financial success, as a younger man, his drive to acquire power and money had a _ l impact on other aspects of his life, particularly in his relationships with women.He was, at one point quoted assaying "A lasting relationship with a woman is only possible if you are a business failure." He married five times, having children with four of these wives.He couldn't seem to keep a marriage going for very long.His obsession with having a fortune and power alienated each of his wives, eventually driving them away. His marriage with his first wife Jeanette lasted for only three years, with Allene for two years, Adolphine, four years, Ann, four years, and finally Louise, nineteen years. Perhaps as a young man, Getty was willing to pay whatever price for financial success.Yet Paul came to feel some regret in regard to his life priorities as he approached his later years when he Wrote: "I hate and regret the failure of my marriages.I would gladly give all of my millions for just one lasting marriage success." At the end of Getty's life, all of the wealth that he had got meant very little to him.It was only then that he became wise enough to understand what really mattered most.Despite all of his accomplishments, he died with great regret. It' s a sad story and a cautionary tale for those of us who may have chosen to make career building our highest priority , thereby ignoring our relationships.Like any other living organism, relationships require care and attention in order to grow.Even the strongest relationships will he damaged, if there is not enough care. At the end of his life, what J.Paul Getty cares about most is the success in _ .
Question: When Gretchen Baxter gets home from work as a New York City book editor, she checks her Blackberry at the door. 'I think we are attached to these devices in a way that is not always positive,' says Baxter,who'd rather focus at home on her husband and 12-year-old daughter. 'It's there and it beckons . That's human nature (but)...we kind of get crazy sometimes and we don't know where it should stop.' Americans are connected at unprecedented levels93% now use cell phones or wireless devices;one third of those are 'smart phones' that allow users to browse the Web and check e-mail,among other things. The benefits are obvious: checking messages on the road,staying in touch with friends and family,efficiently using time once spent waiting around. The downside:often,we're effectively disconnecting from those in the same room. That's why,despite all the technology that makes communicating easier than ever,2010 was the Year We Stopped Talking to One Another. From texting at dinner to posting on Facebook from work or checking e-mail while on a date,the connectivity revolution is creating a lot of divided attention,not to mention social anxiety. Many analysts say it's time to step back and reassess. 'What we're going to see in the future is new opportunities for people to be plugged in and connected like never before,' says Scott Campbell. 'It can be a good thing,but I also see new ways the traditional social fabric is getting somewhat torn apart.' Our days are filled with beeps and pings*----many of which pull us away from tasks at hand or face-to-face conversations. We may feel that the distractions are too much,but we can't seem to stop posting,texting or surfing. 'We're going through a period of adjustment and rebalancing,' says Sherry Turkle and she wants to remind people that technology can be turned off. 'Our human purposes are to really have connections with people,' she says. 'We have to reclaim it. It's not going to take place by itself.' Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The wide use of mobile devices has nothing to do with the 'traditional social fabric'. B. Mobile devices play a less important part in American life. C. Mobile devices create a lot of divided attention and social anxiety. D. Many analysts speak highly of the wide popularity of mobile devices. Answer: C. Mobile devices create a lot of divided attention and social anxiety. Question: Four solid balls, each with a different mass, are moving at the same speed. Which ball would require the most force to stop its motion? A. ball with a mass of 5 kg B. ball with a mass of 10 kg C. ball with a mass of 15 kg D. ball with a mass of 20 kg Answer: D. ball with a mass of 20 kg Question: Today, when there are many top graduates looking for top jobs, graduates can differentiate themselves by obtaining a double major or even a double degree. Increasingly, employers are looking for individuals who are not only competent and intelligent, but who have different skill sets and who are knowledgeable in many areas. Part of the appeal to employers is that your extra work demonstrates a willingness to take on difficult tasks. Additionally, if your majors overlap , you are able to show potential employers that you have both _ and depth of knowledge. By studying for a double major, although you will be studying for only one degree, you will be focusing on two related and integrated subjects that complement each other. Classes overlap between the majors, meaning fewer classes are required than with a double degree, so it is easier to finish within four years. In contrast, with the more rigorous double degree, you will be studying for two different degrees in two completely different areas of study. Although pursuing such a course of study allows students to complete two wholly separate degrees in less time than if they were to earn them separately, many strong students still find it incredibly difficult to complete in four or five years. If you are committed to a double major/degree, it is wise to do a little bit of planning. Some students try to find two courses of studies that are related, while others seek to round out their academic studies by choosing two completely unrelated fields. For double majors, common pairings include: (i) economics and a foreign language; (ii) political science or government and journalism; (iii) economics and psychology. For double degrees, common pairings include: (i) engineering and a business program such as finance or accounting; (ii) engineering and economics. To obtain a double major, you _ . A. should complete two wholly separate degrees B. need to focus on two related and integrated subjects C. need to spend more time than obtaining a double degree D. have to take courses in two completely different areas of study Answer: B. need to focus on two related and integrated subjects Question: Since 1984, Philadelphia has been cleaning up its act. One by one, graffiti-covered walls are being changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals have been painted. Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city. The walls that were once ugly with graffiti are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Program (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive, and its citizens very proud. The program began as part of Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP's artistic director. "When people ask me what our program is about," she says, "I answer them with one word: hope." Each year, the MAP offers youth art programs and workshops. Some one-time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals. The MAP's work, says Golden, is all about developing a sense of community . When a neighborhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been "Safe Streets," "Love and Care," and "Peace Walk." The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals. "The making of a mural enters people's collective memory as an extraordinary, pleasant moment in neighborhood history" says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles. What can be the best title for the text? A. Love, from Graffiti Writers to Muralists B. MAP, a New Company in Philadelphia C. Jane, an Excellent Mural Artist D. Hope, One Wall at a Time Answer: D. Hope, One Wall at a Time Question: Monkeys , face to face DISCOVER magazine once reported on a curious event in the woods : a group of monkeys applied mud to their faces in order to keep away insects , but when they were done they seemed to have lost their ability to recognize each other ---two monkeys that were supposed to be friends even started fighting. "Faces are really important to how monkeys and apes can tell one another apart," explained Michael Alfaro, a biologist at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to the New York -based International Science Times . This is quite different from many other animals , which depend heavily on smells. Since faces play such a crucial part in the social lives of monkeys , could this explain why certain monkey species have such colorful faces while others have simpler, plainer ones ? To test this theory , a group of researchers from UCLA studied 139 monkey species , mainly from Asia and Africa, and analyzed hundreds of headshot photos of those monkeys from their databases. It was found that species that live in larger groups have faces with more complex color patterns than those that live in smaller groups. According to Live Science, researchers believe that this is nature's way of making it easier for monkeys to recognize each other since those living in larger groups have to distinguish between a greater number of faces. This is actually not that hard to understand . Just imagine if there were 10 people standing in front of you, all wearing white clothes. It would be much more difficult to tell them apart than if they wore clothes with colorful patterns. However, if there were only two people that you had to identify, a lack of color wouldn't be much of a problem. Apart from the need to recognize group members , researchers found that geography and environment also affect monkeys' facial colors. Species that live closer to the equator in thick, humid forests were found to have darker faces than those who live in dry areas further away from the equator. This is because darker faces help camouflage the monkeys in the woods so that they go unnoticed by predators . Which of the following statements about monkeys'face patterns is TURE according to the article ? A. Larger monkeys have more complex face color patterns. B. Monkeys with colorful face patterns usually take higher social positions within groups. C. Monkeys living in smaller groups usually have simpler, plainer face patterns. D. Colorful face patterns keep monkeys safe from predators. Answer: C. Monkeys living in smaller groups usually have simpler, plainer face patterns.
You are busy filling out the application form for a position you really need; let's assume you once actually completed a couple of years of college work or even that you completed your degree. Isn't it tempting to lie just a little, to claim on the form that your diploma represents a Harvard degree? Or that you finished an extra couple of years back at State University? More and more people are turning to an utter deception like this to land their first job or to move head in their careers. For personnel officers, like most Americans, value degrees from famous schools. A job applicant may have a good education anyway, but he or she assumes that chances of being hired are better with a diploma from a well-known university. Registrars at most well-known colleges say that they deal with dishonest claims like these at the rate of about one per week. Personnel officers do check up on degrees listed on application forms. If it turns out that an applicant is lying, most colleges are unwilling to accuse the applicant directly. One lvy League school refers to them as "special cases", One well-known West Coast school, in perhaps the most delicate phrase of all, says these claims are made by "no such people". To avoid complete lies, some job seekers claim that they "attended" or "were associated with" a college or university. After careful checking, a personnel officer may discover that "attending" means being dismissed after one semester. It may be that "being as sociated with" a college means that the job-seeker visited his younger brother for a football weekend. One school that keeps records of false claims says that the practice dates back at least to the turn of the century--that's when they began keeping records, anyhow. If you don't want to lie or even stretch the truth, there are companies that will sell you a fake diploma. One company, with offices in New York and on the West Coast, will put your name on a diploma from any number of non-existent colleges. The price begins at around twenty dollars for a diploma from "Smoot State University". The prices increase rapidly for a degree from the "University of Purdue". As there is no Smoot State and the real school in Indiana is properly called Purdue University, the prices seem rather high for one sheet of paper. We can learn from the passage that _ . A US employers value their job applicants with a degree from top universities B University of Purdue and Purdue University are the same school C people with fake diplomas can get their first jobs in the US easily D people pay the same price for a fake diploma from different universities Answer: A Nick is a knight . But he doesn't like to ride and he doesn't like to fight. Nick likes to read and write, and he likes to knit . One night, there was a knock at the door. "I need you to fight a dragon !" cried King Kareen. "But I'm the wrong kind of knight!" said Nick. "I don't like to fight." "Never mind! Hurry up!" cried the King. "The dragon is in my bed!" said the King. Nick's knees were knocking. He lifted the blanket and saw a little dragon. "I'm freezing." The dragon said. Nick quickly started knitting. He knitted a coat, some long socks and some pants for the dragon. The dragon was glad. "Thank you!" he said and off he went. "I think you're the right kind of knight!" said the king. What does Nick do? A A king B A knight C A knitter D A writer Answer: B Nancy and Sheila are in the same class. They are friends. Nancy wants to invite Sheila to dinner on Sunday. But Sheila doesn't know the way. Now Nancy is telling her. "It's easy. You can take No. 4 bus. After you get off at Red Road. cross it and take the first turning on the left. Walk along the road for about five minutes. and then you'll see a big tree. Go straight on for about a hundred meters. and you will see a big red house. This is not my home. Go past the big house about four hundred meters. and you'll see a small yellow house beside a little tree. Then you can open the door with your foot." "With my foot?" asks Sheila. "Why?" "Well. you won't come to my house empty-handed , will you?" answers Nancy. Which of the following is true? A Nancy and Sheila are classmates. B Sheila should take No. 5 bus first. C Nancy asks Sheila to come to her home on Saturday. D Sheila knows Nancy's home very well. Answer: A Durban -- Canada Monday became the first country to pull out of the historic Kyoto Protocol , inescapably scarring the global anticlimate change efforts. The Kyoto Protocol, which set different duties for all countries to cut emissions , states that different countries should reduce their collective greenhouse emissions accordingly. However, the United States refused to sign the protocol in 2001, and is the only developed country that has not agreed to sign it. The move has cast a shadow over the global community, and has made some other developed nations hesitate to cut their emissions. To add fuel to the fire, Canada, became the first to call it quits, with the deadline of the first commitment period (20082012) approaching. The biggest concern at this moment is whether other developed countries would follow suit. Over the past four years, a drama has unfolded among developed countries over the emissions cuts and offering support to their developing partners. The Umbrella Group, consisting of Japan, Canada, Australia, the United States and other developed countries, hesitated and even backed away from their positions under certain excuses. The first one quoted by Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent is that emission cuts damage the economy. Still another is requiring China and India to have the same duty of cutting emissions as developed countries. Actually, if emissions in developed countries could fall to the levels in developing countries, it would greatly help the fight against global climate change. In sum, any irresponsible action, in the anticlimate change campaign should be a cause for blame. It is widely hoped that the United States and Canada will see reason and join the rest of the world community in supporting the Kyoto Protocol. Which of the following serves as the best title of the passage? A Canada Decides to Quit the Kyoto Protocol B Canada and the US Refuse to Cut Emissions C Developed Countries Hesitating to Cut Emissions D Developing Countries Supporting the Kyoto Protocol Answer: B Mary is getting married next Saturday.Today she asks her best friend Lucy to shop for clothes to wear at the wedding.'So what are we looking for, Mary,' Lucy asks. 'Well, my parents want me to wear a traditional Chinese dress, but I prefer a more modern style.I think I'll buy two dresses and wear them at different times on my wedding day.' Mary answers.The girls look in many shops.At one shop, Mary tries on a Chinese-style dress.'I like it,' Lucy says.'Red is a very strong color and represents love and prosperity for Chinese weddings.I think your parents will be pleased. ' Mary does not look happy.'I don't think I look good in red. I think it makes me look too od. What about this blue one?' 'Well, that's a nice dre ss too, but blue is a calm color.It could help you feel calm, but I think you want a happier color for your wedding.If you don't like red, what about orange? It represents joy and it is a good color for weddings,' Lucy explains. After listening to Lucy's opinions, Mary says, 'Even though the orange dress would be the best for my wedding because it represents joy, I'll choose the red dress because it will remind my mother of her own wedding and will make her happy.' What is good about the blue dress? A It makes Mary look young. B It represents love and prosperity. C It will keep Mary calm. D It will make Mary happier. Answer: C
When did you last visit a shopping mall? In many places, the answer would be "last weekend." Some people go even more often. Why? For one thing, malls offer goods and services that people need all in one place: food, clothing, things for their houses, entertainment, even medical services. So, are malls one of the highlights of modern civilization? Environmental activists would say No! They would go even further and say that consumer behavior is causing a huge environmental disaster. cause consumers of ignorance of the side effect of their shopping--urban sprawl . Social scientists agree that patterns of development have changed the landscape a great deal in the last half century. Before 1950, most people lived in towns or cities and either walked to work or took public transportation. Only very wealthy people had automobiles. Farmers lived in rural areas or isolated villages and came into town only when they needed things they couldn't produce themselves. If you gazed at the landscape you would see towns surrounded by countryside. Then a massive change occurred. Automobiles became affordable and people were quick to adopt them. Now ambitious workers could live in the suburbs, the areas just outside cities, which started to grow rapidly. As long as there was lots of cheap land in the suburbs, no one paid much attention to the usage of that land. Malls, fast food restaurants, cinemas, and car dealerships spread out in large, flat buildings. These one-storey buildings and their parking lot took up a great deal space. Well- meaning farmers thought they were better off selling their land than growing crops. In ignorance, no one realized that once the land was built up in urban sprawl, the good farming land would be ruined forever. There was no way to preserve it. Only in recent years have people come to mourn the old way of life as they have developed insight into the problems. Now people realize that urban sprawl has come with serious environmental problems. The negative aspects of sprawl include air and water pollution, loss of agricultural land, traffic jams, and the death of businesses in the old town centers. Many scholars think the time has come to analyze the problems better so we can develop appropriate policies to control further sprawl. Some think the best way to do is to educate citizens about their priceless environment. What do scholars think should be done about urban sprawl? Answer: Allan is eight this year and he's in Grade Two. The boy is clever and can answer all the questions in class. But he hates to stay in the classroom for more than half an hour. He would not listen to the teachers when class is soon going to be over. Or he touches his deskmate's head, or he makes faces. He often makes the whole Class laugh. His teachers tell his parents about it. He has to make a promise that he won't do that again. But soon he will forget it. The teachers think he does well in his lessons and don't mind it. One Saturday evening Allan finished his homework as soon as he had supper. He turned on the television, but there was no football match on TV. He found all the programmes were not interesting and turned it off. He saw his sister Mabel doing her homework in her bedroom. He decided to play a joke on her. He found an earthworm in the garden and put it in her clothes. The girl was so frightened that she cried out for help. Their mother heard this and went in to find out what had happened there. Of course, the boy was punished for it. The next morning Mabel gave her mother a card and said, "Merry Mother's Day. Mum!" The woman was happy and thanked her daughter. But Allan had nothing to give his mother as a present. He felt sorry and said, "Don't be angry with me Mummy. I've forgotten it. " "It doesn't matter, dear," said his mother. "The best present is to be a good boy. Don't be naughty , my son, or your child will be naughty, too! " Hearing this, the boy began to laugh and said. "You've told me the truth today, Mummy!" The last sentence "You've told me the truth today, Mummy!" means _ . Answer: One morning, Wu Liang discovered that her classroom had changed. She found that the desks were no longer in rows, but pushed together to make eight bigger desks. She was so excited about it for the first two days that she couldn't listen to the teachers carefully. But soon she and her classmates got used to this new classroom arrangement . "Now our class is quieter," said Wu. "What's more, we can come up with our own ideas and learn more through discussion. It's a better way to study." Li Yu liked it, too. "Group members first discuss," he said, "and then present to the whole class. It makes us believe in ourselves." This was part of a reform at Li's school. The school made this reform because they wanted to offer students easier ways to study and more chances to discuss. "Our school hopes to improve students' abilities to study by themselves and work in groups." said Zhang Ming, an English teacher. However, the reform has demanded more from teachers. Now they have only 15 minutes to give a lesson that would have been taught in 45 minutes before. It is difficult to teach in such a short time. The teachers have to find better ways to teach more effectively. "The reform demands more, but I'm sure it is helpful." added Zhang Ming. The school made the reform in order to offer students _ to study. Answer: A mutation that occurs in an organism that reproduces sexually will most likely affect the traits of the offspring if the mutation Answer: Americans love peanut butter. The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter before he or she graduates high school. But there is a controversy over a new peanut butter. It is called STEEM Peanut Butter. This peanut butter adds a new ingredient: caffeine . Coffee is a popular morning drink because it has caffeine and gives people energy in the morning. Even small amounts of caffeine can be dangerous to children. United States Senator Charles Schumer says."Peanut butter, one of the snacks most closely connected with children, might have to be stored in the medicine cupboard rather than in the kitchen cupboard. This will shock the Food and Drug Administration." Schumer wants the U.S. FDA to investigate. He observed that earlier the FDA prevented plans for a caffeinated chewing gum. STEEM, the manufacturer, said, "We are selling the caffeinated peanut butter all over the world. The product provides caffeine in an easily digestible way. Caffeinated foods have been sold in U.S. stores for well over a decade and are in no way a new idea. Customers tell us they want to eat the caffeinated peanut butter so they don't have to drink as much coffee or energy drinks. The peanut butter is not intended for children." "Peanut butter has been a favorite of children for generations," Schumer continued: "Parents across the country have to worry about a scene in which their child might unknowingly bite into a peanut butter that contains more caffeine than two cups of coffee." The American Academy of Pediatrics says caffeine in small amounts can help the physical performance of adults. But the academy urges parents not to allow children to take even small amounts of caffeine owing to caffeine's possible negative effects on a child's heart and brain development. There is a controversy over the STEEM Peanut Butter because it contains _ . Answer:
Question: Taiwanese fishing boats that sailed to the Diaoyu Islands to protest Japan's "purchase" of part of the islands completed their voyage Tuesday morning and have set sail for home. Local media reported that the boats finished their protest at 9:15 a.m. and are expected to return to a port in northeast Taiwan's Yilan county at noon Wednesday. Although the boats originally numbered 75,they were joined at sea by other boats from different parts of Taiwan, raising the total number to about 100 vessels. Organizers said the voyage was made to protect Taiwanese fishing rights in nearby waters and to protest Japan's "purchase" of part of the Diaoyu Islands. The Japanese government announced a plan to "purchase" part of the islands earlier this month despite repeated protests from the Chinese government. The action aroused demonstrations across China as well as consumers' boycott of Japanese products in recent weeks. Local authorities in Taiwan have also protested the move. "Japan's purchase and nationalization of China's Diaoyu Islands is putting China-Japan economic and trade ties at risk due to man-made factors." An official spokesman from Beijing warned . China-Japan economic and trade relations was back on track in 1952 when the two countries signed their first non-governmental trade agreement. Currently, China has been Japan's largest trade partner since 2007 while Japan is China's fourth largest trade partner, after the EU, U.S. and the ASEAN. Meanwhile, China is the biggest destination for Japanese exports and biggest source of imports. In the first half of 2012, Japan's exports to China totaled 73.54 billion U.S. dollars, down 6.2 percent from the same period last year, while its import from China was 91.29 billion U.S. dollars, up 7 percent from the same period last year. Now, China-Japan economic and trade relations are at a crossroads. Negotiation could be the way out of the rift. What is the main idea of this passage? A. Japan declared to purchase China's Diaoyu Islands. B. Japan's purchase of Diaoyu Islands aroused nationwide protest. C. The Diaoyu Islands belong to China! D. China plays an important part in Japan's economy development. Answer: B. Japan's purchase of Diaoyu Islands aroused nationwide protest. Question: The other day, I received a most unexpected message in response to one of my essays:I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished. I shared your opinion ... It was signed Margaret Leibfried, who was my English teacher -- a teacher who appeared at a vital point in my life and helped me believe that I could become a writer. Thirty years ago, I entered high school as an introvert made all the more shy because I was the school's only nonwhite student. I always felt in danger of being swept away by a sea of tall white athletes. I spent a lot of time alone, reading and writing stories, hoping to escape being teased. Ms. Leibfried taught American literature and composition grammar, which involved the usual memorizing vocabulary, but also, thrillingly, reading novels. Thrilling to me, that is. Many of my classmates expressed dislike for novels because they were "not real." For once, I didn't care what they thought. Ms. Leibfried seemed to notice my interest in both reading and writing, and she took the time to make me feel less shy; she even offered me reading suggestions, like one of her favorite novels, "The Bell Jar." That year's big project was a book report, to be read aloud to the class. However, Ms. Leibfried suggested I do something "a little different." Instead of a report, I chose a passage from "The Bell Jar" that I considered as the best to recite. The morning of the presentations, I remember my hands sweating so badly as I walked to the front of the class that I kept my hands crossed, so I wouldn't wipe them on my blouse. When I finished, to my surprise, the class applauded. "Marie has picked out a particularly sensitive piece of writing and delivered it beautifully," Ms. Leibfried said, smiling. I felt, maybe for the first time, confident. What was the author's purpose in writing the text? A. To express her thanks to her teacher. B. To discuss the issue of racial prejudice . C. To introduce one of her favorite books. D. To suggest the ways to gain confidence. Answer: A. To express her thanks to her teacher. Question: Peter King, 15, and Mary King, 13, went to see a doctor. Peter had a bad cold, so the doctor gave him some pills to take. Mary had a bad cough, so the doctor gave her some cough medicine. There are the words on the bottle of the medicine: Cough Medicine Shake well before use. Take three times daily after meals. At one time: adults --------- 2 teaspoonfuls Children 8 -- 14 1 teaspoonful Children 4 -- 7 1/2 teaspoonful Not suitable for children below the age of 4 Store in a cold place. Use before Oct.2007. Mary should _ before she takes some. A. shake the medicine well B. eat her meals C. do some exercises D. drink something Answer: A. shake the medicine well Question: Imagination and fantasy can play an important role in achieving the things we fear. Children know this very well. Fred Epstein, in his book I Make It to Five, tells a story he heard from one of his friends about Tom, a four-year-old boy with a cancer in his back bone. He came through several operations and a lot of pain by mastering his imagination. Tom loved to pretend, and he particularly loved to play superheroes. Dr. Epstein explained that it was actually a brilliant way for his young mind to handle the terrifying and painful life he led. The day before his third trip to the operating room, Tom was terribly afraid. "Maybe I could go as Superman," he whispered to his mom. Hearing this, the mother hesitated for a while. She has avoided buying the expensive costume , but finally she agreed. The next day Tom appeared as the powerful Superman, showing off through the hospital halls and coolly waving his hand to the people greeting him along the way. And Tom, with the strength of his fantasy, successfully made it through the operation. The power of imagination need not be reserved for children only. We all have the power to use our fantasies to attempt things we never thought possible, to go through those things that seem impossible, and to achieve what we never believed we could. Just as Dr. Epstein puts it, "If you can dream it, you can do it." It doesn't mean that you should dress as a superhero for your next job interview. But, next time you are tested in a way that seems impossible, imagine what it would take to overcome it. Become the person you need to become to win over your challenge and do it in your mind first. So, let your imagination run wild, and dare to dream. What do we know about Tom? A. He was seriously ill. B. He was a dishonest boy. C. He was crazy about magic. D. He was Dr. Epstein's patient. Answer: A. He was seriously ill. Question: A wild baby bison at Yellowstone National Park had to be killed because of tourists. The tourists thought that the baby bison looked cold. They put it in their car and drove to a park ranger station. A ranger described the action of the tourists as a "dangerous move" because adult bisons can look after their babies very well and they will attack to protect their young. Park rangers took the animal from the car and set it free. But, sadly, the baby was refused by its family because it had the smell from humans. Yellowstone National Park explained on Facebook that the smell from people can cause parent animals to refuse to accept their young. The park tried again and again to make the baby bison lives with its parents. After several times they had to give up. Many people expressed anger at both the tourists and the park. The park said that they did not have the ability to care for a young bison. They also said that it is "not the task of the park to save animals". The tourists were fined $110 for touching park wildlife. Park rules say that visitors to Yellowstone should stay at least 22 meters away from all wildlife, and at least 90 meters away from bears and wolves. One ranger said that Yellowstone recently added many safety signs that say staying near the wildlife there is dangerous to humans and animals as well. Those signs are written in English and other languages. The park ranger described the action of the tourists as a "dangerous move" because _ . A. the tourists drove in a wrong way B. adult bisons would attack the tourists C. adult bisons couldn't look after their baby well D. the tourists would make the baby bison sick Answer: B. adult bisons would attack the tourists
Question: It's time for our clothing sale. We only have this sale once a year. This year, prices are lower than ever, but the quality of our clothes is the same. How much are our blue pants? They're only twelve dollars. How much are our swimsuits? This week, you can buy one for only fourteen dollars. And what's the price of our T-shirt? Only eight dollars each! Or, you can buy two for fifteen dollars. And we have them in all colors: red, yellow, blue and green. Do you like Mango sweatshirts? This week, you can buy them for eighteen dollars. And our sports bags are only twelve dollars----that's right, twelve dollars only. Come to the Blue Water Surf Shop now. The sale starts today. How much are their blue pants? A. Twenty dollars. B. Twelve dollars C. Thirteen dollars. D. Fifteen dollars. Answer: B Question: Most people think their time problems are outer, and that they are caused by the telephone, meetings, visitors, and delayed information or decisions. Although these problems often have a bad effete on them, as when people call or drop in, we usually contribute to them. We fail to have calls screened by a skillful secretary or assistant, or we leave our door open, actually assuring constant interruptions. In almost all cases, it is possible to influence, if not control, it usually can cause problems, such as, slowness and indecision, lack of self-discipline, the inability to delegate, or the tendency to fight fires, to act without thinking, and to jump from task to task without finishing any of them. Time is constant that cannot be changed. The clock cannot be slowed down or speeded up. Thus we cannot manage time itself. We can only manage our activities with respect to time. The same skills are needed as those used in managing others--the abilities to plan, organize, delegate, direct, and control. Time management is simply self-management. It is impossible to be effective in any position without controlling one's time effectively. Successful time management does not mean working harder, but working smarter. All kinds of management skills must be used in the home and office to get most value from time. You must think ahead about what to do, and timely than others, making it get maximum results in the shortest possible period. We can also draw a conclusion that the key to successful time management is_. A. working harder and harder B. clever self-management C. thinking of what to do, and how and when to do it D. employing a skillful secretary Answer: B Question: JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has signed a deal with Little, Brown and Company, to publish her first ever novel for adults, which is set to become one of the most anticipated book in years. The deal means that Rowling's long-standing relationship with Bloomsbury, the London-based publisher that launched the Harry Potter books, has come to an end, at least in terms of new works by the author. Rowling is keeping her fans guessing about the characters and plot of her new book. She only said that the new novel will be nothing like the Harry Potter series, which was sold over 30 million copies in the UK alone. She thought that with the move from children's to adult fiction, a switch to a new publisher seemed like a natural and reasonable step. She said, "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, this book will be very different from the Harry Potter series. The freedom to explore a new field is a gift that Harry's success has brought me." Ian Rankin, the Edinburgh-based author whose highly-successful detective novels are also set in the city, suggested Rowling's book will be a crime novel. "Wouldn't it be funny if JK Rowling's first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in Edinburgh?" he said. Industry insiders guessed that the deal is worth more than PS5 million and the new book is expected to come out later this year. A spokesman said, "JK Rowling's audience is vast and her position is unique. Harry Potter books were a global success and her fans are very loyal. Children that were eight, nine, or ten when the books first came out in the 1990s are now in their 20s. Plenty of adults, loved the books regardless of whether they had children, so the potential market for her is huge." JK Rowling's new book for adults _ . A. has been sold 30 million copies in the UK alone B. is poorly thought of by the London-based publisher Bloomsbury C. has nothing in common with the Harry Potter series D. is expected to bring her more money than the Harry Potter series Answer: C Question: My ten-year-old daughter Emma got home yesterday and spoke of a boy called Jake in her class. Being quite overweight, Jake is the butt of many jokes and is treated very badly by other kids. Jake gives the impression that he's got a nice guy, mostly because he's constantly picked on. For several nights this week Emma came home upset about the fact that Jake gets picked on so much. She also mentioned that Jake had no school supplies as his family could not afford them. He was constantly asking to borrow paper, which just gives kids even more reason to pick on him. One night Emma was extremely upset about this situation. We sat together that evening and discussed it in great detail. I suggested Emma talk to Jake and found out what supplies he needed. The next day Emma talked to Jake and came to realize that Jake had a heart of gold, but rarely was able to show it because he was always on the defensive. Emma asked Jake to make a list of the school supplies he needed. Jake put down 3 ring binders, paper, pens, pencils and a pencil sharpener. Emma told him she would help and he was most thankful. That evening Emma and I went to the store and bought everything for Jake! When we got home, we put all the supplies into a brand new grey backpack--because Jake did not have a backpack either. The next day, I brought the bag to the school principal and asked him to give the bag to Jake discreetly so that he did not have to feel embarrassed. That night Emma got home with smiles on her face. The principal had called Jake to his office and gave him the bag. As Jake walked into the classroom, he looked at Emma and later thanked her very much for all the stuff. He loved it all! Emma said it was so nice to see him take out his new pencil box and start arranging his pencils and pens. He seemed very happy. Why did Emma talk to Jake the next day? A. She meant to offer him some advice. B. She hoped to know more about him. C. She expected to make friends with him. D. She wanted to find out what he needed. Answer: D Question: Among the more color1ful characters of Leadville's golden age were H.A.W.Tabor and his second wife, Elizabeth McCourt, better known as "Baby Doe". Their history is fast becoming one of the legends of the Old West. Horace Austin Warner Tabor was a school teacher in Vermont. With his first wife and two children he left Vermont by covered wagon in 1855 to homestead in Kansas. Perhaps he did not find farming to his liking, or perhaps he was lured by rumors of fortunes to be made in Colorado mines. At any rate, a few years later he moved west to the small Colorado mining camp known as California Gulch, which he later renamed Leadville when he became its leading citizen. "Great deposits of lead are sure to be found here." he said. As it turned out, it was silver, not lead, that was to make Leadville's fortune and wealth. Tabor knew little about mining himself, so he opened a general store, which sold everything from boots to salt, flour, and tobacco.It was his custom to "grubstake" prospective miners, in other words, to supply them with food and supplies, or "grub", while they looked for ore , in return for which he would get a share in the mine if one was discovered. He did this for a number of years, but no one that he aided ever found anything of value. Finally one day in the year 1878, so the story goes, two miners came in and asked for "grub". Tabor had decided to quit supplying it because he had lost too much money that way. These were persistent, however, and Tabor was too busy to argue with them. "Oh help yourself. One more time won't make any difference," He said and went on selling shoes and hats to other customers. The two miners took $17 worth of supplies, in return for which they gave Tabor a one-third interest in their findings. They picked a barren place on the mountain side and began to dig. After nine days they struck a rich vein of silver. Tabor bought the shares of the other two men, and so the mine belonged to him alone. This mine, known as the "Pittsburgh Mine," made $1,300,000 for Tabor in return for his $17 investment. Later Tabor bought the Matchless Mine on another barren hillside just outside the town for $117,000. This turned out to be even more unbelievable than the Pittsburgh, yielding $35,000 worth of silver per day at one time. Leadville grew. Tabor became its first mayor, and later became lieutenant governor of the state. Leadville got its name for the following reasons EXCEPT _ . A. because Tabor became its leading citizen B. because great deposits of lead is expected to be found there C. because it could bring good fortune to Tabor D. because it was renamed Answer: C
According lo a new survey . Students' safety has become a big problem .Nearly 50% of students say they are worried about robbery on the way to and from school.Now in main big cities.in China some schools have taught all unusual lesson: self-protection. Students like this lesson because there are no exams or boring classes. And they can learn how to save lives and know how to stop danger before it really happens. Chen Haoyu, a teacher at Beijing No 25 Middle School .give young students advice on how to deal with danger If you are robbed Keep calm.lf youcan not cry for help or run away.Give the robber your money.Try to remember what the robber looks like and tell the police later. If you are in a traffic accident. It a car hitsyou. You should remember the car number.If it is a bicycle. Try to call your parents before you let the rider go. This is because you don't know how seriously you are hurt If it is raining hard and there is lighting. Don't stay in high places and stayaway from trees. When there is a fire.Get away as fast as yon can.Put wet things on your body and try to find an exit.Do not lake the lift. If someone is drowning If you can't swim. don't get into the water. Cry out for help. Remember that danger is never as far away as you think.Take care of yourself at alI times! What will you do if a bicycle hurts you? Answer: Boxing games are truly widely supported by a lot of people over the world . The sport involves two people fighting with each other inside a ring with a referee making sure that the fight goes on smoothly. The fighters have to be of the same weight to be able to fight and they make use of their fists according to the rules of competition. There are three ways in winning the game. First, you have to knock out the challenger. Secondly, there is the technical knockout . This usually happens when the rival is seriously hurt and unable to carry on and defend himself. Thirdly, each boxer gets on with the fight until the last round is over and done with and the winner is judged according to the scores he gets. The first boxing champion was James Figg who came from England. It was in 1719 that the word "boxing" was known. The sport then was completely different from what you are used to seeing and observing nowadays. In 1743 Jack Broughton, a boxing title holder, was responsible for coming up with the rules and regulations to make the fight more manageable. Under these rules, a boxer who falls and does not fight after 30 seconds has elapsed is declared the loser and any fighter is prevented from hitting his opponent when he is already down. Broughton was also the one who created the mufflers -- a kind of gloves with padding which were used during presentations and training. Today, the sport has a total of 12 rounds with three minutes playing time for each round. Boxers are given a minute for them to rest or for consultation with their respective coaches. A referee has the responsibility of making sure that the boxers carry on with the fight according to the rules of the sport. The judges have the task of evaluating each fighter and give the fighter scores according to their punches . Which of the following might be the best title for the text? Answer: A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports. Grimsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today. Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. according to KLM, one of Europe's biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane's engines, causing damage to the plane. The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash--covered grass to the sharp object. What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes? Answer: The Greenbelt, a wide belt of open land around the cities and towns of the San Francisco Bay Area, includes about 3.75 million of the Bay Area's 4.5 million acres. The Bay Area Greenbelt is one of the largest areas of open land in any U.S. urban area. Open land is land that has few buildings and lots of natural areas. The Greenbelt's open land includes parks, forests, beaches, and more than 8,500 farms. What are the advantages of the Greenbelt? The Greenbelt has many advantages for people in the Bay Area, which include: l walking and biking areas close to the cities and towns; l places for wild plants and animals; l cleaner air and water; l income from farms. Is the Greenbelt in danger? Five hundred seventy thousand acres of the Greenbelt are in danger. There are builders who want to build suburbs on them. If those acres become suburbs, many things will change: l the urban and suburban area will almost double; l many farms will disappear; l traffic will become worse; l the air will become dirtier. What is Greenbelt Alliance ? Greenbelt Alliance, an organization that saves land in the San Francisco Bay Area, works alone and with other groups to save the Greenbelt in four ways: 1.Try to persuade people to build new buildings on land that is already urban, not on open land. 2.Make sure that the city and town governments are all making plans to save the Greenbelt. 3.Help Bay Area towns and cities to buy pieces of open land to make into natural areas. 4.Teach people in the Bay Area why the Greenbelt is important and what they can do to help save it. One of the advantages of the Greenbelt for people in the Bay Area is _ . Answer: You may have seen a lot of frogs, but if you haven't, you must have heard about frogs. However, have you heard about a frog that can kill a person? These small brightly colored amphibians live in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. They are best known for their ability to kill persons even though they are no more than 2 inches long. If we touch their poisonous skin without proper protection (such as gloves), we may die! For animals of this size that can be so deadly, they are certainly one of the world's most poisonous animals! Who are they? They are poison arrow frogs or, simply, poison frogs. Poison frogs acquired their name from the Indians. The Indians catch and kill many of these frogs before hanging them upside down over a campfire. As the frogs get hot, the poison drips out of their skin. The Indians collect the poisonous liquid in a bottle and dip the tips of their arrows into the bottle. Once the tips are dried, they are ready to be used for their arrows for hunting. There are about 170 different types of poison arrow frogs in the world. Though most species have bright markings, either in stripes or patches, on their black bodies, some just wear noticeable single-colored coats. Their shocking skin colors-usually in yellow, red, green, blue or orange-serve as a warning sign to other animals. The sign simply says," Stay away or pay with your life!" They certainly do not bluff. We can infer that the Indians may kill poison frogs in order to _ . Answer:
Some people argue that the pressures on international sportsmen and sportswomen kill the essence of sport-seeking for personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. A single person's representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoying himself; he has to think only about winning. He is responsible for an entire nation's hopes, dreams and fame. A good example is the football World Cup. Football is the world's most important sport. It is even more important now that the United States is seriously taking it up. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the greatest of international sporting success. Mention "Argentina" to someone and the chances are that he'll think of football. In a sense, winning the World Cup "put Argentina on the map". Sports fans and supporters get quite irrational about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1996. Last year thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses and spent all their money traveling to Argentina where the finals were played. So am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sports? Certainly not! Do the Argentineans really believe that because eleven of their men proved that most skillful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others? Not really. But it's known that you won, and that in one way at least your country is best. From this passage, we can infer that _ . Answer: Chimpanzees dig for insects with sticks; what is another example of using tools? Answer: Scientists who try to predict earthquakes have gotten some new helpers recently--animals. That's right, animals. Scientists have begun to understand what farmers have known for thousands of years. Animals often seem to know in advance that an earthquake is coming, and they show their fear by acting in strange ways. Before a Chinese quake in 1975, snakes awoke from their winter sleep early only to freeze to death in the cold air. Cows broke their halters and tried to escape. Chickens refused to enter their cage. All of this unusual behavior, as well as physical changes in the earth, warned Chinese scientists of the coming quake. They moved people away from the danger zone and saved thousands of lives. One task for scientists today is to learn exactly which types of animal behavior predict quakes. It's not an easy job. First of all not every animal reacts to the danger of an earthquake. Just before a California quake in 1977, for example, an Arabian horse became very nervous and tried to break out of his enclosure. The Australian horse next to him, however, remained perfectly calm. It's also difficult at times to tell the difference between normal animal restlessness and "earthquake nerves". A zoo keeper once called earthquake researchers to say that his cougar had been acting strangely. It turned out that the cat had an upset stomach. A second task for scientists is to find out exactly what kind of warnings the animals receive. They know that animals sense far more of the world than humans do. Many animals can see, hear, and smell things that people do not even notice. Some can sense tiny changes in air pressure, gravity, or the magnetism of Earth. This extra sense probably helps animals predict quakes. A good example of this occurred with a group of dogs. They were shut in an area that was being shaken by a series of tiny earthquakes. (Several small quakes often come before or after a large one.) Before each quake a low booming sound was heard. Each boom caused the dogs to bark wildly. Then the dogs began to bark during a silent period. A scientist who was recording quakes looked at his machine. It was acting as though there were a loud noise too. The scientist realized that the dogs had reacted to a booming noise. They also sensed the tiny quake that followed it. The machine recorded both, though humans felt and heard nothing. In this case there was a machine to monitor what the dogs were sensing. Many times, however, our machines record nothing extraordinary, even though animals know a quake is coming. The animals might be sensing something we measure but do not recognize as a warning. Discovering what animals sense, and learning how they know it is a danger signal, is a job for future scientists. The scientists did an experiment with a group of dogs to _ . Answer: A Guide to the University Food The TWU Cafeteria is open 7a.m. to 8p.m.. It serves snacks, drinks, ice cream bars and meals. You can pay with cash or your ID cards. You can add meal money to your ID cards at the Front Desk. Even if you do not buy your food in the cafeteria, you can use the tables to eat your lunch, to have meetings and to study. If you are on campus in the evening or late at night, you can buy snacks, fast food, and drinks in the Lower Cafe located in the bottom level of the Douglas Centre. This area is often used for entertainment such as concerts, games or TV watching. Relaxation The Globe, located in the bottom level of McMillan Hall, is available for relaxing, studying, cooking, and eating. Monthly activities are held here for all international students. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed on Sundays. Health Located on the top floor of Douglas Hall, the Wellness Centre is committed to physical, emotional and social health. A doctor and nurse is available if you have health questions or need immediate medical help or personal advice. The cost of this is included in your medical insurance. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.. Academic Support All students have access to the Writing Centre on the upper floor of Douglas Hall. Here, qualified volunteers will work with you on written work, grammar, vocabulary, and other academic skills. You can sign up for an appointment on the sign-up sheet outside the door: two 30 -minute appointments per week maximum. This service is free. What can you do in the TWU Cafeteria? Answer: However urban life strikes you, cities worldwide have been growing ever more rapidly. Some of this growth has occurred in the developed world, but the most dramatic increase has been in the Third World. Almost all the world's population growth over the next 30 years will take place in the cities of developing countries By the year 2030, for the first time in history, 60 percent of the world's people will be living in cities. This is actually good news in some ways. "Cities are the fundamental building blocks of prosperity," says Marc Weiss, chairman of the Prague Institute for Global Urban Development, " both for the nation and for families." Industrial and commercial activities in urban areas account for between 50 and 80 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in most countries of the world" there's the crazy notion that the way to deal with a city's problems is to keep people out of them,"Weiss continued. "But the problems of the rural life are even more serious than those of the city." For better or worse, urban-watchers are clear on one point: The quality of life for most people in the future will be determined by the quality of cities. Those cities will be bigger than ever. And yet, population numbers by themselves don't determine a city's prospects; after all, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Hamburg, Germany, have the same population. Nor is explosive growth necessarily the determining factor. "City problems," one authority points out, "mostly have to do with weak, ineffective, and usually unrepresentative city governments." According to the passage, in the year of 2030 _ . Answer:
The New Folk Sound Of Terry Collier attracted little interest when first released , and by the time it was championed on a music chart, Callier had long abandoned music for a career in computer programming.As a result, he returned to music to make many recordings with some leading young artists in Britain, making it the most successful period of his life. Terry Callier was born into a poor family on May 24, 1945 and grew up in Chicago.He learned to practice the piano and began singing in groups in his teens.He released his first single, Look At Me Now in 1962.When offered a tour, he seemed to be a shining star soon.But then his mother stepped in, insisting that, at 17 , his place was not on the road but at home studying. While attending college, he began performing in folk clubs and coffee houses.It was also when he started his songwriting.Callier continued to record and give live concerts through the 1970s touring with some famous popular singers.His combination of fierce guitar, wise lyrics and sweet voices created a distinctive style known as jazz-folk.However, he had more success as a songwriter than as a singer when he sang his hit song The Love We Had Stays on My Mind in 1971. In 1983 he abandoned music completely to attend his 12-year-old daughter after splitting up with his wife.He got a steady job at the University of Chicago and did not touch a guitar for years.Many years later, some DJs discovered his old recordings and began to play his songs in clubs.Though Callier was unwilling to get involved in music again, Callier was eventually persuaded to come back, which brought him more applauses than he had ever experienced. What was Callier's mother's attitude towards his dream of becoming a star? opposed. Maybe you've heard of many musical bands, but have you heard of Little Big Town, a country musical group? There are four members in this band, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet. They had a hard time when they began their band at first, but they didn't give up. Now it becomes very popular. "We take care of each other and we take care of the music," Karen Fairchild once said after one of their shows. As a fan of this band, I once had a chance to hang out with the members of Little Big Town. We talked about their hard beginning. At that time, they even didn't have their own stage. Fairchild also told me how the four of them were together when they were in trouble. Not only did they stand together on stage but also in their daily life. For example, they were right there when Phillip Sweet was caring for his daughter for the first time. They encouraged Kimberly Schlapman when they found her husband _ . At that time Kimberly was very sad to lose her husband. "When we have lived such a hard life together, it bonds us tightly," Phillip Sweet said. "We find true happiness is the joy of doing what we do for a living. We love the hard beginning. We also love the wonderful future." What is Little Big Town? It's a country musical group. Jackrabbits live in very hot environments, but are able to stay cool because their long ears help releasing warmth The Harbourside Development is one of the world's most exciting places to shop. It is right on the edge of Sydney Harbour, and there are over 200 shops, selling everything from home-made sweets to the latest clothes in fashion; from Australian souvenirs to Swiss watches and Japanese cameras. The Australian Wildlife Park has been specially built to give people an extra close look at Australia's native animals. Have your photo taken with a kangaroo, touch and feed koala bears. There are talks every afternoon about these animals, which are only found in this part of the world. There is also an excellent souvenir shop. A visit to the Australian Museum is like an adventure across Australia. There are shows on the people and their way of life, and the whole continent. Talks and guided tours help to make your visit unforgettable. There is also a cafe and a good book shop, selling excellent maps. Taronga Zoo has Australia's finest collection of rainforest birds and sea-life centre which has many of the fish that can be found off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. Taronga is also famous for its large group of South East Asian monkeys. Fast food can be got at cafes. What animals can you see in these four places? Kangaroos, kola bears, rainforest birds, East Asian monkeys and sea-life. Nearly everyone agrees that money doesn't buy as much as it used to, no matter when you want to spend it. This is certainly true of the paper money that passes so quickly through one's hands. But what about coins that seem to do very little except stay in purses and pockets? Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valuable the longer it is held, especially if it is put away where it won't get scratched or worn. Why is this? One reason is that coins, being more durable, fall more readily into a category for collectors. Naturally, the rarer gold pieces must become more valuable as the price of this metal goes up. But, curiously, one of the rarest coins in the world is not made of gold, but of the relatively cheaper silver. In 1840, the United States mint struck 19570 silver dollars. That is what its records show. Today only six of this original number remain and these are unlikely ever to reach the auction market. So what happened to some 19564 large silver coins, not the easiest sort of things to lose? One of the more romantic theories is that they were part of the payment to Napoleon for the American land then known as Louisiana. But they never reached France. Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship transporting them was sunk, either by a storm or by pirates. The probable answer to the mystery is that they were melted down -- since the silver value was greater than the actual value of the coin. What really happened to the rest will probably always remain a mystery. What is known is that whoever can come up with one will find himself instantly rich. Coins become more valuable because _ . Both B and C
What better way to welcome spring than by helping to clean up the town we all live in! Here in Rockland we have a Spring Cleanup Day every year in April. The Cleanup Day 2014 will be April 20th. It will start with a town cleanup at 8 o'clock in the morning, and a tree planting activity at the Rockland Park is to follow in the afternoon. One thousand young trees are sure to make the park greener and prettier. We will divide the people coming to help into eight teams for eight different areas. As usual, we will provide gloves, rubbish bags and other cleaning tools. You will also get free lunches and Tshirts when the cleanup ends at noon. We are going to have a friendly competition to see which team can pick up the most rubbish. Bring your kids with you. It is a great chance to teach them to care for the environment around us. We have free drinks and chocolate candies for the children at the park. Meeting: At the gate of Rockland Park, the town hall at 330 Jones Street, or the corner of Palace Street and North Street. Signup : Call 5862397 on weekdays, or visit our website below any time you like. www.springcleanup.com Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: MEXICO CITY: A jetliner from the beach resort of Cancun was briefly hijacked as it landed in Mexico City on Wednesday. The hijackers released all passengers shortly before federal police stormed the plane, and the crew emerged unharmed moments later. Police, who did not fire a single shot, led as many as eight handcuffed men away from the airplane, which was isolated at the end of a runway in an area designed for emergencies. The hijackers' motive was unclear, though Mexican news media initially identified them as Bolivians demanding to speak with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. US, French and Mexican citizens were among the 112 passengers and crew on Aeromexico Flight 576, according to a US official who had been briefed on the situation. The official was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity. Mexico's transportation and communications secretary, Juan Molinar, said there was no bomb on the airplane, although some passengers said one of the hijackers held a package that resembled an explosive device, and a bomb squad was later seen near the airplane. He did not immediately identify the hijackers or speculate on their motive. "Various people who participated in the act have been detained and we are investigating," Molinar said. The attorney general's office said it was opening an investigation into terrorism and kidnapping but did not specify how many people could be charged. Mexican news media initially reported the hijackers were Bolivian, but Bolivia's ambassador to Mexico, Jorge Mancilla, said Mexican authorities had no evidence that was the case. Mancilla said sources told him they could be Colombian or Venezuelan. Several passengers told reporters they did not notice a non-Mexican accent. Passenger Rocio Garcia told the Televisa network that the pilot made an announcement after landing in Mexico City that the airplane was being hijacked. Passengers said the hijackers never communicated with them directly. "These were scary moments," she said. She said she saw one of the hijackers whom she described as a well-dressed, older man. "He looked fine, like a normal passenger," she said. Passenger Daniel Hernandez said he saw a hijacker carrying a Bible. The hijackers, as some passengers described, _ . Answer: There are two types of twins; identical and non-identical twins. Identical twins are formed from a single egg in mother's body which divides to from two separate babies. Identical twins look the same, and are often dressed by their parents in clothes of the same colors. It is often difficult to tell identical twins from each other, even when they are standing side by side. Non-identical twins come into being when the mother produces two separated eggs a the same time, both of which grow to form babies. In this case the twins look like normal brothers and sisters and are easy to tell one from the other. In the 1970s and 1980s a scientist did some research into twins. He invited many pairs of identical twins to university and asked them to take part in a week of tests. He was particularly interested in adopted twins who had been separated at birth. He would give the twins different kinds of tests to study their speed of thinking, their speech, their memory, the ways they saw and heard different things, and so on. Time and time again he found separated twins who preferred clothes of the same color, used the same kind of shaving soap, wore the same shaped square glasses and the same colored socks. There is a third type of twins, but it is a very unusual one. Twins which are joined together at birth are known in western countries as Siamese twins. This passage mainly tells us _ . Answer: Fire fighting is a serous matter, knowing what to do during a fire can save people's lives. It is important to know the ways you can use and show them to everyone else in the family, such as stairways and emergency exits, but not elevators. From the lower floors of building, escape through windows is possible. Learn the best way to get out from a window with the least chance of serious injury. The second floor window is usually not very high from the ground. An average person, hanging by the fingertips will have a drop of about 6 feet to the ground. It is about twice the height of an average man. Of course, it is safer to jump a short way down than to stay in a burning building. Windows are also useful when you are waiting for help. Be sure to keep the door closed before opening the window. Otherwise, smoke and fire may be drawn into the room. Keep your head low at the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may have leaked into the room. On the second or third floor, the best windows for escape are those which open onto a roof. From the roof a person can drop to the ground more safely. Dropping onto cement might end in injury. Bushes and trees can help you to have a soft landing. The writer suggests that _ Answer: Chicago is next to a beautiful lake, Lake Michigan. In the summer Lake Michigan is warm and blue .People lie on the beaches and swim in the water. In the winter Lake Michigan is cold and gray .Snow covers the beaches, and ice covers the water. On a cold January day, a little boy and his father were playing in the snow on Chicago beach. The boy was Jimrsy Tontlewicx. He was four years old .Several Minutes went by .The father still couldn't find Jimmy. Firemen arrived .Twenty minutes later they found Jimmy and pulled him out of the water. Jimmy was not breathing, and his heart was not beating . He was dead. At the beach paramedics worked on Jimmy for an hour . He began to breathe , and his heart began to beat . The paramedics rushed Jimmy to the hospital.Doctors at the hospital put Jimmy in bed .They put him on a cold mattress because they wanted his body to warm up slowly. They gave him some medicine because they wanted him to sleep .After six weeks in the hospital he got better ,Then he went to another hospital. He stayed there for seven weeks .He began to walk ,talk ,and play again. Jimmy was in the water for more than 20 minutes . He couldn't breathe in the water . He couldn't get any oxygen .But today he is alive and healthy. How is it possible? Jimmy is alive because the water was ice cold. Usually the brain needs a lot of oxygen .But when it's very cold , the brain slows down. It does not need much oxygen .So the ice cold water saved Jimmy . Jimmy's father has another reason .He says ,"Jimmy is alive today because he is a fighter . " Which is the best title for the story? Answer:
Question: Computers are very popular with students now. It's very easy for them to surf the Internet .Most of them go to the Internet bar and spend more than two hours there. They can do their homework,get some information for their study,download music,and send emails on the computer. But some of them spend too much time playing computer games,and it is bad for their study. How many hours do most of the students spend on the computers? A. Two hours. B. More than two hours. C. One hour. D. Less than two hours. Answer: B Question: BERLIN-With the crisis in Japan raising fears about nuclear power, Germany and Switzerland said on Monday that they would reassess the safety of their own reactors. Doris Leuthard, the Swiss energy minister, said Switzerland would put off plans to build nuclear plants. She said no new ones would be permitted until experts had reviewed safety standards. Germany will put off "the recently decided extension of the running time of Cerman nuclear plants," Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. "This moratorium will run for three months and it will allow for a thorough exanunation of the safety standards of the country's 17 nuclear power plants. The European Union called for a meeting on Tuesday of nuclear safety authorities to assess Europe's preparedness. Germany's foreign minister, Cuido Westerwelle, called for a new risk analysis of the counitry' snuclear plants, particularly regarding their cooling systems. He is the leader of the Free Democratic Party, which strongly supports nuclear power. A previous government,led by the Social Democrats, passed a law in 2001 to close all the country's nuclear plants by 2021. But Mrs. Merkel' s government changed that decision last year to extend the lives of the plants by an average of 12 years. In Switzerland, Doris Leuthard said she had already asked to analyze the exact cause of the problems in Japan and draw up new or tougher safety standards "particularly in terms of seismic( )safety and cooling." In Russia, the Prime Minister said his govemment would "draw conclusions from what's going on in Japan." The author mentions all the following EXCEPT _ A. Russia will try to Ieam something from the nuclear power crisis in Japan. B. The Social Democrats in Germany shares the same view with the Free Democratic Party. C. The moratorium in Cermany will give time to examine the nuclear plants safety standards. D. Switzerland will not build new nuclear plants unless they meet the experts' safety standards. Answer: B Question: Baby sign language is a growing movement. Pointing to a color1ful flower, Campbell lifts her baby's soft hand, and rapidly moves it from one side of his nose to the other as she sniffs ."Flower!" she says loudly. Gregory smiles and looks carefully. It could be a year before Gregory, 4 months old, can speak, but now his mother hopes to communicate with her baby through sign language. Like others around the world, Campbell is part of a growing movement of parents teaching hearing babies simple signs to communicate before they can talk. The baby sign language has been more popular in recent years. The movie,"Meet the Fockers",where the main character teaches his young grandson to sign, makes it well developed. Babies generally begin to talk between 12 and 15 months, but babies can use sign language to communicate before they learn how to speak. "We know they are learning language faster than they are able to show you with their speech production because that system takes a long time to develop." says McRoberts, director of developmental research at the Haskins Laboratories. "They are understanding words before they are able to say them. From around 16 to 18 months, they might say 50 words but understand 200.They understand short sentences well." says McRoberts. Studies have shown deaf children learn to use sign language earlier than hearing children learn to speak meaningfully. As to whether hearing babies can communicate earlier with sign language, McRoberts says,"I think that's still unknown. It may not. I'm very interested in that very question." Which of the following does McRoberts agree with? A. Babies learn to talk quickly. B. Babies can understand more words than they can say. C. Hearing babies can communicate earlier. D. Deaf babies understand short sentences well. Answer: B Question: " To seek happiness is to look for it" was once said by the famous French author Jules Renard. Look for it? Sure...but don't spend a lifetime trying, especially if it's well within your reach but you're just too blind to see it. Discover the three keys to happiness that you have already understood, but that you are just too afraid to find it. 1. Accepting Yourself The idea of happiness is difficult to understand if you are not at peace with yourself. Learn to accept yourself as you are. Your next step will be to improve your attitude for tomorrow, for the next day, for the day after that, and so forth. By beginning to accept reality, you will come to the final point of true happiness. Only when you are at peace with yourself, will you finally be able to admit that you are, in fact, a happy person. 2. Forgiving Others Forgiving others is a true show of humanity which also allows us to feel more at ease. When you learn to forgive, you also learn to keep a firm hold on your life. To forgive is to open the doors of personal satisfaction. Yet you simply open your mind to answer, " Do I really want to allow my anger to grow and eat me from inside out?" 3. Helping Your Neighbors When a friend seems to be suffering from a state of depression , it's quite easy to help him or her out of the trouble. The best attitude to have in this situation is to make him or her understand that he or she is not alone. If you come to save a friend in need, you'll feel a lot more at peace with yourself. You will feel high--spirited by knowing that someone is looking at life on the brighter side thanks to your kind words. ,. According to the passage, a happy person is most probably A. a kind helper B. a big dreamer C. an good learner D. a rich giver Answer: A Question: Researchers around the world have been trying their hand at making better use of the huge amount of wind energy available in nature to produce clean energy. Apart from this, studies are being carried out to harness usable wind energy produced by man-made technologies. One useful source identified by Indian inventor Santosh Pradhan about two years ago is a speeding train, which produces fierce wind that can be transformed into electricity. According to Pradhan's proposal, with a few small improvements in existing trains running in Mumbai, the largest city in India, at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity could be harvested each day. Building on this principle, designers Ale Leonetti Luparinia and Qian Jiang from Yanko Design have created a device called T-Box that harnesses wind energy from speeding trains. T-Box can be placed within the railway tracks. It is half-buried underground between the concrete sleepers , which does not disturb the normal train operating at all. According to Yanko, around 150 T-Boxes can be fitted along a 1,000-meter railway track. A train running at a speed of 200 kph can produce winds blowing at 15 miles a second. Based on this calculation, 150 T-Boxes can produce 2.6 KWH of electricity per day. The T-Box's design won a silver medal in last year's Lite-On Awards and was exhibited last summer at the Xue Xue Institute in Taipei, Taiwan Province. Though the figures look impressive, it is important to remember that the design is still at a conceptual stage and hasn't taken into account issues such as pieces of waste material produced by the device and the efforts and costs involved in the maintenance of the device. We can expect the technology to see the light of the day only after it clears these issues. If so, rail travel, one of the greenest forms of travel, will become greener and more energy-efficient. How much electricity can be produced per day by T-Boxes along a railway track of 100km? A. 260 KWH. B. 2.6 KWH. C. 150 KWH. D. 1.5 KWH. Answer: A
For most of my 15 years, my father usually said very little to my mother and me. He preferred reading the newspaper or watching football matches on television to talking to his family. Everything changed one morning. As soon as I came downstairs to breakfast, I could see that he wasn't his usual reserved self. "Can't wait! FIFA World Cup! Big match! Must see!" I quickly figured out what all the excitement was about: Dad is a big football fan. I had never been interested in football, but Dad's excitement that morning made me more and more curious. I had to find out why this sport was making my normally reserved father act like a five-year-old on his first trip to Disneyland. Dad decided that we should all eat at a little German restaurant so that we could watch the World Cup while eating. Secretly, I think he was hoping to turn Mum and me into football fans. The match started a few minutes after we entered the restaurant. As I was eating my meal, a loud noise came from the television. Surprised, I looked up at the TV: "Why is that man jumping up and down?" Dad patiently explained: "That's Papa Bouba Diop, my son. It's normal for them to jump up and down after they've scored." Dad explained almost everything to me. His monosyllabic answers were a thing of the past. I loved the new Dad! I watched the rest of the match, becoming more and more interested. When I told my father that I planned to watch more matches with him, he smiled and gave me a wink . At long last we had something in common. Football has really helped Dad and me get closer and form a stronger relationship with each other. Who says football is only about 22 men running after a silly ball? The author's growing interest in watching the match mainly came from _ . A. his and his father's common love of German food B. watching a top level performance of the players C. his father's love of football and his explanation D. eating in a restaurant with the excited fans Answer: C Most middle school students find it boring to learn math. But students in Yet Sen Middle School in New York, US, don't think so. Why? Because they are in the school of One Program, which asks students to work on their own or in small groups on computers to have math lessons. "The program gives the students a new learning style. No traditional classroom can compare with it. We give each lesson according to the students' interest and their strong and weak points, "said Joel. Klein, the school's headteacher, "We're looking for a new way that interests students. " Students enjoy these math lessons, especially lessons with video games. They must find out the answers to math problems to get through the game. One such game is Dimension M. As students move through mazes with their keyboards, some questions come up. Caleb Deng had to answer the question: What is 5+(6x3)? He _ on paper quickly because there was just a minute left to play. "I was right, "said Deng, 14, as he ended the game with a high score . "This really makes math lessons more exciting, since we are fighting to learn better. " This article is mainly about _ . A. how to learn math well B. an interesting math lesson C. a new way to learn math D. kids in Yet Sen Middle School Answer: C Legend has it that sometime toward the end of the Civil War (1861 - 1865) a government train carrying oxen was caught in a snowstorm and had to be abandoned. The driver returned the next spring to see what had become of his cargo. Instead of the skeletons he had expected to find, he saw his oxen, living, fat, and healthy. How had they survived? The answer lay in a resource that unknowing Americans had trampled underfoot in their haste to cross the "Great American Desert" to reach lands that sometimes proved barren. In the eastern parts of the United States, the preferred grass for forage was a cultivated plant. It grew well with enough rain, then when cut and stored it would cure and become nourishing hay for winter feed. But in the dry grazing lands of the west, that familiar blue joint grass was often killed by drought. To raise cattle out there seemed risky or even hopeless. Who could imagine a fairy-tale grass that required no rain and somehow made it possible for cattle to feed themselves all winter? But the surprising western wild grasses did just that. They had wonderfully convenient features that made them superior to the cultivated eastern grasses. Variously known as buffalo grass, not only were they immune to drought, but they were actually preserved by the lack of summer and autumn rains. They were not juicy like the cultivated eastern grasses, but had short, hard stems. And they did not need to be cured in a barn, but dried right where they grew on the ground. When they dried in this way, they remained naturally sweet and nourishing through the winter. Cattle left outdoors to fend for themselves thrived on this hay. And the cattle themselves helped plant the fresh grass year after year, for they trampled the natural seeds firmly into the soil to be watered by the melting snows of winter and the occasional rains of spring. The dry summer air cured them much as storing in a barn cured the cultivated grasses. Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a characteristic of western grasses? A. They have tough stems. B. They are not affected by dry weather. C. They contain little moisture. D. They can be grown indoors. Answer: D Light for the City Edison and his assistants came to New York to set up an electric power system. They hoped it would provide enough electricity to light up a part of the great city. They bought several machines with them. These were called generators , which produced electricity power for lamps in Edison's building. Soon there were lights for the building. Edison lived in a room facing the street and he often worked over night. The light burned brightly and steadily and he often worked over night. People often came and stopped their horse-drawn carriage to look. Everyone knew that Thomas Edison was in town. First, the inventor and his assistants produced several large generators. A great deal of power would be needed to light up even a small part of the city. Then the workers were busy digging deep trenches in the hard earth below the city streets, and Edison had fourteen miles of wire laid into the trenches. The wire connected each building to a generator. Setting up an electric power system was not an easy job. It took a year and a half. In September, 1882, the job was finished. A small group of men stood around Edison inside the power house. The big moment came at last. The inventor, taking a deep breath, pulled a switch. The electric lights flashed up. "Very good! Very good!" a man nearby shouted to praise Edison for what he had done. "Sir," said Edison, "this is only the beginning!" And Edison was right. Soon Edison's lamp were lighting up cities all over the world. Trenches were dug to _ . A. set up generators B. lay wires C. built city streets D. build a power house Answer: B Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor of the apartment building. For years, he had always been planning to paint a work of art, but had never yet begun it. He earned a little money by serving as a model to artists who could not pay for a professional model. He was a fierce, little, old man who protected the two young women in the studio apartment above him. Sue found Behrman in his room. In one area was a blank canvas that had been waiting twenty-five years for the first line of paint. Sue told him about Johnsy and how she feared that her friend would float away like a leaf on the old ivy vine climbing hopelessly up the outside block wall. Old Behrman was angered at such an idea. "Are there people in the world with the foolishness to die because leaves drop off a vine? Why do you let that silly business come in her brain?" "She is very sick and weak," said Sue, "and the disease has left her mind full of strange ideas." "This is not any place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy shall lie sick," yelled Behrman. "Some day I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away." Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down to cover the window. She and Behrman went into the other room. They looked out a window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other without speaking. A cold rain was falling, mixed with snow. The next morning, Sue awoke after an hour's sleep. She found Johnsy with wide-open eyes staring at the covered window. "Pull up the shade; I want to see," she ordered, quietly. Sue obeyed. After the beating rain and fierce wind that blew through the night, there yet stood against the wall one ivy leaf. It was the last one on the vine. It was still dark green at the center. But its edges were color1ed with the yellow. It hung bravely from the branch about seven meters above the ground. "It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fail during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today and I shall die at the same time." "Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down toward the bed. "Think of me, if you won't think of yourself. What would I do?" But Johnsy did not answer. The next morning, when it was light, Johnsy demanded that the window shade be raised. The ivy leaf was still there. Johnsy lay for a long time, looking at it. And then she called to Sue, who was preparing chicken soup. "I've been a bad girl," said Johnsy. "Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how bad I was. It is wrong to want to die. You may bring me a little soup now." An hour later she said: "someday I hope to paint the Bay of Naples." Later in the day, the doctor came, and Sue talked to him in the hallway. "Even chances. With good care, you'll win," said the doctor. "And now I must see another case I have in your building. Behrman, whose name is some kind of an artist, I believe, has Pneumonia , too. He is an old, weak man and his case is severe. There is no hope for him, but he goes to the hospital today to ease his pain." The next day, the doctor said to Sue:" She's out of danger. You won. Nutrition and care now - that's all." Later that day, Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, and put one arm around her. "I have something to tell you, white mouse," she said, "Mister Behrman died of pneumonia today in the hospital. He was sick only two days. They found him the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were completely wet and icy cold. They could not imagine where he had been on such a terrible night. "And then they found a lantern, still lighted, and a ladder that had been moved from its place. And art supplies and a painting board with green and yellow color1s mixed on it. "Look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't you wonder why it never moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it is Behrman's masterpiece - he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell." One can safely assume after reading the story that _ . A. the relationship between the two girls was based on material comfort B. Behrman was infected with Pneumonia by Johnsy C. Behrman showed great sympathy for the two youth D. Johnsy knew clearly why Behrman painted the ivy leaf for her. Answer: C
Question: Today was my high school reunion. I was the most remarkable student for all the wrong reasons. I was born with some birth defects and learning disabilities. I overcame them, but it was hard. While working blue-collar jobs, I lived in my car for a few years. On a cold winter night several years ago, I met Dr. X in the emergency room. He was a former classmate of mine, and we pretended not to know one another. He discovered I was living in my car and heard some of my stories. Then he arranged for me to be admitted to the hospital for a day so I could get warmed up and recover. When I left the hospital, I found a $100 bill in the gas tank door of my van . I'm sure it was from him. I now have a home of my own and I'm doing OK, considering everything. When I sent my reservation and check to the reunion committee, it was returned uncashed with a $50 bill along with a note saying "Please don't come." I guess my classmates are more closed-minded than I thought they would be. I was hoping age would change them but my wish turned out to be nothing but a joke. In addition to the reservation return, I have also seen a few forwarded emails _ my attempts to find out about the event. I hope none of those people were blessed with a child with learning or physical issues. I guess people never change on some things. Thankfully, I have found nicer, caringpeople along my journey in life, and for that I'd like to thank all of the kind people in the world. What might be the key barrier to the author's reservation? A. His experience in the hospital. B. The closed mind of his classmates. C. His uncashed check. D. The location of the reunion. Answer: B. The closed mind of his classmates. Question: I had an experience once which taught me something about the ways people made a bad situation worse by blaming themselves. One January, I officiated at two funerals for two elderly women. Both died a natural death. At the first home, the son of the deceased woman said, "If only I had sent my mother to Florida and gotten her out of this cold and snow, she would be alive today. It's my fault that she died." At the second home, the son said, "If only I had not insisted her going to Florida, she would be alive today. That long airplane ride was more than she could take. It is my fault." When things don't turn out as we would like them to, we tend to assume that had we done things differently, the story would have had a happier ending. Any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty. Because the course of action they took turned out bad, they believe that the opposite course, for example, keeping mother at home, would have turned out better. After all, how could it have turned out any worse? There seem to be elements involved in our readiness to feel guilty. The first lies in our belief that the world makes sense----there is a reason for everything that happens. The second is the thought that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen. The roots of this feeling may lie in our childhood. A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. He wakes up in the morning and calls the rest of the world to its tasks. He cries, and someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him, and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely abandon that childish thought that our wishes cause things to happen. People feel guilty for the death of their loved ones because _ . A. they cannot find a better way to express their sorrow B. they don't know that natural course of events C. they believe that it is their fault D. they don't know things often turn out in the opposite direction Answer: C. they believe that it is their fault Question: It's Sunday. Mike does not go to school. But he is not at home. He is now sitting on a bus. He is going shopping. An old woman gets on the bus. Mike stands up and says to her,"Come and sit here, please."The old woman goes over and sits down. She says,"Thank you very much, dear little boy." The bus stops near the shop. Mike says"Goodbye"to the old woman and gets off the bus. The old woman smiles and says"Goodbye"to him, too. Which is right? A. The bus stops far from the shop. B. The little boy and the old woman get off the bus. C. The old woman gets off the bus first. D. Mike gets off the bus and says"Goodbye"to the old woman. Answer: D. Mike gets off the bus and says"Goodbye"to the old woman. Question: Dear Mum, I don't think you understand my life. You think I should be studying all the time. I know you want me to find a good job when I grow up, but I would like to have a wonderful time, too. You never think about fun things for me to do like music, sports. Two days ago, when I was watching a football game on TV, you asked me to stop and do my homework. After finishing my homework, still I wasn't allowed to read my football magazines. You said I had to go to bed early. That was bad enough, but yesterday was the worst day. I bought some computer games, and put them in my bag so that you wouldn't see them. I told you I had to do my homework first. I know it was wrong to lie to you, but you told me that Dad would talk to me later. Mum, I didn't quite like what you did to me! I really love you, mum, but I wish you could try not to be so hard on me. Love, Zhang Ning We know from the letter that _ . A. Zhang Ning lives a very happy life B. Zhang Ning hates his mother C. Zhang Ning wishes to study all the time D. Zhang Ning's parents are very hard on him Answer: D. Zhang Ning's parents are very hard on him Question: Pasta is the world's favorite food. Asurveytaken in 17 countriesconfirmedthat pasta is what people like to eat most. Not only is pasta the number one food in its home country -Italy, but is alsoenjoyedin faraway places like the Philippines, Mexico andSouth Africa. Pasta has become popular, for one thing, because it is cheap and easy to prepare. Just cook noodles or other forms of pasta, make a sauce to go with it and you're finished. Many different types of meals can becreatedwith pasta. It tastes good and fills your stomach. It produces energy in the form ofcarbohydrates , which is whyathleteseat pasta regularly. Pasta can also be kept for a longer time. You don't have to use it up at once. Pasta has also become popular because it stands for the Italian way of life. People all over the world like it because it's so simple. It has two basic ingredients , wheatand water, just like bread. Legend has itthat Marco Polo brought pasta back to Italy with him but this is not true. Arabs probably brought a noodle-likedishtoSicilyin the 8th century. Farmers have been growing wheat, the mainingredientof pasta, there for ages. The worldwide sales of pasta have risen sharply over the past decade. Italy leads the pasta-eatingcommunityof the world. The Italians are the number one consumers followed by Venezuela and Tunisia. Sports people often have pasta because _ . A. it costs less money B. it can be kept longer C. it provides proper energy D. it contains no carbohydrates Answer: C. it provides proper energy
Question: The origins of blues are not unlike the origins of life. For many years it was recorded only by memory, and relayed only live, and in person. The blues were born in the North Mississippi Delta following the Civil War. Influenced by African roots, field hollers , ballads, church music and rhythmic dance tunes called jump-ups evolved into a music for a singer who would engage in call-and-response with his guitar. He would sing a line, and the guitar would answer. From the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49, and the platform of the Clarksdale Railway Station, the blues headed north to Beale Street in Memphis. The blues have strongly influenced almost all popular music including jazz, country, and rock and roll and continue to help shape music worldwide. Bad luck and trouble are always present in the Blues. Relentless rhythms repeat the chants of sorrow, and the pity of a lost soul many times over. The blues form was first popularized about 1911-14 by the black composer W.C. Handy. However, the poetic and musical form of the blues first crystallized around 1910 and gained popularity through the publication of Handy's Memphis Blues(1912) and St.Louis Blues(1914). Instrumental blues had been recorded as early as 1913. During the twenties, the blues became a national craze. Mamie Smith recorded the first vocal blues song, Crazy Blues in 1920. In the early 1960s, the urban bluesmen were "discovered" by young white American and European musicians. Many blues-based bands brought the blues to young white audiences. Since the sixties, rock has undergone several blues revivals. Some rock guitarists have used the blues as a foundation for offshoot styles. The latest generation of blues players like Robert Cray and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, gracing the blues tradition with their incredible technicality , have drawn a new generation listeners to the blues. What is the best title for the text? A. The Origins of Blues B. How Rock Was Influenced by the Blues C. A Short Blues History D. How Blues Became Popular Answer: C Question: Hong Kong Harbour Cruise By Night Enjoy your wonderful dinner on the ferry and see the fantastic city lights. Time: 7:00 pm~10:00 pm daily Price: With dinner Without dinner Adult: HK$300 HK$120 Child under 12: HK$ 210 HK$ 84 Start/ Stop: Kowloon Public Pier (Near Star Ferry Pier) Ticket Office:Star Company (123 Canton Road) What can they see on the ferry? A. A film. B. The city lights. C. Playing sports. D. Listen to the music Answer: B Question: One of the keys to being successful is persistence .Once you have determined exactly what you want to achieve, you must take active action in order to succeed. One of the things you'll notice on your journey towards your goal are roadblocks. That is, you will come across obstacles to discourage your progress. Actually, they are a part of life. Everyone would have every success they ever wanted if there were no obstacles. Your job is to be persistent and work through those obstacles. If you find little or no obstacles along the way, chances are that you are not really challenging yourself. And when you do reach your goal, you won't experience the feeling of "sweet success". Make your goal a challenging one! If you take the time to study any successful person, you will learn that the vast majority of them have had more "failures" than they have had "successes". This is because successful people are persistent; the more they stumble and fall, the more they get right back up and get going again. On the other hand, people that don't get back up and try again, never reach success. For example, Walt Disney was turned down 302 times before he got financing for his dream of creating the "Happiest Place on Earth". Today, due to his persistence, millions of people have shared "the joy of Disney". Having known these facts, keep in mind that you must constantly reevaluate your circumstances and the approach you are using to reach your goal. There is no sense in being persistent at something that you are doing incorrectly! Sometimes you have to modify your approach along the way. Every time you do something you learn from it, and therefore find a better way to do it the next time. Today is the day to begin your journey, using consistency and persistency, towards tomorrow's successes! The author seems to hold the belief that _ . A. challenges we come across are beneficial B. obstacles will surely lead to someone's success C. the more obstacles we have, the more discouraged we feel D. it's rewarding to enjoy the feeling of"sweet success" Answer: A Question: Dear Alcohol, You've been around forever. I can remember all the pain you've caused for me. Do you remember the night you almost took my father's life? I do. He loves you. Sometimes I think he loves you more than he loves me. He's addicted to you, to the way you promise to rid him of his problems only to cause more of them. You just sat back and laughed as his car went spinning through the street, crashing into two other cars. He wasn't the only one hurt by you that night. Do you remember the night of my first high school party? You were there. My friends _ you. They treated you as if they were never going to see you again, drinking all of you that they could. I spent two hours that night helping my friends who had fallen completely. "I'm so embarrassed," they said as I held their hair back so that they could vomit . "I'm sorry," they said when I called taxies for them, walking them out and paying the driver in advance. "This won't happen again," they said as they were sent to the hospital to have their stomachs pumped. Two 15-year-old girls slept in hospital beds that night thanks to you. Do you remember the night when you took advantage of my 17-year-old neighbor who had to drive to pick up his sister from her dance lessons? Do you know how we all felt when he hit another car and killed the two people in the other car? He died the next morning too. His sister walked home from her dance lesson, and passed police cars and a crowd of people gathering on the sidewalk just two blocks away from the dance studio. She didn't realize her brother was in the midst of it all. She never saw him again. And it's all your fault. I wish you'd walk out of my life forever. I don't want anything to do with you. Look at all the pain you've caused. Sure, you've made people happy too from time to time. But the damage you've caused in the lives of millions is inexcusable. Stop luring in the people I love. Stop hurting me, please. Sincerely, Anonymous What is the tone of the article? A. Critical. B. Doubtful. C. Unconcerned. D. Humorous. Answer: A Question: "Who did this?" asked my teacher. Thirty children tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what our teacher might have found out. "Who did this?" she asked again. She never became angry, but she was this time. She held up a piece of broken glass and asked, "Who broke this window?" "Oh, oh," I thought. I was the one who broke the window. I did not do it on purpose . It was caused by a bad throw of a baseball. Why did it have to be me? If I admitted it, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? "My father is going to get angry at me," I thought. I didn't want to raise my hand, but something much stronger than me pulled it up. "I did it," I said. Then I was silent. It was hard enough saying what I had. My teacher went to one of our bookshelves and took down a book. She then began walking towards my desk. I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me. "I know how you like birds," she said as she stood looking down at my face. "Here is the field guide about birds that you always _ from our school library. It is yours now. We have got a new one for the school. You will not be punished . But remember, it's only for your honesty." I couldn't believe it! I wasn't being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide, the one that I had been saving up all my money to buy. What can we learn from the story? A. The writer's teacher often hit her students. B. The writer broke the window when he was catching a bird. C. The writer was seriously punished after he admitted his mistake. D. The writer didn't want to admit his mistake at the beginning. Answer: D
The Maryland Science Center is more than fun. You can enjoy the First three floors of exciting things, watch the larger-than-life play on the 4th floor, and travel to other worlds, to far away stars, on the 5th floor. Don't just look. You arc expected to feel, to turn, to push. Build your own house and learn why it stands or fails. Use computers to work out plans just as famous scientiats have done. There is always something new to Learn at the Maryland Science Center. Children and group visitors enjoy half price. The excitement of the Maryland Science Center does not end when you leave. Visit the Science Store for gift you'd like to keep. Electronic jewelry, games, books, and more - take part of the Science Center home with you. Important information : Where to call 24 hour general information (410)685 -5225 24 hour STARLINE night sky information (410)539 STAR Group visitor information (410 ) 685 - 2370 Hours The Maryland Science Center open 7 days a week (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p. m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a. m. -8 p. ra. The Maryland Science Center stays open Answer: almost all the weekdays and weekends It is important to learn business English if you are going to be successful in another country where English is the primary language. It will also be a great idea to practice speaking and writing in business English. If a university offers a course on business English, it will be a good idea to take the class. Reading, writing and speaking English is necessary to start a business. Business English is different from asking where to find the nearest hotel. There are classes you can take to help you but there are things that you can learn on your own. Vocabulary and grammar are a good place to start with. You need to know what words mean. Later, try to pronounce the words and then look them up in the dictionary. Try using them in a sentence and ask someone who is good at English to help you. Once you have an understanding of English, you can use it in business English. In business you will have to learn such things as taking messages, answering the phones with proper words and communicating with your co-workers. You may have to learn how to make travel plans. Business English is very different than spoken English. Grammar is the same but you have to learn things like expressing yourself in a proper manner or maybe making a report in your office. If you are working in the customer service sector , you really have to learn business English. Dealing with the public is sometimes more important than asking your boss for a raise . Most businesses offer training classes and some companies offer classes on how to do the job with proper business English. We can learn from the text that business English _ . Answer: pays more attention to the forms of expressions Next time you're in a public place, take a look around you, and count how many people are using their phones. I can tell you that it is probably more than half, whether you're in a bus, in a cafe or simply walking down the street. I'm not saying that I am not an example of this, but I wonder how people can spend so much time on their phones without actually talking to anyone in particular. We can now do almost anything with a phone. But has it gone too far? We spend too much time on our mobiles but not enough time talking to people in real life. Last time I visited London, I traveled by subway. I noticed that almost everybody else was on their phones except those who were asleep. People were playing games, reading articles and listening to music. Recently, my smart phone broke and I had to use an old basic phone just to keep in touch with my family and friends. I could only send text messages, make calls and play one game with it. And I loved it. I loved being free from the Internet, and I really didn't mind what my friends were doing or what the latest news was. I could enjoy my time watching the people around me and seeing what was going on. However, I knew that as soon as I got my smart phone back, I would be one of those people once again. The writer finds that _ people are using their phones in public places. Answer: most Last December, I performed 30 shows in 11 days. I knew it would be a tiring tour before I set off, but I just wanted to be there to support our men and women. From the minute I walked onstage the afternoon I arrived at the army, the soldiers were cheering, singing along at the top of their voices. I had done hundreds of concerts, but it was my first time to perform for _ . Looking at the smiling faces of these soldiers --- some of them only teenagers --- I felt great joy moving through me. They were the loveliest fans I had ever met. Then, from out of nowhere, words came into my head. "I want to play you something new ... a song just came in my head minutes ago. It's calledHere with Me," I told them. Cheers rang out. As I sang, I could see the tears in some of soldiers' eyes. I finished to thunderous applause. At theautograph part afterward, one of the soldiers took out a picture of a high school student. "This is my girl. You know, I miss her so much," he said. "That new song you sang ... it meant so much to me. Those were the words I've always wanted to tell her. I realized that the song wasn't about me and that it was, in fact, a gift for these men and women. I played it in every concert after that, always with the same unbelievable reaction. On the long plane ride home I kept thinking about the soldiers I'd met. They risked their lives every day to defend our country, yet they were grateful for a simple concert. I decided to record the new song to thank our men and women inuniform . When the author performed on the stage, he felt _ . Answer: pleased Look! The girl looks _ a Barbie doll . She has long blond hair. Her blue eyes are big, but her mouth and nose are small. She is a nice girl. Who is she? Oh, she is Sally. She is from England. She is thirteen years old. Her mom and dad are English. Both of them are in Beijing now. Her mom is my English teacher. She and I are good friends. Well, green is Sally's favorite color, and she is in green. We are in the same school, but we are in different classes. ,. Which is WRONG ? Answer: Sally and I are in the same class.
Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award as Best Actress for her first major American movie, Roman Holiday, which was showed in 1953. But she is remembered as much for her help as for her acting. Born in Belgium in 1929, Audrey's father was British and her mother was Dutch. Audrey was sent to live at a British school for part of her childhood. During World war II, she lived and studied in the Netherlands. Her mother thought it would be safe from German attacks. Audrey studied dance as a teenager and during college. But when she returned to London after the war she realized she wasn't going to be a ballet dancer. So she began taking acting parts in stage shows. Later she began to get small parts in movies. But it was Audrey Hepburn's move to America that made her truly famous. In 1951 she played the character "Gigi" in the Broadway play Gigi and won popular praise. Two years later, Roman Holiday made her a star at the age of 24. Audrey made more than 25 movies. Among her most popular roles was "Hoolly Golinghtly" in Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1961. Three years later she played "Eliza Doolittle" in My Fair Lady. She was married twice. In 1989, the UN Children's Fund named Audrey a goodwill ambassador. She travelled all over the world in support of UNICEF projects. The UN agency said she was a tireless worker. She often gave 15 interviews a day to raise money and get support for UNICEF projects. Audrey Hepburn often said her love to UNICEF was the result of her experiences as a child during World War II. She said she knew what it was like to be hungry and to be saved by international help. She was a goodwill ambassador until her death in 1993 from cancer. What made Audrey work so hard to support UNICEF? A. Her parents' wish. B. Her love to children. C. Her wish to be famous. D. Her own early experiences. Answer: D Sharks live in a liquid deluged with sodium chloride because it allows them to A. form sharknadoes B. have increased buoyancy C. eat people D. star in films Answer: B Dear Kitty: News! We have a new flat! The rooms are small, but they are comfortable. There are more rooms here than in our old flat. This is good because now I have my own room. In the old flat, I share with my sister. My bedroom is my favourite room in our flat. I can be alone in it. I can read or draw. I can listen to my radio or play CDs. I can play games on my computer and send e-mails to my friends. My second favorite room is the kitchen. I love helping my mother cook our meals. She is a very good cook. She is teaching me how to make many different kinds of dishes. She lived in Morocco when she was a girl, and she can cook Moroccan food. It's very delicious. That's all for now. Write soon and tell me about your home. Please get on the Internet so that we can send e-mails to each other. All good wishes! Anna What is the difference between the old flat and the new one? A. The rooms in the new flat are big. B. The rooms in the old flat were smaller. C. There are more rooms in the new flat. D. There are more rooms in the old flat. Answer: C A grouper will breathe beneath the surface of a pond because it has A. tips B. noses C. neck slits D. wings Answer: C The TV shows a baby's pram rolling off a train platform as the mother makes a mad rush to save her son, but she is too late and it falls onto the rails in front of an incoming train. This heart-stopping scene happened yesterday at Ashburton station in Melbourne, Australia. But the story has a happy ending: the six-month-old baby survived with just a cut on his forehead, although the pram was dragged about 35 metres by the braking train. The nurse Jon Wright said the boy just "needed a feed and a sleep" and didn't need to stay in hospital. "Luckily, he was strapped into his pram at the time, which probably saved his life. I think the child is extremely lucky, " Wright told theHerald Sunnewspaper after the baby was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Fortunately the train was already slowing down to stop at the station so it stopped quickly when the driver put on the brakes as soon as he saw the pram fall in front of him. Rail firm Connex is to look into how the pram rolled off the platform. The accident came one day after Connex started a child safety awareness activity warning parents to keep babies strapped into their prams at all times while on platforms. The accident happened at the same time as the "balloon boy "story in the US, in which a six-year-old Colorado boy was reported to be trapped in a flyaway balloon. However, he was later found hiding in the family's garage. Many people believe that it had all been a publicity _ by the parents. No such doubts surround the baby on the train platform. Why could the train stop quickly? A. Because it had just begun to move. B. Because it was moving slowly at that time. C. Because the mother took measures quickly. D. Because the driver saw the pram fall. Answer: B
As the summer time approaches, more and more commercials and advertisements can be seen on the mass media encouraging students to join English study tours abroad. The purpose of these tours is to provide students with an opportunity to learn English in a native speaking environment and use English in real situations. Parents always believe that their children will automatically speak good English after attending these study tours. However, for me, as an English major and former participant of many English study tours, I find these summer tours ineffective. Parents who send their children abroad for a summer to study English usually believe that the native speaking environment, including the courses, teachers, and host families, can help their children to learn English better. This might be true if the students really study hard and they really get an all-English environment. But the fact is that, most of the time, the tour part is more important than the study part. Although these tours take place in foreign countries, students are rarely exposed in an all-English environment. You will find that, in the morning classes, Taiwanese students would like to stick together and speak Chinese with each other, even though there are some students from other countries. In the afternoon, the students go on a sightseeing excursion with their companions from Taiwan; they speak Chinese of course. In the evening, when students return to the host families, they would stay in their room and share the day with their roommate, another Taiwanese student. People who speak the same language with you is like a log in the ocean when living in a foreign country where you can not express yourself well, so that you would naturally stick with them. This is especially true with children. Another unrealistic expectation parents have for these tours is that the experience of living abroad can make their children more independent and mature. However, maturity does not come overnight. It takes time and practice. The most important of all is that they need a good _ . None of these exist in the study tours. Which of the following is the most important thing for children who study in an English environment according to the writer? A Host families. B Hard work. C Courses. D Teachers. Answer: B Watch a baby between six and nine months old,and you will observe the basic idea of geometry being learned.Once the baby has mastered the idea that space is three dimensional ,it reaches out and begins grasping various things,that the ideas of sets and numbers are formed.So far,so good.But now an _ development takes place.The nerver fibers in the brain separate themselves in such a way that the baby begins to hear sounds very exactly.Soon it picks up language.And it is then brought into direct communication with grown-ups.From this point on,it is usually downhill all the way for mathematics,because the child now becomes exposed to all the rubbish words and beliefs of the born.Nature,having done very well by the child to this point,having permitted it the luxury of thinking for itself for eighteen months,now gives it up to the unreasonable conventions and beliefs of society.But at least the child knows something of geometry and peaceful days,no matter what vicissitudes it may suffer later on.The main reservoir of mathematical ability in any society is thus possessed by children who are about two years old,children who have just learned to speak freely. According to the passage,which of the following activities would teach a baby about geometry? A Picking up a wooden block. B Recognizing the number 2. C Saying a rubbish word. D Looking at a distant word. Answer: A Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Wars and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and mental _ Often they appear again in dreams. Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill , which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce , or possibly erase the effect of sad memories. In November, some scientists tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body producing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research has suggested that only the mental effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased. The research has caused plenty 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 destroy people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a dream. They usually come with very sad feeling." said Roger Pitman, a scientist of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve a lot of that suffering." But those who are against the research say that it is very dangerous to change memories because memories give us our identity . They also help us all get away from 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 erase those memories," said Rebecca Dresser. The drug tested on people can _ . A cause the brain to fix memories B stop people remembering their experiences C prevent body producing certain chemicals D erase the emotional effects of memories Answer: C At times Marty made it sound too easy. On a visit to his home I heard him say, "People need to decide to be happy." I pressed him. "What do you mean by that?" His face took on an skeptical look. "You have to ask me?" At that moment I felt a little foolish. Complex human problems, at least to me, often prevent people from being happy. To Marty it was a matter of common sense. I wondered, what was I missing? That night Marty told me a story that was very personal for him. I knew Marty and Mickey had four children. I didn't know there had been a fifth. She was their second child. She died shortly after birth. "The funeral director was a super guy," Marty said. "He knew we didn't have any money, but he told us he would take care of our little girl. He went out and built a wood casket for her." Marty's voice started to break. "He only charged us five dollars. It's stuff like that. You can look for the good in people and you'll find the good. You can look for the bad in people and you'll find the bad." I didn't know what it was like to grow up poor. Marty's life was filled with minimum-wage jobs, borrowing on insurance policies, and working overtime to make a little more money. In my lifetime I had seen people in similar circumstances grow angry. Bitterness took hold of their lives and choked them. "I never had much money, and I don't think I ever will." Marty said. "People think they need to have a lot of things to make them happy. They ought to look around and see what's really important." When Marty looked around, he saw the most beautiful girl in the world as his wife, four children who loved him, a home he took pride in, and a job that made him feel alive. He was happy because, in his mind, he had it all. Marty shared one of his personal stories to _ . A tell the author he experienced something sad B prove the funeral director was a good person C tell the author to find the goodness in life D help those who gave him a hand once Answer: C Teary Joe was a boy with a special ability: he could make himself cry in less than a second. If he disliked something, or things became difficult, Teary Joe would not hesitate to put on a pitiful face and set great big tears running down his cheeks. In this way he managed to get practically everything he wanted, because no one could resist the pity inspired by his tearful little face. But one day, Teary Joe met Pipo. Pipo was asking people in the street for some change, in return for him helping them in any way he could. Pipo was very poor; he had no home and no family, so he made a living however he could. Even so, Pipo always had the biggest smiles on his face. Joe took to Pipo, so he decided to help him out in making some money. He went over next to Pipo, took off his hat, put it face-up on the ground, and started crying with the most pitiful of expressions. Ina few minutes, Joe's hat was full of coins and sweets, but when Joe offered all this to Pipo, Pipo declined. "I prefer deserving what I receive," answered Pipo with his usual smile, "It's much more fun making an effort to get things. Maybe I haven't gotten everything I've wanted, but I've done a load of interesting things." Teary Joe didn't answer; he just walked sadly away. Joe had got everything he wanted, but he'd done practically nothing of interest the whole day. That evening, having returned home, Joe requested a delicious cake for his supper. When his mother said no, Joe tried to cry but, remembering Pipo and how joyful he was, he tried to get the cake in some other way. Joe spent the whole evening helping his mother to water the plants and organize the library books. In the end there was no cake. But that wasn't so bad, because Joe discovered it had been much more fun doing all those things that evening rather than just sitting crying to get a piece of cake that, in the end, wouldn't have been worth it. What can be inferred about Teary Joe? A He doesn't have home and is poor. B He still prefers crying to getting things. C He built up true friendship with Pipo. D He was greatly influenced by Pipo. Answer: D
If you want to be a success, study at the University of Waikato is right for you. The university is internationally recognized for its excellence and achievements. It will help you develop advanced research skills. As a university student you can get first-class research facilities with trained teachers to help, support and advise you in your study. We pride ourselves on our high standards, our research success and our international recognition. For further information: inf@waikato.ac.nz. Degree We offer a wide choice of bachelor's degrees for international students, which includes: Arts, Communication Studies, Social Sciences, etc. Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education are only for New Zealand citizens, for further information: deg@waikato.ac.nz. Tuition Fees Tuition fees are different from department to department, generally from $5,000 to $6,000 a year. For further information: tui@waikato.ac.nz. Accommodation You can have a room in a 4-bedroom flat, which will cost about $100 a month with other regular living costs of about $150 a month for one person. For further information: acc@waikato. ac.nz Health The Student Health Service provides excellent medical services for students. The Medical Centre is open five days a week, including student holidays with four doctors and nurses to meet your medical needs. For further information: heal@waikato.ac.nz. Sports The Centre is a great place to have sports activities. Trained exercise teachers can help you work out a training plan and keep you active. The sports hall has volleyball, basketball and indoor football courts and a swimming pool as well. There are also a large number of sports clubs at Waikato. For further information: sport@ waikato.ac.nz If you want to get more information about arts, you can write to _ . A. sport@waikato.ac.nz B. heal@waikato.ac.nz C. deg@waikato.ac.nz D. inf@waikato.ac.nz Answer: C Which list contains all satellites? A. a plane and a helicopter B. Venus and the Kuiper belt C. space shuttles and rocket launch platforms D. the ISS, the moon, Europa Answer: D Have you seen Jurassic Park? In this film, scientists use DNA kept for tens of millions of years to clone dinosaurs. They find trouble, however, when they realize that the cloned creatures are smarter and more dangerous than expected. That's nothing more than a fiction. But could we really clone endangered animals? To date, the most successful attempt to do so was the cloning of a gaur, a rare ox-like animal from southeast Asia. Scientists used a cow to bring the cloned baby gaur, named Noah. Two days after birth, however, Noah died from a common bacterial infection. Other endangered species that may be cloned include the African bongo antelope , the Sumatran tiger, the cheetah , and the giant panda. Next, could we really clone extinct animals? In theory? Yes. To do this, you need a well-kept source of DNA from the extinct animals such as wool mammoth , Tasmanian tiger, or even dinosaur, and a closely related species, still living, which could serve as a surrogate mother. In reality? Probably not. On the one hand, it's not likely that extinct animals' DNA could survive undamaged for such a long time. Cloning extinct animals as wool mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, or dinosaur is much more difficult due to the lack of properly well-preserved DNA. On the other hand, for example, a gaur can have a cow as _ , definitely not a monkey. But what about an extinct animal as unique as the panda? What species could possibly serve as a surrogate mother? Cloning presents many exciting possibilities. However, even if extinct animals are brought back, they could not survive in today's world. Not only do most extinct animals have no habitat to live in, but the other plants and animals they depended on for food may also be gone as well. It can be learned from the passage that _ . A. scientists have cloned the African bongo antelope B. both the cheetah and the giant panda live in Asia C. the gaur lives in Asia and is endangered D. the gaur is an extinct species Answer: C Dear Sir, I am writing to you about my stay at your hotel. My wife and I arrived on Saturday, 15thMay and stayed for a week. Though we were treated well and found the service excellent, we think there are one or two matters we should bring your attention. 1. We had hoped for a nice holiday from our busy work lives, and your advertisement said "comfortable and quiet". We want to have a chance to enjoy ourselves. However, we were always waken up by the noise every morning. Is it really necessary for the workers to start their repair work so early? 2. We had hoped to swim in your "wonderful pool". To our disappointment , we found that it was closed for the whole time of our stay. I hope you do not mind my writing to you about these things, but I would be happy if you could give me some explanation. As I said at the start, it is a pity, and your service is so good in other fields. I hope to hear from you soon. Yours sincerely Mr Hector Bradley , . Whom is Mr Hector Bradley probably writing this letter to? A. His friend. B. The owner of a hotel. C. An editor. D. His father. Answer: B Carmen Arace Middle School is situated in the pastoral town of Bloomfield, Conn., but four years ago it faced many of the same problems as inner-city schools in nearby Hartford: low scores on standardized tests and dropping enrollment . Then the school's hard-driving headmaster, Delores Bolton, persuaded her board to shake up the place by buying a laptop computer for each student and teacher to use, in school and at home. What's more, the board provided wireless Internet access at school. Total cost: $2.5 million. Now, an hour before classes start, every seat in the library is taken by students who cannot wait for getting online. Fifth-grade teacher Jen Friday talks about different kinds of birds as students view them at a colorful website. After school, students on buses pull laptops from backpacks to get started on homework. Since the computer arrived, enrollment is up 20%. Scores on state tests are up 35%. Indeed, school systems in rural Maine and New York City also hope to follow Arace Middle School's example. Governor Angus King had planned using $50 million to buy a laptop for all of Maine's 17,000 seventh-graders - and for new seventh-graders each fall. In the same spirit, the New York City board of education voted on April 12 to create a school Internet portal , which would make money by selling ads and licensing public school students. Profits will also provide e-mail service for the city's 1.1 million public school students. Profits will be used to buy laptops for each of the school system's 87,000 fourth-graders. Within nine years, all students in grades 4 and higher will have their own computers. Back in Bloomfield, in the meantime, most of the _ have been worked out. Some students were using their computers to visit unauthorized websites. But teachers have the ability to keep an eye on where students have been on the Web and to stop them. "That is the worst when they disable you," says eighth-grade honors student Jamie Bassell. The habit is rubbing off on parents. "I taught my mom to use e-mail," says another eighth-grader, Katherine Hypolite. "And now she's taking computer classes. I'm so proud of her!" From the passage we learn that _ . A. a school Internet portal is the key to a laptop program B. the laptop program also has a good influence on parents C. students slowly accept the fact their online activities controlled D. the laptop program in public school is mainly for the eighth-graders Answer: B
There are two mice. They are called Bill and Paul. They are good friends. One mouse lives in the country; the other mouse lives in the city. On a sunny day they meet in the street. Paul: Hi, Bill! Have a look at my house in the country. I'm sure you can enjoy yourself. Bill: I'd love to. But I hear that the food is not delicious, and your house is not good. Is it so? Paul: No, that's not true. Go and see! Then Bill goes to the countryside with Paul. Bill: Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have better food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city. Paul: Thanks! Maybe you are right. I'll visit your house one day. _ days later Paul goes to Bill's house in the city. The house is big and beautiful. They are sitting in the sitting-room, having a big dinner comfortably. Suddenly, there a great noise. Bill: Run! Run! The cat is coming! Paul: Oh, no! It's terrible! Both the house and the food are nice, but I do not like living in the city. I enjoy living in my hole in the field, for it is nice to be poor but happy than to be rich but afraid. Where does Bill live? A. In the hole. B. In the country. C. In the city. D. In the field. Answer: C. In the city. Experts have put forward detailed plans for a tunnel to join Taiwan with the Chinese mainland. The shortest proposed route would be 126 kilometers--more than twice the length of the English Channel Tunnel.And the longest proposed route would be 207 kilometers. A recent conference in xiamen,Fujian Province brought together more than 70 experts.The event was cosponsored by universities from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.Fujian is the province where both proposed mutes would begin. There is no direct passenger access between the mainland and Taiwan by air or sea at the moment. Experts say that it is better to start research sooner rather than later,although there is a lack of government funding .There are no technical problems t0 build a Taiwan tunnel.But it will require an improved political relationship across the Straits. A professor of TsinghHa University said,"A special feature of huge projects is that the period of preparation is longer than the period of construction." For example,he said,the English channel Tunnel took 14 years of planning and had been discussed for two centuries.And preparations for the huge Three Corges dam on the Yangze River began in the 1950s. The xiamen conference focused on the longest southern route,which would use the Taiwan-controlled islands of Jinmen and Penghu as steppingstones. The first stage of the new project could be a bridge to cross the five kilometers between Xiamen and Jinmen.This would mean that traveling from Xiamen to Jinmen by car would only take five minutes. The longest tunnel now being planned anywhere in the world is the 54-kilometer land tunnel to link Lyon in France with Turin in Italy.The tunnel will not be completed until 2015-2020. The example of English Channel Tunnel shows----. A. it's important to complete a huge project B. there are many problems to be solved before doing something C. discussions among countries usually take a lot of time D. the preparation takes 1onger time than the construction Answer: D. the preparation takes 1onger time than the construction There are two types of twins; identical and non-identical twins. Identical twins are formed from a single egg in mother's body which divides to from two separate babies. Identical twins look the same, and are often dressed by their parents in clothes of the same colors. It is often difficult to tell identical twins from each other, even when they are standing side by side. Non-identical twins come into being when the mother produces two separated eggs a the same time, both of which grow to form babies. In this case the twins look like normal brothers and sisters and are easy to tell one from the other. In the 1970s and 1980s a scientist did some research into twins. He invited many pairs of identical twins to university and asked them to take part in a week of tests. He was particularly interested in adopted twins who had been separated at birth. He would give the twins different kinds of tests to study their speed of thinking, their speech, their memory, the ways they saw and heard different things, and so on. Time and time again he found separated twins who preferred clothes of the same color, used the same kind of shaving soap, wore the same shaped square glasses and the same colored socks. There is a third type of twins, but it is a very unusual one. Twins which are joined together at birth are known in western countries as Siamese twins. If the twins are easy to tell from each other, they are _ . A. very probably non-identical twins B. surely identical twins C. surely identical twins D. always a brother and a sister Answer: A. very probably non-identical twins George wants to warm his hands quickly by rubbing them. Which skin surface will produce the most heat? A. dry palms B. wet palms C. palms covered with oil D. palms covered with lotion Answer: A. dry palms In order to start a business online now, there are a few steps you need to complete. The very first step you need to complete is to have a product or service idea. A good idea to make money online should be an idea that excites you, an idea that others will be interested in, and an idea that not many other people are trying. Once you have your business ready to go, you need to go ahead and get a website. You will need to buy a domain name and host it with a company on the Web. Your domain name should be as simple as possible and it should be related to(...) your products. After this you can go ahead and get your site built up. You can either do this yourself or you can pay someone else to do this. The site itself doesn't have to be anything special. The final step for starting your business online is to have a way to make money. For this, you need to have a merchant account that will let you sell things and make money. Your merchant account should accept as many forms of payment as possible. Once your site is up and running, you can begin advertising the site. You need to create contents , such as articles, social networking sites, blog entries, etc. and then you can post it on the Internet so that you can attract as many potential customers as possible. That's how easy it is to start a business online now.Very soon you will be making money online. According to the writer, which of the following may NOT be something necessary to do? A. Building up a website B. Having a simple domain name C. Making your site as special as possible D. Hosting the domain name with a company on the Web Answer: C. Making your site as special as possible
if an animal skips the pupa stage in its metamorphosis, what does that characterize? A a process of incomplete transition B a very passive metamorphosis C a true and complete metamorphosis D a very aggressive metamorphosis Answer: A. a process of incomplete transition Their reunion was unlike any other. Graduating from the Macon, Georgia, class of 1959 gathered together in 2009, even though many of them never had an opportunity to meet during their high school days. Schools in the 1950's, like most other public locations, were segregated in Georgia. Kids were forced to attend different schools depending on the color1 of their skin, and those with white skin were further separated by gender. Fifty years later these people who were not allowed to associate with each other were finally able to connect. It all began with the personal journey of a man named Tom Johnson. He grew up in Macon and enjoyed a very successful career which included serving as the publisher of the Los Angeles Times and president of CNN. Tom's life changed drastically over the years, but he still felt the desire to reconnect with his roots. In 2005 Johnson returned to Macon with his son, Wyatt. As the pair drove around town, the father recounted high school stories to his son. He talked about how students attended one of three schools: BallardHudson, Lanier or Miller. Wyatt looked over at his father and said:"Dad think about how many friends you missed getting to know." Johnson thought about the people he never got the chance to meet. He decided to do something about it. The first step was to find people who graduated from all three schools. Johnson wrote to each person and proposed they all get together for a luncheon. He explained that even though they were kept apart during their youth, they didn't have to be separated any more. His classmates received the message with open hearts. A reunion date was set for October. More than 200 former Macon students traveled hundreds of miles to reunite with people who went to high school with them. It was an unprecedented event, former students coming together to make up for the time they had lost during the days of segregation. We can learn from the passage that Tom Johnson _ . A began to miss his old school friends after he retired B wanted to reconnect with his roots after the dramatic changes in his life C wanted to reconnect with his roots in spite of his successful career D began to miss his old school friends after hearing his son's words Answer: C. wanted to reconnect with his roots in spite of his successful career Where would one likely find the least water? A in the elephant's habitat B in the crab's habitat C in the cow's habitat D in the cactus' habitat Answer: D. in the cactus' habitat Benny and his Dad wanted to make a pizza. On Sunday afternoon, they went to the supermarket to buy the ingredients. At the supermarket, they picked up some pizza dough, sauce, cheese, and pepperoni slices. The next day, Benny and his Dad started making the pizza. First, Benny rolled out the dough. Then, his Dad poured the sauce over the dough. Afterwards, Benny put the cheese on the pizza Last, Benny's dad put pepperoni slices on top. "Now, we must put it in the oven", Benny's Dad said. They slid the pizza into the oven and waited for it to finish cooking. After some time, Benny's Dad removed the pizza from the oven. The cheese was bubbly. "It looks great!" Benny shouted. After the cheese stopped bubbling, Benny's Dad cut the pizza into eight slices. Benny got four slices and Benny's Dad got four slices. They were both happy with how the pizza came out. They both enjoyed eating the pizza very much. How many slices was the pizza cut into? A eight B four C ten D six Answer: A. eight People say teenagers are no good. They make too much noise in shopping malls; they drive recklessly up and down America's main streets; they carry chips on their shoulders as big as the Sears Tower. And at least some of the time those things are true. But we shouldn't forget that there are hard moments in the life of a teenager too. I watched such a moment not long ago at a woman's funeral. I didn't expect the event to affect me. Through much of the ceremony, in fact, I remained unmoved. The teenage grandson stepped forward. With his very first deep breath, every heart in that church was achingly reminded of something we had all forgotten. Softly he began: "I want to share a few values that Nana taught me. She never failed to see light in any situation. When our family dog would truly attack her, what would Nana say? 'oh, what beautiful barking that dog has!' That was Nana. " "She was a strong woman who often lived in the shadow of my grandpa, who was a successful businessman in this city. But she was the one behind the scenes who provided the strength and support for my grandpa's career," he said, with a voice now trembling, "That was Nana's way." Through a low sob, he continued, "Whenever she did anything worth recognition, you'd have to hear about it from a different source, because she was never one to show off." Finally, in a voice breaking free of sorrow, he looked up and said, "Nana taught me courage. She put up an incredible fight to the end, when she died peacefully, which is how she lived her life. That was Nana's way, and I hope I can carry on in the same manner." There are no hearts as sensitive as those of teenagers, because everything is happening to them for the first time. The trouble with teenagers is that they haven't learned to be controlled. When that boy rose to speak about the woman who surely had been his truest and closest friend, his honest voice dragged each of us out into the open where we could no longer hide in the calm ceremony. He exposed us to the truth about this very real woman who believed in a boy who probably tried the patience of many adults. He reminded us that his grandmother was more than another dot on the chart of life and death. All over again we felt those powerful losses crossing our own hearts, and we knew that when you say good-bye to something happy, something young in yourself. And that something never really returns, and the pain never really goes away. Which of the following statements is true? A The boy 's speech moved no one present at the funeral except the writer B The boy's being good at expressing himself enabled him to draw everyone's attention C The boy was too grieved to accept the fact that his grandmother had passed away D The writer didn't expect the event would affect him Answer: D. The writer didn't expect the event would affect him
Most children have ever heard their parents yell "sit up straight!" or "don't hang your head !" when they eat dinner. Nowadays, it is also heard around another activity -- video games. Ten-year-old Owaish admits it takes him three to four hours a day to play games on his tablet computer. In addition, he plays for about two hours on the smart phone every day. As a result, he started suffering a serious pain in the neck around June or July. What's worse the pain has spread to the hand and back gradually, which makes his mother Mehzabin become concerned. The doctors note the number of young children with the chronic pain in their necks, arms and shoulders is on the increase sharp in recent years . They are not aging, they haven't had an accident, the blood reports are fine, their X-rays are fine, and their MRIs are fine. Facts have proved that the pain is from the poor posture while they are playing video games on smart phones or other electronic devices. 19-year -old student Nida feels pain in the finger which holds the weight of her smart phone most of the day. Nida almost uses her smart phone 24/7, which means 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or all the time. Health experts predict there will be not only physical but mental problems resulting from the overuse of electronic devices. They encourage people to often take breaks and exercise from using computers, smart phones or other devices. Stand up! Stretch the legs, back, shoulders and arms in all the possible directions. That's the most effective way and maybe the key to solving the problem completely. After all, the medication doesn't help sometimes. What may be the best title for the text? The idea of sailing west to reach the riches of the East Indies and the Asian mainland was much in fashion with cultured Europeans during the late fifteenth century. Learned people agreed that the earth was round: their only questions were how long and how dangerous would be a trip to reach the Orient. Christopher Columbus, the son of an unknown weaver, and himself a weaver of ambitious dreams, made his historic voyage to the New World in 1492. He didn't go to school very much, but be learned to read and write Spanish during his travels. He also taught himself Latin because all the geography books were written in Latin. Sailing with a tiny fleet of three ships, the Santa Maria and two smaller ships, the Pinta and the Nina and a crew of ninety sailors, be found the thirty-three-day crossing easier than his nearly-decade-long effort to find royal sponsors willing to support it. The trip drew not only on his own skills as an expert ship's captain, but also on his ability to plan such an expedition, obtain governmental approval and financing, and finally, demonstrate its success so that such explorations could continue. He tried for years to get King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to supply him with ships and money. Finally they agreed, but he made more demands. He wanted to be made a knight, admiral of the Ocean Sea. He wanted to be the viceroy and governor general of all lands he would discover. Also he wanted one-tenth of everything he found of value in the new lands. The explorations that followed Columbus-those of Cabot, Verrazano, Cartier, and many others-benefited from a new maritime technology borrowed from Arab sailors and from a variety of new vessels (,) such as the light-weight caravels employed by Columbus. Sailors also perfected sails and various types of riggings that gave ships added stability and greater maneuverability on the open seas. And when leaving sight of the coast, new navigational aids-charts, compasses, and astrolabes-permitted them to determine their position with some, though not perfect, accuracy. Columbus himself made a total of four voyages to the New World but he did not become rich as he had hoped. At the end of his life he only had a pension the king and queen had given him because he was the first to reach the New World. He spent the last few months of his life in bed because of the pain of arthritis . Columbus not only discovered a New World, but led the way for other explorers. What equipment aided the sailors in locating relatively more accurately? Most kids get bored with their toys quickly, even the newest ones. The service of renting toys can save parents from buying lots of new toys for their kids. The new web-based company, Baby Plays, was invented by Lori Pope, a mother of twin boys. When her kids' toys started taking over all the floor space in her house, she thought that maybe she didn't need to buy so many toys. What's more, her kids seemed to lose interest in each new toy very quickly. Finally she realized that she needed a special service. She wanted to borrow one toy at a time. When her kids didn't like it any more she could send the toy back. But she couldn't find any service like that, so she decided to create her own. Pope owned a company before. She poured a lot of money into Baby Plays to buy all the best toys. These toys are for children aged from 0 to 5. Under her plan, customers can rent six toys each month. The price for renting a new toy is less than most costs of buying a new toy. Generally, families will keep each toy for one month. This period is plenty for most kids to get tired of playing with it. If the kids are really interested in a particular toy, they can keep it till they are attracted to a new one. Kids are not good at keeping their toys in perfect condition, but Pope doesn't mind a little wear and tear. She thinks that even if the kids don't care about their toys' condition, the parents do. And she will not ever rent anyone a low-quality toy. Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage? Paul couldn't sleep last night. He woke up early and sat up, and then he lay down again. He felt terrible. "I must be sick," he thought. "but I must study for that test." He got up and looked for his history notebook. He finally found it under a pile of clothes on a chair. He went over his history notes, but he couldn't remember any of the facts in the notes. "What shall I do?" he thought. He felt terrible. Just then Paul's telephone rang. He put down his notebook and picked up the telephone. "Good morning," Jack's voice said, "You must be wrong about that test." "What do you mean?" Paul asked weakly. "We're not going to have the test today." Jack said. "I wrote down the date in my notebook. The test will be next Wednesday; it isn't today. How do you feel this morning?" "Fine," said Paul. "Just fine!" Suddenly he really felt fine. How do you feel this morning? From this question we can see Jack _ My husband and I had just opened up a pet sitting business earlier that year. Our customers had slowly risen from three to thirty a month. We were busy through those hot summer months, driving between visits. Our work was strictly done at the pet owner's home. It was almost too busy for the two of us, but we were making good money! We asked pet owners new to our business to phone two weeks ahead so we had enough time to meet the owners and pets at their homes and make any following meetings before the owner leaves. One day, we decided to take on a new customer just two days before they would leave. We met the family, filled in a form, and spent some time with their dog, Hercules. He playfully jumped on us and touched our hands and arms using his tongue. The family laughed as he did this, showing us that he was very loving. Two days later I appeared at the house, alone. I came up to Hercules and said hello happily. I filled up his water bowl and cleaned any messes he made. Meanwhile, he was so lovely sitting beside. I thought this would be the good picture to send to the owners as usual. After the light and "click" sound went off, Hercules rushed at me. I didn't know what had just happened until I noticed the drops of blood. I ran out and did the only thing--calling my husband. Then I went to neighbors for help. My husband arrived after ten minutes. The helpful neighbor and my husband led Hercules back into his pen . Then my husband and I took off to the hospital. I must have looked like I was shot when I walked into the hospital. The nurses quickly moved me to a room. I asked the doctor in a weak but playful manner, "Am I going to die?" He replied, "Finally." What did the author often do during her work?
Question: In 1985, a lionfish was caught off the coast of Florida. Now they can be found not only in the Atlantic Ocean but also in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. And they are continuing to move south. Lionfish are native to the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. So how did they end up in the Atlantic? Scientists believe some pet owners abandoned their unwanted lionfish and poured them into the sea. Little did they know the trouble their actions would cause. The Atlantic Ocean turned out to be a comfortable home for lionfish. Their venomous spines protect them from sharks and other fish. Female lionfish can spawn every few days, producing as many as 2 million eggs per year. Other big fish would have competed with lionfish for food. Bet overfishing has removed many of these large fish. As a result, the fish have eaten so much that they have grown to be more then three times the size of their cousins in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. "They eat mostly fish," says Stephanie Green, a scientist at Oregon State University. All that eating has caused great changes. Scientists have found that when lionfish are present somewhere, many other fish, which are small enough for them to eat, disappear. Some of the fish they eat are greatly missed in their habitats. For example, parrotfish eat certain plants off corals , which allows corals to grow better. But they are now disappearing due to lionfish. Scientists say lionfish are here to stay. But there are ways to deal with the problem. The key, says Green, is to keep lionfish numbers in check. In Florida, drivers can now go though a special training program and get certified to catch lionfish in areas where fishing is not usually allowed. And a number of restaurants have added the fish to the menu. "It's going to be a long-term battle, but the missing sea species will come back someday," says Green. What can we learn about lionfish? A. Its population is growing very quickly. B. All of them are almost the same size. C. They eat other big fish and even sharks D. Most of them have gathered in the Atlantic. Answer: A. Its population is growing very quickly. Question: In the United States, people like going camping for vacation. They do everything for themselves to relax in the woods instead of staying at a modern hotel or a restaurant. They enjoy themselves far away from the noisy cities for a few days. What should you prepare if you want to go camping like them? When you are camping, you make all of your own food. Barbeques are very necessary while camping. You can bring bread, drinks, meat and vegetables to the camp. You'd better bring some wood and a lighter to _ . Remember to put stones around the fire to make sure it won't get too big and dangerous. When the fire is ready, you can cook food over it. Children really like this activity at night. The whole family sit around the fire, eat their favorite food. Certainly they can sing songs and dance together. What a pleasant and exciting moment. Camping is a fun activity for the family to do. Vacation does not have to mean going to visit a place far away. It could be as simple as setting up a tent in the nearby woods. What should you do while using fire? A. Put stones around the fire. B. Cover the fire with grass. C. Cook food under the fire. D. Keep far away from the fire. Answer: A. Put stones around the fire. Question: James was a nice old man who lived by himself. Every day he would walk down the road by his house and say hello to everyone. It was fun saying hello to everyone but he felt lonely sometimes. He wanted a pet to take care of. One day as he was walking down the road a little brown and spotted puppy came up to him and wanted James to pet him. James reached down and petted the puppy and smiled. James hoped to see the puppy again. Many days later James went for a walk again. He thought to himself, "I guess I won't ever see the brown puppy again. I hoped to see him again." A nice young lady said to James, "Would you like a puppy?" James said, "I would like a puppy that was like the one I petted before." The lady smiled. She was holding the little brown and spotted puppy. She told James that she found the little puppy in the woods. She said that the little puppy did not have a family. James said happily, "I would love to give the puppy a home!" So James grabbed the little brown and spotted puppy and took him home. James and the little brown puppy became great friends. James named him Spotty. Who gave James the puppy? A. His sister B. His son C. a nice young lady D. His uncle Answer: C. a nice young lady Question: In many countries, unusual names for children are becoming more popular, especially when more and more stars give their children special names. In Britain, you can call a child almost anything you like except dirty words. Some parents choose names which come from popular culture. Because of the film the Lord of the Rings , six boys were named Gandalf. Names about sport are very common, too. Since 1984, 36 children have been called Arsenal after the football team. Other parents like to make up names, or combine two names to make a special one. A mother in Britain invented the name Tiaamii for her daughter. She combined the names Thea and Amy (the two grandmothers). In China, there are some rules about names --- you can't use foreign letters or symbols in a Chinese name. For example, parents are not allowed to name their baby @. In New Zealand, a name beginning with a number is not allowed. Other countries have stricter rules about calling children. For example, Japan, Denmark, Spain, Germany and Argentina have a list of names. Parents must choose the names in the lists for their children. In Britain, some old-fashioned names have become popular again, such as Maisie or Ella for a girl, and Alfie or Noah for a boy. But the most popular names are not the strange ones. The top names are very traditional--Jack and Thomas for boys, or Grace and Jessica f6r girls. ,,. (5,2,l0) In _ , people must name their children according to the list. A. Japan B. Britain C. America D. China Answer: A. Japan Question: Online Money Earning Yes, you can earn money online without any investment or without any time limit. I have many useful easy methods for earning easy money while we all spend our useful time on the Internet by surfing, chatting, downloading and other work. There is no need to stop any other work. We can earn with or without our daily routine. Here I tell you the complete method for online earning. First Method Earn money with "Bux. to". You can earn money through "Bux. to" by clicking on ads on "Bux. to" site. First you need to poen an account at "Bux. to". "Bux. to" is a new international and FREE English based service that allows advertisers to reach thousands of potential customers by displaying their ads on our "Surf Ads" page. An exact calculated percentage of all advertising income is paid to our members. "Bux. to" makes money through advertising. How you make money You view websites in 30 seconds through the "Surf Ads" page. Once the 30 seconds is up, you'll either get a green tick sign or a red "x". The green tick sign means you've earned $0.01 and the "x" means you have not earned money for the visit. You'll get redxs when you have more than one website from the "Surf Ads" page open. When this happens, you get no credit. Earnings example You click 10 ads per day=$ 0.10 20 referrals click 10 ads per day=$2.00 Your daily earnings=$ 2.10 Your weekly earnings=$14.70 Your monthly earnings= $63.00 How to get paid If you have at least $10.00 accumulated, you can click on your account balance within your state's area and it will meet your request. At present, it only makes payments through "AlertPay ". It will soon be using other methods of payment. AlertPay is the payment processing solution that we use to pay members. Your AlertPay address is the e-mail address you use to register with AlertPay. You can get a free AlertPay account at http://alertpay.com. Method 2 will publish soon... What is the author's purpose of writing this passage? A. To tell an interesting story. B. To introduce a surprising way to earn money. C. To solve a puzzling problem. D. To present exciting research. Answer: B. To introduce a surprising way to earn money.
Scientific Progress Most scientific progress is the result of careful consideration of work that has already been done. The wonderful world which lies before us today has been put up by hardworking men with clear heads and inventive mind, and these who follow them along life's road will improve on their efforts. It is sometimes necessary to question and even to disbelieve some of the statements made by experts. Action or experiment can often end an argument or achieve a breakthrough. When men were wondering whether it was possible to reach India by sailing westwards from Europe, and whether there was any land on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Christopher Columbus decides to act. He gathered some men, invited them to go on board his three ships, and set out across the dangerous waters of the Atlantic Ocean. He was successful in finding land, but it was not India. The result of his action was that the arguments came to the end. Any young man who wishes to do research must be courageous enough to question old beliefs and do some original thinking about them. Although we seem to know so much, there are many things we don't know. Even when we pull an atom to pieces, we do not really know what the pieces are, we often do not reach the reality behind what we discover, and the more we learn, the better we realize our ignorance. Columbus succeeded in finding out that _ On October 23, 2011, David Pologruto, a high school physics teacher, wasstabbed by his smart student Jason Haffizulla. Jason got straight A's and was determined to study medicine at Harvard, yet this was his downfall. His physics teacher gave Jason a B, a mark Jason believed wouldundermine his entrance to Harvard. After receiving his B, Jason took a butcher knife to school and stabbed his physics teacher. How can someone as smart as Jason do something so dumb? Studies show there is little or no correlation between IQ and emotional intelligence. During my early university years, I regarded myself as an intelligent guy. I got good marks in mathematics, physics, and other subjects. I thought such skills would surely give me a bright future. After one year of study with decent marks, I began to see two major classes of students. The first category of students turned up to few lectures, partied every weekend, enjoyed a great social life, and did minimal work to pass courses. The second category of students were intelligent and hard workers who got good grades and were very focused on their studies. Surely would these intelligent and hard-working students find the great jobs before the other lazier class of students? Not so. Students are often shocked upon graduation that their qualifications are not as important as they once thought. Graduates enter the workforce only to realize that co-workers hate them and less intelligent people are the ones receiving promotions. Educational skills are useless in some industries when interpersonal skills are absent. You can have great ideas, theories, and solve complex problems, but if you cannot effectively communicate in a persuasive and exciting manner by relating to your fellow humans, you will face an uphill battle in whatever challenges you encounter. It's not that people dislike you because of your intelligence; it's that people dislike you because you're rude and not understanding. The intelligent person with poor communication skills is insensitive or unaware of others' emotions. Intelligent people are hated because _ . Settled by the Celts, invaded by the Romans and the Normans, and ruled by the English, Wales' population has regularly changed over the ages. Wales, particularly South Wales, became a melting pot of European nationalities and cultures. At first workers from England, Ireland and the rural areas of Wales rushed into the coalfields of South Wales. By 1911, workers from Ireland, Italy and Spain had joined the industrial workforce there. Many of these newcomers were prepared to work for less pay. But during this period, workers, dissatisfied with regular pay cuts, poor safety, the growing trend of employers to pay workers with tokens , which could only be spent in the company store, returned to the land. In 1891, the rural population of Wales was about 616,000 and by 1911 just over 649,000 people lived and worked in these areas. The rural population continues to grow slowly even today. People from richer parts of the UK, particularly southern England, are buying holiday or retirement homes in Wales. In some areas this has led to a shortage of affordable housing for local people. This, combined with the lack of employment prospects in rural Welsh communities, has started a new movement of people in search of jobs and homes into the towns and cities of Wales and to other parts of the UK and Europe. As so many Welsh people have migrated to other countries over the last 200 years, it's really no surprise that many visitors come to see friends and s -- there were 229,000 visitors in 1998. These visitors strengthen their links to their land of origin and continue to support the Welsh economy. During the hot summer days, about 28% of the visitors visit the countryside and nearly 70% visit the seaside. What would be the best title for the passage? Shane Thomas is a 10-year-old pianist from England. He's being called the next Mozart because of his amazing abilities. He has only been having piano lessons for four months, and practices four hours a week, but he has already played difficult classical pieces. He was just seven when he sat down at the piano, and could play at once. He also says he never gets nervous. When Shane was three years old, he said that he could play the piano, but nobody took him seriously. At school, he could listen to the teacher and do his work while composing in his head. Shame remembers all the melodies ,and when he gets home he plays them on the piano, while his father records them. Shane loves playing the piano, and when he grows up he wants to be a composer. His tutor, Richard Goffin-Lecar, says he is like Amadeus Mozart, who lived during the 18thcentury in Salzburg, Austria, and was one of the most famous composers ever. Mr. Goffin-lecar says, "I don't teach Shane very much. I just give him directions, then sit back and watch." His father, a single parent with two other children, says that although he has little money, he wants to send Shane to a good music school. "I'm a single father, but I have this gifted child. I don't have much money, but I want to give him the best teachers, and also take him into a studio to record." When did Shane tell others that he could play the piano? Traveling should be easy and enjoyable, and one of the ways to make sure your trip remains fun is to know exactly how to keep your valuables safe. If you are traveling alone, distribute your money through your luggage. Place most of it in your main suitcase or bag. Make a rough estimate of how much money you will spend on the journey, till you reach your destination. Place this money in a different wallet and carry this in your pocket. Spend from this pocket till you get to your destination. If you are travelling with someone, distribute the money among yourselves. Instead of wearing your jewels, you can put your jewels at the bottom of your suitcase or bag. DO NOT carry in your purse, just in case it is stolen; or in case you misplace your purse. In addition, if you are going to be frequently opening your purse for things like tickets and phone numbers, what if you accidently just drop them. Have you ever seen a mini backpack purse? It looks really fashionable and is very smart. Plus, It's really convenient to use. The best thing to do is to hang the mini backpack purse in the front, like a baby carrier. There are two big advantages to do this; one, your hands remain free to carry your luggage and other things; and two, your purse is always monitored, and is just under your nose! Credit cards are very useful in many ways. But if you misplace your credit card, it is quite easy for someone else to find it and use it to his/ her maximum benefit before you even realize you have lost it! If you lose cash, you lose only that much cash as you are carrying. But a lost credit card means the money in your bank account is lost. So always try to use cash instead of credit card while traveling What is the main idea of this passage?
James Blunt is one of the most popular singers in the UK. His first album, Back to Bedlam, and his number one hit, You're Beautiful, brought him fame in 2005. his music is a mix of pop, rock and folk. Blunt comes to China for the first time this month, he will hold two concerts, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai on April 18 and 19 respectively. Blunt, 34, took an unusual path to stardom. His father was a soldier and so was his grandfather. "The only music he heard growing up was Happy Birthday and Silent Night. His father considered all music, even classical, to be unnecessary noise,' reads Blunt's official website. Even though Blunt did not want to join the military, he eventually followed his father's wishes, and served as a soldier in Kosovo on peacekeeping duty. "Like any parents, mine wanted me to have a secure job with a regular wage and career prospects," Blunt said. "And the one job my father knew of, that he'd had experience of himself, was the army, so he could help me in that direction." Blunt eventually became a Captain. One of his final duties in the army before retirement was carrying the coffin at the funeral of the Queen Mother of England in 2002. But Blunt couldn't escape his love for music. So, after leaving the British Army he moved to Los Angeles and worked on his first album. While in LA, Blunt lived with the actress Carrie Fisher, who played the lead female role in the Star Wars movie. He recorded his song, Goodbye My Lover, in his bathroom, where he kept a piano. Blunt took his new album back to England where it was not very successful. But he kept performing and eventually his song, You're Beautiful, became a number one hit. Now Blunt has won numerous awards, sold millions of records and dated super models. But his greatest accomplishment might be that his father now enjoys music! Which of the following proves "Blunt took an unusual path to stardom"? A. Blunt was 34 when be became famous. B. Blunt recorded his most famous song in a bathroom. C. Blunt's father wanted him to have a secure job. D. Blunt began to pursue a career in music after military service. Answer: D Ann's grandpa was very rich and he had some shops. The old man began to learn drawing when he was sixty, and he loved it very much. For twelve years he drew a lot and there were many pictures in his workroom. He was pleased with them and kept them well. One day, the old man was ill. He had to stay in hospital. Before he died, he said to Ann, "I want to give my pictures to a school as presents. Then the students can remember me forever. But I don't know which school I'm going to give them to. Can you help me? " "Well," said the little girl, "you'd better give them to a blind(,) school. " ,. (5) Ann's grandpa was _ . A. a driver B. a teacher C. a blind man D. a rich man Answer: D Next time you're unhappy or complaining about your life, don't turn to a cheerful comedy. You might find a tear-jerking tragedy is just the thing you need to brighten your day. A team of researchers at Ohio State University, US, has found sad movies can make people happier, Science Daily reported last month. Many people find tragedies make them realize how good their own lives are, the study showed. "People seem to use tragedies as a way to reflect on the important relationships in their own lives," said Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, leader of the study. "Tragic stories often focus on themes of eternal love, and this leads viewers to think about their loved ones and count their good and helpful things." In the study, researchers gathered 361 college students and showed them the 2007 movie, Alonement. The movie is about two lovers who are separated and finally die during Worid War II. Before and after the movie, the students were asked questions measuring how happy they were with their lives. Researchers also asked them before, afier and three times during the movie to measure various emotions, including sadness. Researchers found that the sadder students felt while watching the movie, the more likely they were to think about real people they had close relationships with in life. This increased their happiness afier watching the movie. Knobloch-Westerwick explained that negative moods make people more thoughtful. "Positive emotions show that everything is fine, you don't have to worry, you don't have to think about problems in your life," she said. "But negative emotions, like sadness, make you think more critically about your situation. So seeing a tragic movie may make you sad, but that will make you to think more about your own close relationships and appreciate them more." The link between watching a tragic story and feeling better has long been recognized. The ancient Greeks even had a word for the feeling of happiness afier seeing something sad that led to the modern English word "catharsis ". The study also showed that relationships are a very important source of happiness in our lives, so it is no surprise that thinking about your loved ones makes you happier, researchers said. Which of the following about the study of Ohio State University is NOT true? A. Students' emotions are measured by asking questions. B. Only sadness is measured in the study. C. The study shows relationships are a source of happiness. D. Those who felt sadder when watching the movie were more likely to be happier after that. Answer: B Instagram is containing so many photos of food--now a pop-up diner in London is taking advantage of this new trend by letting people settle the bill for their meals simply by uploading photos of their dishes to social networks. I always thought people's taking pictures of their food was kind of silly, but at this new pop-up restaurant in the UK, I'd probably do it too. 'The Picture House' is the world's first pay-by-photo restaurant--you order, click a photo of the food, share on Instagram and eat for free! The restaurant belongs to frozen food giant Birds Eye, who came up with the idea to cash in on people's addiction with photographing food and sharing the pictures online. They conducted a survey and found out that more than half of the British population regularly took pictures of their meals. So they realized it was a better way to advertise their new dining range. The pop-up diner was open in Soho, London for three days in May, and is now moving to other major UK cities. They serve two-course meals that customers don't have to pay for, if they photo and Instagram it. The restaurant is a part of Birds Eye's 'Food for Life' campaign, a new marketing project that aims at changing the way people look at frozen food. "Taking photos of food enables people to show off and to share their mealtime moments--from the everyday to the special," said marketing director Margaret Jobling. The reaction to The Picture House has been great so far. And the pay-by-picture concept has proven to be an effective way. Alternative payment methods are actually gaining popularity among a lot of businesses. Last year, in a cafe in Germany customers pay by how much time they spend there, not by what they eat. What's the author's attitude to this new trend? A. Opposed. B. Interested. C. Confused. D. Unconcerned. Answer: B There is a shy girl in our class.She is thirteen years old.She is not tall and she is not short.She is a little fat.Her face is round,like an apple.She has two big black eyes and a small nose.Her mouth is big,but her ears are small.Her hair is short and black.She likes red.But today she is wearing a yellow sweater,blue jeans and white shoes.She dislikes getting up early,so she is usually late for school.She doesn't like to talk to others.She likes little animals.She has a little black dog.She and the dog are good friends. She likes _ animals. A. a bit B. a little C. little D. a few Answer: C
Gabby Logan was a gymnast when she was young. She is now the 39-year-old mother of seven-year-old twins, Reuben and Lois. The other day on TV she was dressed in a new swimsuit, which was designed to show off her nice figure, which was admired by a great number of television viewers. Gabby, who won high praise for her television show of the Olympics, has asked the woman of the whole nation to go to the swimming pool, saying the secret of her figure is regular swimming. She is also making advertisements for the new Sculpture Swimwear of Speedo, an international swimsuit company, to help women find the perfect swimsuit. Gabby said, "We all felt uneasy about getting into our swimwear at first. But we should be excited by the sporting achievements we have seen at the Olympics this summer. To get ourselves a little healthier, have a try and go to the swimming pool. " Then she said," Swimming is the perfect exercise if you want to feel healthy or simply relax. I find that going for a swim always clears my mind and also gives me some valuable 6 my time'. I like the calm of swimming which I can't experience when I am not in the pool. " A study by Speedo, an International company, which sells swimsuits, reported the biggest reason why women were put off going to the pool was the way they looked in swimwear. More than half of the l,000 women surveyed have been reduced to tears when trying on swimwear. And 48 percent said they felt too self-conscious to go swimming with their children. Sally Polak, from Speedo, said, " We're hoping to give women the courage and confidence to get back into the water. " What is the main reason why Gabby has a nice figure? A. She is a gymnast. B. She often swims. C. She has a peaceful mind D. She wears Sculpture Swimwear. Answer: B About 6 percent of luxury hotels in three major Chinese cities have stopped serving shark fin ,a survey has found. Although the controversial dish remains on the menu at most hotels, Green Beagle Environment Institute, a Beijing-based non-government organization that was the main sponsor of the survey, said the results are encouraging and reflect increased awareness. The survey was carried out in Beijing, Shenzhen and Fuzhou, which were selected as representative cities to collect basic data on shark fin consumption nationwide. In Beijing, 132 hotels completed the phone questionnaire between Nov. 20 and Dec. 12. Only 12 hotels, 9 percent, said they do not serve shark fin. A similar survey of 131 Beijing hotels conducted a year ago found only one hotel that did not serve shark fin, Wang Xue, chief coordinator of the survey, said on Saturday.In Shenzhen, four out of the 85 four and five star hotels surveyed had stopped serving shark fin, accounting for about 5 percent. In Fuzhou, only one of the 40 hotels surveyed did not serve shark fin. On average, about 6. 61 percent of the hotels in the three cities did not serve the food. "The survey reminded us there is still a long way to go to remove shark fins from Chinese hotels and restaurants, but the improved situation in Beijing is encouraging," said Wang. "We found more hotels and restaurants were willing to take action over the past year." International hotels are more active in the "shark-fin-free" project, she noted. China is the world's biggest importer and consumer of shark fin, which has been used in luxurious Chinese dishes for 500 years. Dishes made from shark fin are still regarded as a symbol of honor and respect,especially at business dinners, according to Wang. Research has also found that shark fin contains poisonous elements, but the nutritious value is less than that of chicken or pork. "We hope hotels and restaurants remove shark fin products from their menus," Wang added. In which way was the survey carried out? A. .Interviewing on the spot. B. Phone questionnaire. C. Filling the forms. D. Talk show. Answer: B Last year, the management set up new rules to encourage employees to cut down on unnecessary printing fees. However, there has been a rash of abuses of the printing policy. Therefore, in order to control the cost, the management has decided to put forward more stringent regulations that are required to be followed by everyone, including the management. Starting today, the management staff will meet to discuss and begin drafting up the new policy. We will post new rules outlining the new printing policy as soon as it becomes available. Once it is completed, please read it carefully. Anyone in violation of the new rules will be considered behaving in a disorderly manner and will be punished accordingly. Your cooperation and self-discipline is highly requested. Thank you. The Management Team 2014.8.14 NEW PRINTING POLICY Effective as of 08/18/2014 Due to the fact that our costs have far exceeded our budget, we had to get to the root of the problem. Shockingly, most of our costs came from printing. A further, detailed look made us realize that too many of our 1,000 employees were wasting paper by making unnecessary copies. This, of course, has increased our paper usage, but it has also resulted in our using more of the very expensive ink cartridges as well as the repair work that has followed. Over the past month, this has occurred at a rate that is not acceptable. Therefore, the following rules will go into effect immediately starting tomorrow for everyone in all departments. This problem is serious, so anyone caught in violation of the rules below will be punished, suspended, or even dismissed. Your full cooperation is requested. (1)All departments will be assigned an access card. It will record the date and time to keep track of the number of copies your department staff makes. Managers in each department are responsible for keeping track of who uses the card by keeping a record book. (2)For bulk copies over 100, you must get advance approval from your department head. (3)Any department believed to be making unnecessary copies will be approached. Upon investigation, a warning may result in the person being accused. (4)A second warning may result in suspension without pay or, in this worst case, being dismissed from your position. (5)Each department may pick up an access card from the reception desk after filling out a form. *With second warning, your manager and the general manager will meet to discuss the proper handling of the situation. How many days did it take to write up the new policy? A. One day. B. Two days. C. Three days. D. Four days. Answer: D I like to get up late, so my ideal school starts at 9 a.m. It finished at 3 P.m., so we will have lots of time for after-school activities. There is a big dining hall. We have an hour for lunch. We eat lunch and chat there. We can also listen to pop music in the hall. We eat fruit and vegetables every day. We have Maths every day because I think Maths is very interesting to us. I love computers, so we have Computer Studies every day. We wear school uniforms, but we do not wear ties. The classes are quite small. There are 15 students in each class. There is a park on one side of our school and a shopping mall on the other. We have a big library lots of useful books. We also have a tennis court and a swimming pool. There are lots of clubs and after-school activities. We only have half an hour of homework every day, and we do not do homework at weekends. Every month, we go on a school trip to a museum or a theater. How often do we go on a school trip to a museum or a theater? A. Every week. B. Every day. C. Every month. D. Every two months. Answer: C Jerry Morris died on 28 October 2009. He was 99 years old. You have probably never heard of him. He was a professor of public health. More than 50 years ago he produced one of the most famous epidemiological papers of the 20th century. His study showed that bus conductors were much less likely to die of heart disease than bus drivers. Why? Because the conductors spent their working day walking. It seems obvious now but in the middle of the last century doctors were puzzled by the rising numbers of people who got heart diseases. Jerry Morris found one of the main causes: a sedentary lifestyle. He started exercising for a few minutes each day and lived until his 100th year. If you wish to protect your heart, you have to do more than wander in the garden. The exercise needs to be reasonable. Jogging is not for everyone and a round trip to the gym takes a couple of hours, plus the monthly membership fee is only good value if you visit regularly. The answer is simple: walk. A half-hour purposeful walk five times a week will lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes and strokes. Older people sometimes feel they have left it too late. But it is never too late to start and there are no upper age limits. Start gently. Take your time: a 15-minute flat walk in the nearest park, four or five times a week. Within a month or so, you are already beginning to protect your heart. Build the walks up. When you can comfortably walk for half an hour in the park, go further: try following rivers and canals. Regular walkers have their own natural gymnasium. There is no membership fee, just some of the finest scenery in the world. Great Britain is the walker's gym. When you have followed the rivers and canals, and are enjoying walking for a couple of hours, head for the coast. Once again, build it up slowly. When you are comfortable with long coastal walks, you can think of our national parks. What suggestion does the writer give about walking? A. Parks are the best place for walking. B. Starters should not push themselves too hard. C. A two-quarter walk a day is suitable for starters. D. People of old age might not be fit enough to start walking. Answer: B
Question: Cancer researchers urged people on Wednesday to take more vitamin D to lower risk of cancer, saying studies showed a clear link. "Our suggestion is for people to increase their intake, through diet or a vitamin supplement," Dr. Cedric Garland said in a telephone interview. Garland's research team reviewed 63 studies, including several large long-term ones, on the relationship between vitamin D and certain types of cancer worldwide between 1966 and 2004. "There's nothing that has this ability to prevent cancer," he said, urging governments and public health officials to do more to fortify foods with vitamin D.Garland is part of a University of California at San Diego Moores Cancer Center team that published its findings this week online in the American Journal of Public Health. Vitamin D is found in milk, as well as in some fortified orange juice, yogurt and cheeses, usually at around 100 international units (IU) a serving. People might want to consider a vitamin supplement to raise their intake to 1000 IUs per day, Garland said, adding that it was well within the safety guidelines established by the National Academy of Sciences. The authors said that taking more vitamin D could be especially important for people living in northern areas, which receive less vitamin D from sunshine. African Americans, who don't produce as much of the vitamin because of their skin colour, could also benefit significantly from a higher intake, the authors said. Who can Garland probably be? A. A scientist B. A health researcher C. A doctor D. A public health official Answer: B. A health researcher Question: After a rainstorm, a big pile of rocks blocks part of a mountain road. Which event most likely caused the rocks to move onto the road? A. a tsunami B. a blizzard C. a landslide D. a hurricane Answer: C. a landslide Question: Apparently your mom had it right when she threatened to wash your mouth out with soap if you talked dirty. Lying really does create a desire to clean the "dirty" body part, according to a study by University of Michigan. "The references to 'dirty hands' or 'dirty mouths' in everyday language suggest that people think about abstract issues of moral purity in terms of more experiences with physical purity," said Spike W.S. Lee, a U-M doctoral candidate, who conducted the study with Norbert Schwarz, a psychologist at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR), the Ross School of Business, and the U-M psychology department. For the study, Lee and Schwarz asked 87 students to play the role of lawyers competing with a colleague, "Chris", for a promotion. Each was asked to imagine they found an important document that Chris had lost, and that returning the document would help his career and hurt their own career. Each participant was instructed to leave Chris a message by either voice mail or email, telling him who they were and either lying that they could not find his document or telling the truth that they had found the document. Next, participants rated the desirability of several products as part of a supposed marketing survey and reported how much they were willing to pay for each product. The products included mouthwash and hand sanitizer . Study participants who lied on the phone, leaving an untrue and mean voicemail, felt a stronger desire for mouthwash and were willing to pay more for it than those who lied on e-mail. And conversely, those who lied on e-mail, typing the same mean message, felt a stronger desire for hand sanitizer and were willing to pay more for _ . Saying nice and morally correct things, on the other hand, made it less appealing to clean the body part involved in conveying the message. In scientific terms, the findings showed that the embodiment of moral purity is specific to the modality involved in the moral misbehavior. Verbal lying increased participants' assessment of mouthwash while lying on e-mail, using their hands, increased the assessment of hand sanitizer's value. "This study shows how 'concrete' the symbolic links are between abstract and concrete domains of life," Schwarz said. "Not only do people want to clean after a dirty deed, they want to clean the specific body part involved." Where can we most likely read this text? A. In a scientist's diary. B. In a class experiment report. C. In a social column of a newspaper. D. In a popular science magazine. Answer: D. In a popular science magazine. Question: I was walking along the main street of a small seaside town in the north of England looking for somewhere to make a phone call. My car had broken down outside the town and I wanted to contact the AA Company. Low grey clouds were gathering across the sky and there was a cold damp wind blowing off the sea which nearly threw me off my feet every time I crossed one of the side streets. It had rained in the night and water was dripping from the bare trees that lined the street. I was glad that I was wearing a thick coat. There was no sign of a call box, nor was there anyone at that early hour whom I could ask. I had thought I might find a shop open selling the Sunday papers or a milkman doing his rounds, but the town was completely dead. The only living thing I saw was a thin frightened cat outside a small restaurant. Then suddenly I found what I was looking for. There was a small post office, and almost hidden from sight in a dark narrow street. Next to it was the town' s only public call box, which badly needed a coat of paint. I hurried forward, but stopped in astonishment when I saw through the dirty glass that there was a man inside. He was fat, and was wearing a cheap blue plastic raincoat. I could not see his face and he did not even raise his head at the sound of my footsteps. Carefully, I remained standing a few feet away and lit a cigarette to wait for my turn. It was when I threw the dead match on the ground that I noticed something bright red _ from under the call box door. Which of the following words best describe the writer's impression of the town? A. Cold and frightening. B. Dirty and crowded. C. Empty and dead. D. Unusual and unpleasant. Answer: C. Empty and dead. Question: Often we take for granted the many household items we use every day. It is difficult to imagine there was a time in the past when these inventions did not exist. Actually, several of the most common inventions have been with us for quite some time. Inventions like toothbrush, contact lenses , and credit cards came into use long ago. The first toothbrush was introduced in China in the late 1400s but it was only 300 years later that this simple tool came into common use in Europe. By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental care became more widespread. The first tube of toothpaste hit the market in Great Britain in 1891. There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827. However, SirJohn Herschel was never able to create a working model of his idea. It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for producing precision lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses,and the Zeiss factory in Germany began to produce contact lenses. Credit cards have also been available for many years. They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world. While it may be true that some of the greatest inventions and discoveries in history came about by chance, the majority of inventions that simplify our lives today came about through careful research and patient study. Of course, it still holds true that even with all the comforts of modern technology, inventors continue to search for ways of helping all of us get out of doing those necessary but tedious tasks which we still face. As the old saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention." All of the following made a contribution to the invention and use of contact lenses EXCEPT _ . A. Diners Club B. Sir John Herschel C. Dr Eugen Frick D. the Zeiss factory Answer: A. Diners Club
Question: Nutrition influences not only students' grades at school but their growth and development. Improper nutrition is one of the causes of childhood obesity. What can you do to help your child avoid childhood obesity? My first piece of advice is to look in your fridge. What are you buying at the grocery store? Think about it: if you don't buy junk food or snacks, your kids won't eat them at home. Now if you're like me -- both of your kids are at school, you'll know you can't police them every second of the day. This is the time when you'll need to talk to your children about their food choices. If you don't know the right food choices, there are so many free resources on-line to guide you. Try new things. I was very surprised to find out my 4-year-old daughter likes balsamic vinegar -- she calls it the "black sauce". She likes to have it with tomatoes and cucumbers. You just never know what your kids might like. Don't get stressed if you can't always prepare something healthy. You may sometimes leave the house and forget to take something out for dinner, or you are running late and there's no time to cook before you have to take one of the kids somewhere. However, you can still make healthy choices while dining out. Many of the fast food restaurants offer fruit and milk instead of soda. I like to buy organic frozen pizzas from the organic market -- for a quick dinner solution . All the ingredients are natural. What I do is to serve the pizza with something raw: lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, or fruit to try to give the kids something healthy with that meal. In closing, take baby steps. Don't try to change your family's eating habits in one go, or you'll go nuts. The writer believes it is very important for parents to _ A. make sure their fridge is full of food. B. teach their children how to eat healthily C. check their children's grades at school D. provide their children with their favorite food Answer: B. teach their children how to eat healthily Question: Whatsonstage.com is the UK's biggest and best online guide to the performing arts including theatre, opera, classical music, dance and so on. * The Lion King Musical: The stage adaptation of the Disney film taken from an original African story. A young lion grows up and learns that taking over the pride requires wisdom and maturity . Place: Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street, London Telephone: 0870 243 9000 Date: Friday, 18 Nov. 2015 Ticket price: PS37.5 * Oliver Musical: Dickens' story of a boy in a London workhouse and his adventures on the way to discovering his family. The songs include Food glorious food, You've got to pick a pocket or two, Who will buy this wonderful morning, I am reviewing the situation and Consider yourself at home. Place: Theatre Royal, Catherine Street, London Telephone: 020 7494 5061 Date: Thursday, 17 Nov. 2015 Ticket price: PS25,but now save 20% * Jersey Boys Musical: It tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four seasons: the blue-collar kids from New Jersey formed a singing group and became famous. The musical features many of the group's popular songs such as Big girls don't cry, Oh, what a night and Can't take my eyes off you. Place: Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton Street, London Telephone: 0870 850 9191 --- Date: Saturday, 19 Nov. 2015 Ticket price: PS22.5 * Alls Well That Ends Well Play: A romantic story. Helena, daughter of a poor physician, loves Bertram, son of a Countess . Place: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Park Street, London Telephone: 020 7401 9919 Date: Sunday, 20 Nov, 2015 Ticket price: PS40.5 If you want to buy a ticket at a discount, you should go to _ . A. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre B. Lyceum Theatre C. Prince Edward Theatre D. Theatre Royal Answer: D. Theatre Royal Question: It is the summer of 1776. Thomas Jefferson is not happy. He'd rather be home in Virginia than attending Philadelphia's Continental Congress Thomas Jefferson knew he had a job to do. Important men throughout the American colonies were meeting in Philadelphis to discuss and debate the war with Great Briain. The colony of Virginia sent Thomas Jefferson to Philadelphia. But Jefferson wasn't happy. Jefferson wanted to be home that hot summer of 1776. he missed his wife, Martha. She hadn't been feeling well when he left, and he worried about her. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee from Virginia stood up at the Congress and announced that "these American colonies ought to be free and independent states." Jefferson probably knew what was coming next. Here was another resolution to debate. And whenever there was a resolution, there was a declaration. The American colonies had been at war with Great Britain for more than a year, but surprisingly. The colonies had not formally announced their independence. So the Congress appointed a five-man committee to crate a document declaring America's independence. And the committee chose Thomas Jefferson to write it. Jefferson knew he was to list the unfair things Great Britain had done to the colonies. For days and days,, Jefferson wrote and rewrote about the king and his unfair laws. About independence. About freedom. He borrowed ideas from other political writers, but he wrote these thoughts in words that all people could understand. He wanted his ideas to be shared with everyone. And _ were. The Continental Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. on July 8, it was read out loud to a cheering crowd. No one knew who the author was, but they knew what the Declaration stood for-independence and freedom for all. Still, Thomas Jefferson dreamed of home. In late July he begged Richard Henry Lee to replace him in the Congress. In September, Jefferson's dream finally came true, and he traveled home. Since then, the words Thomas Jefferson wrote during that hot Philadelphia summer have inspired people throughout the world. Thank goodness Jefferson didn't go home. The Continental Congress set up a committee to write a document to _ . A. officially declare war on Britain B. announce the American colonies were free C. inspire soldiers fighting against Britain D. revise the Declaration of Independence Answer: B. announce the American colonies were free Question: Everyone, please imagine, a big explosion breaks out as the plane takes us high in the sky. The plane is full of smoke and the engine sounds scary. Two minutes later, the engines are turned off. We are now sitting in a plane with no sound. And we can see: Life is over. That really happened. In January 2009, I had a front-row seat on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York. Now let me tell you the three things I learned when the silence came. First, I thought about all the people I wanted to reach out to but didn't. I thought about all the experiences I wanted to have but never did. I no longer wanted to put off anything in life. Second, I really regretted the time I wasted on things that did not matter. I decided to remove negative energy from my life. Third, I realized, wow, dying was not scary. But it was very sad just because I only wished I could have seen my kids grow up. Fortunately, I was given the gift of a miracle of not dying that day. I was given another gift, with which I was to see into the future and come back and live differently. About a month later, my wife and I were at a performance by my daughter, not much artistic talent. Yet, I'm crying. I realized that above all, the only goal in my life was to be a good father. Audience, again, imagine the same thing happening on your plane. How would you change? What would you get done? And more than anything, are you being the best parent you can? Thank you. What type of writing is this text? A. A speech on one's air travel experience. B. An emergency crash-landing guide. C. An introduction of an adventure novel. D. A safety training for air passengers. Answer: A. A speech on one's air travel experience. Question: Do people ever consider the possibility that, if they're exposed to increased reports about a social problem, it's the reporting that has increased rather than the problem? It's increasingly clear that this is the case with school bullying :Only news reports about it have increased, not the behavior itself. In fact, both bullying and fear of it are down among US middle school students The rate of students who reported fearing an attack or harm at school at all has dropped dramatically, from nearly 12% in 1995 to less than 4% in 2011. For black and Hispanic students, it's an even more encouraging shift--from more than 20% of both groups of students worried about being attacked at school to less than 5% in 2011. The decline in actual physical violence in schools is even more dramatic: It was down 74% between 1992 and 2010, according to the latest US Department of Justice data. What about cyberbullying? Online _ increased from 6% in 2000 to 9% in 2005 to 11% in 2010 between, and it's interesting to note that it increased less between 2005 and '10 than in the first 5 years tracked. Because social media is very much a reflection of school social life for young people, the peer aggression seen in social media is a lot like the peer aggression seen on school bathroom walls. So once it finds its "dead level," it will probably decline in the same way verbal and written aggression have. Besides education and crime prevention at the social level, medicine treatment and better access to mental healthcare also contribute to this downward trend in victimization of self and others. The rise of social media is what people don't typically think of as a positive force in society. But Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire says, "These technologies might have prevented crime and bullying by providing more ways of help, more forms of social supervision, and interesting activities that destroy forms of alienation that lead to crime". Finkelhor believes that social media have a _ influence on the falling trend of school bullying. A. positive B. negative C. major D. slight Answer: A. positive
It may not be news to parents of teenage girls, but researchers have confirmed that no one can stop their 16-year-old daughter from deciding how the family spends its money. The willpower and determination of teenage girls in how a family's money is spent on everything from food and meals to mobile phones, and, of course, clothes. Teenage boys did not show up at all in the analysis, which was designed to find out the influence of young people on household spending. The findings on the spending power of teenage girls were calculated from Office for National Statistics records of family spending during the 1980s and 1990s. Researchers examined how much money went on services and leisure goods in different kinds of homes. They checked spending on food, restaurant meals, alcohol, tobacco, services, heating, transport, clothes and sports in 2,745 British families. They found that teenage girls in the UK typically played an active role in family decisions about the allocation of household resources. But older children-- those over the age of 21 who are still living with their parents--appear to have no say in household decisions. They also tried to calculate to what extent the bargaining power of a teenager affected family budgets. "Every parent knows that children, even at a very early age, have their own preferences with regard to consumption, researchers said. "But children are only interested in a limited range of goods--mainly sweets and toys--and parents are able to use punishment to reduce their children's bargaining power or remove it." When they become teenagers, however, girls are much more independent and they are capable of earning their own money, which improves their bargaining power in family decisions. The researchers could not explain why girls have more influence over spending while the evidence for boys is much less conclusive. However, this study could be of great significance to market research and how marketers target children. How can parents reduce children's bargaining power? A. By persuading them B. By offering them sweets or toys. C. By threatening to punish them. D. By allocating household resources. Answer: C A famous teacher was speaking to the students at our school.He began his lesson by holding up a Y=100 bill.Then he said to the three hundred students,"Who would like this Y=100 bill?"The students began to put up their hands at once. Then he said,"I am going to give this Y=100 to one of you,but first,let me do this."He then made the bill into a ball.Then he said,"Who wants it now?"The hands went back into the air. "Well,"he said,"what if I do this?"and he dropped it on the floor and stepped on it.He picked up the dirty,crumpled bill and said,"Who still wants it?"Hands went back into the air. "My friends,"he said,"you have learned a valuable lesson today.No matter what I did to the money,you still wanted it because it did not go down in value .It was still worth Y=100!" Many times in our lives,we are dropped,crumpled,and stepped on by the chances we take and the things that happen to us.We feel as if we are worth nothing.But remember,no matter what has happened to you,you will never lose your value:you are always valuable to those people who love you.Your value doesn't come from what you do or whom you know,but who you are. You are special and valuable.Don't ever forget it! Why did the famous teacher use a Y=100 bill at his lesson? A. Because he wanted to make the bill into a ball. B. Because he used to drop a bill on the floor and stepped on it. C. Because he was going to give the bill to one of his students. D. Because he wanted to make the students know what value was. Answer: D Crosstalk ,a traditional form of comic storytelling,is making a comeback in China's tea houses and theaters. Audiences can laugh the night away every Saturday at the Qianxiangyi Teahouse in Tianjin,entertained by the apprentices of Hou Baolin,Ma Sanli or Yin Shoushan--all leading crosstalk artists of years past--for only 20 yuan($2.40). The success in Tianjin has also caused the rejuvenation of crosstalk in Beijing and other places. Although the art form originated in Beijing in the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911),Tianjin became a place where rising stars formed their styles and new pieces were tried out.The city was well--known nationwide for the quality of its crosstalk performances. Known in Chinese as xiangsheng(1iterally,"face and voice"),crosstalk was the predominant form of comedy throughout most of the 20th century.In the old days in Tianjin and elsewhere,temple fairs and markets were the main places for crosstalkers to perform,although they occasionally also appeared in teahouses or theaters. Crosstalk pieces draw on every aspect of Chinese culture,from history and folk tales to social issues of the time.Although there're hundreds of traditional pieces,they're constantly rewritten to suit the times and the audience, while new works are written as well.It's one of the features that have made crosstalk a public art form throughout its history. "Crosstalk was in the doldrums with competition from other art forms,especially TV,"said Wang Xiaochun,headmaster of the Northern Storytelling Arts School of China(NSAS)."But it has regained its status with crosstalk fans,especially young people,growing aware of its rare qualities." "More and more students are coming to NSAS to study crosstalk,including some girl students,"said Wang, "They're sure that crosstalk will have a strong market." According to the text, crosstalk is so popular throughout its history because _ . A. it is constantly changed and renewed B. it is often performed at temple fairs C. it is different from other arts D. it is comic and humourous Answer: A A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a meeting in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets, one of these salesmen happened to kick over a table which held a display of baskets of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their boarding. All but one stopped, took a deep breath and experienced a twinge of sorrow for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his friends to go on without him, waved goodbye, and told one of them to call his wife when they arrived and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to where the apple stand had been overturned. He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her face. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them into the baskets, and helped set the display up once more. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become damaged; then he set them aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take the $20 for the damage we did." He continued, "I'm sorry for what we did and hope we didn't spoil your day too badly." She nodded with her tears. As the salesman started to walk away, the blind girl called out to him, "Mr. ...". He stopped, and turned back. She continued, "Thank you very much". These salesmen were hurrying because they _ . A. had to attend an important meeting B. wanted to have plenty of time at home C. almost missed reaching the airplane D. hoped to have Friday night's party Answer: C The digestive system breaks food into simple substances that the body can use. What system carries these simple substances from the digestive system to other parts of the body? A. circulatory B. nervous C. respiratory D. skeletal Answer: A
Question: Father's day Sunset Live Music Dinner Cruise Sunday, June 16th, 2013 6:30pm-8:30pm Join us abroad the 95' Dana Pride for our special Father's Day Dinner Cruise. Enjoy a unique evening of fun on the water, complete with live music by Mike O' Brien and a delicious barbecue dinner. Adult--$ 59 Kids (3-12)--$29 Two and under are Free LOCATION: Dana Point Harbor BOOK ONLINE OR CALL: 949-496-5794 Rancho Days Fiesta July 13, 2013 Celebration the history of Saddleback Valley, there will be children's activities including free crafts projects. Help make and taste homemade ice cream and butter, warm bread from the oven. Dip water and grind corn while learning about the early days of Orange County. Admission is $ 3 for children 3 to 12 years old and $4 for adults. LOCATION: Heritage Hill Historical Park INFORMATION: 949-923-2230 Annual Silverado Counter Fair and Art Festival October 5-6, 2013 The 42thAnnual Silverado Country Fair explores the wonders of the area's Old West rustic culture, great live music tasty food, handmade arts, crafts and family games under the oak-trees below Orange Country's famous Saddleback Mountain. Daytime adult admission: $4/ Kids under 12: only $2 Saturday Night Music Fest : $ 5 for everyone LOCATION: Silverado Community Center INFORMATION: 714-997-3968 Starr Ranch Sanctuary October 20-21, 2013 Audubon California's Starr Ranch Sanctuary invites you to our fall classes for adults. Join our wildlife biologist for two peaceful days at beautiful 4,000 acre Starr Ranch in southeast Orange County and experience nature hands-on as a wildlife researcher. Cost: $ 95 for those not camping (including dinner) $100 for those camping (dinner and breakfast provided) LOCATION: Starr Ranch Sanctuary RESERVATIONS OR INFORMATION: 949-858-0309 How much will a couple have to pay if they go to Saturday Night Music Fest with their 10-year -old son? A. $ 12. B. $15. C. $10. D. $5. Answer: B Question: For the past four years, the Green Festival in Washington, D.C., has brought together people from around the country who are interested in the environmental movement. The groups call the festival "a party with a purpose". They say the purpose of the Green Festival is to create an economy in which natural resources are used in a way that does not destroy the environment. To the people who organize the event, "green" means having a safe and healthy community and a strong local economy. Throughout the two-day event, over one thousand people volunteered to help the festival run smoothly. Four hundred businesses and organizations showed their products and projects. About three thousand visitors came to the party. They could find everything from naturally made organic food to clothing made from bamboo plants. There were over one hundred fifty speakers and discussion groups. For example, you could learn how to be an environmentally friendly traveler. You could also watch several movies about political and environmental issues. Then you could listen to some live music performances. After sitting for too long, visitors could take a yoga exercise class. There was even an area for children. Younger visitors could enjoy fun games and lessons on subjects like protecting the rainforest and creating chocolate sweets. Green building was one of the important subjects at the festival. Many companies and organizations aim to create environmentally safe buildings. They design structures with reduced energy use, fewer chemicals and more recycled materials. The Loading Dock is an organization based in Baltimore, Maryland. Its message is that "a person could build a house with what others throw away". The Loading Dock collects donations of used building materials such as flooring, lighting, doors, and windows. These materials would otherwise end up in a landfill trash center. Then, the group resells the materials. This way, the materials are recycled. This form of recycling provides entire families and neighborhoods with low cost solutions for rebuilding their communities. Spending a day at the Green Festival showed people many solutions for improving the health of our planet. People have _ green choices, from the things people buy to the ways people eat, think, and live. The Green Festival connects a wide community of people who care deeply about, and are working to improve, our shared environment. What is the purpose of the Green Festival? A. To bring people together. B. To study the environment. C. To improve people's health. D. To develop a green economy. Answer: D Question: There are four forms about medicine. Every must know how to use the medicine. Because it is very important. Never take any by mistake. 1)Take the medicine with water, followed by one tablet every eight hours as required. For further night-time and early morning, take two tablets at bedtime. Do not take more than six tablets in 24 hours. For Children six to twelve years old, go to your doctor for advice. Reduce dosage if nervousness, restlessness or sleeplessness takes place. 2)Each pill of the medicine taken three times every day for fourteen years old. As usual, a pill 6:00 a. m. before breakfast, one before 11:00 and one before sleep. Not for children under six years old and old persons with heart attack. 3)The medicine for a person with a fever. Once two pills a day before sleep for adult. Not take the medicine without fever. Half for Children under 12 years old. Children with a high fever go to see a doctor. 4)The medicine taken three times a day. Once five pills for adult with a cold. Half of the pills for children 10 years old. Take the medicine before breakfast, lunch, supper or before sleep. Obviously a kind of medicine can't be proper for _ judging from the information. A. some old persons with heart attack B. some old persons with a fever C. children over twelve years old D. neither adults nor heart attack Answer: A Question: A good way to pass an examination is to work hard everyday in the year. You may fail in the examination if you are lazy for most of the year and then work hard only a few days before the examination. If you are taking an English examination, you shouldn't only learn the rules of grammar. Try to read stories in English and speak in English whenever you can. Several days before examination you should start going to bed early. Do not stay up late at night studying and learning things. Before you start the examination, read carefully over the examination paper. Try to understand the exact meaning ofeach question before you pick up your pen to write. When you have finished your examination At last ,read your answers, correct any mistakes that you see and make sure that you have not _ anything _ ,. What should you do if you want to learn English well according to the passage? A. Speak more, listen less, never write. B. Speak less, write more, never listen. C. Read more, listen more, speak less. D. Read and speak as much as possible. Answer: D Question: At noon, Shi Huizi received a text message: "This is Yuantong Express. Please come to the school gate and pick up your parcel." The 22-year-old girl at Beijing International Studies University rushed to the school gate, where hundreds of parcels lay waiting to be collected by their owners. This scene is not uncommon on China's campuses, as shopping online has become an important part of their lifestyle for many university students. But convenient as it is, online shopping among students is marked by impulse buying and other risks. Students should be cautious to avoid them. According to Taobao, during last year's graduation season, 250,000 graduate students from 116 "211" project universities nationwide spent 846 million yuan on Taobao. Beijing Haidian Consumers' Association conducted a survey on the online purchasing behavior of students, which showed that nearly 54 percent of respondents had made _ purchases. Yang Yi is one of them. The 23-year-old business administration major at Beijing Wuzi University bought a limited edition Gundam model kit online for a small fortune, only to find that its appeal faded rapidly. "I did like it when I bought it, but it doesn't look so attractive to me anymore now. So I've decided to sell it to pay off my debts," says Yang. Yang's experience reflects the consumption patterns of many university students. In an attempt to be unique, many of them turn to online shops to buy "exotic " items not easily found in the domestic market. According to Lei Li, a psychology professor at Renmin University, the impulsive buying patterns found among students have psychological roots. When shopping online is a campus trend, it's not only about convenience, but also about group identification . "If everyone is doing something and you're not, you're less likely to be accepted by others," Lei says. The mentality of not wanting to be left out is fuelling impulse buying. As he Haidian survey indicates, online shopping is not always a satisfying experience. Of 848 respondents from universities based in Beijing, 42 percent said they had received products that didn't match the online description or photos. Even so, 72.5 percent of student buyers don't return unsatisfactory goods due to the inconvenience it causes and long procedures. Lei suggests that students who are enthusiastic about online shopping "pay attention to the consequences and develop a wiser way of consuming--namely, buying items within their budget and being aware of the risks of buying online." How does the passage introduce its topic? A. By making comparisons. B. By giving an example. C. By making an analysis . D. By showing the result of a survey. Answer: B
Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness. The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result of a particular situation -- for example, family problem, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type, habitual loneliness usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. Unfortunately, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition. Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person's social contacts, e.g. friends, family members, co-workers, etc. We depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more. They question their popularity. Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between habitual loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease. While temporary and situational loneliness can be a normal, healthy part of life, habitual loneliness can be a sad and sometimes dangerous condition. How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage? A Talk to friends. B Just ignore it. C Go to see a doctor. D Ask your teachers for guidance. Answer: B. Just ignore it. City administrators can encourage energy conservation by A lowering parking fees B building larger parking lots C decreasing the cost of gasoline D lowering the cost of bus and subway fares Answer: D. lowering the cost of bus and subway fares Rescuers have found the bodies of over 130 people killed in two ferry disasters in Bangladesh.The accidents happened during a storm that hit the country on April 21st.Hundreds more are missing or feared to be dead. The two ferries sank in different rivers near the capital city of Dhakfi as strong winds and rain hit the South Asian country.The government has since banned all ferries and other boats from traveling at night during the April-May stormy season. One of the ferries,MV Mitali,was carrying far more people than it was supposed to.About 400 passengers fitted into a space made for just 300,police said.The second ferry carried about 100 passengers. "The number of deaths is certain to rise."said an official in charge of the rescue work."No one really knows how many people were on board the ferry or how many of them survived." Ferries in Bangladesh don't always keep passenger lists,making it difficult to determine the exact number of people on board.Besides the ferry accidents,at least 40 people were killed and 400 injured by lightning strikes.falling houses and trees and the sinking of small boats.Storms are common this time of year in Bangladesh,as are boating accidents.Ferry disasters take away hundreds of lives every year in a nation of 130 million people.Officials blame these river accidents on a lack of safety measures, too many passengers in boats and not enough checks on weather conditions. Ferries are a common means of transport in Bangladesh.It is a country covered by about 230 rivers.Some 20,000 ferries use the nation's Waterways every year.And many of them are dangerously overcrowded.Since 1977, more than 3,000 people have died in some 260 boating accidents. _ passengers was MV Mitali designed to carry? A 500 B 100 C 400 D 300 Answer: D. 300 I come from Holland . In our country, there are plenty of _ . There are more than 2,000 windmills in Holland. These windmills make electricity for the country. It is a small country in Europe. About 20% of its land comes from the sea. The population of Holland is only 16,000,000. The weather is very nice, so the flowers can grow very well. Maybe you like roses, kapoks or lilies. However, the tulip is a symbol of the country. People celebrate Tulip Festival every year. There are a lot of cows in this country. You can enjoy good milk and cheese here. You can go everywhere by train, taxi, underground or ship. They are fast and convenient. People here also love to ride bikes. Riding a bike is free and relaxing. What do children do when they pass their exam? They often hang a schoolbag and a national flag at the gate! Come and have a good time in Holland! How many ways of travelling in Holland does the writer tell us? A 3 B 4 C 5 D 6 Answer: C. 5 Many people don't think that the number 13 is a lucky number. Many hotels do not have a 13th floor. The floors go from 12 to 14, and there is no number13. Some people will never sit at a table with 12 other people. They will tell someone to go or ask another person to sit with them. No one really knows why people do not like the number 13. Perhaps one reason is that when people began to count, they used ten fingers and two hands. This made 12. They could not count more. Some Christians say that 13 is not lucky because there were 13 people at a meal the day before Jesus was killed . In a story about the old Greek gods, 12 gods were asked to a meal but one more came. This made 13. It is why the god Balder, who was at the meal, was killed. Some people will never sit at a table with twelve other people, or _ . A they will never come for dinner together B they will ask one of them to leave C all of them will leave D they will wait for two other people to come Answer: B. they will ask one of them to leave
Part-time Waitress Busy cafe needs honest and good-looking waitress for weekends. Must enjoy working with a team and dealing with customers. Call Li Ling at 0732-8536724 after 6 pm. Delivery Person Young, healthy person able to deliver heavy boxes of books. Must have a driver's license and can carry heavy boxes. We're looking for a person for this position. Call Liu Fang at 0732-7887766 at any time. _ Wanted Kind, hard-working nanny wanted to look after three friendly children. Must be experienced and have childcare quail fications . Please call Chen Yiping at 0732-6774538 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m If you can get the job in the cafe, you must be a _ . A pretty young woman B good-looking boy C cool young man D hard-working student Answer: A "BANG!" the door caused a reverberation . It was just standing there, with Father standing on one side, and I on the other side. We were both in great anger. "Never set foot in this house again!" stormed Father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street. The street lights were shining, causing rather sad-feeling. I wandered aimlessly. A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree. But now... I don't know whether it is because I have grown up or because Dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always puts his opinions and codes of behaviour on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened. I wandered in the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on. I thought to myself: "Is Father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?" In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, Dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps. I can't stand his outrageous words: "I can't throw you away, let alone these old papers?" All the lights were off except Father's. Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn't know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never showed any mercy or any moments of regret. After an argument he has the habit of creeping up in my sleep and then tucking me underneath the covers. This was how he always was. He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature. The light was still on. "Am I wrong?" I whispered, maybe... With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my cheeks. I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love---is second to none. What made the writer think of his childhood? A The sight of the street lights. B The sight of the empty street. C The sight of a father with a child in his arms. D The sight of light in his own house. Answer: C In my long years of teaching, I often ask my students to read the texts until they can recite them, and I tell them that recitation is an important part of their homework. However, some of my students are tired of doing so, thinking that it is both hard and useless. They argue that it takes a long time to recite a text from memory and text itself never appears in a test paper. In my opinion, it naturally takes time to recite a text, but it is worth doing so. When you are able to recite a text, you are sure to be familiar with the words and expressions. When you need them in reading or writing or doing exercises, they will come to your mind quickly, and so you will give quick response to all kinds of language situation. How can we say that it is useless? Besides, many students complain that they soon forget what they were once able to recite. This is true, but you don't need to worry. While you are reading and forgetting the texts, your language level is being raised. Sure you don't remember your Chinese texts that you once read in the primary school, but now you are able to read novels and newspaper. So, recitation of the texts will help you improve your language ability. When the students are against his suggestion, the writer _ . A often criticizes them B patiently explains to them why they should recite the texts C wants to give up his idea D is afraid that he is criticized by the headmaster. Answer: B According to some researchers, you should not praise children for everything that they do. It does not help them build self-confidence. Most parents and teachers agree that praise can help increase children's self-confidence --the more, the better. However, according to some researchers, only proper praise is good for children. If adults praise everything children do, it makes children look for praise all the time, not trying to do their best. "Teachers should not say things like 'good job' or 'nice work' whenever a child does anything. They should encourage them to continue to improve," some researchers advise. Another idea is that children with high self-confidence are happier, and do better at school. About this, Marshall Duke, a researcher in children, says, "High self-confidence brought in by too much praise does not make children happier, get more, or become able to do more. Finding a child's advantages and developing them can help build confidence more than too much praise can." Praise also loses its effect if it is given equally to all students. "It's important to tell children the truth about what they've done. Honest feedback is far better than empty praise," Duke adds. "People have got into the habit of not telling children when they're wrong. That makes it hard for them to deal with difficulties when they grow up. That's just how the world is." In order to help children build self-confidence, some researchers advise parents to _ . A make them live more happily B let them do more difficult work C help them do better in school D encourage them to improve Answer: D How many revolutions does the moon make around the Earth during spring? A twelve B three C one D six Answer: B

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