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If practicing an attitude of gratitude during the storms of life is too much for you right now, that's OK. When things are tough, most people have a hard time being thankful. They're so caught up in what's wrong in the present moment that they simply can't see some things are still right. If that's true for you, then accept it. You're going through a particularly difficult or unhappy period of time, and you don't like it one bit. Very normal, very human. But remember this: there is always something to be grateful for. It maybe only a small comfort right now, but it is a start. Make a list of some of the terrible things that didn't happen. For example: You're in debt...but you're not homeless. You lost your job...but you didn't lose your health. You broke your leg...but you didn't break your neck. Your mother has Alzheimer's disease...but your father doesn't. No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse. Start finding gratitude for what might have happened, but didn't. It does help a lot. Of course, you may not be thankful for everything-- but you can always be thankful for something. What is the purpose of this passage? A To discuss ways to make a list of terrible things. B To explain what is gratitude towards the storms of life. C To persuade people to be thankful for what didn't happen. D To show people different ways to consider their tough situations. Answer: C In a recent announcement, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)said that they have joined forces to offer free online courses in an effort to attract millions of online learners worldwide. Beginning this fall, a number of courses developed by teachers at both universities will be offered online through a new $60 million program, known as edX. "Anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world can use our online courses," Harvard President Drew Faust said during a meeting to announce the plan. MIT has offered a program called OpenCourseWare for ten years that makes materials from more than 2,000 classes free online. It has been used by more than 100 million people. In December, the school announced it also would begin offering a special certificate, known as MITx, for people who complete certain online courses. Harvard has long offered courses to a wider population through a similar program. The MITx will serve as the foundation for the new learning platform. MIT President Susan Hockfield said more than 120,000 people signed up for the first MITx course. She said Harvard and MIT hope other universities will join them in offering courses on the open-source edX platform. " _ ," Hockfield said. Other universities, including Stanford, Yale and Carnegie-Mellon, have been experimenting with teaching to a global population online. The Harvard-MIT program will be monitored by a not-for-profit organization based in Cambridge, to be owned equally by the two universities. Both MIT and Harvard have provided $30 million to start the program. They also plan to use the edX platform to research how students learn and which teaching methods and tools are most successful. According to this text, edX is _ . A a part of the free MIT OpenCourseWare B a free computer program by MIT and Harvard C a Harvard-MIT platform of free online courses D a free program online for universities worldwide Answer: C What do cactuses do when the monsoons come to their habitat? A sell precipitation to someone else B use precipitation right away C store precipitation for future use D give precipitation to their friends Answer: C Susan Sontag (1933 ------ 2004) was one of the most noticeable figures in the world of literature. For more than 40 years she made it morally necessary to know everything----- to read every book worth reading, to see every movie worth seeing. When she was still in her early 30s, publishing essays in such important magazines as Partisan Review, she appeared as the symbol of American culture life, trying hard to follow every new development in literature, film and art. With great effort and serious judgment, Sontag walked at the latest edges of world culture. Seriousness was one of Sontag's lifelong watchwords , but at a time when the barriers between the well-educated and the poorly-educated were obvious, she argued for a true openness to the pleasure of pop culture. In Notes Camp, the 1964 essay that first made her name, she explained what was then a little-known set of difficult understandings, through which she could not have been more famous. Notes on Camp, she wrote, represents "a victory of 'form' over 'content', 'beauty' over 'morals'". By conviction she was a sensualist , but by nature she was a moralist, and in the works she published in the 1970s and 1980s, it was the latter side of her that came forward. In Illness as Metaphor ------published in 1978, after she suffered cancer ------ she argued against the idea that cancer was somehow a special problem of repressed personalities, a concept that effectively blamed the victim for the disease. In fact, re-examining old positions was her lifelong habit. In America, her story of a 19thcentury Polish actress who set up a perfect society in California, won the National Book Award in 2000. But it was as a tireless, all-purpose cultural view that she made her lasting fame. "Sometimes," she once said, "I feel that, in the end, all I am really defending... is the idea of seriousness, of true seriousness." And in the end, she made us take it seriously too. What is the passage mainly about? A A lifelong watchword: seriousness B Susan Sontag is the symbol of American culture C How Susan Sontag became famous D An introduction to Susan Sontag and her watchword Answer: D Thank you for trusting me. I enjoy exchanging my ideas with yours The first thing I want to tell you is that if the boys are calling you names it is their fault, not yours. Boys, at your age, are different from girls. They are trying to prove that they are manly and then often do this by picking on someone who can't really fight back. This is, of course, wrong but it happens. In general, the boys know they are bigger and stronger than you are, so they can make fun of you and make you cry and then laugh about it. If you let them see that they are hurting you, they will only do it more. It isn't that they want to hurt you; they simply want to make themselves feel superior . It's stupid, but it is common. In English we say " sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Canadian children learn this from their mothers because the same thing that is happening to you in China also happens here. The best ways of getting the boys to stop calling your names is to simply ignore them, knowing that the names can't hurt you and that the boys are being stupid. If you can laugh at them they will get tired of trying to make you cry and they'll give up. It won't be easy, but, trust me, it will work. There is also something else working in your favor and that is that you are growing up and the boys are beginning to notice you as a young woman. I suspect some of them actually like you and are making fun of you just to get your attention. Again, it's stupid but it happens. In reality, you can control this situation by not letting them see you getting hurt. Laugh at them, tell them they're acting like children and they should grow up and then walk away with your head held high. One more thing, Nancy. It is very important that you stop hurting yourself. If someone else hurts you, it is bad enough but you should't make it worse by then hurting yourself. Even sticking a pen into your finger can cause an infection and give you a lot of trouble and besides, it hurts. The next time you are disturbed by a group of stupid boys, write to me. You and I can talk about anything you like; about China, about Canada, about travel, anything. Having a conversation with me is better than sticking holes in your fingers, at least I hope it is. We can learn that the boys call Nancy names mainly because they _ . A want to prove manly B are bigger and stronger C mean to hurt Nancy D actually like Nancy Answer: A
What do you think about mistakes? Maybe you say no one likes making mistakes. But mistakes lead to growth. Converge Magazine recently published articles about mistakes students should make. It suggests students need to live a balanced life, even in the college environment. According to the topic of the article, there are four mistakes students should make. The mistakes include: Think they pick the wrong major A student should explore any possibility that interests him, and future careers might just be around the corner. Remember, if you don't know what to do, it's OK! Think their teachers know everything Students may think of their teachers as gods who know everything, but that really is not the case. Students should know teachers are the ones who can help us understand better. Students can research answers on their own and get their own opinions instead of having their teachers tell them the answers. Think they get too involved Getting good grades is very important, but it's only a part of the life. Joining clubs and learning about social situations are all good for teenagers' growth. It will not only make the students more knowledgeable but also create interest in their education. Think taking a day off is a waste of time Now, students are under too much pressure. It's necessary for them to relax now and then. But they always keep in mind how that might influence their schoolwork. Take a day off to relax, and you may get an energetic student the next day. Just don't do it too often. The articles published on Converge Magazine are about _ . Answer: students' mistakes There have been big changes in the attitudes of most parents over the last few years. Physical punishment is banned in schools in most countries, and in many countries, there are moves to ban all physical punishment of children even at home. However, many parents still believe that they have the right to use some physical punishments to deal with certain misbehavior at certain ages. It's easy to find reasons to allow some physical punishments. One issue is that many parents find it very difficult to abandon physical punishment completely. Parents argue that this was the way they were brought up and that it didn't do any harm to them. They believe that for the child's sake they have the right to discipline the child in any way they consider fit, including using some physical punishments. The other one is that physical punishment can be quick and effective. There is not much point reasoning with a screaming child in the supermarket. However, there are several reasons why we should stop using physical punishment. One point is that most parents are not trained to deal with misbehaving children. They don't have enough resources or choices to handle the situation. As a result, they immediately react by hitting the child even if there are other solutions to the problem. Another point is that unless people are challenged or forced to change their belief, they may keep following negative habits. An example is seat belt use --now most people wear seat belts without thinking, while years ago the idea of using seat belts was strange to most people. In the same way, banning physical punishment will force people to change their habits. In conclusion, parents have to change some of their belief and ideas about how children should be raised. It is possible to avoid the use of physical force, and doing so will help us move closer to the dream of removing violence from our society. Many parents won't give up physical punishment because _ . Answer: they were brought up just in the same way Dr charlotte Uhlenbroek recently returned to London after filming her second series, Jungle. It was difficult, 19-week trip, during which she explored the rainforests of Borneo, the Amazon and Congo, travelling around using variety of means of transport, including hot-air balloons and canoes. "I'm interested in the way animals communicate with each other. It was sometimes dangerous making the program ---I even went swimming with piranha fish. But the worst thing was insects. On one occasion I had 70 sand-fly bites on my arm. Luckily I didn't get sick. I prefer not to take tablets every day, but if I get a fever, take some medicine immediately." Filming the series was exciting, but also frightening at times. Her most challenging experience was climbing a 100-meter tree in Borneo, as she has a great fear of heights. "I had to keep pulling myself further and further upwards. All I wanted to do was get down again. Suddenly the safety equipment didn't look very strong and I thought that my ropes would break and I would crash to the ground." What did she enjoy most about returning to London? "When I've been away in hot uncomfortable conditions for a long time I dream about an ice-cold drink and my bed at home! But the thing I look forward to the most is nice long showers. There wasn't much water in some of the places we visited and I worried that I was using it all up and not leaving any for my colleagues on the camera team! " What does Charlotte miss most when she is away filming? Answer: An unlimited water supply. A private sixth grade is set to start its lessons at 1.30 pm every day because the school's teacher thinks his students will study better after a morning lie-in . Instead of rising early for a 9 am start, students at the PS15,000-a-year Hampton Court House, in East Molesey, Surrey, will get to enjoy a lie-in and work from 1.30 pm until 7pm. Head teacher Guy Holloway says the move for all sixth grade students, set to begin from September, has been made according to research by scientists. He predicts that not only will his students aged 16 and upwards get great night's sleep, but their productivity will also be improved. The co-educational school will have the latest start time in the UK, and will be the only one to begin lessons in the afternoon. Experts say young people are programmed to get up later, and that rather than laziness it is simply a shift in their body clocks. 'There are 168 hours in a week and how productive they are depends on how they choose to use those hours,' said Mr Holloway. 'At Hampton Court House we don't think we have the answer for everybody; it's about what works in our school. We want to get them into a condition where they can get great sleep and study well.' He said students would also benefit from reduced journey times as they travel to and from school after rush hour . Year 10 student Gabriel Purcell-Davis will be one of the first of 30 A-level students to start at the later time. 'I want to wake up in my bed, not in my maths lesson,' said the 15-year-old. Lessons for all other students at the school will still begin at 9 am as usual. What's Gabriel Purcell-Davis' attitude towards the new school time? Answer: Supportive. Alan is an English boy. Now he studies in Shanghai Yucai Middle School. He is in Grade Seven. He has a dog. It's black and white. The dog's very smart. Alan likes it very much. Its favorite food is bone. Every day when Alan gets home, the dog meets him in front of the house. Alan's friend, Jenny is an American girl. She is in Shanghai too. They are in the same grade, but in different classes. She has a panda. It's also black and white, but it's not a real panda. It's a toy. The panda is very clean. Jenny often washes it in water. Where is the panda now? Oh, it's sleeping with jenny. Every night it sleeps with Jenny. What animal is black and white according to the passage? Answer: The dog.
Articles wanted School life Articles should be typewritten and double spaced, using only side of the page. Your name, year of birth, school name (and English teacher), home address and e-mail address must be included. For photos, place the information on the back of each envelope: PLEASE DON'T FOLD. Please keep copies of your text, pictures or photos. The sentence MUST BE WRITTEN with your name on each work, "I promise the above work is completely original ." If your article is chosen, you will receive a copy of School Life and a special gift. SEND IT ALL SUMMER! For more information, please contact us! Tel: (02) 92136116(02) 92674363 E-mail: schoollife@acpmagazines.com,au Mail: School Life. Box 5252, Sydney, NSW 200 According to the passage, you can send your articles _ all summer An English traveller found himself in Norway with only enough money to buy the ticket for his journey back home.As he knew that it would take him only two days to get to England,he decided that he could easily spend the time without food. So he bought a ticket and got on the ship. The man closed his ears to the sound of the lunch bell.When dinner time came,he didn't go to dining room,saying that he was not feeling very well. The next morning he still didn't have breakfast and at lunchtime he again stayed in his room. But at dinnertime he was so hungry that he went to the dining room and ate everything the waiter put in front of him. He got ready for the quarrel. "Bring me the bill,"he said."The bill,Sir?" said the waiter in surprise."There isn't any bill.On our ship meals are included in the money for the ticket,"said the waiter. The story happened _ . on a ship from Norway to England A dead deer was found partially eaten in a forest. How could it have been caught? It was caught by appendages on the feet of a feline It's Sunday morning. My family are all at home. My father is sitting near the window. He's reading newspapers. He wants to know what h appens all over the world. My mother is watering the flowers in the small garden. My brother is a worker. He's watching TV. He's a basketball fanAnd he is good at p laying basketball. Now he is watching NBA on TV. Where are my twin sisters? Oh, look! Lily is listening to music. She likes popular music very much. Lucy is surfing the Internet in her room. She often writes emails to her friends. What am I doing? I am doing my homework . ,A, B, C, D What is the father doing? He'sreadingnewspapers. Andrew Ritchie, inventor of the Brompton folding bicycle, once said that the perfect portable bike would be "like a magic carpet...You could fold it up and put it into your pocket or handbag". Then he paused: "But you'll always be limited by the size of the wheels. And so far no one has invented a folding wheel." It was a rare -- indeed unique -- occasion when I was able to put Ritchie right. A 19th-century inventor, William Henry James Grout, did in fact design a folding wheel. His bike, predictably named the Grout Portable, had a frame that split into two and a larger wheel that could be separated into four pieces. All the bits fitted into Grout's Wonderful Bag, a leather case. Grout's aim: to solve the problems of carrying a bike on a train. Now doesn't that sound familiar? Grout intended to find a way of making a bike small enough for train travel: his bike was a huge beast. And importantly, the design of early bicycles gave him an advantage: in Grout's day, tyres were solid, which made the business of splitting a wheel into four separate parts relatively simple. You couldn't do the same with a wheel fitted with a one-piece inflated tyre. So, in a 21st-century context, is the idea of the folding wheel dead? It is not. A British design engineer, Duncan Fitzsimons, has developed a wheel that can be squashed into something like a slender ellipse . Throughout, the tyre remains inflated. Will the young Fitzsimons's folding wheel make it into production? I haven't the foggiest idea. But his inventiveness shows two things. First, people have been saying for more than a century that bike design has reached its limit, except for gradual advances. It's as silly a concept now as it was 100 years ago: there's plenty still to go for. Second, it is in the field of folding bikes that we are seeing the most interesting inventions. You can buy a folding bike for less than PS1,000 that can be knocked down so small that it can be carried on a plane -- minus wheels, of course -- as hand baggage. Folding wheels would make all manner of things possible. Have we yet got the magic carpet of Andrew Ritchie's imagination? No. But it's progress. We can learn from the text that the wheels of the Grout Portable _ . were fitted with solid tyres
A "blogger" is a person who writes on an Internet computer Web site called a "blog". The word "blog" is a short way of saying Web log, or personal Web site. Anyone can start a blog, and they can write about anything they like. There are millions of blogs on the Internet today. They provide news, information and ideas in many people who read them. They contain links to other Web sites. And they provide a place for people to write about their ideas and react to the ideas of others. A research company called Perscus has studied more than 300 Web logs. It says that blogs are most popular with teenage girls. They use them to let their friends know what is happening in their lives. The study also says that more than 100,000 bloggers stopped taking part in the activity after a year. However, some people develop serious blogs to present political and other ideas. For example, the Republican and Democratic parties in the southern state of Kentucky recently started their own blogs. And American companies are beginning to use blogs to advertise their products. At the same time, some long-standing blogs have ended last week, blogging leader Dave Winer closed his free blog service weblogs. com. He says the site became too costly to continue. He started the blog four years ago. And thousands of people had written on it. They are now upset because they did not know that the site was closing. One blog that is still going strong is called Rebecca's Pocket. Rebecca Blood created the Website in 1999. She wrote about the history of blogs on the site. That article led to a book called "The Weblog Handbook". It has been translated into four languages so far. Ms. Blood says Rebecca's Pocket gets about 30,000 visitors a month. She writes about anything and everything--politics, culture and movies. She recently provided medical advice. And she wrote about how to prevent people from stealing money from on-line bank accounts. The reason why Rebecca's Pocket is still going strong is that _ . Answer: it provides useful information and advice Sunday, October 5 Clear, 69degF My wife, Eleanor and I took the train from Paris to Strasbourg, where we were met by our driver and guide, and the minibus which goes along with the boat. We stopped off in Barn for an hour on the way. Then we were taken to Nancy where the boat was kept. After the other passengers arrived, we had our first dinner on the boat. After dinner we walked into downtown Nancy, a village with a large square and wooden houses. Monday, October 6 Rained last night, cloudy in the morning, 69degF We spent about two hours in Nancy, and then sailed on the Canal de la Marne au Rhine. Kind of a lazy day. Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, after dinner we watched a tape on Baccarat, where we will visit tomorrow. It was pleasant to sit out on deck and watch the scenery go by at about 3 mph. Tuesday, October 7 Light rain, 64degF This mourning we drove over to Baccarat and toured its museum and the church, which has this unbelievable lamp that is going on a world tour the next day. We did lost of shopping, then walked across the bridge to see a very, very modern Catholic church with special Baccarat windows. We drove to the top of the Voges Mountains and started down the eastern side. Later we drove to Sorrenbourg to see the 13th century church at the Cordeliers. It contains the largest window by Mar. Wednesday, Ocrober8 Cloudy.65 degF Today we sailed from Schneckenbush to Saverne. We went though two caves, an extremely unusual part of the journey. This river scenery is very different. We were in a mountain valley with grassland on one side and a forest beginning to show some color on the other. Thursday, Ocrober9 Cloudy, 66degF Our dependable minibus was waiting to load the luggage and take us to the hotel where everyone went their separate ways. Our boating days are over until next time. Where did the author get off the train? Answer: Strasbourg Many people think that water will never be used up because there are many rivers and lakes. And the rain can make us get enough fresh water. Also, we can dig wells to find fresh water under the ground. In fact, it is wrong and dangerous to think so. In some areas, people fight for fresh water. There is little rain there all year round. Let's look around us. Some factories pour dirty water into rivers. And some people drop litter into rivers. We see polluted water here and there. We must do something to help people understand about preventing water from being polluted. It's never too late if we take action right now. What's the main idea? Answer: Shortage of fresh water. At the farm, the farmer found that he needed to go to the town to get some tools. He needed to pick up five things at the store. The farmer needed to get a shovel, some hay, extra string, feed for the horses and a tire for his truck. He also found that one of the steps on his ladder was broken and needed to be fixed. He would have to get some wood to fix the ladder. He thought he might like to look at new ladders and see if it was time to get a new one. He went into the house and found his keys. He started driving down the road when he found that he forgot his wallet and needed to go back to the house. He turned the truck around and went back to the house. While he was in the house, he remembered that he also needed to get some milk at the store. He picked up his keys and wallet and went back to his truck. He picked up all the items he needed in town and was still home in time for dinner. What did the farmer forget to take with him when he first left his house? Answer: His wallet Aged just 25,Gaga has become the icon . Born Stefani Germanotta , Gaga was a child who learnt to play the piano at the age of four .She wrote her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open nights a year later .But as a teenager she had a hard time at her strict Catholic school and admitted that she didn't like to obey. She sobbed during a recent HBO documentary: "I still sometimes feel like a loser kid in high school and I just have to pick myself up and tell myself that I'm a superstar every morning so that I can get through this day and be for my fans what they need for me to be. " But aged 17 Gaga managed to escape to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and by 19 she signed to Def Jam Recordings but quickly dropped after three months .The star went on to write songs for the likes of Britney Spears ,New Kids on the Block , Fergie ,and the Pussycat Dolls but it was Akon who gave her first big break after they worked in pairs as songwriters at Interscope. She released her first album The Fame in 2008 and the rest is pop history--first singleJust Dancetopped the charts and follow-up Poker Face landed her a Grammy award .In 2009,she released The Fame Monster.Gaga was the queen of the Brit Awards in 2010 where she won three prizes .At the MTV Video Music Awards later that year, Gaga won eight prizes in all . Gaga has been busy working on her second album, Born This Way, which is set to be released on May 23.She has already released four singles from the album -the title track,Judas,The Edge of Glory and Hair. Gaga started to give performance at open nights when she was _ . Answer: fourteen
Question: The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching,and I'd been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt:"The trouble with you is that you won't put yourself in my place. Can't you see things from my point of view?"I shook my head stubbornly-and felt the ache in my tooth. I'd thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday,but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book,but no one could see me immediately. Finally,at about lunchtime,I got lucky. "If you come by right now,"the receptionist said,"the dentist will fit you in." I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice?Why wasn't he as busy as the others? In the dentist's office,I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my icecold one. When I told her my fears,she laughed and said,"Don't worry. The dentist is very good." "How long do I have to wait for him?"I asked impatiently. "Come on,he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,"the assistant said. "The artwork?"I was puzzled. The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture,right where I could enjoy it:on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was!At that moment,I began to understand what my friend meant by her words. What a relief! What did the author learn from her experience most probably? A. Strike while the iron is hot. B. Have a good word for one's friend. C. Put oneself in others' shoes. D. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Answer: C Question: Retold by Laura E.Richards All day long the little boy had worked hard, in the field and barn and shed, for his parents were poor farmers, and could not pay a workman.But at sunset there came an hour that was all his own, for his father had given it to him.Then the boy would go up to the top of a hill and look across at another hill that rose some miles away.On that far hill stood a house with windows of clear gold and diamonds.They shone so brightly that it made the boy squint at them, but after a while the people in the house put up shutters, as it seemed, and then it looked like any common farmhouse.The boy supposed they did this because it was suppertime; and then he would go into the house and have his supper of bread and milk, and go to bed. One day the boy's father called him and said: "You have been a good boy, and have earned a holiday.Take this day for your own, and try to learn some good things." The boy thanked his father and kissed his mother.Then he put a piece of bread in his pocket, and started off to find the house with the golden windows. It was a pleasant walk.His bare feet made marks in the white dust, and when he looked back, the footprints seemed to be following him, and keeping him company.His shadow, too, kept beside him, and would dance or run with him as he pleased; so it was very cheerful.By and by he felt hungry, and he sat down by a brown stream that ran through the alder hedge by the roadside, ate his bread, and drank the clear water.Then he scattered the small pieces of bread for the birds as his mother had taught him to do, and went on his way. After a long time he came to a high green hill, and when he had climbed the hill, there was the house on the top.But it seemed that the shutters were up, for he could not see the golden windows.He came up to the house, and then he could well have wept, for the windows were of clear glass, like any others, and there was no gold anywhere about them. A woman came to the door, looked kindly at the boy, and asked him what he wanted. "I saw the golden windows from our hilltop," he said, "and I came to see them, but now they are only of clear glass." The woman shook her head and laughed. "We are poor farmers," she said, "and are not likely to have gold about our windows.But glass is better to see through." She let the boy sit down on the broad stone step at the door, and brought him a cup of milk and a cake, and asked him to take a break.Then she called her daughter, a child of his own age, nodded kindly at the two, and went back to her work. The little girl was barefooted like him, and wore a brown cotton dress, but her hair was golden like the windows he had seen, and her eyes were blue like the sky at noon.She showed the boy about the farm, and showed him her black calf with a white star on its forehead, and he told her about his own at home, which was red like a chestnut with four white feet.They became friends after they ate an apple together.However, when the boy asked her about the golden windows, the little girl nodded, and said she knew all about them; only he had mistaken the house. "You have come quite the wrong way!" she said."Come with me, and I will show you the house with the golden windows, and then you will see for yourself." They went to a knoll that rose behind the farmhouse, and the little girl told him that the golden windows could only be seen at a certain hour, about sunset. "Yes, I know that!" said the boy. When they reached the top of the knoll, the girl turned and pointed;there on a hill far away stood a house with windows of clear gold and diamond, just as he had seen them.And when they looked again, the boy saw that it was his own home. Then he told the little girl that he must go.He gave her his best pebble , the white one with the red band, that he had carried for a year in his pocket, and she gave him three horse-chestnuts, one red like satin, one spotted, and one white like milk.He promised to come again, but he did not tell her what he had learned.He went back down the hill, and the little girl stood in the sunset light and watched him away. The way home was long, and it was dark before the boy reached his house, but the lamplight and firelight shone through the windows, making them almost as bright as he had seen them from the hilltop.When he opened the door, his mother came to kiss him, and his little sister ran to throw her arms about his neck, and his father looked up and smiled from his seat by the fire. "Have you had a good day?" asked his mother. Yes, the boy had had a very good day. "And have you learned anything?" asked his father. "Yes!" said the boy."I have learned that our house has windows of gold and diamond." What can we learn from the passage? A. East or west, home is best. B. To see the trees but not the forest. C. Beauty is right here waiting for you. D. Where there is a will, there is a way. Answer: C Question: At first, the earth's surface layer was made up of huge blocks of hard, solid rocks. Then slowly, the rocks broke up into smaller and smaller pieces. Finally stones, pebbles and grains of sand were formed. Many sorts of plants and animals lived and died on the surface of the earth. Their remains mixed up with the stones, pebbles and formed soil. The outmost layer of the earth is soil. There are many ways in which large pieces of rock break into smaller ones. Wind, water, heat and cold help to break up rocks. When winds blow grains of sand against a large rock for a long time, the softer layers of the rock are slowly worn away. These leave holes and cracks in the rock, which become bigger and finally the rock breaks up into smaller pieces. The moving water of streams and rivers also helps to break up rocks. As the water moves along, it carries with it small pieces of rock. These rub the larger ones. Thus, the larger rocks are worn down to smaller pieces. The heat of the sun is also helpful to breaking up rocks. When the sun shines, the rocks become very hot. If these rocks are suddenly cooled, they may crack. Ice also plays a part in making soil. Water in the cracks can turn into ice in cold weather. As this happens, it becomes bigger and the cracks become wider, and finally break into smaller pieces. Which of the following speeds up the breaks of rocks most? A. Hot weather. B. Cold water. C. Sharp changes in temperature. D. More dead plants in the cracks. Answer: C Question: audible vibrations can travel freely through A. a brick B. nitrogen and oxygen C. the ground D. a mountain Answer: B Question: A small boy sat on the street with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: " I am blind, please help". There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked :"Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said: "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it." Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing? Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply told people to help by putting some money in the hat. The second sign told people that they were able to enjoy the day, but the boy could not enjoy it because he was blind. The first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. There are at least two lessons we can learn from this simple story. The first is: Be thankful for what you have. Someone else has less. Help where you can. The second is:Be creative. Think differently. There is always a better way! What was the boy doing on the street? A. He was selling his old hat. B. He was busy counting coins. C. He was begging for money. D. He was showing his handwriting. Answer: C
One Tuesday evening in the beginning of the fall 1996 semester at Shippensburg University, sirens sounded. These sirens were not in celebration; they were a cry to the university that something was wrong. A house, only one block away, was on fire. Nine of the university's students lived there. From the minute the word got out that help was needed, it seemed like everyone showed up. The victims of the fire were offered endless invitations for housing for the night. The very next day, everyone to do their part in helping them. Flyers were posted with items that were immediately needed, just to get these students through this next couple of days. Boxes for donations and money jars were placed in every residence hall . As a residence director,I went before the students in my hall to ask them to do what they could. I knew that college students don't have much, but I asked them to do their best: "Every little bit will help." I really didn't think they could do much. I was proved wrong. At the hall council meeting the night after the fire, my residents decided to have a wing competition, where each wing of the building would team up to see who could bring In the most donations. I announced that the wing who won would receive a free pizza party. Thursday evening we announced over the PA system that we were beginning the wing competition. Within minutes, the place exploded. The single large box that I had placed in the lobby was over-flowing. We quickly grabbed more boxes, and we watched in amazement as they, too, filled to the brim. Members of the resident assistant staff and I began to count the items. I was astonished by what I saw, and I was inspired by these kids. When we came to the final tally , the winners turned to me and announced that they would like to donate their winnings as well. They wanted the victims of the fire to have their pizza party. Tears welled up in my eyes. I had watched these students jump to action, work tirelessly and donate all that they could. And then, as if that were not enough, they handed over their reward's was touched and so very proud of them. The wing competition was held _ . A. on Tuesday evening B. on Thursday C. on Wednesday evening D. the very next day Answer: B The businessman was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy . Suddenly an old man appeared before him. "I can see that something is troubling you." he said. After listening to the businessman, the old man said: "I believe I can help you." He asked the man his name, wrote out a check , and pushed it into his hand saying: "Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time." Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come. The businessman saw in his hand a check for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world! "I can settle all my debts in a moment!" he realized. But instead, the man decided to put the uncashed check in his safe, just knowing it would give him the strength to work out a way to save his business. With renewed optimism, he made better deals and extended terms of payment. He closed several big deals. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again. Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed check. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as the businessman was about to hand back the check and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man. "I'm so glad I caught him!" she cried. "I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller." And she led the old man away by the arm. The businessman stood there, still and shocked. All year long he'd been wheeling and dealing, buying and selling, believing that he had half a million dollars behind him. Suddenly he realized that it wasn't the money, real or imagined, that had turned his life around. It was his newfound self-confidence that had given him the power to achieve anything he wanted to. The businessman must have been _ after he received the check. A. calm B. relieved C. annoyed D. worried Answer: B At just six years old, Joey Kilpatrick is Australia's unofficial hide-and-seek champion after he hid in a bedroom cupboard for eight hours while playing his favorite game,causing a big rescue operation. The determined little boy's disappearing act led to a careful search, including nice police officers, five State Emergency Service volunteers, tracker dogs and almost all of the people of the town of Goombungee. His mother, Chris, says she called the police when Joey disappeared one afternoon after telling his older brother, Lachlan, 14, that he was off to play hide-and-seek. "I called the two boys for dinner," Chris says. "After about 20 minutes I started to worry, I was shouting to Joey, 'OK, we can't find you, time to come out!'" But there was no sign of her little boy. Within minutes of Chris calling the police, the policemen started one of the biggest ground searches in the town's history. "I was really frightened. I rang my husband, Kris, who works out of town, and he immediately hit the road, calling me every 10 minutes." Chris recalls."They searched the house from top to bottom; everyone was out looking for him. When a neighbor asked if I'd checked the water tank, that's when reality hit. I was afraid." After hours of searching the town, confused police decided to search the house one more time. "I just sat there waiting," Chris says, "Then a strange feeling came over me, and I rushed into the bedroom and put my hand on a pile of blankets in the cupboard. As I pulled then out,there he was---asleep and completely not realizing what was going on! I've never held him in my arms so hard." Senior officer, Chris Brameld,from Goombungee police,says he is glad that Joey's game had a happy ending: "When we realized he was safe, we agreed that it didn't get much better than that!" And young Joey promises that next time he won't be so intent on finding the best hiding place. "I want to say sorry to the policemen and to Mummy for scaring them," he says, "I promise next time I'll hide where they can find me and I won't fall asleep!" What can we learn from the passage? A. The boy felt very cold when he was found. B. The boy knew clearly what was going on. C. The mother usually hugged her boy very hard. D. The mother was very grateful to find her boy. Answer: D Li Lu is a fifth-grade student who lived in a small village in Shanxi Province. She lived with her grandparents, because her parents are migrant workers in big cities. During the days when there were no school buses, Li Lu had to ride a bike five kilometers and climb a small mountain to school every day. Her 70-year-old grandfather says he and Li Lu's grandmother always worried about her safety. "There are so many cars on the roads, and we were really _ about her all the time. When it was time for her to come home, we would stare at the alley's entrance until she showed up." But with the start of the new school year, the school's new bus now picks up the students. Eleven-year-old Li Lu pointed at her seat on the bus and said ,"Now I don't ride my bike any more. My grandparents no longer need to worry about me. The bus is spacious and comfortable. Look! This is my seat, with my name tag on the seatback." What's the main idea of this passage? A. Going to school by bike. B. Far away from school. C. Li Lu has taken the new school bus. D. Li Lu and her family. Answer: C Every year people celebrate the Spring Festival in China. Usually it is in January or February. It's the most important festival in China. So before it comes, everyone buys many things, and they often make a special kind of food called dumplings. It means "come together". Parents always buy new clothes for their children and children also buy presents for their parents. On the Spring Festival eve , all the family members come back home. They sing, dance and play cards. When they enjoy the meal, they give each other the best wishes for the coming year. They all have a good time. The Chinese usually have their Spring Festival in _ . A. January or February B. February or march C. September or October D. December or January Answer: A
While success is surely sweeter than failure, it seems failure is a far better teacher, and organizations that fail spectacularly often flourish more in the long run, according to a new study by Vinit Desai, assistant professor of management at the University of Colorado Denver Business School. Researchers have found that people missing their goals perform much better in the long run. That is because they gain more knowledge from their failures than their successes and the lessons are more likely to stay longer in their minds. "We found that the knowledge gained from success was often fleeting while knowledge from failure stuck around for years," said professor Desai, who led the study. "But companies often ignore failure. Managers may fire people or turn over the whole workforce while they should treat the failure as a learning opportunity." Prof Desai compared the flights of the space shuttle Atlantis and the Challenger. During the 2002 Atlantis flight, a piece of insulation broke off and damaged the left solid rocket booster but didn't influence the program. There was little investigation. The Challenger was launched next and another piece of insulation broke off. This time the shuttle and its seven-person crew were destroyed. The disaster led to a major investigation resulting in 29 changes to prevent future disasters. The difference in response in the two cases came down to this: Atlantis was considered a success and the Challenger a failure. "Despite crowded skies, airlines are extremely reliable," he said. "The number of failures is extremely small. And past researches have shown that older airlines, those with more experience in failure, have a lower number of accidents." Prof Desai doesn't recommend finding out failure in order to learn. Instead, he advises organizations to analyze small failures to collect useful information rather than wait for major failures. The passage is written mainly to _ . show failure is a better teacher than success It was in the Victorian Era that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were more concerned to meet the tastes of the middle class. The best known works of the period included the works of Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters and others. Charles Dickens came on the literary scene in the 1830s. Dickens wrote vividly about London life and the struggles of the poor. Most of his works were written in a very humorous style, which was popular with readers of all classes. The Bronte sisters were English writers of the 1840s and 1850s. They began to write from early childhood. In 1846 they published the first book at their own expense as poets; however, their book attracted little attention, selling only two copies. Then the sisters turned to writing novels, each producing a novel in the following year. An interest in rural matters and the changing social and economic situation of the countryside may be seen in the novels of Thomas Hardy and a number of others. Literature for children developed as a single style. Some works became well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Adventure novels were written for adults but are now generally grouped in the list for children. Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author at the end of the Victorian Era, best known for her children's books, which featured (......) animal characters. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902. Which is TRUE about the Bronte sisters? They paid to have their first book published. The nucleus of MOST atoms consists of protons and neutrons Jerome David Salinger was born in Manhattan on New Year s Day,1919.His father was a Jew.His mother was of Irish descent. Never much of a student attended the progressive McBurney School.But he left school after two years and in 1934was packed off to Valley Forge Military Academy.In 1937,after a couple of unenthusiastic weeks at New York University,he traveled with his father to Austraia and Poland,where father s plan for him was to learn the ham business.Deciding that wasn t for him.he returned to America and driturned to America and drifted through a term or so at Ursinus College.His most sustained exposure to higher education was an evening class he took at Columbia in 1939,and under Mr.Burnett s directions he managed to sell a stpry"The Young Folks"to Story magazine.He afterwards sold stories to Esquire,Colliers and The Saturday Evening Post.In 1941,after several rejections,Mr.Salinger finally cracked The New Yorker,with s story"Slight Rebellion Off Madison,"that was an earlu sketch of what became a scene in"The Catcher in the Rye<<>> . "But the magazine then had second thoughts,apparently worried about seeming to encourage young people to run away from school and held the story for five years--a long time even for The New Yorker--before finally pubishing it in 1946,buried in the back of an issus. Meanwhile Mr.Salinger had been drafted and was stationef for a while in Tiverton,Devon,the setting of "For Esme--with Love and Squalor,"probably the most deeply felt of the "Nint Stories".On June,6,1944,he landed at Utah Beach,and he later saw action during the Battle of the Bulge.In 1945 he was hospitalized for"battle breakdown"and after recovering he stayed on in Europe past the end of the war.He married a German woan doctor,very briefly. What can be inferred from the passage? Mr. Salinger is keen on writing. The biggest challenge faced by travelers especially those who like to have a backpacking trip is how to ensure a steady supply of clean clothes. Now, thanks to a great invention called Scrubba Wash Pack, that worry may be a thing of the past. The portable washing machine was invented by Ash Newland in 2010, while planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Struck by the limited packing space, he got inspiration from traditional washboards to create a bag that could be used to clean clothes. Then he quitted his career as a lawyer and focused on perfecting the bag's design. By 2012, the bag was ready for the public. It weighed only 180 grams and required very little storage space, making it perfect for anyone wishing to travel light. Not surprisingly, the bag worth 55 dollars was an instant hit with travelers, university students and even passengers. However, Newland was not satisfied. He still saw a flaw with his invention - dirty clothes had to be carried around in a separate bag! The recently introduced Scrubba Wash Pack solves that problem. In order to make the pack active, dirty clothes are placed inside the bag along with two to three liters of water. The bag is then shut tightly to ensure all air is squeezed out and the clothes are massaged for a few minutes. After a quick wash, they are clean and ready to be dried. According to Newland, the pack can clean anything from jeans to smelly socks! What's even more amazing is that with a capacity to hold 13-liters of water, it can be used to wash more clothes at a time. The best part is that the 99-dollar pack that will be available for sale later this year, only weighs 300 grams and is completely foldable, making it easy to store when it's not in use. With the Scrubba Wash Pack, wandering through foreign cities searching for a washing shop, or paying for washing machines may soon be a thing of the past! What is the passage mainly about? Introducing a great new invention.
Many great basketball players had clever nicknames , usually describing the player's overall style on the court . Below are some of the colorful nicknames among popular NBA players. "Tiny" Nate Archibald, at six feet one inch tall, was small for a basketball player. Still, Archibald used speed and his brains to control the court in the 14 seasons that he played in the NBA. Interestingly, his nickname originated off the court: he was named after his father, "Big Tiny". "Magic" Earvin Johnson was called "Magic" by a sportswriter who saw him playing basketball in one high school game. Johnson was a skillful player, often doing the unexpected, to the _ of his competitors and the delight of the audience. He also won a gold medal as part of the U.S. "Dream Team" in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. "The Mailman" Karl Malone earned his nickname because on the court he delivered consistently. Malone spent most of his career with the Utah Jazz, gaining a reputation as one of the best power forwards of all time. He also won two Olympic gold medals, as part of the U.S. "Dream Team" in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. "The Iceman" George Gervin made the most difficult shots look easy. He was also famous for keeping his cool in every game, playing in a relaxed way under pressure. Gervin, who played most of his 14 years in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, was unequalled in many ways as a shooting guard. Why was George Gervin called "The Iceman"? A He was always as cold as ice. B He had a glass of iced beer every day. C He didn't get along well with his teammates. D He was always able to keep calm on the court. Answer: D. He was always able to keep calm on the court. "Hi,howareya." some people say when they see a familiar face.The words run together into a mass,all sense and meaning lost. All the same,people do care how you are.After they greet you,it's likely you will greet them back,with an equally meaningless phrase like,"Can't complain,can't complain."You could probably complain,at length,or share a brilliant thought you were just beginning when a greeting interrupted you.You don't though,you say,"Great,you?" You are not giving each other information about your health and wellbeing.All the same,you are sharing information.You're acknowledging each other's positions as acknowledged friends,or at least as accepted acquaintances.And you are reestablishing the ties that may have lapsed since yesterday,when you last met at the elevator or the entrance to the train station. It's what anthropologist Bronislaw Malinoski called a phatic communication.Its message is not in the words you use,but in the fact that you speak ritually accepted words.In Asia,for example,people may ask one another if they have eaten,or if they are busy.They're not really asking for their lunch menu or their agenda,they are saying hello.A phatic signal merely says, "I see you there." It says hi. There's embarrassment of being near people without acknowledging them.That uncomfortable feeling is one reason why lonely passengers in the subway may behave as if they cannot see anyone around them or may escape their uncomfortable situation with a book.Some people read all the way home,and never turn a page. Your friend isn't asking how you are,and you aren't telling him.However,he is recognizing your existence,and when you answer,you are recognizing his.In addition,the set speech you have shared opens the door to closer communications if both agree.Someday,you may come to real close friendship,and really tell one another how you are. Meanwhile,people who greet one another this way do care.They care enough to recognize someone's essential humanity .They send a signal across the space between,to share,very briefly and lightly,in awareness of one another. Your greetings prove that neither of you has become a social outcast.How are you?You are still a member of society in good status.You are still the one who knows the rituals and secret passwords necessary to get to work each day. Some people seldom greet strangers because _ . A they want to be polite to others B they feel uncomfortable to do it C they don't know when to greet them D they want to do something meaningful Answer: B. they feel uncomfortable to do it A car drew up outside the Swan Hotel and a young man got out.Pausing only for a moment to see that he had come to the right place,he went into the hotel and rang the bell on the counter of the bar. Mrs.Crump,the landlady,who was busy in the kitchen at the time,hurried out,wiping her hands.The young man raised his hat. "Excuse me,"he said."I'm looking for my uncle,Mr.White.I believe he is staying here." "He was staying here."Mrs.Crump corrected him."But I'm afraid that he went back to London yesterday." "Oh,dear,"said the young man,looking disappointed."I understood that he was going to stay here until the end of the month.At least that is what his servant told me when I rang up his house." "Quite right,"said Mrs,Cramp."He planned to stay here the whole of July,as he always does. But yesterday he got a telegram to say that his was ill.So he caught the train back to London immediately." "I wish he had let me know, "The young man said."I wrote him a letter saying that I was coming.I've had all this trouble for nothing.Well,since he isn't here,there's no point in waiting." He thanked Mrs.Grump and went out.Mrs.Grump went to the window and watched him drive off.When his car was out of sight,she called out:"You can come out now, Mr.White. He's gone." Mr.White came out of the kitchen,where he had been waiting. "Many thanks,Mrs.Grump,"he said,laughing,"you did that very well.These nephews of mine never gave me any peace.That young man is the worst of them all.As you see,when he needs money, he even follows me into the country.Well,perhaps next time he won't warn me by writing a letter!" This story is about a man _ . A who was very much loved by his nephews B whose nephew went to visit him at the hotel C whose nephew is always asking him for help D who was not willing to meet his nephew Answer: D. who was not willing to meet his nephew Students planned an investigation that included adding a quantity of vinegar to a small amount of baking soda. Which is the best tool to measure the volume of the liquid vinegar used in the investigation? A pan balance B spring scale C meter stick D graduated cylinder Answer: D. graduated cylinder When I was eleven years old, God gave me a gift of happiness and I had a carefree childhood in France. One day, on my way home from school, a truck ran over me and my legs were cut off. As I lay there bleeding, I suddenly realized that I might have to live the rest of my life without legs. How depressed I was at that moment! But then I realized that depression won't get my legs back. So I decided not to waste my life feeling depressed. When my parents arrived at the hospital, they stood there quietly, looked so shocked and sad. I told them, "I've already accepted the fact. Now you also have to get used to this." Ever since then, I often see my friends getting worried about little things: The buses comes late; they get bad grades on the tests and so on. But I just enjoy life. I was lucky to realize that it is a waste of energy to pay attention to what you have lost, and that the key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have. Sounds simple, doesn't it? So why are many people unhappy? People often think happiness is based on what they achieve. "My whole life would improve if I had a new car." But when they get the car and what happens? For a whole week they are walking on air. Then they go right back to be unhappy. Happiness is not a happening; it's a state of mind. Even though you have the whole world and you'll still be unsatisfied. And you have relatively little but feel full of joy. Happiness comes from mastering the art of enjoying and taking pleasure in what you already have. The word "depressed" most probably means" _ ". A sad and disappointed B painful and annoyed C smart and strong D calm and quiet Answer: A. sad and disappointed
"It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, " said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years. Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn't spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh. "The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give," said Aunt Emmy gently, "nor the best, either." "Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work," agreed Clorinda, "but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other." "That was not what I meant," said Aunt Emmy. "What did you mean, then?" asked Clorinda, looking puzzled. Aunt Emmy smiled. "Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself," she said. "That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: ' " "I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare," said Clorinda. "That is my predicament exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know." "Won't your aunt miss you terribly?" said Aunt Emmy gravely. "I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda," said Aunt Emmy. "But of course you must decide for yourself, dear." "Well, I must say bye-bye and run home." Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember. Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's.Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her. "I've come to tell you all about it," she said. "Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give." "First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. " "Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her . I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness." "I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so." "Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda," said Aunt Emmy. "Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them." "I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy," she said, as she unpinned the paper. There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it. "It's as sweet as yourself, dear child," she said tenderly. "And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?" "Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy," said Clorinda softly. Which of the following sentences can best explain the line "The gift without the giver is bare."? A. A gift is valued by the mind of the giver. B. Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver. C. You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts. D. Think twice before you give gifts to somebody Answer: A NASDAQ, acronym for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation system, is one of the largest markets in the world for the trading of stocks. The number of companies listed on NASDAQ is more than that on any of the other stock exchange in the United States, including the New York Stock Exchange(NYSE) and the American Stock Exchange (AMSE). The majority of companies listed on NASDAQ are smaller than most of those on the NYSE and AMSX. NASDAQ has become known as the home of new technology companies, particularly computer and computer-related businesses. Trading on NASDAQ is started by stock brokers acting on behalf of their clients. The brokers negotiate with market makers who concentrate on trading specific stocks to reach a price for the stock. Unlike other stock exchange, NASDAQ has no central location where trading takes place. Instead, its market makers are located all over the country and make trades by telephone and via the Internet. Because brokers and market makers trade stocks directly instead of on the floor of a stock exchange, NASDAQ is called an over-the-counter market. The term over-the -counter refers to the direct nature of the trading, as in a store where goods are handed over a counter. Since its inception in 1971, the NASDAQ Stock Market has been the innovator . As the world's first electronic stock market, NASDAQ long ago set a precedent for technological trading innovation that is unrivaled . Now ready to become the world's first truly global market, the NASDAQ Stock Market is the market of choice for business industry leaders worldwide. By providing an efficient environment for raising capital NASDAQ has helped thousands of companies achieve their desired growth and successfully make the leap into public ownership. The word" negotiate"(Line 8,Para.1) means _ . A. discuss B. argue C. interfere D. cope Answer: A Kid Power in Action! Kids wanted aChicken Soup book of their own, so here it is!Children Soup for the Kid'sSoul is for kids ages nine through thirteen, and it's "all that!" Sometimes you feel like life is a complete blast , from scoring the winning goal to hanging out with your friends. Yet other times, life is too difficult: You seem to see violence everywhere you turn, more parents are getting divorced , your best friend moves away, or you feel like you don't fit in. Now there is a place to find answers and encouragement and to help you realize that your dreams really can come true. With funny stories about friendship and family, and serious stories about brave kids and difficult choices, this book will make you laugh, cry, think, and feel good about yourself. Ever since the firstChicken Soup for the Soul was published in June 1993, we have been getting requests from kids all over the world asking for a Chicken Soup book just for them. So here it is, the first full-lengthChicken Soup for the Kid's Soul, written by kids and by grown-ups who haven't forgotten what it's like to be a kid. We would like to know how the stories in the book will affect you and which ones are your favorites, please write to us and let us know. We also invite you to send us any stories that you would like us to consider for the second book: Helping of Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul. You may send stories and poems that you have written, or ones that you have read and liked. For more information, you can visit the Chicken Soup for the Soul site on American Online at keyword:chickensoul. If you want to know more information about the second book, please _ . A. Come to our office B. Call us C. Get on American Online D. Write to us Answer: C prefix = st1 /China's economic growth 'hard to predict' The worsening global economic situation makes it difficult for Chinato predict its growth for next year, a senior official said on Friday. "How fast China's economy will grow next year is uncertain," Liu He, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Finance and Economy Work, told China Daily. "To a large _ , the rate will be decided by the external situation," Liu said during a discussion with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and other economists in Beijing. This year, GDP is estimated to grow at 9.4 or 9.5 percent, down from 10.6 percent last year, he said. However, the impact of the current financial turbulence "on our economy is much less than on the rest of the world", he said. Nicholas Stern, a former UK government advisor, also told China Daily it will take at least one or two years for the world to recover from the recession, which is now spreading from the US and the UK to the rest of the world. "We don't know how long the recession will last, but it is unlikely to be short," he said. Liu said China can use the downturn as an opportunity to restructure its economy, which has relied heavily on government investment, foreign trade and low-cost technology over the past years. "When the economy is experiencing fast growth, companies are unwilling to upgrade their technologies," Liu said. "The slowdown gives such firms the opportunity to enhance their competitive edge through better technologies." From ChinaDaily 2008-10-25 It can be inferred from Liu's words that the impact of the current financial turbulence on China's economy is _ in the world. A. more B. less C. the most D. the least Answer: D It was on her 14th birthday that her first book ,In the Forest of the Night, was accepted for publication. It was a huge success gaining the attention of millions of young readers. At 16, her second novel,Demon in My View, also reached the bookstores. Several books later, the teenage author still works away in her room, surrounded by shelves full of dark tales about vampires and witches. Amelia Atwater - Rhodes is widely seen as America's finest teen writer and was named one of Teen People's "20 Teens Who Will Change the World." Born in 1984, she began making up stories when she was about three years old. "I never stopped and said, 'I want to write'," Amelia remembers. "I loved stories and created stories before I was old enough to know how to write them down." In her family, reading was basic and fun. "My parents encouraged me to read -- and to read anything I wanted, so long as I was reading," she said. "They never restricted what I read. Later, when I started writing, they never criticized what I did or said I was 'too young'. They never said it was impossible for me to achieve what I have." In her short but successful career, Amelia has tried different styles. But vampires were the first characters to really come alive in her work. From _ she has developed a whole world, one which she always enjoys learning more about. As a published teen writer, Amelia's advice to other teens who dream of being authors is: just do it! "I believe anything is possible. Don't give up your dreams just because you fear failure. Getting a book published is difficult, but if I can do it, others can too. " What do we know about Amelia's parents? A. They helped her with writing stories. B. They fully supported her. C. They thought she was too young to read. D. They chose what she read. Answer: B
Disasters happen all the time somewhere in the world. Are you ready if one hits your neighborhood next week? Find out what you need to do now before it is too late. Let's take an earthquake for example. During an earthquake, get under a strong object like the kitchen table. Don't leave the building during the shaking, or you might be hurt by falling objects from the outside of the building. When you are in bed during the night and an earthquake happens,simply roll off the bed. There will be a safe void around the bed. If you are watching TV and you cannot easily run away by getting out through the door or window, then lie down and curl up next to a sofa, or a large chair. Never go to the stairs. The stairs are likely part of the building to be broken. Even if the stairs are not destroyed by the earthquake,they may fall down later when people run down. Try to get into an open area away from trees,buildings,walls,advertisement boards and power lines if you are outdoors. If you are driving when an earthquake suddenly happens,just stay in your car until the shaking ends. However, if the footbridge falls and breaks your car,get out of it and sit or lie next to it. All the broken cars have voids 3 feet high next to it. If you are inside a car when there is a sudden earthquake,you should _ . Answer: keep inside it Beijing Opera is also called Peking Opera.. It came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupe came to Beijing. Its music and singing came from Xipi and Er-huang in Anhui and Hubei. Its costtumes are all fascinating and artistic.It is the highest expression of the Chinese culture. It's full of famous stories , beautiful facial paintings, and wonderful gestures and fighting. This kind of opera is very popular with Chinese people. There are four main roles in Beijing Opera: Sheng ,Dan, Jing and Chou. Sheng is the leading male actor. For example , a Wusheng is a soldier or fighter .A Xiaosheng is a young man . A Laosheng is the comedy actor or clown.Dan is the female role . Jing,mostly male , is the face-painted role and Chou is the comedy actor or clown. Stories in Beijing Opera are very intetesting . Some of them are from the history book ,but most of them are from the literature , especially famous novels . The people in the story usually have some disagreements. They become angry and uhappy . They are sad and lonely . Sometimes they are nervous and worried. Then they find a way to make peace . The stories usually end with happiness and lunghter and people are all happy in the end. From the reading ,we know the the Chou most probably has a(n) _ feature. Answer: funny The combined sales of the 100 largest foreign investing companies in the U.S. increased by 40% in the two years between 1987 and 1989, and the number has continued to increase steadily. In 1990, South Africa proved to be the largest financial investor in the U.S., controlling about $19.2 billion in sales. The Netherlands and the U.K. follow as second largest investors--and Germany next. New of the list of the top 100 foreign investors are 12 banking and finance and insurance companies--the largest, the Hong Kong-Shanghai Banking Corp from Hong Kong. The number of Latin American companies engaged in business here is growing steadily, often through third country holding companies. Why are so many firms coming to the U.S.? There are many reasons. One of the greatest attractions, of course, is a market of over 200 million consumers with a high average per capital income. In addition, with the devalued dollar the cost of American labor has declined markedly, relative to many foreign labor costs. Some firms seeking to avoid bureaucratic and/or political pressures at home find the U.S. a politically stable environment in which to work. Many hope they may be able to continue selling to the American market even if the U.S. Government restricts imports further, or if major price changes occur due to currency fluctuations . Many foreigners are attracted by U.S. technology, its modern management methods, its labor saving and mass production techniques. Which of the following reasons for many firms coming to the U.S. is not mentioned in the passage? Answer: Skillful labor force in the U.S. Come and see the Indian elephants and new tigers from America. The bears are waiting to meet you, and the monkeys from china are waiting to throw things at you. The lovely dogs from Australia are waiting to laugh at you. The giraffes from Zambia are waiting to look down on you. Tickets Adults :$2.00 Children : Over 12: $1.00 Under12: Free Opening time 9:00 am- 4:00pm(from Saturday to Thursday) 10:00am-3:00pm (Friday) Keep the zoo clean! Don`t touch , give food or go near the animals. Now Mr Smith is in the zoo with his two sons, one aged 14 and the other 10. How much are the tickets together? Answer: $3.00 For the business traveler who is all about efficiency: Check out these hotels that will get you in and out with a minimum of trouble. When you are pressed for time on a business trip, nothing can _ you more than a slow hotel check-in process. On your next trip, try these hotels that offer a speedier check-in process. 1. Yotel New York The self-service kiosks at this high-tech New York hotel work just like the ones you'd see at an airport. There are just five-steps to register and obtain your card key. There is even a robotic luggage bellboy. You tap in the number of bags you are carrying and sizes, then wait for a robot arm to swing down and store your luggage in a locker (say, for a day trip). This also speeds up the check-in process if the first thing you need to do, like me, is head to a series of meetings. 2. Marriott Detroit Airport Another option for business travelers in a hurry: Marriott is rolling out its mobile check-in app to 325 hotels this year, including the Marriott Detroit Airport hotel. (I've tested the app itself but not for a real visit quite yet.) Here is the basic idea: you download the iphone or Android app. The night before, you can "check-in" virtually. When you arrive, you get an alert that the room is ready and your key, which is already tied to your reservation, is waiting for you at the desk. 3. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis I happened to stay at this hotel recently and liked how fast the kiosk check-in works. Like the Yotel, the kiosk asks you to insert your credit card, similar to an airport terminal. The whole process took about three minutes, when I left, I was equally impressed with the fast check-out. An agent meets you in the lobby with an ipad and asks for an email to use for a receipt. The big advantage: you never have to wait in line. 4. Radisson: LaCrosse The Radisson is trying to make the kiosk process even faster, at a few select hotels like the Radisson Lacrosse in Wisconsin, you use a mobile app to register and then receive a barcode by email or text. When you get the kiosk, you scan the barcode to get your key without any other steps required. It's super fast. You can find this new check-in system at the Radisson hotels in Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Phoenix as well. Which hotel will send you a receipt by email? Answer: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.
The Moon has the greatest effect on Earth's A year B seasons C ocean tides D daylight hours Answer: C An old woman diverted ( ) attention from the book when I was sitting in my car. She walked slowly towards my parked car with a large shoulder bag. She stopped and put a hand out to rest against the car. She gently closed her eyes, took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off her forehead. Was there a way I could do anything to help her? But I wondered if the lady noticed me sitting inside the car, she would feel embarrassed and walk away. I stilled my body while my mind searched for answers. I turned my head towards my driver, wanting him to ask the lady if we could give her a ride. Because of my head movement, she noticed me and moved her hand away from the car. Her calm expression changed to a cautious one. I grabbed the water bottle next to me, smile, gently opened the door and offered the bottle to her. She looked at me hesitatingly, shook her head with downcast eyes and walked away. I was so annoyed with myself. I should have been more careful not to move. However, she was back I opened the door and patted the seat next to me. She sat down, opened her bag and offered me a banana. I took it and offered her the water bottle again. She took it. I ate, she drank and we smiled. She rested for a couple of minutes. Those minutes brought such tranquility to me. She took my head in both her hands and kissed my forehead, and then she left. I was trying to help someone in distress(,). In turn, I became distressed and she took away my distress and replace it with tranquility. Why did the author feel blue? A The old woman refused her water. B The old woman left without saying a word. C The old woman suspected the author's kindness. D She interrupted the old woman's quiet moment of rest. Answer: D You may have experienced the frustration of being slapped with a parking fine or finding your car held firmly in the place after leaving it parked precariously for a couple of minutes. But now a high-tech car sticker that's designed to be stuck to a car's windscreen, could help motorists avoid such a situation by allowing a traffic warden to get in touch with them. The TowStop sticker sends a text message to a driver when it is touched by a traffic warden, to allow motorists to send a reply and give them time to move their car immediately. It's designed to save drivers time and money by giving them a chance to move their car instead of having it towed away but relies on the good will of traffic wardens. Frankfurt-based IT consultant , Daniel Kalliontzis, came up with the idea and is raising funds on Indiegogo to put his EUR54 (PS43) sticker into production. Car owners can buy the sticker and place it inside their car's windscreen, having set it up with important information, such as their phone number. The message will ask them to move their car immediately .The driver could then type a reply for the warden using their smartphone, which will appear on the sticker's screen. They may choose to write something along the lines of back in two minutes in a bid to avoid a fine. The smart sticker system will rely on the good will of traffic wardens and critically, a German law. The law states: An officer has to choose the most efficient and inexpensive way for the car owner to remove the vehicle. It could be cheaper for the authorities to contact the driver than to tow his car. Daniel Kalliontzis came up with the idea of the slicker so that _ . A traffic can be smooth B drivers can avoid being fined C cars can be put in safe places D laws can be carried out Answer: B Everyday we talk about and use the Internet, but how many of us know the history of the Internet? Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer network didn't work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part. In this way computer network system would keep on working on the time. At first the Internet was only used by the government, but in the early 1970s, universities, hospitals and banks were allowed to use it too. However, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers became cheaper and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made "surfing" in the Internet more convenient. Today it is easy to get on-line and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mail is more and more popular among students.The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people's life. A new network system was set up to _ . A make computers cheaper B make itself keep on working all the time C break down the whole network D make computers large and expensive Answer: B Chicken feathers are useful, and not just to a chicken. Some go into pillows, coats and other products. But countless chicken feathers go to waste. In the United States, billions of chickens are produced yearly. Most of their feathers are thrown away. But instead of being buried in land, some feathers could find a future in plastics . One of the products they have developed is a flowerpot . It may look like other flowerpots. But the container breaks down in the earth within one to five years. And as it _ , it naturally becomes nutrient in the soil. The environmentally friendly flowerpot is the work of two researchers. Walter Schmidt is with the Agricultural Research Service, part of the United States Agriculture Department. Masud Huda is with the Horticultural Research Institute, a private organization . Walter Schmidt has been working to find uses for chicken feathers since the 1990s. Progress in 2002 showed that plastic made from feathers could be formed like other plastics. He says feathers are much stronger and last longer than another plant material. "Feathers are stronger. By design, feathers are also more durable . And the other part about it is if feathers were twice as heavy, or half as strong, then birds couldn't fly." He points out that traditional flowerpots made from other plastics can last much longer. But he wonders if there is really a need. He says most flowerpots are never re-used. "Why would you want a plastic that you use for a year to last for two hundred years? It makes no sense. You want to match the product with the use." said Walter Schmidt. Walter Schmidt and Masud Huda are now adding another chicken product to their flowerpots -- chicken waste. The waste will add more nutrients to the soil as the pot breaks down. The scientists say they hope their flowerpot will be on the market in a year or two. What do people mainly deal with feathers? A Feathers are used to make pillows, coats and other products. B Most feathers are paid no attention to. C Most feathers are used as nutrient D Most feathers are used to make flowerpots Answer: B
Death Valley National Park, California Situated in the southeast part of California, Death Valley covers an area of more than 3.3 million acres, even larger than the famous Yellowstone National Park. Death Valley is a land of extremes. It is one of the hottest places on the surface of the earth. The highest ground temperature ever recorded was 93.9degC on July 15,1972. It is the driest place in North America with an average rainfall of only 1.96 inches a year. Death Valley also boasts the lowest point in the western hemisphere. Death Valley got its name in 1849, when a group of emigrants were looking for a short cut to the gold fields of California. They were given the bad advice and went into the valley. Some of them were killed by the bad weather and harsh roads. When the rest finally walked out, they gave the area its name by saying to it "goodbye, Death Valley". As the name might suggest, there is very little apparent vegetation within Death Valley. First impression, however, can be deceiving . Death Valley includes more than 1,000 species of plants that have adapted to the harsh conditions. Death Valley is also a land of beauties. Sunrise and sunset are two of the most spectacular attractions. Depending on different angles, they show many of the area's different moods. For the best viewing, plan to be there approximately one hour before sunset or before sunrise. Death Valley National Park is open year round. In spite of the climate, hiking is one of the most popular activities in Death Valley. The surrounding mountains produce spectacular wildflower displays along with snow-covered peaks, breathtaking sand dunes , abandoned mines and industrial structures. All the following statements are the most special natures of Death Valley except_.[ Answer: it has the largest number of desert plants Part I If you are hunting a chance to improve yourself in English, TOP ENGLISH CITY will be a smart choice. We are members of "the International Language Workshop" and enjoy both of the good honor in English teaching and high quality of our teaching team. We are devoted to providing affordable, excellent English training programs for those who want to improve both their English knowledge and their language skills. In TOP ENGLISH CITY, you will be a top English-speaker among your competitors and enjoy the advantage that your competitors have not. You will be proud of being a member of TOP ENGLISH CITY. Courses designed: Basic Studies... Sat. 8:00-10:00 a. m. Intermediate Spoken English... Sun. 8:00-10:00 a. m. Standard Spoken English... Sat. 8:00-10:00 a.m. Basic Business English... Sun.8:00-10:00 a.m. Intermediate Business English... Sun. 7:00-9:00 p.m. TOEFL Super Studies... Sun. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Children's Weekend... Sat. &. Sun. 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. For more information, please contact: Room 806 American Plaza Tianhexi Rd, 510150 Guangzhou Tel: 86668888-8806 Part II ENGLISH SALON A place for you to practise your English, to exchange your English learning experiences, to know more about the culture of English-speaking countries, to make more friends who can speak very good English. You will have free talks, famous English films and songs appreciation, English lectures and games; all are for you to improve yourself in English in the special, full-of-fun Salon. How to Join: We are a group with membership system, so if you want to join our group, please make an application to the Tianhe Office of Top English City, filling in the applying forms. You will be given a salon ID card, and becomes our member. The Qualifications : You must be fluent in English-speaking or / and an English lover. Those who are now learning English in the Top English City will be advantageous. For more information, please contact: Mr Jiu Chan at: 47129198 English Salon, your best friend! Join Right Now! Which of the following can be the best title for Part I? Answer: Top English, your smart choice! One sunny May afternoon, a group of teenagers ditched school and went to the mall. June volunteered to drive her friends Ben, Sasha, and Bruce. The teenagers piled into the red car and drove to the mall. When they arrived, Ben and Sasha wanted to go to the sporting goods store. However, Bruce and June wanted to go watch a movie directed by Miranda July. They split up and said they would meet up at the food area later. Three hours later, the friends got back together. Ben and Sasha wanted to leave, so they went back out to the parking lot and got in the car. When June backed out of the parking spot, she scraped the car next to her. Sasha said it was okay, but Bruce said June needed to leave a note for the driver of the other car. Just then, the other driver appeared. They called the police to get an accident report. When the police arrived, they put Ben and Sasha in handcuffs because they had been stealing. They had to volunteer every week until October. What happened after the friends left the mall? Answer: June scraped another car when backing out of the parking spot, and Ben and Sasha got in trouble for stealing. What goal does taxonomy accomplish? Answer: classifies living organisms into groups Do you like animals? Come to Xinxin zoo to see the Australian koalas and lions from South Africa. The American tigers are waiting for you. Do you want to see penguins? They are kind of interesting. We also have very cute pandas, but they are a little shy, so please be very quiet. You can play with the dolphins. They are smart and cute. Do you like the giraffes? They are fun. And there are many other animals, too. It's really exciting! Tickets :Grown--ups :Y=2.00 Students of 6--12:Y=1.00 Time: Monday--Friday: 9:00 a.m--4:00 p.m Saturday--Sunday:8:00 a.m--5:00 p.m Don't give food to the animals. Where are the tigers from ? Answer: American
I am Tony Smith. I am 12. I am in No.101 Middle School. I'm in Class 2, Grade 7. My oldfriend is Jim Green. He is an English boy. He is twelve, too. He is in my class. He can speakgood Chinese. Jane is in Class 2, too. I think she is a good girl. My Chinese teacher isMr. Wang. His students like him. He is very cool. Which is NOT true? EDGEWOOD-EVERY morning at Dixie Heights High School, customers pour into a special experiment; the district's first coffee run mostly by students with special learning needs. Well before classes start, students and teachers order Lattes Cappuccinos and Hot Chocolates. Then, durning the first period teachers call in orders on their room phones, and students make deliveries. By closing tome at 9.20 a.m., the shop usually sells 90 drinks. "Whoever made the chi tea, Ms. Schatzman says it was good," Christy McKinley, a second year student, announced recently, after hanging up with the teacher. The shop is called the Dixie PIT, which stands for Power in Transition. Although some of the students are not disabled, many are, and the PIT helps them prepare for life after high school. They learn not only how to run a coffee shop but also how to deal with their affairs. They keep a timecard and receive paychecks, which they keep in check registers. Special-education teachers Kim Chevalier and Sue Casey introduced the Dixie PIT from a similar program at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Georgia. Not that it was easy. Chevalier's first problem to overcome was product-related. Should school be selling coffee? What about sugar content? Kenton County Food Service Director Ginger Gray helped. She made sure all the drinks, which use non fat milk, fell within nutrition guidelines. The whole school has joined in to help. Teachers agreed to give up their lounge in the mornings. Art students painted the name of the shop on the wall. Business students designed the paychecks. The basketball team helped pay for cups. The Dixie PIT program was introduced in order to _ . There is a big supermarket near my home. Its name is Pricelow. It has lots of things. You can buy school things, like notebooks, pens, rulers, pencils, erasers and pencil boxes. You can buy vegetables, fruit and all kinds of food. You can also buy clothes. Some of the things there are cheap, and anybody can afford the price. But some of them are _ . The supermarket is open every day from 7:00 a.m.to 8:00 p.m. The workers there are very good. They work hard all day. They are happy to answer your questions. They help you if you want to buy anything. There are many people on weekends. They buy lots of things. Sometimes they have breakfast, lunch or dinner there. The supermarket is open for _ hours every day. Every day from the time we wake up until the time we go to bed, we are bombarded with information from all sides, from TV, radio, newspapers and books; from family, friends, and colleagues. As a new cable television subscriber, I am ly amazed at the quantity and varying levels of information quality on cable television. Including the networks, there are eight TV "news" organizations vying to provide us with all the information we can possibly absorb. Newspaper, magazines, books, radio, the Internet, email, snail mail, and the telephone all compete for our attention and our minds. At the office conversations around the water cooler and coffee maker serve to spread even more items of information. There is valuable information out there about the world we live in, on topics as varied as health, safety, traffic, nutrition, business, finance, philosophy, nature, science, weather, history and the human condition. There is also a large amount of misleading and outright false information, not just on controversial subjects such as politics and religion but on any topic one can think of, including all of the topics mentioned above. With all this information coming at us from all directions, how does one sift through it all to sort out the facts from the fiction, the truth from the lies, the more important from the less important? Should we turn off the TV, cancel our newspaper subscriptions, disconnect our phones and modems to become information "hermits"? Probably not. A better method of sifting through the information wave without being overwhelmed and confused is to become a skeptical inquirer-or skeptic-with regard to the surrounding world. By "skeptic"-I do not mean a cynic-a person who rejects new ideas simply because they are new. A skeptic is one who questions the validity of a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it. Skepticism is a method, not a position. It is a provisional approach to all factual claims. In terms of processing information, a skeptic needs to be able to grasp reality and acquire knowledge about the environment that agrees with reason, logic, and evidence. In other words, as skeptics, when we hear a claim that may or may not be fantastic, we should say, "That's nice, prove it." The writer implies that if we want to make some judgments about some information, the first thing that we should do is to . Hello! I'm an English girl.My first name is Lucy.My last name is White.I'm in No.3 Middle School.My father and mother are in No.3 Middle School, too.They are English teachers.My brother is in Nanchang University .His name is Tony.I have a Chinese teacher.Her name is Wang Yan.She can speak English well.She is a good teacher. I am an English _ .
If a bird has a larger beak than its friends, it likely had A mother without a beak B father with a long trunk C parents with smaller beaks D ancestors with similar beaks Answer: D I got invited to go with some friends to a game at another school. A senior will be driving us, and I think she's a good driver, but it's someone my parents don't know. I want to tell my parents where I'm going, but what if I ask and they say "no"? I'll end up wishing I never mentioned it and just went ahead and did it anyway. If you want more privileges, it's best to build a track record of honesty and trust. Letting a parent know where you're going is always a good idea. You may worry that telling your parents puts you at risk of getting "no" for an answer. But there's a good chance your parents might be OK with you going. If you go but don't tell them, you risk losing something more important -- your parents' trust. Parents who find out their kids did something behind their backs may be less likely to give permission to do things in the future. When trust is broken like this, parents wonder if teens are trying to hide something -- and what they imagine can be far worse than the reality. Before you talk to your parents about the game, think about which approach will help them feel most comfortable with giving you more freedom. Maybe they'd like to meet the person driving or talk to friends who have driven with her in the past. If your parents have questions or hesitate about letting you go, find out what their worries are and then do your best to answer them. Who do you think the passage is intended for? A Parents. B Friends. C Drivers. D Teenagers. Answer: D Do your parents smoke? Where do they smoke - outside, at work or at home when you are around? According to a survey published in the journal Academic Pediatrics, an alarming number of US parents are still risking their children's lives by smoking in front of them. Half of all children aged 6 to 19, even those with asthma , have been exposed to second-hand smoke in the country, reported Reuters. "It's well known that smoking kills, but many smokers still don't realize the damage their smoke causes to those around them," Dame Sally, Chief Medical Officer for England, was quoted by the Independent as saying. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are poisonous. About 70 of them can cause cancer, not to mention other diseases, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What's most scary is that there is no safe level of contact with second-hand smoke---even "low-level" exposure can be harmful to one's health. And "low-level" means when a parent or family member smokes in another room or even outside. While second-hand smoke can be harmful to people of all ages, children face a greater risk than adults: they have smaller lungs; they breathe more quickly; and they have less developed immune systems. Also, young children have little control over their surroundings. Babies can't move to another room because the air is smoky. They depend on the adults in their lives to make sure that their environments are safe. Recent years have seen second-hand smoke exposure drop---but for adults rather than kids, because policies have been started around the world to ban smoking in public places such as offices, bars and restaurants. However, "Children tend to be exposed to second-hand smoke in homes and cars, and these places are not included in most laws and policies," Amy Ferketich, a researcher at The Ohio State University, US, told Reuters. So what can we do to limit children's exposure to second-hand smoke? Parents should stop smoking for good. But if they can't, they should never smoke---or let others smoke---around their children. The drop of second-hand smoke exposure in recent years _ . A mostly benefits companies rather than families B happened mostly in homes and cars C is because of the rules on low-levels of second-hand smoke D is because of laws that ban smoking in public places Answer: D When I was about 14, I decided to make money, so I got a part-time job at a local restaurant. With my first paycheck, I realized that I would have to work awfully hard to make very little money. My boss had been making just above minimum wage for 20 years, and I knew I didn't want to spend the rest of my life working to death. Around the same time, my godparents took me to an investment workshop. Immediately, my eyes were opened to the power of compound growth in investing. I knew that this was a way to financial freedom. I left the workshop, determined to make my money work for me instead of just me working for money. Honoring what my mother had taught me, to share whatever I had, I donated part of my paychecks to raise money for breast cancer, and saved everything else to build up a large enough nest egg to open a brokerage account . Too excited to wait, I began reading everything I could about investing. With most of my life savings (which wasn't very much money), I invested in DuPont, AT&T, Caterpillar, and International Paper. The pride in being a shareholder in a company, along with watching my stocks increase in value, fueled my desire to learn more. I went to three more investment workshops with my godparents and browsed books at the library. I began with $4,000 in my account and have added about $2,000 since then. My portfolio is now worth roughly $12,000, five years later, having grown about 18% per year, on average. My favorite holdings are biotechnology companies that I know a fair amount about because they're based near me. In the years since then, I have experienced many moments of gratitude for discovering investing so early in my life. I'm in college now, and plan to go on to medical school and become a family practice physician. And I know that, thanks to investing, my road will be much easier. Not only have I taken an active step towards improving my long-term financial future, but I am confident that I will also be able to generously support the causes I believe in with more ease than I otherwise would have imagined. The best title of the passage should be _ . A The Rewards of Investing B My Dream Career C The Key to Successful Investment D Thank You, My Godparents Answer: A Parents and teachers worry about games having a bad effect on students, and, a large number of reports have been written about games leading to addiction and _ action. One who is addicted to games of violence might think fighting or even killing is not a very serious thing. But not everything about gaming is bad. For some, games are a good way to learn as well. Many games are based on history, city or planning. Such games can teach students valuable lessons of life in some ways. Some games can improve players' memory skills by asking them to perform memory exercises throughout the game in order to reach the next level. Computer games are known to improve hand-eye coordination and help players develop problem solving. Most games encourage players to meet more difficult challenges. Computer games have both good and bad effects. Playing games itself is not a problem, but students need to know about how much time to spend playing games and what kind of games to play. Gaming is like any other activity in life----eating too many hamburgers or too much pizza is harmful too. Which is NOT, mentioned about playing computer games? A It costs a lot of money. B It may have a bad effect on children. C It can lead to violent action. D It can cause addiction. Answer: A
A group of swimmers has described how a group of dolphins protected them from a group of white sharks off the coast of New Zealand. The lifeguards were on a training swim when they came across a group of great white sharks before the dolphins raced in to help. The swimmers were surrounded by the dolphins for forty minutes before they were able to make them safety back to the beach. It was an uncomfortable experience as they were circled by a group of white sharks, which came within a couple of meters of them. Lifeguard Rob Howes was in the water with a colleague and his teenage daughter. He said around half a dozen dolphins suddenly appeared and forced them to gather together. The mammals swam in tight circles to create a protective wall between the white sharks and the lifeguards as the great white sharks were under the surface. The swimmers said the dolphins were extremely upset and repeatedly slapped the water with their tails as if to try to prevent the white sharks from attacking them. It's a day they'll never forget, especially for one who was on her first day as _ They have no doubt that the dolphins acted on purpose to protect them. Researchers have said that they're not surprised. A marine biologist insisted that dolphins, which are considered to be one of the most intelligent mammals, "like to help the helpless." Which of the following can be the best title? A Dolphins Protect Swimmers from Sharks B Sharks Protect Swimmers from Dolphins C Lifeguards Protect Dolphins from Sharks D Lifeguards Protect Sharks from Dolphins Answer: A Bob walked out the door with a huge grin on his face. It was his first day of middle school. His mom, who is a nurse at the high school, waved at him as he entered the bus. The bus driver said "good to see you Bob". Bob said "you too Mr. Smith". Bob was so excited to see his friends that he could barely breathe. As he walked down the school bus, Bob's friends Jill, Jim, Jeff and Chris all waved to him. Instead of sitting next to his best friend Chris, Bob turned left and sat next to Jill. Jeff and Jim started laughing at him and teased "Bob and Jill sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G". Bob's face turned red from embarrassment. Chris felt bad for Bob and reached into his pockets to help his friend. When he reached in, he felt a pencil, a rock and a folded up piece of paper. Chris's eyes twinkled. He had a plan. Without Jim and Jeff seeing, Chris quickly made a paper airplane with the piece of paper he found in his pocket. He threw the paper airplane at Jim. The plane hit Jim in the face. Both Jim and Jeff stopped laughing. Bob looked over to Chris and smiled. What did Chris pull out of his pocket? A Airplane B Paper C Pencil D Rock Answer: B Older people who have low expectations for a satisfying future may be more likely to live longer, healthier lives than those who see brighter days ahead, according to new research "Our findings showed that being overly optimistic in predicting a better future was associated with a greater risk of disability and death within the following decade," said Frieder R. Lang, the leading researcher of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany." Pessimism about the future may encourage people to live more carefully, taking health and safety measures." Lang and colleagues examined data collected from 1993 to 2003 for the national German Socio-Economic Panel, an annual survey on approximately 40,000 people from 18 to 96 years old. The researchers divided the data according to age groups: 18 to 39 years old, 40 to 64 years old and 65 years old and above. Through mostly in-person interviews, the participants were asked to rate how satisfied they were with their lives and how satisfied they thought they would be in five years. Five years after the first interview, 43 percent of the oldest group had underestimated their future life satisfaction, 25 percent had predicted accurately and 32 percent had overestimated , according to the study. The researchers calculated that each increase in overestimating future life satisfaction was related to a 9.5 -percent increase in reporting disabilities and a 10- percent increase in risk of death. Because a darker outlook on the future is often more realistic, older adults' predictions of their future satisfaction may be more accurate, according to the study. In contrast, the youngest group had the sunniest outlook. "We argue, though, that the analysis may depend on age and available resources. These findings shed new light on how our perspectives can either help us take action or prevent us from taking action that can help improve our chances of a long, healthy life," Lang said. Based on the passage, the researchers _ . A collected 13 years of nationwide data B calculated people's life satisfaction within five years C interviewed 40,000 people from 18 to 65 years old D divided the data into four age groups Answer: B 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. What is not mentioned in the passage? A Whether there are differences between British English and American English. B Whether British English and American English are one language or two. C How the differences between British English and American English came about. D How important the differences are. Answer: C You are probably familiar with the saying:An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A recent research carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong may change the saying: An apple a day may keep aging away. The research chose fruit flies , as they share many genes with humans. The fruit flies were either fed normally or had an apple extract added to their diet. It turned out that those fruit flies that were given apple extract lived about 55 days--five days longer than the flies that were normally fed. The research group also found it easier for the flies to walk,climb and move about as they aged. According to the result, the researchers believed that the antioxidants in the apple extract helped clean up dangerous chemicals that cause illnesses,as well as aging. In another study,researchers examined diets of thousands of women. They discovered that those who regularly ate apples were 20 percent less likely to suffer heart illnesses and stroke. The apples' genetic code was discovered recently. It allows scientists to develop nicer and healthier fruits. Researchers are already using the information to grow a kind of apples full of antioxidants that can keep eyes and joints healthy and protect humans against heart illnesses and cancer. Apples that kill the desire to eat could also be produced, with the first"extra-healthy''apples on supermarket shelves within just four or five years. The team that keeps studying apple DNA includes 100 scientists from five countries. Their research also suggests that around 65 million years ago, when dinosaurs began to die off the plant,which would finally become today's apple tree, experienced a great genetic change. The number of many of its genes doubled. The extra genes allowed the apple to get used to worse conditions and go through a different development from peaches,strawberries and other related fruits. Why were fruit flies used for the research? A Because they have a similar diet to humans. B Because they have a history as long as apples. C Because they share a lot of genes with humans. D Because they feed on nothing but apple extract. Answer: C
Louis Braille, Alphabet Maker Blind people can read. They do so by running their fingers along a line of raised points or dots on paper. Of course, they first have to learn the code. Here are some examples of it. One dot stands for the letter "A." Two dots side by side mean "C." Four dots arranged to look like a box (: :) stand for the letter "G." By placing the dots in special patterns, all the letters of the alphabet can be formed. This code was made up by a Frenchman called Louis Braille. Though he could see at birth, he became sightless when he was only three. Braille was cutting leather in his father's shop. His knife slipped and cut his eye. Infection spread to both eyes, and he became blind. At 10, he was placed in a home for the blind. But young Louis had great talent. He became a skilled musician and soon got a job as a church organist in Paris. Because he had talent and was quick, he became a teacher at a school for the blind. While there, he heard that an army captain had sent messages to his gun crews so they could read them at night without light. His messages were in the simple form of raised dots and dashes. This was the clue Louis needed. At the age of 15, he worked out his own six-dot code. Each group of dots is called a cell. The cells are three dots high and two dots wide. For the rest of his life, Braille taught his young flock to read both written and musical works using his code. For the last 17 years of his life, Braille was ill with tuberculosis . He died at the age of 43. France honored him by placing his remains in the famous Pantheon in Paris. Louis Braille developed an alphabet for blind people after he _ . A. became blind as a young child. B. worked as an organist. C. learned that soldiers could read messages from raised dots. D. became a skilled musician. Answer: C. learned that soldiers could read messages from raised dots. When did you last see a polar bear? On a trip to a zoo, perhaps? If you had attended a winter activity in New York a few years ago, you would have seen a whole polar bear club. These "Polar Bears" are people who meet frequently in winter to swim in freezing cold water. That day, air temperature was 3degC, and the water temperature was a bit higher. The members of the Polar Bear Club at Coney Island , New York are usually about the age of 60. Members must satisfy two requirements. First, they must get along well with everyone else in the group, this is very important because there are so many different kinds of people in the club. Polar Bears must also agree to swim outdoors at least twice a month from November through February. Doctors do not agree about the medical effects of cold-water swimming. Some are worried about the dangers of a condition in which the body's temperature drops so low that finally the heart stops. Other doctors, however, point out that there is more danger of a heart attack during summer swimming because the difference between the air temperature and water temperature is much greater in summer than in winter. The Polar Bears themselves are satisfied with the benefits(or advantages) of cold-water swimming. They say that their favorite form of exercise is very good for the circulatory system because it forces the blood to move fast to keep the body warm. Cold-water swimmers usually turn bright red after a few minutes in the water. A person who turns blue probably has a very poor circulatory system and should not try cold-water swimming. The main benefits(or advantages) of cold-water swimming are probably mental . The Polar Bears love to swim year-round; they find it fun and relaxing. As one 70-year-old woman says,"When I go into the water, I pour my troubles into the ocean and let them float away ." According to the passage, some doctors believe it is true that _ . A. you are healthy if cold-water swimming turns your skin color blue B. cold-water swimming causes more heart attacks in summer than in winter C. cold-water swimming can make the body temperature dangerously high D. Polar Bears are bears swimming in freezing water Answer: B. cold-water swimming causes more heart attacks in summer than in winter In America,Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort:brilliant beaches,a lively boardwalk,plenty of restaurants and nightspots,and amusement rides sure to appeal to kids.Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season,when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild. Meanwhile,some safety tips should be followed,enjoying the happiness and excitement the beach offers. The number l safety tip concerns ocean safety:pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands.Lifeguards post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous.Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves.However,a calm ocean can become risky without warning.Make sure you swim near a lifeguard.Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards. Never swim alone.Many drownings involve single swimmers.When you swim with someone else,if one of you has a problem,the other may be able to get help,including signaling for assistance from others. Don't fight the current.The facts show that some 80% of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by currents.These currents are formed by surf and gravity,because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach,gravity pulls it back.This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore.If you are caught in a rip current,don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore.Instead,swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax,then swim to shore.Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety. When coming to Virginia Beach,children can enjoy the happiness of the following except _ . A. walking on the road made of wood B. joining the nightspots C. having interesting rides D. skiing in the sea Answer: A. walking on the road made of wood Chokwe Selassie, aged 13, is working hard to help drivers avoid potholes . The eighth-grader was inspired to kick off his creation on a recent morning, when his mother was driving him to school. Their car was damaged as it went over a huge pothole in the middle of the street in their hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. He decided to do something about the pothole problem in his city. Chokwe developed the app with his friends Rodriguez Ratliff and Emmanuel Brooks. When the app detects a pothole, it is highlighted in red. And if you get close to the pothole, your phone will warn you with a beep. Drivers can also use the app to report any potholes and look for other routes they can take to avoid roads that have them. The app relies on current available information about the streets of Jackson, already stored in a database of the city's 311 call system. Through the call system, citizens dial 3-1-1 to report non-emergency problems which include potholes. Chokwe and his friends determined that focusing on the 10 busiest streets in Jackson would give them a large enough sample size to test the prototype. While developing the app, the boys took part in a Minority Male Makers Program sponsored by Verizon and held at Jackson State University. They learned 3D printing and design, and how to create apps. Through the program Chokwe and his friends received encouragement and guidance. Although the app isn't yet available for sale, Chokwe is already looking for ways to improve the app. He hopes to add more to it until it spreads all over the country. Which can be Chokwe's future target? A. Encouraging more kids to create apps. B. Taking part in more learning programs. C. Making the app available for sale online. D. Making the app include streets nationwide. Answer: D. Making the app include streets nationwide. Walking in a farmers' market often brings one to explore new food options, and now more locally-farmed protein choices are available to help bridge the gap between our meals and the farms from which they originated. More and more local small farms are popping up in opposition to factory farms. Today's commercial farms do not fit the image that comes to mind while happily singing along to "Old MacDonald". Instead, most of the nation's food comes from CAFOs, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, where animals are kept in tightly enclosed conditions as they are fattened up and readied to be killed for food. Fortunately, knowing exactly where one's food comes from has led to an increase in the availability of what is known as "grass-fed" beef. Technically, all cattle are grass-fed for at least a limited amount of time, but what makes the meat significant is that it is grass-finished, not force-fed corn, soy or grains. This change in diet makes all the difference since corn is not part of the cow's traditional diet, and therefore causes major health issues for it. To deal with the health issues, antibiotics are used and some of the antibiotics used to treat the cattle are similar to those given to humans, so they can decrease the effectiveness of medicine when a consumer is sick. A healthier diet for the cattle leads the meat to lower in both fat and calories. And when cooking grass-fed beef, you'd better use a slightly lower temperature to make it more delicious. The song "Old MacDonald" describes A. animals raised freely on local farms B. animals kept in tightly enclosed conditions C. commercial farms providing fast food D. commercial farms providing unpopular food Answer: A. animals raised freely on local farms
Working with a group of baboons in the Namibian desert, Dr. Alecia Carter of the Department of Zoology,Cambridge University set baboons learning tasks involving a novel food and a familiar food hidden in a box. Some baboons were given the chance to watch another baboon who already knew how to solve the task, while others had to learn for themselves. To work out how brave or anxious the baboons were, Dr. Carter presented them either with a novel food or a threat in the form of a model of a poisonous snake. She found that personality had a major impact on learning. The braver baboons learnt, but the shy ones did not learn the task although they watched the baboon perform the task of finding the novel food just as long as the brave ones did. In effect, despite being made aware of what to do, they were still too shy to do what the experienced baboon did. The same held true for anxious baboons compared with calm ones. The anxious individuals learnt the task by observing others while those who were relaxed did not, even though they spent more time watching. This _ between collecting social information and using it shows that personality plays a key role in social learning in animals, something that has previously been ignored in studies on how animals learn to do things. The findings are significant because they suggest that animals may perform poorly in cognitive ( )tasks not because they aren't clever enough to solve them,but because they are too shy or nervous to use the social information. The findings may impact how we understand the formation of culture in societies through social learning. If some individuals are unable to get information from others because they don't associate with the knowledgeable individuals,or they are too shy to use the information once they have it,information may not travel between all group members, preventing the formation of a culture based on social learning. Dr. Carter's findings indicate that our culture might be formed through . Answer: learning from each other Have you seen the movie Changjiang 7(CJ7)?The story is about a boy called Dickey. He lives a poor life with his father. His father doesn't have any money to buy toys for him. One day his father finds him a strange toy from a junkyard . Dickey names it Changjiang 7 (CJ7). It is an alien dog. It can do many things that humans can not do. Dickey takes it to school to help him in many ways. CJ7 is a popular movie. Xu Jiao,born on August 5,1997 in Ningbo,Zhejiang,plays Dickey. On April 21,the girl won Best New Performer at the Hong Kong Film Awards for her play in CJ7.Now Xu Jiao becomes a new film star. She is well-known especially among young kids. Many of them want to own such a helpful toy as CJ7. Xu once said it was difficult to play a boy. "To get an idea of what a boy is like," she said,"I watched boys and I also studied and played with them a lot." Xu Jiao's birthday is on _ . Answer: August 5 Cell phones _ are all around us.We use cell phones to call our friends,send text messages,play games,and even take photographs. Now imagine using your cell phone to call your air conditioner . If this were possible you could tell your air conditioner to rum on before you got home.Does this sound impossible to you? Well,it could become possible sooner than you think.In the near future,we might use cell phones as remote controls for the electrical devices in our homes.People are already working to develop different ways to communicate wirelessly with devices we use every day.For example,it is already possible for cell phones to communicate with laptop computers.Business people using laptops during meetings Call use their cell phones as remote controls.They can use their cell phones to send instructions to computers to turn on,change pictures,and turn off. With the same technology ,people can use their cell phones to control other devices.You can call your stereo to play music automatically .You can call your lights to turn on when you enter a room.Maybe even by next summer you will be able to call your air conditioner ! Which probably could NOT be controlled by a cell phone? Answer: A table or a basket. Learning English is just like learning to ride a bicycle. When learning English becomes a kind of habit, everything will become easier. Please think about how we learned to ride a bicycle. There are four stages : At the first stage, the child doesn't know what it is to ride a bicycle, nor can he ride. So look at ourselves, when we learned English at the first time, we were also in this condition. And then is the second stage. Although the child cannot ride himself, he grows and understands what it is to ride a bicycle. So, at this time, teachers are our navigation marks. So according to this, we are just like the child starting to learn and now come to the third stage. He can ride a bicycle but has to think every time how to do it. At last, the fourth stage comes when the child has practiced consciously riding the bicycle so much that he doesn't have to think. Riding a bicycle becomes a kind of habit. He can talk to people and wave to others while riding. Learning English is just like learning to ride a bicycle. When learning becomes a kind of habit, we'll find we can be successful not only in English but also in other subjects. When learning becomes a kind of habit, I think, no, I believe, one day we'll succeed and the success will belong to us forever. ,,. The writer is talking about _ . Answer: English learning It's slimbudget time in Las Vegas Las Vegas? It's where halfprice flights are wide open and where reservations are easily booked on a moment's notice. Tourism is down, so rooms are plentiful, as well as inexpensive. Getting there: The best way to get there from McCarran Airport is to exit the baggage claim through Door 11 and check in at any number of shuttle booths. Shuttle vans that run between the airport and the Las Vegas Strip cost $6 for a oneway trip. Leaving Las Vegas:Many Vegas vacationers are eager to get there and slow to leave. So take the "redeye" back home. Most redeye flights leave around midnight, leaving you with an extra night of gaming, and fun without added expense of a higher hotel charge. You can sleep the whole way home. Romantic getaway: Las Vegas is no longer all about gaming. The artwork at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is certainly comparable to that at the Louvre. Speaking of Paris, take a trip up the Eiffel Tower at ParisLas Vegas. The Eiffel Tower Experience costs just $10($7 for kids) and is unquestionably worth the price of admission. For an intimate evening, don't hesitate to book reservations at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Get an impressive nighttime view of the Fountains at Bellagio by asking for seating alongside the floortoceiling windows. This is truly a oneofakind finedining experience. Details:www.parislasvegas.com. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes:Casinos can appear very close together, but actually may not be. Know the tram systems that run up and down the Strip. Most tram lines are free. Shows:Purchase show tickets at one of the many "Half Priced Show" booths on the Strip. You can experience a unique show each night of your stay. Need a look at what's playing when you'll be there? Visit www.booklasvegasshows.com. Buffets:In Vegas you can take anything to the next level--including eating. Seven casinos on the Strip have teamed up to bring you an amazing deal:seven buffets--breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner--all for just $44.99 within a 24hour period. Details:www.harrahs.com/total/lasvegas/buffetofbuffets. If a couple and a 5yearold child want to take the Eiffel Tower Experience, they have to pay _ . Answer: $27
Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor. Ellis Island is open daily year round from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours during summer. It is closed on December 25. There is no admission charge to Ellis Island; but donations are gratefully accepted. At Your Fingertips Park information (212) 363-7620 Emergencies (212) 363-3260 Ferryboat information (212) 269-5755 Lost and found (212)363-7620 Dining, gifts & audio tour 344-0996 Transportation Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry; boats leave from Battery Park, Manhattan, and from Liberty State Park, New Jersey. They run about every 30 to 45 minutes beginning at 9:15 a.m.(The time for ferry is changeable) Hours: May vary; call the number above Closed: December 25 Ferry fees (includes Liberty and Islands) adults, $7; senior citizens, $6; children (age 3~17), $5. (Group rates are available for 25 or more adults.) In summer, visitors will have _ to visit Ellis Island. a longer time Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO_{3}) is commonly known as baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that can dissolve in water. Under the proper conditions, sodium bicarbonate can release carbon dioxide (CO_{2}) gas. Which of the following is not a physical property of sodium bicarbonate? It releases carbon dioxide. Mr. Jones had a nice brown coat . He loved it very much, but his wife didn't like it. Because it was old. She often said. " Give it to a poor man . " But Mr. Jones always answered, " No, I like this coat. " Then a cigarette fell on it and made a hole in it. So Mrs Jones said, "Please don't wear it again. " Mr. Jones took it to a small tailor " Please make another coat like this one ." The tailor made the coat very carefully. Then he lit a cigarette, and made a hole in it in the same place. Mr. Jones asked the tailor to _ . make a new hole in the coat As an old-fashioned explorer, Paul Salopek sets out on foot to circle around the world. He is also a modern-day explorer. _ a few clothes, a small first-aid kit and notebooks, he is carrying a recorder, a video camera, a small computer and a satellite phone -- a telephone that connects to a satellite and can be used in many places where cell-phones don't work. The journey is long: 21,000 miles! It will take seven years to complete it. Salopek was born in California and spent his childhood in Mexico. He says he has always liked to travel and doesn't like to rush. At the age of fourteen, he climbed Mount Whitney in California and crossed the state's Sierra Nevada Mountains alone. When he was fifteen years old, he walked the length of Death Valley. He once rode a mule 2,000 miles through mountains in Mexico. As a longtime reporter, Salopek has reported from Africa, Asia and Mexico. Now 51 years old, he plans to keep writing. As he travels around the world, he is writing stories about the people he meets and the way they live. He looks for how people find local solutions to big problems such as lack of food and water. He also records the sounds he hears and takes photos of the sky and the Earth's surface. The long walk started in the Rife Valley in Ethiopia in East Africa. Many consider East Africa to be home to the first humans, who lived 160,000 years ago. Salopek is retracing the paths our ancestors took as they left Africa and settled in parts of the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Americas. As Salopek is walking, he is learning more about himself and all of humankind. What's the best title for the passage? Paul Salopek: Following Man's First Footsteps Most, if not all, Chinese have become richer thanks to 28 years of reform and opening up. But are we any happier? Various surveys attempt to answer this question. Though experts have presented varying percentages based on different standards, their answers tend to find we are generally happier, and the number of optimists rises each year. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' 2006 Blue Book on social progress says 70 per cent of rural and urban citizens surveyed in 2005 reported a feeling of happiness and were optimistic about their futures. But each survey shows a worrisome fact that 10 per cent, at the lowest, of citizens were not content with their lives or not hopeful about the future. We cannot be content with the fact that at least 130 million of our countrymen are not happy. Although a sense of happiness remains a luxury for many of our countrymen because of poverty, we agree wealth is not the only factor of happiness. For most of us, except the extremely rich and naturally born optimists, there simply are too many variables that may kill the feeling of happiness. These include, but are not limited to, rising housing prices, tight and instable job market, back-breaking schooling expenses and medical bills. The most common one, however, is a low sense of security . Some experts pointed that in the low-and-middle income group there was too much uncertainty regarding employment, income, housing, medical situations, and education. How can you feel happy when you always have to prepare yourself for the unexpected? It may be beyond the government's reach, not to mention duty, to guarantee higher income for every citizen. But it does have a burden to create an environment where all citizens can feel a reasonable level of security. The following factors of happiness are mentioned in the passage EXCEPT _ . environment
Question: Well-known companies are powered by their names and reputations. When people walk into a Pizza Hut in Tokyo, Rome, or Miami, they know exactly what they are getting. Through franchising, an investor can make use of this brand power by opening a Pizza Hut of his or her own. The risk is low, and the rewards can be big. No wonder franchising is such a successful business model. Franchising had been around for more than 100 years, but its popularity took off in the 1950s. Leading the trend were fast food restaurant like McDonald's. These days, there are franchises in more than eighty-five industries, including dry cleaning, hotels and supermarkets. It's a very big business. In the US, there are some 760,000 franchises, totaling more than $1.5 trillion in yearly revenues (income). There are two sides in a franchise: the franchisor--the owner of the business system and the franchisee--the person who licenses the system. After signing a "franchise agreement", the franchisee pays a fee. He or she also pays for equipment, supplies, and, if necessary, building costs. The total investment usually ranges from $10,000 to $1,000,000. After the business opens, the franchisee also pays a percentage of sales revenues--called a royalty--to the franchisor. Marking fees must also be paid. In return, the franchisee receives many benefits. Training is among the most common ones. It includes everything from dealing with customers to understanding the company's standards. The franchisor also handles advertising. On top of that, there's the benefit of the brand reputation that the company has built up. All of these benefits make the risk of opening a franchise much smaller than that of starting a business from scratch. However, a franchise can also have drawbacks. If a customer at a single restaurant gets sick, it may hurt every franchise in the system. Running a franchise also means closely following the company's standards. So, one has to give up a degree of independence. You have to do things their way and trust that the system will work. If you want to earn a lot of money from the business, you have to work hard. Also, remember that the monthly royalty must be paid, even if you are losing money. However, there are thousands of opportunities in franchising. They will surely grow as brand recognition becomes more important in the global economy . What does the author think of franchising? A. It will have a promising future. B. It will bring higher business risk. C. It will control the global economy. D. It will cause losses of brand recognition. Answer: C Question: When Jamie Beondik saw a puppy getting beaten with a chain, he tried to help. What he got in return was a beating of his own and he had to go to hospital. The neighbors saw the fourmonthold black dog named Tomba Wednesday morning being beaten, choked and dragged on a chain by a man on a bike. Jamie decided to get involved, telling the man to stop hurting Tomba. "He started swinging the chain around in the air and I said 'OK. Well, I'm going to call the police.' And that's when he hit me with the chain," said Jamie. He got hit in the legs and then the man and the dog ran off. Twenty minutes later, the man came back and attacked Jamie with a slingshot before throwing a rock at him, hitting him in the back. Jamie now has to use the wall to steady himself and his hands won't stop shaking, but he expects to be OK. Despite his injuries, he has no regrets. Jamie says he'd do it all again. "He was hurting the dog. I have had a dog for 13 years that looked just like Tomba. The dog was crying for help. I just wanted him to let the dog go. I didn't think he'd beat me," said Jamie. The police arrested the man, who would face at least one charge of assault . Tomba obviously was not seriously injured. "That's all that's important. The dog's okay and he's in prison," said Jamie. What's the best title for the passage? A. A man was beaten due to his protecting an abused dog B. A dog's owner was put in prison due to his beating the dog C. Stop beating the dog D. Dogs are friends of humans Answer: A Question: Billy's new puppy had floppy ears. That might be because A. The puppy's mother had ears that looked the same way B. The puppy was deaf C. The puppy was tired D. The puppy was missing the bones in its ears Answer: A Question: The cruelty and inhumanity of the war is just as cruel an inhumane through the eyes of a horse. Or at least in the eyes of Joey, the star of War Horse (<< >> ). The film has come out in cinemas on February 28, 2012 on the Chinese mainland. The story starts on a farm in Devon, southwest England. The Narracott family--Dad, Mum, and their teenage son Albert - rent the farm. When Dad buys a beautiful horse, Albert falls in love with him. He trains him and names him Joey. They become as close as it is possible for a human and an animal to be. But World War I breaks out. Dad has to sell the horse to an English Army officer to pay the rent. Joey and Albert can no longer be together. Albert promises Joey that they'll find each other again one day. Then Albert goes on a journey to search for his friend. But the four years of war are about Joey's journey. He starts as the mount of the English officer. Then he becomes a German workhorse. He is given to a French teenager and her grandpa. He has to face the tanks on the front line. The story ends in a sunset scene on the battlefield. Albert has become a soldier. The two are reunited. Battle scenes are part of the story , but the movie's Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg said that War Horse is not a war movie. "I consider it to be a love between a horse and a young man... It's about the connectivity that an animal can bring to human characters," Spielberg said. Roger Moore of the Chicago Tribune said Spielberg manages in the film to "measure a man by how he acts toward animals". In one scene, a British soldier and a German soldier join hands to _ Joey. " Men on opposing sides of war find their shared humanity in their love of animals in War Horse, I appreciated this work." Moore concluded. According to the director's description, which statement is true? A. The movie was just talking about war. B. The movie reflected the love between the human being and animal. C. The movie fully represented human's cruelty. D. The key role of the movie was only the young man. Answer: B Question: When I put a foot in the school for the first time, the thing that I will never forget is a big smile coming from the people of the reception. This is the kind of things that means a lot to you when you are feeling like a strange person in a country that you have never been, as it was in my case. In the classes, I don't know if I'm a lucky person, but the teachers that I have had, in my opinion, are excellent, very professional in their jobs, and they just seem to enjoy teaching, and make the lessons useful and classes amusing. Another fact that I've really enjoyed is that the school is not only aimed at the English language knowledge. You can also find every kind of activity intended to entertain the students in their free time, with things like going to museums and galleries, visiting special places in the city or going to the very famous pub night to have a few beers with your friends. So here you have the opportunity to enjoy the stay in London, to meet new friends, and also to learn everything about the city and the British culture. Personally, there are some facts that have not been easy for me since I arrived, like being so far away from my family, the differences between English food and the food I used to eat, and the high prices for everything. However, I am impressed about a very developed and multicultural city, with people aware of the sense of living in community, with a public transport amazingly thorough, with outstanding tourist places, with opportunities for work and with food from every part of the world that you can imagine. I've experienced something priceless with my friends in London. Every time I made contact with my friends from another country, I learn about their culture. I was lucky to have such good friends. I think that time was a present for me. When setting foot in the new country, the author _ . A. felt the great pressure from foreigners B. was uneasy in the unfamiliar environment C. missed everything and everyone in his back home D. had difficulty dealing with different cultures and customs Answer: B
Buying a house for most of the people is a once in a lifetime decision, which means people decide to do so only after coming across the ideal house. Surprisingly, eight in every 10 home buyers are unhappy with their houses. A survey conducted by the Beijing Consumers' Association (BCA) recently shows about 80 percent of the 2,315 respondents in 23 residential complexes of Beijing are dissatisfied with the soaring house prices. They think the reasonable price in Beijing should be between 3,000 yuan and 7,000 yuan per square meter. The quality of the buildings, the surrounding environment and traffic and property management are the other factors that play a role in people's decision to buy a house. The BCA has suggested strict sales regulations and contracts to ease house-owners' sufferings. It has urged the authorities to impose severe punishment on developers found violating building and other rules and joining hands with others to bid up property prices, About 41.2 percent of the respondents have complained that their house have defective designs, while nearly 40 percent say the lighting and ventilation are far from satisfactory. The landscapes in the residential areas are a source of unhappiness for 43.2 percent of the respondents, and about one-third say they were " " into buying "third grade" house. And more than half are not satisfied with the sport and entertainment facilities in their neighborhood. Property management in the buildings, 56.5 percent of the respondents say, is way below standard compared to the high fee charged by the complexes. 60 percent of the consumers doubt the contents of developers' advertisements, with only 6.3 percent being satisfied. Experts have suggested consumers gather thorough knowledge about a developer and their work before deciding to buy a house from it. They should check the day-light conditions and ventilation in different weather conditions in advance, if possible. According to the passage _ of the buyers are NOT content with their houses. A. 80% B. 60% C. 56.5 % D. 41.2% Answer: A. 80% Q: I currently entered college in New York. Since English is not my first language, I sometimes ask a friend to read my essays to help fix the grammar and language. I believe I'm being graded mainly on my ideas, and my friend helps me get my ideas across better in English. Is this OK? -Mariana A: It's good that you want to succeed in your written work at college. Making use of available resources to help you succeed is a smart strategy . But while you may believe that your instructors don't care as much about how you write as they do about your ideas, that' s not a fair assumption. Certainly, your ideas are important. No matter how polished your writing is, it will not disguise a poorly expressed idea in a paper. But as a college student, being able to organize your thoughts clearly-whether you're speaking in class or writing a paper-is critical to show that you've mastered the material in each course. This does not mean you shouldn't ask others to review your written work before handing it in. That's OK. You should not, however, allow a friend or anyone else to rewrite parts of your papers for you. Instead, ask them to simply let you know about any parts of the paper that are unclear and need work. Many colleges have writing centers where tutors will work with you on your writing-without doing the work for you. Regardless of whether you consult with a friend or a tutor, the right thing is for you to talk to your instructors to ask their advice and let them know you plan to seek assistance with your writing. If you ask them in advance for guidance on what's appropriate and what's not for the written work they assign, that will allow you to be as transparent as possible about how you completed your _ -Professor Byron According to Pro. Byron, what's the most important in writing a paper? A. Professional advice. B. Polishing carefully. C. Organizing thoughts. D. Familiar materials. Answer: C. Organizing thoughts. In England, Christmas is the most important holiday in the year. Two important things, apart from its religious significance, help to set this holiday apart from all others: the custom of giving presents and the habit of spending it with the family. In the present highly commercialized age we are reminded of Christmas many weeks before the event. In the shops the special Christmas displays appear and outside them the special Christmas decorations. In the shopping centers of very large towns decorations are put up in the streets. In London thousands of people crowded into the centre of the town to see the decorations. The advertisements in all the newspapers remind us every day that there are "Only X more shopping days to Christmas". The Post Office vans are covered with brightly color1ed pictures advising us to "Post Early for Christmas", for hundred of millions of Christmas cards and millions of parcels are sent every year. Everywhere one turns, one is made aware that Christmas, which comes "but once a year", is coming once again. Many people feel sorrow about what they consider the over-commercialization of a sacred holiday, but, underneath all the business activities, a great deal of Christmas spirit is to be found. The custom of giving presents to one's family and friends is a very pleasant one so long as one remembers that it is the spirit behind the present which matters most and not the present itself. And how good it is at Christmas to return to the family home and meet parents, grandparents and as many aunts, uncles and cousins as can be expected to meet. Without the modern means of transport, however, many families would have the Christmas reunion. _ help(s) to set Christmas as an important holiday. A. The custom of giving presents B. Many things C. The religious significance D. The great decorations Answer: B. Many things Raising pets is a popular online game among teenagers. "More than 20 of my classmates have adopted pets online." Said Wang Hui from Beijing. If you go to some websites, you can adopt virtual pets like penguins , chickens, dogs and elephants. You can feed, wash, talk to and play with your pet. Dai Yingshuang of Shanghai said, "It's great fun and I have also learned how to take care of others." She usually asks her uncle to take care of her pet while she is at school. If you don't feed and care for the pet, it will become unhappy and unhealthy. So raising an online pet means spending a lot of time online. This makes many parents worried. They fear it will have a bad influence on the children's studies. Wang Zhaotong from Anhui has raised a penguin since last year. She said, "My parents know about the penguin and think it's okay." If the students can keep the _ between studying and playing, it's not bad for them to "raise" pets online. Over _ students in Wang Hui's class have adopted pets online. A. 10 B. 20 C. half D. 21 Answer: B. 20 Four materials are put into small containers. These materials are then moved from the small containers into larger containers. Which material will spread out to completely fill a larger container? A. air B. ice C. sand D. water Answer: A. air
Question: Imagine sailing through the sky, high above buildings and trees, in perfect peace and quiet. No noisy engines. No window with dirty marks in your way. No strong wind blowing in your face. You can't feel or hear the wind because you're traveling in the exact same direction and at the exact same speed it is. A hot-air balloon has three main parts: the balloon, called an envelope; a basket, where passengers ride; and a burner system, which supplies the hot air. Most balloon envelopes are made of strong, lightweight nylon. They vary in size and shape, but they have to be really, really big to lift even a single person. Most weigh more than an adult man and use more fabric than you'd need to cover a baseball diamond . The basket is usually made of wicker ,which is strong but not too stiff . It needs to bend a bit for a soft landing, just like a good jumper bends her legs instead of keeping them stiff and straight when she lands. When the burner system blasts flames, it makes a noisy sound, but once the balloon is flying , the burner can be turned off. The air in the envelope will then slowly cool, and the balloon will gradually sink unless the pilot starts the burner again. To operate, a pilot adds hot air to the balloon to go up or deflates it to go down, until he finds a breeze blowing in the direction he wants to fly. But no matter which way the wind blows them, balloonists have an amazing bird's-eye view of the world. The envelope of a hot-air balloon is used to _ . A. supply the hot air B. hold the hot air C. change the height D. control the direction Answer: B. hold the hot air Question: It has always been said that women are not good drivers, because they simply don't have very good driving ability. On the other hand, most car accidents happen to men; very few happen to women. From this, we can see that women are much more careful while driving. Another very interesting fact that we should point out is that in the past, women preferred to let their husbands be the only driver in the family rather than have a driving license. Somehow they were prevented from making this step in their lives, but nowadays there are many women that want to pass their driving tests from an early age. However, we have to admit that men are more skillful drivers than women, but this does not mean that a woman cannot become a good driver by accumulating experience. So more and more teenagers and women around the age of thirty now want to pass their driving tests. While taking their driving lessons, they also have a number of special lessons with their parents or somebody in the family that has a driving license, this is just to improve their driving abilities and help them to pass the tests more easily. To conclude, we can say that women are not such bad drivers. They just need more experience than men in order to be able to drive well. And on the other hand, there are a number of women that show better driving skills than the men around them. Compared with the past, nowadays many women _ . A. prefer to have a driving license B. have more accidents while driving C. are somehow prevented from driving D. are the only driver in the family Answer: A. prefer to have a driving license Question: The Internet can provide a wealth of educational resources for small children, if you know where to look. This article will offer some educational websites to small children. You may need to assist your children in navigating the pages until they understand where their favorite activities are. Enchanted Learning Enchanted learning is a great website for children, and I know several teachers who rely on it for materials for their classrooms. Most of the information is free, but for $20.00 per year, you can purchase a membership that allows you to have access to the site without the advertising. The pages here are great. There are colored pages and worksheets for toddlers and school-age children. They focus on learning language, science, animals, geography, astronomy, explorers, music, art and nursery rhymes. Starfall Starfall is another good educational website for small children. Teachers often use this website in classrooms. It emphasizes reading skills for early learners. The website is aimed at first grade level learners, but it has tools that can help all children from pre-K to second grade. The website has reading activities, worksheets to download, and a store where you can purchase educational materials for your children. Sesame Street Workshop Kids love Sesame Street, and it is always educational. This is one of the funniest websites online for children because it is very well animated and has great sound effects. The website has games and stories for small kids, and they can create letters at the post office and mail them to their favorite characters. Sprout Online Sprout has features on its television network, which are just for children. There are games, colored pages, recipes, music, videos, sign language activities and exercise videos for children. There are also online activities based on Sprout television shows. These include Roary the Race Car, the Wiggles, the Mighty Jungle and many others. These are just a few of many educational websites for children. Small children love to use computers, so help them find some websites that contain fun and learning at the same time. If you want to buy educational materials for your children, you should choose _ . A. Enchanted Learning. B. Starfall C. Sesame Street Workshop. D. Sprout Online. Answer: B. Starfall Question: Runoff from farms that use fertilizers is entering a small lake. This will most directly affect the lake by causing A. the lake to dry up. B. algae to grow in the lake. C. the lake to become deeper. D. water in the lake to become solid. Answer: B. algae to grow in the lake. Question: Time out Cover Price: PS2.35 Save up to 42% Time out -- London's arts and entertainment weekly. This magazine offers the best listings and reviews of arts, music, films and nightlife, and it is a necessary guide to the entertainment capital of the world. If you're not using Time out, you're losing out on London. School Sport Magazine Cover Price: PS4.40 School Sport Magazine is the only publication of its kind to celebrate the sporting achievements of schools, pupils and teachers in the UK. The purpose of the magazine is to report sporting news and record national and regional school sporting events as well as interviews with famous sport stars about their own sporting schooldays. Five issues a year. Time Cover Price: PS2.70 Save up to 76% Every week, Time keeps you well informed of world news, covering all the matters that affect your life, from political struggles to scientific progress, environmental problems, and what's new in business, fashion and arts. Its feature articles give you brief but true information and unique insights from world-leading journalists. Time is a great magazine, which can help you develop a truly global perspective. FourFourTwo Cover Price: PS3.90 Save up to 25% FourFourTwo is a monthly football magazine for grown-up readers. Feature articles and wonderful action photographs will keep you attracted. You can read interviews with big name football stars, from today, tomorrow and yesterday. You'll love it! Among all of the above, there is/ are _ weekly magazine(s). A. one B. two C. three D. four Answer: B. two
We often think of future.We often wonder what the world would be like in a hundred years' time. Think of space, perhaps a permanent station on the moon will have been set up.Perhaps people will be able to visit the moon as tourists.Cheap rockets for space travel will have been developed, permitting long journeys throughout the solar system .When that time comes, people will be taking holidays in space and visiting other planets.Great progress will have been discovered for the most terrible of all diseases--cancer.Pollution is a problem we must solve.In a hundred years' time it will have been controlled. All the world will have been developed--even Antarctica.There will be large cities in Antarctica.We already have supersonic flight, but in a hundred years' time we will have supersonic land travel as well. We will have used up most of earth's land to build our cities, so floating cities will have been built.The Japanese already have plans for cities of this kind.And there will be cities under the sea.The first of these will have been completed. We will have developed _ in a hundred years' time, permitting long journeys all over the solar system. A. cheap rockets for space travel B. a plane for space travel C. a permanent spaceship D. a satellite for tourists Answer: A. cheap rockets for space travel When you get in your car, you reach for it. When you're at work, you take a break to have a moment alone with it. When you get into a lift, you play with it. Cigarette? Cup of coffee? No, it's the third most addictive thing in modem life, the cell phone. And experts say it is becoming more difficult for many people to _ their longing to hug it more tightly than most of their personal relationships. The costs are becoming more and more evident, and I don't mean just the monthly bill. Dr. Chris Knippers, a counselor at the Betty ford Center in Southern California, reports that the overuse of cell phones has become a social problem not much different from other harmful addictions: a barrier to one-on-one personal contact, and an escape from reality. Sounds extreme, but we' ve all witnessed the evidence: The person at a restaurant who talks on the phone through an entire meal, ignoring his kids around the table; the woman who talks on the phone in the car, ignoring her husband; the teen who texts messages all the way home from school, avoiding contact with kids all around him. Jim Williams, an industrial sociologist based in Massachusetts, notes that cell - phone addiction is part of a set of symptoms in a widening gulf of personal separation. He points to a study by Duke University researchers that found one-quarter of Americans say they have no one to discuss their most important personal business with. Despite the growing use of phones, e - mail and instant messaging, in other words, Williams says studies show that we don't have as many friends as our parents. " Just as more information has led to less wisdom, more acquaintances via the Internet and cell phones have produced fewer friends," he says. If the cell phone has truly had these effects, it's because it has become very widespread. Consider that in 1987, there were only l million cell phones in use. Today, something like 300 million Americans carry them. They far outnumber wired phones in the United States. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. Cell phones Are the New Cigarettes B. Cell phones Are Harmful to the Society C. The New Report about the Cell phone D. The Disadvantages of the Cell phone Answer: A. Cell phones Are the New Cigarettes T-shirts on sale Item 1: This classic T-shirt is now available in youth sizes. Made from 100% organic cotton, this white T-shirt with a four-color Google logo is a great fit for both boys and girls. It has double-needle sleeves and a double-needle bottom hem ,and comes in children sizes XS-8,S-10,M-12 and L-14. Price:$9.65. Item 2: The softest, smoothest, best-looking, organic cotton T-shirt available anywhere. This T-shirt is made of 100% organic cotton and is specially designed to satisfy women's need. Price:$13.25. Item 3: Talk about user-friendliness--not only does this ladies' T-shirt look great. It's likely to be the most comfortable piece of clothing you own. Made of 70% bamboo and 30% cotton, it's antimicrobial . This shirt is so soft, and you may find strangers asking if they can touch you. Color: red with a Google logo screened on the left sleeve in white. Price :$8.86 Item 4: 100% organic cotton T-shirt. This shirt has a flattering and stylish fit for any body type. Other characteristics include a reinforced shoulder construction to maintain shape through repeated washings, and a durable double-needle bottom hem. It comes in white with a full color YouTube logo. Price :$14.50 Item 5: This super comfortable full-zip T-shirt not only meets your eyes. Its unseen benefits include moisture-wicking and antimicrobial _ .It is made of 56% cotton,16% bamboo, and 28% polyester. Price :$55.20. Item 6: Your purchase of this 100% African organic cotton T-shirt supports the Edun Live cause, which helps create jobs in Africa. These shirts are referred to as "grow to sew African " meaning the farmers, ginners, millers, and stitchers in Africa benefit every time an order is placed. This comfortable and stylish shirt comes in natural color. Price :$13.00. If you want to have a red T-shirt with a Google logo on it, you'd better choose _ . A. Item 1 B. Item 3 C. Item 4 D. Item 6 Answer: B. Item 3 Share With Us Would you like to have your writing published in this magazine? Then let us know! We pay for stories, anecdotes and jokes: Anecdotes and Jokes $50 What made you laugh recently? A funny sign? A colleague's behaviour? Got a joke? Send it in for Laughter is the Best Medicine! Email: Juliet@sws.com Smart Animals Up to $100 Send us a tale about the strange behaviour of unique pets or wildlife in up 300 words. Email: audry@sws.com Power of Love Up to $150 Acts of generosity can change lives or just give you that warm feeling full of love. Share your moments 100--500 words. Email: susan@sws.com My Story $350 Do you have an inspiring or life-changing story to tell? Your story must be true, unpublished, original and 800-- 1000 words. Email: nanjc@sws.com For more information, please visit: http://www.sws.com./share An inspiring story sent to the magazine should _ . A. describe strange behaviour B. contain less than 800 words C. be real and original D. be published before Answer: C. be real and original Hello! My name is Becky Sharp. I'm eleven years old. I've got one brother--his name's Jonson and he's fourteen. I haven't got any sisters. I live with my mum , dad and grandma in a small house in Chesterfield,in the north of England. There are lots of things to do here. My friends and I go to the cinema on Saturdays. Do you like games? I like football. My favorite team is Manchester United. I sometimes play football with my brother. I'm good at it but he isn't very good. I've got seven pets--a tortoise and six goldfish. I want a dog or a cat,but my mother doesn't like them. The girl's family live in _ . A. a big room B. a cinema C. the west of England D. the north of England Answer: D. the north of England
The Opening ofThe Book Nook Saturday, October 4 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. You will not want to miss the opening of your new neighborhood bookstore! Located at 2289 Main Street, the Book Nook is within walking distance of schools and many homes and businesses. Come and check out the Book Nook on Saturday! Activities will include: * Live music by local musicians * One Book-of-the-Month Club membership giveaway Wide Selection The Book Nook has three floors with books of all kinds -- any kind you could want. If we do not have the book you are looking for, we can specially order it for you. You will have it in your hands within two days! Reading Nooks We are proud of our children's reading area on the first floor, as well as our teenagers' nook on the second floor. Come for the activities and stay a while! Settle in one of these inviting reading areas; take a seat with a good book and a free cup of hot chocolate. You will discover the perfect way to spend a few hours. Book Events The Book Nook will be featuring (...) monthly book signings by different authors, giving you a chance to meet and speak with well-known writers. Do not miss the experience of hearing these authors read aloud from their own books! The Book-of-the-Month Club Our Book-of-the-Month Club will feature 12 books each year. As a member, you will be able to select one new book each month. The membership fee is only $10.00 per month. That is a great price for 12 books each year! So please join us on Saturday and learn about all that the Book Nook has to offer. You can come anytime between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. -- our activities last all day long! According to "Reading Nooks", a nook is _ . 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 best title for the text is _ . Answer: Word travelled quickly in the small fishing village of Port Washington, Wisconsin. So when McCarty wanted to build a playground for kids with special needs. 2,800 people - a third of the town - rolled up their sleeves and helped her. "A lot of learning comes through play," said McCarty, 52, a special education teacher for 28 years. But her students were too often left out. She'd seen the traditional playgrounds stop wheelchairs dead in their tracks. On September 16, 2008, the first day of the project, they came. Two women heard about the project on the way to work and took the day off to help. A couple in their 80s took part in the job. Children came and gave a helpful hand. Many were volunteers. They all worked very hard. Today, Possibility Playground is one of the most popular _ in Ozaukee County. All children can play shoulder to shoulder. There is special equipment in different parts. Here, you see all the kids on the same playground having fun. "People used to ask. 'Why do you want to build a playground just for children with disabilities?' " McCarty said. "They didn't get it. It's only when you build a playground for children with disabilities that you build one for all children." How many people are there in the town? Answer: Outside our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a seemingly ancient woman waited beside the door with her hand outstretched. Every day I put my hand in hers as our eyes met. She never failed to return my smile, my grasp, and my greeting. On the last day of our visit, I found myself alone on a busy corner across the street from our hotel. Bicycles and motorbikes rushed in front of me. As I hesitated on the sidewalk, I felt a hand on my elbow and looked down to see the smile of my small beggar friend looking up at me. She nodded her head toward the street, indicating that she would take me across. Together, we moved slowly into the chaos. Then we moved on toward the sidewalk, where she pulled my face down to hers, kissed me on both cheeks, and then left, still smiling and waving back to me. Traveling in poorer nations, I have witnessed a variety of ways to deal with beggars. The most common response of tourists faced with the poverty-stricken is to ignore them and focus their eyes elsewhere. I have seen people push away an outstretched hand in angry annoyance. A few may drop a few coins into the hand in a hurry, hoping that other ragged pursuers won't immediately appear on the scene. For many reasons, giving money is not the best response to an outstretched hand. Many world travelers have discovered that the greatest gift they can give is their time and respect. Everyone needs recognition, to be seen as worthy of being known, to feel appreciated and loved. And I believe that everyone is worthy and worth knowing. In common cases, people will do the following things to the beggars EXCEPT for _ . Answer: How to improve our life? Many people think that they have to accept whatever life throws at them. They'll say, "This is my destiny .I cannot change it." Of course not! You don't have to suffer needlessly. Your life depends on you, not on any other external factor. I know a woman who says she just accepts what life gives her because she has done everything she can to improve it. Guess what her lifestyle is? She wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes back home, relaxes, chats with people, watches TV, and then goes to sleep. Next day, the same routine cycle follows. Huh! Is this what she calls "doing her best"? She believes she has tried her best and just accepts it in her heart that this is the life that has been intended for her and that her luck can only change if God wills it. She hasn't realized that we have to do our share of making the effort to live the life of our dreams. Remember that you harvest what you sow. You have to get off the sofa, get your eyes off the TV screen, get your hands off the phone(unless it contributes to your success),and get your mind and body to work! Don't expect your luck to change, unless you do something about it. If something goes wrong, don't just regard it as a temporary setback; instead, learn your lesson, make the most of the situation, and do something to solve the problem. It's not enough to think positively; you also have to act positively. If someone's life is in trouble, do you just hope and pray that things will turn out fine? Of course not! You get to do anything you can to save the person. So it is with your own life. It is not enough to hope for the best, but you have to do your best. In other words, don't just stand(or sit)there, do something to improve your life. What does the author think of the woman's life? Answer:
Selena Gomez won Favorite Female Singer at 2014 Kids' Choice Awards on March 29. It is a very important awards show held every year in America. Gomez was born on July 22,1992 in Texas. The 22-year-old girl is an all-round star----she not only acts well but also sings a lot of popular songs. At the age of 7, Gomez first played with a purple dinosaur on the TV show Barney and Friends. In 2007, Gomez acted in Wizards of Waverly Place (<<>> ),which was a big success. After that, she played different roles in many films and become more and more popular. Gomez made her own band at the age of 17. Fans love her songs because of her beautiful voice. By fan, she has released three albums . She also has a good sense of fashion. Gomez wore a beautiful dress at the Kids' Choice Award. It made her lovely and she shone the whole night. Charity is an important part in Gomez's life. In October 2008, she was named UNICEF's spokes-person for Trick-or-Treat, which encourages children to raise money on Halloween to help poor children around the world. She said that she was excited to encourages other kids to make a difference in the world. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: 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. Who is needed to take part in the project? Answer: Some weightloss camps, which are rare in China just a few years ago,have multiplied in Beijing, Qingdao, Shenzhen,and other cities. Today about 15 percent of adults, or 200 million Chinese, are reportedly overweight.Of these, 90 million--about 7 percent--are obese . Experts say the obesity epidemic is spreading to children, though more slowly than in adults. The obesity, they say, will do harm to the health of China' s citizens and economy."We're seeing a very large number of teenagers who are quite heavy and aren't moving much," said Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor. Popkin carries out an ongoing healthandnutrition survey of 16,000 households in China. He says more kids today are overeating and putting on weight "quite quickly." In just ten years China's childhood obesity rate has doubled,with the greatest gains coming in urban areas."In big cities it's a big problem." Some experts blame the extra fat on a range of factors, many of them tied to China' s rapidly changing economy and culture. The diets of Chinese adults and children are far higher in meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, fats and sugars than ever before. In addition,kids--especially city dwellers--are more today and spend more time indoors in front of homework, television,computer games, and the Internet. Shuwen Ng,a health economist, says that kids in China now have pocket money, and they spend a portion of it on junk food. Ng adds that advertising and peer groups influence kids' food choices. Certain foods, such as new candies or fast food, have attractive features. China' s childhood obesity rate stillfall behind that of the United States, where some 15 percent of kids are said to be obese. But the longterm effects are equally serious. Which of the following reasons of China's childhood obesity is NOT mentioned? Answer: Sometimes people call each other " scared cat" , but have you ever thought about this expression? When a cat is frightened, its heart starts beating faster, its muscles get tense, and there are changes in the chemicals in its blood-stream. If the danger continues, this animal will do one of the two things. It will defend itself, or it will run away as fast as it can. Something like this also happens to people. When we are excited, angry, scared, or aroused by other emotions, our bodies go through many physical changes. Our hearts beat faster, and our muscles get tense. All of these changes make us more alert and ready to react. We, too, get ready to defend ourselves or run. Human beings, however, have a problem. If we give way to our feelings and let them take over, we can get into trouble. Have you ever said something in anger - and regretted later? Have you ever shouted at a teacher or told somebody you were lonely and then wished later you had kept your mouth shut? It isn't always wise to express your feelings freely. Does this mean that it's always smarter to hide our feelings? No! If you keep feelings like anger hidden away or bottled up inside, your body stays tense. Physical illnesses can develop, and you can feel disturbed badly inside. _ can actually be bad for your health. Feelings that you keep all bottled up inside don't just go away. It's as if you bought some bananas and stuck them in a cupboard. You might not be able to see them, but before long you'd smell them. And if you opened the cupboard, chances are you'd see little fruit flies hovering all over them. They'd be rotten. You can try to treat emotions as if they were bananas in the cupboard. You can hide them and you can pretend they don't exit, but they'll still be around. And at last you'll have to deal with them, just like those bananas. According to the passage, human beings get into trouble because _ . Answer: Television will turn 86 years old on September 7, 2013, and it has never looked better. In its youth, television was a piece of furniture with a tiny, round screen showing unclear pictures of lowbudget programs. In spite of its shortcomings, it became well-received. Between 1950 and 1963, the number of American families with a television jumped from 9% to 92% of the population. As the audience got larger, the technology got better. Television sets became more reliable through the 1960s. Both of the reception and the picture improved. The major networks started broadcasting programs in color. Even greater improvements were coming according to Sanford Brown, who wrote an article forthe Postin 1967. Surprisingly, just about every prediction he made in the article became a reality. For example: All sets in the notdistant future will be color instruments. He also predicted that TV sets would become smaller, simpler, more reliable and less expensive and may forever put the TV repairman out of work. Smaller sets do not, of course, mean smaller screens. TV engineers expect screens to get much bigger. However, today's 3D TV is even farther away, if it's coming at all. There is some doubt whether the public would be eager to pay for it, in view of people's cold reception given to 3D movies. But the technology with the greatest potential, according to Brown, was cable television , which was still in its early stages then. As he predicted, the future of cable television was highly interactive. It wasn't cable television that gave Americans their electronic connection to the world, however. It was the Internet. He even foresaw the future office: using picture phones, bigscreen televisions for conferences, and computers providing information, at the touch of a button. Brown ever said, "The future of television is no longer a question of what we can invent. It's a question of what we want." What can we infer about television sets in the 1960s? Answer:
Imagine that you are in school, giving a speech to your class. Now think what it feels like when stammering makes it a struggle to communicate your thoughts and feelings to other people. The King's Speech, which won the best picture at the Academy Awards in March, 2011, focuses on stammering along with other speech-related problems. The movie tells the story of Britain's King George VI, who became king after his brother Edward VIII gave up the crown to marry an American woman. As a result of British actor Colin Firth's performance, people are starting to realize that stammering can damage a person's self-confidence and cause him or her to escape from life. "The serious problem is unseen and unheard," said Norbert Lieckfeldt, an expert at the British Stammering Association, in an interview with a news reporter. "Stammering masks your ability," he said. "It's a serious disability." Most stammerers face bullying in school, something that is "usually carried over into the workplace". George VI's stammer took away his confidence as a speaker. But Samantha Mesango, a speech coach based in the UK, believes that speech problems are more common than most people realize. "Some simply don't like the sound of their own voice; others are scared of speaking in public," she said. Travis Treats from St.Louis University praisedThe King's Speech. He said it shows that "how one's speech does not mean what one is inside". He also added that people who stammer need to be heard and our society should recognize that they have a lot to give to the world. We learn from the passage that _ . Answer: stammerers should be understood and can contribute to the world Sleep is like food for the brain. Enough sleep helps the body and brain grow and develop. However, many Chinese do not sleep well, and many do not pay enough attention to sleep. The Chinese Medical Doctor Association released the 2013 China Sleep Quality Index on March 19 to mark World Sleep Day - March 21. According to the index, nearly a quarter of Chinese people don't sleep well. Half said that they feel tired after getting up and 15 percent people have trouble falling asleep. Ye Jingying, a sleep expert at Beijing Tongren Hospital, says: "If people often wake up during the night, or always feel weak and tired in the day, they should pay attention to their sleep pattern ." Many people play with their cell phones or iPads before sleeping. The report said that this is one of the main reasons for bad sleep. Other reasons include stress and bad moods. How to sleep well? Above all, get enough sleep. Seven to nine hours of sleep every night is perfect for an adult, and eight to nine hours is best for a teenager. Forming good sleep habits is important. The report suggested that people need to keep away from digital devices for at least an hour before sleep. The lights keep their brains excited for a long while. Other suggestions include: try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends and during holidays, and do the same relaxing things before bed each night, like listening to soft music. Which of the following helps teenagers sleep well? Answer: They'd better go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, died on Monday after a 17-month battle with cancer, her company said. She was 61. "Sally lived her life to the fullest, with boundless energy, curiosity, intelligence, passion, commitment and love. Her integrity was ; her spirit was immeasurable; her approach to life was fearless, " read a statement on the website of Sally Ride Science, a company she started to help teach students, particularly young women and girls, about science, math and technology. Sally flew into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983 to become America's first woman in space. She took a second trip aboard the same shuttle one year later. The first woman in space was Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who orbited the Earth 48 times in 1963. She was assigned to a third flight, but that was cancelled after the Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off in 1986, claiming the lives of seven crew members on board. Sally helped investigate that accident and later _ of Space Shuttle Columbia, becoming the only person to serve on the commissions investigating both accidents. In 2003, the Columbia crashed during re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. "As the first American woman to travel into space, Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model," President Barack Obama said soon after news of her death broke. "She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars and later fought tirelessly to help them get there by advocating for a greater focus on science and math in our schools. Sally's life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve." As a Los Angeles native, Ride attended Stanford University, where she earned four degrees, including a doctorate in physics, according to NASA. She joined the agency as part of the class of 1978, the first to include women. Ride responded to an ad in the Stanford student newspaper and was selected from some 8,000 applicants. From the passage, we learn that Sally _ . Answer: started a school to focus on rights for women There is a lion in a forest. Every day he goes about to look for food. The small animals in the forest are all afraid of him. Not far from the forest there are four bulls( ). They are good friends, and often go about together. The lion tries many times to catch them, but can't do so. Every time he comes near, the four bulls stand together to fight him. So he can do nothing to him. One day the bulls have a quarrel( ). After that each of them goes his own way. When the lion sees this, he is happy. He catches one bull and eats him up. Then he catches another. One by one he catches all the four bulls and eats them up. Why can't the lion want catch the bulls at first? Answer: Because the bulls stand together to find him. In ancient Greece athletic festivals were very important and had strong religious associations. The Olympian athletic festival held every four years in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods, eventually lost its local character, became first a national event and then,after the rules against foreign competitors had been put to an end, international. No one knows how far back the Olympic Games go, but some official records date from 776 BC. The games took place in August on the plain by Mount Olympus. Many thousands of people gathered from all parts of Greece to watch the games, but no married woman was admitted even for watching. Slaves, women and dishonored persons were not allowed to compete. The exact sequence of events is uncertain, but events included boy's gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, horse racing and field events, though there were fewer sports involved than in the modern Olympic Games. On the last day of the Games, all the winners were honored by having a ring of holy olive leaves placed on their heads. So great was the honor that the winner of the foot race gave his name to the year of his victory. Although Olympic winners received no money, they were, in fact, richly rewarded by their state authorities. In the early days of ancient Olympic Games _ . Answer: only Greek men were allowed to participate in the games
There is a zoo named Zhongshan in our city. There are many animals. Some animals are very friendly. But some other animals are not. Tigers, lions and some snakes are dangerous . That's why they must be in cages . But I don't think it's good for animals to be in cages. They need to be free. The animals in cages cannot be happy. Tigers usually live in forests and mountains . They are strong and can run very fast . They run after and eat small animals like rabbits and deer , but now they are in small cages. They have nothing to do every day. So they walk around in the cages, and they want to come out. When they are tired, they sleep. I am kind of sorry for them. What do tigers usually do in forests? Answer: Nicknames for Los Angeles A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames. These can help establish an identity, spread pride among citizens and build unity. Nicknames can also be funny. Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in population, after New York City. Los Angeles has several nicknames. One is simply the city's initials, L.A. It is also called the City of Angels because Los Angeles means "the angels" in Spanish. Los Angeles often has warm, sunny weather. So another nickname is City of Flowers and Sunshine. New York is called The Big Apple. So Los Angeles is sometimes called The Big Orange because of the fruit that grows in that city's warm climate. The American motion picture and television industries are based in Los Angeles. So it is not surprising that it is called The Entertainment Capital of the World. Many films are made in the area of Los Angeles called Hollywood. Millions of people visit the area. Many movie stars live in Los Angeles. The city is sometimes called Tinseltown. This nickname comes from the shiny, bright and often unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie industry. Another nickname for Los Angeles is La-La Land, using the first letters of Los and Angeles. This means a place that is fun and not serious, and maybe even out of touch with reality. The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County. There are many smaller cities in the county. Beverly Hills, with its rich people, is one of them. So is Pasadena, with its Rose Parade each New Year's Day. So are the coastal cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, where people like to ride surfboards on the Pacific Ocean waves. A good place for watching unusual-looking people is Venice, an area on the west side of Los Angeles. A system of waterways designed after the Italian city of Venice has been built there. Many people love Los Angeles for its warm sunny weather, beautiful mountains and beaches, and movie stars. That includes Randy Newman, who sings about his hometown. How many nicknames have been given to Los Angeles? Answer: Dear God, Now that I am no longer young, I have friends whose mothers have passed away. I have heard these sons and daughters say they never fully appreciated their mothers until it was too late to tell them. I am blessed with the dear mother who is still alive. I appreciate her more each day. My mother does not change, but I do. As I grow older and wiser, I realize what an extraordinary person she is. How sad that I am unable to speak these words in her presence, but they flow easily from my pen. How does a daughter begin to thank her mother for life itself? For the love, patience and just plain hard work that go into raising a child? For running after a toddler, for understanding a moody teenager, for tolerating a college student who knows everything? For waiting for the day when a daughter realizes how wise her mother really is? How does a grown woman thank a mother for continuing to be a mother? For being ready with advice (when asked) or remaining silent when it is most appreciated? For not saying, "I told you so", when she could have said these words dozens of times? For being essentially herself -- loving, thoughtful, patient, and forgiving? I don't know how, dear God, except to bless her as richly as she deserves and to help me live up to the example she has set. I pray that I will look as good in the eyes of my children as my mother looks in mine. A daughter Why does the daughter write the letter? Answer: Today in schools, it's not unusual for students to sit in the same kind of desks in the same kind of classrooms as their parents did. Schools have made progress by making use of computers and PDAs in the classroom, yet one design company believes that changes are needed, so they describe what a future classroom may look like. "Kids are being taught to sit at these wooden desks that are basically designed for writing," said Mark Dziersk, the senior vice president of the design. "They're being lectured in a structured environment." The solution is a "customizable education system" called Gooru that reorganizes the classroom and replaces books, desks, pens, and so on. The three-part technology system consists of an interactive PDA called the GooBall, a backpack and a removable LCD screen for each student. Students can sit, stand or lie down when using the devices, and are not limited to desks. The idea was presented at last month's South by Southwest Interactive Conference. While some educators think the idea is interesting, they doubt whether schools will pay for the expensive and complicated system. The GooBall is an interactive communication device with six layers of learning software. The device monitors a student's heart rate and body temperature and uses GPS to track where they are. It includes instant messaging, a compass, a watch, and a topic-specific alert system that directs a student to related articles and books about whatever they are studying. Students can also choose an animal icon to show their personality. The backpack houses the main power supply for the system and holds some personal items. The pocket keeps items locked tight with a fingerprint security zipper. The portable screen functions like a laptop, providing wireless Internet access and streaming video. It also has a touch screen interface. "I think it's an excellent idea," said Gary Tankard, a sixth-grader who has seen the prototype . "I'm sure that 90 percent of kids would really like to have it." The purpose of writing the passage is _ . Answer: In the United States, sixteen, eighteen, and twenty-one are important ages in a person's life. There are no special celebrations for these birthdays, but each is a time when a person can do new things to mark their transition into adulthood. After turning sixteen a person can work, get a driver's license and leave home. Many high school students learn to drive and get part-time jobs soon after celebrating their sixteenth birthday. At the age of eighteen a person in the United States can vote and smoke, but they are prohibited from going into nightclubs, buying wine or gambling until they are twenty-one. In many Latin cultures, a young woman's fifteenth birthday is important. At this age, she is regarded as an adult. To mark this special day, families with teenage daughters have a celebration called a Quinceanera. The day begins with the young woman and her family going to church. Later, there is a party and many guests are invited. In Japan, young people became adults at twenty. At this age, they can legally vote, drink wine and smoke. The second Monday in January is a national holiday called "Coming of Age Day". On this day, twenty-year-old celebrates by first going to church to pray with their families. Later, they listen to speeches given by city and school leaders. Afterward, they may celebrate with family or friends late into the night. In some countries, birthday celebrations continue through adulthood. Some people celebrate their fortieth and fiftieth birthdays, or their retirement year, with a huge party. Which of the following is not the turning point in a person life in the USA? Answer:
Jean is a bright young woman from a rich and famous family. She goes to a good university and has almost everything that money can buy. But the people in Jean's family are so busy that they can hardly find time to be with her. In fact, Jean is quite lonely. So Jean spends a lot of her time on QQ. She likes being anonymous talking to people who do not know about her famous family and her rich life. She uses the name Linda on QQ and made a lot of friends. Last year Jean made a very special friend on QQ. His name was David and he lived in San Francisco. David was full of stories and jokes. He and Jean had the same interests in rock music and modern dance. So it always took them many hours to talk happily on QQ and sometimes they even forgot the time. Of course, they wanted to know more about each other. David sent a picture of himself: he was a tall, good-looking young man with big, happy smile. As time went by, they became good friends and often sent cards and small things to each other. When Jean's father told her that he was going on a business trip to San Francisco, she asked him to let her go with him, so that she could give David a surprise for his birthday. She would take him the latest DVD of the rock singer they liked most. But when Jean knocked in David's door in San Francisco, she found that the special friend she had written to was a twelve-year-old boy named Jim! Jean is quite lonely because _ . A. she has got everything B. her family is too rich C. she has no time to stay with her family D. her family are too busy to be with her Answer: D You have heard the expression "horse sense". As you may imagine, it came from the time when the majority of people traveled in vehicles drawn by horses. A horse does have a lot of common sense, and there are many true stories about horses having saved their drivers from danger of death. Today for the most part, people travel by train, ship, airplane, and car, but very little by the use of horses. Modern vehicles are _ by engines, and an engine does not have any sense. In case of danger, many horses could be depended on to help. Not so with the engine; the driver must do all the things. In recent years, the speed of travel has increased greatly. With the increased speed comes greatly increased danger. The driver of a powerful engine needs to be careful. A moment of being careless may cost a life. In order to drive today, a person must be able to see clearly, and he must learn and follow carefully the rules for safety on the road. Greater attention is the price we pay for using a machine instead of a horse. Which of the following is NOT true? A. A driver must be able to see and hear well. B. The driver of a car must follow the rules of safety. C. Horses are known to have saved their drivers from injury. D. It is better for vehicles to be pulled by horse than to be pushed by engine. Answer: D Which likely best models an earthquake? A. cutting paper B. crumpling foil C. folding paper D. eating foil Answer: B A group of swans flew down to a beach where a crow was jumping around . The crow watched them with disdain . "You have no flying skills at all ! " he said to the swans. " All you can do is to move your wings. Can you turn over in the air ? No , that's beyond you. Let's have a flying compitition. I'll show you what real flying is ! " One of the swans , a strong young male , took up the challenge. The crow flew up and began to show his skills. He flew in circles, performed other flying tricks, and then came down and looked proudly at the swan. Now it was the swan's turn. He flew up , and began flying over the sea. The crow flew after him , making all kinds of comments about his flying. They flew on and on till they couldn't see the land and there was nothing but water on all sides. The crow was making fewer and fewer comments. He was so _ that he found it hard to stay in the air, and had to struggle to keep himself from falling into the water. The swan pretended ( ) not to notice , and said, " Why do you keep touching the water , brother ? Is that another trick ?" " No ," said the crow. He knew he had lost the competition. " I'm in trouble because of my pride ! If you don't help me , I'll lose my life... " The swan took pity on him , and took him on his shoulders and flew back to the beach. ,. Who has better skills according to the crow ? A. The swan. B. The crow. C. Both the swan and the crow. D. He didn't know. Answer: B Which is most accurate? A. melting is when solids are heated above their melting point; freezing is when solids are cooled from liquid to solid B. melting is when solids are heated above their melting point; melting is when solids are cooled from liquid to solid C. freezing is when solids are heated above their melting point; melting is when solids are cooled from liquid to solid D. freezing is when solids are heated above their melting point; freezing is when solids are cooled from liquid to solid Answer: A
Which are the best tools to use for growing and studying bacterial cultures? Answer: Petri dishes Staying in a Homestay in Canada will give you an excellent opportunity to improve your English conversation skills and know more about Canada customs and cultures. Our homestay families are located in areas of Vancouver,Toronto and Montreal,Canada,living from 40 to 60 minutes from the school. These homes are safe,secure,inspected and approved by our homestay program coordinators. Your homestay family in Canada will be different from your own,especially the food and customs,but you will become one of the family! Most Canadians work outside the home and are active in community affairs. Family members have duties around the home and do many things for themselves. For example,family members are expected to take their own dishes from the dining room to the kitchen and take care of their own possessions. This will apply to you too! There will be many differences,both personal and cultural between you and your homestay family in Canada. We ask both you and your new family to be accepting of these differences. Each family will assist you in learning the arrangement of your new home. You will be asked to respect the rules and regulations that are suitable for their household. If any questions arise about your new home,please feel free to ask your family. You will be provided with a clean,comfortable,private room. The room will be furnished with a desk,bed,dresser,closet and good lighting. You are expected to keep your own room neat and tidy. You will have your own house key. Please respect the security of the household. Make sure you return the key when you leave. According to the passage,living in a homestay can provide all the opportunities EXCEPT _ . Answer: to solve problems between you and the homestay family When it comes to relationship, we spend a lot of time discussing their joys, but rarely talk about the pain when they break down. Yet most people have a story about a broken relationship. For Jane Black, a six-year friendship ended when her friend was rude to one of her children. "After quite a few drinks at a party in my house, she said something rude to my child. I ended the friendship face to face at the party," she says. "I didn't realize what I was doing at the time, I was simply standing up for my child, but in her eyes any challenge was a betrayal." When Angela Thompson noticed a seven-year friendship disappearing, she let it go. "I didn't know how to deal with the issue. I didn't sit down for a grown-up conversation; I just walked away quietly." The decision caused a reaction among Thompson's other friends. "The other friends in the circle are the worst people when you are trying to break up with a friend," she says. "They don't want you to stop being friends, because it puts them in a difficult position. You get told to just get it over." Though we have plenty of measures for handling conflict at work or family fight, we still don't have good ways of ending friendships. Do we sit down and properly break up, or just walk away? Psychologist Serena Cauchy has the following advice. Don't blame. Talk about your needs and feeling rather than talking like a Dutch uncle. Do talk about your needs. Talk about why the friendship is not working for you--about how your needs aren't being met. Don't gossip. Negative talk hurts everyone involved and in some cases can make matters worse. Don't be so accessible. If there is a common wish to conclude the friendship, then you can remove it. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: When Friendships disappear A mobile phone is no longer just a phone -- it is also a music player, video camera and personal organizer. And mobile phones with television programming are just around the corner. But the more functions cell phone manufacturers add, the greater the amount of power the phones use and the less practical running them on lithium batteries becomes -- so the race to find a viable alternative is on. Two of the world's biggest electronics makers, Hitachi and Toshiba, are currently competing against each other to come up with an alternative, most likely to be micro fuel cells. The task has been set by Japan's second largest mobile phone provider, KDDI, which wants its customers to soon be able to use special television programming on their handsets, and has asked the two electronics companies to come up with a better power source. Hitomi Murakami, of KDDI, says battery-operated mobile phones cannot keep up with the new applications. "We're looking at various ways to expand content and services that we can provide to the people. And we don't want to have battery issues delaying us from doing that," he says. Hitachi's Atsushi Morihara says it is a critical race for both of the companies as the resulting product will have a major impact on the mobile market in the future. "We are in competition and it's up to both of us to come up with a good product. A product that will satisfy KDDI's needs. I think I can go as far to say that the winner will take all." Miniaturized direct methanol fuel cells are different batteries in that they create power instead of simply storing it. That power is made by new technology utilizing cheap methanol. If all gees to plan, come 2007, Japanese phone users will not use an electric charger to power their mobiles, they will instead carry a small bottle of methanol and with just a few squirts, they will have power for their phones. But the method has its downsides, including how passengers will be able to take small mounts of flammable methanol on airliners. Fumio Ueno of Toshiba says that once developed, the uses of miniaturized direct methanol fuel cells have endless possibilities. According to the passage, Toshiba _ . Answer: attaches great importance to methanol fuel My father and I were very close. I loved pleasing him, and he was always proud of my success. If I won a spelling contest at school, he was on top of the world. Later in life whenever I got a promotion , I'd call my father right away and he'd rush out to tell all his friends. In 1970,when I was named president of the Ford Motor Company, I don't know which of us was more excited. Like many native Italians, my parents were very open with their feelings and their loves not only at home, but also in public. Most of my friends would never hug their fathers. But I hugged and kissed my dad at every opportunity for nothing could have felt more natural. He was a curious man who was always trying new things. He was the first person in Allentown to buy a motorcycle. Unfortunately, my father and his motorcycle didn't get along too well. He fell off it so often that he got rid of it just a month after buying it. As a result, he never again trusted any vehicle with less than four wheels. Because of that motorcycle, I wasn't allowed to have a bicycle when I was growing up. Whenever I wanted to ride a bike, I had to borrow one from a friend. On the other hand, my father let me drive a car as soon as I turned sixteen. My father trusted no vehicle with less than four wheels because _ . Answer: he had trouble in riding his motorcycle
Question: I was born with epilepsy, a disease of the nervous system that causes a person to fall unconscious. I first suffered from it at 3.My mother was also born with it, but only ever so often short periods, Elementary and Junior High were not easy for me. I was unable to take part in sports and events like the other students. I was being treated with medicines, as they were trying to find the right ones for me. I was a victim of bullying. and often got off the school bus crying. I had friends and good times, but I was never happy at school. I would rather stay at home and play the piano and read books. The first two years of High School were the worst. I was bullied by girls and guys who didn't want to get to know me. I soon felt like there was something wrong with me. I felt alone, and my relationship with God was falling. Junior year, I took part in volleyball and cheerleading, and was Very 8uccessful in the two. I made t}1ree Very close friends, and I soon started acting like myself. Senior year, I was Voted class clown, and I grew so strong and I shared my kindness with all around me, and stood up for what was right. When l went off to college, I started attending church and my relationship with Cod was close again, like my younger days in Sunday sch001.1 wouldn't go back and change anything. I came to a conclusion. It was my mom who helped me and stood by my side all those years, and it was God who carried me. I am stronger than ever before, and I will never become discouraged about the bullying. I still have my beautiful family, and nothing else will take away those memories. If these difficulties and efforts bring us closer to God, then bring on the rain. Who gave the author greatest help in the author's life? A. The God B. Her teacher C. Her friends D. Her mother Answer: D. Her mother Question: Malls are popular places for Americans to go. Some people spend so much time at malls that they are called "mall rats ". Mall rats shop until they drop in the hundreds of stores. People like malls for many reasons. They feel safe because malls have police stations. Parking is usually free, and the weather inside is always fine. The newest malls have beautiful rest places with waterfalls and large green trees. The largest mall in the United States is the Mall of America in Minnesota. It covers 4. 2 million square feet . It has 350 stores, eight nightclubs, and a large park! There are parking spaces for 12,750 cars. About 750,000 people shop there every week. The first indoor mall in the United States was built in 1965 in Edina Minnesota. People love doing all their shopping in one place. More malls are built around the country. Now malls are like town centers where people come to do many things. They shop, of course, they also eat in food courts that have food from all over the world. They see films at theaters. Some people even get their exercise by doing the new sport of "mall walking". Others go to malls to meet friends. In some malls, people can see a doctor and even go to the church. In other words, people can do just about everything in malls. Now people can live in their favorite shopping center in fact. The largest mall in the United States _ . A. was built in 1965 B. has 12,750 cars in it C. has 350 shops in it D. can hold 750,000 people Answer: C. has 350 shops in it Question: Think about what you had for lunch: Was it a hamburger? A chicken sandwich? Barbecue? What about vegetables? Would it surprise you to learn that what you eat can affect the whole planet? It can--in a big way. New studies show how food and its production affect the globe and its warming climate. You've probably heard of global warming : The temperature is on the rise because humankind has beenreleasing amounts of gases into the atmosphere. One of these greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide . What does this have to do with food ? A big part of the carbon dioxide that we put in the atmosphere every year comes from the process of making and eating food. The production of meat contributes a lot of that carbon diode. And much of meat's contribution comes from beef , which is responsible for releasing even more warming gases into the atmosphere. The process of making a hamburger ,for example, requires a lot of energy. A cow has to be fed and raised on farmland, and cow waste is a major source ofmethane -- an especially powerful greenhouse gas. The cow has to be killed. The meat has to beprocessed and shipped to a shop, which takes fuel . Most of the cow won't even be used for meat that people eat. By the time a hamburger finally lands on a dinner plate, it has made a heavy effect on the environment. We can reduce the production of global-warming gases by eating less beef .Other kinds of meat like pork and chicken do less harm to the environment--at least in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases released. All kinds of meat are harder on the planet than vegetables. To grow and eat a pound of potatoes, for example, sends less than one-quarter pound of carbon dioxide into the air. So changing our diet to less meat and more vegetables, as it turns out, may do the world some good. What is the bad news for meat-eaters? A. Meat producing can cause global warming B. Most cows are raised not for people to eat C. There is a lot of carbon dioxide in meat D. Animals begin to die off because of global warming Answer: A. Meat producing can cause global warming Question: One day an old man is selling a big elephant . A young man comes to the elephant and begins to look at it slowly. The old man goes up to him and says in his ear, "Don't say anything about the elephant before I sell it. Then I will give you twenty dollars." "All right," says the young man. After the old man sells the elephant, he gives the young man twenty dollars and says, "Now, can you tell me how you found the elephant's bad ears ?""I didn't find the bad ears," says the young man. "Then why are you looking at the elephant slowly?" asks the old man. The young man answers, "Because I didn't see an elephant before, and I want to know what it looks like." The young man ----- _ . A. is not interested in elephants B. knows what an elephant looks like C. saw some elephants before D. didn't see an elephant before Answer: D. didn't see an elephant before Question: When I first entered high school, I knew no one at my school. All my friends in middle school went to other schools. I wanted to make some new friends. However, I was shy and wasn't good at making new friends. On my first day at school, I looked at others who were talking in groups happily. How I wish I were one of them! I guess I was very lucky then. At lunch in the dinning hall, when I was eating at a table alone, a girl came to me. "Excuse me, is this seat taken?" she asked. I immediately shook my head. She smiled and sat down opposite to me. I felt a little _ and didn't know what to say at all, but I really wanted to communicate with her. It was a good opportunity to make friends with her. When I looked up, I found she was smiling at me. Her smile calmed me down. "I really like this school. It's beautiful, but I don't know anyone here. All my friends went to other schools," said the girl. Hearing her words, I immediately said, "my friends are not here either. Can we be friends?" I was surprised. I couldn't believe I would say something like that, and to my surprise, that girl immediately said "yes". We both smiled. We became very good friends. Now it's the beginning of a new term again. Many students may have no friends at their new schools. If you are also as shy as I used to be, please don't be afraid to talk to others. You may get a surprise and make a new friend. After all, others want to make new friends, too. What's the author's purpose in writing the passage? A. To show that high school is really exciting. B. To encourage shy people to talk to others. C. To tell us how lucky she was in high school. D. To advise us to have a good first day in high school. Answer: B. To encourage shy people to talk to others.
Randy Grim brought home his first stray dog when he was only 5 years old. The fear that he saw in the eyes of that first dog-eventually replaced by gratitude and love-moved Grim so deeply that even at that young age he knew he had found his life's work. In 1998, Grim formed a nonprofit group called Stray Rescue. The group's goal: to save as many of St. Louis's stray dogs as possible. Today, Grim heads up an organization with a $3 million annual budget, a staff of more than 50 paid workers, thousands of volunteers, and a well-equipped shelter that houses as many as 200 dogs. The money that supports Stray Rescue has been raised through donations and through the force of Grim's outspoken advocacy . A man who sees himself as shy is anything but that when it comes to speaking out for dogs. The impact has been significant. While there are no good estimates as to the number of stray dogs on the streets of St. Louis, today 40% more dogs are being picked up off the streets than just two years ago, about 98% are now adopted into homes. Stray Rescue also funds a massive education campaign. The group's bill-boards advocating adoption and neutering of dogs are everywhere, as are brochures informing the public of free medical care for dogs and volunteer opportunities at Stray Rescue. "The whole landscape has changed,"says Pam Walker, St. Louis city health director. Since Grim's involvement, she says, St. Louis has become a model for good practices in the area. Officials elsewhere sometimes ask how St. Louis deals with its dog problems. Walker says,"My answer is:We have Randy Grim." Grim says he is delighted at the way the city has responded. Many St. Louis citizens"were already there,"he says, in terms of concern for dogs. "I'm really proud of my city." We can infer from the text that _ . Answer: the number of stray dogs in St. Louis is reducing Just the mention of the TOEFL, GRE and GAMT exams brings a thought of long hours of dull paper work. But that idea is becoming increasingly out of date. As planned, computerized tests will begin next year which will bring a series of changes from test psychology to scoring techniques. From computer - equipped rooms, examinees will answer the questions on a computer. If they are sure about their choices, they can pass to the next question by pressing the entry "next". Then another question will be randomly selected from a vast test item bank and appear on the screen. After answering all the questions, examinees can choose the entry "quit" if they are not satisfied with their performance, or "score" if they want to see the result. Scores will be calculated immediately and appear on the screen. By that point, student's marks are official--there is no going back. Since they greatly shorten the painful waiting process-which used to be two or three months, computerized tests have won worldwide popularity. Besides, there will be no rushing to the registration offices( )for these exams. Computerized tests will be given every workday in an exam center with all three kinds of tests being held in the same room. All test takers need to do is to call the exam center and book their seats for a particular day. In addition it will become technically possible to apply new testing procedures. In the past,each examinee had the same set of test items despite differences in their ability. Under a computerized system, however, if the computer judges an answer is right, a question of a relatively difficult nature will follow. But if an examinee continues to give wrong answers and is judged as un-qualified by the computer system, he will be automatically _ the chance to go further in the test. If an examinee is not satisfied with his performance _ . Answer: he can admit defeat and give it up Once upon a time all feelings went to an island for a vacation, and each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of a strong storm was announced ,so all rushed to their boats. Yet, Love did not wish to run away quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realized it was time to leave. But there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope. Just then Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love shouted, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you." Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful boat for help, But Vanity said with a cold voice, "No, I can't take you with me. My boat will get dirty with your mummy feet." Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was useless. "No, I can't take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself." When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it hardly concerned about anyone else. Love was growing restless and hopeless. Just then somebody called out, "Come, Love, I will take you with me." Love did not know who was being so kind, but jumped onto the boat happily. After getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Love asked, "Knowledge, do you know who was so kind to give me a lift when no one else wished to help?" Knowledge smiled, "Oh, that was Time," "Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?" Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is." According to the passage, which one did not go to an island for a vacation? Answer: Knowledge In this age of cell phones, text messages and computer keyboards, one Scottish school has returned to basics.It's teaching youngsters the ignored art of writing with a fountain pen.There is no clicking of keyboards in most classrooms at the Mary Erskine and Stewart's Melville Junior School, although there is a full range of facilities for computer lessons and technology isn't being ignored.The private school's headmaster believes the old-fashioned pens have helped strengthen the academic performance and self-esteem of his 1,200 pupils. "The pens improve the quality of work because they force the children to take care, and better work improves self-esteem", headmaster Bryan Lewis said."Proper handwriting is as relevant today as it ever has been." Students as young as 7 have been instructed to give up their ball point pens and begin to deal with its more artful _ .By the time they reach grade five, at age 9, they are expected to write mainly with fountain pens.Lewis said the school's 7- and 8-year-olds use fountain pens for 80 percent to 90 percent of their work, returning to pencils for such subjects as math."I don't see fountain pens as old-fashioned or out of date.Modern fountain pens are beautiful to use? it's not like in the old days of broken metal points and dirtying writing paper," Lewis said."We have a particular writing style and we have developed it very carefully and found a way that allows left-and right-handed people to write without dirtying paper." Some people in wealthy nations argue that handwriting is becoming less important because of the growing use of cell phone text messaging and typing on computers,but the school disagrees."We talk of the paperless office and the paperless world, but this is not true," Lewis said."You still need to have proper handwriting skills." Which is the best title for this passage? Answer: Old-fashioned Pen Coming Back The common cold is the world's most widespread illness, which is probably why there are more myths(,) about it than any of the other illnesses. The most widespread mistake of all is that colds are caused by cold.They are not.They are caused by viruses passing on from person to person.You catch a cold by coming into contact, directly or indirectly, with someone who already has one.If cold causes colds, it would be reasonable to expect the Eskimos to suffer from them forever.But they do not.And in isolated Arctic regions explorers have reported being free from colds until coming into contact again with infected people from the outside world by way of packages and mail dropped from airplanes. At the Common Cold Research Unit in England, volunteers took part in Experiments in which they gave themselves to the discomforts of being cold and wet for long stretches of time.After taking hot baths, they put on bathing suits, allowed themselves to be doused with cold water, and then stood about dripping wet in drafty rooms.Some wore wet socks all day while others exercised in the rain until close to exhaustion.Not one of the volunteers came down with a cold unless a cold virus was actually dropped in his nose. If cold and wet have nothing to do with catching colds, why are they more frequent in the winter? In spite of the most painstaking research, no one has yet found the answer.One explanation offered by scientists is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and this makes it easier for cold viruses to be passed on. No one has yet found a cure for the cold.There are drugs and pain suppressors such as aspirin, but all they do is to relieve the symptoms. What does the passage mainly discuss? Answer: The reason and the way people catch colds.
Which of the following is an example of a physical change? Answer: breaking a glass One of today's hottest topics among women (and to an extent among men too now) is anti aging and how to reverse the signs of age.The beauty industry has responded to this by offering a wide collection of anti aging creams and other anti aging products aimed at all pocketbooks,ranging from economical to highly priced. And the question is "do any of these often much-vaunted anti aging creams actually work?" And if they do,how precisely do they perform their miracles? Well the appropriate response to that is that they do work - after a fashion.There certainly are anti aging creams available for a ly modest price that will reduce the appearance of wrinkles in a comparatively short period of regular application.But this really is the limit of their powers: they won't actually undo skin damage or eradicate all signs of age;they will simply modify them,some more effectively than others. The way they work is like so: they remove upper layers of dead skin cells and make deeper layers absorb water,serving to plump them up and make them look fuller and healthier.But since such anti aging creams only go skin deep,as it were,skin damage will reappear once you stop using the anti aging wrinkle cream. This means fairly heavy regular use,which might be costly depending on your choice of product.However,if you can afford it or think it's worth the cost,it won't be such an issue.After all,what woman wants to look older than her years when looking good is so tied up with many women's self-esteem and sense of identity. A compromise solution for those _ is to use the cheaper creams.In addition,it's always wise to be a little experimental to make sure you end up with the one that suits your skin best. So,to sum up: an anti wrinkle face cream will work within limits,depending on your objective. This passage mainly tells us something about _ . Answer: anti aging creams "Write All About It" Centerville High School Essay Contest Rules 1. Students are asked to submit essays of 500 to 700 words of their own work. Any essay containing material plagiarized from another source will be disqualified. 2. Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced, with the student's name, address, and grade level on a separate sheet of paper. 3. Essays must be turned in by 4:00 p.m. on November 30. They can be brought to Mrs. Elton in Room 104 or to Mr. Markham in the school library. Essay-Writing Tips 1. Catch your readers' interest-Your opening should immediately pull your readers into your essay. Asking a question or starting with an anecdote, quotation, or surprising statement are some good ways to do this. 2. Create a picture-Use active words that show your readers what is happening. Instead of telling your readers vaguely that "the room was disordered," paint a picture using active verbs and lively adjectives. 3. Have a purpose-Well-written essays do more than just describe an incident or express a viewpoint, they also communicate a message. 4.Check for mistakes-Read your paper over to check for mistakes. Ask another student to read your paper and make suggestions. Another pair of eyes will often spot a mistake you've overlooked. 5. Format your essay-Neatly type your essay on white paper. Choose an attractive cover for submission. The computer lab will be open after school from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. each day this month so that students can use the computers. Prizes Winning essays will be published in the Centerville Times. Everyone who takes part in it will also receive a free pass to enter one school activity this year. First Prize: $ 50 savings bond Second Prize: Dictionary and reference book Third Prize: Pen set and journal Which of the following writing tips is given in the passage? Answer: Trying to communicate an important idea to readers. Perhaps it is hard to imagine that a bad tooth could be deadly. But doctors in the Washington area say a twelveyearold boy died last month of a tooth infection that spread to his brain. They say it might have been prevented if the boy had received the dental care he needed. Experts at the National Institutes of Health say good dental care should start at birth. They say breast milk is the best food for the healthy development of teeth. Breast milk can help slow bacterial growth and acid production in the mouth. When baby's teeth begin to appear,you can clean them with a wet toothbrush. Dentists say it is important to find soft toothbrushes made especially for babies,and use them very gently. The use of fluoride to protect teeth is common in many parts of the world. This natural element is often added to drinking water supplies. The fluoride mixes with enamel ,the hard surface on teeth,to help prevent holes,or cavities from forming. But the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry points out that young children often swallow toothpaste when they brush their teeth. The group notes that swallowing fluoridated toothpaste can cause problems. So young children should be carefully supervised when they brush their teeth. And only a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste,the size of a green pea,should be used. Parents often wonder what effects sucking a thumb or sucking on a pacifier might have on their baby's teeth. Dental experts generally agree that this is fine early in life. The American Academy of Family Physicians says most kids stop sucking their thumbs by the age of four. If it continues,the group advises parents to talk to their child's dentist or doctor. It could influence the correct development of permanent teeth. The boy with a bad tooth died because _ . Answer: he didn't receive timely treatment As Ethanol burns it expels what into the ozone Answer: CO2
Question: Not only a popular singer was Yao Beina, but also she was an energetic and warm-hearted angel. She had her corneas donated to two men who needed them, which helped them see the world clearly again. Yao was born in a music family on Sept. 26, 1981 in Wuhan. She started to learn the piano at the age of 4, and she sang her first song on the stage when she was 9 years old. Yao did quite well in singing, so she took part in the thirteenth Youth Singing Competition and won the first prize. She became well-known to the public after making a series of songs for the hit TV drama "The Legend of Zhenhuan" in 2012, and the mandarin version of "Let It Go" from Disney's "Frozen". In July 2013, she competed in The Voice of China II and finally got the second place in Na Ying's team. She had won a lot of music awards before she was famous. Yao Beina was unfortunate to be diagnosed with breast cancer and had a successful operation in 2011. Since then, she has fought against the disease for about four years while keeping singing, but sadly she failed. She originally thought of donating all of her organs to save others' lives, but failed to do it because of her serious illness. She's gone, even though she had never stopped struggling with cancer. Heaven just got another beautiful angel, with her beautiful voice and kindness. How old was Yao Beina when she started to sing for people? A. Four. B. Nine. C. Thirteen. D. Thirty. Answer: B. Nine. Question: Habits, whether good or bad, are gradually formed. When a person does a certain thing again, he is driven by some unseen force to do the same thing repeatedly, then a habit is formed. Once a habit is formed, it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get rid of. It is therefore very important that we should pay great attention to the formation of habits. Children often form bad habits, some of which remain with them as long as they live. Older persons also form bad habits lasting as long as they live, and sometimes become ruined by _ . There are other habits which, when formed in early life, are of great help. Many successful men say that much of their success has something to do with certain habits in early life, such as early rising, honesty and so on. Among the habits which children should not form are laziness, lying, stealing and so on. These are all easily formed habits. Unluckily older persons often form habits which could have been avoided. We should keep away from all these bad habits, and try to form such habits as will be good for ourselves and others. According to the passage, early rising _ . A. has something to do with success B. is an easily formed habit C. is such a habit as should have been avoided D. is such a habit as won't be kept Answer: A. has something to do with success Question: The report came to the British on May 21, 1941. The German battleship Bismarck, the most powerful warship in the world, was moving out into the Atlantic Ocean. Her task: to destroy the ships carrying supplies from the United States to war-torn England. The British had feared such a task. No warship they had could match the Bismarck in speed or in firepower. The Bismarck had eight 15-inch guns and 81 smaller guns. She could move at 30 nautical miles an hour. She was believed to be unsinkable. However, the British had to sink her. They sent out a task force headed by their best battleship Hood to hunt down the Bismarck. On May 24, the Hood found the Bismarck. It was a meeting that the German commander Luetjens did not want to see. His orders were to destroy the British ships that were carrying supplies, but to stay away from a fight with British warships. The battle didn't last long. The Bismarck's first torpedo hit the Hood, which went down taking all but three of her 1,419 men with her. But in the fight, the Bismarck was a bit damaged. Her commander decided to run for repairs to France, which had at that time been taken by the Germans. The British force followed her. However, because of the Bismarck's speed and the heavy fog, they lost sight of her. For two days, every British ship in the Atlantic tried to find the Bismarck, but with no success. Finally, she was sighted by a plane from Ireland. Trying to slow the Bismarck down so that their ships could catch up with her, the British fired at her from the air. The Bismarck was hit. On the morning of May 27, the last battle was fought. Four British ships fired on the Bismarck, and she was finally sunk. Which of the following is the immediate cause of the sinking of the Bismarck? A. The British air strikes. B. The damage done by the Hood. C. Gunfire from the British warships. D. Luetjens' decision to run for France. Answer: C. Gunfire from the British warships. Question: You hear this,"No wonder you are fat.All you ever d0 is eat."You feel sad."I skip my breakfast and supper.I run every morning and evening.What else can I do?" Basically you can do nothing.Your genes,not your life habits,determine your weight and your body constantly tries to maintain it. Albert Stunkard of the University of Pennsylvania found from experiments that"80 percent of the children of two fat parents become fat,as compared with no more than 14.percent of the children of two parents of normal weight." How can obese people become thinner through dieting? Well,dieting can be effective.but the health costs are great. Jules Hirsch,a research physician at Rockefeller University,did a study of eight fat people.They were.given a liquid formula providing 600 calories a day.After more than 10 weeks,the subjects lost on average 45 kg.But after leaving the hospital,they all regained the weight. The results were surprising:by metabolic measurement,fat people who lost large amounts of weight seemed like they were starving.They had psychiatric problems.They dreamed of food or of breaking their diet They were anxious and depressed.Some wanted to kill themselves.They hid food in their rooms. Researchers warn that it is possible that weight reduction doesn't result in normal weight,but in an abnormal state lust like that of starved non.obese people. Thin people, however,suffer from the opposite.They have to make a great effort to gain weight Ethan Sims of the University of Vermont got prisoners to volunteer to gain weight.In four to six months--they ate as much as they could.They succeeded in increasing their weight by 20 to 25 percent. But months after the study ended,they were back to normal weight and stayed there. This did not mean that people are completely without hope in controlling their weight.It means that those who tend to be fat will have to constantly battle their genetic inheritance if they want to significantly 1ower their weight. The findings also provide evidence for something scientists thought was true--each person has a comfortable weight range.The range might be as much as 9kg.Someone might weigh 60--69kg without too much effort.But,going above or below the natural weight range is difficult.The body resists by feeling hungry or full and changing.the metabolism to push the weight back to the range it seeks. From the text,we know that the body can still feel comfortable A. when the weight goes up or down by 6 kg B. when the weight goes up or down by l0 kg C. when the weight is increased by 20 to 25 percent D. when the weight is decreased by 20 to 25 percent Answer: A. when the weight goes up or down by 6 kg Question: Want ads (1) Wanted :"Are you hard-working ?" Do you like to meet people? If your answer is "Yes", then we have a job for you as a waiter, call AL Hotel at 556779! (2)Summer Job: Do you like to talk with people ? Do yu like to write stories? If you want to work for our magazine as a reporter. Please call Karen at 558366. (3)Help wanted: Do you like babies ? Can you look after one baby for two days ? If you are sure to take good care of it, call us at 766588. $80 or more. Today ! Hurry ! (4)Cleaner wanted: Can you make a large house clean and tidy? If you hope to get the job paid at $20 once, call us this evening 18:00-20:00 Tel : 633800. _ are needed in AL hotel. A. Cleaners B. Baby-sitters C. Reporters D. Waiters Answer: D. Waiters
Peter, a high school student, was pretty busy with school, and he was on the soccer team. High school was hard, because everyone wanted to have nice clothes, hang out, drive cars, and all these cost money. Peter's father was the sort of guy that believed you had to earn whatever you got, so he wasn't just about to hand over lots of money for Peter to use to have fun. So, he had to get a job. During his freshman year summer vacation, his classmate got him a job working on a hay farm. He threw hay up into wagons as the tractor drove around fields, and then they stacked it in the hot barn. It was a hot, lowpaying job. He once worked a few nights a week at a grocery store. He put things on the shelf. It was a lot of lifting and carrying, and his arms were strong from this and the previous job. It was dull and didn't pay much. He took some time off when soccer got serious, but the following summer he tried working at a lumber yard. It was hot outside, but he got a lot of exercise lifting and carrying things like boards and drywall. He also learned a lot about building supplies. It still didn't pay well. From there, he spent a year doing some tutoring for a friend of the family, but that was piecemeal. His first real job came the last year at school, when he fixed registers and worked on computers at a big box store. It was his favorite job yet, but it still didn't pay well. What Peter realized with all of these jobs was that he needed a better paying job! The only way to get that was to get trained or educated. He could go to school and get a 2year degree in an office or technical position. His other choices were going to a 4year college or joining the army. He wasn't sure what he was going to do yet, but he knew he had to do something. Jobs were a lot of work, money was hard to earn, but he liked staying busy and being able to buy things. Peter wanted the most out of life, and that meant education. How many jobs had Peter taken? A Three B Four. C Five. D Six. Answer: C. Five. Memory is essential for life. We have a short-term memory and a long-term memory. When we get old, our short-term memory becomes weaker, but we can still remember things that happened a long time ago. There are many things we can do to improve our memory, such as using various memorizing methods as well as taking special care of our health. It is important that we regularly stimulate our brain to make our memory more efficient . For example, we can do activities that we do not usually do and change our daily habits. Learning a new skill helps our brain develop. When trying to memorize something, we should focus our attention on the most important things about it. Do not allow other thoughts to enter our mind because this will lower our chances of remembering things correctly. One basic way of improving our memory is to use the link method. If we want to memorize something, we should make a picture in our mind. If the picture is silly, strange and colourful, we will remember it better. Taking notes, being organized and keeping a diary will also be useful tools. Sometimes, memory is connected with our feelings. When something dramatic happens, we usually remember it well, and we also remember where we were and what we were doing. Healthy food and plenty of vitamins are important to our memory. Drinking a lot of water also helps maintain our memory. When we are asleep, our brain stores memory. Not enough sleep can, therefore, cause problems with storing information. In addition, being tired will stop us from being able to remember well. As a result, keeping fit and having regular health checks are both important as well. When people try to remember the word 'smiles', an easy way to do this is to imagine there is a 'mile' between the first letter and the last letter. This is because they _ . A use the link method B connect it with feelings C have a good rest D take some notes Answer: A. use the link method Hello, children and parents. Thank you all for coming to this meeting. I'd like to start by confirming that we will receive some money from the government for our school trip to Indonesia. We will receive approximately $1,300 per child, which will reduce the overall cost to you. Now that we are sure to get the money, it is time to do some serious planning. We are sure that the trip will be very exciting for the children, especially if they have not traveled overseas before. There are many benefits to having some exposure to different places and cultures. Your children will be able to learn a lot about other people and cultures on this trip. Leanne is with us tonight. Leanne, where are you? Put up your hand, Leanne, so that the people can see who you are. Thank you. Leanne went on the trip last year and will be happy to tell you .of her experiences and answer any questions you might have. We will hear from her a bit later in the meeting. We only have five months to organize the trip. From past experience I can tell you that the time will go very quickly! So we need to start organizing the trip. This is the agenda for tonight's meeting: * Passport: when and how to apply for one * Schedule: what places we will visit * Health matters: what precautions you need to take, plus any special needs that your child may have * Studying: description of the school and type of lessons your child will attend * Money: paying for the trip, plus how much money your child should take * Hotel: where we will be staying *Clothing and personal items: what your children should take with them Are there any other items that you would like to place on the agenda? We can learn from the text that _ A Leanne knows very well about the coming trip and will go with the group B the students are able to attend some lessons during their trip C the students' going on the trip will cost nothing D the speaker is likely to come from the government Answer: B. the students are able to attend some lessons during their trip People travel for a lot of reasons. Some tourists go to see battlefields or religious shrines .Others are looking for cultures, or simply want to have their pictures taken in front of famous places. Most European tourists are looking for a sunny beach to lie on. _ of northern cities like London, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam spend a lot of their winter in the dark because the days are so short. And much of the rest of the year is in the rain. This is the reason why the Mediterranean has always attracted them. They all come for the same reason: the sun! But there are signs that the are is getting more tourists than it can deal with. The Mediterranean has already been one of the most polluted seas on Earth. And with the increasing numbers of tourists, it's getting worse. However, none does harm to anyone's fun. The Mediterranean is getting more and more popular every year with tourists. Why do most European tourists travel? A Because they want to see battlefields or religious shrines. B Because they are looking for a sunny beach to lie on. C Because they are looking for cultures. D Because they want to have their pictures taken in front of famous places. Answer: B. Because they are looking for a sunny beach to lie on. Many pets got separated from their families almost two years ago, when Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast. A New Jersey family was one of them. They lost their dog. He got away from their backyard during the storm. Chuck James said that his family searched for the brown-and-white dog named Reckless for months after the October 2012 storm. Reckless was a cute dog which brought much pleasure to the whole family, and the youngest daughter Tiffany loved him most. They played together, watched TV together, ate popcorn together and Reckless even saw Tiffany off when she headed for the kindergarten every morning. Chuck James kept searching for the lovely dog in every possible way, but no luck "We reported him missing and called the shelters from time to time, just hoping they had him," James said. "We always kept our hopes up, but finally it was time to move on." James said the family had planned to get a new dog. The dog was to be a tenth birthday surprise for their eldest daughter, Ally. The family of five went to the Monmouth County SPCA( Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to adopt a new animal. When James and his wife walked close to the first cage, they saw a familiar face inside. "He was a little bigger than I remembered because they had fed him well," James joked. "But then he was lying on my wife's feet and I knew it was him. It was unbelievable. I know this dog is meant to be with our family." When SPCA officials asked if they could prove the animal was their dog, a friend sent a _ showing the family, with their dog before Sandy hit the East Coast. "We're all so happy to have him back." James said. The family is living in hotel while their home is being repaired. This weekend, the James went on camping trip with Reckless to celebrate the dog's return Having searched for Reckless for months , the James found him in _ . A an animal hospital B one of their friends' houses C the Monmouth County SPCA D the backyard which was under repair Answer: C. the Monmouth County SPCA
Every morning, kids from a local high school are working hard. They are making and selling special coffee at a coffee cafe. They are also making a lot of money. These students can make up to twelve hundred dollars a day. They are selling their special coffee to airplane passengers. After the students get paid, the rest of the money goes to helping a local youth project. These high school students use a space in the Oakland airport. It is usually very crowded. Many people who fly on the planes like to drink the special coffee. One customer thinks that the coffee costs a lot but it is good and worth it. Most customers are pleasant but some are unhappy. They do not like it if the coffee cafe is not open for business. The students earn $6.10 an hour plus tips. They also get school credit while they learn how to run a business. Many of the students enjoy the work although it took some time to learn how to do it. They have to learn how to steam milk, load the pots, and add flavor. It takes some skill and sometimes mistakes are made. The most common mistake is forgetting to add the coffee. But many students enjoy the job, because they learn a lot experience by serving people. This will benefit them a lot when they enter into society after they finish their school education. By working at the cafe, the students can do all of the following EXCEPT _ . Answer: Eddie's father used to say he'd spent so many years by the ocean, breathing seawater. Now, away from that ocean, in the hospital bed, his body began to look like a beached fish. His condition went from fair to stable and from stable to serious. Friends went from saying, "He'll be home in a day" to "He'll be home in a week." In his father's absence, Eddie helped out at the pier , working evenings after his taxi job. When Eddie was a teenager, if he ever complained or seemed bored with the pier, his father would shout, "What? This isn't good enough for you?" And later, when he'd suggested Eddie take a job there after high school, Eddie almost laughed, and his father again said, "What? This isn't good enough for you?" And before Eddie went to war, when he'd talked of marrying Marguerite and becoming an engineer, his father said, "What? This isn't good enough for you?" And now, regardless of all that, here he was, at the pier, doing his father's labor. Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. It is not until much later, as the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit on top of the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives. Finally, one night, at his mother's urging, Eddie visited the hospital. He entered the room slowly. His father, who for years had refused to speak to Eddie, now lacked the strength to even try. "Don't sweat it, kid," the other workers told him. "Your old man will pull through. He's the toughest man we've ever seen." When the news came that his father had died, Eddie felt the emptiest kind of anger, the kind that circles in its cage. In the weeks that followed, Eddie's mother lived in a confused state. She spoke to her husband as if he were still there. She yelled at him to turn down the radio. She cooked enough food for two. One night, when Eddie offered to help with the dishes, she said. "Your father will put them away." Eddie put a hand on her shoulder. "Ma," he said, softly, "Dad's gone." "Gone where?" From the last part of the passage, we learn that _ . Answer: I was an extremely verbal child, and growing up with my dad was an experiment in linguistics . My father was a man of few words. Whenever I wanted his permission for a certain activity, I planned a speech that included who would be there, where it would take place, how long it would last, and why it was an incredibly wonderful opportunity for me. He would listen and then say either "Yes" or "No." There were never any qualifiers; not "Yes, but be home by dinner" or "No, unless you can convince me otherwise." It was yes or no, plain and simple. My father's phone messages were also lessons in patience and long-suffering to a teenage girl. I was quite active in high school. Not only did I enjoy being involved in many areas, but I came into contact with many a great teenage guy. I can recall one busy day when I had met two great guys and had given each of them my phone number. The first words out of my mouth when I walked through the front door were, "Dad! Did anyone call?" His answer, of course, was simply "Yes".I required for a more accurate description of the caller. His answer: "A boy." Since I had met two guys that day, this did not help me. I ran to my room in tears. Knowing my dad's dislike of language in general and his fondness for briefness, it surprised me to hear that he was going to teach the eleven-year-old boys' Sunday school class. He did so for not one, but many years. I always wondered if he actually said anything, or if they all just sat in their chairs and stared at each other. I was sure that if people were waiting on my father to _ with brilliant conversation or a springboard comment, they'd be badly disappointed. Still, September after September, my father hung his sign outside the Sunday school room: Mr. Ernst--Eleven-Year-Old Boys. In order to get Dad to agree to the author's outing, the author had to make up the following EXCEPT _ . Answer: This weekly four-day physical activity schedule will get your kids excited about being active. Tuesday When the kids get home from school, don't let them go straight to the TV and get settled in. Encourage them to get moving and get off the couch by giving them a pedometer . Pedometers are the most fun when parents also use one because that turns stepping, walking and running into a game to see who can get the most steps. Thursday The kids have done a great job so far this week, but now they long for a little more TV time. Instead of turning on cartoons, let them watch fitness movies made just for kids. These movies encourage watchers to get up and dance along to kid-friendly music. Saturday Get the whole family out of the house together and over to a park. Bring lots of sports equipment, pack a healthy picnic and have a family competitive sports day. Kids and adults get into groups and play against each other in tennis, basketball or soccer. After everyone has played hard for a couple of hours, stop for a picnic and then if your family isn't too tired, go back and play some more. Sunday Every child loves to play video games and there is no better time to allow kids to play them than on Sunday when no homework is due. But don't let them play a game that forces them to sit down for hours. Dance games with a floor mat to help kids follow the dance moves are popular to kids. On Thursday when a kid wants to watch TV, his parents should _ . Answer: Old Bear Kevin Henkes(2008), under 40 pages Target Audience: Preschoolers Price: $3.8 Content: It is snowing really hard and Old Bear is getting ready for his long nap. As he sleeps, he dreams of being a cub again and enjoying the wonders of nature. He dreams about summer, fall, winter and spring and how each season brings him so much joy! The illustrations show the beauty of the seasons that Old Bear dreams about. Great book! Half-Minute Horrors Susan Rich(2009), 120~160 pages Target Audience: Intermediates (4th~6th grade) Price: $9.6 Content: Looking for a scary book that is also quick to read? How about a one-paragraph tale of terror or a simple drawing that will make your skin crawl? This book is a collection of very short stories, pictures and cartoons from an impressive group of authors and illustrators. Leaves David Ezra Stein(2007), under 40 pages Illustrated by David Ezra Stein Target Audience: Toddlers, Preschoolers Price: $3.4 Content: It's Little Bear's first year. Fall has come to his island. When the leaves begin to fall, he wonders what to do. However, after following his instinct and sleeping through the winter, he awakens in spring to find everything blooming once again. Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' Eileen Spinelli (2003) , under 40 pages Illustrated by Megan Lloyd Target Audience: Preschoolers Price: $3.5 Content: The Tappletons (bears) are gathered together for their big Thanksgiving feast. However, all is not going well during the preparations. The turkey slides out of the house, down a hill and into a pond. There are no pies at the bakery and the lettuce for the salad has been given to the rabbits. As they sit down for the feast, Grandmother Tappleton reminds them that although they have nothing to eat, they can still be thankful that they have each other. What can we learn from the book Thanksgiving at the Tappletons'? Answer:
Today we find that school students hardly spend much time on sports. Is it because they aren't interested in sports? No, they often say they have other important things to do. What are these important things? Tests! They have to spend much time on all kinds of tests at school. So many of them almost become bookworms . Books stop them from going out for sports. Because of the _ from their parents and teachers, the students have to work harder and spend most of their time on books. As for the students, they want to get good results in order to improve their studies. So it is necessary for them to give all of their free time to their studies and stop their school sports. In fact, education can't go without body exercise, because a quick mind hardly goes along with a weak body. If you don't have a strong body, you can never get anything or any great success in your life. Which of the following is NOT TRUE? The students don't go out for sports because of their parents. William H. Gates is chairperson and chief software architect of Microsoft Corporation.the worldwide leader in software services and internet technologies for personal and business computing. Bill Gates was born on October 28.1 955 in a family having rich business,political and community service background.His great--grandfather was a state legislator and a mayor,his grandfather was vice president of national bank and his father was a lawyer. Bill strongly believes in hard work. He believes that if you are intelligent and know how to apply your intelligence,you can achieve anything.From childhood Bill was ambitious, intelligent and competitive.These qualities helped him to attain top position in the profession he chose.1n school,he had an excellent record in mathematics and science.Bill's parents came to know their son's intelligence and decided to send him to a private school,known for its good academic environment.It was a very important decision in Bill Gates' life where he was first introduced to a computer.Bill Gates and his friends were very much interested in computer and formed "programmer's Group" in late l968. Later,Bill Gates and his close friend Allen started a new company of their own,Traf-O-Data.They developed a small computer to measure traffic flow.From this project they earned around$20,000.In 1973.he left home for Harvard University.He did well over there,but he couldn't find it interesting.He spent many long nights in front of the school's computer and the next day asleep in class. Within a year.Bill Gates dropped out from Harvard.Then he formed Microsoft.Microsoft's vision is" A computer on every desk and Microsoft software on every computer".His belief in high intelligence and hard work has put him where he is today.He does not believe in mere luck,but just hard work and competitiveness. Bill Gates is not a greedy person.In fact,he is quite a giving person when it comes to computers,internet and any kind of funding.Several years ago, he visited Chicago's Einstein Elementary School and announced grants benefiting Chicago's schools and museums where he donated a total of $1 1 0,000,a bunch of computers,and provided internet connectivity to a number of schools.Secondly,Bill Gates donated 38 million dollars for the building of a computer institute at Stanford University.Gates has decided to give away 95%of all his earnings when he retires. What is the most important turning point in Bill Gates' life? He was sent to a private school where he first studied computer. Every year people celebrate the Spring Festival in China.Usually it is in January or February.It's the most important festival in China.So before it comes,everyone buys many things,and they often make a special kind of food called dumplings-It means"come together".Parents always buy new clothes for their children and children also buy presents for their parents.On the Spring Festival eve ,all the family members come back home. They sing, dance and play cards.When they enjoy the meal,they give each other the best wishes for the coming year.They all have a good time. Which is the most important festival in China? The Spring Festival The environmental group 350.org has launched a new campaign called Climate Name Change that proposes to revise to how hurricanes are named: call them after policymakers who say that humans are not to blame for global warming. This will save the Katrinas and Sandys of the world from the injustice of having their names attached to major disaster, the group says. And, as a bonus, it will produce some peculiar weather reports. "Rick Perry leaves trail of death," appears under a broadcast titled "Rick Perry: The Tragedy." "Michelle Bachman is incredibly dangerous. If you value your life, please seek shelter from Michelle Bachman," says an official while addressing a news conference. The campaign is unlikely to influence the World Meteorological Organization, which has since 1954 named Atlantic tropical storms from an official list. But the campaign's goal seems less to actually name a hurricane after the speaker of the house, and more to call attention to an issue that this month has reached an alarming level of seriousness. The campaign comes just a month before the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will release its most recent report on the state of global warming and a week after a draft of the report was given away to Reuters. In the draft, scientists concluded with near certainty - about 95 percent sure - that humans are to blame for the worldwide temperature hikes over the last few decades. That was a revision from the 2007 report, which put scientific certainty that human activities were driving global climate change at about 90 percent. And global warming, the report said, is not slowing down - it, actually, is accelerating. That means that sea levels could balloon upward as much as three feet by the end of the century, if emissions continue at their current pace. Still, as the Washington Post Climate notes, hurricanes are not the best sign of global warming. Though current data suggests that global warming will in the future stir up terrible super storms, there is still not enough evidence to support the idea that climate change strengthens the recent hurricanes that have torn at the US's eastern coastline. The writer of the passage seems to believe that _ . global warming has no necessary relation to terrible hurricanes People enjoy taking trips. But what are the reasons they leave home? One reason is for education. People travel because they want to learn more about other people and other places. They are curious about other cultures. When people are tourists, they get a quick look at different ways of living. Even a short look at another kind of lifestyle is an important lesson. On a trip, a person can learn directly by visiting museums and historic spots. What does a tourist learn who sees the art museums, visits the historical palaces and other scenic spots in Paris and shops along the River Seine? He gets a vivid picture, a real life of one of the French people. He learns about their attitudes , how they feel about business, beauty and history. What about the tourist who goes to Hong Kong? Does he get the same information that he could get from a book? He might read that Hong Kong is crowded, that there is less than 200 square meters of space for each person. But seeing and feeling the lack of space will impress him much more. He might read that there are nearly 200 vehicles for every kilometer of roadway. But the sight of so many vehicles parked along the roadside would be a much more vivid lesson. The tourist to Hong Kong will never forget the contrasts(,): the straight vertical lines of tall modern buildings and the moving lines of boats that people live in. What does the passage tell us about traveling? It enables us to get first-hand knowledge.
Question: A clinic in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, works to support the health of people and forests. Kinari Webb is an American doctor who helped start the non-profit group that operates the clinic. The group is known as ASRI. Dr. Webb says most communities value the local forests, but illegal logging was often their only way to earn money to pay for health care. "Villagers know that if they protect the forest, that's good for their long-term well-being. But if they have no money to see a doctor, they have to do illegal logging," said Dr. Webb. The clinic is in Sukadana, a village outside Gunung Palung National Park. Each month someone from ASRI visits the surrounding villages to see if they are actively logging or burning land within the park. Communities that do not take part in illegal logging pay about 40 percent less for health care than those that do. Also, the clinic uses a barter system. Patients can pay with things like handmade baskets, labor exchanges, young trees or fruit they grow. Patients learn about environmental conservation as they wait to register at the clinic. Many of the 70 staff members also help communities learn about organic farming and other ways to earn money. In May, ASRI started a program to identify forest "guardians". These guardians work with the community to try to prevent illegal logging. One of the guardians says he entered the program because ASRI helped his son recover from tuberculosis . The clinic is small, but very busy. However, people did not trust the clinic at first. They wanted to go to the only hospital in the area. Yet its resources are limited and villagers often have to travel more than two hours to get there. Now, people happily share stories about the clinic. Amelia's mother is one of them. She started going there when her daughter was eight months old. She says the treatment is good. Dr. Webb smiled when she heard that. Dr. Webb said: "Health care is an incredible key. And everyone everywhere around knows that we really care and that we are helping save their lives." A barter system is a system in which _ . A. people trade by the exchange of goods B. patients can receive a free treatment C. customers pay the goods in cash D. trees are taken good care of Answer: A. people trade by the exchange of goods Question: Barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. Many people passed, but never did one person stop. The next day I decided to go back to the park, curious to see if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very spot as she was yesterday, she sat with the saddest look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I began walking towards her, I could see the back of the little girl's dress indicated a deformity . I smiled to let her know it was okay, I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple "Hello". I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said, "Because I'm different." I immediately said "That you are!" and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder. She said, "I know." She looked at me and smiled. Slowly she stood to her feet, and said, "Really?" "Yes, dear, you're like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by." She nodded her head "yes" and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said with a twinkle in her eye, "I am. I'm your guardian angel." I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done." Immediately I stood to my feet and said, "Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel!?" She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one who could see me, and you believe it in your heart." ...and she was gone. And with that my life changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you. Mine is! People just passed by the girl because _ . A. they pretended not to see her B. she pretended to be poor C. they never thought of helping her D. they knew the author would help her Answer: C. they never thought of helping her Question: If you have a problem with speaking, you can do several things. Listen to English as much as possible. You can learn a poem or a song by heart. You can also learn more dialogues . And practice speaking with your friends as much as you can. Many people find it difficult to listen to English. The answer is to listen as much as you can. However, don't do too much at one time. It is better to practice listening for five minutes every day. Don't sit down and listen for an hour at a time. That's too much! Do choose listening passages that are interesting and not too difficult. Choose tapes on which the people speak clearly and not too fast. Take it easy, at first. Success with simple tapes at the beginning is the answer. Later on you can practice with tapes that are more difficult. Finally, how can you learn to write well? How do you use little words like in, on, of and for? There are two answers to this. First, do some study with new words. Keep a list of verbs like look for, look after and so on. Second, read as much English as possible. There are many things that can't be learnt. You must see them in books many times. Then you'll be able to use them correctly yourself. So, in order to write well, you must first learn to read much. If you _ , you can speak well. A. learn more dialogues B. learn a poem or a song by heart C. practice speaking with your friends as much as you can D. all above Answer: D. all above Question: As the richest country in the world, you'd expect that Qatar would also be the happiest. And you'd also expect Japanese people to be extremely positive, seeing as though they have the highest life expectancy. But clearly wealth and good health do not guarantee happiness after both countries failed to make the top ten most positive countries. The poll ( ) of nearly 150,000 people around the world found that seven of the world's 10 countries with the most upbeat attitudes are in Latin America. _ asked about 1,000 people in each of 148 countries if they were wellrested, had been treated with respect, smiled or laughed a lot, learned or did something interesting and felt feelings of enjoyment the previous day. In Panama and Paraguay, 85 percent of those polled said yes to all five, putting those countries at the top of the list. They were followed closely by El Salvador, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Guatemala, the Philippines, Ecuador and Costa Rica. The people least likely to report positive emotions lived in Singapore, the wealthy and orderly citystate that ranks among the most developed in the world. Other wealthy countries also sat surprisingly low on the list. Germany and France tied with the poor African state of Somaliland for 47th place. Many of the seven countries which were most positive do poorly in traditional measures of wellbeing, like Guatemala, a country torn by decades of civil war followed by waves of gangdriven criminality that give it one of the highest killing rates in the world. Guatemala sits just above Iraq on the United Nations' Human Development Index, a composite of life expectancy, education and per capital income. But it ranks seventh in positive emotions. In Guatemala, it's a culture of friendly people who are always smiling, said Luz Castillo, a 30yearold surfing instructor. Despite all the problems that we're facing, we're surrounded by natural beauty that lets us get away from it all. The poll shows that prosperous nations can also be deeply unhappy ones. And povertystricken ones are often positive, or at least a close approximation of it. Which of the following is NOT included in the United Nations' Human Development Index? A. Life expectancy. B. Education. C. Natural beauty. D. Per capital income. Answer: C. Natural beauty. Question: A new planet-hunting technique has detected the most earth-like planet yet around a star other than our sun, raising hopes of finding a space rock that might support life, astronomers reported recently. "This is an important discovery to answer the question 'Are we alone?'" said Michael Turner of the National Science Foundation. "The team has discovered the most earth-like planet yet, and more importantly, has proved the power of a new technique that is sensitive to detecting planets that are fit for people to live on," Turner said in a statement. In the last decade, astronomers have detected more than 160 planets moving around stars outside our solar system. Most of these have been gas giant planets like Jupiter, which are unfit for life. But an international team has detected a cold planet about 5.5 times more massive than the earth -- still small enough to be considered earth-like -- moving around a star about 20,000 light years away, close to the center of the Milky Way. To find this new planet, the team used a technique called gravitational microlensing . When a planet is circling the closest star, the planet's gravity can add its own signature to the light. This kind of light signature was observed on July 11 by a group of telescopes in a project known as OGLE, short for Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. "The main advantage of microlensing is the signals for low-mass planets: They're not weak signals. They're just rare," Bennett of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana said by telephone. "If there happens to be a straight line between a foreground star with its planet and the background source star, then you're able to detect that planet." Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A. The signals coming from low-mass planets are too weak to be noticed. B. Most of the discovered planets are not fit for people to live on. C. If a star with its planet happens to be in line with the source star, then the planet can be found. D. The power of the new technique is proved by the discovery of the earth-like planet. Answer: A. The signals coming from low-mass planets are too weak to be noticed.
Tahiti is the largest island of the French Polynesia in South Pacific. It covers 1,045 km and has a population of 183,600.The weather there is neither too hot nor too cold. It's always warm and humid. Tahitian people are very friendly and welcoming. They welcome visitors with music, dance and flowers. The Tiare Tahiti flower, which can only be found in Tahiti, is used for greeting arriving visitors and returning family, It's popular for women and men to wear the flowers behind their left ears. In Tahiti, there are always a lot of things to do and to see. Around the island are hundreds of places perfect for diving. In the waters, you can meet all kinds of colorful fish and many other living things that you can't name. Feeding sharks is another exciting popular activity. You can stand in the water behind a safe rope to watch a shark trainer hand--feed the sharks, or enjoy this fantastic scene from the boat. If you want to find a place to swim, have a sun bath or admire the beautiful sunset, Pointe Venus Lighthouse, a black sand beach, is a great choice. In the evening ,you can have Tahitian food, Chinese food and French--style dishes at To'ata, a square with many small restaurants. All kinds of fruit juice from coconut milk to pineapple juice can be found everywhere. Some hotels in Tahiti are built above the waters. Beautiful fish swimming below can be seen through the glass floor or coffee table. They are really wonderful places to relax and refresh you. Tahiti, an amazing place to do everything or nothing at all, is waiting for you. Which of the following is TURE about Tahiti? Answer: Visitors can enjoy themselves in over--water hotels Saturday, March 24th We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok. This is our first trip to Thailand . All the different smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North. Tuesday, March 27th Bangkok is wonderful and surprising. The places are interesting. We visited the famous market which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai. Friday, March 30th Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people here love the quiet life--no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. They always smile and say"hello". Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year. The diaries above show the writer's _ days in Thailand. Answer: 7 Here is a report from Xinghua Daily Newspaper. Computer games are very popular not only with the young people but also the adults. In some ways, they will take the place of the traditional games such as cards, chess and so on. Because you only need a computer to play computer games. But in the past, if a man wanted to play chess, he must look for another one. In fact, computer games themselves are so interesting and exciting for us. The games can bring you happiness and excitement. They have been used in too many places such as schools, business, hospitals and so on. Now there are many educational games for the students. They are helpful to the students. They can make the students learn more and better by changing the study ways. When the students play the educational games, they use their brains, eyes, ears and hands. The students will be active to get knowledge while playing. But now the students shouldn't spend too much time on the computer games. Otherwise, it may _ their study. We have gone into the computer age. And learning too much knowledge through the computer is becoming true. Can computer games take the place of the traditional games according to the report? Answer: In some ways. There are two methods by whichhydrogen can be used to power cars. The first way is to use hydrogen to drive the engine, in much the same way as many cars use gas. The second method is to use the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen in a battery, making the car a kind of electric one. The dream of producing hydrogen in the car while driving along byelectrolyzing water is a long way off, so we are still at the period of batteries and filling the tank with hydrogen gas. This is the difficulty for potential car users and producers. There are only sixteen hydrogen filling stations in Los Angeles and none in 99% of other cities worldwide. Indeed, some of the big name automobile producers have pulled out of the race to put the first practical hydrogen car on the streets. Ford and GM have announced that they are pulling out in America and so has Renault in France. However, the Japanese companies are pressing on. In fact, Honda introduced its first hydrogen fuel cell car in 1999. They are now producing second generation hydrogen car known as the FCX Clarity. Guess where they are available for sale? In only one city because of its filling stations. Honda thinks that they could go into full-scale production of the FCX Clarity by 2020 if the world is prepared for _ by then. Then there are hydrogen-powered buses in several European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg and Madrid. Lotus, the makers of London taxis, have announced that they propose to manufacture hydrogen-powered taxis in time for the London Olympics. So, the hydrogen vehicle is out there and the numbers will be growing fairly soon. The buses go back to their bus station, where an electrolyzing machine changes water into fuel for them to fill up on and the same will be the case for many of London's taxis. Unfortunately, getting fuel is not the only difficulty for the average motorist, a number of these vehicles cost about $300,000 each. Where are hydrogen cars currently available for sale? Answer: In Los Angeles A serious threat to farmers in many parts of the world is erosion. Erosion occurs if a large area of land is cleared of trees and is then badly treated by the farmers. The rain and winds may gradually wash away, or blow away, much of the topsoil. When this happens, crops of wheat or corn become weaker and weaker until nothing grows well. If erosion continues, it will turn good land into a desert. In the past, when erosion appeared, farmers sometimes moved to a new place to farm. Sometimes they could not move, but continued to try to grow food in the unhealthy soil. This caused them to sink into poverty. Soon some people realized that there was little rich, fertile soil in the world, government began to try to stop erosion. One of the first experiments to stop erosion began in the prefix = st1 /United Statesin 1933. The experiment was carried out in the area of the Tennessee River. Floods and had farming in this area had ruined land that had once been rich. As a result, most of the people living around the Tennessee River were very poor. The government built big dams across the river and stored the water for use during the dry season when there was no rain. The government workers also helped farmers to fertilize their soil and to learn new farming methods which could stop erosion. At the beginning, the farmers were not interested. But soon, good healthy crops began to appear on the land where new methods where used. Ten years after the extremely prosperous, the great success of this experiment had led similar projects in the other parts of the world. The main purpose of this passage is to tell people_. Answer: something can be done to prevent erosion
Do you want to be a basketball player like Kobe Bryant , Shaquille O'Neal or Yao Ming ? Come to join us ! We have many sports clubs : basketball , ping-pong , soccer , volleyball , and more . The price is 5 dollars for each lesson . Do you want to join our sports clubs ? Please call Mr. Green . He plays basketball very well . His telephone number is 371-1236 . His e-mail address is spcb@163.com . Or you can call Miss Jones at 371-1237 . She is our tennis coach . She is good with the students . Her e-mail address is jiayi@126.com . From the passage , we know Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal are _ players . Answer: Dad was lying in the hospital weakly, but his smile was as sure as ever . It was another attack of lung illness. My husband and I stayed with him for the weekend but had to return to our jobs on Monday. Local relatives would help Dad get home from hospital and look after him. But I longed to be able to let him know that we cared about him too, even when we weren't with him. Then I remembered a family tradition when our children were small. When leaving our grandparents' home after a visit, each child would write a love note to their grandparents. We hid notes in a box, under a hairbrush or next to the phone or even in the microwave oven. For days, our grandparents would smile as they discovered these reminders of our love. So as I tidied Dad's kitchen and made up a bed for him downstairs in the living room, I wrote some notes. Some were practical, "Dad, I put the food in the fridge so it wouldn't spoil". Some expressed my love, "Dad, I hope you will sleep well in your new bed." Most notes were downstairs where he would stay for several weeks until he recovered strength, but one note I hid upstairs under his pillow, "Dad, if you have found this note, you must be feeling better. We are so glad!" Just like his medicine strengthened him physically, these "emotional vitamins" would improve his spiritual health. Several weeks later, in one of our regular phone calls, I asked Dad how he was doing. He said, "Pretty good. I just found your note under my pillow upstairs!" The children hid notes in their grandparents' home in order to _ Answer: Are you a media addict who would go mad after two hours without TV, friend requests, exciting online games and your mobile - or would you easily survive? Recently, university students around the world were asked to volunteer in a global experiment called Unplugged. It was designed to see how young people would react if they were asked to observe a total media ban by unplugging all forms of media devices for 24 hours. Unplugged is being run by Dr Roman Gerodimos, a lecturer in Communication and Journalism at Bournemouth University. The experiment is now over but he doesn't yet know the full findings. However, during the experiment, Dr Gerodimos said there were already signs of how much the exercise affected volunteers. He said: "They're reporting withdrawal symptoms , overeating, feeling nervous, isolated and disconnected." During their 24-hour painful experience, three of the experiment's guinea pigs had to endure one intrusion from the media: a BBC reporter plus cameraman who followed them around for the day. They were asked to write down 100 lines about their day offline, but of course, they all waited until the next day when they had access to their laptops. Elliot Day wrote: "Today, my whole morning routine was thrown up into the air. Despite being aware of the social importance of the media, I was surprised by how empty my life felt without the radio or newspapers." From Caroline Scott, we read: "I didn't expect it, but being prevented from the media for 24 hours resulted in my day-to-day activities becoming so much harder to carry out than usual... I didn't break out in a cold sweat like our lecturer expected us all to, but it's not something I would like to do again!" And Charlotte Gay wrote: "I have to say the most difficult item for me to be without has been my mobile; not only is it a social tool, it's my main access point of communication." Earlier in the year, a UK government study found that in the UK we spend about half our waking hours using the media, often plugged into several things at once. And a recent study by Nielson found that on average, US teenagers send and receive over 3,000 texts per month ---that's about six texts per waking hour. So, with technology continuing to develop at an alarming rate, how much time will you set aside for sleep in the future? About Dr. Roman Gerodimos' experiment, we know that _ . Answer: It's so beautiful outside that spending the day in the office would be very boring. So why not take the vacations off? A new survey found that 31%of U.S workers don't always take all of their vacation days. Americans have 12 vacation days on average each year, but they give back an average of 3 vacation days each year. So why don't they use up their vacation days? Some say they would rather get money back for their unused days; some busy workers say they just can't leave their work. Americans have fewer vacation days than workers in any other country surveyed. The French take their vacations seriously. French workers get an average of 39 vacation days, and 40% plan to take at least one there-to-four-week vacation. Workers in Sweden receive an average of 25 vacation days a year, but they can't find time to use them all. More workers there return vacation days than any other country surveyed. British workers have the longest working week in Europe ,with 23 vacation days --the shortest vacation. So they feel overworked.75% say their weekends or vacations are too short and 40% would _ a day's pay for one more vacation day. Which country has the most workers working during the vacation days? Answer: Description Tap the Apple Store app on your iPhone or iPod touch, and you can do all things Apple. Buy Apple products and accessories and read customer reviews. Add free laser engraving and choose signature gift wrap on select products to make your items even more special. Find Apple Retail Stores, reserve select Apple products for pickup at your favorite store, and request help when you are at the store. Schedule Genius Bar and One to One reservations and check in for them when you arrive. The Apple Store app is also the easiest way to buy or reserve your new iPhone -- right from your current iPhone. You can do it in just a few taps, without entering your AT&T account information. Order your new iPhone from the Apple Online Store and it's shipped to you free and ready to use. Or reserve your new iPhone, pick it up at an Apple Retail Store, and we'll set it up for you in minutes. Apple Online Store Features - Explore new and featured products from Apple. - Buy a new iPhone and other Apple products, accessories, and software. - Add free personal engraving to any new iPad or iPod. - Choose signature gift wrapping for any iPad or iPod, select Mac notebooks, and select Apple software and accessories. - Read customer reviews and get answers to product questions. Apple Retail Store Features - Reserve iPhone and other select products for pick up. - Request help, check in for reservations, and receive meet-up alerts when you are at a store (iOS 4 required). - Make Genius Bar and One to One reservations. - Sign up for workshops and events. What's New in Version 1.1 - Add engraving and gift wrapping to select purchases from the Apple Online Store. - Reserve products for pickup at an Apple Retail Store. - Check in for reservations and request help within stores (iOS 4 required). - Add Apple Retail Store reservations directly to iCal. Please note: With Location Services on and the Apple Store app open, Apple will use your location to identify nearby Apple Retail Stores and to offer additional services when you are in a store. If you have previously selected the Apple Store app using location but do not want this new feature, you can update your Location Services preferences in General Settings. Tap the Apple Store app on your iPhone, and you can _ . Answer:
Krakatau volcano is in a small island in Indonesia. It had been peaceful for about 200 years before it erupted in 1883. The first signs of the activity of the volcano appeared in May 1883, when fire and smoke could be seen at the top of the mountain. Great noise could be heard even in Jakarta a hundred miles away. Later the activity grew much greater. The peak was covered with smoke and fire; the smoke at one time was seventeen miles high in the air. The lava--soft and hot rock--shot up into the air and rolled down the sides of the mountain. The mouth of the volcano was not at the peak of the mountain but on its side, close to the sea. As it grew bigger and bigger with the eruption, the sea water got into it. When the sea water reached the lava inside the volcano, it made the upper part of the lava colder and harder. And this sealed off the rest of the lava below. As the inside of the lava could not break through the seal, the pressure built up until the mountain blew up. The eruption of the volcano was followed by several earthquakes which brought about bad result. About 36000 people were killed and many towns and villages near the sea were completely destroyed by the great waves which the earthquake caused. What makes volcanoes erupt? A The sea water which goes into the volcano B The lava. C The pressure which is bigger and bigger. D All the above. Answer: D. All the above. Georgia Aquarium is open 365 days a year. Please note that hours of operation do vary.Last ticket sold and entry is 30 minutes before closing time. Regular Hours Sunday--Friday:10 a.m.--5 P.m. Saturday:9 a.m.--6 p.m. Summer Hours:May 27-August 16 Monday-Saturday:9 a.m.--9 P.m. Sunday:9 a.m.--6 p.m. Full Price Total Ticket Adult(ages 13-64):$38.95 Child(ages 3-12):$32.95 Senior(age 65+):$34.95 Total Ticket Online Discount Adult(ages 13-64):$35.95 Child(ages 3-12):$29.95 Senior(age 65+):$31.95 Animal Encounters:$59.95 Beluga&Friends Interactive Program:$179.95 Journey with Gentle Giants Immersion Program:$234.95 AT&T Dolphin Tales Our new dolphin gallery, theater and show are now open.The gallery and viewing window are open to general admission guests periodically throughout the day.Show times vary each day, so check for times when you are purchasing general admission tickets.Don't forget-AT&T Dolphin Tales is included in Total Ticket general admission,so don't miss this spectacular show ! 4D Theater--Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow Presented by AT&T With multiple shows throughout the day,be sure to catch this unique experience at Georgia Aquarium.Admission to the 4D Theater is included in Total Ticket general admission! Journey with Gentle Giants Immersion Program Swim or scuba dive in the Ocean Voyager exhibit,built by The Home Depot.Swims are daily at 4:30 p.m.,and scuba dives are daily at 3 p.m.and Saturday and Sunday at ll a.m.Spots are limited,so it's best to book in advance. Beluga&Friends Interactive Program Interact with belugas and harbor seals in the Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest gallery.This animal interaction occurs daily at 10 a.m.and 1:30 p.m.Spots are limited,so it's best to book in advance. Animal Encounters Interact with a penguin daily at l1:30 a.m.and l:45 p.m.You can also experience a special encounter with a dolphin.Spots are limited,so it's best to book in advance. With a Total Ticket,visitors are allowed to visit _ . A Animal Encounters B Beluga&Friends Interactive Program C 4D Theater-Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow D Journey with Gentle Giants Immersion Program Answer: C. 4D Theater-Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts settling, the World Health Organization warned Friday as small amounts fell in Iceland, Scotland and Norway. WHO spokesman Daniel Epstein said the tiny ash is potentially dangerous for people when it starts to reach the Earth because particles taken in by people can enter the lungs and cause breathing problems. And he also said Europeans who go outside might want to consider wearing a mask. Other experts, however, weren't convinced the volcanic ash would have a major effect on peoples' health and said WHO's warnings were " _ ." They said volcanic ash was much less dangerous than cigarette smoke or pollution. Volcanic ash is made of fine particles of fragmented volcanic rock. It is light gray to black and can be as fine as talcum powder . During a volcanic eruption, the ash can be breathed deep into the lungs and cause irritation (,) even in healthy people. But once it falls from a greater distance -- like from the cloud currently hovering above Europe -- its health effects are often minimal, experts say. "Not all particles are created equal," said Ken Donaldson, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, "In the great scheme of things, volcanic ash is not all that harmful." And he said most Europeans' exposure to volcanic ash would be ignored and that only those in the near districts of the Icelandic volcano would likely be at risk. Dr. Stephen Spiro, a professor of the British Lung Foundation, said the further the particles travel, the less dangerous they will be. "The cloud has already passed over northern Scotland and we haven't heard of any ill effects there," he said. Spiro said to wear masks or stay indoors to avoid volcanic ash was "over the top" and "a bit hysterical." The text is mainly about _ . A the effect of volcanic ash B the health risk of volcanic ash C the disadvantages of volcanic ash D the opinions on health risk of volcanic ash Answer: D. the opinions on health risk of volcanic ash A Chinese couple tried to name their baby "@", saying the character best represents their love for the child, according to an official trying to standardize the national language. The unusual name stands out especially in Mandarin, which has no alphabet and instead uses tens of thousands of multistroke characters to represent words. "The whole world uses it to write emails, and translated into Chinese it means 'love him'," the father explained, according to the deputy chief of the State Language Commission Li Yuming. While the @ symbol is familiar to Chinese email users, they often use the English word "at" to sound it out. With a drawnout "t", this sounds something like "ai ta", or "love him", to Mandarin speakers. Li says the name is an extreme example of people's increasingly adventurous approach to Mandarin, as commercialization and the Internet break down conventions . Another couple tried to give their child a name that in English sounds like "King Osrina". Li did not say if officials accepted the "@" name. But earlier this year the government announced a ban on names using Arabic numerals and foreign languages. Sixty million Chinese face the problem that their names use ancient characters so uncommon that computers cannot recognize them _ , said Li, according to a report on the government website. One of them is the former Premier Zhu Rongji, whose name has a rare "rong" character that gives newspaper editors headaches. Why did the Chinese couple try to name their baby "@"? A Because they wanted their baby to have a special name. B Because they wanted their baby to have an international name. C Because the @ symbol is familiar to email users all over the world. D Because the @ symbol sounds something like "ai ta", which means "love him" in Chinese. Answer: D. Because the @ symbol sounds something like "ai ta", which means "love him" in Chinese. Gold Coast theme parks come in all shapes and sizes and whether you like roller coasters or patting furry animals, you're sure to find something. Movie World Movie World is the only movie-related theme park in Australia. With one of the best coasts and a good handful of movie-related rides, you'll experience a fun-filled adventure with the glamour of Hollywood. Get "behind the scenes" movie information and stunt shows to keep the whole family entertained for the best part of a day. Contact Information: Phone: 07--5573--8485 Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford, Queensland 4210 Website: www. movieworld.com.au Sea World With an obvious emphasis on things that live in the water, Sea World has a fantastic range of fish, sharks, dolphins, seals, polar bears and other assorted animals in the water. Throw in a bunch of great rides, water slides and roller coasters, and Sea World emerges as perhaps the best all-round theme park on the Gold Coast. Contact information: Phone: 07--5588--2222 Address: Sea World Drive, Main Beach, Queensland 42 Website: www. seaworld. com.au Tropical Fruit World Home of the world's largest varieties of bizarre, and wonderful fruits, or you can pay to check out the plantation safaris , mini-train rides, jungle cruises and fruit tasting shows. Admission is about $32 for adults and %15 for kids and free for kids under 5.anbah Road, Duran Contact Information: Phone: 02--6677--7222 Address: Duranbah Road, Duranbah, NSW 2487 Website: www. tropicalfruitworld. com. au Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Crocodiles, kangaroos, koala and almost all of the other famous Australian native animals are living in Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. You can look at them, feel and pat some of them or just experience the fantastic 27 hectare bush land setting--an oasis of wildlife amidst the Gold Coast bustle. Contact Information: Phone: 07--5534--1266 Address: 28 Tomewin Street Currumbin, Queensland 4223 Website: www. currumbin. sanctuary. org. au If a couple and their 4-year-old son want to visit Tropical Fruit World, they must pay _ . A $79 B $64 C $47 D $32 Answer: B. $64
Question: There exist cruel wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, so it's not only necessary, but also essential to have a good sense of humor just to help us go through difficult times in our lives. Putting a smile on someone's face when you know they are feeling depressed, as the saying goes, makes me feel good and warms my heart. How would you feel if you could not joke around with your wife, husband, child, co-worker neighbor, close friend, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? I am always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I don't know the person I'm joking around with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest job anyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is a common manner to speak to others that are around you. I know of a few people that don't have a funny bone in their bodies, as they say. Everyone around them could be rolling on the floor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without the slightest smile on their face. They don't get the joke that makes others laugh. I am busting a gut while they just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funny joke? Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor we would find ourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from going crazy. There is too much sadness in this present world. It drives people crazy. We all need to find a way to avoid the sadness and bring a little light into our lives. Therefore, I believe our best medicine is to get together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together. According to the author, humor is useful in the aspect that _ . A. it can pick up people's spirits B. it can help people get on well with others C. it can help get rid of the cruelty in the world D. it makes people more confident Answer: A Question: OUR KIDS ARE AMAZING-especially compared with everybody else's (who seem to cry all the time). How do you show your love for your kids this holiday season? With toys that are smooth and colorful, interactive and exciting. And with ones that have educational value-because you are the boss. 1. FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET Here is a toy that doesn't need power-and the bike have to put it together themselves. This 50 piece puzzle set is made of soft edged hardwood and makes a complete hospital, with an X ray room. It also includes eight patients, a car and a driver. $135; flaxart.com. 2. TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL Sure, it's cool, but this colorful baby toy also develops problem solving and motor skills. It has a head and legs, a magnetic hand and a tail. Suitable for little ones from 6 to 36 months. $19.95; tinylove.com. 3. ROBOSAPIEN This small, remote control robot is really powerful. It performs 67 preprogrammed functions , including throwing, kicking, picking up and dancing. You can even program your own function which, sadly, does not include doing windows. $99; robosapienonline.com. 4. MINI PEDAL CAR Want a Mini Cooper but can't fit the family inside? Get one for the kids. They can jump into this Mini car, which comes in hot orange with a single adjustable seat, and ride away. But it could spoil them for that used car they'll be driving when they turn 16.For ages 3 to 5.$189; minus A. com (click on "gear up," then "Mini motoring gear"). Which toy is said to have the special design for children's safety? A. ROBOSAPIEN B. MINI PEDAL CAR C. FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET D. TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL Answer: C Question: Language is a major problem for the European Union (EU) . The Treaty of Rome ,which created the organization that finally became the EU, stated that each country's language must be treated equally. The original six countries had only three languages between them: French, German and Dutch/Flemish. However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters. All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming. It is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches and nearly half of the EU's administrative costs are spent on this task. In the near future it is probable that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse. The problem is just cost; there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages, there are 132 possible "translation situations" that might be needed. It is often difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from, for example, Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard. In practice the problem has been less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials , since almost all of them speak some English. However, any move to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries. Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, this is strongly resisted by powerful member countries like France and Germany . The organization that finally became the EU _ . A. included 132 languages B. was set up by the Treaty of Rome . C. started with three countries . D. was started by France and Germany . Answer: B Question: The booking notes of the play " the Age of Innocence" . Price: $ 10 BOOKING: There are four ways to book seats for performance : ---In person The Box Office is open from Monday to Saturday , 10 a.m. --- 8 p.m. ---By telephone _ Ring 01324976 to reserve your tickets or to pay by credit card (Visa , MasterCard and Amex accepted ) ---By post Simply complete the booking form and return it to Global Theatre Box Office . ---On line Complete the on-line booking form at www.Satanfiedtheatre.com DISCOUNTS: Saver : $ 2 of any seat booked any time in advance for performances from Monday to Thursday . Savers are available for children who are below the age of 16 years old , over 60s and full-time students. Supersaver: half-price seats are available for people with disabilities and one companion . It is advisable to book in advance . There is a maximum of eight wheelchair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until an hour before the show . Standby: best available seats are on sale for $ 6 from one hour before the performance for people eligible (suitable ) for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers . Group Bookings : there is a ten percent discount for parties of twelve or more . School : school parties of ten or more can book $ 6 standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free . Please note : we are unable to exchange tickets or refund money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances . If you make a group booking for a group of 16 adults , how much should you pay ? A. $ 120 B. $ 126 C. $ 144 D. $ 150 Answer: C Question: Amy Pankratz spent a few nights in the hospital with her daughter, Isabella, who caught a bad flu. "Lying in bed beside Isabella, I could hear the cries of children in pain, "says Amy. "It completely broke my heart." When Isabella was getting well and could leave her room, she wore her prized possession--a "superhero cape " Amy had sewn to encourage her--and walked into the hallway. The pink cape was an instant hit with the other young patients, who were doing exercise around the nursing station. "Then, all the kidswere taking turns wearing the cape, giggling, "Amy says. "These were some of the same children I had heard crying the night before, and here they were playing and having fun--kids just being kids!" From that moment on, Amy began making Comfort Capes for little ones battling with serious illnesses. "I felt God presenting an opportunity, "she says. "I hoped Comfort Capes can help these kids feel brave, to lift some of the fear away. " Since then, Amy has made and donated more than 5, 000 capes in the United States. Amy usually pays for materials herself, although she accepts donations. The capes she makes for kids in treatment are different from those her own children have. Before Amy starts to sew she learns what image or character the little boy or girl connects with. "I choose the pattern, color and theme specially for each child," explains Amy. When she is not sewing, Amy is raising awareness of childhood cancers and looking into ways to get Comfort Capes to more kids who need them, "If a cape can help a child, even only for a moment, forget his illness, it's worth the time spent sewing," she says. What made Amy feel sad when she was staying with her daughter in the hospital? A. Her daughter's serious illness. B. The cries of children in pain. C. The tiredness from sewing the cape. D. The illness of children in her daughter's room. Answer: B
No one knows for sure when advertising first started. It is possible that it grew out of the discovery that some people did certain kinds of work better than others did them. That led to the concept of specialization, which means that people would specialize, or focus, on doing one specific job. Let's take a man we'll call Mr. Fielder, for example. He did everything connected with farming. He planted seeds, tended the fields, and harvested and sold his crops. At the same time, he did many other jobs on the farm. However, he didn't make the bricks for his house, grind the wheat for his flour, or cut his trees into boards. He also did not make the plows , the work boots, or any of the other hundreds of things a farm needs. Instead, he got them from people who specialized in doing each of those things. Suppose there was another man we shall call Mr. Plowright. Using what he knew about farming and working with iron, Mr. Plowright invented a plow that made farming easier. Mr. Plowright did not really like farming himself and wanted to specialize in making really good plows. Perhaps, he thought, other farmers will trade what they grow for one of my plows. How did Mr. Plowright let people know what he was doing? Why, he advertised, of course. First he opened a shop and then he put up a sign outside the shop to attract customers. That sign may have been no more than a plow carved into a piece of wood and a simple arrow pointing to the shop door. It was probably all the information people needed to find Mr. Plowright and his really good plows. Many historians believe that the first outdoor signs were used about five thousand years ago. Even before most people could read, they understood such signs. Shopkeepers would carve into stone, clay, or wood symbols for the products they had for sale. A medium, in advertising talk, is the way you communicate your message. You might say that the first medium used in advertising was signs with symbols. The second medium was audio, or sound, although that term is not used exactly in the way we use it today. Originally, just the human voice and maybe some kind of simple instrument, such as a bell, were used to get people's attention. A crier, in the historical sense, is not someone who weeps easily. It is someone, probably a man, with a voice loud enough to be heard over the other noises of a city. In ancient Egypt, shopkeepers might hire such a person to spread the news about their products. Often this primitive form of advertising involved a newly arrived ship loaded with goods. Perhaps the crier described the goods, explained where they came from, and praised their quality. His job was, in other words, not too different from a TV or radio commercial in today's world. In ancient Egypt, a crier was probably someone who _ . A owned a ship B had the loudest voice C ran a shop selling goods to farmers D functioned like today's TV or radio commercial Answer: D. functioned like today's TV or radio commercial There was once a blind man, who did a lot of traveling alone. He was making his first trip to Texas and happened to be seated next to a Texan on the flight. The Texan spent a lot of time telling him how everything was bigger and better in Texas. After the blind man reached his destination, a large resort hotel, he was very excited about being in Texas. The long trip had worn him out a little so he decided to stop at the bar for a small soda and a light snack before going up to his room to sleep. When the waitress set down his drink, it was in a huge cup. "Wow, I had heard everything in Texas is bigger," he told her. "That's right," she replied. The blind man ate his snack and finished his drink. After drinking such a large amount, it was natural that his next stop was to be the restroom. He asked the waitress for directions. She told him to turn left at the corner, and then take the second door on the right. He reached the first door and continued. A few steps later he stumbled slightly and missed the second door and ended up going through the third door instead. Not realizing he had entered the swimming area he walked forward and immediately fell into the swimming pool. Remembering that everything was bigger in Texas, he had his head above water and started shouting "Don't flush ! Don't flush!" Why did the blind man enter the swimming area? A He wanted to go swimming. B He wanted to have a bath. C He stumbled and missed the restroom door. D The waitress gave him wrong directions. Answer: C. He stumbled and missed the restroom door. How to improve my life? Many people think that they have to accept whatever life throws at them. They'll say, "This is my fate, my destiny. I cannot change it." Of course not! You don't have to suffer needlessly. Your destiny depends on you, not on any other external factors. I know someone who says she just accepts what life gives her because she has done everything she can to improve it. Guess what her lifestyle is? She wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes back home, relaxes, chats with people, watches TV, then goes to sleep. Next day, the same routine cycle follows. Huh! Is this what she calls "doing her best"? She believes she has tried her best and just accepts it in her heart that this is the life that God has intended for her to live; that her luck can only change if God wills it. Of course God wants us to be happy and live our life to the fullest, but we have to do our share of exerting the effort to live the life of our dreams. Remember that you reap what you sow. You just don't sit around and wait for a million dollars to fall from the sky. You have to get off the couch, get your eyes off the TV screen, get your hands off the phone. Don't expect your luck to change unless you do something about it. If something goes wrong, don't just regard it as a temporary setback; but use it as feedback. Learn your lesson, make the most of the situation, and do something to solve the problem. It's not enough to think positively; you also have to act positively. If someone's life is in the trouble, do you just hope and pray that things will turn out fine? Of course not! You get to do anything you can to save the person. So it is with your own life. It is not enough to hope for the best, but you have to do your best. In other words, don't just stand (or sit ) there, do something to improve your life. Which of the following statements is the author's opinion? _ . A Your temporary problem is not discouraging. B Your luck can be changed by your efforts C You can only achieve success when God wills it. D You should treat yourself in the way you treat friends. Answer: B. Your luck can be changed by your efforts Ghostwriters are widely used by celebrities or public figures who wish to publish their autobiographies . The degree of involvement of the ghostwriter in nonfiction writing projects ranges from minor to significant. Various sources explain the role of the ghostwriter and how competent writers can get this kind of work. In some cases, a ghostwriter may be called in just to clean up, edit, and polish a rough draft of an autobiography or a "how-to" book. In other cases, the ghostwriter will write an entire book or article based on information, stories, notes, and an outline, interviews with the celebrity or public figure. The credited authors also indicate to the ghostwriter what type of style, tone, or "voice" they want in the book. Celebrity books are usually ghostwritten in the first person (I did this and that) or the third person (David Pardon asked the group to recommend someone etc.). In some cases, such as with some "how-to" books, diet guides, or cookbooks, a book will be entirely written by a ghostwriter, and the celebrity (e.g., a well-known musician or sports star) will be credited as author. Publishing companies use this methodto increase the marketability of a book by associating it with a celebrity or well-known figure. In several countries before elections, candidates employ ghostwriters to produce autobiographies for them so as to gain visibility and exposure. Two of John F. Kennedy's books were almost entirely ghostwritten. Former President Ronald Reagan also released a ghostwritten autobiography. A consultant or career-switcher may pay to have a book ghostwritten on a topic in their professional area, to establish or enhance their credibility as an "expert" in their field. For example, a successful salesperson hoping to become an inspiring speaker on selling may pay a ghostwriter to write a book on sales techniques. Often this type of book is published in the vanity press, which means that the author is paying to have the book published. This type of book is typically given away to potential clients as a promotional tool, rather than being sold in bookstores. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about ghostwriters? A People who employ them. B Responsibilities they take on. C Challenges their work involves. D Reasons why they ghostwrite. Answer: C. Challenges their work involves. Paperback: 264 pages Publisher:. Sams (March 29,2005) ISBN: 0672327627 Product Dimensions: 8.4x5.5x0.6 inches OVERVIEW This book offers straightforward practical answers when you need fast results. By working through each 10-minute lesson, you'll learn what you need to begin to use the PHP scripting language to make your websites interactive and dynamic. REVIEW When I first laid eyes on this book and its title, Teach Yourself PHP in 10 minutes, my first thought was that I was going to see this! So I opened it up and figured I'd look through it for ten minutes and see what would hit me. Well, 10 minutes turned into 20, 20 into 30 and 30 into a valuable resource that sits on my desk. Not only are the lessons within brief, but they are very easy to understand, well presented and very easy to understand for the beginner. Each lesson comes with tips to point out shortcuts, cautions to help you avoid common mistakes and notes to additional infomation. This book can be used in two ways, as a reference or as a complete tutorial on PHP basics. That alone is something that is very rare in teaching type books these days. Some of the more valuable and informative lessons will take you into the areas of: --Strings and variables --Processing HTML forms --Controlling and filtering data --User authentication --Cookies and sessions --Security practices --Configuring PHP and more!!! The book is pretty basic for experienced PHP coders, but for new or intermediate users this book is worth more than the small $19.99 CAN suggested price. Although the cover suggests it covers PHP 5.0, the coding found within also applies to PHP 4.X CONCLUSION This book completely surprised me with its value and does indeed teach you in ten minutes what other books claim to do in 24 hours. Full marks to author Chris Newman for this handy guide. Where can you see this short passage? A In a section for ads in a website. B In a book shop. C In a science magazine. D In a fiction novel. Answer: A. In a section for ads in a website.
It pays to be smart. We are not all smart in the same way. Youmaybe a talented musician, but you might not be a good reader . Each of us is different . Psychologists have two different views on intelligence .Others believe there are many different intelligence .Some psychologists say there is one type of intelligence that can be measured with IQ tests .These psychologistssupport their view with research that concludes that people who dowell on one kind of test for mental ability do well on other tests .They do well on tests using words , numbers or pictures. They do well on individual orgroup tests , and written or oral tests .Those who do poorly on one test , do the same on all tests . Studies of the brain show that there is a biological basis for general intelligence . The brain waves of people with higher intelligence show a quicker reaction .Some researchers conclude that differences in intelligence resultfrom differences in the speed and effectiveness of information processing by the brain . Howard Gardner , a psychologist at the Harvard School of Education , has four children .He believes that all children are different and shouldn't be tested by one intelligence test .Although Gardner believes general intelligence exists , he doesn't think it tells much about the talents of a person outside of formal schooling .He think that the human mind has different intelligences .These intelligences allow us to solve the kinds ofproblems we are presented with in life .Each of us has different abilities within these intelligences .Gardner believes that the purpose of school should be to encourage development of all of our intelligences . According toGardner, schools should _ . Answer: How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. But now scientists are giving this feeling an empirical(,) basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused and lead to relaxation. Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers-Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room's ceiling affects how people think. Her research indicates that higher ceilings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook. In additions to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant's ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention. Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design & Planning Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots. Recent study on room lighting design suggests than dim light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax. So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. "We have a very limited number of studies, _ ," architect David Allison says. "How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them? That's what we're all struggling with." The passage tells us that _ . Answer: Our culture is the system we use to build our identity. All living creatures are part of a culture. Even animals have a culture! So what is culture? It's the way we behave in a group. It begins with each individual family. Within our families we do things to build relationships with each other. This can include routines for doing things. It also includes traditions. Traditions are activities that are repeated on a regular basis. Culture is not limited to individual family groups. The real strength of culture is in larger community groups. These larger groups are called societies. Every society makes rules for itself. It decides how people should act in different situations. Some of these rules are written down. Some are just things that are automatically expected of all members of that society. Often, cultures can be identified by what the people believe. Cultures are also known by what they choose to include in their art. Sometimes a society forms around people who speak the same language. Cultures may also be known for their customs, including the foods they make and the things they do. Our cultures help us understand who we are and what we believe. There are very strong emotions connecting us to our own society. Two different cultures may disagree on something, especially if they both feel strongly about it. When that happens, war is a common result. People are learning better ways to communicate with each other. The more we learn, the more we appreciate the differences in cultures. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: When oxygen combines with hydrogen, which substance is formed? Answer: When Lew Alcindor was 13, and obviously still growing, a group of schools began offering him scholarships . The Alcindors decided to send their only child to Power Memorial Academy, a small school on Manhattan's West Side. At Power, Alcindor came under the control of Coach Jack Donohue, a strict young an who already gained his fame as one of the best coaches in the city.Donohue brought Alcindor along slowly.As a first-year student, the boy was not able to do much but wave his long skinny arms and shoot a basket now and then.But by the second year, when he was 15 years old and nearly 7 feet tall, Alcindor was quick and skillful enough to make the high school All-American team and to lead Power to an undefeated season. From then on he simply got better.Some rival coaches used to take their teams quickly away from the floor before Power warmed up so that their players would not see him any sooner than they had to.Wearing size 16 D shoes and sucking a lollipop , Alcindor would loosen up by starting his leaping lay-ups .Then he would casually shoot the ball with either hand, to the delight of the fans. When reporters and photographers began to follow Alcindor closely, Donohue protected his boy firmly.He simply ordered Lew to talk to no member of the press, and this suited Lew fine.He was not comfortable talking to grown-ups, perhaps because he towered over them.Discouraged photographers began following him in secret as though he were an easily-frightened giraffe.Once after ducking into a subway to escape, Alcindor told a friend that it was all becoming like policemen and robbers."People want you not for yourself," Donohue warned him, "but because you're a basketball player.Don't forget that." Many schools offer Alcindor scholarships because _ . Answer:
England became England, the land of English-speaking people, at the beginning of the Middle Ages. Before that it had been the home of Iron Age tribes known as Celts, and for a time, part of the Roman Empire. Then beginning in the 400s AD, tribes from the north, known as the Engles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, moved in. The most famous leader of this time period in England was Alfred the Great. Alfred lived in Wessex, the kingdom of the West Saxons, which was in the southern part of England. He was a good leader who made his kingdom stronger. He created a system of defenses , called burhs, across the country. He reorganized the army so that his men had time to fight and time to farm. Alfred's efforts protected his people from the Vikings and allowed Wessex to grow. Eventually the rulers of Wessex would rule all of England. Alfred also made other improvements. He made laws for his people. He encouraged learning and translated several important books into his Saxon language. This was the beginning of the language we call English today. Two important pieces of literature from that time period are the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Beowulf, both written in Old English. Old English lasted through most of the Middle Ages. Middle English came in during the late Middle Ages, and Modern English began about the time of the Renaissance. England and English got their names, not from the Saxons, but from one of the other tribes, and Angles. The original name of England must have been something like Angle-land(only in old English of course). Which of the following is NOT an achievements of Alfred the Great? Answer: After I made it to the city center, I started to feel it might be easy for a foreigner to deal with the great size of Beijing. With growing confidence, I decided to take the subway to the hotel, not realizing that the network didn't go that far. Impressed with the cleanliness of the station, I bought a ticket and boarded the first train that came along. After a few minutes I asked in English of course a young man seated next to me where I should get off closest to the Friendship Hotel. Wearing a smart business suit and tie, he would surely speak English, wouldn't he? Unfortunately, he couldn't understand me but seemed very friendly. I showed him the room card with all the information of the Friendship Hotel in Chinese characters. He looked at it, and then his eyes moved quickly to the carriage subway map. Next, he raised three fingers of his right hand. In Australia, raising fingers at someone is not usually nice, but this man wasn't smiling. At the next station he showed me two fingers. Now in Australia, that's really rude, but I got the message. When we stopped at the third station, he didn't just point to the door, but got up, took me out of the train, and led me to the top of the stairs, and out onto the street. Then he stopped a taxi and told the driver where to take me. All this came from a man who couldn't speak my language, and I couldn't speak his. I was now speechless, especially when he refused my offer of money. I felt a little embarrassed having even thought he would accept a tip. This experience made it clear I had to learn some Chinese quickly or my adventures might start turning into bad luck. Which of the following can't be used to describe the young man? Answer: There was a sweet smell of incense in the air as the wellmuscled man moved his legs into a position well behind his head.It was something that the human body really should not be able to do.But what else would you expect at the First World Yoga Championships? On September 25,the world's leading yoga experts arrived in the US to find out who was the best.But the real prize was to turn yoga into a proper Olympic event. "Yoga is a combination of bodybuilding,Miss World,Mr Universe and gymnastics," said championship organizer Bikram Choudhury."There are some 70 people from more than 20 countries competing in this event.Why not have yoga at the Olympics?" The public cannot decide whether or not Choudhury's dream will come true.But he is right about one thing:yoga has become popular with young and old people all over the world.In the US alone,15 million people practise yoga.Everyone is at it,including Madonna and Ricky Martin. Yoga started in India more than 5,000 years ago.The name means "to join together".That is to bring the body and mind together into one pleasing experience.The whole system of yoga is built on three things:exercise,breathing and meditation . The yoga that we know today is mostly physical yoga.It's seen as a type of exercise,but is different from sports like football or running.When we do yoga,we move our body into positions that stretch the muscles and joints,making them stronger. One of the best things about yoga is the fact that everyone can do it.To women,it means a flat stomach,more shapely legs and a graceful body.To men,it is a way of becoming stronger and more athletic. There are also speciallydesigned yoga classes for pregnant women or children suffering from mental disabilities,such as autism .As for teenagers,meditation and simple breathing exercises can help them learn to calm down,relax and concentrate better.But teenagers under 16 are not supposed to do the body exercises as it could have a bad effect on their natural growth. Which statement is NOT true about yoga? Answer: Look, this is the first plane in the world to be created using the new technology of "3D printing". The airplane was built using only a computer--but it can fly at a speed of 100mph and has a two-meter wingspan. It was produced using a special nylon laser printer that builds up something layer-by-layer. The parts were made separately and attached using a "snap fit" technique so the aircraft could be put together without tools in minutes. No fasteners at all were used in the manufacture of the plane. Unmanned and electrically powered, the plane can travel in near silence and is also equipped with a small autopilot system. The special production process used is known as "laser sintering "and allows the designers to create shapes and structures that would normally include costly manufacturing techniques. This technology allows a highly-tailored aircraft to be developed from your own design to first flight in days, while using traditional materials and techniques would take months. And because no tooling is required for manufacture, major changes to the shape and scale of the aircraft can be made with no extra cost. Professor Jim Scanlon, who led the team, said, "The process allows the design team to revisit historical techniques and ideas that would have been too expensive using traditional manufacturing." He added, "This form of structure is very firm and lightweight, but very complex. If it was manufactured traditionally it would require a large number of individually tailored parts that would have to be connected or fastened at great expense." The new printed plane is known as the Southampton University Laser Sintered Aircraft--or SULSA for short--and is part of a wider project using cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. The University of Southampton has been at the leading position of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle development since the early 1990s. How could the plane work while flying? Answer: If you want to avoid making impulse and unnecessary purchases,then just keep your hands away from tempting products. According to new research,individuals who touch possible items in stores are more likely to have an increased desire to purchase them than those who keep their hands off the products. Suzanne Shu and Joann Peck,marketing professors at the University of Wisconsin's business school conducted studies on the connection between touch and feelings of ownership and the effect of perceived ownership on the value placed on an object. For one of the experiments,the experts placed two products,a Slinky toy and a coffee mug in front of the volunteers who were undergraduate students. About half of the participants were allowed to touch the products,while the other half were asked not to touch them. The volunteers then were asked to express their sense of ownership of the products and to report how much money they were willing to pay for each. The results showed that those students who were allowed to touch the objects,reported significant increased levels of perceived ownership. They also expressed a desire to pay more money to obtain the products. The investigators also discovered that a sense of very pleasant feelings when touching products,determined how much money consumers were willing to pay. However,if the object did not feel pleasant to the touch,it significantly decreased the amount the buyers were willing to pay. Researchers said that many stores have already followed the right path. But what can be done while shopping online,when touching of an item is not possible? In this case,the experts say,just picturing in mind that they are touching it and then owning it,will cause greater feelings of ownership,and thus the consumers will be more likely to make a purchase. When you touch an object,you immediately feel some kind of a connection to it,according to the researchers. That connection stirs up an emotional reaction. And that emotion can make people buy something they would never even consider buying if they had not touched it. The author develops the text mainly by _ . Answer:
Are you worried by the rising crime rate? If you are, you probably know that your house, possessions and person are increasingly in danger of suffering from great rise in the cases of burglary(;) and attack. Figures show an ever-increasing crime rate, but it is only too easy to imagine "It will never happen to me". Unfortunately, statistics show that it really can happen to you and, if you live in a large city, you run twice the risk of being a victim. Fortunately, there is something definite which you can do. Protect Alarms can help to protect your house with a burglar alarm system which is effective, simple to operate and easily affordable. You must remember that owning a burglar alarm is no indication that your house is packed with valuable possessions. It quite simply indicates to unwelcome visitors that yours is one house they will not break into easily, so they carry on to an unprotected house where their job is made a lot easier. Send now for our free leaflet telling you how we can Protect Alarm your house quickly, easily and cheaply. Complete and tear off the slip below and post it to us. Postage is free. Also, telephone us on 327 6721 where we have a round-the-clock answering service. It costs nothing to find out about Protect Alarm. In order to find out more information about this alarm system one can _ . The growing popularity of digital reading has encouraged best-selling young Chinese author Han Han to release his new novel on the Internet. Ta De Guo (His Country), of which Han Han has finished only one tenth so far, will be available for paid reading from December 1ston Qidian.com, the online library has announced. Han Han will update the story every day and finish the book before the end of the year. A printed edition will only be produced after all of the content goes online, sources said. To read the entire book, readers will have to pay eight yuan, or 0.08yuanper 1,000 words. This is almost four times the price of an average writer on Qidian.com. Lu Jinbo, a well-known publisher, estimated that a popular writer like Han Han is likely to attract 20 million subscribers. That means this high-school-dropout-turned popular author could bring in 160 million yuan, nearly 40 times as much as he earned in copyright royalties last year. On the 2007 list of Chinese millionaire writers, Han Han ranked 13th with 3.8 million yuan. The richest, Guo Jingming, earned 11 millionyuan. Statistics from China Internet Network Information Center show that there are at least 253 million Internet users in prefix = st1 /China. Such a large-scale Internet population has developed a prosperous industry for online novel writing. Among the many success stories is Zhang Muye, an office worker whose fantasy novel Ghost Blows out the Lightmade him the 19th wealthiest author in 2007. Besides the potential to gain a large readership base, the Internet writers are being recognized professionally. The jury of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, the most prestigious honor for Chinese writers, is considering adding a category for online writers. What's the author's attitude towards digital reading? For one tired out from work, autumn is one of the best times to step into the open air to _ and enjoy some great music. And that's what many Beijingers have done this past weekend. Family, friends, laughter; beautiful grass, fresh air and live music echoing off the forest and the Great Wall that surround this place. A weekend in this music paradise just seems too short. Besides, a brand new world-class outdoor theater has just been open at this year's festival, which will surely make the festival a better and more permanent experience. A full house is before the new outdoor amphitheater . Even the thunderstorm couldn't break up the crowd completely absorbed in the music. Thanks to the new theater, this year's Great Wall Forest Festival offers even more superb acoustics and an overall outdoor theatrical experience, even though the project is still half complete. The festival is now in its fourth year. Since its first show in 2010, the festival has seen a steady increase in festival-goers and has expanded its length from two days to four days, divided over two weekends. It has also been experimenting with a variety of styles, from classical to pop, with this year's theme "Celebrating 20 Years of Chinese Folk Song." Folk Song legend Lao Lang explains how folk songs have helped encourage more amateur folks to express themselves through music. "Before music was reserved for the professionals. But folk songs made young people realize that they can express themselves through music as well. And that's what characterizes folk songs. It's popular music and it always has a story." said Lao Lang. Unlike some of the other outdoor festivals, the Great Wall Forest Festival appeals to a wide range of audiences. It's a rare place where teens, parents and families can all enjoy the outdoors and have a great time. Great music and scenery aside, many children's workshops, master music classes, and interactive art activities have also been introduced this year. If music is the reason to come to the festivals, you'll find even more reasons not to leave. Which of the following is NOT true? What is Bay? The simple answer is that it is a global trading platform where nearly anyone can trade practically anything. People can sell and buy all kinds of products and goods. Including cars, movies and DVDs, sporting goods, travel tickets, musical instruments, clothes and shoes- the list goes on and on The idea came from Peter Omidyar, who was born in Paris and moved to Washington when he was still a child, At high school, be became very interested in computer programming and after graduating from Tuft University in 1988, He worked for the next few years as a computer engineer. In his free time he started Bay as a kind of hobby, at first offering the service free by word of mouth. By 1996 there was so much traffic on the website that he had to upgrade and he began charging a fee to members. Joined by a friend, Peter Skill. and in 1998 by his capable CEO, Meg Whitman, he has never looked back. . Even in the great. com crashes of the late 1990s,abay has gone from strength to strength ,. It is now one of the ten most visited online shopping websites on the Internet eBay sells connections, not goods, putting buyer and seller into contact with each other. All you have to do is lake an e-photo, write a description, fill out a sales form and you are in business: the world is your market place. Of course for each item sold eBay gets a percentage and that is great deal of money. Every day there are more than sixteen million items listed on eBay and eighty percent of the items are sold. We learn from the text that eBay provides people with _ One day at a park, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. "That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater. "He's a lovely boy," the man said. "That's my daughter on the bike in the white dress." Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter, "We have to leave for home now, Rosa." "Just five minutes, Dad," Rosa said, "Please, just five more minutes." The man agreed and Rosa went to ride his bike happily. Five minutes later, the father stood and called again to his daughter, "Time to go now?" "Five more minutes, Dad," Rosa said again, "Just five more minutes." The man smiled and said, "OK." "Oh, you are really a patient father," said the woman. The man smiled and then said, "Her elder brother Tommy died in a traffic accident last year when he was riding his bike near here," the man said, "I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd like to give anything for just five more minutes with him. I vowed not to make the same mistake with Rosa. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. In fact, I get five more minutes to watch her play." The woman's son was wearing _ .
Question: Scientists would like to place a huge mirror in space above the earth. It might be sixty miles wide. It would be used to catch the rays of the sun. It would direct the sun's rays upon the earth as a child might do to make sunlight dance on the wall with a hand mirror. Why do they want to do this? The sun's rays could be helpful in many ways. They could light up cities by night. The warm rays could stop frosts which might come at night and hurt fruit crops. They could melt dangerous icebergs in the ocean. Perhaps they could change cloud movements and bring rain where it is needed. The strong light from the mirror could possibly _ . A. hurt fruit crops B. set fire to cities C. bring longer daytime D. shine through walls Answer: C. bring longer daytime Question: The summer I was ten, my mother decided to bring us to the world of art. My brother and I were not very excited when we realized what my mother meant. What she meant was not that we could take drawing classes or painting classes but that we would have to spend one afternoon a week with her at the Fine Arts Museum. Before each visit to the museum, she made us read about artists and painting styles. It was almost as bad as being in school. Who wants to spend the summer thinking about artists when you could be with your friends at the swimming pool? First we had to read about ancient Egyptians and their strange way of painting faces and then go to look at them at the museum. My 12-year-old brother thought this was so funny, but I was not interested. Later we had to learn about artists in the Middle Ages who painted people wearing strange long clothing. We had to look at pictures of fat babies with wings and curly hair and with no clothes on flying around the edges of paintings. I certainly couldn't see what was so great about art. On our last visit to the museum, something happened when I saw a painting by a woman called Mary. In it, a woman was reading to a child. The colors were soft and gentle, and you could tell by the mother's expression how happy she was just to be with the child. I couldn't stop looking at this painting! I wanted to see every painting Mary had ever made! It was really worth looking at so many paintings to find a painter who could interest me so much. What made the writer go through a change that summer? A. One of Mary's paintings. B. A strange way of painting. C. Artists in the Middle Ages. D. Her mother's instruction. Answer: A. One of Mary's paintings. Question: Undersea restaurant Ithaa Ithaa is the very first undersea restaurant in the world located 5 meters below sea level in the Republic of Maldives. The 5-by-9-metre restaurant can hold 14 people at a time and has a transparent roof offering a 270 panoramic underwater view. The restaurant was designed and constructed by M. J. Murphy Ltd., a design consultancy based in New Zealand. It was opened on April 15, 2005. Food served in the restaurant can be described as contemporary European with Asian influence. Tip: Work on technical designs and drawings for Ithaa started in March 2004. Once constructed, Ithaa would be put into the water. Because of technical challenges, limited resources, and quality control problems in building something underwater, the restaurant can only exist for about 20 years. Skyline Queenstown Restaurant The famous New Zealand restaurant offers delightful fresh seafood, salads, roast meats and delicious desserts, while the panoramic view from the windows will attract you day or night. It' s the ideal place for that special night out and the best place in Queenstown to watch the sun go down! With live music creating a relaxing atmosphere and never ending scenery to admire, you will be entertained as you eat in the restaurant. Tip: Unlike other restaurants, the Skyline Queenstown Restaurant has tiered seating to guarantee beautiful lake and mountain views from every table. Revolving Restaurant Allalin Located in the Allalinhom mountain, Saas-Fee, Switzerland, Revolving Allalin is the highest revolving restaurant in the world at about 3,500 m. The restaurant offers a rich selection. Valaisian platter, pasta and pizza ... all this and much more is on the menu of the world-famous restaurant. Enjoy the eating delights offered in the world's highest revolving restaurant, while some mountain tops slowly pass by. Tip: Known as the 'Pearl of the Alps', Saas-Fee offers many sports and activities: The popular holiday village features the Metro Alpine, the highest underground railway in the world up to the skiing area and the highest revolving restaurant at 3,500 m. The Skyline Queenstown Restaurant is special in its _ . A. location B. food C. atmosphere D. seating Answer: D. seating Question: Say you are a 17th century construction worker who's worked hard to build a splendid tower for the dead wife of your emperor. Now say that the emperor orders your fingertips cut off so you can never build another one. Yes, this story is about the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in the world. And the tale behind the construction is just as impressive as the building itself. First, there's the emperor of northern India, Shah Jehan, also called the King of the World. In 1612, Shah Jehan married Mumtaz Mahal. Mad in love, they had 14 children over the next 20 years. But then sadness came. As Mumtaz was about to give birth to child number 14, she said she heard her unborn baby cry out. It was a sign of death. And as Mumtaz lay dying, she asked Jehan to build a lasting memorial to celebrate their love. The heartbroken Jehan ordered his wife's dying wish carried out, and more than 20,000 workers worked nearly 22 years to complete the construction. In 1653, Jehan placed Mumtaz's remains under the center of the building. Later, son number five, Aurangzeb, murdered his brothers and took over the power from his aging father. Jehan lived the rest of his days, eight years, imprisoned not far from the Taj Mahal. Jehan was only allowed to climb onto the top of his prison to see the timeless treasure from a distance. But never again would he be allowed to visit it until he was buried next to his wife. Today 25,000 people visit the Taj Mahal each day. Though the reason for building the tower was a strange and sad story, people who see its breath-taking beauty are reminded of the that inspired its construction. From the passage we can learn that Mumtaz probably died in _ . A. 1626 B. 1653 C. 1632 D. 1634 Answer: C. 1632 Question: Jack London was a famous American writer. He was born on January 12, 1876, in America.His family was very poor, and Jack had to leave school to make a living when he was twelve. He worked very hard. Later Jack returned to school. He was strict with himself and worked hard at every subject, especially literature . In 1897, he went to Alaska to look for gold . Instead of getting gold, he found material for his books and stories. He returned home and started to write. His writings were so successful that he became rich and famous in his twenties. But Jack London was not a happy man. He took his own life in 1916 when he was only 40 years old. He was a famous _ . A. worker B. story-teller C. teacher D. writer Answer: D. writer
Which human body system produces the hormones that regulate growth? A. skeletal B. digestive C. circulatory D. endocrine Answer: D. endocrine I'm 14, a year younger than most of my classmates. A week ago one of my classmates, Nitin, asked me for help with math homework. We ended up talking about computers and file-sharing . As we talked I found that he was more experienced and could teach me about file-sharing and networking. We went to his room and watched a movie about robots that he'd downloaded. The math homework was forgotten. The next day he came again for homework help "What do you do on weekends?" he asked. The truth is, when I have work to do, I do it. I have no special time to with friends. I was embarrassed about this. I expected him to think I was boring and said, "Get a life!" He said, "OK. You're having trouble getting along with people I can show you. I'm old than you." Later, he checked my computer. He even connected me to an Internet chess server .He was becoming like a big brother. But when I thought about it, I didn't really want Nitin's help" His big-brother idea began to bore me. "I'll get you some cool computer programs ". "I'll teach you how to talk to girls." He meant what he was saying, but I don't know why it didn't make me feel good. Since then he's hardly talked to me; we seem to have forgotten each other. I don't think he can "teach" me much, and I don't think much of him. But I could be wrong* Which is NOT the reason why the writer doesn't want Nitin's help? A. He has no special time to kill with friends. B. He forgot his homework because of playing with him. C. He thinks his ideas are not useful to him. D. He has another big brother. Answer: D. He has another big brother. The increase in tuition fees has led to a "clear drop" in the number of English students applying for university places this autumn. There are 15,000 "missing" applicants this academic year, according to the Independent Commission on Fees. Chairman Will Hutton said: "We're asking our young men and women to have more debt than any other country in the world -- it's higher than the average debt in the US. It's not clear whether those lost students this year will return next year, or if it's a storm warming of a worrying trend." But the commission's report says there does not seem to be an impact on poorer communities. The commission found there was no significant change in the application rate to the key universities, such as Oxford or Cambridge. The decline in England has not been mirrored in other parts of the UK where fees have not been raised, and the drop can only partly be explained by falling numbers of young people in the population. Students from Scotland attending Scottish universities do not pay fees, while the Welsh Assembly says it will pay fees above PS3,465 for Welsh students attending UK institutions. The average tuition fee at English universities this year is PS 8,385, rising to PS 8,507 next year. UK and EU students have access to government-backed loans to pay the fees. And the survey of 1,000 pupils aged 15-18, carried out this April, found that the majority expected to go on to higher education as people continue to understand that university remains a good long term investment in their future. A spokeswoman at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which is responsible for universities, said: "Students shouldn't be forced to put off going to university for financial reasons. Most students will not have to pay in advance, and no one will have to start paying back their student loan until they start to earn at least PS 2l,000 per year." Why is there still a drop of applicants though fees have not been raised? A. Because the students live in poor communities. B. Because education is free for Scottish students. C. Because there are less young students in the area. D. Because Welsh students will pay fees abovePS3,465. Answer: C. Because there are less young students in the area. When you travel in South America, you'd better pay attention to the following three kinds of dangerous South American animals. Piranhas Although only a small number of piranhas are considered to be dangerous to humans, the red-bellied piranha is definitely one of those. Evidence has shown that a large group of piranhas can absolutely eat a herd of large animals crossing the river, leaving only bones. This fish lives in the freshwater streams of South America, and they can smell the blood from far away and launch attacks swiftly. It is said that they are only dangerous to humans if the water volumes are less and lower. Anacondas This South American monster of a creature often appears in the films or your nightmares!They have weighed over 230 kilograms. It is often considered to be the biggest snake in the world. You certainly don't want to get caught alone with this snake due to its method of attacking and killing its victim. It is indeed a remarkably different brand of snake type as it regularly coils around all over its target, increasing the pressure until eventually its victim dies. Its jaws are powered by large muscles that produce enough power for its over 100 sharp teeth to pass through the thick skin of an crocodile. They don't have poison. Sometimes they prefer to camouflage themselves so they look like their surroundings and swiftly draw back when humans are near. Golden Poisonous Frogs The golden poison frog might be the most-deadly of the South American animal, which is protected by means of poison. This very small frog, less than 55 mm in length, packs enough punch to take down a pair of African bull elephants. This apparently harmless frog has always been known to have killed people who have touched it directly. It's also been noted that chicken and dogs have died by contacting things on which a golden poison frog had wandered! In intense colors, they normally look attractive to their targets. How does an anaconda kill its victim according to the passage? A. It often uses its poison to kill its victim. B. It often uses its strength to kill its victim. C. It kills its victim mainly using its powerful teeth. D. It kills its victim with the help of other snakes. Answer: B. It often uses its strength to kill its victim. Millions of Americans return from long-distance trips by air, but their luggage doesn't always come home with them. Airline identification tags can come loose, and the bags go who-knows-where. And passengers leave all kinds of things on planes. The airlines collect the items and, for 90 days, attempt to find their owners. They don't keep them, since they're not in the warehouse business. And by law, they cannot sell the bags, because the airlines might be tempted to deliberately misplace luggage. So once insurance companies have paid for lost bags and their contents, and they no longer belong to passengers, a unique store in the little town of Scottsboro, Alabama, buys them. The "Unclaimed Baggage Center," is so popular that the building, which is set up like a department store, is the number-one tourist attraction in all of Alabama. More than one million visitors stop in each year and take one of the store's shopping carts on a hunt for treasures. Each day, clerks bring out 7,000 new items, and veteran shoppers rush to paw over them. You can find everything from precious jewels to hockey sticks, best-selling novels, leather jackets, tape recorders, surfboards, even half -used tubes of toothpaste. The store's own laundry washes or cleans all the clothes found in luggage, then sells them. The Unclaimed Baggage Center has found guns, illegal drugs and even a live rattlesnake. The store has a little museum where some of its most unusual acquisitions have been preserved. They include highland bagpipes, a burial mask from an Egyptian pharaoh's tomb, and a medieval suit of armor. Statistics indicate that less than one-half of one percent of luggage checked on U.S. carriers is permanently lost and available to the store. What is the main purpose of the passage? A. To introduce an attractive place to tourists. B. To remind passengers of taking care of their baggage. C. To advise the airlines to find the owners of the unclaimed baggage. D. To introduce how the unclaimed baggage in the airports is handled in America. Answer: D. To introduce how the unclaimed baggage in the airports is handled in America.
A baby camel asked his mother, "Why do we have such large hooves on our feet?" She turned him and began her explanation. "The big hooves are to keep us from sinking into the sand." "Oh! So why do we have long eyelashes ?" "It's to protect our eyes from the sand." "Why the big humps ?" "That is to store fat and have enough energy to go long distances in the hot desert!" "I see!" The baby camel stretched his neck and looked up at his mother, "Then what are we doing in this cage in the middle of a zoo?" Like the baby camel, I had asked the same kind of questions. When my blindness set in, I at first locked myself in a cage of self-pity and bitterness. I was tired to waling out of that dark cage. Heavens! What was I thinking? Those _ were self-imposed . Finally, eagerness to leave it inspired me to open my ears to hear a reassuring whisper - I was created for much more. I broke down those bars and stepped out into the desert of life. I walking difficultly through the heat with determination. And the hooves of confidence kept me from sinking into the sand of danger. Each time I reached another point in my journey, my eyes saw a whole new world with opportunities to make a difference. Best of all, I was pleased the I was indeed created for much more! Bars come in all sizes and shapes. But none can hold up the force of determination that breaks them down. Step back and peek at what bars limit you. Take a deep breath, break them down, and come out into the freshness of a new life! The dialogue between the baby camel and his mother is quoted to _ . A. show the hard life of camels B. encourage readers to ask questions C. introduce the topic of the passage D. make the passage interesting Answer: C. introduce the topic of the passage Dolphins are our friends. They can use tools to solve problems although they don't have hands. For example, scientists have ever found that a dolphin can make a shy eel come out of its hole with a dead fish. Dolphins use different sounds to exchange information with each other. Scientists in Hawaii have developed a sign language to give instructions to dolphins, and the results are amazing. They find that dolphins not only understand the meaning of individual words, but also understand the importance of word order in a sentence. Most animals enjoy playing -- but dolphins seem to like making their games as challenging as possible. On a beautiful day in 1997, scientists at a beach watched a little dog going into the sea and swimming towards the dolphins. To their surprise, the dolphins came up to the dog and then started throwing it into the air. The dog seemed to enjoy the "game" and continued playing with the dolphins for more than an hour. Dolphins live in a very different world from ours, but they are very good at our "IQ tests" . For example, they will jump out of the water when they hear a whistle noise. They do this because they will get a fish as a prize. There is still much to learn about these cute problem-solvers, but it is certain that watching a dolphin show is fun. ,. (5) What can a dolphin use to make an eel come out of its hole? A. Its mouth. B. Its head. C. A dead fish. D. A little dog. Answer: C. A dead fish. Carbon dioxide is removed from Earth's atmosphere by A. animal respiration. B. decaying organisms. C. plant photosynthesis. D. burning fossil fuels. Answer: C. plant photosynthesis. Visit Dongqian Lake Zoo Come and see big elephants from Yunnan and tigers from the northeast. The African giraffes are waiting for you. Clever monkeys are going to make you laugh. A lot of other animals you have never seen are waiting to meet you. Tickets: Grown-ups: Y=80 Children: Y=40 Under Six: Free Opening Hours From Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m.---4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m.---5:30 p.m. Keep the zoo clean. Do not feed or go near to the animals. Which is the visiting time? A. 8:00 a.m. on Monday. B. 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. C. 8:30 a.m. on Saturday D. 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Answer: C. 8:30 a.m. on Saturday One day Billy and Sandy went to the neighborhood fair. They were so exited because this year Bob the clown was going to be there. They had heard a lot about Bob the clown, he was funny and knew a lot of balloon tricks. He always made the kids laugh and gave out small prizes to many of the children at the fair. Billy and Sandy had even heard that sometimes Bob the clown would give out free cotton candy and candy apples. They had waited all year and were so excited. They did all their chores and cleaned their rooms so they could go to the fair. When they got to the fair they were so happy to see that Bob the clown was handing out cotton candy and candy apples. Billy and Sandy waited in line and then once it was their turn Billy got a balloon in the shape of a dog and Sandy got a big bag of cotton candy. They were both happy and could not wait to tell their friends all about Bob the clown. The clowns name is what? A. Bosco B. Bob C. Sam D. Tim Answer: B. Bob
In 1987, a supernova was detected in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, which is approximately 169,000 light years from Earth. Which event produces a supernova? Answer: the explosion of a massive star Millions of young people are writing blogs . Millions of others are reading them. The word "blog" is a short way of saying Web log. Many popular Web sites now offer free, easy ways to create personal Web pages and fill them with writings and pictures. Web sites called "Face book" and "My Space" are some of the most popular blog sites for young people. Blogs offer young people a place to show their writings and feelings. They can also be helpful to connect young people with others. But blogs can become dangerous when they are read on the Internet by millions of people all over the world. Recent studies show that young people often tell their names, age and where they live on the Internet. That may not be safe for them. This personal information puts them in danger when found out by dangerous people who want to hurt them. Students can also get into trouble when they put information about others on their blogs. As a result, many schools don't allow using blogging web sites on school computers. Many schools have also begun teaching parents about the web sites. Parents should know what their children are doing online and should read their blogs to make sure they are not giving out personal information. One way to keep away from these problems is to use programs so that blogs can be read by "friends only." people can read the website only if they know a secret word chosen by the blogger. Face book and "My Space" are _ . Answer: blog sites for young people A primary school teacher asked her students to write a composition about what they would like God to do for them. At the end of the day, while marking the compositions, she read one that impressed her deeply. Her husband, who had just walked in, saw her crying and asked her, "What happened?" She answered, "Read this. It is one of my students' compositions." "Dear God, tonight I ask you for something very special: Make me into a television. I want to take its place and live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, and have my family around me. To be taken seriously when I talk. I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruption or questions. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives even when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. And I want my mom to want me close when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me. And ...I want my brothers to fight to be with me...I want to feel that my family just put everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me. And last but not least, make sure that I can make them all happy and entertain them. God, I don't ask you for much. I just want to live like our TV. " At that moment the husband said, "My God, poor kid, what horrible parents!" .The teacher looked up at him and said, "That composition is our son's!" Why did the teacher cry? Answer: Because a composition moved her deeply. You are walking along a lane and never know what you will find. It might be a shop selling oil paintings, or a place where you can buy Dutch cheese. One thing is for sure, you will end up by a canal. Welcome to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. The year 2013 will be a good time to explore Amsterdam as the city has a lot to celebrate: the famous canal ring will turn 400 years old. Amsterdam will also celebrate the 160th birthday of Dutch painter of the Van Gogh museum, home to the biggest collection of the artist's colorful works. The famous canal ring is a trademark of the city. With more than 100 kilometers of canals, it is no wonder that Amsterdam is called the 'Venice of the north'. But unlike the Italian town, where boats were originally used for transport, the canals in Amsterdam were mainly used for defense in the 17th century. Today ferries on canals offer a different way to explore the city. But to truly experience Amsterdam, you can't miss the city's historic museums and monuments, among which Van Gogh museum is the most famous one. It holds 200 paintings, 700 letters and 500 drawings by the artist. Another famous museum is Anne Frank's house. Anne Frank became famous around the world because of a diary she left explaining her and her family's experience as a Jewish girl during World War II, hiding out in a house hoping that she would not be captured by German Nazis. Amsterdam is small enough to walk or cycle almost anywhere, but it is rarely dull. Best of all it combines its glittering past with a rebellious edginess. In the passage, Amsterdam is described as a city _ . Answer: that can be explored by foot Clearly if we are to participate in the society in which we live, we must communicate with other people. A great deal of communicating is performed on a person-to-person basis by the simple means of speech. If we travel in buses, buy things in shops, or eat in restaurants, we are likely to have conversations where we give information or opinions, receive news or comment, and very likely to have our views challenged by other members of society. Face to face contact is by no means the only form of communication and during the last two hundred years the art of mass communication has become one of the dominating factors of contemporary society. Two things, above others, have caused the enormous growth of the communication industry. Firstly, inventiveness has led to advanced imprinting, telecommunications photography, radio and television. Secondly, speed has revolutionized the transmission and reception of communications so that local news often takes a back seat to national news, which itself is often almost eclipsed( ) by international news. No longer is the possession of information confined to a privileged minority. In the last century the wealthy man with his own library was indeed fortunate, but today there are public libraries. For years ago people used to flock to the cinema, but now far more people sit at home and turn on the TV to watch a programme that is being channeled into millions of homes. Communication is no longer merely concerned with the transmission of information. The modem communication industry influences the way people live in society and broadens their horizons by allowing access to information, education and entertainment. The printing, broadcasting and advertising industries are all involved with informing, educating and entertaining. Although a great deal of the material communicated by the mass media is very valuable to the individual and to the society of which he is part, the vast modem network of communications is open to abuse . However, the mass media are with us for better, for worse, and there is no turning back. It is implied in the passage that _ . Answer: local news used to be the only source of information
Question: Fix it on your own Did you know that a bowl of rice could save your iPod if you drop it in a swimming pool by accident? Or that the camera on your phone could tell you what's wrong with your TV remote control? The experts at Geek Squad (geelsquad.co.uk) have made a gadget rescue guide.So, let's take a look at some of their useful advice. How to get more juice out of your phone batter If your battery goes dead but you need to get a number or send one last text, try warming it up.That may give you a tiny bit of power.Take the battery from the phone and rub it between your hands.Or warm it under your arm for a few minutes.Then try to start the phone but use it quickly. What to do if your gadget gets wet First, try drying it out with a vacuum cleaner .If a vacuum cleaner isn't at hand, fill a pot or bowl with uncooked rice and put your wet gadget inside.The dry, uncooked rice will absorb all the water and, after a few hours, you should be able to use the gadget.Don't forget to remove the battery and SIM card before you dry it. What to do if your TV remote control stops working If replacing the batteries doesn't work, get the camera function up on your phone and point the remote at the lens .When you press a button on the remote, if it is working, the glass bobble at the front of the remote will light up when you look at it on the screen of your phone.This is because the screen on a phone or digital camera picks up infrared rays , even though your eyes don't.If the glass bobble doesn't light up, the remote is broken.If it does, the receiving device is broken. Why can a phone be used to prove the TV remote control works well? Because it can _ . A. improve the TV remote control B. receive infrared ray C. picture the TV remote control D. reflect infrared ray Answer: B. receive infrared ray Question: The time of year a baby is born can shape what profession they will _ in later life, a new study has suggested. Being born in a certain month appears to indicate the possibility of what job a person will end up with, the study by the Office for National Statistics found. Researchers have uncovered that the month in which babies are born could also affect everything from intelligence to length of life. A child born in December is more likely to become a dentist while someone whose birthday falls in January will tend to a debt collector, they found. A February birth appears to increase the chances of being an artist while March babies appear to go on to become pilots. Meanwhile, April and May are said to have a fairly even spread of professions, births in the summer months mean a much lower chance of becoming a high-earning football player, doctor or dentist. The study was gained by researchers who analyzed the birth months of people in 19 separate occupations using information from the last census , the Daily Mail reported. Although these trends may be difficult to explain, relations between birth months and specific health problems have a scientific basis. Spring babies are at greater risk of illnesses including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, asthma and autism. They may also be less clever than classmates born in other parts of the year. (http://www.ebigear.com/news-115-76605.html) According to the researchers, a child born in March is likely to become _ . A. a debt collector B. a pilot C. a dentist D. an artist Answer: B. a pilot Question: Charlotte's Web is a popular American children's book about the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. The writer, E.B. White, shows that a real friend will help you even though he or she has nothing to get from doing so. In the book, Charlotte is always helping Wilbur. She spins words into her web to save Wilbur's life, even though spinning the words is tiring and difficult for her. Charlotte is a true friend. She helps Wilbur for only one reason - she cares about him. Templeton, the rat, on the other hand, is not a real friend to Wilbur. Templeton only helps others when there is something in it for him. When he is asked to help save Wilbur's life, he says "no" at first. Later on, he agrees to help, but only because he wants to keep eating Wilbur's meals. At the end of the book, Wilbur learns the true meaning of friendship. He helps Charlotte to save her babies. He does this not for other reasons, but because he cares about his friend. Reading this book lets me know how important it is to help others. Being a good friend means being there when you are needed. Why does Templeton agree to help Wilbur? A. Because he cares about Wilbur. B. Because he wants to live with Wilbur. C. Because he wants to eat Wilbur's meals. D. Because he wants to learn how to spin. Answer: C. Because he wants to eat Wilbur's meals. Question: Do you forget to turn off the lights and heaters when you go out of a room? In 2040 it will not matter. They will turn themselves off--and on again when you return. You will choose the temperature for each room, the lighting and the humidity. A sensor will find the presence of a human (and, with luck, ignore the dog!) and turn the systems on, and when the humans leave it will turn them off again. The sensors will work through the central home computer, and they will do much more than just turn the fires and lights on and off for you. They will find faulty electrical appliances, plugs or switches, separate them so that they cannot harm anyone, and then warn you that they need repair. They will detect fire and if you are out of the house, the computer will call the fire brigade. It will not be too difficult because the locks on the outside doors will be electronic. You will open them using your personal card--the one you use for shopping--maybe using a number known only to you. It will be impossible to lose the key, and a housebreaker will have to tamper with the lock or with a window. It is not very difficult to make such tampering send a signal to the computer. The computer will be more than a fireman-policeman-servant. It will be an entertainer, and most of your entertainment will come right into your home. It does now, of course, but by 2040 "entertainment" will mean much more. For one thing, you will be able to take part actively, rather than just watching. Thanks to computers, in 2040 people will _ . A. have no entertainment outside B. replace TV with computers C. be controlled by computers D. have more fun at home Answer: D. have more fun at home Question: One of the major functions of an iPhone is, of course, to play music. The iTunes app has been designed in such a way as to take advantage of the iPhone's touch screen. But what if you want to listen to music that isn't in your iTunes library, or you want to discover new music without sitting in front of computer? There are plenty of ways to access music, but not everyone knows what options are available. Either that, or there are so many options that going through all of them is tiring. For these reasons, here we offer a few convenient ways of listening to music on your iPhone without using iTunes. Stream some radio (Tuneln Radio) Tunnel Radio provides a quick and easy way to listen thousands of Internet radio stations on your Apple products. In addition to local radio stations, this app compiles more than 40 000 radio stations from around the country. What makes the app special is that it allows you to pause and rewind live radio----pause your station to take a phone call or rewind to replay a favorite song. You can also browse by genre of location, and the app includes plenty of talks, news, sports and weather stations in addition to music. From desktop to smartphone (QQ Music) QQ Music seems like obvious choice, and it is. It's a streaming service based on the Tencent technology that is already wildly popular on the Internet and now also offers a (free) app. Through this app you can listen to existing playlists or create new ones based on the patterns of music you like. It works amazingly well and everything can be saved to your QQ account for access from a computer. What was that song? (Shazam) Shazam is an innovative and free app that cures your"what was that song?"problem. It happens to all of us : we hear a song (on TV or in a store ), love it, know we have heard it before but just can't remember what it is called . With Shazam you don't need to. Just hold your iPhone up and through its microphone, Shazam will identify the album, artist and song title for you. You can then either purchase the song in iTunes or search it on other apps for streaming. How cool is that? What is possibly the best title for the passage? A. Beyond the Music B. Streaming Service of Music C. Get easier accesses to music D. Get Familiar t o Each Song Answer: C. Get easier accesses to music
It's Saturday morning and Tony's sitting at the kitchen table, staring into space and playing with a piece of bread. He's not even hungry. Is he ill? No, but he does have a problem. He has nothing to do and there's just one reason: the Internet is down and Tony has nothing to do. When he woke up this morning, Tony was feeling great. He jumped out of bed full of plans for the weekend ahead. It would be a weekend like any other--a great weekend. But that was before he turned on his computer and wasn't able to go online. No Internet changed everything. Just as Tony is wondering how he can possibly have a normal weekend without the Internet, his mum walks into the kitchen. "Is everything OK?" she asks. "No, mum, everything is definitely not OK," her sad son replies. "I can't go online and I have homework to finish." His mum laughs, "The word program is still working, so what's the problem?" What's the problem? Tony can't believe his own mother isn't able to see how serious the problem really is. To start with, he still needs to do research for his homework. He knows his mum will tell him to go to the library but he hates the library. It's so dark and uncomfortable. And forget homework--what about the rest of his weekend! Every weekend, he goes online to email friends. Then he reads the news to catch up on what's happening in the world. He plays a few online games and finishes the weekend off with an online chess game with his cousin Helen. The wonderful weekend-online! Now it's Saturday morning and he's not going to have access to the Internet for two whole days. The writer just wants to show us _ with the story. A. how to surf the Internet B. what to do on the Internet C. how the Internet influences teenagers' life D. why teenagers should go online Answer: C. how the Internet influences teenagers' life Dear Sir, I am writing to you about my stay at your hotel. My wife and I arrived on Saturday, May 15thand stayed for a week. Though we were treated well and found the service excellent, we think there are one or two things we should bring your attention. 1. We hoped for a nice holiday from our busy work lives, and your ad 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 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 places. I hope to hear from you soon. Yours sincerely Tom Green When did they get to the hotel? A. On May 15th. B. A week ago. C. Last year. D. On a cold morning. Answer: A. On May 15th. Members of the public can visit the White House now. Requests must be made through one's Member of Congress . These self-guided tours are allowed from 7:30 am to 11:00 am Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 1:00 pm Saturdays (except for holidays). Requests can be made up to six months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. All White House tours are free. If you wish to visit the White House and are a citizen of a foreign country, please call your embassy for help in making a tour request. All visitors 18 years of age or older will be asked to present a valid photo ID. All foreign visitors must present their passport. All other forms of foreign identification will not be accepted. All visitors should call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041 to decide if any last minute changes have been made in the tour schedule . ks5u Forbidden Items Cameras or video recorders Handbags, book bags, backpacks or purses Food, drinks, or cigarettes Any pointed objects *Guns, or knives of any size The U.S. Secret Service has the right to forbid any other personal items. Umbrellas, car keys, and cell phones (including those with cameras) are permitted. However, guests will not be allowed to use cell phones inside the White House. Restrooms/ Public telephones The nearest restrooms and public telephones to the White House are in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (the park area south of the White House). Restrooms or public telephones are not available at the White House. The Disabled Please contact your Member of Congress if you cannot hear or see clearly and need help during your White House tour. Guide animals are allowed in the White House. When can people visit the White House? A. At 9:00 am on Monday. B. At 10:00 am on Wednesday. C. At 1:00 pm on Friday. D. At 11:00 am on Sunday. Answer: B. At 10:00 am on Wednesday. Whether you're flying off to distant beaches or piling into the car for a weekend vacation, nurture a love of new places in your child this travel season. There are some wonderful products and media available to help your kids get fired up about geography. For the youngest ones, don't miss the adorable Hugg-A- Planet, Earth (peacetoys.com, $19.95). It's a soft, stuffed globe that's covered with a color1ful map of Earth. Kids will eye it like a treasure, toss it like a ball and hug it like a friend. For toddlers, the nifty puzzle My Town A-B-C (Great American Puzzle Factory, ages 3 and up; $12) helps teach the concept of place as it illustrates the relationship of one location to another. Also worth looking at for younger kids is the very cool CD-ROM Tonka Town (Atari, ages 3-6; $19.99), which lets children steer their favorite giant trucks down some adventurous paths. For the older kids, probably nothing beats Handling the Actual Map (ages 8-15; $12.95) that your family's using to get to your vacation destination. Whether you are traveling by car, bus, train or plane, show the kids how to follow your route. Ask them to narrate the trip. During your journey, consider weaving in a history lesson or two. Discuss how the famous explorers used maps to chart their journeys. An excellent book is The Lewis & Clark Expedition (Williamson Publishing, ages 9-12; $12.95), which shows how the Corps of Discovery bravely pushed westward. Love music and want to work it into your vacation in a meaningful, catchy way? Sample the delightful video States and Capitals Songs (Educational Insights, ages 7 and up; $14.95). Or, if you want lots of laughs as you travel (and who wouldn't?), try Scrambled States of America (Gamewright, ages 8 and up; $11.99). It's a fun game of observation and fast reflexes that sets players scrambling to find. If you want to have a fun game during your journey, you'd prefer _ . A. Scrambled States of America B. States and Capitals Songs C. The Lewis & Clark Expedition D. My Town A-B-C Answer: A. Scrambled States of America Tom was the only person alive after a shipwreck, the sea water washed up on a small island.There was nobody on the island,Tom hoped someone could come to save him,and every day he looked at the sea,but he didn't see any ship. A few days later,Tom built a little hut for himself.But then one day, after looking for food,he arrived home and found his little hut was on fire.The smoke went up to the sky,the worst thing happened,everything was lost,Tom was so sad and angry.He cried.Early next day,however,the sound of a ship woke him up.The ship was coming close to the island.It came to save him! "How did you know I was here?"Tom asked the men from the ship. "We saw your smoke,"they answered. It is easy to get sad when things are going bad,but we shouldn't lose hope.Remember,next time little hut is on fire and we lost everything,maybe the smoke is calling for help for us.For all the bad things happen to us,life has good answers for them. What Tom didn't do when he was on the island? A. Looked at the sea everyday. B. Built a little hut. C. Made a ship for himself. D. Looked for food. Answer: C. Made a ship for himself.
Question: I had recently arrived in London and I wanted to see some of the famous places. Should I go to the seaside? Or maybe one of the famous parks? I walked along the street, past a kindergarten playground, and suddenly saw an underground railway station. I was surprised because it was not on my map. I went to buy a ticket. The ticket-seller looked very old. He gave me a ticket, said "Remember it's a return", laughed and walked away without taking my money. Was it special for tourists? A train arrived. I could not see any other passengers. I got on and the doors closed. I suddenly felt I should not have got onto the train. It started to go faster and faster, shooting along the tracks. As it entered the tunnel, everything became as dark as midnight and I do not remember the next few minutes. The train came to a station and I got out. I could see light shining in the distance so I walked towards _ and came to a door. Beyond it there was a busy street. There were lots of English people walking about, and I could see some of the famous buildings of London, but there was something wrong. The people's clothes were strange. There were no cars, no motorbikes--but there were horses everywhere. Was someone making a film? "Excuse me," I said to a man. "Would you mind telling me where I am and what is happening?" "What do you mean? Who are you? Where do you come from? Are you from China? This is London and everyone's going to work. Can't you see that?" he asked. "Thank you, sir. I'm sorry, but could I look at your newspaper?" I asked. "You can have it," he said as he walked off. I looked at it; I saw "New Bicycle Law" and above that "July 5, 1880". Maybe I should have walked around, but I ran back to the door. I waited a long time. I was very afraid. A train came. I got on. It took me back to the first station. As I left, a woman asked, "What were you doing in that abandoned station?" I had no answer, but I still had the newspaper in my hand. According to the passage, New Bicycle Law might be _ . A. The name for a London street. B. The name for a film made in London. C. The name for a newspaper article D. The name for a underground station. Answer: C. The name for a newspaper article Question: In the USA Forbes magazine has published its annual list of the richest people in the world. Bill Gates of Microsoft is the richest man again for the eleventh successive year with a fortune of forty four billion dollars. There are a record 691 dollar billionaires according to Forbes magazine. Between them they have a fortune of two point two trillion dollars. The highest concentration of the ultra-rich is in New York followed by Moscow and San Fransisco and then London and Los Angeles. But in total the very wealthy live in forty seven different countries with Iceland Kazakstan Ukraine and Poland entering the list for the first time this year. Laksmi Mittal, an Indian born steel tycoon enjoyed the biggest increase in personal fortune. His net worth has quadrupled to thirteen billion dollars making him the world's third richest man. Ingvar Kamprad founder of the Swedish furniture chain Ikea also saw a big increase in wealth taking him to the sixth place. Developing countries make more of a showing than in past years -- there are for example three Russians and four Indians in the top sixty richest people, though surprisingly perhaps none from China excluding Hong Kong. Asian wealth is probably under represented as its usually spread among families whereas Forbes looks at individuals. Relatively few women feature in the list -- among them is JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter novels ranked 620th with a fortune of 519 million dollars. New entrants to the list include the founders of the Internet search group Google Sergie Brin and Larry Page each worth more than seven billion dollars after their company's recent stock market debut. The richest Italian is the prime minister Silvio Berlusconi ranked number 25 in the global wealth league. We can infer from the passage that _ . A. There are more billionaires in London than in Moscow. B. Ukraine is a very rich country in the world. C. JK Rowling's novels have sold very well. D. The IT industry is a profit making industry. Answer: C. JK Rowling's novels have sold very well. Question: A jobless man wanted very much to have the position of "office boy" at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him and then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. "You have passed the test," he said. "Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the form to fill in and the date when you may start." The man replied, "But I don't have a computer, neither an e-mail." "I'm sorry," said the HR manager. "If you don't have an e-mail, that means you are not living. And anyone who isn't living cannot have the job." The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do with only $10 in his pocket. He thought and thought. Then he went to the supermarket and bought 10 kilos of tomatoes. He sold the tomatoes from door to door. In less than two hours, he had 20 dollars. He repeated the operation three times, and started to go early every day, and returned home late. Shortly, he bought a cart , then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles . Five years later, the man was one of the biggest food retailers in the US. One day, one of his friends asked him for his e-mail. He said, "I haven't got one." His friend couldn't believe his ears. "Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an e-mail?" The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!" ,. The man _ after he left Microsoft. A. went to look for another job B. asked for food from door to door C. thought of an idea to make monkey D. bought a computer and got an e-mail Answer: C. thought of an idea to make monkey Question: Mrs. Brown is a worker. She works in a big factory. She gets up at five every morning. She often has breakfast at six fifty. After that she goes to the factory by bus at half past seven. She cleans the machines when she gets there very early. Then her workmates come. They begin to work at 8:00. They all work very hard. She goes home at five. Then she does some cooking. After supper she usually helps his son Tom with his homework. Sometimes she reads books. She usually watches TV with her family on weekends. What time does Mrs. Brown get up? A. 5:00 a.m. B. 5:30 a.m. C. 6:00 a.m. D. 6:30 a.m. Answer: A. 5:00 a.m. Question: Phillip Island Penguins The Little Penguin has called Phillip Island home for untold generations. Get to Phillip Island in plenty of time to watch s summer sunset at Summerland Beach - the stage is attractively set to see the little Penguin leave water and step onto land. Leave Melbourne at 5:30 pm for a direct journey to Phillip Island. See the Gippsland area - Guinness Book of Records place for the world's longest earthworm Journey along the coastal highway around the Bay with French Island and Churchill Island in the distance Cross the bridge at San Remo to enter Phillip Island - natural home for Little Penguins and many animals *Take your place in special viewing stands to watch the daily evening performance of the wild Little Penguins Ultimate Penguins (+U) Join a group of up to 15. This guided tour goes to an attractive, quiet beach to see Little Penguins. You can see penguins at night by wearing a special pair of glasses. Adult $60.00 Child $30.00 Viewing Platform Penguin Plus (+V) More personalized wildlife viewing limited to 130 people providing closer viewing of the penguin arrival than the main viewing stands. Adult $25.00 Child $12.50 Penguin Skybox (+S) Join a group of only 5 in the comfort of a special, higher-up viewing tower. Gain an excellent overview of Summerland Beach. Adult 16yrs How much would a couple with one child pay for a closer viewing tour? A. $37.50. B. $62.50. C. $180.00. D. $150.00. Answer: B. $62.50.
Which term identifies a group of cells that work together to perform a similar function? Answer: tissue In all one's lifetime it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. But it is exactly oneself that one has the least understanding of. When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself, mistaking difficulties for your own incompetence. To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself-aware of both one's strengths and shortages. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for ideals can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts. That's to say so long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself there won't be difficulties you can't overcome. To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you think you are a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own value. If you earnestly admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation, which will give you confidence. As soon as you gain full confidence in yourself, you'll be enabled to fight and overcome any adversity. To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires doing oneself a favor when it's needed. In time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep. As you are aware, what a person physically has is but a human body that's vulnerable when exposed to the elements. So if you fall ill, it's up to you to take a good care of yourself. In a word, to get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full control of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor. Having a real sense of self-appreciation can enable one _ . Answer: to gain enough self-confidence Buster Brown was a thief and a good one too,he thought. He'd never been caught by the police because he never took chances.He was always prepared for any unforeseen event or emergency. Confidently,he stood outside the house of his intended victim and read the sign on the front gate of the house."Don't worry about the dog--be aware of the owner!" it said.Buster smiled and found his way in. The house looked quite normal outside,but inside it was very exotic with fascinating objects on display.As he began putting them into his bag,a dog came into the room.It stopped when it saw Buster,then wagged its tail madly and went over to him,licking his outstretched hand. "Good boy," Buster whispered. "What a great guard dog you are--trying to lick me to death." Satisfied he'd made friends with the dog,Bluster began to wander round the house,choosing items to put in his bag.His skilled eye picked out only the best antiques :a pair of silver candleholders,a silver tea-and-coffee service,etc..His new friend,the dog,sat and watched,as if wondering what was happening. "Well,boy," Buster whispered,finally."That might do.Any more and I won't be able to carry it!" He swung the heavy bag onto his shoulders, just as the lights came on, nearly blinding him. He shielded his eyes with his hand. "You're a very silly person," the figure in the doorway said, his voice dry and dust. As the man came closer, Buster could see he was well dressed. His face seemed familiar, but Buster couldn't quite place where he had seen him before. "You should have taken more notice of the sign outside," the man rasped. "I knew about this attempted robbery last week and I also know you will end up behind bars for 20 years. Fancy trying to rob the house of the world's greatest fortune-teller!" How did Buster decide which objects to take? Answer: He took only the best antiques. A German study suggests that people who were too optimistic about their future actually faced greater risk of disability or death within 10 years than those pessimists who expected their future to be worse. The paper, published this March in Psychology and Aging, examined health and welfare surveys from roughly 40,000 Germans between ages 18 and 96. The surveys were conducted every year from 1993 to 2003. Survey respondents were asked to estimate their present and future life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, among other questions. The researchers found that young adults (age 18 to 39) routinely overestimated their future life satisfaction, while middle-aged adults (age 40 to 64) more accurately predicted how they would feel in the future. Adults of 65 and older, however, were far more likely to underestimate their future life satisfaction. Not only did they feel more satisfied than they thought they would, the older pessimists seemed to suffer a lower ratio of disability and death for the study period. "We observed that being too optimistic in predicting a better future than actually observed was associated with a greater risk of disability and a greater risk of death within the following decade," wrote Frieder R. Lang, a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Lang and his colleagues believed that people who were pessimistic about their future may be more careful about their actions than people who expected a rosy future. "Seeing a dark future may encourage positive evaluations of the actual self and may contribute to taking improved precautions ," the authors wrote. Surprisingly, compared with those in poor health or who had low incomes, respondents who enjoyed good health or income were associated with expecting a greater decline. Also, the researchers said that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability. The authors of the study noted that there were limitations to their conclusions. Illness, medical treatment and personal loss could also have driven health outcomes. However, the researchers said a pattern was clear. "We found that from early to late adulthood, individuals adapt their expectations of future life satisfaction from optimistic, to accurate, to pessimistic," the authors concluded. Pessimism may be positive in some way because it causes people _ . Answer: to value health more highly than wealth Isabella Stewart was born in New York City in 1 840.Her father made a great deal of money in the trade.During school,her parents took her to Italy to explore the country's many cultural treasures. One of the private art collections Isabella visited in Milan had a deep influence on her.She wrote to her friends about her dream of owning a house one day with an art collection like the one she had seen in Italy. In Paris,Isabella became close friends with one of her classmates,Julia Gardner,whose family was from Boston.Julia would later introduce Isabella to her brother,Jack.In 1 860,Isabella Stewart married Jack Gardner. The couple had too much art to fit inside their home.So they decided to start planning a museum.Mrs. Gardner didn't like the cold and empty.spaces of many museums during her time.She wanted a warm museum filled with light.She once said that she decided years ago that the greatest need in her country was art.America was a young country developing quickly in other areas.But the country needed more chances for people to See beautiful examples of art. After her husband's death in 1 898.Isabella knew she had no time to lose in building her museum.She bought land,hired a building designer,and supervised every detail of her museum's construction. Mrs.Gardner opened her museum on January 1,1 903,which was then called Fenway Court.She invited her friends that night for a special musical performance.The next month,she opened the museum to the public.At first,visits were limited to twenty days out of the year.Visitors paid one dollar to enter. Isabella Stewart Gardner died in 1 924 in Boston.In her will,she left the museum a million dollars and a series of requirements about how it should be managed, one that the permanent collection cannot be changed. The text is mainly about_. Answer: Isabella Stewart Gardner and her museum
Room doctors and medical groups around the world last weekend reacted with strong opposition to the news that an Italian specialist is _ cloning the first human baby. Dr. Severino Antinori, who is head of a hospital in Rome, has been referred to in an Arab newspaper claiming that one of his parents is eight weeks pregnant with a cloned baby. Antinori refused to comment on the reports, but in March 2001 he said he hoped to produce a cloned embryo for implantation with two years. So far seven different kinds of animals have already successfully been cloned, including sheep, cats and most recently rabbits. Doctors showed their doubt and were strongly opposed although they admitted that human cloning would finally come true unless there was a worldwide ban on the practice. Professor Rudolf Jaenisch of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said, "I find it astonishing that people do this where the result can be foretold that it will not be a normal baby. It is using humans as guinea pigs . It makes people feel sick." But Ronald Green, director of the Ethics Institute at Darmouth College in the USA, said it is unlikely that an eight-week-old pregnancy would lead to a birth. So far all cloned animals have suffered from some different serious disorders, many of them dying soon after their birth. Doctors are opposed to human cloning because they are worried about the welfare of the cloned child if there is one. "There are no benefits of cloned human beings, just harm," said Dr. Michael Wilks of the U.K. What would be the best title for the passage? A. The Success of Cloning Humans B. The Anger at Cloning Humans C. Failure of Cloning Humans D. The first Cloned Human Answer: D. The first Cloned Human After waiting until all the customers had left, Max entered a small grocery store just before closing time. He went up to the lone clerk in the store and said, "Hand over all the money in the cash register or you will get hurt." The clerk fainted and struck his head on the edge of the counter. As Max went behind the counter to open the cash register, two customers entered the store. Max ran out before he was able to open the register drawer.On this evidence Max could be convicted of A. robbery. B. assault and robbery. C. attempted robbery. D. assault and attempted robbery. Answer: C. attempted robbery. Are you always busy? Is your schedule hectic? Do you sometimes forget to take time to eat? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you need QUICKEATS HEALTHY EATING THAT FITS YOUR DAILY ROUTINE Vacuum-sealed meals for people on the go! Nutritious, low-sugar, low-fat, well-balanced meals in a convenient pocket! They don't spoil! Are you in the mood for a hot meal? Or do you prefer a cold dish instead? Hot or cold, Quickeats are delicious and the tempting taste will have you believing you are eating a home-cooked meal. A variety of meals are already available at leading grocery stores in your area. Try our Red Hot Quickeats! ( Heat in a microwave for 3 minutes. ) Stew with Garden Vegetables Barbecued Chicken and Rice Creamy Hum and Noodles Choose one of our Cool Blue Quickeats! (Refrigerate for extra coldness, if desired.) Yogurt with Dried Fruit and Nutsks5u Vegetable Salad and Pasta Salad Tuna Salad and Whole Wheat Crackers Quickeats are reasonably priced and ready to eat. Take the coupon below to a participating store to receive a free Red Hot or Cool Blue container that will fit neatly in your backpack, briefcase, or shoulder bag and keep your Quickeats meal hot or cold until you're ready to eat it. Each container holds up to 4 Quickeats. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact our national office: Neavest Inc., P. O. Box 90210, Lexinet, VA or call 1-888-293-3151 [?]One Free container for Quickeats with the purchase of one Quickeats meal. This advertisement is designed especially for those who _ A. like eating in restaurants B. have little time C. prefer home-cooked meals D. want to save money Answer: B. have little time Which is an example of a single-celled organism? A. amoeba B. insect C. fish D. worm Answer: A. amoeba Every small child knows the panic of losing sight of its mother in the supermarket, and as these delightful pictures show, small whales obviously feel the same way. Taken by a British diver who was following the sperm whale calf, _ show the minute the baby - who had lost track of its mum - found her again in the sea off the Azores. Soaring 30ft across the waves, the newborn slammed its body onto the water with joy after becoming separated from its family group in the chilly waters. But the whale calf was doing more than just jumping for joy. British biologist and dive guide Justin Hart, 44, who took the pictures, says that young whales communicate with older ones in the ocean by creating a slamming sound which travels through the water to the ears of the adults deep below. By leaping out of the water and slamming its 12ft long body onto the surface of the sea up to 30 times, the baby whale is telling its relatives where it is so they can regroup. He said: "We had been following the sperm whale calf for most of the day. Sperm whales, of all the whales and dolphins, are the species that dive the deepest and for the longest time." "The calves have to follow what's going on below them from the surface as best they can probably listening to the echo location clicks of the adults." "However, sometimes the adults re-surface far out of sight of the calf, and in this situation the whales often leap out of the water causing a large bang as their bodies hit the surface. In this way, the whale family could regroup." He added: "When I took the photo, two adults' females had just resurfaced and the calf quite literally began jumping for joy." Mr. Hart captured the rare image four miles from the port of Lajes do Pico while he was working as a crewman on an underwater documentary with special license to film sperm whales in the area. Sperm whales live in nearly all the world's oceans in groups of about 15 to 20 animals and they practice communal childcare. The calves do not have to follow their mother too closely as sperm whales can take milk from any milk-producing female in its social group. What do we know about sperm whales? A. The young are independent. B. They are highly social animals. C. They tend to live in warm sea waters. D. Females take turns to care for babies. Answer: B. They are highly social animals.
Question: Which is least likely to be an ecosystem? A. the plains B. the moon base C. the desert D. the fields Answer: B Question: This is time of year when we think about giving and receiving presents.Can you find a little extra to give? On this page we suggest a few organizations you might like to help. Littleton Children's Home We don't want your money, but children's toys, books and clothes in good condition would be very welcome. Also, we are looking for friendly families who would take our children into their homes for a few hours or days as guests.You have so much--will you share it? Phone Sister Thomas on 55671. Children's Hospice We look after a small number of very sick children.This important work needs skill and love.We cannot continue without gifts of money to pay for more nursing staff.We also need story books and toys suitable for quiet games. Please contact The Secretary, Little Children's Hospice, Newby Road. Street Food In the winter weather, it's no fun being homeless.It's even worse if you're hungry.We give hot food to at least fifty people every night.It's hard work, but necessary.Can you come and help? If not, can you find a little money? We use a very old kitchen, and we badly need some new saucepans.Money for new ones would be most welcome indeed. Contact Street Food, c/o Mary's House, Elming Way, Littleton.Phone 27713. Littleton Youth Club Have you got an unwanted chair?--a record player?--a pot of paint? Because we can use them! We want to get to work on our meeting room! Please phone 66231 and we'll be happy to collect anything you can give us. Thank you! The Night Shelter We offer a warm bed for the night to anyone who has nowhere to go.We rent the former Commercial Hotel on Green Street.Although it is not expensive, we never seem to have quite enough money.Can you let us have a few pounds? Any amount, however small, will be such a help. Send it to us at 15, Green St, Littleton.Please make check payable to Night Shelter. We can infer that _ . A. there are too many social problems in this country B. people are very poor during the time for giving presents C. warm-hearted people like to give away money D. this passage is taken from a local newspaper Answer: D Question: In the Netherlands,cycling isn't seen as eccrfriendly exercise; it's part of everyday life, as it's people's top choice to school and work. There are more bicycles than residents in the Netherlands. In cities like Amsterdam and The Hague, up to 70 percent of all journeys are made by bike. So how did cycling become such a popular means of transportation in the European country? In the 1970s, the Dutch government began to improve its cycling infrastructure due to both a social movement demanding safer cycling condition for children and the oil crisis in the Middle East, when oil producing countries stopped their exports to Western Europe. To make cycling safer and more appealing, the Dutch have built the widest cycling net- work in the world. The country has over 40,000 kilometers of bicycle lanes and paths,which are clearly marked. They have smooth surfaces,separate signs and lights for those on two wheels. The lanes are wide enough to allow side-by-side cycling and passing. In many cities the bike lanes are completely segregated from motorized traffic. And in many traffic situations cyclists are given priority over drivers. Sometimes, where space is limited and both must share, you can see signs showing an image of a cyclist with a car behind accompanied by the words "Bike Street:Cars are guests". As young people aren't allowed to drive alone until they are 18,cycling offers Dutch teen- agers an alternative form of freedom. The government also makes cycling training lessons a compulsory part of the Dutch school curriculum . Bike parking facilities are ubiquitous in the country. Cyclists are accommodated in the way motorists are elsewhere. Take Groningen, a city in the northeastern part of the Netherlands,for example. The city's central train station has underground parking for 10,000 bikes. What does the Dutch government do about teenagers cycling? A. It makes cycling covered by school education. B. It encourages teenagers to cycle alone. C. It will watch over teenagers who ride bikes. D. It suggests teenagers cycling before driving. Answer: A Question: To extinguish different kinds of fires, several types of fire extinguishers have been invented. They must be ready for immediate use when fire breaks out. Most portable kinds operate for less than a minute, so they are useful only on small fires. The law requires ships, trains, buses and planes to carry extinguishers. Since fuel, oxygen and heat must be present in order for fire to exist, one or more of these things must be removed or reduced to put out a fire. If the heat is reduced by cooling the material below a certain temperature, the fire goes out. The cooling method is the most common way to put out a fire. Water is the best cooling material because it is low in cost and easy to get. Another method of extinguishing fire is by cutting off the oxygen. This is usually done by covering the fire with sand, steam or some other things. A blanket may be used to cover a small fire. A third method is called separation, which includes removing the fuel, or material easy to burn from a fire, so that it can find no fuel. The method that is used to put out a fire depends on the type of fire. Fires have been grouped in three classes. Fires in wood, paper, cloth and the like are called Class A fires. These materials usually help keep the fire on. Such fires can be stopped most readily by cooling with water. To cover a small piece of burning wood with a basin( )in order to stop the fire is an example of _ . A. separating the fire B. reducing the heat C. removing the fuel D. cutting off the oxygen Answer: D Question: Cursive writing is about to become extinct.Do we raise the red flag? To teach or not to teach cursive writing is a question that several state education departments are meeting with. Before you read this text, do a simple exercise.Pick a pen and paper and start writing in cursive.Yes, that fancy handwriting that you learned in grade school.You may not have forgotten the good times you had while writing curly Ms and Ns.However, the chances are that you won't be able to write it as excellently as you used to.Some people are good at making the perfect curls, while some are bad.I am still terrible at it. Cursive writing is hardly used by kids anymore as even adults don't write in this style, unless they are using it for their signature.Learning it was a usual practice in school for several decades.However, in 2011, the Indiana Department of Education made it optional for schools to teach cursive writing to the students.In fact, there are 46 more states that have also done the same. There are some who believe that it is high time for cursive writing to retire from school curriculum.After all, if we don't leave the past behind, we cannot make way for new things.If you walk into any classroom, you would find children using keyboards to communicate in the written form.On the other hand, fans of cursive writing insist on its usefulness.They remind us that if we stop teaching and learning cursive writing in school, very soon most of our historical documents will become hard to us.Where do we stand on this subject? Is it the right time to erase an almost forgotten writing style and live in the keyboarding world? Or can we do both without compromising on our school curriculum? Let me know your thoughts on this matter by leaving a comment in the section below. In Indiana schools, children _ . A. must learn cursive writing B. are interested in cursive writing C. can choose to learn cursive writing D. learn cursive writing every day Answer: C
The following diaries were written by an Australian boy named Tony. He was on holiday with his family in South Asia. It can be learned from the diaries that _ . A. people are willing to set up websites B. Tony's father worked in the hospital there C. people can do something to help each other D. Tony went there to look for his family members Answer: C. people can do something to help each other Think about the last time you felt afraid. Was it a fear of height? Did you oversleep on a weekday and fear you'd get into trouble at the office? In any case, you know what it feels like to feel fear. But one woman doesn't the woman, code-named "UM", gave her first-ever interview after years of being studied by a team of researchers. The woman is given a code name because the researchers want to protect her from anyone who would take advantage of her inability to feel afraid. UM can't tell you what fear is because she's never experienced it. "I wonder what it's like to actually be afraid of something," she said. The formal name for the disease is Urbach-Wieth disease, which is characterized by a hoarse voice,small bumps around the eyes, and calcium deposits in the brain. In the case of UM,the disease has transformed the part of her brain that controls the human response to fear. In the interview, UM talks about an event in her life where she was held at knifepoint and gunpoint, "I was walking to the store,and I saw a man on a park bench.He said. "Come here,please," so I went over to him. He grabbed me by the shirt,put a knife to my throat and told me he was going to cut me. I told him, "Go ahead and cut me," I wasn't afraid at all. And for some reason,he let me go." Doctors who have been studying UM's condition for years have been trying different things that could strike fear into her. They finally figured something out--increasing UM's carbon dioxide levels.Extra carbon dioxide concentration in the blood is known to cause fear and panic in health individuals. Increasing UM's carbon dioxide levels did manage to give her a fright. The text starts by _ . A. challenging the reader B. solving daily problems C. listing situations D. giving explanations Answer: C. listing situations The words "winner" and "loser" have many meanings. When we refer to a person as a winner, we do not mean one makes someone else lose. To us , a winner is one who responds authentically by being credible ,trustworthy, responsive , and genuine, both as an individual and as a member of a society. Winners are not afraid to do their own thinking and to use their own knowledge! They can separate facts from opinons and don't pretend to have all the answers. They listen to others. evaluate what they say, but come to their own conclusion. Although winners can admire and respect other people, they are not totally defined, demolished, bound, or awed by them. Winners do not play "helpness", nor do they the blaming game. Instead, they assume responsibility for their own lives! They do not give others a false authority over them. Winners are their own bosses and know it. A winner's timing is right. Winners respond appropriately to the situation. Their responses are related to the message sent. They know the importance and the value of the people involved. Winners know that for every thing there is a season and for every activity a time. Although winners can freely enjoy themselves, they can also postpone enjoyment, can discipline themselves in the present to enhance their enjoyment in the future. Winners are not afraid to go after what they want, but they do so in appropriate ways. Winners do not get their security by controlling others. They do not set themselves up to lose. A winner cares about the world and its peoples. A winner is not _ from the general problems of society ,but is concerned, compassionate, and committed to improving the quality of life. Even in the face of national and international adversity, a winner's self-image is not one of a powerless individual. A winner works to make the world a better place. This text is mainly about _ . A. differences between a winner and a loser B. the characteristics of a winner C. advantages and disadvantages of a winner D. the contribution a winner makes to the society Answer: B. the characteristics of a winner When a tornado hit the small town of Otwell, Indiana years ago, Kathryn Martin, 32, who lived 60 miles away in Evansville, couldn't get the news out of her mind. "I kept thinking, 'Those poor people. Somebody's got to help them,'" she says. She knew firsthand what they were going through. Six months earlier, a tornado had struck her town, taking the lives of her 2-year-old son, C.J. and her mother-in-law. "It was the most terrible experience of my life," she says. "That _ will never go away, and it broke my heart to think about what these families were going through in Otwell." So Kathryn loaded her car with juice boxes, snacks and toys and drove to Otwell. She gave the items to the Red Cross, and as she was leaving, she saw a couple sorting through the ruins of their home while their children were watching. So Kathryn stopped and gave a few toys to the kids and played with them for a while. "The parents couldn't thank me enough for what I did for their children," she says. On the drive back to Evansville, Kathryn came up with an idea to help more kids. She talked her family, friends and neighbors into joining her and spent the next few months organizing fundraisers. Finally, in August 2007, she showed C.J.'s Bus, a 35-foot school bus that was turned into a mobile playroom. In the following years, stocked with video games and DVDs, toys, crafts, books and more, the bus traveled to disaster-torn towns, giving the children there a safe place to play. So far, C.J.'s bus has traveled to three states affected by tornadoes or floods, cheering up more than 756 children, aged 3-13. When she heard that Otwell was hit by a tornado, Kathryn Martin _ . A. felt it was the most terrible experience of her life B. wanted to do something for the people there C. was afraid that a tornado would strike her home D. was extremely worried about her family members Answer: B. wanted to do something for the people there Most recently, it's very common in students who need a parent present for job interviews. Naturally, it's easy to blame the students in these situations, but the bigger problem is us. We--as parents--are so eager to shelter our kids that we fail to realize that this in itself is harming them.As the mother of two young sons, I have to remind myself constantly that the biggest responsibility I have as a parent is to help them develop the skills needed to live in, to live without me.So, I'll let them fail. I'll let them fail because as long as they are safe and warm inside their comfort zones, they will never grow.And failure -- along with loss, heartbreak, disappointment, etc.-- will be part of growth for them.Call me the anti-tiger mom, but leaving them alone, is my way of helping them become equipped to fit in this world as we know it today.From terrorism and seemingly endless natural disasters, to our national debt and beyond, if we expect the next generation to stand up to the very real problems of our time, we need to stop feeding them and start teaching them how to fish. My children now are becoming little masters of compromise, but they try to negotiate everything now.It's a small price to help them learn a skill they'll use for the rest of their lives, including when I don't accompany them on job interviews. According to the author, what is beneficial to kids' development? A. Sheltering them. B. Keeping them safe. C. Leaving them alone. D. Blaming them. Answer: C. Leaving them alone.
There are numerous similarities between Muhammad Ali and his 23-year-old daughter Laila. She is the only one of his nine sons and daughters to have those genes that led to the ring . Her father's great status had nothing to do with Laila's decision to pursue a boxing career. She has always been proud of his achievements, but he was never a great man to her ---- just dad. What attracted her to take up boxing was the unusual sight of two women in the ring on the television screen when she was about to watch a Mike Tyson fight five years ago. She was very excited and said to herself, "I can do that." Laila's father would prefer her not to take up the dangerous sport. Johnny McClain, her husband and manager (former boxer himself) feels the same way. Even though both the men in her life worry about her, they're 100 percent supportive. "They don't want me to get hurt," she says. Long before entering the ring, Laila was a fighter. Being the daughter of an outstanding boxer made her an easy target for high school kids to see how tough she was. They, not she, failed in the test. For the public, her biggest test took place last summer in the New York State when she took on Jacqui Frazier Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier, her father's most famous opponent during the 1970s. _ . News reporters poured in. Some called it "Ali/Frazier - Generation II". No match involving women had ever attracted so much attention. Laila had a narrow victory in the fight. Like it or not, she accepts the fact that she is the face of female boxing. And she hopes that her name and fame will help get the public to take it more seriously. The name Ali has and always will bring her attention. But she is determined to make her own mark on opponents' faces as well as in boxing history books. She says, "I want women's boxing to get its due respect." From the passage we can know _ . A Laila's husband is still a boxer now B Laila wants to make contributions to the sport of boxing C Laila's husband doesn't think boxing is a dangerous sport D when Laila was in high school, she often failed in the fight with other kids Answer: B. Laila wants to make contributions to the sport of boxing The United States is faced with serious traffic problems. Too many cars travel on the freeways to and from the city. This heavy traffic causes delays and lots of pollution from cars that are using their engines but not moving anywhere. Many cars going nowhere is called a "traffic jam." While many cities in the United States have traffic problems, some of the worst are in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is a big city with a large downtown area. One of the reasons why there is so much traffic is that few people use public transportation to get around Experts say one possible solution to the traffic problem in Los Angeles would be to make people want to use the public transportation system of buses instead of their own cars. People say the buses should be made easier, faster, less costly and more dependable than driving a car. One suggestion is to reduce the cost of riding the bus. People who usually drive their cars could save a lot of money on gas and parking costs. Also, Los Angeles could make the buses easier for people to use. The buses could travel to more places in the city. And there could be more special lanes on the freeways that only buses could drive in. These changes would make taking the bus faster and easier than driving a car. Other experts have said that the best way to ease traffic problems is to charge people money to drive on the freeways. These charges, or tolls, would be for the most crowded roads. The tolls would be in effect during the times of day when most people drive to work and home again. These times in the morning and late afternoon are called "rush hour". People would try to avoid driving on these roads, which would decrease the amount of traffic. Also ,the money collected from these tolls could be used to improve the roads and public transportation system. One of the ways the experts suggest is that _ . A people should avoid driving to work and home B more roads should be built for the increasing private cars C people should be charged on the most crowded roads during rush hour D more special lanes on the freeways should be marked out for private cars Answer: C. people should be charged on the most crowded roads during rush hour You're probably aware of the basic trends. The financial rewards to education have increased over the past few decades, but men fail to benefit. In elementary and high school, male academic performance is lagging. Boys earn three-quarters of the D's and F's. By college, men are clearly behind. Only 40 percent of bachelor's degree go to men, along with 40 percent of master's degree. Thanks to their lower skills, men are dropping out of the labor force. In 1954, 96 percent of the American men between the ages of 25 and 54 worked. Today, that number is down to 80 percent. In Friday's jobs report, male labor force participation reached an all-time low. Millions of men are collecting disability benefits. Even many of those who do have a job are doing poorly. According to Michael Greenstone of the Hamilton Project, annual earnings for average prime-age males have dropped by 28 percent over the past 40 years. Men still dominate the top of the corporate ladder because many women take time off to raise children, but women lead or are gaining nearly everywhere else. Women in their 20s outearn men in their 20s. Twelve out of the 15 fastest-growing professions are dominated by women. Over the years, many of us have employed a certain theory to explain men's economic decline. It is that the information-age economy rewards qualities that women are more likely to possess. To succeed today, you have to be able to sit still and focus attention in school at an early age. You have to be emotionally sensitive and aware of context. You have to communicate smoothly. For genetic and cultural reasons, many men are not good at these. But, in her fascinating new book, The End of Men, Hanna Rosin suggests a different theory. It has to do with adaptability. Women, Rosin argues, are like immigrants who have moved to a new country. They see a new social context, and they flexibly adapt to .new circumstances. Men are like immigrants who have physically moved to a new country but who have kept their minds in the old one. They speak the old language. They follow the old customs. Men are more likely to be rigid; women are more fluid. This theory has less to do with born qualities and more to do with social position. When there's big social change, the people who were on the top of the old order are bound to stick to the old ways. The people who were on the bottom are bound to experience a burst of energy. They are going to explore their new surroundings more enthusiastically. Rosin reports from working-class Alabama. The women she meets are flooding into new jobs and new opportunities -- going back to college, pursuing new careers. The men are waiting around for the jobs left and are never coming back. They are strangely immune to new options. In the Auburn-Opelika region, the average female income is 140 percent of the average male income. Rosin is not saying that women are winners in a global gender war or that they are doing super simply because men are doing worse. She's just saying women are adapting to today's economy more flexibly than men. There's a lot of evidence to support her case. A study by the National Federation of Independent Business found that small businesses owned by women outperformed male-owned small business during the last recession . In finance, women who switch firms are more likely to see their performance improve, whereas men are likely to see theirs decline. There's even evidence that women are better able to adjust to divorce. Today, more women than men see their incomes rise by 25 percent after a marital breakup. Forty years ago, men and women stuck to certain theory, what it meant to be a man or a woman. Young women today, Rosin argues, have abandoned both feminist and prefeminist preconceptions. Men still stick to the masculinity rules, which limit their vision and their movement. If she's right, then men will have to acknowledge that they are strangers in a strange land. In Hanna Rosin's opinion, male performance is falling behind because _ . A men are less likely to sit still and focus in school at early age B men are more rigid and less able to adapt to new circumstances C women are doing better for genetic and cultural reasons D it is more and more difficult for men to get bachelor's degree Answer: B. men are more rigid and less able to adapt to new circumstances The shelf of the continent is close to? A whales B island changes C oceanic frontier edge D boats Answer: C. oceanic frontier edge Everyone knows about straight-A students. We see them frequently in TV situation comedies and in movies like Revenge of the _ . They get high grades, all right, but only by becoming dull laborers, their noses always stuck in a book. They are not good at social communication and look clumsy while doing sports. How, then, do we account for Domenica Roman or Paul Melendres? Roman is on the tennis team at Fairmont Senior High School. She also sings in the choral group, serves on the student council and is a member of the mathematics society. For two years she has maintained A's in every subject. Melendres, a freshman at the University of New Mexico, was student-body president at Valley High School in Albuquerque. He played soccer and basketball well, exhibited at the science fair, and meanwhile worked as a reporter on a local television station. Being a speech giver at the graduation ceremony, he achieved straight A's in his regular classes, plus bonus points for A's in two college-level courses. How do super-achievers like Roman and Melendres do it? Brains aren't the only answer. "Top grades don't always go to the brightest students, " declares Herbert Walberg, a professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who has conducted major studies on super-achieving students. "Knowing how to make the most of your innate abilities counts for more. Much more." In fact, Walberg says, students with high IQ sometimes don't do as well as classmates with lower IQ. For them, learning comes too easily and they never find out how to get down. Hard work isn't the whole story, either. "It's not how long you sit there with the books open, " said one of the many-A students we interviewed. "It's what you do while you're sitting." Indeed, some of these students actually put in fewer hours of homework time than their lower-scoring classmates. The kids at the top of the class get there by mastering a few basic techniques that others can readily learn. What can we infer from the passage? A IQ is more important than hard work in study. B The brightest students can never get low grades. C Top students certainly achieve all-around developments. D Students with average IQ can become super-achievers. Answer: D. Students with average IQ can become super-achievers.
My name is David Green. I am an English boy. My family are in Beijing. My father and mother work there. I have a sister but no brothers. We have a nice house in Beijing. There is a TV, a radios, a telephone, a computer, two small beds, a big bed and a soccer ball in it. The computer is next to the TV. The telephone is in the big bed. The football is under one of the small beds. I like playing football , but my sister likes watching TV. David doesn't have _ . A. sisters B. a sister C. brothers D. cousin Answer: C How should one invest a sum of money in these clays of inflation ? Left in a bank it will hardly keep its value, however high the interest rate. Only a brave man, or a very rich one, dares to buy and sell on the Stock Market. Today it seems that one of the best ways to protect your savings, and even increase your wealth is to buy beautiful objects from the past. Here I am going to offer some advice on collecting antique clocks, which I personally consider are among the most interesting of antiques. I sometimes wonder what a being from another planet might report back about our way of life. "The planet Earth is ruled by a mysterious creature that sits or stands in a room and makes a strange ticking sound. It has a face with twelve black marks and two hands. Men can do nothing without its permission, and it fastens its young round people's wrists so that everywhere men go they are still under its control. This creature is the real master of Earth and men are its slaves ." Whether or not we are slaves of time today depends on our culture and personality, but it is believed that many years ago kings kept special slaves to tell the time. Certain men were very clever at measuring the time of clay according to the beating of their own hearts. They were made to stand in a fixed place and every hour or so would shout tire time. So it seems that the first clocks were human beings. However, men quickly found more convenient and reliable ways of telling the time. They learned to use the shadows cast by the sun. They marked the hours on candles, used sand in hour- glasses, and invented water-clocks. Indeed, any serious student of antique should spend as much time as possible visiting palaces, stately homes and museums to see some of the finest examples of clocks from the past. Antique clocks could be very expensive, but one of the joys of collecting clocks is that it is still possible to find quite cheap ones for your own home. After all, if you are going to be ruled by time, why not invest in air antique clock and perhaps make a future profit ? By quoting the remark of a being from another planet, the author intends to _ . A. suggest human beings are controlled by a clock B. describe why clocks can rule the planet Earth C. tell readers what clocks look like D. compare chocks to human beings Answer: A A woman is having some trouble with her eyes, so she goes to see the doctor. He is a new doctor and doesn't know her, so he asks some questions and one of them is, "How old are you?"The woman says, "I don't know, doctor, but let me think about it." She thinks for a minute and then says, "Yes, I know now, Doctor!When I marry , I am eighteen years old, and my husband is thirty. Now my husband is sixty. And that is twice thirty. So I am twice eighteen. That's thirty-six, isn't it?" The woman is _ years old now. A. eighteen B. thirty C. thirty-six D. forty-eight Answer: D November 9 is a time for us to learn a lot more about fire . This is what to do in a fire: 1.Shout out. Shout as loudly as you can, because people may be asleep. 2.Call 119. Never try to put out a fire yourself. Tell 119 where you are and what is on fire. 3.Keep down close to the floor. There is less smoke down there, so it's easier to breathe and see where you are going. 4.Test the door. If the door is cool, open it carefully. If the door is hot, do not open it! Try to find a different way out. 5.Get out. Do not stop to pick up anything. A fire can become very big in a few seconds! 6.Don't use the lift. Always use the stairs. The lift may go wrong and keep you inside. 7.Don't go back .Even if you have left your pet or favorite toy inside, do not go back for it. Animals have a very good sense of smell. They often get out of buildings before people. When is the National Fire Prevention Day ? A. December 9 B. November 9 C. November 11 D. September 11 Answer: B Are the Super Girls super enough to make it into China's most authoritative dictionary? The editors of Cihai are working on a new edition, and they say they haven't decided yet. "The editing preparation of the 2009 edition of the dictionary has just started," an editor of Cihaisaid. "Which new words will be added, and which old ones will be deleted, remains unknown." The TV programme that brought the Super Girls into the public eye has certainly had an influence on Chinese society since its _ in 2004. The editor said the new edition will include terms such as "Shenzhou VI," the name of China's second manned spacecraft, and Ba Jin, a late master of contemporary Chinese literature. The argument began earlier this week, when media reported that Cihai, as a dictionary that prides itself on its educational and historical value, would not include terms such as "Super Girl." An official said that some online words were popular, but Cihaipreferred words of both popularity and stability and those that can withstand the test of time and usage. A reporter from China Economic News said: "We all agree on the great contribution of Ba Jin, but who can look down on the social influence of the Super Girl?" A Professor told China Daily: "Of course 'Super Girls' should be edited intoCihai. If some strange words can be in there, why not 'Super Girls'? Even though it may die out after a few years just as, say, 'Shenzhou VI' will be replaced by 'Shenzhou IX' one day." Cihai records new words reflecting the latest developments in the social and natural sciences, including biology, electronics, computer science and economics. What can we know about Cihai from the passage? A. It will be edited and published in 2009. B. Most of the words in Cihai withstand the test of time and usage. C. It records all new words at home and abroad. D. It is revised and edited every year. Answer: B
Jack London had endured more hardships by the age of twenty-one than most people experience in a lifetime. His struggles developed in him sympathy for the working class and a lasting dislike of hard work and provided inspiration for his career as a writer. London grew up in San Francisco in extreme poverty. At an early age, he left school and supported himself through a succession of un skilled jobs ----working as a paper boy, in bowling alleys, on ice wagons, and in canneries and mills. Despite working long hours at these jobs, London was able to read constantly, borrowing travel and adventure books from the library. The books London read inspired him to travel, and his job experiences led him to become active in fighting for the fights of workers. He sailed to Japan on a journey aiming at catching seals and joined a cross-country protest march with a group of unemployed workers. After being arrested for vagrancy near Buffalo, New York, London decided to educate himself and reshape his life. He quickly completed high school and entered the University of California. After only one term, however, the appeal of fortune and adventure proved uncontrollable. London gave up his studies and traveled to the Alaskan Yukon in 1897 in search of gold. Jack London was among the first of these miners. He may have searched for more than gold, however. London once commented, " True, the new region was mostly poor; but its several hundred thousand square miles of coldness at least gave breathing space to those who else would have choked at home." Although he was unsuccessful as a miner, London's experiences in Alaska taught him about the human desire for wealth and power and about humankind's inability to control the forces of nature. While in Alaska, London also absorbed memories and stories that would make him known one hundred years later. Once back in California, London became determined to earn a living as a writer. He rented a typewriter and worked up to fifteen hours a day, spinning his Alaskan adventures into short stories and novels. According to legend, London's piles of rejection slips from publishers grew to five feet in height! Even so, London preserved. In 1903, he earned national fame when he published the popular novelThe Call of the Wild. He soon became the highest paid and most industrious writer in the country. During his career, he produced more than fifty books and earned more than a million dollars. Several of his novels, includingThe Call of the Wild(1903),the Sea-Wolf(1904),the White Fang(1906),have become American classics. In fact, he was a creative writer whose fiction explored several regions and their cultures: the Yukon, California, Hawaii, and the Solomon Islands. He experimented with many literary forms, from traditional love stories and dystopias to science fantasy. His noted journalism included war communication, boxing stories, and the life of Molokai lepers . He was among the most influential figures of his day, who understood how to create a public persona and use the media to market his self-created image of poor-boy-turned-success. London's great passion was agriculture, and he was well on the way of creating a new model for spreading through his Beauty Ranch when he died of kidney disease at age 40. He left over fifty books of novels, stories, journalism, and essays, many of which have been translated and continue to be read around the world. His best works describe a person's struggle for survival against the powerful forces of nature. "To Build a Fire", for example, tells the story of a man's fight to survive the harsh cold of the Alaskan winter. _ made Jack London reconsider his life in the future. A His job experience B The books he read C Being arrested D Long-hour work Answer: C Researchers invited 79 people between the ages of 18 and 50 years old who had been diagnosed with depression. 33 of the participants were offered 20 music therapy sessions, in addition to their usual treatment for depression. The other 46 participants received stan dard treatment, and acted as the control group. The one-on-one music therapy sessions each lasted 60 minutes and took place twice a week. Trained music therapists helped each participant to improvise music. On average, each participant attended 18 music therapy sessions. 29 individuals (88 percent) attended at least 15 sessions. The participants in both groups were followed up at three and six months and assessed forsymptoms of depression and anxiety. In the final analysis, researchers discovered that af ter three months of participation, individuals who received music therapy showed greatly fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, and scored better on general functioning. Although improvements still remained after six months, the difference between the groups was no longer statistically significant. Co-researcher Christian Gold, Ph.D., explained the study findings: "Our trial has shown that music therapy, when added to standard care including medication, psychotherapy and counseling , helps people to improve their levels of depression and anxiety. Music therapy has specific qualities that allow people to express themselves and interact in a non-verbal way - even when they cannot find the words to describe their inner experiences." Given the success of the study, researchers say it needs to be repeated with a larger sample of people, and that further research is needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of such therapy. Outside experts believe this study shows that music ther apy is an effective addition to traditional therapy and improves outcomes. Mike Crawford, M.D., said, "This is a high-quality randomized trial of music therapy specifically for depression, and the results suggest that it can improve the mood and general functioning of people with depression." Why does music therapy help people to improve their levels of depression and anxiety? A People can express themselves and interact without using words. B People are very proud of creating music themselves. C People can release their feelings and become stronger. D People may feel more relaxed and excited. Answer: A We all know that when leaves fall to the ground they die and become food for worms. When worms pass the leaves, their waste can help to make the soil rich, from which the plants use to get their nutrition. The plants grow and provide food for animals. When the animals eat the plants, their waste goes back into the soil. It's a perfect cycle. But at the Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang, Northern Thailand, they are using elephant waste for something more--to make 100% natural, beautiful color1ful paper products! 100 years ago over 100,000 elephants in prefix = st1 /Thailandworked on farms, building sites and even in the army. However, only 6,000 remain there today because of advances in technology that have made elephants' old word less necessary. Elephants are doing new jobs now, including entertaining tourists by painting and playing football, and now by helping in the paper making industry. And their keepers, called Mahouts, can earn a living for their families and help their elephants by using elephant waste, also called "dung" to make beautiful, natural, paper products without any bad smell. Every day an adult elephant eats about 200kg of plants like bamboo, grass and watermelon seeds. His body system breaks the plants into 50kg of fibers, which can produce 115 sheets of fibrous paper. The first step to make this special natural paper is to collect the fiber rich "dung" from the elephant. The next step is to wash it and boil it for five hours to kill bacteria. (The water the use in this process is reused to water plans at the Centre, which, in turn, feed the elephants). After it's boiled, they cut fibers up. During the cutting process, they add in the desired color1 of the paper. For the fourth step, they take the mixture and make balls of 300g. Each ball is then speeds lightly over bamboo frames to dry into one large sheet of paper. After a few hours in the sun, the sheets are dry enough to remove. The result is a wonderful, 100% natural, recycled paper. People around the world are getting interested in buying this special elephant paper for their holiday cards, writing paper and much more, because it's beautiful, natural and helps so many. What is the famous product mentioned in the passage? A Paper. B Dung . C Fibers. D Bamboo frames. Answer: A the presence of which of these is required for the formation of cavernous chambers? A some carbonated soda B some carbon dioxide C some carbonic acid D carbon monoxide gas Answer: C The main cause of a heart attack is not exercise or stress -- it's air pollution, according to a study published in The Lancetthis month. Researchers found spending time in traffic, whether as a driver or a pedestrian , tops the list of risk factors that bring on a heart attack. Jon Ayres, professor of environmental and respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham, says, "Air pollution is not only linked to strokes, heart attacks and cancer -- it has a deep effect on those with existing respiratory conditions." So how can you avoid the damage? We asked the experts for their tips. TAKE TO THE SIDE STREETS Avoid main roads. These have the highest number of vehicles and also more traffic jams, which tend to run on diesel . Diesel engines emit tiny particles that reach the lungs most easily. Choose side streets, pavements, parks and avenues lined with trees. BUY SOME HOUSEPLANTS We spend 90 percent of our time inside, but studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have found that pollution levels can be two to five times higher indoors than outside. Objects such as synthetic carpets, TV screens can emit chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOC,), which have been linked to diseases such as cancer. Researchers at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, found an increase in asthma risk among children under three who had high VOC levels in their homes. Therefore, the application of air fresheners and houseplants can keep the circulation of the air and absorb the pollutants. What is the passage mainly about? A Tips to avoid the damage of air pollution. B Air pollution is the main cause of a heart attack. C Air pollution is linked to strokes, heart attacks and cancer. D Pollution levels can be two to five times higher indoors than outside. Answer: A
The teacher invited a little boy's mother to attend his elementary school's first parents' meeting. His mother said she would go but the boy was disappointed. This would be the first time that his classmates and teacher met his mother and he was embarrassed by her appearance. Although she was a beautiful woman, there was a severe scar that covered nearly the whole right side of her face. The boy never wanted to talk about why or how she got the scar. At the meeting, the people were impressed by the kindness of his mother, but the little boy was still embarrassed and hid himself from everyone. However, he heard a conversation between his mother and his teacher. "How did you get the scar on your face?" the teacher asked. The mother replied, " When my son was a baby, the room he was in caught fire. Everyone was too afraid to go in because the fire was out of control, but I rushed in at once. As I was running towards his crib , I saw a beam coming down and I placed myself over him trying to protect him. I was knocked down. But fortunately, a fireman came in and saved both of us. " She touched the burned side of her face. " This scar will be _ , but until today, I have never regretted doing what I did. " At this point, the little boy came out running towards his mother with tears in his eyes. He hugged her and felt the love of his mother. ,. What did the people think of the boy's mother? A. Shy. B. Ugly. C. Careful. D. Kind. Answer: D. Kind. Fun places to visit in Singapore Jurong Bird Park At Jurong Bird Park you can see more than 5,000 birds and even feed some of them by hand! If feeding birds makes you hungry, you can join the park's parrots for lunch. PulauUbin Take a small boat into Singapore's past.A 10-minute ride will take you to this island.The life on the island has not been changed since the 1960s. Malls and Markets Walk through Orchard Road's modern malls.Then try an open-air shopping experience at the markets.There you can buy inexpensive clothes,toys and old furniture. Night Safari Night Safari lets you see animals that are active at night in their natural environment.Walk through the park at night to get close to the animals from seven different areas. Where can you get to know Singapore's past? A. At Jurong Bird Park. B. At PulauUbin. C. Malls and Markets. D. At Night Safari. Answer: B. At PulauUbin. Photography has been my interest ever since I was old enough to pick up a camera, but today I want to share with you the 15 most treasured photos of mine, and I didn't take any of them. There were no art directors, no stylists, no chance for reshoots, not even any regard for lighting. In fact, most of them were taken by random tourists. My story begins when I was in New York City for a speech, and my wife took a picture of me holding my daughter on her first birthday. We're on the corner of the 57thand 5thavenue. We happened to be back in New York exactly a year later, so we decided to take the same picture. Well you can see where this is going. Approaching my daughter's third birthday, my wife said, "Hey, why don't you take Sabina back to New York and make it a father-daughter trip, and continue the ceremony?" This is when we started asking passing tourists to take the picture. So these photos are far more than representatives for a single moment, or even a specific trip. They're also ways for us to freeze time for one week in October and reflect on our times and how we change from year to year, and nor just physically, but in every way. Because while we take the same photo, our viewpoints change, and she reaches new milestones and I get to see life through her eyes, and how she communicates with and sees everything. This very focused time we get to spend together is something we value and expect the entire year. Who came up with the idea of having a father-daughter trip when Sabina was 3 years old? A. Her mother. B. Her father. C. Sabina herself D. An unknown tourist. Answer: A. Her mother. The Dragon Boat festival is very popular in China, it usually comes in May or June. On that day, people eat a special food--- rice dumplings. It is known as dragon-boat racing. Dragon-boat racing is the most popular activity during the festival. A dragon boat looks like a dragon, and is painted in red, white, yellow or black. Usually, a dragon boat is 20 to 40 metres long, and needs 20 people to row. Boatmen row the boat in cadence with the drumbeats , and a man in the front of the boat waves a small flag to help coordinate the rowing. Dragon-boat racing becomes a popular activity in South China. International dragon-boat racing is held in Guangzhou and Hong Kong every year. A Dragon boat needs _ people to row. A. 20 B. 40 C. 60 D. 30 Answer: A. 20 Teachers' Day is coming soon. Miss Wang is talking to her students and her students are listening to her. "Good morning, boys and girls!"says Miss Wang,"Teachers' Day is on September l0th. I hear some students are going to buy some presents for your teachers. You want to show your love for your teachers. That is very good, of course. But teachers don't like to get presents from students. So please don't buy any! I think on Teachers' Day, a card from you all is enough . And the best present for our teachers is your good work. " The students want to show their love for _ . A. their parents B. their friends C. their classmates D. their teachers Answer: D. their teachers
Tom and Fred are talking about the year 2020. "What will our world be like in the year 2020?" "I don't know," says Fred. "What do you think?" "Well, no one knows, but it's interesting to guess." "In the year 2020 everyone will carry a pocket computer . The computer will give people the answers to all their problems. We shall all have telephones in our pockets, too, and we'll be able to talk to our friends all over the world. Perhaps we'll be able to see them at the same time. " "A lot of people will live and work under the sea. Perhaps there will be big towns, factories and farms under the sea, too. " "Machines will do most of the work, and so people will have more holidays, perhaps they'll work only two or three days a week. They'll be able to fly to the moon by spaceship and spend their holidays there. " "I'm looking forward to the year 2020. I hope to go to the moon! " "And 1 hope I'll be able to live under the sea." says Fred. "Won't that be very interesting? Just like a fish! " Machines will _ . A do most of the work instead of people B do some of the work instead of people C do as much work as people D do less work than people Answer: A You are standing in the kitchen and a voice says, "Add a little more salt to that soup." Yes, it's always nice to have someone help you when you're cooking. But this voice is not from a man. You are alone! Then where does it come from? Is it from a ghost? No, this isn't a ghost kitchen--it's the kitchen of the future. Scientists are working to improve everything in the kitchen, from fridges to tables, and even the ways we cook. They are making a system. It will help a person cook a meal. You don't need cookbooks. You can hear how to cook food. The fridge of the smart kitchen has a scanner. It looks at the foods in the fridge. It will order more milk from the store when your milk has gone bad or there is no more in the fridge. The gloves will test the temperature of everything they touch and say, "Need to cook longer" or "Hot and ready to eat". If you leave them on the stove by mistake, they'll say, "Fire!" Even the knives and spoons will speak. For example, if your food is bad, the knives and spoons will tell you not to eat it. The future kitchen may look wonderful, but it's not cheap. The multimedia fridge costs about 8,000 dollars. So even though high-tech kitchens are no longer a dream, not everyone can afford one. In the kitchen of the future, there is a _ helping you. A system B man C ghost D servant Answer: A Everyone dreams of changing the world. But can teenagers really make a difference? And how can they go about it? Michael Norton's book 365 Ways to Change the World is a good starting point. The book gives an idea or task for every single day of the year. The tasks include offering to work at a local homeless shelter and planting a tree. The book says that one simple act, no matter how small, can help someone in need. It may even influence other teens to do something. Nathan Anthony, a student at Maple High School in Modesto, California, US, agrees. "It is impossible to get anything in life without giving something to someone or working hard at school or workplace," Anthony said. Another Maple student, Ariane Mota, has the same idea." Giving is our way of repaying those who help us," she said." Whether it is a helping hand or a donation, we should help others to make their day or life better." But how often do teens see peers helping a stranger or doing something nice for someone? According to Anthony, not a lot. He and Mota both believe this needs to be changed. "I help my friends by telling them that their lives are better than those poorer people," Anthony said." Humor is also a great tool." So whether you're helping to find a cure for bad illness or simply smiling at a stranger, do something every day to help change the world for the better. How often does the passage tell us to do something to change the world better? A Once a year B Every day C Once a week D Twice a day Answer: B Defendant left her car parked on the side of a hill. Two minutes later, the car rolled down the hill and struck and injured Plaintiff. In Plaintiff's negligence action against Defendant, Plaintiff introduced into evidence the facts stated above, which are undisputed. Defendant testified that, when she parked her car, she turned the front wheels into the curb and put on her emergency brakes, which were in good working order. She also introduced evidence that, in the weeks before this incident, juveniles had been seen tampering with cars in the neighborhood. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Defendant, and Plaintiff moved for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Plaintiff's motion should be A granted, because it is more likely than not that Defendant's negligent conduct was the legal cause of Plaintiff's injuries. B granted, because the evidence does not support the verdict. C denied, because, given Defendant's evidence, the jury was not required to draw an inference of negligence from the circumstances of the accident. D denied, if Defendant was in no better position than Plaintiff to explain the accident. Answer: C Enough sleep is important to health. The amount of sleep needed depends on the age of the person and the conditions in which sleep takes place. The young may need more sleep than the old, but usually eight hours are enough for the health of grown-ups. Some can do with less than this amount, but others may need more. Every person knows his own need. It is then a matter of good judgment to satisfy his need. Sleep should always be enough to make one bring back his strength and get ready for a day's work. Fresh air is necessary to sound sleep. It is not without reason for some people to think that it is practicable to sleep in the open air. When one can keep himself warm, out-of-door sleeping probably gives the body its most complete relaxation . Ability to sleep is largely a habit. The conditions referred to only lead to sleep. Out-of-door exercises, a good habit of regular hours and the avoidance of late eating and worry, which are largely within the control of any person, are all helpful to sound sleep. A bath at bedtime, neither hot nor cool but of body temperature, may be helpful to sleep. Sleep-producing drug should never be taken except when suggested by a doctor. If you want to have a good sleep, _ is helpful. A forming the habit of taking sleep-producing drug. B keeping good habits. C staying up late night. D eating something at bedtime. Answer: B
Now,in the streets of China,we can see increasing numbers of foreigners,speaking various foreign languages or strangely-toned Chinese.They have become part of our life.Have you ever wondered what brings foreigners to China and what they do in China? Xia Yuan,a beautiful girl from Ukraine,works in Beijing.She is in charge of the marketing department.She had studied Chinese for two years before she came to China,and she now speaks fluent Mandarin .Unless you can see her in person,you might not even realize that she is a foreigner. Ding Luo,an Italian,is the manager of Alcatel in China.Some years ago he lived in Chengdu,Sichuan.He often went to the poor areas of Sichuan to help the kids,donating computers,clothes and bags to _ _ Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: Telephone: 2706030 Address: 9020 Bridgeport road Open: Mon. to Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. NEW YORK MUSEUM Telephone: 7364431 Address: Vanier Park, 1100 Chestnut St. New York, America's largest museum specializing in American history and part of our native people Open: Mon. to Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday free) Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. LANSDOWNE PARK SHOPPING CENTER Telephone: 3562367 Address: 5300 No. 3 Road Open: Mon. Tues. and Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Wed. Thurs. and Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. SKYLINE HOTEL Telephone: 2785161 Address: 3031 No. 3 Road (at Sea Island Way) Hangar Den: Wed. to Sun. Lunch from 10:30 a.m. Coffee Shop: Mon. - Fri. 6:00 a.m., Sat. 6:30 a.m. and Sun. 7:00 a.m.; Mon. - Wed. to 10:00 p.m., Thurs. - Sun. to 11:00 p.m. If you want to go out for lunch on Tuesday you can call up the number _ . Answer: Everyone has his own birthday. People in different countries celebrate their birthdays in different ways. Here are four people from different countries. They will tell us how they celebrate their birthdays in their countries. Sandy Morrison comes from Madrid . He says happily, "My twenty-first birthday is on a Saturday, and I'm going to go out with some friends. To wish me a happy birthday, they are going to pull(,)on my ear, once for each year. It is an old custom . Some people pull on the ear just once, but my friends are very traditional ." Mr. and Mrs. Sato are from Tokyo. Mr. Sato is going to be sixty tomorrow. In Japan, the sixtieth birthday is called Kanreki---it's the beginning of a new life. The colour red is for a new life, so they always give something red for a sixtieth birthday. Mrs Sato says, "What am I going to give my husband? I can't say. It's a surprise ." Li Xiaomei from Beijing feels very excited and tells us. "Tomorrow is my sixteenth birthday. It's a special birthday. So we're going to have a family party. I'm probably going to get some money in 'lucky' envelopes from my relatives. My mother is going to cook noodles --- noodles are for a long life." Phillip Evans, from Paris, smiles to us, "I'm going to be thirty next week, so I'm going to invite three very good friends out to dinner. In France, when you have birthday, you often invite people out. In some countries, I know it's the opposite---- people take you out." Japanese people think the sixtieth birthday is _ . Answer: Learning English has a powerful effect on the type of job you can get. If you don't speak English well, you won't find many jobs, and yes, you'll earn much less money. Only 2% of company managers can't speak English! Your family can also benefit from you learning English. And you can learn with them, helping each other as a family. Children have up to a 40% better chance of finishing high school if their parents speak English well. If you speak English better , you'll find more jobs--- good jobs. Or you can get a promotion and earn more money. Learn how the Beehive can help you find the right job. School. Children go to their parents when they need help with school. If you speak better English, you can help your child with homework and you can also talk to teachers and other parents. Health. Most doctors and pharmacists in America only speak English, and if you can explain what the problem is and understand what the doctor is saying, you'll get better sooner! On the Beehive, you can find cheap, free medical help or find important information for your family. Education. With a little more English, you might be able to take your high school diploma (GED), go to a vocational school to learn a profession or even go to college! Find out what type of education is right for you, and how to do it. It is never too late! Money. If you understand what people tell you at the bank, a store or a lawyer's office, nobody will be able to cheat you! With more English, you can save more, send more money to your family and even start your own business. Don't wait! Find an English course now! And remember, with the Beehive you can practice English and find a good job, open a bank account or find a doctor! The Beehive is written very clearly so you can make life better. Many people are doing it! Learning English well can help us in the following things EXCEPT _ . Answer: My day started just like all the other days for the past 15 years where I get up, make some coffee, shower, get dressed and leave for the train station at exactly 7:35 A.M. to arrive at work by 8:30. While on the train I would always choose a seat away from the crowd so I can read the newspaper in peace and quiet. At work I am always being flooded with questions from coworkers, suppliers, telephone and then those dread meetings, so the last thing I need is some stranger to sit beside me and make small talk. I don't know why but for some reason when I got on the train today it was unusually full, something I don't recall ever happening in the past. With hesitation I sat down in the only seat available beside a middle-aged man that had his head down and seemed to be lost in his thoughts. I was glad that he didn't notice when I sat next to him as he just continued to look down towards the floor. Shortly after the train left for my 30-minute ride downtown I found myself wondering what this man was thinking about. What could be so important that he didn't even see me sit next to him? I tried to forget about it and started to read my paper. However, for some strange reason this "inner voice" kept urging me to talk to this man. I tried to ignore the "voice" as there was no way I was starting a conversation with a complete stranger. www.ks5u.com As you probably guessed I eventually broke down and came up with an excuse to ask him a question. When he raised his head and turned his eyes towards me I could see that he must have been really upset as he had red eyes and still had some tears rolling down the side of his face despite his weak attempt to wipe them away. I can't describe the sadness I felt seeing someone in so much pain. We talked for about 20 minutes and in the end he seemed to be doing better. As we were leaving the train he thanked me again and again for being an angel by taking the time to talk. I never did find out what was making his heart so heavy with pain but was glad I listened to the "voice" that day. Several weeks had passed when I noticed an envelope on my desk after returning from lunch. It was not addressed to anyone and only had the word "Angel" written on it. My receptionist attached a note saying a gentleman dropped it off saying he did not know my name but had described me well enough that the receptionist knew it was for me. When I read the note inside the envelope I was so filled with emotions that I couldn't contain myself. It was a letter from the man I met on the train thanking me again for talking to him and saving his life that day. Apparently he had some very hurtful personal problems that were so challenging that he was planning to take his life that day. In his letter he went on to explain that he was a religious person and in desperation screamed out to God that if God really cared about him he would send someone to prevent him from taking his life. In his eyes I was that someone, that Angel sent by God. Not being a religious person myself I don't know what that "voice" was that made me take a chance and talk to a stranger but I do know that it made a difference in someone's life that day. So the next time you feel desired for no apparent reason to talk to a friend, , neighbor or even a complete stranger please remember my story, you just may make a difference in someone's life when you listen to your inner voice. Who does the underline word "he" refer to? Answer:
There can be no doubt about the positive changes that have taken place in the last hundred yeas. In Western countries we eat more nutritiously, we are wealthier, we are healthier and there are more opportunities. But then, why, in the midst of so much excitement and opportunity, has life satisfaction declined so much? Why is depression the most common illness in the Western world? And why, when most infectious diseases have been conquered and rates of heart attacks and stokes have been reduced, do so many people report that they are feeling ill? It is argued that "functional illnesses" such as constant tiredness, the inability to sleep and anxiety that makes you ill, are caused by the body's failure to adapt to social change. Modern life is exhausting because we are often compelled to live by its standards, even though technically we have a choice to live otherwise. Everybody thought we would benefit from the invention of machines to carry out the more dull tasks in our life, leaving us many more opportunities for leisure and relaxation. And yet the opposite has happened. Only recently a lifestyle survey found that for 42% of its 5,000 interviewees, lack of sleep was their principal health concern, followed by 34% worrying about general exhaustion. A quarter acknowledged experiencing stress and depression. Working long hours in companies with a restricted social life is threatening our health and people feel unable to cope. The new technological age that claims freedom by allowing us greater flexibility is, in fact, slowly working to destroy us. Jobs for the whole life are an old story. If people take time out to recover, somebody else will come along to fill their position. Who, in this current every-man-for-himself climate, wants their employer to think they cannot cope, especially when there are mortgages and families at stake? The passages states that these days _ . A employers' loyalty to employees is strong B employers don't care about a turnover of staff C people are less selfish D people have fewer responsibilities Answer: B. employers don't care about a turnover of staff Jeremy Shu-How Lin, who was born in California, 1988, world-famous now,is the first Chinese-American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of NBA. It hasn't been an easy road for Lin. After high school, Lin sent his resume and a DVD of highlights to all the Ivy League schools, and his dream schools Stanford and UCLA. Harvard and Brown were the only schools that guaranteed him a spot on their basketball teams, but Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships. After graduating from Harvard University, Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft . Lin spent his first season with his hometown the Golden State Warriors. He saw limited minutes with the Warriors, but was cheered in arenas around the country, particularly in cities with large Asian communities, as fans came out in crowds to cheer their homegrown star. In late 2011, Lin spent less than two weeks with the Houston Rockets, moving to the New York Knicks at the very end of the year. He has made several trips to the NBA's Development League, a minor league for players who show promise but need seasoning before they can compete at the highest level. It appears to have paid off. In February 2012, after keying the Knicks victory over New Jersey, Lin was named the starter for the Utah game, a position he appears to have a hold on in the short term, as Baron Davis, who signed in December to play the position, stays on the disabled list. Lin will likely get stronger the more minutes he plays, and even if Davis returns, spelling the older, recovering player could be productive for Lin: a proven good student who can learn a lot from practicing against a veteran. Without the services of All-Stars Carmelo and Amare, Lin led New York to a 4-0 record last week. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts, which generated a global following known as Linsanity. The Associated Press called Lin "the most Surprising story in the NBA". Which of the following can be the main idea of this text? A How the word Linsanity came into being. B Introduction to Jeremy Shu-How Lin. C How Lin becomes successful. D Lin and New York Knicks Answer: B. Introduction to Jeremy Shu-How Lin. Do you know Marc Yu . He is very famous . He is only nine years old. He is a Chinese American. His mother is from Macao. He likes music very much and he has great musical talent . He can play forty pieces of classical music now. After hearing Mary Had a little Lamb one time at the age of three, he began playing it on the piano. Before that, he didn't learn the piano at all. He started to take the piano lessons at the age of three. His first public performance was at the age of three , too. Now he can play great music for people on the stage. He wants to be a famous musician like Lang Lang in the future. He likes LangLang very much. Lang Lang is his idol. What does Lang Lang do? A A pop singer B A rock singer C A musician D A writer Answer: C. A musician The practice of magic includes special words, actions, and objects. Most magic involves a person called a magician, who claims to have supernatural powers. Magic words. To work most magic, the magician sings or speaks special words in a certain order. These words are called incantations or spells. Some spells form prayers to demons , spirits, or other supernatural forces. Many societies believe the magic will not work unless the magician recites the spells perfectly. Other magic words have no meaning, though they supposedly possess power when spoken by a magician. Magic actions accompany the words spoken in performing much magic. Many of these movements act out the desired effect of the magic. For example, a magician trying to make rain fall may sprinkle water on the ground. The magician's combined words and actions form a ceremony. Magic objects include certain plants, stones, and other things with supposed supernatural powers. Any such object may be called a fetish . But this term often refers to an object--for example, a carving or a dried snake--honored by a tribe for its magic powers. Many tribes believe fetishes have magic power because spirits live in these objects. Many people carry magic objects called amulets to protect themselves from harm. Many amulets are stones or rings engraved with magic symbols. The magician, in some societies, nearly everyone knows how to work some magic. In other societies, only experts practice magic. Magicians may be called medicine men, medicine women, shamans, sorcerers, or witch doctors. In many societies, magicians must inherit their powers. In others, any person may become a magician by studying the magical arts. Many societies believe magicians must observe certain rules and taboos (forbidden actions) for their spells to work. For example, they may be required not to eat various foods or to avoid sexual activity for a certain period before the ceremony. What do magic words mean to people in some society? A They have the power to kill devils. B They have power if magician recites the right spells. C They have no effect at all. D They can be used whenever they want. Answer: B. They have power if magician recites the right spells. Fifty has never looked better. It's been 50 years since the first James Bond film, Dr. No, premiered in cinemas. As first embodied by Scottish actor Sean Connery, Agent 007 was a fearless, cool-as-ice spy who excelled at sleuthing , fighting and saving the world. Since then, more than 20 films featuring the iconic spy have been released-making it one of the longest-running franchises in the history of cinema. On Nov 9, the 23rd Bond movie, Skyfall, celebrated the legend's 50th birthday. Over the years, audiences have changed. It doesn't matter. Six different actors have acted 007 and it doesn't matter. Even shocking technological and cultural changes can't bend Bond. Why? Is it the action, the sexy women, the cars, the gadgets and the exotic locations? Yes, but the most important reason is still the man himself. Bond can challenge his boss and shoot a bad guy in mere minutes. He is an expert in literature, languages, art and fine wines. He has a sharp tongue besides his wits. In the first film Dr. No, as Connery lit a cigarette, we heard James Bond's voice and saw his cafe for the first time. The simple scene and short phrase have defined the character for half a century. "Next to the Beatles and Stones, James Bond was the greatest British import of the 1960s," David Kamp, a US contributing editor for Vanity Fair, wrote in a recent article about the birth of Bond and its influence on the US. The Bond phenomenon has clearly affected movie culture, pop culture and spy culture. But perhaps the most amazing thing is that 007 has survived in the age of feminism . "Talking of objectifying women, Bond is essential Huge Henfner (founder of Playboy magazine) with a gun," movie critic Xan Brooks told The Guardian. "But women liked Bond, too. He couldn't have run for 50 years with male fans alone." We love Bond for many reasons--after all 50 years, Bond is still breathtaking. thrilling ride into the very heart of an icon like no other. But most of all, we may love him for one reason: "he always gets away with it." one said. What is the best title of the passage? K#s5u A Still Going Strong Fifty Years on. B Introduction about James Bond films. C Secrets of 007. D The Last James Bond films. Answer: A. Still Going Strong Fifty Years on.
What are some of the steps a person can take to prevent his house from being broken in while he or she is away? One step is to make sure that the house has a _ look. Living room shades could be pulled down only half-away. Bedrooms that usually have the shades pulled down at night should be left down. Another is to make sure that all outside looks are the dead-belt type. Still another is to leave several low-watt lights burning and make sure that one is in the kitchen. Lights that turn on and off automatically are the best. Then, too, it is a good idea to leave a radio turned into a talking station. Any type of conversation makes a burglar think twice before trying to enter. Finally, while away on vacation, make sure that nothing collected in the front or back of the house. Make certain that the newspaper is stopped and that a trusted neighbor has been asked to pick up the posts. The author advises people to _ . Answer: ask a neighbor to pick up the daily post If you were walking around a supermarket and saw a woman with a shaved head, a ring through her nose, a tattoo design on her arm and she has a small child in her shopping _ , what would your opinion be? Do you think this kind of body decoration is attractive or ugly? Different people have different ideas. The following are some examples of body decoration from around the world. In many parts of Africa, it is thought that an attractive girl should have really shinny skin. On Bali, a little island in Indonesia, they believe that a beautiful woman or handsome man must have perfectly straight, flat teeth. The Balinese believe that teeth with pointed edges make you look like an ugly wild animal. So when a girl or boy becomes a teenager, he or she is taken to a special person in their village who will file off teeth points to make them smooth and flat. There is no anesthetic and this tooth filing is really painful. It is a kind of test. If you can stand it without screaming or crying too much, then you are thought ready to become an adult. In Myanmar, there is a small group of people who are called the "Papaung". They believe that a woman can only be really beautiful if she has a long neck. I mean a VERY long neck. Now you might think that you are either born with a long or short neck and that there's nothing whatever you can do about it. But you would be wrong! At around the age of 5, a Papaung girl has heavy metal rings fitted around her neck, tightly between the chin and shoulders. Each year more rings are added and very, very slowly their weight pushes the shoulders down, in this way making the neck look longer. A Papaung woman will wear her neck rings all her life, never once taking them off. So now I'm sure you will all agree that different people have different ideas about what is beautiful. On Bali, it is believed that _ . Answer: a person with sharp teeth looks ugly Jack White's house is near the river. Every morning, Mr White goes to work, and the children go to school. Their father takes them to school in his car every day. Mrs White stays at home. Every day, she does the housework. She often has lunch at 12:00. In the afternoon she often sees her friends. They often drink tea together . In the evening, the children come home from school. They get home early. But Mr White comes from work late. At night, the children often do their homework. Then they go to bed. Mr White often reads books and sometimes he watches TV with Mrs White. The children go to school _ every day. Answer: in Mr White's car Thousands of teenagers will be able to transfer to a new wave of "studio schools" at the age of 14 to improve their chances of finding a job in UK. A dozen new-style schools are designed to act as a bridge to the workplace and cut the number of NEETs--young people not in education, employment or training. Under plans, schools will operate longer days and work outside standard academic terms. Each pupil will be expected to spend between four hours and two days a week on work placements with businesses linked to the school and teenagers will be assigned a personal coach to act as an academic "line manager". The reforms are put forward due to the fears that too many teenagers are now finishing full-time education lacking the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. According to a recent report, more than two-thirds of employers believe school and college leavers lack important "employability skills" such as customer awareness, while 55 per cent say they are unable to manage their time or daily tasks. And the number of NEETs has hit a record high, with almost one-in-five young people being left without a job or training place. The Department for Education will announce the establishment of 12 studio schools -- meeting the need of around 3,600 teenagers -- in areas such as Liverpool, Stevenage, Stoke-on-Trent and Fulham, west London. Each one, opening in 2012, will be linked to a series of local employers. Under plans, pupils will be able to transfer out of ordinary schools to attend them between the age of 14 and 19. The Government said all subjects would be taught "through projects, often designed with employers" -- with disciplines such as science being linked directly to local engineering firms or hospitals. Schools will operate a longer day to give pupils a better understanding of the demands of the workplace. Along with their studies, pupils will carry out work placements for four hours a week, rising to two days a week of paid work for those aged 16 to 19. They will also get the chance to take professional qualifications linked directly to the needs of local employers. Compared to ordinary schools, studio schools will offer the young more _ . Answer: chances to get future jobs with expert job training Climate change, global warming, the greenhouse effect ... these days nobody denies that there is something strange and worrying happening to the atmosphere. Scientists are puzzled by the rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They are afraid that the world may be a short way from what they refer to as uncontrolled global warming. At Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, meteorologists have been carefully monitoring the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere for the past 50 years. Until recently, there has been a gradual increase of around 1.5 parts per million (ppm). In 2013 the figure rose to 2.08 ppm and in the following year they registered an increase of 2.54 ppm. .Climate analysts feel that it istoo soon to draw conclusions about the phenomenon although the public are concerned that the carbon dioxide emissions are getting out of control. Jason Samenow, the chief meteorologist in the American National Weather Service,thinks that instead of having decades to find a solution to the problem, people might have only a few years. He believes that the Earth's natural systems for absorbing the gas are breaking down resulting in the uncontrolled green house effect. He insists that this is something that could happen if the Earth'stemperatures rose to such a degree that it was unable to contain the heat. . One interesting aspect of this climate change ng down resulting in the uncontrolled greenhouse effect. He insists that this is something that could happen if the Earth's temperatures rose to such a degree that it was unable to contain the heat.is that it is not happening in a uniform way around the world. Carbon dioxide levels in the South Pole are noticeably lower. This suggests that something has happened in the northern hemisphere that set off the rise. Forest fires in North America might hold the answer to the puzzle, along with very hot summers in Europe. The 2014 heat wave was certainly out of the ordinary. Statistics claim that more than 30,000 people lost their lives as a direct result of the high temperatures. Scientists are being cautious in their interpretations. Most feel that it is too soon to say that a new trend has been set. All agree that the phenomenon needs to be closely observed. What opinion does Jason Samenow hold on the gradual increase of carbon dioxide? Answer: Uncontrolled greenhouse effect may happen in some situation.
Why do women earn less than men? Women earn less than men. For example, in 1988 the hourly wages of women in the U.S. were 16% less than those of men. The gap between male and female incomes varies with age. The gap between the labor incomes of young women and young men is much smaller than that between middle-aged women and men. It is also clear that jobs in which women are concentrated pay less. The larger the number of workers in an industry who are women, the lower the average wages. Why do women earn less than men? Are the differences explained by the fact that women are looked down upon? If so, the government has to intervene, to force the employers to pay equal wages to equal jobs. however, there is no agreement among economists about the causes of the gap. One view argues that women on the average have chosen low-paying jobs in which workers enjoy the freedom of entering and leaving the labor force, which reduces their years of experience relative to men. Other people say the gap can also be explained by the difference in educational background which is shown in the difference in the marginal product between men and women. Much of the gap, however, has not been fully explained. It might be the result of some bias against women. It is this part that has produced calls for government action. What would happen if the government did intervene to increase the wages paid to women? One possibility is that incomes for women as a group might actually decline. An increase in wage decreases the quantity of labor input demanded, resulting in decreased employment as the rate of hiring new workers declines. The result will be a surplus of labor. Those who can find jobs might be better off while those who had jobs might find themselves out of work. Some economists believe women earn less than men partly because _ . women are less experienced than men Every time an election rolls around, people want to know what each candidate's stance is on the issues that are important to them. In deciding which candidateIwant to vote for, there are two main issues for me:the economy and education. These issues are important to me because they affect me the most right now. The economy affects everyone,and education is important because I am about to enter college. When I looked at how each candidate views these issues, one man stood out to me,and that is Democratic candidate Barack Obama. I like a11 of Senator Obama's ideas for improving the economy. He wants to bring the troops home from Iraq,thereby saving the $12 billion we spend there every month. Another point that Obama makes is that the United States' current energy policy is hurting the economy. He believes that if new energy bills are passed, it will help the U. S. get out of its current economic slump,and I agree. With these ideas and strategies, I strongly believe that Obama can improve the current state of the economy. Obama also has a plan to improve education. He believes that we need to start educating children at a young age. He also hopes to close the gap of achievement between students, which means improving schools that need help. He wants to pay teachers more and treat them like professionals,but in exchange he calls for higher responsibility. Obama also has a plan to make college more affordable. He wants public colleges to be free for students who maintain a "B" average during high school. And he plans to give a $4,000 tax credit for college and university students who complete 100 hours of community service each year. I believe these ideas to improve education are good enough and will help many students. Therefore, there is no longer any doubt in my mind who will be receiving my vote: Barack Obama. What's the main idea of the passage? Why I vote for Obama If you are like me and you love drawing a lot, then I'm sure you'll love "Drawing With Mark". "Drawing With Mark" is a great show and Mark is really helpful. He gives kids some tips on how to draw and often teaches kids some history about the things they draw. Kids can also learn three or four fun facts about what they are drawing. "Happy Tails" is about cats and dogs. Mark shows how to draw them and talks about how to look after them, too. In "A Day With The Dinosaurs", Mark visits the Museum of Boston and speaks to an expert to learn how the dinosaurs lived, what they ate and how long they lived. In "Reach For The Stars", Mark is also at the Museum of Boston. He speaks to another expert about the stars. I learned how far we are from the stars. I thought that the stars were just about 100 miles from us, but they are millions of miles from us. That's really far! If you love drawing, you can watch this show. You can have fun with the tips Mark gives you. The tips will help you to become an artist. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? The writer likes "Drawing With Mark" a lot. Nick Santonastasso has one arm equipped with one finger. He has no legs. He also has no limitations . " I know anything's possible ," the 12-year-old told TODAY 's Ann Curry. He can play baseball and football, play the keyboard and drums, and play video games with his brothers. When Nick was born, he suffered a disease only found in 11 other people. The Santonastassos had three other children, and they decided to treat Nick the same as others, with love but without excuse " We're supposed to be heroes to our children, but Nick is a hero to us," his father Michael said. But heroes have heroes, too, and Nick's is Tiki Barber, the former football superstar who retired last year and became a reporter for TODAY. Curry told Nick that for his birthday, the show wanted to give him a new skateboard. The person who presented it to him was Barber. " You're an inspiration," Barber said. " There are a lot of kids who might be at a disadvantage. You give them strength." Curry observed that most parents try to protect their kids from failure, but the Santonastassos didn't do that with Nick. "Absolutely not, "Nick's mother Stacey said. " If you do have a small failure, it just makes you stronger to succeed at the next stop." " It builds self-confidence in yourself to try it again," Nick added. Recently, Nick entered a drawing in a statewide contest in New Jersey. His drawing was a tree with a spreading canopy and deep toots. Above the tree were the words, "The roots of a family are..." Below the ground, the roots spelled out the final word for the message: " Love." It won the contest. The judges didn't know Nick' physical condition. He won on merit , the same way he does everything else in life. What message did Nick's drawing express? Love is the "root" of a family. The Vienna-based researchers showed that dogs will stop doing a simple task when not rewarded if another dog, which continues to be rewarded, is present. The experiment consisted of taking pairs of dogs and getting them to present a paw for a reward.On giving this "handshake" the dogs received a piece of food.One of the dogs was then asked to shake hands, but received no food.The other dog continued to get the food when it was asked to perform the task. The dog without the reward quickly stopped doing the task, and showed signs of anger or stress when its partner was rewarded. To make sure that the experiment was really showing the interaction between the dogs rather than just the frustration of not being rewarded, a similar experiment was conducted where the dogs performed the task without the partner.Here they continued to present the paw for much longer. Dr Frederike Range from the University of Vienna says this shows that it was the presence of the rewarded partner that was the greater influence on their behaviour. "The only difference is one gets food and the other doesn't, they are responding to being unequally rewarded." she said. The researchers say this kind of behaviour, where one animal gets frustrated with what is happening with another, has only been observed in primates before. Studies with various types of monkeys and chimpanzees show they react not only to seeing their partners receiving rewards when they are not, but also to the type of reward. The dog study also looked at whether the type of reward made a difference.Dogs were given either bread or sausage, but seemed to react equally to either.Dr Range says this may be because they have been trained. According to the passage, compared with dogs, monkeys and chimpanzees _ . pay attention to the type of reward as well as whether they are rewarded
Tigers are strong and dangerous animals. But now they are in danger. In the past, there were eight kinds of tigers in the world. But during the 20th century, only five were left. The number of Siberian tigers was about 300, but now it is less than 22. They're in danger of dying out. If the government does nothing, we won't be able to see them in ten to twenty years. In order to stop people from hunting and killing wild tigers, and in order to make wild tigers more, the World Wildlife Fund has started a program recently . China and twelve other countries joined it. However, it's not enough. Remember that nature is a food chain . If we hurt and kill too many wild deer and pigs, wild tigers will die out because of hunger . So the most important thing is to save the animals that tigers eat. In order to protect the wild tigers, we need call on more people to stop eating, hunting and killing wild animals. ,. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A There are less than 22 wild Siberian tigers now. B There are twelve countries in the World Wildlife Fund. C Wild tigers mainly feed on pigs and deer. D It's our duty to protect the wild tigers. Answer: B How did a ban on smoking in public places come into place? In 1998 the Smoking Kills White Paper set out a national strategy to reduce smoking prevalence and passive smoking, including in public places. The measures were voluntary and poorly carried out. After a public conference in England in 2004, the Government decided to choose for lawmaking. Scotland went first, with a ban in 2006, followed by the other nations a year later. What is the current law? Any person who smokes in enclosed public places, including pubs, offices, on public transport and work vehicles, is breaking the law. It does not extend to private houses. It is also an offence for people in charge of premises to permit others to smoke in them. How was it received? It was welcomed by most organizations except for some pub owners and restaurateurs. Many workplaces in the UK had already introduced smoke-free policies consistent with the legislation (,) before it was carried out, while others have gone beyond its basic requirements. All railway facilities, including platforms, footbridges and other areas--whether or not fitting the definition of an enclosed public space--are covered, as are all football grounds and some cricket and athletics stadiums. School grounds are not required to be smoke-free under the legislation, but the majority now are. How has it been forced? Compliance in public premises has been high, with inspections suggesting that 99 per cent of places were sticking to the rules. The number of people charged for smoking in cars has been very low, which was due to the problems defining and identifying "work" vehicles. They said that a total ban on smoking in vehicles would end this confusion. Has it improved health? Studies in early adopters of the law, including in Scotland, suggest a reduction in hospital admissions for heart disease, which has been shown to be linked to passive smoking. There is also strong evidence of improved rates of smoking end and a drop in the number of cigarettes consumed by those who continue to smoke. What can you infer from the article? A Most heart diseases have been proved to be linked to passive smoking. B A new law will soon come out with a total ban on smoking in vehicles C Cigarette-making factories will disappear soon. D Most of the school grounds are not smoke-free, as it is not banned in the law. Answer: B Which of these animals has a young form that looks the most like the adult form? A moth B human C frog D butterfly Answer: B If you struggled to get up for work on Wednesdays, there could be a good reason--it is the day our mood reaches its lowest point. Monday has traditionally been thought of as the most depressing day of the week but according to psychologists, midweek gives more cause for concern in reality. Wednesday represented the lowest point in the week as people were furthest away from the weekend that has either just gone or is coming up and often feel too tired to go on with work. However, psychologists have found that, on average, people's moods remain about the same on each day throughout the week. To start their research, the University of Sydney scientists asked around 200 people what they thought their mood would be on each day of the week. Most said their worst moods were on Monday mornings and evenings but they became increasingly cheerful as the week went on, with their best moods falling on Friday and Saturday mornings and evenings. When asked why they believed that Friday and Saturday were best, respondents said they saw them as less-structured days when they could choose how to spend their time. The psychologists then asked a further 350 people how they felt each day. They found that, on average, people's moods remained about the same on each day throughout the week.Mondays were not as depressing as they had feared and Fridays and Saturdays were not as exciting as predicted. Professor Charles Areni, who led the study, said the day-of-the-week stereotypes stem from a cultural belief that people are generally happier when they are free to choose their activities compared to when they are engaged in paid work. In reality, he said, weekends do not often see moods change because they are frequently dominated by productive activities that may require large amounts of energy and begin to feel tired like work. "Day-of-the-week stereotypes like Monday morning blues and Thank God It's Friday are largely illusions," he said. _ has always been thought as the unhappiest day of a week. A Monday B Wednesday C Friday D Sunday Answer: A BEIJING, (Xinhua) --China's capital city launched its first underground library, "M Subway Library" on Jan. 12,2015. The theme of its first activity is "Our Characters". Citizens riding the special train on subway Line 4 now can read e-books provided by the National Library by scanning the QR code in the carriage. "M Subway Library" is a public welfare program initiated by the Beijing MTR and the National Library to provide qualified book resources to the public through the platform of public transportation. The library will organize different themed activities regularly and recommend a dozen free books to the public each year in the long term. XINING, (Xinhua) --A bullet train made its maiden trip from Xining city to Lanzhou city in Northwest China on Dec. 26, 2014, marking the start of the full operations of the Lanxin high-speed railway. The Lanxin high-speed railway links Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, and Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, slashing the total travel time from more than 23 hours to 11 hours and 50 minutes. The 1,776-kilometer high-speed rail line, with a designed speed of 250 kilometers per hour, is China's first high-speed railway built in a high-altitude region. NINGBO, (Xinhua) --Ningbo Subway Line 1 started running special trains with 3D paintings featuring the city's culture starting on Dec. 20, 2014.Through the paintings, the city in East China's Zhejiang province seeks to share its culture and attract more outside visitors. The paintings focus on four themes: rice cake, fishing festival, books and Buddhism. Which of the following statements is correct according to the news? A The Lanxin high-speed railway covers Gansu, Xinjiang and Tibet. B It is China's first high-speed railway. C It has a length of 1,776 kilometers. D It will take you 11 hours and 50 minutes to travel from Xining to Urumqi. Answer: C
Cutting down trees has a negative impact on what living in an ecosystem? Answer: Nearly 28% of college Students plan to seek employment using Linkedin, up from 5% last year, according to a survey out today from employee recognition provider i Love Rewards and career-services network Experience.Slightly more than 7% plan to use Facebook, up from 5%. No longer do students just wait for visiting campus recruiters to learn about job possibilities.Instead they're using digital tools to find their dream jobs, says I Love Rewards CEO Razor Suleman.Companies need to know their online image, then update anything that is outdated, inaccurate or not inleractive . 'The recruited have now become the recruiters," Suleman says."They are now going out and finding the companies they want to apply for." Students learn about employers by viewing their websites, reading Facehook and Twitter updates and perusing Linkedln profiles.Another information source: Comments by past and current employees on job-oriented websites. A strong digital presence is one way for employers to stand out as the search for the best and brightest gets competitive. Slightly more than four in 10 employers say they will use "different" recruiting tactics to reach Generation Y, according to a survey by job-search site Monster.com to be released today.Of those respondents, almost 60% say social-networking sites are popular tools to reach Gen Y candidates. "Our reason for using social media is because that's where we think the candidates are," he says. The company posts updates and videos on topics such as job opportunities and the benefits of being an employee.It also created a mobile-friendly site for those who want to apply via smart phone. "Younger people want to attach to you in a different way than the past," Lavery says."They want to interact with you.They want to learn about you." The updated recruitment techniques take effort, but they work, he says. In 2010, UPS used those tactics to _ 955 employees.The year before, it hired 29 employees through those means. "It's a time investment that you have to be willing to do," he says."You can't just have a page up there and not have content.In social media, you have to have a give and a take, or people won't be a part of your community." From what Lavery says, we can conclude that _ . Answer: Last month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The enormous generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The coming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers disappear from the labor force. The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20 -29 will decrease by 20%. Given that most societies have a tendency to retirement at around 65, companies have a problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The tools they use to achieve are flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth. Some companies spend "a lot of time" on the ergonomics its factories, making jobs there less tiring. Likewise, for more than a decade, prefix = st1 /Toyota, has been unusually keen to employ older workers. IBM uses its alumni network to recruit retired people for particular projects. But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Young found that "although America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue . " Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Mostly they are not hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labor. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply--whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. What's the best tide of the passage? Answer: A mountain is shoved skyward one day, so there must have been Answer: Where are Chinese tourists going next? Pop culture may hold some clues, from a successful movie Finding Mr. Right to U.S. situation comedy The Big Bang Theory. China is the source of most of the world's tourists as well as its biggest-spending travelers. In 2012 alone, 83 million Chinese went abroad and spent a huge $102 billion, according to the most recent figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Now more than ever, popular culture is driving their decision making. Below are a few examples of how TV shows and hit movies are influencing Chinese tourists' travel choices. SEATTLE Over the past two years, Seattle -- that rainy city in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. -- has seen a 90% rise in visitor numbers from China, local officials say. The reason: the huge popularity of the Chinese romantic comedy Finding Mr. Right, in which a woman from mainland China travels to Seattle to give birth. Directed by Xue Xiaolu and starring Tang Wei, the film has earned more than $85 million in China since its release last year. (The movie's Chinese title translates literally to Beijing meets Seattle.) LOS ANGELES Los Angeles has long been a favorite: destination for Chinese tourists visiting the U.S. but lately, they've been asking for detours to nearby Pasadena to pay respect to their favorite The Big Bang Theory. Fans are requesting visits to places including the campus of California Institute of Technology as well as a particular Cheesecake Factory outlet, which both figure prominently in the CBS situation comedy that Chinese fans stream online. EUROPE AND THE U.S. The U.S., U.K., France and Germany remain the most frequented destinations for Chinese who travel to the West, but the sights they flock to within those countries often are unique to Chinese culture. For instance, Karl Marx's birthplace in Trier, Germany, has long been a pilgrimage spot, while a willow tree in Cambridge, England, is a must-visit for bus tourists because of a well-known poem by Xu Zhimo, who studied at the city's famous university in the 1920s. "It's like a parallel universe," said Mr. Brennan in Los Angeles. "Pop culture comes up again and again when we do our research. But the Chinese interpretation is always different." What is the best title of the passage? Answer:
Because of human logging activities, some animals have to conserve their A. air B. water C. legs D. food Answer: D Brazil is a federation that consists of twenty-six states and one federal district. The biggest majority of Brazil's population belongs to the Christian religion and almost all of them are Catholics. This is something Brazil inherited being Portugal's colony . Historically, the country was a colony claimed by people from Portugal and this made Portuguese the official language. The Portuguese reached Brazil in 1500 and until that moment it was inhabited by semi-nomadic people. The Portuguese changed Brazil into a country of slaves until 1800, when Maria I of Portugal came to live in Brazil. The Queen did not stay long in Brazil, but during the 20 years of royal presence a lot of changes occurred: commercial ports to United Kingdom were opened; Brazil stopped being isolated from other countries. So at the moment of getting the independence on the 7th of September, 1822, Brazil already had the potential to develop. The Brazilian Empire, Pedro I, abolished slavery in 1888 in the face of Princess Isabel. A lot of European people started coming to Brazil and the industry of the country started working. In the 19th and the 20th century as it has been said above foreign people immigrated to Brazil and basically 5 million European and Japanese people became the residents of Brazil. The beginning of the 20th century was especially marked by the immigration of a lot of Asian people: Japanese, Korean and Chinese immigrants. As a matter of fact Japanese people do not immigrate a lot, and the fact that the Brazilian-Japanese people are the largest Japanese minority in the world does astonish greatly. The majority of the cultural inherits of Brazil are actually Portuguese, due to the fact that Brazil was Portugal's colony for a very long time. The southern states mainly consist of European population and the north and the northeast consist of a mixed population including Africans, Amerindians and Europeans. Most of this population is Roman Catholic. No other country in the world has the same amount of Catholics. The modern tendency of Brazil is the growing number of people calling themselves Protestants. Around 7.4% of the population don't believe any god. Some Brazilians, especially in the northern states are mixed Africans who prefer following the traditional African religions. Only 1.8% of the population chose Buddhism, Islam or Judaism. Though Brazil always tried to maintain democracy, it was failed several times by the dictatorship of Getulo Vargas. This fact could not affect the political situation in the country. Who might block the development of Brazil? A. Maria I B. Pedro I C. immigrants D. Getulo Vargas Answer: D Americans like to travel on their yearly holiday. Today, more and more travelers in the United States are spending nights at small houses or inns instead of hotels. They get a room for the night and the breakfast the next morning. Rooms for the night in private homes with breakfast have been popular with travelers in Europe for many years. In the past five to ten years, these bedandbreakfast places have become popular in the United States. Many of these America's bedandbreakfast inns are old historic buildings. Some bedandbreakfast inns have only a few rooms. Others are much larger. Some inns do not provide telephones or televisions in the rooms, others do. Staying at a bedandbreakfast inn is much different from staying at a hotel. Usually the cost is much less. Staying at an inn is almost like visiting someone's home. The owners are glad to tell about the areas and the interesting places to visit. Many vacationists say they enjoy the chance to meet local families. Why do American travelers prefer staying at bedandbreakfast inns? A. They can meet local families. B. The money they spend there is much less. C. It is like visiting someone's home D. All of the above. Answer: D If you've ever seen a James Bond movie, you'll know that the hero gets around in a smart Aston Martin car. Even if you know that you could never afford such an expensive vehicle, you don't forget the name, or the car. Why? You have been affected by product placement. Companies pay a film to place their products in the movie. Product placement took off in the West in the 1980s and is now catching on in China. Two Hunan Satellite TV dramas are recent examples: Ugly Wudi and Let's Go Watch the Meteor Shower (<<>> ). Shampoo, mobile phones, cars and fitness centers -- anything can be product-placed. Advertisers value the mass appeal of the movies, knowing that a successful film can showcase their goods to hundreds of thousands of viewers. But when product placement takes over, art can only take a back seat. Cai Zhiyong has been product-placing for years. The Beijing-based advertiser admits there is a conflict between art and business. He explains the way one ad works. In If You are the One (<<>> ), the actress Shu Qi plays a flight attendant. The movie contains product placement for airline companies. Cash-strapped filmmakers often can't pay so much attention to the quality of their work because they need money from advertisers. In the original story for Meteor Shower, the heroine's mother owned an ice cream shop. But no ice cream company wanted to sponsor the film. For this reason, the story was changed. In the film the man drinks 20 cups of milk tea instead of eating ice cream. So you may see the power of business over the movies, since the script was perhaps written so that a product could be placed---whether it was ice cream or milk tea. We can learn from the example of Meteor Shower that _ . A. business has a great effect on the movie. B. the original story was not suitable for a movie C. filmmakers are only concerned about making money D. milk tea is more popular than ice cream Answer: A From the moment that an animal is born it has to make decisions. It has to decide which of the things around it are for eating, and which are to be avoided; when to attack and when to run away. The animal is, in fact, playing a complicated and potentially dangerous game with its environment, discomfort or destruction. This is a difficult and unpleasant business and few animals would survive if they had to start from the beginning and learn about the world wholly by trial and error, for there are too many possible decisions which would prove fatal. So we find, in practice, that the game is always arranged in favor of the young animal in one way or another. Either the animal is protected during the early stages of its learning about the world around it, or the knowledge of which way to respond is built into its nervous system from the start. The fact that animals behave sensibly can be attributed partly to what we might call genetic learning, to distinguish it from individual learning that an animal does in the cause of its own life time. Genetic learning is learning by a species as a whole, and it is achieved by selection of those members of each generation that happen to behave in the right way. However, genetic learning depends upon a prediction that the future will more or less exactly resemble the past. The more variable individual experience is likely to be, the less efficient is genetic learning as a means of getting over the problems of the survival game. It is not surprising to find that very few species indeed depend wholly upon genetic learning. In the great majority of animals, behavior is a compound of individual experience added to the action patterns animals are born with.That is why animals can survive. What cannot be inferred from the article? A. The majority of animals depend thoroughly upon genetic learning. B. Animal behave in particular ways as a result of both individual experience and genetic learning. C. If animal depended wholly upon individual experience, its chance of survival would be little. D. Genetic learning depends on the assumption of resemblance between the future and the past. Answer: A
Jim is an American. He is now living in China. He gets up at about half past six and has breakfast at seven o'clock. After breakfast,he says goodbye to his parents and leaves home at half past seven. He usually goes to school on foot. He gets there at five minutes to eight. He has his first class at eight. Morning classes are over at ten past twelve and he has lunch five minutes later,at about a quarter past twelve. After lunch he plays with his friends. Afternoon classes begin at half past one. Usually there are two lessons in the afternoon. They finish at half past three. Usually he plays games or other things at school,and he gets home at about a quarter past five. He has supper at six and then does his homework and then watches TV. He goes to bed at about half past ten. Where was Jim born ? A. In America. B. In England. C. In China. D. In Beijing. Answer: A. In America. Australia is the smallest continent in the world. It is a little smaller than China. It is on the Southern Hemisphere of the earth. Australia is big, but its population is small. The population of Australia is nearly as large as that of Shanghai. Enough laws have been made to fight against pollution. The cities in Australia have little air or water pollution. The sky is blue and the water is clean. You can clearly see fish in the rivers. Plants grow very well. Last month we visited Perth, the biggest city in Western Australia, and went to a wild flower _ . There we saw large numbers of wild flowers on show, most of which we had never seen before. We had a wonderful time. Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers. Every year in spring Perth has wild flower exhibitions. After visiting Perth, we spent a day in the countryside. We sat down and had a rest near a path at the foot of a hill. It was quiet and we enjoyed ourselves very much. When we heard bells ringing at the top of the hill, we looked up, but what we saw made us pick up all our things and run back to our car as quickly as we could. There were about three hundred sheep coming towards us along the path. Australia is famous for its sheep and kangaroos . After a short drive from any town, you will find yourself among the white sheep. Sheep, sheep, everywhere you can see sheep. From the passage we know Perth is famous for _ A. its population B. its size C. its kangaroos D. its wild flowers Answer: D. its wild flowers 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. 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're 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 hot 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 through 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 employees, had seen him in person. The words the man left on the napkin suggested that _ . A. respecting others means respecting oneself B. serving others is a respectable job C. Mary would get a rise as a result of her kindness D. Mary's kind service would bring in more money for her Answer: A. respecting others means respecting oneself Four times a year you will see a different A. climate B. person C. moon D. star Answer: A. climate Mr. Johnson worked in a hospital. Three years ago, when he was sixty-eight, he retired. But a lot of people come to ask him to look them over. He's very busy in the daytime and he wants to have a good rest at night. Half a year ago a young man moved in the room upstairs. At first he was quiet. The old man was satisfied with him. But now he has several friends. They often came to see him in the evening. They talked loudly, sang and danced. Mr Johnson was unhappy, but he didn't say anything. It was the young man's birthday yesterday. All his friends came at seven in the evening. They drank too much and made a lot of noise. The old man couldn't fall asleep the whole night. This morning, as soon as he got up, he went upstairs and began to knock at the door. The young man opened for him and asked him to come in. "Did you hear me beat the ceiling last night, young man?" asked Mr Johnson. "It doesn't matter, sir," said the young man, " I don't mind it. It was very noisy in my room, too." Mr Johnson is a _ . A. teacher B. policeman C. doctor D. gatekeeper Answer: C. doctor
Question: NEW YORK-- Picking a Christmas tree takes most people a few minutes, or a couple of hours if they head for the woods. Dave Murbach needs 11 months. Almost every day of every year, Murbach's thoughts turn to vision of a perfectly shaped evergreen tree that will take everyone's breath away. Murbach is the man responsible for finding the towering tree that makes more attractive Manhattan's Rockefeller Center each Christmas season. "I'm always looking for a tree," the center's chief gardener says. "I look for it even when I go to the beach in the summer. It' s like a homework assignment hanging over your head." And if he gets it wrong, there's nothing hiding it. "Every day it's up, 400,000 people go by, and 2.5 million people watch the lighting celebration on television,"he says. This year's tree, a 74-foot Nomy spruce from Richfield, Ohio, flown to New York on the world's largest cargo plane, was lighted on December 2. The arrival of the tree leads in the Christmas season in New York -- a tradition dating back to 1931, when the workers building Rockefeller Center put up a small tree with ornaments . The search for the next year's tree starts soon after the old tree is chopped up for wood chips and horse-jumping logs. Murbach has three standards: The tree must be at least 65 feet high, at least 35 feet across and leaves dense enough not to see through. That's not as simple as it sounds. Though forests are full of evergreens, few get enough sunlight or space to fill out. And branches in snow regions often break under the weight, making trees unbalanced. Back at the office, he sorts through hundreds of letters from people offering their trees, many addressed simply to "Mr. Christmas Tree Man." Though there was occasional anxiety attack and sleepless night, Murbach knows the effect the tree has on people: "It's for bringing people together, attempting to bring together people you love. That's what I hope it sets off." But Murbach says he's always too worn out to celebrate Christmas. According to Murbach' s standard of trees, the best tree must _ . A. be evergreen B. have lots of space between their branches C. be tall enough not to see through D. be equally balanced Answer: D. be equally balanced Question: Flowers with more pollinators A. escalate reproduction B. increase water usage C. increase visual appeal D. decrease reproduction Answer: A. escalate reproduction Question: When dinning in restaurants, Americans usually order drinks first, then soup, salad, main course or entree , and dessert at last. This is somewhat a different order way from that in Europe. Until about the middle of the nineteenth century, Americans didn't have to worry about whether the salad came before or after the main course since they didn't eat salad at all. Chomping on greens was once considered sissy , and Americans preferred to get their greens indirectly, after they had been processed by rabbits or deer. The shift of public taste toward the salad may be attributed to New York's Delmonico brothers, who originally introduced smorgasbord from Europe, and served it in their restaurant. Such novelties became so popular that by the end of the nineteenth century, the Waldorf salad has swept the country. Europeans still chomp on greens after the main course, as a way of clearing the palate , and being ready for the cheese. Why Americans eat their salad first is uncertain. The following joking suggestions might make sense: The custom may be related to the slimming craze, for "salad first" may fill you up without any worry about fattening; to avoid customers' impatience with waiting, the restaurant serves salad first to keep them busy while the main courses are being prepared; eating raw food while one is waiting for the cooked food may be a way of announcing that one is not wasting time, which is seen as a virtue; probably unfair to the restaurant, this custom has been encouraged by the merchant as trick-the meagerness of a meal is less noticeable if it comes after "free" salad-after all, rabbit food is much cheaper than the rabbit. Which of the following statements is true? A. Salad first appeared in America, and then was introduce to Europe. B. The American tradition of eating salad before the main course was formed mainly due to health. C. In less than fifty years, salad became popular throughout the United States. D. Serving Salad before the entree by the restaurants is a way of cheating the diners. Answer: C. In less than fifty years, salad became popular throughout the United States. Question: Tom Hanks has one of the most successful and extensive careers in Hollywood. He has acted in television shows and movies, and done voice work for animated films. He's also a movie director, producer and writer. He won the Academy Award for best actor in back to back years. Spencer Tracy is the only other actor to have done that. Tom Hanks was born in California in1956. His father and mother ended their marriage when he was five. Tom and his two older siblings lived with their father. The youngest child stayed with his mother. He once told a reporter that he had had three mothers, four fathers, five schools and ten houses while growing up. The movie star said he thinks the many changes helped him develop a sense of independence. Tom Hanks started acting in high school. He took drama classes in college but left before completing his studies. He said he could not get parts in college plays so he left for New York to follow his professional dream. His first major parts were on television. He won a lead role in the situation comedy Bosom Buddies in 1979. But he became a star with the movieSplash in 1984. More success came four years later with his starring part in the hit movieBig. He played a 13-year-old boy who wakes up one day in a grown man's body. Tom Hanks mainly worked in comedies in the early years of his career. His starring part in the 1993 movie Philadelphia changed his image. He was honored with his first Best Actor Oscar for his work inPhiladelphia. His interest in the experiences of World War Two soldiers led him to his involvement in the TV series Band of Brothers. He was also named an honorary member of the US Army Rangers as a result. He also produced the 13-part series From the Earth to the Moonbecause of his support for human space travel. He is a member of the National Space Society. How many children did Tom Hanks' parents have when their marriage ended? A. Three. B. Four. C. Five. D. Six. Answer: B. Four. Question: Each year,millions of people go abroad to work,study,or travel.It's a great way to find out what life is like in another part of the world! You're probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in your host country everything from attitudes and beliefs to social customs and popular foods.But constantly having to deal with new situations can be frustrating ,even stressful. Homesickness,stress,fear,and confusion are all symptoms of"culture shock".At first,you may feel like getting on the plane and heading home.It's OK to have those feelings,but the following are some tips to help you handle the challenges that you will face. Don't expect to be perfect.You may feel frustrated that you have culture shock,especially since you probably spent so much time preparing for your trip.No matter how much information you read,or how well you speak the host language,it is natural to feel over-whelmed sometimes.If you give yourself some time,things will gradually get easier. Have an open mind.While it's certainly OK to feel frustration or confusion in your new surroundings,try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon.Don't think of the host as better or worse,just different--you'll be more willing to try new things. Participate.This is obvious,but everybody needs to be reminded.Just watching life go on around you isn't good enough.You really need to try things for yourself.Don't worry about making a mistake;people in your host country will generally be very understanding and willing to help if you have question.Your study abroad experience is fl unique and special time in your life,one that you'll never forget.If you follow our suggestions,you'll be able to handle it well,and have a wonderful time.Good luck ! What is the main idea of this article? A. How to overcome culture shock. B. Why do people have culture shock. C. Who might have culture shock. D. When will you have culture shock. Answer: A. How to overcome culture shock.
On a hot summer day, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the lake behind his house. In a hurry to swim in the cool water, he ran out of the back door, leaving behind his shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not noticing that in the middle of the lake, a crocodile was swimming to the bank. His mother in the house saw the two as they got closer and closer. She quickly ran to the lake, shouting to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy swam quickly to his mother, but he was too slow. Just as he reached her, the crocodile reached him, too. The mother caught her little boy by the arms just as the crocodile caught his legs. There was a tug of war between the two. The crocodile was much stronger than the mother, but the mother didn't give up. A farmer happened to drive by. He heard her shouts, and then tried his best to kill the crocodile. After spending weeks in the hospital, the little boy felt well. His legs were scarred by the animal and on his arms there were deep scars, too. His mother's hands had deeper scars because she wouldn't let go. The newspaper reporter interviewed the boy. He asked the boy if he would show him his scars. The boy said to the reporter proudly, "Look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go." Who killed the crocodile in the end? A The boy. B A farmer. C The boy's mother. D The boy's father. Answer: B "Norton," Sheppard said, "I saw Rufus Johnson yesterday. Do you know what he was doing?" The child looked at him with a kind of half attention, his eyes forward but not yet engaged. They were a paler blue than his father's as if they might have faded like the shirt; one of them listed, almost imperceptibly , toward the outer rim. "He was in a path," Sheppard said, "and he had his hand in a garbage can. He was trying to get something to eat out of it." He paused to let this soak in. "He was hungry," he finished, and tried to pierce the child's conscience with his gaze. The boy picked up the piece of chocolate cake and began to bite it from one corner. "Norton," Sheppard said, "do you have any idea what it means to share?" A flicker of attention. "Some of it is yours," Norton said. "Some of it is his," Sheppard said heavily. It was hopeless. Almost any fault would have been preferable to selfishness--a violent temper, even a tendency to lie. The child turned the bottle of tomato sauce upside-down and began thumping sauce onto the cake. Sheppard's look of pain increased. "You are ten and Rufus Johnson is fourteen," he said. "Yet, I'm sure your shirts would fit Rufus." Rufus Johnson was a boy whom he had been trying to help at the reformatory for the past year. He had been released two months ago. "When he was in the reformatory, he looked pretty good, but when I saw him yesterday, he was skin and bones. He hasn't been eating cake with peanut butter on it for breakfast." The child paused. "It's not fresh," he said. "That's why I have to put stuff on it." Sheppard turned his face to the window at the end of the bar. The side lawn, green and even, sloped fifty feet or so down to a small suburban wood. When his wife was living, they had often eaten outside, even breakfast on the grass. He had never noticed then that the child was selfish. ks5u "Listen to me," he said, turning back to him, "look at me and listen." The boy looked at him. At least his eyes were forward. "I gave Rufus a key to the house when he left the reformatory---to show my confidence in him and so he would have a place he could come to and feel welcome any time. He didn't use it, but I think he'll use it now because he's seen me and he's hungry. And if he doesn't use it, I'm going out and find him and bring him here. I can't see a child eating out of garbage cans." The boy frowned. It was dawning upon him that something of his was threatened. Sheppard's mouth stretched in disgust. "Rufus's father died before he was born," he said. "His mother is in the state penitentiary . He was raised by his grandfather in a shack without water or electricity and the old man beat him every day. How would you like to belong to a family like that?" "I don't know" the child said lamely. "Well, you might think about it sometime," Sheppard said. Sheppard was City Recreational Director. On Saturday he worked at the reformatory as a counselor, receiving nothing for it but the satisfaction of knowing he was helping boys no one else cared about. Johnson was the most intelligent boy he had worked with. Norton turned what was left of the cake over as if he no longer wanted it. "You started that, now finish it," Sheppard said. "Maybe he won't come," the child said and his eyes brightened slightly. When Norton learned his father would take Rufus home, he frowned because _ . ks5u A he had no appetite for his breakfast B he did not like the idea that something of his would be shared C his mouth was full of things and he couldn't speak properly D he was not well prepared for this Answer: B Mr. Clark was a very busy man. He always worked hard. He often forgot his family's birthdays.Yesterday afternoon, he remembered it was Mrs. Clark, his wife's birthday. He loved his wife. He wanted to give her a gift. On his way home from his hospital he bought some nice flowers in a shop. When Mr. Clark got home, he gave his wife the flowers and said," Happy birthday to you, dear! It's September 28thtoday. I remembered your birthday this year." Mrs. Clark laughed and said ," My birthday was the day before yesterday. But thank you all the same. Better later than never!" He bought _ for his wife's birthday this time. A some books B a nice dress C a lot of fruit D some nice flowers Answer: D In 1960, Omar, the owner in fee simple absolute, conveyed Stoneacre, a five-acre tract of land. The relevant, operative words of the deed conveyed to "Church [a duly organized religious body having power to hold property] for the life of my son, Carl, and from and after the death of my said son, Carl, to all of my grandchildren and their heirs and assigns in equal shares; provided that Church shall use the premises for church purposes only." In an existing building on Stoneacre, Church immediately began to conduct religious services and other activities normally associated with a church. In 1975, Church granted to Darin a right to remove sand and gravel from a one-half-acre portion of Stoneacre upon the payment of a royalty. Darin has regularly removed sand and gravel since 1975 and paid the royalty to Church. Church has continued to conduct religious services and other church activities on Stoneacre All four of the living grandchildren of Omar, joined by a guardian ad litem to represent unborn grandchildren, instituted suit against Church and Darin seeking damages for the removal of sand and gravel and an injunction preventing further acts of removal. There is no applicable statute. Which of the following best describes the likely disposition of this lawsuit? A The plaintiffs should succeed, because the interest of Church terminated with the first removal of sand and gravel B Church and Darin should be enjoined, and damages should be recovered but impounded for future distribution. C The injunction should be granted, but damages should be denied, because Omar and Carl are not parties to the action. D Damages should be awarded, but the injunction should be denied. Answer: B St paul's Cathedral Ludgate Hill, EC4 Underground: St Paul's; Bus: 6,7,11,15,22,25 Open: Daily 8:00-19:00(17:00 from Oct. to Mar.) Entrance free Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul's Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is crowned by a magnificent dome and its choir is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981. Buckingham Palace South end of the Mall(SW1) Underground: St. James's Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Comer, Green Park Bus:2,11,14,16,19,22,24,29,30,38,52,73,74,137 Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch for much of the year. (When the monarch is in residence, a flag flies over the palace.) The Mall is a very impressive wide street, leading from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square. Note: As the palace is the monarch's official residence, it is not open to the public during most of the year. The Tower of London Tower Hill, EC3 Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78 Open: Mon. - Sat.9:00--18:00. 8:00--19:00 Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory , among other things. It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels. Westminster Abbey Broad Sanctuary, SW1 Underground: Westminster, St James's Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503 Open: Daily 8:00--19:00(Mar.-DEC., Tuesday till 20:00) Entrance free A Benedictine abbey which already existed on the site was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor and consecrated in 1065. On the way to its present form, the abbey was extended in the 13th-16th centuries, with the two west towers being added in the 18th. There are many famous tombs in the abbey, including that of the unknown Warrior and those of many poets and writers. You can see the inside of all the buildings all the year round except _ . A St Paul's Cathedral B The Tower of London C Westminster Abbey D Buckingham Palace Answer: D
Question: Dear Editor , I used to be a doctor in a children's hospital. Sometimes I treated children who had been poisoned by medicines for older family members. The children didn't know the medicine was dangerous; they just knew it tasted sweet. Children easily opened the bottle that we now use in China. Some days ago I talked about medicine with an American. He showed me a kind of plastic bottle. The design was very quite simple and I'm sure our Chinese factories could produce these bottles. The top of the bottle locks but can be opened by pressing down on it while turning. This is difficult for most young children to do, though grown-ups can open these bottles very easily. I'm certain that the price of making such tops would be very low. As a doctor, I'd love to see this done. And most parents would be grateful. Yours, Li Hua The doctor thinks that we should _ . A. study the Americans B. buy that kind of bottle C. produce this kind of plastic bottle D. turn to Americans for help Answer: C Question: It was a bright Saturday morning. I stopped at a cafe to enjoy a cup of coffee and read the morning newspaper. Suddenly, I felt a hand on the back of my jacket and heard someone say, "Hey Steve! How are you doing?" Looking back, I saw a man. He looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where we had met. The young man also held a cup of coffee, so I asked him to join me. Very soon, his story began to _ my memory. Five years earlier, Johnson was traveling home late on a February night. A heavy snow had arrived that afternoon, and by midnight, the snowdrifts were getting deep. His car was stuck in a snowdrift just down the road from my house. He walked to my house for help. I helped him pull his car out of the snowdrift and up to the street where the snow had been cleaned away. This was a normal happening here during the winter. I couldn't count the times someone has helped me to pull my car from a snowdrift. However, it was an unforgettable experience for him. He was only eighteen at that time, and he said he was very afraid. No one wants to be stuck in a snowdrift at night. Sometimes, one simple kindness at the right moment can change the direction of a life. So, be kind and helpful. Where did Steve meet Johnson for the first time? A. At a cafe. B. At Steve's house. C. At a bus station. D. On a street. Answer: B Question: which of these does a spinning motion? A. planet venus B. the earth C. planet mars D. all of these Answer: D Question: When I was a child, my parents always told me that I should never talk to strangers. This was part of a whole list of things I should never do: Never accept food or candy from strangers, never get in a car with strangers, and so on. But if we didn't start a conversation with strangers, we'd never make new friends. We'd never get a job. We may miss the joy that comes from talking with strangers. And the more people you know, you more chances you can get. The following passage offers you some advice on how to break the ice. Don't just stare at your shoes. Go and say "Hi" to that new guy. It will be easier to break the ice if you know more about different cultures. British: Beautiful day, isn't it? The weather in Britain is changeable. So, it is one of the topics the British care most about. And there's a simple rule: Say "Yes" whether you agree with the person's idea on the weather or not. That's because the British start a conversation using the weather so that they can continue their talk. French: Where did you go on holiday? To talk with a French person, the safest way is to ask his or her last holiday. French students enjoy a 10-to-15-day holiday every two months. French employees get more than six weeks of holidays per year. American: So, where are you from? The US is so big and people move so often that location is always a source of talk. You can try to find a connection with the place they're from. For example, if someone's from Los Angeles, you could say:"Oh, I have a friend who studied there" The location is always a source of talk in America because _ . A. They are energetic B. They love their home C. Los Angeles is their location D. The US is so big and people move so often Answer: D Question: The Collections of Chinese Ancient Cultural Relics Abroad: Volume Victoria and Albert Museum has just been published, the fruit of ten years' efforts by Chinese experts. The book is the first of an upcoming series that centers on ancient cultural heritage collections in different museums around the world. The book details 195 out of 18,000 items now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in England. More than 1.64 million ancient Chinese artifacts have been transported out of China because of different reasons such as wars and smuggling since the mid 19th century. More than 200 museums in 47 countries hold such collections, according to a report from UNESCO. "The information we now have about these pieces is still very patchy ," said Lu Zhangshen, curator of the National Museum of China. "In order to have a clearer picture about these items, National Museum of China decided to start the Chinese Ancient Cultural Relics Abroad book project in 2005. But after we began, we found it really difficult to collect information for every piece from each museum. That's why the first volume took us ten years." "The pieces in the book include 102 porcelains , 31 bronzes , 22 lacquer , 10 enamel vessels and so on," Liu Mingqian from Victoria and Albert Museum said. According to the National Museum of China, the volume of the Japanese museum Sen-oku Hakuko Kan is coming out soon and the museum will seek more cooperation from museums worldwide to accelerate the project. Which of the following best describes Lu Zhangshen's attitudes towards the Chinese Ancient Cultural Relics Abroad book project? A. worthwhile but expensive B. reasonable but worthless C. meaningless but hard D. meaningful but difficult Answer: D
When you have a cold, you must be unhappy because your body becomes hot, and there are pains all over. You don't want to work, you stay in bed, feeling terrible. What makes you ill? It's _ . Germs are everywhere. They are very small and you can't find them with your eyes but you can see them with a microscope . They are very small and there could be hundreds of them in or on a very small thing. Germs are always found in dirty water. When you look at dirty water under the microscope, you can see them in it. Germs are found not only in water. They are also found in air and dust . If you cut your finger , and if some of the dust goes into the finger, it will become big and red, and you will have much pain in it. Sometimes germs will go into your body and you will have pain everywhere. You can see germs _ . Answer: only when you use a microscope Between ten and midnight the United States is politically leaderless--there is no center of information anywhere in the nation except in the New York headquarters of the great broadcasting companies and two wire services. No candidate and no party can afford the investment on election night to match the news-gathering resources of the mass media; and so as every citizen sits in his home watching his TV set or listening to his radio, he is the equal of any other in knowledge. There is nothing that can be done in these hours, for no one can longer direct the great strike for America's power; the polls have closed. Good or bad, whatever the decision, America will accept the decision--and cut down any man who goes against it, even though for millions the decision runs contrary to their own votes. The general vote is an expression of national will, the only substitute for violence and blood. Its decision is to be defended as one defends civilization itself. There is nothing like this American expression of will in England or France, India or Russia. Only one other major nation in modern history has tried to elect its leader directly by mass, free, popular vote. This was the Weiman Republic of Germany, which modeled its unitary vote for national leaders on the American practice. Out of its experiment with the system it got Hitler. Americans have had Lincoln, Wilson and two Roosevelts. Nothing can be done when the voting returns are flooding in; the White House and its power will move to one or another of the two candidates, and all will know about it in the morning. But for these hours history stops. The author believes that the decision at the polls will _ . Answer: be defended by all Americans Mr Smith is a teacher of English.He comes from America.He teaches English in China.He speaks Chinese quite well. He reads a lot of books and his wife often writes books for the students at home.Mr Smith gets up at five in the morning.He leaves home at ten to six.He begins the first lesson at 8:00.He teaches English every day except Saturday and Sunday.At ten to twelve he finishes his lessons.Ten minutes later he has lunch.In the afternoon,he often plays games with his students.Sometimes he teaches his students in his office.Supper time is at about six.After that,he reads newspapers and watches TV.At about ten to eleven he goes to bed. He watches TV or reads newspaper _ supper. Answer: after On December 8, 1980, John Lennon -an English musician who rose to fame as one of the founding members of Liverpool pop band The Beatles - was shot dead outside his New York apartment. In the 1960s and 70s, Lennon was one of the most iconic men on the planet. Some 30 years ago on from his death, he is still respected by many people in the West. The Beatles, formed in 1960 in Liverpool, were one of the most commercial successful acts on the history of pop music, with, according to some estimates, global record sales over 1.1 billion. The band conveyed the progressive ideals in which many young people of the time believed. In the 1960s and 70s, widespread tension developed in both British and American society, regarding issues such as women's rights and the Vietnam War. Lennon in particular became known for his message of peace and for his opposition to the war in Vietnam. This led to an attempt by former US president Richard Nixon to drive him away from the US. Lennon's second-wife Yoko Ono was also politically active. Lennon was also hugely admired for his musical abilities. Along with fellow-Beatle Paul, Lennon and McCartney were the Beatle's song-writing team. After Lennon was shot by crazy fan Mark Chapman,one of his most iconic songs, Imagine, became a humanist anthem . Lennon's legacy survived his death and continued till this day. In 2008, he was ranked the fifth greater singer of all time in US-based Rolling Stone magazine. Former possessions of Lennon or furnishings from his homes continue to be sold for vast sums. In an auction to be held next week in London, lines written by Lennon on the back of a demand for an outstanding bill are expected to sell for PS350,000(3.7 million yuan). In August, a bathroom from his last home in Britain, was auctioned for PS9,500. And in 2009, a British film describing his early years before the Beatles began, was one of the most successful films of the years in the UK. But do Lennon and his music continue to resonate with the young people of today? The passage is written here to show that Lennon has _ . Answer: lasting appeal How many times have you heard the expression that most people spend more time planning their vacation than they do planning their lives. I would explain that expression by adding that most people spend more time "thinking" about their vacation than they do thinking about what's important in their life. While rest and relaxation are a must in living a balanced life, it's not what we were created to do. After all, the Master Creator took his R&R (Rest and Recreation) on the seventh day, only after six days of "definitely directed thought." 1 My friend Mike Litman wrote an article this week. 2It's called "The Millionaire Composite" and it analyzes one of the big differences between super-successful people and everyone else. He wrote "I recently visited a Real Estate Multi Millionaire Mogul. What did I see next to his desk? His vision statement, along with a list of what he values in life-handwritten." "A few months back, I interviewed an individual Marco Dorigo who sold over a billion dollars worth of products on television. He told me that he read his life and business vision and goals daily, and that he took time to imagine exactly what he wanted to create each night before falling asleep." What is your life's purpose or your personal task statement? Is it written down? Do you review it and think about it often? 3Is your life organized around your purpose and a set of goals that support that purpose? Without purpose and goals - certainly directed thought-you are like "ship without a rudder. " There is power in your purpose and in your goals.4 One of my favorite passages of James Allen is one he wrote in The Mastery of Destiny: "All successful people are people of purpose. They hold fast to an idea, a project, a plan, and will not let it go; they treasure it and develop it; and when upset by difficulties, they refuse to give in; the greater the difficulties are, the stronger the purpose is. " And that's worth thinking about. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Hold fast to your life's purpose.
Many years ago,my dad was facing a serious heart condition.He was unable to do a steady job.He fell suddenly ill and had to be admitted to the hospital He wanted to do something to keep himself busy, so he decided to volunteer at the local children's hospital.My dad loved kids.It was the perfect job for him.He ended up working with the seriously ill children.He would talk,play, and do arts with them. One of his kids was a girl with a rare disease that paralyzed her from the neck down.She couldn't do anything,and she was very depressed.My dad decided to try to help her.He started visiting her in her room,bringing paints,brushes and paper.He stood the paper up,put the paintbrush in his mouth and began to paint.He didn't use his hands at a11.All the while he would tell her, "See,you can do anything you set your mind to.'' At the end of the day, she began to paint using her mouth,and she and my dad became friends.Soon after, the little girl was sent home because the doctors felt there was nothing else they could do for her.My dad also left the children's hospital for a little while because he became i11.Some time later after my dad had recovered and returned to work,in came the little girl who had been paralyzed and only this time she was walking.She ran straight over to my dad and hugged him really tight.She gave him a picture she had done using her hands.At the bottom it read:"Thank you for helping me walk.'' My dad would cry every time he told US this story and SO would we.He would say sometimes love is more powerful than doctor, and my dad--who died just a few months after the little girl gave the picture--loved every single child in that hospital. How did the author's father help the paralyzed little girl? Answer: Never give out identifying information such as Name, Home Address, School name, or Telephone Number in a public message such as at a chat room or on bulletin bards. Never send a person a picture of you without first checking with your parents or guardian. * Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are: Suggestive / Obscene / Belligerent / Threatening / Make You Feel Uncomfortable. * Be careful when someone offers you something for nothing, such as gifts and money. Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house. * Tell your parents or guardian right away if you come across any information that makes you feel uncomfortable. * Never arrange a face-to-face meeting without telling your parents or guardian. If your parents or guardian agree to the meeting, make sure that you meet in a public place and have a parent or guardian with you. * Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can't see or even hear the person, it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him or herself. Thus, someone indicating that"she"is a"12-year-old-girl"could in reality be an older man. * Be sure that you are dealing with someone that you and your parents know and trust before giving out any personal information about yourself via E-mail. * Get to know your"online friends"just as you get to know all of your other friends. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: Some people think only school children do not agree with their parents,however,it is not true. Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages.If it's hard for you to communicate with your parents,don't worry about it.Here are some advice for you to bridge the generation gap . Don't argue with your parents.Don't get to your parents when you are angry.Your parents probably won't consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. And you can't express yourself well if you are angry. Go someplace to _ . Make sure you understand why you are unhappy. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you don't think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter. Try to reach a compromise . Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael's mother didn't agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to a compromise. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days. Of course, your parents might refuse to compromise on something. In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect to them. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong. Talk about your values. The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Tell your parents what you care about, and why. Understanding your values might help them see your purposes in life. A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person. If there's really a generation gap between you and your parents, you'd better _ Answer: Sabina Castelfrancol Rome October 16, 2011---The U.N. World Food program says there are growing concerns over food insecurity in the developing world. Some of those concerns are discussed in a report to agree with the anniversary Sunday of World Food Day. The theme for World Food Day 2011 is "Food prices-From Crisis to Stability". A ceremony to mark World Food Day will be held Monday at the headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. Rising food prices, weather emergencies and political instability are deepening the struggle of families trying to provide for their households in many developing nations. This year's "State of Food In security in the World" report, published last week, focuses on the impact of food price _ confirming that high, unpredictable prices are likely to continue. The report highlighted how poor consumers, small farmers and countries dependent on imports, especially in Africa, have been deeply affected by the food and economic crises. Gregory Barrow is with the World Food Program in Rome. "if you look at the places where World Food program works particularly in developing countries, you see populations of people who might be spending 60,70,80percent of their salaries on purchasing food for their families". Barrow added that if prices become changeful and generally start rising, even by a small amount, it means that many of these people are going to struggle to put nutritious food on their tables. The report also showed that even short-term fluctuations in prices can have a long-term effect on development, and that cutting back on nutritious food in the first 1.000 days of a child's life can affect mental and physical development and finally, future earning capacity . The United Nations has programs in place aimed at reducing the number of hungry people by one-half by 2015.But most observers agree this target is unlikely to be reached. Which is the best title for this passage? Answer: Expert Tricks on iPhone 5 We don't want to change your phone, we wanna make you say, wow, that is a bigger change than I expected. iPhone 5 in a result of that desire to surprise. It's been completely redesigned. For the first time ever, we've increased the size of display by making the screen taller but not wider. You can see more of your content without the need to scroll. We are making scrolling the thing of the past. iPhone 5 is more comfortable to use and reduces scrolling tiredness when you are reading long documents. Even with the larger display, iPhone 5 is the thinnest iPhone we ever built. To achieve the design this tall, we have to look at it and completely redesign the internal architecture. It's 18% thinner and 79.5% taller than the previous iPhone. It makes everything you do on iPhone 5 feels easier and just move your arm away. No more hidden menus, no confusing gestures. Everything is right at your fingertips. The panorama feature is simply awesome. The ultra-HD widescreen display let you get your entire shot in a single snap. You can also use your iPhone 5's innovative design for image stabilization. With an iPhone this tall, reception has never been better. You enjoy crystal clear clarity on even the longest calls. And of course, all your favorite applications are still available. In fact you will find your old favorites also benefit from the new handsome ultra-HD widescreen. We found while many previous iPhone owners were using Facetime, they only used it for the faces. That's why we are introducing Bodytime. Using iPhone 5's ultra-HD widescreen display, Bodytime let you see a person's entire body, allowing you to detect mannerisms and defects like never before. We look way beyond what our thoughts expect, it took all of our learning, all of our thinking to realize something so simple, so clear, and yet so tall. iPhone 5, the tallest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone. How thick is the redesigned iPhone 5 if the previous iPhone is 7.6mm in thickness? Answer:
In Peck's antitrust suit against manufacturers of insulation, Peck's interrogatories asked for information concerning total sales of insulation by each of the defendant manufacturers in a particular year. The defendants replied to the interrogatories by referring Peck to the Insulation Manufacturers' Annual Journal for the information. If, at trial, Peck offers the annual journal as evidence of the sales volume, this evidence is Answer: One day in 1924, five men who were camping in the Cascade Mountains saw a group of huge apelike creatures coming out of the woods. They hurried back to their wooden house and locked themselves inside. While they were in, the creatures threw rocks against the house. Several hours later these strange hairy giants went back into the woods. After the men returned to the town and told the people about their adventure, _ . These were the people who remembered hearing tales about footprints of an animal that walked like a human being. The five men, however, were not the first to have seen these creatures called Bigfoot. Long before their experience, the local Native Americans were certain that a group of apelike animals had been living in the _ mountain for centuries. In 1958, some workers, who were building a road through the jungles of Northern California, often found huge footprints in the earth around their camp. Then in 1967, Roger Patterson, a man who was interested in finding Bigfoot, went into the same jungles with a friend. While riding, they were suddenly thrown off from their horses. Patterson saw a tall apelike animal standing not far away. He managed to take photos of the hairy creature before it disappeared in the jungles. When Patterson's photos were shown to the public, not many people believed his story. Richard Brown, an experienced hunter, discovered a similar creature. He saw the animal clearly through the telescopic lens of his rifle . He said the creature looked more like a human being than an animal. Later many other people also found deep footprints in the same area. In spite of regular reports of sightings and footprints, most experts still do not believe that Bigfoot really exists . . Who were the first to have seen these apelike creatures? Answer: Henry was from the United States and he had come to London for a holiday. One day he was not feeling well. So he was to the clerk at the desk of his hotel and said, "I want to see a doctor. Can you give me the name of a good one?" The clerk looked in a book, and said, "Dr. Grey." "Is he expensive?" "Well," the clerk answered, "he always asks for his patients two pounds for their first visit to him, and 1.5 pounds for later visit." Henry decided to save 50 pence. When he went to see the doctor he said, "I've come again, doctor." For a few seconds the doctor looked at his face carefully without saying anything. Then he nodded and said, "Oh, yes." He examined him and then said, "Everything's going as it should do. Just continue with the medicine I gave you last time." Henry tried to make the doctor believe that _ . Answer: My father' s family is not a musical family. They are a family of words. My brother has my father's dark hair, his love of a good argument. I take after my mother. From her I inherited a curious nature, a sense of adventure, bright red hair. I did not, contrary to her hopes, inherit a talent for the piano. That fact was established beyond doubt after unsuccessful attempts to draw music from me. The piano lessons began when I was four. My mother was convinced that I would be a child Mozart. She found the ideal teacher--Madame Oblenka, a strict Russian woman, whose pursed lips were enough to frighten a wild horse into submission. Madame Oblenka, who expected a little Mozart, was not very delighted to find a little girl banging her fists on the keys. I tried to please her. "Feel the music," she urged. I "felt" it and winced my ear--for what is more unpleasant than a series of wrong notes played continuously? She "felt" my music, too, which is why she always left with an angrier expression than when she came. Once, when I was ten, I managed to record one of my own rehearsals . In order to escape my practice sessions, I would close myself behind the door of the piano room, put on the tape recording, and read until the tape had finished. That method worked for a week, until my mother began to wonder why I always missed the same B-sharp. She knocked on the door, and, receiving no answer, came in to check on me and found that I had fallen asleep while the tape of my performance played on and on. I was twelve when my parents finally acknowledged that my hidden talent was not about to _ any time soon. My mother, refusing to admit defeat, told me to pick another instrument. "Choose anything you want, Honey," she said, assuming that freedom of choice would inspire devotion. I thought long and hard and chose the drums. My parents, sensitive to noise, would be less than overjoyed by a daily bombardment of playing. I imagined my father in his study, cotton wads in his ears. I worked my way through several other instruments before my mother hit on another idea. Maybe I wasn't meant to be an instrumentalist. Realizing that drama might be more suited to my talents, Mom took me to a drama teacher. However, he put me backstage, painting scenery. Once I recovered from my sense of injury, I realized the wisdom of his choice. I loved the active, practical backstage world, and I discovered that I had a knack for constructing and painting. I loved the challenge of taking our scanty supplies and using them to make something beautiful. Imagining a scene and then seeing it emerge before me--this, to me, was close to magic. I'm a sculptor now, and every day I experience afresh the joy of being fully absorbed in the act of artistic creation. It's a wonderful, blissful feeling. I realize that my parents, in their misguided attempts to interest me in music, were trying to give me this feeling. And now I feel grateful. Perhaps they went about it in the wrong way, but their hearts were in the right place. The author's mother can be best described as _ . Answer: People have flown kites in Japan for more than 1,000 years. There are different kinds of kites there.Some look like bats ;others look like birds. Most have pictures on them.There are many interesting stories about kites in Japan.One story tells about a thief who used a kite.He wanted to steal the gold from the top of a high tower.The thief and his friends made a large kite.One dark windy night he caught hold of the kite.His friends raised it into the air.Then they moved the kite near the top of the tower.The thief was able to steal the gold.Another story tells about a father and a son.They were in trouble on an island near Japan.The father made a large kite.His son flew in it back to Japan. The young men of Japan have kite matches.When the kites are flying, the match starts.The young men try to break each other's kite strings . The last kite left in the sky is the winner. The passage mainly tells us _ . Answer:
My parents have certainly had their troubles, and as their child I'll never know how they made it to 38 years of marriage. They loved each other, but they didn't seem to like each other very much. Dad was too fond of his beer, and he talked down to Mom a lot. When she tried to stand up to him, a fight would unavoidably follow. It was my dad's disease that began to change things. The year 1998 was the beginning of a remarkable transformation for my family. My father, Jim Dineen, the always healthy, weightlifting, never-missed-a-day-of-work kind of dad, discovered he had kidney disease. The decision to go ahead with a transplant for my father was a long and tough one, mostly because he had liver damage too. One physician's assistant told him, "According to your file, you're supposed to be dead." And for a while, doctors mistakenly thought that he would need not just a kidney transplant, but a liver transplant too. _ When the donor testing process finally began in the spring of 2003, numerous people, including me, my uncle Tom, and my mom, came back as matches of varying degree. But Mom was the one who insisted on going further. She decided to donate a kidney to my father. She said she was not scared, and it was the right thing to do. We all stepped back in amazement. At last a date was chosen - November 11, 2003. All of a sudden, the only thing that seemed to matter Dad was telling the world what a wonderful thing Mom was doing for him. A month before the surgery, he sent her birthday flowers with a note that read, "I love you and I love your kidney! Thank you!" Financially, the disease was upsetting to them. So my sister and I were humbled and surprised when, shortly before his surgery day, Dad handed us a diamond jewelry that we were to give to Mom after the operation. He'd accumulated his spare dollars to buy it. At the hospital on the day of the transplant, all our relatives and friends gathered in the waiting room and became involved in a mean euchre tournament. My family has always handled things with a lot of laughter, and even though we were all tense, everybody was taking bets on how long this "change of conduct" would last in my parents. We would inform Dad that if he chose to act like a real pain on any particular day after the operation, he wasn't allowed to blame it on PMS just because he'd now have a female kidney. The surgeries went well, and not long afterward, my sister and I were allowed to go in to visit. Dad was in a great deal of pain but again, all he could talk about was Mom. Was she okay? How was she feeling? Then the nurses let us do something unconventional. As they were wheeling Mom out of recovery room, they rolled her into a separate position to visit Dad. It was strange to see both my parents hooked up to IVs and machines and trying to talk to each other through tears. The nurses allowed us to present the diamond jewelry to Mom so that Dad could watch her open it. Everyone was crying, even the nurses. As I stood with digital camera in hand, I tried to keep the presence of mind to document the moment. My dad was having a hard time fighting back emotion, and suddenly my parents unexpectedly reached out to hold each other's hands. In my nearly 35 years of existence, I'd never seen my parents do that, and I was spellbound. I snapped a picture and later rushed home to make sure I'd captured that enormous, life-defining moment. After so many years of disagreement, it was apparent to me that they finally understood how much each loved the other. Before the surgery, which of the following words can best describe the feeling of the families? Answer: Nervous but optimistic. Diwali is perhaps the most well--known of the Hindu festivals. It is celebrated by Hindus in India and abroad. It is often called the Festival of Lights. For Hindus, Diwli is very important and it is also very exciting time for them. Normally , this holiday is celebrated in October or November and it falls on a different date each year. This year , it will be celebrated on October23. Diwali is usually celebrated for 5 days. To prepare for Diwali, Hindus spend several weeks cleaning their homes and preparing special food in order to welcome Laskhmi, the goodness of wealth into their lives. They will open the windows of their homes during this time to make sure that she can enter their home. One of other traditions of Dawali is to light up oil lamp in the homes. The oil lamps are used to make the goddess of wealth enter the homes. Hindus believe that she will not enter a home that is not lit up. During Diwali, the children in India do not have to go to school. They share gifts with one another and prepare special holiday meals to celebrate this event. Fireworks are also a big part of the Diwali festival. They are used to scare away bad spirits. Diwali _ . Answer: falls on a different date every year. Which has the greatest effect on the color of a young eagle's eyes? Answer: parents Not a day goes by when we don't use the World Wide Web. Today it has become almost as important to every family as food and water! This year, the World Wide Web has turned 25 years old. What many people don't know is that the web was at first created to improve communication between thousands of scientists in Switzerland. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee was a 34-year-old British physicist working as a software engineer at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland. Since CERE was a huge organization with thousands of scientists, communication between them was becoming increasingly difficult. Berners-Lee wanted to develop a system to solve the problem. His paper suggested an information system, where a page on one computer could have a link to another page on another computer ( connected through the Internet) allowing scientists to read lots of information quickly. However, Berners-Lee's boss said that it sounded exciting but impossible. Even though there were many difficulties and few supporters, Berners-Lee went on to develop the World Wide Web. He came up with ideas such as Hyper-text Transfer Protocol to allow computers to talk to each other, Hyper-text Markup Language (HTML) to create the pages, a server to serve the pages, and a browser to see them. In December 1990, the World Wide Web was demonstrated and in 1991, the WWW project was made public, so that other programmers could develop their own browsers. Berners-Lee believed that it could be used for more than scientific purposes. He wanted the Internet to be easy for anyone to use-a free open software. His wishes soon came true. Although the World Wide Web has today turned into a completely different thing from what it meant at first, it has become necessary and important to our lives, powering our mobile technologies and the way we get information. The World Wide Web was created to_. Answer: improve communication between scientists at CERN My name is Lily. This is my classroom. There are 40 desks, 40 chairs, a bookcase, a computer and a teacher's desk in it. It has two green doors and four windows. There's a clock and a map on the wall . Look, that is Kate. She is my friend. A red bag, three black pens and four green pencils are on her desk. My favourite day is Saturday. We have no classes on Saturdays and Sundays. How many pencils are there on the desk? Answer: Four.
Dear Eric, How are you? This is a picture of my room. You can see a nice computer on my desk. It is my birthday present from my uncle. A tape player is next to the computer, and some tapes are on the computer. My school-bag is on the chair. My pencil-box and two books are in the schoolbag. And you can see a set of keys in the schoolbag, too. My bed is blue, and my green quilt is on it. Under the bed, you can see a baseball, and I can play it well. My books are in the bookcase, and my white model plane is in it, too. My room is tidy, isn't it? Do you have a room? Can I have a picture of your room? Yours, Liu Peng What is the article about? A picture of Liu Ping's room Mrs. Black was a poor old woman and she lived in a small village. Her husband died ten years ago. But she had a 24-year-old daughter. Her name was Alice. She worked in New York and lived there. It was far away from her mother's village, and she was not happy about this. One day Alice said to her mother, "I've found a good job in Boston, and I can make a lot of money there, so I will go to work in Boston next week. But don't worry, Mum. I'll send you some money every week. " A month later, Mrs. Black was very angry. She decided to go to see her daughter in Boston on a train. When she saw her daughter, she said, "Alice, why do you never call me?" Alice laughed, "But mother," she said, "you haven't got a telephone." "No", she answered, "I haven't, but you have got one. " Mrs. Black lived _ . alone Surfers' Paradise, the largest computer chain in Hong Kong and its neighbouring area, is offering a special package for school students for the month of July only! Enjoy: l Free internet connection package l Free basic computer training from our computer school l Free computer peripherals worth $300 Simply purchase a computer from any of our stores and you'll get the free gifts listed above. Show us your _ (so we know you are a school student) and get an added 35% discount off any computer model! Call us at:Main office SHBC International Complex #1-10 Hong Kong 531122 Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm, 7 days a weekShenzhen Branch Hi-tech prefix = st1 /ComputerCity #10-100 Shenzhen 64875813 Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Sundays and public holidaysGuangzhou Branch 22-24 Baiyun Avenue Guangzhou 60048953 Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays Surfers' Paradise is trying to get more customers with _ . free gifts China news, Beijing, Feb. 9 - Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property developers and ordinary Chinese. To many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000 yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market, the International Finance News reported. Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to Renminbi, is about 8,000 yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000 yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US. The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people's average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in US? At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans and lands to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered. What is the average housing price per square meter in China? It's not mentioned here The news hit the Venice Film Festival unexpectedly: Hayao Miyazaki, the world's most honored creator of animated features, was ending his movie career. Koji Hoshino, who is the president of Mr. Miyazaki's production company, made the announcement at the film festival, where Mr. Miyazaki's latest work, The Wind Rises, was shown. "Miyazaki has decided that The Wind Rises will be his last film, and he will now retire," said Mr. Hoshino. The language of the announcement is believed to have left the door open for Mr. Miyazaki to work on shorter projects. Mr. Miyazaki's latest work has been met with some controversy in Japan and in Republic of Korea. The Wind Rises is a fictional account on the life of JiroHorikoshi, the engineer who designed the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a fighter plane used in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Some Japanese conservatives have criticized Mr. Miyazaki for the film's antiwar attitude, while some Internet users in Republic of Korea have accused him of romanticizing the inventor of a plane that became a symbol for the Japanese military during World War II. The controversy, however, doesn't change the fact that Mr. Miyazaki is one of the most famous figures in animated filmmaking. The72-year-old has directed 11animated features over 34 years, including the international hits My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. In the age of digital animation, Mr. Miyazaki has remained faithful to the hand-drawn technique. His movies, known for their entertaining plots, convincing characters and wonderful animation, won him critical praise as well as public recognition. In 2003, Mr. Miyazaki won an Oscar for best animated feature for Spirited Away, and he was awarded a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival in 2005. It's doubtless a shame if animation lovers will really see no more new works from the legend. May his announced retirement be a brief, dark impulse . May he go on attracting movie fans for years to come. What does the author think of Mr. Miyazaki's retirement? It 's a pity.
Miguel's co-workers don't quite understand him. One day he is smiling and friendly, a real team player. The next day, he is cross, getting angry over minor things, especially when asked to improve one of his designs. Identifying your personality characteristics is the first step in developing a good attitude. Are you a positive, confident person or are you shy and reserved? Do you face problems, looking for solutions, or do you feel someone to blame? Characteristics define you. They help you succeed, or they hold you back. Self-awareness, or understanding the factors that make up your personality, is an important step towards happiness, and happiness is the key characteristic of a good attitude. To become self-aware is to be aware of both your good and bad characteristics. What are the characteristics that people compliment on you? Are you dependable", "responsible" or "solid"? Pay attention to the compliment because they are a confirmation of your strongest characteristics. You can use these characteristics to create an even better image. People form opinions about you. Whether they are right or wrong doesn't enter the question. You, however, can change their opinions by demonstrating the personality characteristics and attitudes that match the way you want to be viewed. In becoming self-aware, understanding how others see you is an important step. This can be painful; but if you are brave enough to try it, it can be an excellent growth experience. Change is not easy, especially when it has to do with your behaviors. You should break the behavior change into small steps because small steps are easier to achieve and more likely to last. The change will be permanent if you want to change for yourself. You should be self-aware because _ . Answer: it may help you on the way to success Letters to the next president Dear Mr. President: I would like to personally thank you for your time and concern for our great country. I would like to take a few minutes to address a few concerns that I have with the United States. First of all, I would like to address the war. In my opinion, we should have never been involved with Iraq to the extent that we are now. I believe we should pull our troops out. However, I think there should be a time table that we follow but the time table should not be released because the enemy does not need to know when we are going to pull out. Also, the war takes out a ton of our money, which leads me to my next issue. The economy right now, in the opinion of many Americans is the biggest issue with which we are facing right now. No one can predict what will happen one day or the next. The obvious thing to do is to put 700 billion dollars in the economy, but that bill failed and was rejected by the House of Representatives . Instead of putting 700 billion dollars in, I think the money should be equally distributed among Americans to pay off their debts. I'm not sure if this would work, but I think it is a positive alternative we could take. My final issue I would like to call to your attention is teacher's salaries. The high school students of today are America's future. In a way, America's future depends greatly on the high school teachers of America. Saying this, it is sad that teacher's salaries are where they are. While teachers are working harder and harder every day to teach high school students, CEO's of big companies that are driving our countries economy into the ground are getting bonuses. I'm not saying that teacher's salaries should be the same of CEO's of companies, but I do strongly believe that action should be taken to increase the salaries of teachers because they have one of the most important jobs in America - - preparing our country for the future. Once again, thank you for your time and your effort you put in to making this great country a better place. Sincerely, Walker Which of the topics is NOT included in the letter? Answer: Election Mark Twain, the famous American writer and a great master of humor, liked to play jokes on others. But once a joke was played on him. One day Mark Twain was invited to give a talk in a small town. At lunch he met a young man, one of his friends. The young man said that he had an uncle with him. He told Mark Twain that his uncle never laughed or smiled, and that nobody and nothing was able to make his uncle smile or laugh. "You bring your uncle to my talk this evening," said Mark Twain. "I'm sure I can make him laugh." That evening the young man and his uncle sat in the front. Mark Twain began to speak. He told several funny stories and made everyone in the room laugh. But the man never even smiled. Mark Twain told more funny stories, but the old man still kept quiet. Mark Twain continued to tell his funny stories. Finally he stopped. He was tired and quite disappointed. Some days later, Mark Twain told another friend what had happened." Oh," said his friend, "I know that man. He's been deaf for years." The writer wrote the passage mainly to _ . Answer: tell readers a joke played on Mark Twain People have always wanted to know what our future will look like. Go on reading this text, and you will know what will happen in the next fifty years. How can we know what the future will look like? To be able to understand the future, you have to know the past, what has taken us to where we are today and what has changed along the way? The world has changed a lot in the last 150 years, but people are driven by the same basic needs as they were 150 years ago. Will this change in the next 150 years? No. What inventions have really made a different in the last 150 years? In the past years, the inventions that have changed most people's everyday life are telephone, radio, television, computer, the car and the internet. Then we of course have a lot of inventions that have made life easier, like new medicine, faster cars, trains, etc. In general, people have been working hard in the last 150 years to make inventions that will make the world a better place. Since there is still much to do in the area, this will be important for at least the next 150 years. Why do we need to guess the future? Guessing the future is important for two reasons: First, we need to start to think about what kind of future we would like for ourselves and our children. And then we need to know what decisions we need to make today that will give us the best future. Our past inventions have made _ . Answer: it easy for us to live Our plan was to drive into Cambridge, catch the 7:34 train to Liverpool Street Station, then to separate and meet again for lunch. We should have arrived at Liverpool at 9:19, but due to a typical London fog, the train had to move along so slowly that it was not until 10:30 that it got there. In spite of our late arrival, Joan, my wife's sister, decided that she would go to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London while we went shopping. It was only after her sister had disappeared into the fog that my wife realized that we hadn't decided where we should meet for lunch. Since I had our three tickets for the concert in my pocket, this was indeed a problem. There seemed to be nothing we could do except taking a taxi to the Tower of London, and try to find her there. Needless to say, we didn't find her. It was now one o'clock, and the concert began at 2:30. "Perhaps she will think of waiting outside the concert hall," suggested my wife hopefully. By this time the fog was so thick that road traffic had to stop, and the only way to get there was by underground railway. Hand in hand we felt our way along the road to where we thought the nearest station should be. An hour later we were still trying to find it. Just as I was about to lose my temper completely when we met a blind man tapping his way confidently through the fog. With his help we found Tower Hill tube station just fifty yards down the road. By now it was far too late even to try to get to the concert hall before the performance began at 2:30, so we decided to return to Cambridge. It took seven long hours instead of the usual two to make that journey. Nor were we able to get any food and drink on the train. Tired and hungry we finally reached home at ten, opening the door to the sound of the telephone bell. It was Joan; she had seen the Crown Jewels, had managed to get another ticket for concert, and had had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant near the hotel where she decided to stay for the night. Now she was ringing to discover whether we had had an equally successful day. It's quite clear that for Joan the trip to London had been _ . Answer: very enjoyable
Bognor Regis is a small beautiful town in the UK. From March 12 to 17 of each year, lots of clowns get together in the town to celebrate the International Clown Festival. The first one was in 1987. During the festival, people can see all kinds of clowns. They are together for the clown shows. They have big feet, red noses and look really funny. They sing and dance in a strange way to make people happy. Children like this interesting festival best. Now women can take part in the clown shows and they're very popular. But in the past, only men could be clowns. The International Clown Festival finishes on _ every year. Answer: There is nothing in the US quite like Black Friday. Before midnight on Thursday, in malls across the US, people start queuing up outside the locked entrances of stores, making longer and longer lines, holding coupons , sipping coffee and hot chocolate, rubbing their hands and stamping their feet for warmth, excitedly chatting, and waiting for the clerks to open the door when the time arrives. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which fell on Nov 28,2014, "has become in recent decades a special American holiday", said the International Business Times. Indeed, up to 147 million Black Friday shoppers were expected to put up with the dark of night and the elbows of other shoppers so that they could bring home some bargains, according to the US National Retail Federation. But why does the shopping festival have such a name? The name was first used in Philadelphia in the 1970s. The streets and sidewalks of the city became so packed with traffic and crowds on the day after Thanksgiving Day that the local police did not look forward to it. Because of this, they called the day "Black Friday", said The Huffington Post. However, others believe that Black Friday takes its name from the fact that because of the increase in sales on the day, shops are able for the first time in the year to move out of the "red" - that is, debt - and into the "black", or profit. Businesses, of course, try to take advantage of this day. A decade ago, retailers opened at 5 or 6 am. Now, many of the big stores open at midnight. People really seem to like the whole experience of queuing up before midnight, "for it isn't just about the bargains", noted CNN. "For many shoppers, it's just fun to be part of a large crowd. Those who go to the malls at midnight are driven by the same thing that makes a million people get together in Times Square each New Year's Eve." According to The Huffington Post, the name of "Black Friday" may be first used _ . Answer: On May 2, 2012, Ashok Gadgil became the winner of the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation . Each year, the honor is given to an inventor who has made a big difference in the lives of people in developing countries. Gadgil is a professor and physicist at the University of California, Berkeley. He spent thirty years helping people in need. His inventions have helped more than 100 million people around the world. "I chose to focus on problems where my knowledge of science could help," Gadgil said. In the 1990s, Gadgil designed his first life-saving invention after more than 10,000 people died from Bengal cholera because of the clean water crisis in India. His invention uses ultraviolet light to kill deadly disease-carrying germs from drinking water. It costs just one cent to clean five liters of water (about 21 cups). So far, the invention has provided safe drinking water for more than five million people in India and other developing countries. Gadgil's another important invention is the Berkeley-Darfur Stove . The long and violent war in Darfur, Sudan, has caused many people to move to foreign countries and live in refugee camps . They are given food aid. But people still have to travel a long distance five times a week to gather firewood to cook meals. This can be dangerous because of street violence in the area. To avoid danger, some spend much of their money used to feed their families buying firewood. The stove Gadgil created cuts fuel usage by 55%. That means people wouldn't have to leave the camps to find firewood as often. The invention also helps to save homes more than $300 a year. About 125,000 people and their families have been helped. As a professor, Gadgil encourages his students, "Be optimistic when you try a hard problem," he says. "It's when you solve a large problem that you can have a big influence on the world." Ashok Gadgil was given the honor because _ . Answer: SALT LAKE CITY, March 1, 2010 --- Like silkworm moths , butterflies and spiders, caddisfly larvae spin silk, but they do so underwater instead of on dry land. Now, University of Utah researchers have discovered why the fly's silk is sticky when wet and how that may make it valuable as an adhesive tape during an operation. "Silk from caddisfly larvae may be useful some day as a medical adhesive for sticking wet tissues," says Russell Stewart, an associate professor of bioengineering and principal author of a new study of the fly silk's chemical and structural properties. "I picture it as sort of a wet Band-Aid, maybe used inside in operations --- like using a piece of tape to close a cut," he adds. "Gluing things together underwater is not easy. Have you ever tried to put a Band-Aid on in the shower? This insect has been doing this for 150 million to 200 million years." There are thousands of caddisfly species worldwide. Some species spend their larval stages developing underwater, and build an inch-long, tube-shaped case or shelter around themselves using sticky silk and grains of rock or sand. Other species use silk, small sticks and pieces of leaves. Each larva has a head and four legs that stick out from the tube.The larval case gets wider as the larva grows.A caddisfly larva eventually pupates as it develops into an adult fly and then hatches. Caddisflies now live around the world in waters ranging from fast streams to quiet low lying wet land. The caddisflies'adaptation to diverse habitats is largely due to the inventive use by their larva of underwater silk to build complex structures for protection and food gathering. Caddisflies fall into two groups. Some build their case and then drag it along with them underwater as they search for food. Some build a shelter glued to a rock,with a silk net to catch passing food. According to Russel Stewart, caddisfly larvae _ . Answer: Mr Green is an Englishman. He teaches English well His English classes are very interesting. He likes us and we like him, too. Mr Green has two children----Mike and Nancy. Mike is eight and his sister Nancy is five. Mike goes to school but Nancy doesn't. Mr Green likes to wear a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Football is his favorite sport. After school we often have a basketball match. Sometimes Mr Green watches and joins us. He plays basketball just for us. How many sons does Mr Green have? Answer:
When most people think of artists, they usually forget the part about the artist being a surveyor of beauty. This is because most people do not realize that there is actually a sort of process when it comes to making art so much so that lots of individuals cannot understand why true artists take their time when creating brilliant works. The reason as to why artists take their time when creating their works is because they will first have to look for something beautiful which will inspire them. This is because an artist is someone who appreciates beauty and captures the said beauty in a portrait, a song, a novel, and any other forms of artistic medium available to man. Rather than those commercial artists who simply paint a picture because they are paid to do so, a true artist will only work if he or she is inspired. The true artist shall not compromise his or her work because of earth temptations and as such they run the risk of being ridiculed in exchange for their happiness. History has however shown that the true artist who correctly appreciates beauty is one whose works will end up being celebrated. How does a true artist spot beauty? The only possible way to go about doing this is to actually look at the world. This means that the true artist is someone who loves to walk around and look at new things. Whatever it may be, the point here is that the artist does take a bit of time out to survey the world and find something beautiful which would inspire him. At times it even happens that the object that inspires the artist is not a thing but rather a person. At the end of the day, it must be said that each artist has his own views of what is beautiful and what is not. The true artist is someone who appreciates beauty. What is the author's attitude towards true artist? Answer: Appreciative. I used to think of myself as a fairly open person, but my bookshelves told a different story. Apart from a few Indian novels and the Australian and South African book, my literature collection consisted of British and American titles. Worse still, I hardly ever read anything in translation. My reading was limited to stories by English-speaking authors. So, at the start of 2012, I set myself the challenge of trying to read a book from every country in a year to find out what I was missing. As I was unlikely to find publications from nearly 200 nations on the shelves of my local bookshop, I decided to ask the planet's readers for help. I created a blog called A Year of Reading the World and put out an appeal for suggestions of titles that I could read in English. The response was amazing. Before I knew it, people all over the planet were getting in touch with ideas and offers of help. Some posted me books from their home countries. Others did hours of research on my behalf. In addition, several writers sent me unpublished translations of their novels, giving me a rare opportunity to read works otherwise unavailable to the 62% of the British who only speak English. Even so, selecting books was no easy task. With translations making up only around 4.5 percent of literary works published in the UK and Ireland, getting English versions of stories was difficult. But the effort was worth it. I found I was visiting the mental space of the storytellers. These stories not only opened my mind to the real life in other places, but opened my heart to the way people there might feel. And that in turn changed my thinking. Through reading the stories shared with me by bookish strangers around the globe, I realised I was not alone, but part of a network that spread all over the planet. The author is probably from _ . Answer: the UK Two years ago,Wendy Hasnip,47,experienced a brain injury that left her speechless for two weeks.When she finally recovered.she found herself talking with what seemed to be a French accent."I phoned a friend the other day, and she spent the first ten minutes laughing."Hasnip said at the time."While I have nothing against the French." Hasnip suffered from foreign accent syndrome ,am condition in which people find themselves speaking their own language like someone from a foreign country.The condition usually occurs in people who have experienced a head injury or a stroke a sudden loss of consciousness,sensation,or movement caused by a blocked or broken blood vessel in the brain. The condition was first identified during the Second World War in a Norwegian woman whose head was injured during an attack by the German military.The woman recovered but was left with a German-sounding accent,to the horror of fellow villagers who avoided her after that. Researchers have discovered that the combined effect of the damage to several parts of the brain makes victims lengthen certain syllable,mispronounce sounds,and change the normal pitch of their voice.Those changes in speech add up to what sounds like a foreign accent. Another researcher,a phonetician ,says victims of the syndrome don't acquire at me foreign accent.Their strangely changed speech only resembles the foreign accent with which it has a few sounds in common. When an English woman named Annie recently developed foreign accent syndrome after a stroke.she spoke with what seemed to be a Scottish accent.However.Annie's Scottish coworkers said she didn't sound at at like a Scot. All of the following are the causes of seeming foreign accent EXCEPT Answer: a softer voice I live with my grandmother in a Beijing yard house. One day last year, I was surprised to see a big foreigner coming out of the house next door to ours. He was very tall with short brown hair and a pair of glasses. The first time I saw him, I was too shy to speak to him. "My English is too poor!" I thought. My grandmother told me that he had just moved into our yard. "I don't like it!" she said. "Foreigners aren't like us. Maybe he'll play loud music and parties every night! I'm sure he's going to cause trouble." Several days later, I met the foreigner as I was walking home after work. "Hello!" he said (in Chinese!). "My name's Tony. I've just moved into the house next door to yours." While I was wondering what to say, he continued, "There's a nice bar down the road. Why don't you and your family come and have dinner with me?" "Bars are bad places," said my grandmother when I told her, but we decided to go. The bar was not at all what I had expected. It was in a beautiful little yard house, with several large bookshelves and pictures of Tibet on the walls. Several Chinese people and foreigners were sitting drinking or reading books. I noticed that some of the foreigners were speaking Chinese in a low voice to each other! "Oh, what a civilized place!" my grandmother exclaimed. The bar served special "hutong pizzas". As we ate, Tony told us about himself-he is an English expert in environment. He always likes to be quiet. My grandmother said to me, "He really seems like a very nice young man." Which of the following sentence is Not true? Answer: Tony made a lot of noise every night. The aims of the Illustrators Exhibition,staged as part of the Bologna Children's Book Fair,organized by BolognaFiere and held from 19 to 22.March 2012,are to bring illustrators and publishers together and to promote illustrators and their works among publishers. QUALIFICATIONS Individual illustrators or groups of illustrators of any nationality, if they were born before 31st December l994,whose artwork is intended for use in children's books,are qualified to enter the Exhibition, either directly or through publishing houses or schools. Please state in the application form whether you are entering work for the Fiction or Non-fiction Category.Illustrators may only enter one category. Artwork previously presented to the Exhibition may not be re-entered. The confirmation form must be filled in and a photograph attached, then presented together with illustrations no later than 26 September 2011. SHIPMENT Entries may be delivered by post,express delivery service or by hand.From abroad,please use the following forms:Form "A" for registered mail or post by air;Form "B" if using an international forwarding agent or airline. To avoid deiays, material should not be sent by normal post.Material should be sent "carriage paid",including any customs and delivery costs. BolognaFiere may not be held responsible for the non-arrival or late arrival of artwork.All published works must be accompanied by a declaration bearing the ISBN number,publisher's name and address. REQUIREMENTS The illustrations (i.e. the size of the sheet) must not exceed the following dimensions: Fiction:3242cm(or 4232cm) Non-fiction:5070cm(7050cm) Illustrations in larger formats will not be considered,nor will they be returned by BolognaFiere.The illustrations must be on paper or flexible board,maximum thickness 2mm(for scanner separation purposes). SELECTIONPROCESS All artwork received by the stated deadtine and meeting the specified requirements will be examined and selected by an international group(whose decision is final),inclnding five members(from publishing houses and art schools) appointed each year by BolognaFiere. ANNUAL Each illustrator selected by the Committee will be granted two pages in the Annual,for the reproduction of all or some of the illustrations as well as a space for the bibliography . BotognaFiere has the fight to choose the works to be published in the Annual and to make complete or partial reproductions. EXHIBITIONS ABROAD After the Bologna event,the illustrator Exhibition will travel to Japan under the supervision of JBBY.The illustrator exhibition may afterwards be transferred to other venues in other countries,The Exhibitions of illustrations held abroad follow the same rules and regulations as the illustrator Exhibition,and the provision of the regulations are extended to tile organizers of the exhibitions held abroad. RETURN OF ARTWORK All the works will be returned to their owners by BolognaFiere by the end of July 2012. According to the text,the Illustrators Exhibitions _ Answer: can strengthen the relationship between illustrators and publishers
Welcome to our food shop. All kinds of food are on sale! Do you need vegetables? We have many kinds of vegetables. They are not dear. Do you like milk? We have good milk, like Guangming, Mengniu and Yili, for just two yuan a bottle. Do you like chicken? Chicken is for just twelve yuan a kilo. Beef is for just eighteen yuan a kilo. Fish is for eight yuan a kilo. Come with your family and friends! ,. Beef is _ yuan half a kilo. Answer: 9 Knowing the best way to study will help you to be a better student. By using your time properly, you can do your homework more quickly. Learning to study is not difficult. The first thing to remember is that you must be willing to learn. It doesn't mean that you must always like the subject. It does mean, however, that you must be willing to do whatever is necessary to learn. Try to understand why it is important and how it will help you now and later to do and learn other things. Knowing mathematics facts will be useful in your whole life. Knowing how to spell makes any kind of writing easier. Sometimes the subject that you think is going to be uninteresting will be exciting when you begin to work at it and understand it more clearly. Learning things can be fun if you are willing to work with them. Here's some advice for you: have a certain time each day and a quiet place with good lighting for study, so that you can concentrate on your study without interruptions; have everything ready before you sit down to study, a dictionary, paper, a pen and books; be sure you understand what you should learn before you start; read carefully and pay special attention to the most important things; when memorizing, first find out the main parts and then recite the whole thing; check your homework after you finish it; never forget the importance of review and preview. Don't try to spend a lot of time researching learning methods. There are many students who know many good learning methods but don't study well. They forget that the most useful learning method is to study hard. Among the following statements, _ is true. Answer: Knowing good methods, you can't be good at study without working hard. TOKYO - Japan is considering plans to calm tensions with China by acknowledging Chinese claims to the disputed islands in the East China Sea, while maintaining its own position, Kyodo News cited sources as saying on Tuesday. The report said that the plans would allow Japan, without changing its long-held position, to _ a little with China, which has called on Tokyo to acknowledge the existence of a dispute over the Chinese Diaoyu Islands, referred to as Senkaku Islands in Japan. Japan has refused to rescind its recent purchase in mid-September of three of the five Diaoyu islands from a so-called private Japanese owner, which the government says was meant to maintain the uninhabited islands in a stable manner, despite China's strong protest. It remains uncertain, however, whether China would be encouraged by the Japanese step to improve the tensioned ties, said Kyodo. From the passage we can know _ . Answer: China is against Japan's purchase of Diaoyu islands. It's six forty in the morning. The children are coming into the classroom. A girl is opening the windows. Some are laughing and talking. Some are listening to them. Some are reading books. Some are doing their homework. Miss Lin is standing behind the teacher's desk. She is writing on the blackboard. Sue and Anna are wearing their new dresses today. Ann is cleaning her desk. Mike is helping her. They all look happy. What are Bill and Bob doing? Oh, dear! They are still playing basketball. The teacher is _ . Answer: Miss Lin You've heard it repeatedly: Make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water per day. The key words are "at least", because, unless you are a child, you need more water than that. The rule is, for every 50 pounds of body weight you carry, drink one quart of bottled or filtered water per day. The average person weighs 150 pounds, so they should drink three quarts per day. A 200 pounds person should drink a full gallon per day. Athletes should drink even more than that. Follow these and you've adopted one of the most important health habits. Our bodies are mostly water, and water is essential to our every function. Drink the appropriate amount, and everything is much more likely to function at the best levels. If you don't drink enough water, over the short term you will experience tiredness, dry skin, headaches and constipation ; over the longer term, every body function will _ more quickly. It really is as simple as that. Things get a bit more complicated in what type of water to drink. Bottled water and filtered water are both good options. Do not drink tap water or distilled water .Bottled water should be bottled in clear glass containers, not the plastic containers that transfer far too many chemicals into the water. Filtered water can be obtained through low-cost filters. Tap water should be avoided because it contains chlorine and may contain fluoride , which is poisonous and can have terrible consequences for the body. Distilled water should also be avoided because it can burn up your body of necessary minerals. It has been tied to hair loss, which is often associated with certain mineral lack. Finally, drink water at room temperature if possible, as ice-cold water can harm your stomach. What's the main reason that distilled water isn't recommended to drink? Answer: It leads the body to lack certain minerals.
Carol and Susan are very good friends. They are in the same class at school and they often go to each other's home on Sunday. Now they are both eight yeas old. Carol's mother has got a new baby. Carol is very glad to have a little sister, so she is always talking about her to Susan. At first Susan is very interested in the new baby because she does not have any brothers or sisters. But after some time she begins to get tired of Carol's keeping on talking about it. She also feels a little jealous of her friend. One morning when the two girls meet at the school gate, Carol says to Susan cheerfully , "Do you know, Susan, my baby sister has put on about half a pound in weight this week?" "That is not very much," answers Carol. "I know a baby that puts on ten pounds a day." "Oh, that can't be true!" answers Carol. "Whose baby is it?" "An elephant's," says Susan. Susan is _ to hear Carol talk about the baby's weight one morning. A sorry B cheerful C happy D not happy Answer: D. not happy Coffee experts are willing to pay large sums of money for high-quality coffee beans. The high-end beans, such as Kona or Blue Mountain, are known to cost extraordinary sums of money. Then there is Kopi Lowak (translated as "Civet Coffee"), the world's most expensive coffee, which sells for as much as US $50 per quarter-pound. This isn't particularly surprising, because approximately 500 pounds a year of Kopi Lowak make up the entire world supply. What is surprising is why this particular coffee is so rare. In fact, it's not the plants that are rare. It's the civet droppings. That's right, the civet droppings--the body waste of the palm civet. Coffee beans aren't Kopi Lowak until they've been digested and come out in the body waste of the palm civet. Palm civets are tree-dwelling, raccoon-like little animals, native to Southeast Asia and the Indonesian islands. They also have a love for coffee cherries. According to Kopi Lowak suppliers, palm civets eat the fruit whole, but only digest the outer fruit, leaving the beans intact . While the beans are not destroyed, they undergo a transformation in the animal's body. A chemical substance in the digestive system of the palm civet causes some changes to the beans to give them a unique flavor . However, this is not the only explanation why coffee beans retrieved from civet droppings have a special flavor all their own. Another possible reason is that palm civets have an unfailing instinct for picking the coffee cherries at the peak of their ripeness. Kopi Lowak is reported to have a character in taste unlike any other coffee, complex with caramel undertones and an earthy flavor. Currently, most of the world's supply of Kopi Lowak is sold in Japan, though a few US markets are also starting to stock up on Kopi Lowak. Why is Kopi Lowak expensive? A There is a very limited supply of the beans. B The coffee trees that grow the beans are scarce. C It takes a long time for the coffee beans to ripen. D Only a few experts know how to produce the beans. Answer: A. There is a very limited supply of the beans. He is a lesson to every boy who ever picked up a basketball and dreamed that it would change his life. The lights were never brighter and the crowds were never bigger for a homegrown sports hero than they were a quarter-century ago for Ray Hall. But his athletic achievements, as impressive as they are, are to my mind not what is most admirable about the man. Known as "Sugar Ray" in his teens, Hall was rated among the country's top 25 high school basketball players. An inner-city kid from a solid family, Hall took on the challenge of lifting Canisius College -- still recovering from its failure -- back to respectability, rejecting more favorable offers. His status of a savior brought more pressure than any 18-year-old should have to handle. However, I watched him mature into the player who led Canisius back to daylight. After college Hall played professionally in Italy and Greece for over 10 years until a car accident at 32 ended his basketball career. The news that he would never play again shocked Hall but unlike so many others he was ready for life after basketball. When I met Hall -- still fit at 46 -- for lunch Monday, he wore a cut-sharp gray suit, designer tie and blazing white shirt that screamed Success. "That was always the question -- when the cheers end, where do you go? Who do you turn to?" he said. "It starts and ends with that person in the mirror." Hall got the concept of academics-first from his parents. He graduated from Canisius a semester early. "No matter how good of an athlete you are, you are just one injury away from losing it all," he said. "But if you take care of things academically, you are prepared until you leave this earth." For the past 14 years, he has been in a computer sales job at Ingram Micro. He married his college sweetheart. They have three kids and a nice house in the suburbs. He figured out early what others learn too late: Athletics is part of a journey, not the destination. Congratulations, Ray, you made it. In more ways than one. What was the writer's intention in writing this passage? A To describe the difficulties of being a professional athlete. B To explain the importance of choosing the right college. C To emphasize the need for a good education. D To warn against playing professional basketball. Answer: C. To emphasize the need for a good education. The mystery stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are famous all over the world. The detective in his stories is called Sherlock Holmes. He solves mysteries in a most surprising way. His assistant, Dr Watson, watches with admiration and then writes up the story of the mystery afterwards. This is a useful story writing skill. Because Watson is not very clever, the story remains a mystery until the end. The readers can sometimes pick up some clues before he does! Then, to make Watson understand the mystery, Holmes has to explain it all, step by step. So we, the readers, get to see it step by step too. Watson is almost as good a character in the story as Sherlock Holmes! The very first time they meet, Holmes greatly surprises Watson. When they are first introduced, Holmes says to Watson, 'How do you do? I see you have been to Afghanistan .' Watson is too amazed by this to ask Holmes how he knows this. Watson has, indeed, been to Afghanistan. Later, he asks Holmes about it. Holmes explains that there is nothing magical about what he does. He gets to know it all by very, very careful observation . Observation One Watson was introduced to Holmes as a doctor. Yet Holmes thought that the way he stood and walked made him seem like a soldier. So, this meant he was probably an army doctor. Observation Two Watson's face was quite dark skinned. But his wrists were pale. So his dark face was probably sun burnt. This meant that he had been to a hot, sunny country. Observation Three At the time, the British army had soldiers at bases in many parts of the world. So there were still a lot of places to choose from. However, Holmes saw that Watson looked very tired and he was always holding his left arm, as if it was painful. So, he had probably been with the army to a place where they were fighting. There was only one place where the British army was fighting at that time: Afghanistan. The first time they meet, _ . A Holmes explains how he knows Watson has been to Afghanistan B Holmes surprises Watson by telling that he has been to Afghanistan C Watson tells Holmes he has been to Afghanistan D Watson asks Holmes how he knows he has been to Afghanistan Answer: B. Holmes surprises Watson by telling that he has been to Afghanistan Time: July 16-20 Location: Norman Park Conference Center Price: 500 Students who have completed the 5th, 6th or 7th grade and meet our requirements can take part in this exciting project. Children will spend 5 days in the Center joining in various activities. Our theme for this camp is "Teamwork". The title speaks to our goal: We want this trip to help our students improve their sense of cooperation. What to do: Step one: Form work Click on the link to print out the necessary forms: Propel Missions Camp Forms Complete the forms, printing clearly. Turn in your forms along with a copy of your insurance card to the office during business hours. Member form This form must be signed and notarized . * Your form may be notarized at the office during normal office hours, at the Children's reception desk before and after service times, or by a lawyer of your choosing. Special needs form (If needed) Special needs form should be filled out only if there is a particular need (as described in the form) of which we and the camp should know. Roommate form This form will help us place your child in a room with the partners he or she prefers. We will provide a list of students attending at your request to help your child make his or her choices. Step two: Read Click on the link and read carefully the Parent Information Packet provided by the camp: Propel Missions Camp Forms (Parents) How to get in touch If interested, get in touch with Pastor Scott at scott. Morrison@fbcvidalia.org or call the office at (912)537-4169. If you want to join in the camp, you must _ . A be over six years old B fill out some forms first C have some experiences of camp D hand in a brief introduction of yourself Answer: B. fill out some forms first
Question: Who is greatest teacher in Chinese history? You can't think of anyone else when you hear people read Confucius 2,500 year-old words: "All study but no thinking makes people puzzled." All thinking but no study makes people lazy. Tuesday was Confucius' birthday. He was born on September 28,551 BC in the Kingdom of Lu , in today's Shandong Province. Chinese look upon Confucius as the greatest thinker and also the greatest teacher. He had about 3,000 students. For more than 2,000 years, Confucius' ideas have been around in people's everyday lives. Now they have gone far into Western countries and south Asia. People can still hear _ today. Why are his ideas so popular? They help not only in everyday life but also society. Confucius' most important ideas are kindness and good manners. Confucius said young people should take care of the old. People should give up thinking of themselves and work for others. As a great teacher, Confucius said that all should go to school if they wanted to learn. Some of Confucius' popular words are "A kind person should care others" and "Be strict with yourself, but be kind to others". People use his ideas to help themselves and society. Now, more than 100 Internet web sites are teaching people about Confucius and his ideas. "Kindness and honesty are the best values of the world today," said 79-year-old Kong Fanjin who was studying Confucius. Which of the following isn't Confucius' ideas? A. All thinking but no study makes people lazy B. young people should take care of the old C. Be strict with others, but be kind to yourself D. A kind person should care others Answer: C. Be strict with others, but be kind to yourself Question: Mrs. Black wants to visit her son. Her son works in a post office in the city ,but she doesn't know where it is , She begins to look for it , but she can't find it. She asks an old man, "Excuse me , how can I get to the post office?" "We have about forty post offices in the city," says the old man. "Which one do you want to go to ?" She gives her son's letter to him and the old man says , Walk along this street to the first crossroads and then turn left. You will see it on your left," She thanks the old man and soon finds her son . They are very happy. She can get to the post office by _ A. walking along the street, and turning left at the first crossroads B. going straight along the street C. walking left at the corner D. walking along the street ,and turning right at the first crossroads Answer: A. walking along the street, and turning left at the first crossroads Question: Here is an astonishing and signficant fact:Mental work alone can't make us tired. It sounds absurd. But a few years ago, scientists tried to find out how long the human could labor without reaching a stage of fatigue . To the amazement of these scientists, they discovered thett blood passing through the brain, when it is active, shows no fatigue at all! If we took a drop of blood from a day labourer, we could find it full of fatigue toxins and fatigue products. But if we took blood from the brain of Albert Einstein, it would show no fatigue toxing at the end of the day. So far as the brain is concerned, it can work as well and swiftly at the end of eight or even twelve hours f efforts as at the beginning. The brain is totally tireless. So what makes us tired. Some scientists declare that most of our fatigue come from our mental and emotional attitudes. One of England's most outstanding scientists. J. A. Hadfield,says,"The greater part of the fatigue from which we suffer is of mental origin. In fact,fatigue of purely physical origin is rare." Dr. Brill, a famous American scientist, goes even further. He declares,"One hundred percent of the fatigue of a sitting worker in good health is due to emotional problems." What kinds of emotions make sitting workers tired?Joy?Satifaction?No!A feeling of being bored,anger,anxiety,tenseness,worry,a feeling of nt being appreciated---those are emotions that tire sitting workers.Hard work by itself seldom causes fatigue.We get tired because our emotions produce nervousness in the body. We can infer from the passage that in order to stay energic, sitting workers need to _ . A. have some good blood B. enjoy their work C. exercise regularly D. discover fatigue toxin Answer: B. enjoy their work Question: There are two deaf men in the small village.One is Mr. Brown and the other is Mr. Green.They live near to each other.They are good friends. They often talk together.They talk about all kinds of things.Sometimes they are worried about their hearing.But one thinks the other is deafer. One day,Mr. Brown comes to Mr. Green's house.Mr. Green is sitting in a chair.He is having a rest.Mr. Brown stops at the door and asks,"Can you hear me?" There is no answer.Mr. Brown goes near and asks again,"Can you hear me?" Again he doesn't hear any answer.Mr. Brown is quite pleased.Still he goes nearer and asks for the third time,still there is no answer.At last,Mr. Brown goes up to Mr. Green and says,"Now I know you are much deafer than me.You don't hear my questions.""I am much deafer?" says Mr. Green,"No,I answered you three times,but you didn't hear my answer." Why is Mr. Brown pleased one day? Because he _ . A. goes to Mr. Green's house B. thinks Mr. Green is deafer C. asks a question D. is deaf Answer: B. thinks Mr. Green is deafer Question: How many things can you see in the night sky? A lot! On a clear night you can see the moon, some planets, and thousands of sparking stars. You can see even more with a telescope. You might see that many stars look larger than others. You might see that some stars that look white are really red or blue. With bigger and bigger telescopes you can see more and more objects in the sky. And you can see those objects in more and more detail. But scientists believe there are some things in the sky that we will never see. We won't see them with the biggest telescope in the world, on the clearest night of the year.That's because they're _ . They're the mysterious dead stars called black holes. You might find it hard to imagine that stars die. After all, our sun is a star. Year after year we see it up in the sky, burning brightly and giving us heat and light. The Sun certainly doesn't seem to be getting old or weak. But stars do burn out and die after billions of years. As a star's gases burn, they give off light and heat. But when the gases run out, the star stops burning and begins to die. So next time you look up at the night sky, remember: there's more in the sky than we can see! How can we see even more in the sky? A. By using a telescope B. By using a microscope C. By climbing up to the top of a mountain D. By going outside on a clear night. Answer: A. By using a telescope
Conor Grennan was unwilling to be a volunteer . The 29-year-old American was not sure if he had the skills or a strong feeling for it. However, he went to work at an orphanage in Nepal. His first thought was to make people impressed. "I thought that if I volunteered just once. I could retell the story over and over," Grennan said in a Huffington Post article. However, his three-month stay it the orphanage turned into in unusual experience. It was 2004 and Grennan had given up his job to begin a year-long around-the-world trip, His first three months were spent in Nepal. When he arrived in the village, he knew nothing about the children or the local culture. When he opened the gate of the Little Princes Children's Home, he was faced by the excited children. The young American ended up caring for 18 children. He later discovered that they were trafficked children. So he walked through the mountains with great difficulty to find the kids' families, "I started walking with photos of the kids." he told the Reuters reporter. "I would show up in villages and show photographs around. I went with 24 photos, and I found 24 families." At the same time, he put his heart into Nepalese culture. Grennan said, "Volunteering is the single best way to see how the rest of the world lives." He also encouraged others to do what he had done. He believes that volunteering needs only making decisions to show up. Grennan's fight against child-trafficking has changed him. His book, Little Prince, came out last week. When Grennan came to the Little Princes Children's Home. _ . Answer: Mary is an American girl. She is now in Beijing with her parents. Mary doesn't know much Chinese, but she is studying it. She often speaks Chinese with her Chinese friends. Sometimes they can't understand her, because she can't speak Chinese very well. It's Saturday morning. She goes out. She is walking in the street. She wants to go to the zoo to see the elephants and monkeys, but she doesn't know how to get there. She asks a Chinese boy the way. The boy can't understand her. Then she takes out a pen and a piece of paper. She draws an elephant on it, and shows the picture to the boy. The boy understands, and shows her the way to the zoo. Mary is in _ with her parents now. Answer: Chinese writer Mo Yan has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced Peter, the Secretary of the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday. The awarding ceremony will be held on December 10. The winner will win a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of 8 million Swedish Kronor (about 1 million U.S. dollars). Mo Yan was born in 1955 and grew up in Gaomi in Shandong province in eastern China. As a 12-year-old during that very unordinary time, he left school to work, first as a farmer like his parents, later as a worker in a factory. He didn't begin to study literature or write until he joined the People's Liberation Army in 1976. His first short story was published in 1981. In his writing, Mo Yan draws the readers' attention to his youthful experiences and the cultures in the province of his birth. His novel Hong Gaoliang Jiazu (1987, in English Red Sorghum 1993), which consists of five stories was successfully filmed in 1987, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In addition to his novels, Mo Yan has published many short stories and essays on many different topics. his stories have been translated into English, French , Japanese and many other languages. Mo Yan not only brings a great shot to the world but also a great joy to China. A winner of Nobel Prize is given a medal, a diploma as well as over _ yuan. Answer: Which of these groups contains single-celled organisms? Answer: Wildwood School Library Guide This will offer you some information about our school library. You can use this guide to help your kids use our library. Service hours: 3:00 p.m.--5:30 p.m.on school days; 8:30 a.m.--11:00 a.M.on weekends On school days, your kids may borrow or return books during opening hours only when his classroom teacher allows him to.At the weekend, our library is open to both you and your kids. Borrowing: Each student can borrow one or two books at a time. More books can be borrowed only for class reading activities and school research. Returning: Books borrowed from the library can be kept for 15 school days. The books must be returned before the due date or the kid can not borrow other books. Damaged or Lost Books: When a book is returned in a damaged condition, the kid will have to pay three dollars for the damage. Full price must be paid if a book is lost. We encourage students to carry their library books in plastic bags to protect them from rainy weather. Please call us at 33621323 for more information. Students can borrow more than two books at a time _ . Answer:
Tom walks into a shop. It has a sign outside: " Second hand clothes bought and sold ." He is carrying an old pair of trousers and asks the owner of the shop. " How much will you give me for these?" The man looks at them and then says, " Two dollars." " What!" says Tom, " I think they are worth at least five." "No," says the man, "They aren't worth a cent more than two dollars." " Well," says Tom. Taking two dollars out of his pocket, " Here's your money. These trousers are hanging outside your shop. The list price of them is six dollars and a half. But I think that is too much money, so I want to find out how much they are really worth." Before the shop owner can think of anything, Tom walks out of the shop with the pair of trousers. At first the owner of the shop _ for the old trousers. A. will give Tom two dollars B. will pay three dollars C. will pay five dollars D. will give Tom six dollars and a half Answer: A What would you do if you were lost in the dark forest at night? The first sensible lesson is that you shouldn't bother trying to find your way in the dark at all, but just stay put until dawn. Because then you won't trip over things? No, mainly because you'll have an idea of direction. The sun rises in the east. But you will be amazed at how many people forget they know that. Apparently, the area underneath a holly bush provides a good makeshift shelter -- they are thick, and evergreen. The next thing to do -- or rather not to do -- is panic, for the obvious reason that unless there is someone there to hear you scream, it will get you nowhere. Just try to think of nice, happy things. There is always a point in films when a person who is lost in the desert or the snow, dehydrated and exhausted, comes across a set of their own footprints and realizes they have just walked in a huge, round circle. It is wrong to owe it to the unequal strengths or different lengths of your legs. Experiments prove that, without the sun or the moon (or landmarks) as a fixed guide, lots of small errors add up over time so the brain can't correctly identify the "straight ahead" direction. To just get out of somewhere, pick a spot on the horizon and just head for it. There are several ways to find directions in the dark, and by far the best is to establish north using the stars. Most people can identify the Plough, which is part of Ursa Major. It looks a lot like a saucepan. The Plough rotates through the sky, but let's imagine the saucepan lying horizontally , with its handle on the left. You need to trace a line from the star at the right-hand base of the pan, through the star at the right-hand rim , and follow it upwards; the north star is roughly five times the distance between those two "pointer" stars. Then drop a vertical line from the North Star to the horizon and that's north. "Tonight is very cloudy and I can't see the Plough." Maybe luckily, it is quite windy. Keep in mind that almost all of our weather comes from a south-westerly direction. (This only works if you are in the British Isles). To find the direction, you can throw light bits of dried-out grass in the air and see which way they blow; or, if there are clouds and patches of clear sky, see which way they blow across the stars. You can also get an idea of direction from leggy plants. If they look as if they have been blown over, they will probably be pointing north-east. If they are simply leaning in one direction as they grow, there's a good chance that is south (they will be reaching towards the sun). The last thing to do is to judge your direction and off you go. If you were lost in Taklimakan Desert in China, _ would NOT be dependable for you to identify the directions. A. the sun B. the North Star C. wind D. the moon Answer: C Sports play an important role in British life. The most popular sport is football. Cricket is also popular in England, but is less important in the other home nations. Rugby union and rugby league are the other major team sports. Tennis is the most important sport for the two weeks of the Wimbledon Championships Football The modern global game of football developed from traditional British football games in the 19thcentury. Club football is organized separately in each of the home nations. English football has a league system which combines thousands of clubs. Scotland has a similar but smaller club football structure. The top level league in Wales is the league of Wales. In Northern Ireland the main league is the Irish Football League. Each season the most successful clubs from each of the home nations qualify for(......) the two Europe wide club competitions organized by UEFA , the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. Cricket Cricket was invented in England. It is regarded as England's national summer game and it is probably the second most widely covered sport. There are eighteen professional country clubs, seventeen of them in England and one in Wales. Each summer the country clubs compete in the first class Country Championship, which consist of two leagues of nine teams and in which matches are played over four days. Rugby Like football, rugby union and rugby league both developed from traditional British football games in the 19thcentury. For much of the 20thcentury there was great _ between rugby leagues, which was a mainly working class game based in the industrial areas of northern England, and rugby union, which is a mainly middle class game in England, and is also popular in the other home nations. Tennis Tennis is yet another sport which originated in the United Kingdom and the governing body of the sport is the LTA . However, no British man has won Wimbledon since 1936 and no British woman since 1977. The only British players of either sex to reach the world top 50 in recent years are Greg Rusedski, who learnt his tennis in Canada, and Tim Henman and Andrew Murray ,who did not pass through the LTA system either. From the passage we can learn _ . A. There exist all professional county clubs in England. B. Rugby leagues was enjoyed by middle class C. Tennis is in the charge of LTA D. Greg Rusedski did not pass through the LTA system. Answer: C Dear Addie, Greetings from New Jersey, how is New Zealand? I'm very excited to have you as my pen pal. I guess it's my turn to tell you about myself. First off, I live with my parents, two sisters, and our pet dog Brighty. Our town is called Whippangong. It is only about a half-hour away from New York City. My oldest sister, Ingrid, just turned 17, that means she now has a drive's license. She drives us to the mall. Do you have a mall near you in Te Awamutu? My other sister is 11 and her name is Lucy. I guess I would say that she is my best friend. We still fight, though. She rides horses and takes lessons every Saturday morning. I have to go with her sometimes, and that is truly the most boring thing in the world. Do you like horses? I take tap dancing classes. I like to practice in the food store. The sound of my feet stepping on the hard floors echoes . I play scores in the fall; I'm on the swim team during the summer. I like swim, but I am really looking forward to diving this year. Next year I will start music lessons in school. I think I am going to play the piano. Our house has eight rooms and a small backyard where every year we try to grow vegetables. We mostly get zucchini because the rabbits eat everything else. I guess rabbits don't like zucchini. I have a bike and mum allows me to ride up and down our street, but nowhere else. I hope that I will get to ride it to school someday. Right now I ride the crowed and yucky bus. Well, that is enough about me for now. I look forward to hearing from you again soon. I hope your surfing lessons went well. And I hope your mum does let you learn to play the drums. Write soon Love, Jessica What might be Addie's problem? A. She can't take surfing lessons. B. She wants to play the drums. C. There are no malls near her house. D. She has no family. Answer: B There are many colours in nature. But do you know that a colour has weight? I think you'll say "no". But I am afraid you are wrong. If you don't believe, you may do a small experiment . First, put two objects with the same weight into two boxes. Then cover the boxes. Wrap one box with a red piece of paper, the other with a white piece of paper. Now hold the boxes with your hand one by one. It is certain that you will think the red one is a little heavier. Why does it happen? A scientist found that different colours have different weight in a man's mind. So he did many tests and at last he got the result. That is to say, every colour has its own weight in our mind. The heaviest colour is red, then blue, green, orange, yellow and white. The scientists told us that colours also have smell. Can you smell the colour? Of course not. Then why did the scientists say so? That is because every colour represents a kind of light wave ------ a certain wavelength . It reaches our brain through organs According to this discovery, scientists say that people accept the colour they like, and _ the colour they hate. So your body and mind will be healthy by using the colours you like. Or you'll be nervous or even get ill. If you stay in a room with red windows, wallpapers and furniture for two hours, you'll feel you have been there for four hours. But if the room is blue, you'll feel you have been there for only one hour. Another example, if a person walks out of a red room and into a blue room, his temperature will fall. That means our body temperature will change when we see different colours. Which is the lightest colour in a man's mind? A. Red B. Blue C. Green D. White Answer: D
We often talk about the weather. If we want to know about the weather. We can turn on the radio and listen to the weather report . We can also turn on the TV and watch the Weather Show. And we can ask other people in two different ways, "What's the weather like today?" or "How is the weather today?" Sometimes you can call at 121 for the weather. When it's cold, we _ and need to wear warm clothes and scarves. When it's raining, we need raincoats or umbrellas. When it's hot, we need a cool place and want a cold drink. You can ask other people " _ " to know about the weather. A What's the weather B How is the weather like? C What does the weather like D How is the weather Answer: D There are numerous similarities between Muhammad Ali and his 23-year-old daughter Laila. She is the only one of his nine sons and daughters to have those genes that led to the ring . Her father's great status had nothing to do with Laila's decision to pursue a boxing career. She has always been proud of his achievements, but he was never a great man to her ---- just dad. What attracted her to take up boxing was the unusual sight of two women in the ring on the television screen when she was about to watch a Mike Tyson fight five years ago. She was very excited and said to herself, "I can do that." Laila's father would prefer her not to take up the dangerous sport. Johnny McClain, her husband and manager (former boxer himself) feels the same way. Even though both the men in her life worry about her, they're 100 percent supportive. "They don't want me to get hurt," she says. Long before entering the ring, Laila was a fighter. Being the daughter of an outstanding boxer made her an easy target for high school kids to see how tough she was. They, not she, failed in the test. For the public, her biggest test took place last summer in the New York State when she took on Jacqui Frazier Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier, her father's most famous opponent during the 1970s. _ . News reporters poured in. Some called it "Ali/Frazier - Generation II". No match involving women had ever attracted so much attention. Laila had a narrow victory in the fight. Like it or not, she accepts the fact that she is the face of female boxing. And she hopes that her name and fame will help get the public to take it more seriously. The name Ali has and always will bring her attention. But she is determined to make her own mark on opponents' faces as well as in boxing history books. She says, "I want women's boxing to get its due respect." Laila took up boxing because of _ . A her father's great status B a Mike Tyson fight C her admiration for her father D her interest in boxing Answer: D Once there was a man traveling in a faraway village. As he was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped. He found that these huge elephants were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains , no cages. It was clear that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their ropes but for some reason, they did not. He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and didn't try to get away. "Well," the trainer said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they still believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can hold them, so they never try to break free." How could it be? These animals could at any time break free from their ropes. But because they always stuck right where they were, they believed they couldn't. Just like the elephants, how many of us go through life believing that we cannot do something, just because we failed at it once before? We should never give up the struggle in life. Why do the elephants never try up to break free from the ropes? A Because they think they can not. B Because they are too old to do it. C Because they like their living places. D Because they get on well with the trainer. Answer: A "Yangzhou is wonderful! The teahouse is a popular place for local people to treat their important visitors..."This poem of the Qing Dynasty describes the comfortable life of living in Yangzhou. In Yangzhou, various snacks and refreshments make each morning a pleasant one. For many years, Yangzhou snakes and refreshments have been well known for their great variety with different fillings and elegant shape. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Yangzhou city was praised as "a place whose pastry shops were the finest under heaven". Listening to A Hundred Tunes while Enjoying the View of Jiangnan talks of Huaiyang snacks, "Huaiyang snacks and refreshments are known for a perfect mixture of freshness and sweetness. Huaiyang snacks in Yangzhou won high praise from both at home and abroad. Among the famous masters making Huaiyang snacks and desserts during the middle of the Qing Dynasty, the most _ was Beauty Shaw in Yizheng country. The snacks she made were said to be as valuable as gold. Yuan Mei, a famous Qing-dynasty writer , wrote in his book The Menu of Sui Garden: "Outside the south gate of Yizheng country lives Beauty Shaw, who is an expert in making snacks and desserts." She is also regarded as one of the top ten masters of ancient China. Yin Changshan, Zhang Guangqing, Dong De'an, Chen Ende and many others are reputed as modern masters. Take Chen Ende for example. He mixed his idea with the traditional cooking skills and recreated the snacks in the Red Mansion Banquet style, which is designed to present the theme and background of A Dream of the Red Mansions .These masters have been abroad many times to show their skills in making Huaiyang-style pastry. With their efforts, Huaiyang-style pastry has become popular at high speed and is showing its charm to the world. The pastry of Fuchun Teahouse is the most outstanding one. Which of the statements is true according to the passage? A Yangzhou snacks were famous for their great variety and elegant shape B Huaiyang snacks in Yangzhou won high praise only from China. C Beauty Shaw is considered as one of the top ten masters of modern China. D These masters have been abroad to show their skills to earn much money. Answer: A A long time ago, there was a seed and because he was only a seed, nobody noticed him. Thus, feeling inferior , the seed gave no importance to his existence . Then one day, a wind picked him up and threw him on an open field in the sun. Later, he was given rain. Years later he saw a traveler sitting by his side. "Thank you God for this. I really need some rest," he heard the traveler say. "What are you talking about?" the seed quickly asked. He thought the man was making fun of him. No one ever spoke to him like that. "Who just spoke?" the shocked man asked. "It is me. A seed." "A seed?" The man looked at the big tree. "Are you joking? You are not a seed. You are a big tree!" "Really?" "Yes! Why else do you think people come here?" "What do they come here for?" "To feel your shade ! Don't tell me you didn't know you had grown over time." A moment passed before the traveler's words brought him pride. The seed thought and smiled for the first time in his life. The years of torture by the sun and the rain finally helped him grow up. "Oh! That means I'm not a little seed anymore! I was actually born to make people feel comfortable. Wow! That's great!" The seed didn't realize the importance of his existence because _ . A nobody looked after him B he was thrown into the open air C he can't not grow up D he didn't believe in himself Answer: D
George Zinunerman's first court appearance before a Florida judge came on Tuesday inconnection with the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The case has caused a national debate in the United States about race, self-defense laws and gun control. It was the first time the public had gotten to see and hear from George Zimmerman. The judge said he had found probable cause to move ahead with the case and told Zimmerman he would be formally charged on May 29th. Zimmerman turned himself into authorities on Wednesday night,just before special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charge against him. Corey told reporters she would fight for Trayvon Martin" "It's the victims and justice that we work tirelessly for,"Corey said Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense after spotting the teenager in a gated com-munity where Martin's father lives. He told police Martin attacked him during a conflict. The shooting caused a national cry led by Martin's parents who insisted their son was murdered They also accused Zimmerman of targeting their son because he was black. "We just wanted an arrest and we got it."Trayvon Martin's mother Fulton said. Many in SanforD.Florida-the city where the shooting took place-welcomed the charge. "All of us were wanting this to move on and get to this process where it is now into the justice system."one man said "It~long overdue and I am glad they decided to do something,"another said.Police did not initially charge Zimmerman with a crime because of a Florida law that says a person has a right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force. Prosecutor Coreysays,"I'm prepared to argue the issue if Zimmerman uses the self-defense law in count." Mark O'MarA. Zimmerman's lawyer, would not make his plan publiC. but he said hisclient was worried about the trial. "If found guilty of the second-degree murdercharge, Zimmerman could face up to life in prison,"O'Mara said What's Angela Corey's attitude towards this case? Dear friend, I know you are arriving next Sunday. Let me tell you the way to my house. Take a taxi from the airport. You pass a bank on your right and then go along Long Street. You go through Six Avenue, Seventh Avenue, and Eighth Avenue. When you see a big supermarket, turn left. Then go down Bridge Street and turn left at New Park. Go along Centre Street and my house is on your right. I hope you can have a good trip. Yours, Mike The bank is next to _ . Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you. Well, ni-hao. (Laughter) It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university, so thank you so much for having me. I'm here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the world. That's why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don't just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of countries. We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between countries aren't just about relationships between governments or leaders -- they're about relationships between people, particularly young people. So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational chance for students, but also as an active part of America's foreign policy . Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before. Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a mouse. Companies can do business and _ with companies across the world. And we can text, email, Skype with people in the world. So studying abroad isn't just a fun way to spend a time of learning; it is quickly becoming the key to success in our times. Because getting ahead in today's workplaces isn't just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important. It's also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders -- experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own. Or, as the Chinese saying goes: "It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books." The passage shows that the world's future depends on _ . prefix = st1 /China's economic growth 'hard to predict' The worsening global economic situation makes it difficult for Chinato predict its growth for next year, a senior official said on Friday. "How fast China's economy will grow next year is uncertain," Liu He, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Finance and Economy Work, told China Daily. "To a large _ , the rate will be decided by the external situation," Liu said during a discussion with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and other economists in Beijing. This year, GDP is estimated to grow at 9.4 or 9.5 percent, down from 10.6 percent last year, he said. However, the impact of the current financial turbulence "on our economy is much less than on the rest of the world", he said. Nicholas Stern, a former UK government advisor, also told China Daily it will take at least one or two years for the world to recover from the recession, which is now spreading from the US and the UK to the rest of the world. "We don't know how long the recession will last, but it is unlikely to be short," he said. Liu said China can use the downturn as an opportunity to restructure its economy, which has relied heavily on government investment, foreign trade and low-cost technology over the past years. "When the economy is experiencing fast growth, companies are unwilling to upgrade their technologies," Liu said. "The slowdown gives such firms the opportunity to enhance their competitive edge through better technologies." From ChinaDaily 2008-10-25 According to the passage, the reason why Liu said this downturn is an opportunity for Chinato restructure its economy is that _ . There is a supermarket called Shopping Center near my house. It's open from 8:00am to10:00pm.The supermarket is very new and big with four floors. If you want to go shopping, please come to this supermarket. You can buy all kinds of things. Look! On the first floor, you can buy vegetables, meat, eggs, juice, and so on. If you want to buy gloves, scarves , T-shirts, shoes and all kinds of clothes, you can come to the second floor. There are all kinds of TV sets and fridges on the third floor. Children like the fourth floor a lot, they can buy their favourite books, CDs and beautiful toys. The things in the supermarket are not expensive , sometimes the things are on sale, so there are always a lot of people. The workers in it work hard. They are very friendly and helpful. The things in the supermarket are _ .
It all started when I was two years old. My parents didn't get along and got divorced . I hated that I couldn't see both of my parents at the same time. So my dad, my younger sister, Alexis, and I went to live with my grandma and grandpa. We lived with them for almost six years. My mom, on the other hand, lived with her boyfriend Michael in Oklahoma. My life was really good, but when my mom called to check up on my sister and me, I cried myself to sleep. I missed her so much. My life at my grandparents' house was really nice. And then on Friday, May 15, 2002, my grandpa died of cancer. I cried for seven days straight. My dad and his new wife were worried about me. So they took me to the doctor and they said that I was too sad and that I needed to find something happy and healthy to do during the day. I prayed to God every night saying that I was sorry for getting myself sick and I also prayed for him to take care of my grandpa. I still pray to this day. And now, at my mom's house, she has a four-year-old girl, my half-sister, Macie. And I have my step-dad , Michael, there for me. I really like Michael. He's really good to me and my sister. And at my dad's house, I have two little brothers, Blake and Justin. Blake is two years old and Justin is ten months old. I have so much to be thankful for, but I'm still looking for more. The writer cried to sleep while her mother called to check up her because she _ . A hated her father B hated her father's new wife C missed her mother D missed her grandpa Answer: C Last year we visited prefix = st1 /Stratford, the place where Shakespeare was born on the 23rd of April, 1564. Stratford is a very interesting town, right in the center of England. The countryside aroundStratfordis pleasant, with its beautiful woods, green fields and quiet rivers. The first place we visited was the house in the center of Stratfordwhere Shakespeare was born. We saw the small desk that Shakespeare sat at when he went to school. One of the things we liked best was the garden behind the house, because we could see there many of the flowers, trees and plants that Shakespeare wrote about in his plays. After we had visited Shakespeare's birthplace, we went to see the church where he was buried. We had lunch in a very old hotel that was probably there in Shakespeare's time. Every room of the hotel had the name of one of Shakespeare's plays on the door--the "Hamlet" room, the "Romeo and Juliet" room, and so on. After lunch we walked across the fields to the old cottage, about a mile out of Stratford, where Shakespeare spent most of his married life. The cottage is just as it was in Shakespeare's day. We saw the chairs where Shakespeare perhaps sat and thought about ideas for new plays, and we saw the plates from which he probably ate his dinner. When we got back to our hotel that evening, we were tired, but we had enjoyed a wonderful day. Stratfordis _ . A a church B in the middle of England C a very large city D a small village Answer: B Many people consider their pets members of the family and are very sad when they die, but what if you could clone your dog, cat or bird? A scientist in New Orleans, who has proved his ability to clone other animals, is now offering the possibility to pet owners here in Wisconsin. Scientists have not been able to clone dogs, cats or other pets, but if and when the time comes, several companies will be ready and able to do the job. The question is: Are you ready to clone your pet? Brett Reggio is betting on it.He is working on his Ph. D at Louisian State University. He's successfully cloned a goat five times and wants to try the process on family pets. So he started a business called Lazaron. "What Lazaron provides is the first step in the cloning process. "He said."It's for curing and storing the fiberglass cells that will be used for cloning." "Your first reaction is yeah! I think I'd like that." said Donna Schacht, a pet owner. "I don't believe you can ever replace a special love," pet owner Paulette Callattion said. Most pet owners will tell you freezing your pet's DNA in hopes of one day cloning it is a personal decision. Scientists say that cloning your own pet doesn't mean that the offspring will have the same intelligence, temperament or other qualities that your pet has. Brett Reggio started a business in order to _ . A clone pets for people B store the DAN of people's pets for cloning one day C make pets members of a family D collect different ideas on cloning from people Answer: B Teens are more likely to behave badly if their parents expect them to,a new US study has found. "Parents who believe they are simply being realistic might actually be having a bad effect on their children," Christy Buchanan,a teacher at Wake Forest University and one of the authors of the study,said. "Bad expectations on the part of both parents and children predict more rebellious behaviors later on." The finding came from a study of more than 250 sixth and seventhgraders and their mothers. They were examined at the start of the study and again one year later. If kids' mothers expected them to take more risks and be more rebellious,higher chances of risky behavior were seen. _ _ _ when kids had bad expectations of themselves. "Sometimes parents expect more negative behavior from their children than they should based on the children's history of behavior," Buchanan said.Parents shouldn't be naive about the possibility of bad behavior,she said,but it's also a mistake to think that children who are wellbehaved will naturally become rebellious at the age of 13. "By thinking risktaking or rebelliousness is normal for teenagers and showing that to their children,parents might add to other messages from society that make teenagers feel that they are strange if they are not willing to take risks or break laws," she said."This can mean,for example,that when parents expect teens to drink before they turn 21 or to do other risky behaviors,kids are less likely to refuse to do so later in their lives." On the other hand,parents' expectations that teens can exhibit good behaviors and refuse to behave badly or to take risks could help reduce the possibility of bad behavior,Buchanan said."As a parent,you should put expectations on your children carefully." What might be the most suitable title for the passage? A Risktaking is normal for teens. B Why are my teens behaving badly? C Don't expect too much from your teens. D Bad expectations lead to badbehaving teens. Answer: D Laura and Graham were having a party for their good friend Judy. Judy had graduated high school and they wanted to show her how proud they were of her, and Judy would be moving far away at the end of the year. Judy was going to college to become a doctor. She thought about becoming a lawyer or an engineer. She even thought about being a scientist. Judy would be bringing her friend Mike. There wouldn't be many people at the party, since this was a celebration with close friends. Laura set out drinks and snacks for Judy and the other guests. The snacks she set out were salty pretzels. who was Judy bringing to the party? A Graham B Judy C Mike D Laura Answer: C
There is an old saying in English, "Laughter is the best medicine". Until recently, few people took the saying very seriously. Now however, doctors have begun to study laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found evidence that laughter really can improve people's health. Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, the heart rate and the rate of breathing. It also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be helpful. Other tests have shown that laughter appears to make the effect of pain on the body less. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group which could bear the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can make pain less seems to be that it helps to produce endorphins in the brain. These are natural chemicals which make both stress and pain less. There is also some evidence to suggest that laughter helps the body's immune system that is the system which fights infection . In an experiment, one group of students watched a funny video while another group served as the control group -- in other words, a group with which to compare the first group. Doctors checked the blood of the students in both groups and found that the people in the group that watched the video had an increase in the activity of their white blood cells that is the cells which fight infection. As a result of these discoveries, some doctors and psychiatrists in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they try to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce good effects similar to those caused by laughter. Which of the following statements is NOT true of laughter according to the passage? A. It makes pain less. B. It exercises the body. C. It improves the body's immune system. D. It can cure cancer. Answer: D. It can cure cancer. Sound waves travel fastest in A. air. B. iron. C. water. D. a vacuum. Answer: B. iron. One day a man was walking in the street when he met a penguin .It was a handsome and very brave bird. It seemed to take an immediate liking to the man, because it walked up to him and then followed him wherever he went.This was funny for a while but in the end became rather embarrassing . "Go away, you silly bird, ''the man said to the penguin, but the bird ignored him. It simply would not leave him alone.Wherever he went, the bird went too. At last, in desperation the man walked into a police station."Excuse me, officer." he said. "I need some advice. I met this penguin in the street and I don't know what to do with it." A bored policeman looked up from what he was writing and said, "Just take it to the zoo, sir.'' "Oh,all right.''said the man. The next day the man was walking along the street, still accompanied by the penguin, when he met the policeman he'd spoken to the day before.The policeman was not pleased to see them."I thought I advised you to take that animal to the zoo, " he said. "Well, yes, officer, you did.And I did take him to the zoo, " the man explained. "And we had a great time. But we can't go to the zoo every day.I thought today I'd take him to the movies.'' Which of the following expressions can be used to describe the penguin? A. Ugly looking. B. Beautiful in heart. C. Silly in look. D. Friendly to human. Answer: D. Friendly to human. Few people find it easy to refuse a bargain (a product sold at lower price). But bargains are not always what they seem. Some sales and bargains are good deals, but not all are. Here are some pointers to help you tell the difference between real bargains and bad deals. Sometimes a product is on sale for "below producer's cost". Watch out for this kind of "bargain". Why would anyone want to sell a product for less than it cost to make it? Before buying, you should find out why it is being sold at a loss to the producer. Is it damaged? Is it out of style? Does it come with any guarantee ? Another pointer is to read price tags on sale items carefully. For example, a price tag in a store may say " regular price $16". The regular price is the price of the item before the sales started and after the sale ends. The regular price is only for that store, however. In another store, the price could be lower. A price tag may also say "original price $ 16". That means at one time the item sold for $16 ------even as much as five years earlier! For example, the original price of pocket calculators was high when they were introduced. Now the price is much lower. Showing the original price would be misleading. Finally, be careful how you use cents-off coupons . A coupon can save you money only if you intend to use the item. The price of an item may not be the same at different stores. So use the coupon at the store with the lowest price. Don't forget to add any sales tax to the item before you figure out the "cents-off' price. The purpose of the author to write this article is _ . A. to show that there are no real bargains B. to warn readers that some sales are not bargains C. to sell a certain product D. to warn readers not to spend money on bargains Answer: B. to warn readers that some sales are not bargains Every evening, 15-year-old Rashida returns home from school, changes out of her uniform, and rushes to a neighboring farm to help her mother harvest vegetables. Her father is disabled, so the modest profit the two of them earn must cover food, clothing and other necessities for all seven children and their parents. Despite having precious little time to study, Rashida is one of the top students at her junior secondary school. But with so much responsibility on her small shoulders, she admits that it is sometimes hard for her to imagine a more promising future. Last year, Rashida was invited to join 155 other girls at Camfed Ghana's first Girls' Career Camp, a program designed to inspire girls growing up in the country's Northern Region to dream big, and to support them to pursue those dreams. "We organized this camp because we wanted to let girls know that even if they are struggling with poverty, their lives will not be defined by limitations," says Dolores Dickson, Camfed Ghana's Executive Director. Over the course of five days, the camp led the junior and secondary school students through a range of experiences and career opportunities that were entirely new to them. Dr. Agnes Apusiga, a lecturer from the University of Development Studies, ran the workshop on goal-setting and career choices, describing the universities and training colleges in Ghana that could help them achieve their dreams. Participants then visited the University for Development Studies, where they toured the medical school and science labs. Another highlight was a workshop at the computer lab at Tamale Secondary School. Many of the girls had studied information technology from a book but had never before seen a computer. "When the girls arrived at camp, they were not ambitious, because they didn't have any idea what the world held for them," says Eugenia Ayagiba, Project Officer with Camfed Ghana. "Many had scarcely traveled beyond their own villages." "I think the most important thing that happened at the camp is that we opened a window of hope for a group of girls coming from backgrounds of poverty," says Eugenia. For Rashida, who has been laughed at in the past by her schoolmates because of her father's disability, the experience was important. "She told one of the camp mentors that when she is at school, she often feels like a misfit, and she prefers to keep to herself," says Eugenia. "But at the camp, it was different. She made friends with girls who have similar struggles. She took part in every single activity, every single game. On the last day, she said to her mentor, "The camp has challenged me to study hard. Now I see that there is light at the end of the tunnel." What can we infer from the passage? A. Rashida has become friends with her mentors B. Rashida's mentors has encouraged her a lot. C. Rashida was sad because of her father's disability. D. Rashida has had her new dream since the camp Answer: D. Rashida has had her new dream since the camp
A small man goes to the cinema. He buys a ticket and goes in. But after two or three minutes he comes out. He buys a second ticket and goes in again. After a few minutes he comes out again and buys a third ticket. Two or three minutes after that he comes out a third time and asks for another ticket. But the girl says to him, "Why are you buying all these? Are you meeting friends in the cinema all the time?" "No, I'm not doing that." the small man says, "But a big woman always stops me at the door and tears( ) my tickets up." From the story we can guess _ . Many people seem to think that science fiction is typified by the Bug-eyed Monster, embodying every feature that most people find unpleasant. This is unfortunate because it degrades a worthwhile literary endeavor. Instead, the basic interest of science fiction lies in the relation between man and his technology and between man and the universe. Science fiction is a literature of change and a literature of the future, and the aspects of human life that it considers make it well worth reading and studying for no other literary form does quite the same things. What is science fiction? To begin, the following definition should be helpful: science fiction is a literary subgenre which postulates(...) a change (for human beings) from conditions as we know them and follows the implications of these changes to a conclusion. The first point that science fiction is a literary subgenre is a very important one, but one which is often overlooked. Specifically, science fiction is either a short story or a novel. There are only a few dramas which could be called science fiction; the body of poetry that might be labeled science fiction is only slightly larger. To say that science fiction is a subgenre of prose fiction is to say that it has all the basic characteristics and serves the same basic functions in much the same way as prose fiction in general, that is, it shares a great deal with all other novels and short stories. Everything that can be said about prose fiction, in general, applies to science fiction. Every piece of science fiction, whether short story or novel, must have a narrator, a story, a plot, characters, setting, and language. The themes of science fiction are concerned with interpreting man's nature and experience around him. Themes in science fiction are constructed and presented in exactly the same ways that themes are dealt with in any other kind of fiction. They are the result to a particular combination of a narrator, story, plot, character, setting, and language. In short, the reasons for reading and enjoying science fiction, and the ways of studying and analyzing it, are basically the same as they would be for any other story or novel. An appropriate title for this passage would be _ . Bad news travels fast--when you watch the evening news or read the morning papers, it seems that things that get the most coverage are all tragedies like wars, earthquakes, floods, fires and murders. This is the classic rule for mass media. "They want your eyeballs and don't care how you're feeling," Jonah Berger, a psychologist at University of Pennsylvania told The New York Times. But with social media getting increasingly popular, information is now being spread in different ways, and researchers are discovering new rules--good news can actually spread faster and farther than disasters and other sad stories. Berger and his colleague Katherine Milkman looked at thousands of articles on The New York Times' website and analyzed the "most e-mailed" list for six months. One of his findings was that articles in the science section were much more likely to make the list. Those stories aroused feelings of awe and made the readers want to share this positive emotion with others. Besides science stories, readers were also found to be likely to share articles that were exciting or funny. "The more positive an article was, the more likely it was to be shared," Berger wrote in his new book. "For example, stories about newcomers falling in love with New York City," he writes, "tended to be shared more than the death of a popular zookeeper." But does all this good news actually make the audience feel better? Not necessarily. According to a study by researchers at Harvard University, people tend to say more positive things about themselves when they're talking to a bigger audience, rather than just one person, which helps explain all the perfect vacations that keep showing up on microblogs. This, researchers found, makes people think that life is unfair and that they're less happy than their friends. But no worries. There's a quick and easy way to relieve the depression you get from viewing other people's seemingly perfect lives--turn on the television and watch the news. There is always someone doing worse than you are. Bad news covers most papers because _ . Which method below would be the best way to determine if an egg, plastic foam, a piece of wood, or a candle would float on water? Zhao Cheng is a typical member of the post-90s generation. And like many of his peers, he spends a lot of time staring at his computer screen, looking for amusing passages to share on his micro blog. He also writes his own amusing comments and observations. It may seem that Zhao,19, a fresh high school grade, is simply wasting time with his micro blogging exploits. His parents certainly thought so. And then Zhao amazed them by turning his hobby into a profitable career. Enterprises, especially those targeting young customers, have realized the value of marketing on micro blogs. Ads, if forwarded by popular bloggers, will enjoy widespread Internet coverage. Therefore, it appears that running a popular micro blog and forwarding several ads per day is a financial rewarding career choice nowadays. However, in order to be successful, you need to ensure that your micro blog has a large number of followers. Launching a micro blogging sensation can be tough for rookies . In Zhao's opinion, it's not necessary to come up with a totally original micro blog. " You can publish a popular post you have found in other online communities on your micro blog. But to become a sensation, you have to be the first one to publish the post," said Zhao. Therefore, a micro blogger needs to be aware enough to sense a post's potential to become an online sensation. He or she also needs to be daring enough to publish potentially controversial posts or launch activities which could be risky. Running a popular micro blog is an exhausting job, both physically and mentally. Publishing ads also requires energy and commitment. In order to hunt for the most up-to-date, hot topics online, Zhao has to spend almost all of his spare time surfing the Internet. He often stays up late. We can know from the passage that _ .
Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, made his first public appearance since going on medical leave six weeks ago, taking the stage at a San Francisco media event to introduce the iPad 2, the second generation of the company's tablet computer. Thin but energetic, Mr. Jobs showed off a thinner iPad. " We've been working on this product for a while and I just didn't want to miss this day," he said. His absence has concerned investors, especially since the group has given no details of his condition. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and had a liver transplant during almost six moths of medical leave in 2009. People close to him said last month his health had been changing. Apple's stock rose more than 2 percent in the minutes after Mr. Jobs began speaking, then gave up some of its gain as he detailed the iPad 2. The iPad 2 will go on sale in black and white versions in the US on March 11 and in 26 other countries, including the UK and Germany, on March 25. The table is Apple's biggest product launch since the iPhone three years ago, and is comparable to the iPhone as the most expected in Apple's history. Most of the improvements in the latest version had been expected, including front and rear-facing video, which allows video conferencing between iPads, Mac computers and the most recent iPhones and iPods, a larger speaker, a faster processor and other upgrades. The iPad 2 is one-third thinner than the original tablet and slightly lighter, with a 9.7-inch touchscreen. It can run movies, books, games and a complete range of applications. In the US it will work with AT&T and Verizon, the top two mobile carriers. The pricing will be the same to the 2010 iPad at its introduction, ranging from $499 to $829 in six models. But Apple dropped prices on the older iPad on Wednesday by $100 across the board. Apple has made the most of its year-long head start in tablets, selling 15,000,000 units of the older iPad last year and taking about 85 percent of the market. Forrester predicted that the iPad 2 would clain 80 percent of the US market this year, or 20,000,000 out of 24,000,000 total shipped. This prediction was based on both the technical improvements to the iPad 2, and the distribution difficulties and higher prices for Apple's rivals. Motorola, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, Samsung and others have brought out competing tablets, many based on Google's Android software. Mr. Jobs said the rest of the field was still catching up with the first iPad and their markets for applications designed for tablets had, at best, 100 small programs. This compares with 65,000 on Apple's applications store. In what respect are the iPad 2 and the 2010 iPad exactly alike? Answer: Wang Bing is a 12-year-old boy. He likes sports very much and does well in sports. One afternoon, he comes out of the classroom and sees his father waiting for him at the school gate. He is very glad and he runs to his father. "Dad, please don't wait for me after school next time. I can go home by myself . I have grown up." says Wang Bing. "Let's go," says the father, "I'll cook supper and you can do your homework at home: Mum is still at work."On their way home, Wang Bing sees some boys skating in a park. "Can I go and learn skating. Dad?" asks Wang Bing. "I'm sorry, my boy. You must go home and do your homework," answers his father, "but I can buy you an ice-cream." Then his father buys an ice-cream for him. When Wang Bing wants to eat it, a fly flies to the ice-cream. "Drive off the fly,' says his father, "it's very dirty ."But Wang Bing says with a smile. "You don't let me skate, but can you let him skate for a while ?" There are _ people in Wang Bing's family. Answer: Timmy had the best grandmother ever. She was very nice because she would always help Timmy when he needed help with his homework. She would sit down with Timmy in the kitchen and help him with his spelling every night. Then she would go back to the living room and watch television when he worked on his math. After that she would cook Timmy a big dinner, and they would both eat it together before Timmy's mom and dad came to pick him up. When Timmy went home he would sometimes call his grandmother to say hello. Even when she was sleepy she would talk with him and tell him a bedtime story. One time she even told him a story about his grandfather who had been a farmer. Timmy loved this story because he never got to meet his grandfather. One day he wanted to be like him and be a farmer. What had Timmy's grandfather been? Answer: Count Me Out Call me old-fashioned. Call me old. Call me what you want, but I refuse to become part of this new Internet world. I do not possess a computer at home or at the office. Actually, I stopped going to an office 35 years ago, when all communications were done with a pen, a typewriter, or, if the matter was of world-shaking importance, over the telephone. Likewise, if you like something advertised in a newspaper or magazine, you visited the shop selling it at the given address, or you phoned the number shown. Then you spoke to the fellow and asked for further details. Tell me what you think of the following ad that appeared the other day in the newspaper. It was for a cure for cancer and this is what it said: "Awareness is the key. Visit com at the awareness site." There was no address or telephone number for the site. So what do unfortunate people without a computer do if they are seeking a cure for their illness? There are, I am told, certain advantages in having access to the Internet. You can, for example, send love messages across the world or even get married to someone that you meet online. This bit doesn't interest me; I have been happily married for 60 years. There are, of course, other activities for Internet users besides finding love. They can pay bills, order groceries, or discuss with their doctors. And this is by no means all. More amazing things are yet to come in the near future. I read a newspaper report recently that quoted Stephen Hawking, an important British scientist. "The complexity of a computer as it exists today is probably less than the brain of an earthworm," he said. "But, as technology advances, computers will become more complex, and a time may come when the Internet may develop 'consciousness.' In other words, the Internet will be able to think, have feelings, and may well be able to act on its own." If Professor Hawking is right, I may change my attitude to computers. As I grow older each day, I would like one of those that not only thinks for me but also accepts responsibilities for all my mistakes. What might the author like about the future computer? Answer: Muscles pull on bones in order to move them; which is an example of that? Answer:
Question: Miranda's neighbors have an apple tree in their yard. What is the source of energy for the apple tree? A. rain B. soil C. sunlight D. wind Answer: C Question: Last week the manager of an old jeweler's shop received a letter marked "personal", so of course his secretary gave it to him unopened. As he was very busy, the letter lay on his desk till tea-time. Then he opened it and aPS10 note fell out onto his desk. With the note was a short letter. This is what it said: Dear sir, In 1935 I got engaged. But unfortunately at that time there was a lot of unemployment and I lost my job. I was six months without a job and then I got work again. But of course I was very short of money. I came to your shop to buy a wedding ring. The assistant brought some rings for me to look at, but she was called away for a moment, and I put one of the rings in my pocket. When she came back, I said I did not know the size of my girl-friend's finger. So I left the shop without buying a ring. My wife died a short while ago and the fact that I never paid for her ring has been on my conscience all these years. At the time the ring cost PS2 so I reckon that is about PS10 at today's price. And I am sending you that amount. Yours truly, A customer "Well, well, well," said the manager, "life is full of surprises!" The best headline for this article would be _ . A. A Customer Pays His Bill B. An Old Jeweler's Shop C. The Manager and the Letter D. A Letter withPS10 Answer: A Question: Woodland High School is an international sch ool. We have students from all around the world. As an international student you can get first-class facilities with trained teachers to help. For further information: inf@woodland.uk Subjects We offer a wide choice of subjects for international students, which includes: Arts, IT, French, English, Spanish and other languages. Communication Studies, Social Sciences, etc. For further information: sub@woodland.uk Tuition Fees Tuition fees are different from subject to subject, from PS5,000 to PS6,000 a year. For further information: tui@woodland.uk Accommodation You can have a room in a 4-bedroom flat, which will cost about PS100 a month with other regular living costs of about PS150 a month for one person. For further information: acc@woodland.uk 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 me dical needs. For further information: heal@woodland.uk 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, b asketball and indoor football counts and a swimming pool as well. There are also a large number of sports clubs at Woodland High School. For further information: sport@woodland.uk If you want to get more information about arts, you can write to _ . A. sub@woodland.uk B. heal@woodland.uk C. sport@woodland.uk D. inf@woodland.uk Answer: A Question: Two flowers are both roses. One rose is larger and has more fragrance than the other rose. What advantage will one of the roses most likely gain because of this difference? A. The larger rose will have fewer petals than the smaller rose. B. The larger rose will more easily attract bees than the smaller rose. C. The smaller rose will have more pollen than the larger rose. D. The smaller rose will grow faster than the larger rose. Answer: B Question: Do you think Great Britain and the United States are alike? Winston Churchill once joked that the people of Britain and the people of America are separated only by their language. Do you think that is true? The British and the Americans both speak English as the official language. However, each uses some different words.We Americans are similar to the British. After all , our country was once owned by Great Britain , so we have a lot in common. But there are many differences between us. Great Britain has a king or queen, and the leader of the government is the Prime Minister. The United States has no kings or queens. Our leader is the President. Both the British and Americans use pounds and ounces, oints, quarts, and gallons. Both use miles, yards,and feet. Our money is different,though. The British use pounds and pence. Americans use dollars and cents. Driving in a car is very different in England. They drive on the left side of the road. We drive on the right. What we call the hood of the car, the British call the "bonnet". British cars run on "petrol",which we call gasoline. In our everyday lives, we do many of the same things as the British. But we describe them differently. A young mother here might push a baby in a baby carriage. A British mom pushes a "pram". The British watch the "telly", while we watch TV. We like to eat French fries, but the British call them "chips". Millions of Americans drink coffee, but most British prefer tea. So we are different in many ways. But we stay friendly anyway. The British and Americans both use _ A. miles and dollars B. pints and pence C. gallons and feet D. yards and cents Answer: C
A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present.On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office,a street urchin was walking around the shining car."Is this your car,Paul?"he asked. Paul answered,"Yes,my brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was surprised."You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing?Boy,I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for.He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said surprised Paul greatly. "I wish," the boy went on,"that I could be a brother like that." Paul looked at the boy in surprise, then he said again, "Would you like to take a ride in my car?" "Oh yes,I'd love that." After a short ride,the boy turned and with his eyes shining,said,"Paul,would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little.He thought he knew what the boy wanted.He wanted to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the step and pointed to the car. "There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about." Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began an unforgettable holiday ride. :urchin hesitate neighbour crippled cent We can infer from the story that _ . Answer: Chen Guangbiao was born in Jiangsu in July,1968. He is the chairperson of a company in Jiangsu. Now he is one of China's richest men and he has donated a great amount of money to charity projects. He says he will donate everything he has to charity after he dies. When people are in need of help, he will appear at once. He helped people during the Wenchuan earthquake, the Yunnan earthquake and the Taiwan earthquake. He also gave a helping hand in Japan's earthquake. He has built many Hope Primary Schools to support the education in poor areas. He doesn't do charity for honour. He wants to encourage more people to make contributions to charity. After announcing he would donate everything to charity after his death, many businesses, overseas Chinese people and common people encouraged by him have also promised to do something for charity. As a philanthropist , he is asked for help every day. Sometimes he gets very tired, but he has never stopped caring. So far, he has received a lot of awards, including Pioneer of the Year, and National May Day Labour Medal. He is considered as one of China's top philanthropists. Chen Guangbiao says he will donate _ to charity after he dies. Answer: In the past years a lot of people migrated from one country to another in Europe. They had to leave their countries with their traditions, their cultures and sometimes also their families. People migrate because they think that they will have a better life, they will find a job and they will make a lot of money for their families to survive. Sometimes it's true, and they find a job, they make a lot of money and then they go back to their families to help them. But sometimes they are not that lucky. The problem that those people create is that a lot of people from Europe are unemployed and they don't have jobs because immigrants have taken so many jobs. But the question is also: Would European people want a job such as cleaning or hard labor? I think that most of them wouldn't. So we should stop criticizing for a moment and think. We would then maybe realize that it's not that bad to have immigrants at home. The only problem is that it's not right that immigrants want to impose( )their religion on other countries by leading and building mosques ( ). Because if they had done that in other countries they would have caused trouble. Phenomena like these happened a few years ago in Great Britain: It was forbidden to switch on Christmas lights outside, because Christmas is a Catholic ( ) recurrence and it was offensive for the Islamic people who lived there. That is not right. The country that gives hospitality to immigrants has the task to allow them to enter society, to be free to believe in their religion and their culture, but every country does not have to forget its tradition and culture. This is one of the many facts which happened in the past years, and I think that many others are going to happen because this phenomenon is developing every day more and more. What's the main problem between the immigrants and the native people according to the passage? Answer: With more and more cars on the road, the traffic _ will happen. How do we see it and how can we solve the problem? We know that the traffic jam happens in many places, especially in big cities. What are reasons for the problem? On one hand, some people think that they should have a car when they have enough money, and then it's easy to go out and they can feel comfortable. On the other hand, a growing number of people hope to use their cars to show off . What's more, years of research has shown that one of other reasons for the traffic jam is the driving habit. For example, many young people enjoy driving very fast, so they can feel excited. At last, most of them hardly care about the speed rules. Many governments are working at how to make the traffic better. In my opinion, firstly, the governments should educate those people who have cars or plan to buy cars. The governments must make them know that the traffic jam is very serious, and set up a much more perfect traffic system to solve the traffic pressure. What does the passage mainly talk about? Answer: The orderly came back in a few minutes with a rifle and some Burmans. He told us that the elephant was in the rice fields below, only a few hundred yards away. As I started forward practically the whole population of the quarter flocked out of the houses and followed me. They had seen the rifle and were all shouting that I was going to shoot the elephant. It was fun to them, as it would be to an English crowd; besides, they wanted the meat. It made me a little uneasy. I had no intention of shooting the elephant--I had merely sent for the rifle to defend myself--and it is always uneasy to have a crowd following you. I marched down the hill, looking and feeling a fool, with the rifle over my shoulder and an ever-growing army of people knocking and pushing at my heels. Beyond the huts there was a rice field a thousand yards across, muddy from the first rains. The elephant was standing eight yards from the road. He took not the slightest notice of the crowd. He was tearing up bunches of grass, beating them against his knees to clean them and feeding them into his mouth. As soon as I saw the elephant I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him. It is a serious matter to shoot a working elephant -- it is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery. There, peacefully eating, the elephant looked no more dangerous than a cow. I thought then and I think now that his attack of "must" was already passing off, in which case he would merely wander harmlessly about. Moreover, I did not in the least want to shoot him. But at that moment I glanced round at the crowd that had followed me. It was an immense crowd, two thousand at the least and growing every minute. I looked at the sea of the faces above the colorful clothes--faces all happy and excited over this bit of fun, all certain that the elephant was going to be shot. They were watching me as they would watch a magician about to perform a trick. They did not like me. But with the magical rifle in my hands I was momentarily worth watching. And suddenly I realized that I should have to shoot the elephant after all. The people expected it of me and I had got to do it; I could feel their two thousand wills pressing me forward. And it was at this moment that I first felt the hollowness, the uselessness of the white man's control in the East. Here was I, standing in front of the unarmed crowd--seemingly the leading actor; but in reality only a puppet . I understood in this moment that when the white man turns ruler of complete power it is his own freedom that he destroys. The writer realized that he had to shoot the elephant because _ . Answer:
It was Mary's birthday.Her uncle wrote a letter and told her he would like to send her some chickens.She was very happy because she liked eggs and chicken."I can keep the chickens for their eggs or eat them,"she thought. When the chickens arrived the next day, they were all in a box.Mary took the box off the truck and began to carry it into her garden,but the box of chickens was so heavy that she dropped it.The chickens all ran out.They ran here and there.Mary spent hours in trying to find them. A few hours later her uncle came.He asked."Did the chickens arrive safely?" "Yes,but I dropped the box.The chickens ran everywhere.It took me the whole morning to look for them,"Mary said. "Did you find them all?" asked her uncle."I hope so,"Mary answered,"But l only caught eleven of them" "That's very interesting.I only sent you six."her uncle laughed. It took Mary _ to find the chickens. A an hour B two hours C three hours D the whole morning Answer: D The way Westerners communicate tends to be ly explicit and direct. In other words, Westerners tend to put most of their ideas and feelings into words, and then state these ideas and feelings clearly and openly. It is generally considered a good thing to "get to the point "and "say what you mean," and it is largely the speaker's responsibility to ensure that his/her message is stated in a way that is clear and easy to understand. In contrast , Chinese people tend to communicate in a way that is more indirect and subtle. They often view direct, explicit communication as unsophisticated or even rude. They are more likely to preserve good feelings and relationships by not saying something that might upset or offend another person. If a Westerner makes a request and a Chinese person responds by saying something like "I'll think it over", the Westerner may assume that there is a good chance that the answer will be "yes". In fact, there is a better chance that the implied answer is "no". One interesting example of the Western preference for very direct communication can be seen in what Western students are taught about how they should organize their writing. Writers are generally expected to state their point as clearly as possible, generally right at the beginning. Students are taught to begin paragraphs with a "topic sentence" that states the point of the paragraph. Also, articles should generally begin with a brief statement of the points to be made -and also conclude with a review of those same points. In contrast, in Chinese writing it is more acceptable to build up to the point rather announcing it right form the start, although it is also acceptable to state the point up front. It is important to note that Westerners are not all equally direct in their communication styles. For example, the direct communication style is more typical of Western men than of Western women. Furthermore, even in Western culture it is generally not considered good to communicate so directly that you hurt other people's feelings, offend them, or create conflict. When communicating with others, Western people _ . A pay more attention to others' feelings B prefer to express their ideas openly C often communicate in an indirect way D consider direct communication as rude Answer: B Singer and songwriter Corrinne May's songs always try to express hope, joy and "a deeper beauty and meaning to the everyday moments of life." Music seemed to play a part in May's life from the very beginning. Her parents say she hummed songs from the time she was two or three. May began taking classical piano lessons when she was five and started writing songs when she was eight. She won her first songwriting contest at 15. May didn't always want to be a singer. In fact, at the National University of Singapore, May studied communications and English literature, planning to become a reporter. But upon graduation, her calling to do music was so strong that she decided to study in America at Berklee College of Music. In 1999, after graduating from Berklee, May went to Los Angeles. She still lives there with her music producer husband, Kavin, and daughter, Claire. In 2001 at the age of 28, May released her first album, "Corrinne May" and won an award. Since then, she has produced four more albums. May's university education turned out to be excellent preparation for writing music. She may not have become a reporter, but she learned to find material for her songs about daily life. Her understanding of literature also added beauty to her lyrics. One personal turning point for May came in 2007 when she had a small heart operation. After that, she "began to look deeper into things I had once ignored." May's song "Beautiful Seed" grew out of this. The song encourages people to go after their dreams and compares every person to a seed with the ability to change the world and her experiences have changed her from a "beautiful seed" into the artist she is today. How did May's university education help her? A It helped her understand the meaning of life. B It helped her communicate better with other people. C It helped her find material and write beautiful lyrics. D It helped her look deeper into things she had once ignored. Answer: C Jane's hat flew off her head while standing still on a hilltop. This could be because A her head blew the hat off B there was uneven heating of the ground C a squirrel jumped up and grabbed it off of her head D a spaceship pulled her hat off her head Answer: B One Sunday morning Mr Green and his child , Bill ,are in a big shop . Mr Green wants to buy a new blouse for Mrs Green . Bill likes oranges , so his father buys two kilos of oranges for him , too . Bill wants to buy some picture--books and colour pencils , too . There are many people in the shop . They are men and women , old and young . They all want to buy something there . Bill likes _ . A all the things B the new blouse C oranges D orange Answer: C
Arts and culture is lived and breathed in every corner of Canada.Due to a racial and immigrant population,the variety and richness of art and sports is very evident. Since World War II,Canada has produced an impressive amount of writing.From novels to poetry,the selection is wide.Native writers are also becoming better known across Canada in recent years. Musicians are reaching a higher level of recognition in the world music scene.Everything from country to pop,classical to heavy rock can be found across Canada and across the globe performed by Canadian artists. The National Film Board,a film crew in Canada,is the primary producer of movies in Canada.However,many Hollywood studios are turning to Canada as a source for locations and as an alternative to the more expensive US.Many wellknown actors,directors,screen writers and movies come from Canada and often scoop awards for their work. French art was the first to appear in Canada along the St Lawrence in and around Quebec.Since then the volume of art and artists has increased.Canadian photography as well as painting by Canadians is not wellknown outside of Canada but recognition is increasing. Sport is a major part of today's society in Canada.Hockey is the most popular spectator sport with more participants taking part in curling.American style football and baseball are also very popular and all of these sports are played across Canada. Which of the following statements about Canada is NOT true? A Canadian arts have been much influenced by French people. B Canadian people love sports very much. C There are many big filmmaking companies in Canada. D Canadian arts and artists are becoming better known. Answer: C. There are many big filmmaking companies in Canada. Letter A Dear Rose, I like your programmes very much. I'm now writing to ask you something about American social customs . My American friends want me to join them in their dinner party. I am very happy and have decided to go, but I'm a little worried about it, too. The social customs in my country are very different from here, so I'm afraid of making mistakes. Should I bring a present, such as sweets or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I'm thankful for their kindness? Wang Lin Letter B Dear Wang Lin, It's a good idea to bring a small present when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always nice, or you may bring a bottle of wine if you know that your friends drink it. You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don't get there early. If you're going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them. Try to be free at the dinner table. If you don't know about choosing the right fork or knife, just watch the other people, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, ask the person next to you. If you like the food, say so. Of course, you'll thank them for the meal and for their kindness. It's also a good idea to send a thank-you card the day after. Rose Rose is possibly _ . A a good housewife B a TV hostess C a member of the dinner party D a friend of Wang Lin's Answer: B. a TV hostess After much thought,I came up with a brilliant plan.I worked out a way for Rich to meet my mother and win her over.In fact,I arranged it so my mother would want to cook a meal especially for him. Rich was not only not Chinese and he was a few years younger than I was.And unfortunately,he looked much younger with his curly red hair,smooth pale skin,and the splash of orange freckles across his nose.He was a bit on the short side,compactly built.In his dark business suits,he looked nice but easily forgettable,which was why I didn't notice him the first year we worked together at the firm.But my mother noticed everything. "So what do you think of Rich?"I finally asked,holding my breath. She tossed the eggplant in the hot oil,angry hissing sound."So many spots on his face,"she said. "They are freckles.Freckles are good luck."I said a bit too heatedly in trying to raise my voice above the noise of the kitchen. "Oh?"She said innocently. "Yes,the more spots the better." She considered this a moment and then smiled and spoke in Chinese:"When you were young,you got the chicken pox.So many spots,you had to stay home for ten days.So lucky,you thought." I couldn't save Rich in the kitchen.And I couldn't save him later at the dinner table. When I offered Rich a fork,he insisted on using the slippery ivory chopsticks.Halfway between his plate and his open mouth,a large chunk of redcooked eggplant fell on his brand new white shirt. And then he helped himself to big portions of the shrimp and snow peas,not realizing he should have taken only a polite spoonful. He declined the new greens,the tender and expensive leaves of bean plants.He thought he was being polite by refusing seconds,when he should have followed my father's example,who made a big show of taking small portions of seconds,thirds and even fourths,always saying he couldn't resist another bite and then groaning he was so full he thought he would burst. But the worst was when Rich criticized my mother's cooking and he didn't even know what he had done.As is the Chinese cook's custom,my mother always made modest remarks about her own cooking.That night she chose to direct it toward her famous steamed pork and preserved vegetable dish,which she always served with special pride. "Ai!This dish not salty enough,no flavor,"she complained,after tasting a small bite. This was our family's cue to eat more and proclaim it the best she had ever made.But before we could do so,Rich said,"You know,all it needs is a little soy sauce."And he proceeded to pour a riverful of the salty black stuff on the china plate,right before my mother's horrified eyes. And even though I was hoping throughout the dinner that my mother would somehow see Rich's kindness,his sense of humor and boyish charm.I knew he had failed miserably in her eyes. Rich obviously had a different opinion on how the evening had gone.When we got home,I was still shuddering, _ remembering how Rich had firmly shaken both my parents'hands with that same easy familiarity he used with nervous new clients."Linda,Tim,"he said,"we'll see you again."My parents'names are Lindo and Tin Jong,and nobody except a few older family friends ever calls them by their first names. "What did she say when you told her?"I knew he was referring to our getting married. "I never had a chance,"I said,which was true.How could I have told my mother I was getting married,when at every possible moment we were alone,she seemed to remark on how pale and ill he looked. Rich was smiling."How long does it take to say,Mom,Dad,I am getting married?" "You don't understand.You don't understand my mother." Which of the following is NOT closely related to cultural differences in the story? A "Ai!This dish not salty enough,no flavor,"she complained,after tasting a small bite. B Rich obviously had a different opinion on how the evening had gone C .Halfway between his plate and his open mouth,a large chunk of redcooked eggplant fell on his brand new white shirt. D "Linda,Tim",Rich said,"we'll see you again." Answer: C. .Halfway between his plate and his open mouth,a large chunk of redcooked eggplant fell on his brand new white shirt. Education is an expensive part of American life. Its size is matched by its variety. Differences in American schools compared with those found in the majority of other countries lie in the fact that education here has long been intended for everyone. Schools are expected to meet the needs of every child, regardless of ability, and also the needs of society itself. This means that public schools offer more than academic subjects. It surprises many people when they come here to find high schools offering such courses as typing, sewing, radio repair, computer programming or driver training, along with traditional academic subjects such as mathematics, history, and languages. Students choose their courses depending on their interests, future goals, and level of ability. The basic goal of American education is to develop every child to the utmost of his or her own possibilities, and to give each one a sense of community. Schools have traditionally played an important role in creating national unity and "Americanizing" the millions of immigrants who have poured into this country from many different backgrounds and origins. Schools still play a large role in the community, especially in the small towns. The teaching may seem unfamiliar to many, not only because it is informal, but also because there is not much emphasis on learning facts. Instead, Americans try to teach their children to think for themselves and to develop their own intellectual and creative abilities. Students spend much time learning how to use materials, libraries, statistics, and computers. Americans believe that if children are taught to _ and to research well, they will be able to find whatever facts they need throughout the rest of their lives. Knowing how to solve problems is considered more important than the accumulation of facts. This is America's answer to the searching question that thoughtful parents all over the world are asking themselves in the fast-moving time, "How can one prepare today's child for a tomorrow that one can neither predict nor understand?" American schools place great emphasis on the learners' _ . A knowledge B accumulation of facts C creativity D ability to work with hands Answer: C. creativity The cones of a jack pine tree require great amounts of heat to release their seeds. When are jack pine tree seeds most likely released? A during a flood B after a fire C during a drought D after a disease Answer: B. after a fire
Art museums are places where people can learn about various cultures. The increasingly popular "design museums" that are opening today, however, perform quite a different role. Unlike most art museums, the design museum shows objects that are easily found by the general public These museums sometimes even place things like fridges and washing machines in the center of the hall Pele have argued that design museums are often made use of as advertisements for new industrial technology. But their role is not simply a matter of sales-it is the honoring of excellently invented products. The difference between the window of a department store and the showcase in a design museum is that the first tries to sell you something, while the second tells you the success of a sale. One advantage of design museums is that they are places where people feel familiar with the exhihits. Unlike the average art museum visitors, design museum visitors seldom feel frightened or puzzled. This is partly because design museums clearly show how and why mass-produced products work and look as they do, and how design has improved the quality of our lives. Art museum exhibits, on the other hand, would most probably fill visitors with a feeling that there is something between their understanding. In recent years, several new design museums have opened their door. Each of these museums has tried to satisfy the public's growing interest in the field with new ideas. London's Design Museum, for example, shows a collection of mass-produced objects from Zippo lighters to electric typewriters to a group of Italian fish-tins. The choices open to design museums seem far less strict than those to art museums, and visitors may also sense the humorous part of our society while walking around such exhibits as interesting and unusually attractive toys collected in our everyday life. The best title for this passage is" _ " Answer: The Nature of Design Museums Dorothea Shaw is 71 years old and nearly blind, and she chose to live alone far away from people. She lives in Belize -- a county the size of Wales with a population only that of Swansea. Her home is at Gales Point, a tiny village which can be reached only by sea or air; after a 10-mile walk into the hills one finally reaches a piece of land and two small houses so hidden in the thick over-grown forest that only a handful of people know Dorothea is there. She lives happily and totally alone - growing her vegetables, looking after her trees and dogs, cats and chickens. Once a month or so an old friend passes by with her food supplies and letters-usually including a letter from her sister in Scunthorpe and some bits of clothing from friends in Canada. Sometimes a local man will come and cut wood for her and a group of British soldiers will come across her and be greeted with the offer of a cup of coffee. At night she lies in her tiny sleeping room with the dogs on the floor, the cats on the table near the typewriter and one of the hens settled down in a corner of the bookshelf, and listens for hours to any Spanish, English, German or French broadcasts she can find on her radio. Sometimes she gets lonely but most of the time the animals and the radio are company enough. But recently the very things that she had tried to get free from so well have begun to catch up with her. The peace of the forest has been destroyed by the noise of earth-moving machines not many miles away. What she once only heard of distantly on the radio is now on her doorstep. Things began to change three years ago. The new main north-south road in Belize was cut through the forest only four or five miles away. "Now more people know I'm here." She says. "I feel more and more uneasy each day." Dorothea's small houses _ . Answer: are entirely surrounded by trees 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. Why was South Wales so attractive to people in the early 20th century? Answer: Because its coal industry needed a large number of workers. The type of things we remember are different. Although we tend to remember good things in our lives, bad things have a way of on us. One such thing I remember happened when I was 10 years old. I decided to ride my bicycle over a near-by stream. I carefully planned the adventure, and asked my friends to go there and have a watch. This was going to be my moment! I started riding down the hill, picking up speed and then pulled up on the at the precise moment and landed face-first into the muddy stream! That painful moment is one that I will never forget. As long as I live, I will remember the pain and embarrassment at that moment. When we do something stupid or thoughtless, it has a way of sticking with us. Fortunately, good momories have a way of over-riding the bad ones. I have memories that I gladly remember, like what happened today. I had my first conversation with my son today. It was not anything . It was a simple connection between father and son. It was one of those bonding moments that you can't plan or force. They just happen on their own. I was walking into the living room where my son sat in bed watching television attentively. Then he looked up at me and pointed to the television and something. I asked him if he was watching and he nodded his head and said,"Yes". It was at that moment that his eyes lit up and it was as if we both realized we had communicated. And how happy I was! Sure, at eighteen months, he probably did not realize what communication was like, but his joy at that moment was evident. It was a moment I will remember all my life. Good or bad, memories can last a lifetime. As for an unpleasant memory, though we can't forget it we can get lessons from it and it is like a mirror that will warn us against making such mistakes again. As for a good memory, we should try our best to enjoy it during our lifetime. Such moments are the treasures that we store up forever. The author will always remember what happened when he was ten because he _ . Answer: made a fool of himself in face of his friends A popular student in her small high school, Katie started college, expecting to do well in her courses and be best friends with her roommates. But things didn't turn out that way. Psych 101, the course she thought would be a first-semester favorite, turned out to be a struggle. Living away from home tends to be the toughest adjustment for first-year students. You may feel homesick in your first weeks or months. It can help to call, write, or email your parents and friends, making them know how you're going. You can also talk with your roommates. As first-year students themselves, they're probably experiencing many of the same fears and worries that you're dealing with . But what if you don't get along well with your roommates? In some cases, it can be a good thing if you and your roommates aren't much alike. Different views on things may be helpful, so respect your differences no matter what. If you and your roommates don't get along well, it can help to find someone who you feel does understand you, which should be easy on a campus with so many people. Many schools have student organization nights where all of the campus clubs gather and promote their organizations, so you can meet people with the same interests there as you. You'll also meet tons of people in class or in your dorm building. As homesickness, painful throats, sprained ankles and wisdom teeth that act up are common among college students, you should check out your student guidebook or your school's website to find out information about the university health center. If you think you cannot deal with your problems, make a stop at the school counseling center. First-year troubles are something the counselors know well. You can get help there. What's the main idea of the text? Answer: How you can adjust to your first year in college.
Mrs. Black lives on Second Avenue. New Year is coming. She wants to send a card to her friend in Toronto, but she doesn't know where the post office is. She asks her neighbor Mary, " Is there a post office near here? I want to send a card." "The post office is not near from here," answers Mary, "but you don't need to go to the post office to post the card. There is a _ in front of the supermarket. You can put your card into the mailbox" Mrs. Black and Mary are _ . The English language is different from any other language. Yet English words do not stay the same. The language is always changing. We need new words for new inventions and new ideas. Different words come into use, or older words are used in a new way. English can change by borrowing words from other languages. Tomato was borrowed from Mexico and pajamas from Indian. The word coffee came from Turkey, and tea came from China. Now new space and science words are being borrowed from other countries, too. New words are also made by adding two words together. Strawberry, popcorn, and grandfather are words made up of two parts. Sometimes new words are shorter forms of older words. The word photo was made from photograph by cutting off the end of the longer word. Plane was made by cutting off the front part of airplane. Smog was made by using only the first two and last two letters from the words smoke and fog. The names of people and products can become new words. Our sandwich was named after a man named Sandwich. Scotch Tape, Band-aid and Jello were names made up by the companies that first made the products. ,. Which of the following is true? Last year we visited prefix = st1 /Stratford, the place where Shakespeare was born on the 23rd of April, 1564. Stratford is a very interesting town, right in the center of England. The countryside aroundStratfordis pleasant, with its beautiful woods, green fields and quiet rivers. The first place we visited was the house in the center of Stratfordwhere Shakespeare was born. We saw the small desk that Shakespeare sat at when he went to school. One of the things we liked best was the garden behind the house, because we could see there many of the flowers, trees and plants that Shakespeare wrote about in his plays. After we had visited Shakespeare's birthplace, we went to see the church where he was buried. We had lunch in a very old hotel that was probably there in Shakespeare's time. Every room of the hotel had the name of one of Shakespeare's plays on the door--the "Hamlet" room, the "Romeo and Juliet" room, and so on. After lunch we walked across the fields to the old cottage, about a mile out of Stratford, where Shakespeare spent most of his married life. The cottage is just as it was in Shakespeare's day. We saw the chairs where Shakespeare perhaps sat and thought about ideas for new plays, and we saw the plates from which he probably ate his dinner. When we got back to our hotel that evening, we were tired, but we had enjoyed a wonderful day. Most of Shakespeare's married life was spent _ . Many years ago I lived in a western country. My very first job was in the city and I was excited to go to work by public transport! I had never been employed before and my chances of travelling on a bus by myself had always been very slim. So, I was very happy with my new lifestyle! I left home each morning in time to catch the 8.05 bus from the main road. One autumn morning I could see the bus approaching. I could also see an elderly lady walking with a lovely dog beside her. There were some youngsters behind her. The bus arrived and we got on. Only eight passengers were permitted to travel standing. I was inside the bus when the conductor called, "Only eight standing passengers! Could the last one to get on please get off?" I saw those youngsters inside, right in front of me, and it occurred that they had jumped the queue! I turned and saw the elderly lady with her dog about to get off. I moved quickly to get in front of her. I encouraged her to stay, knowing very well I would be late that morning, but it didn't bother me. It was only as I moved past her to get off the bus that I realized -- she was blind! Her dog was her guide dog! Well, I eventually got to the office. After the day's work I went to the bus stand in front of my office to make the return journey. What a pleasant surprise! The lady and her dog were there! I was really pleased because I would get a better chance to speak with her. I started the conversation and she recognized my Asian accent! She asked if I was the same person who helped her that morning. Amazing! From there onwards it was one long happy conversation. These beautiful memories are still fresh in my mind. By helping others, I feel content! According to the passage, who ought to get off the bus? Reading is very important to help you learn English. To learn as much as you can from reading, you need to read different kinds of English. This book provides not only different kinds of English but also a good way to check your reading ability. There are four parts in the book : Part 1 is Messages : In this part somebody wants to send information in writing to somebody else. There is a test on timetables and a test on text messages . Part 2 is People : In this part all the tests are about people . For example, there is an informal letter between friends . There is formal English in biography . There is a job application as a model to help with your writing, as well as testing your reading . Part 3 is Places : In this part , too many different kinds of English are shown , some informal and some formal . There is the informal English of a holiday postcard . There is also the formal English in a letter of complaint . Part 4 is Things : You will find some descriptive writing in this part . There are descriptions of clothes and of a computer . You can do these tests in any order you like , or you can do all the tests with a formal or informal text . I enjoyed writing this book and I hope you enjoy using it . Which of the following is most probably written in informal English ?
"Extra? Extra! Gasoline hits four dollars a gallon!" No one will really be shocked -- except, perhaps, the old-timers who tell about the good old days when gas was three gallons for a dollar, and people drove around "just for the fun of it". As a matter of fact, the price of gas has been rising fast and steadily for several years, and many adjustments have already been made. There was, for a time, considerable unemployment in the auto industry, and three quarters of the garages and service stations have gone out of business. However, the bicycle and motor-scooter business has flourished , and many people have found employment there. Now that Federal Motors has brought out its new Lilliput, which travels forty miles on a gallon, the auto business is picking up again. The factories that haven't switched over to two-wheel transportation are working on their new smaller models. There is talk, too, about bringing out new steam and electric automobiles that will be just as economical as the old cars. In the meantime, streetcars are gradually replacing buses all over the country because of the greater economy of electric power. And many people who have seldom used public transportation are now riding the streetcars while their automobiles rust in their garages. There's no market at all for their big, luxurious cars, for only the wealthy can now afford to operate them. Many people are now shopping in their own neighborhood, and small businesses are thriving. Ministers, educators, and editorial writers are pointing out that there has been a great improvement in family life. Families now stay at home more for their fun, and children and parents are becoming better acquainted. The stores report a booming business in parlor games, hobby materials, books, musical instruments and albums. People have lost their pale indoor look. The revival of the lost art of walking has brought a healthy pink back to many a cheek. This return to the heels has revolutionized the clothing styles; people now need to be ready for all kinds of weather. These conditions, however, may not last. Already our clever chemists are at work on new synthetic fuels which, they say, will put us right back where we were -- on wheels. Shall we wish them success or not? What is the best title for this passage? From wheels to heels Retirement should be time of joy and freedom. However, for some people retirement comes with feelings of depression , which makes life difficult for them. Retirement is a major life change. Even good changes usually involve some kinds of loss. When you retire, you find yourself lacking whatever working used to provide. That could include, for example, 1. knowing you're working for society, 2. getting admiration from your skills, 3. having "aha" moments when you solve problems, 4. having people to socialize with, and 5. simply having a place to go and a reason to get out of bed every day. For most people, there's a financial loss, too. Also, retirement age is a time when a lot of people have to deal with losing their parents or having serious health problems of their own. Because of all these, retirees are more likely to get depressed. Depression is very harmful. First, depression can make physical health problems worse. Second, _ because it can make people angry. Third, it's hard to get much done when you're depressed. What can we do to overcome the feelings of depression? First, do all the things that help depression in general: drink enough water, exercise, talk to friends, have a hobby, laugh, and spend time in nature. If you feel depressed more often than not, it's probably time to talk to a doctor about your feelings. Second, it's important to keep busy and get out of the house when you can. Make specific plans with friends. Take a class Volunteer. Or just make sure you start each day with some kind of goal. Third, try to focus on what you've gained by retiring. Think about what you may have now that you wished you had before you were able to retire. For example, days that are less stressful, a chance to rest and take better care of your body, more time for your family and yourself. To write, to start a hobby and to learn something new are all new possibilities. Finally, tell your story. You've lived a long time and you become an oral historian each time you talk with someone about your experiences. You can also write in a journal or make a video recording of your memories. Telling your stories can help you look back on your life and career with a sense of wholeness and achievements. People may find life very hard after they retire because of _ . discouragement (losing heart) The Internet is becoming important in our life. How much do you know about it? The following questions and their answers will help you to know more about the Internet. What is the Internet? The Internet is a large, world-wide collection of computer networks . A network is a small group of computers put together. The Internet is many different kinds of networks from all over the world. These networks are called the Internet. If you have learned to use the Internet, you can have a lot of interest on the World Wide Web . What is the World Wide Web? The World Wide Web has been the most popular development of the Internet. It is like a big electronic book with millions of pages. These pages are called homepages. You can find information about almost anything in the world on these pages. For example, you can use the Internet instead of a library to find information for your homework. You can also find information about your favourite sport or film star, talk to your friends or even do some shopping on the pages. Most pages have words, pictures and even sound or music. What is e-mail? Electronic mail (e-mail) is a way of sending messages to other people. It's much quicker and cheaper than sending a letter. If you want to use e-mail, you must have an e-mail address. This address must have letters and dots and an @ (means "at"). For example: Lily @ Yahoo.com. Write a message, type a person's e-mail address, and then send the message across the Internet. People don't need to use stamps, envelopes or go to the post office because of the invention of the Internet. Quick, easy and interesting -- that's the Internet. The World Wide Web is like _ . an electronic book Runners in a relay race pass a stick in one direction. However, merchants passed silk, gold, fruit, and glass along the Silk Road in more than one direction. They earned their living by traveling the famous Silk Road. The Silk Road was not a simple trading network. It passed through thousands of cities and towns. It started from eastern China, across Central Asia and the Middle East, and ended in the Mediterranean Sea. It was used from about 200 BC to about 1300 AD, when sea travel offered new routes. It was sometimes called the world's longest highway. However, the Silk Road was made up of many routes, not one smooth path. They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe. The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China. Indian merchants traded salt and other valuable goods. Chinese merchants traded paper, which produced an immediate effect on the West. Apples traveled from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to graft different trees together to make new kinds of fruit. They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple. Trading along the Silk Road led to world-wide business 2,000 years before the World Wide Web. The people along the Silk Road did not share just goods. They also shared their beliefs. The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy, and religion. What is the best title for the passage? The Silk Road: East Meets West (Happy Children's Day!) Come and see the Indian elephants and the tigers from America. The bears are waiting to meet you, and the monkeys from Thailand are waiting to throw things at you. The lovely dogs from Australia are waiting to laugh at you, and the giraffes from Zambia are waiting to look down on you. Tickets: Adults: Y=60, Children: free Time: June1-June2 9:00 a.m.-----7:00 p. m Keep the park clean! Do not touch, give food or go near the animals. From the passage we can guess the animal "giraffe" must be _ . tall
Art is everywhere in our lives.Every manmade object is linked with art--a house,a motor car,a bridge,a chair,a teapot,or a piece of cloth.Throughout history,humans have made articles for a wide variety of purposes;generally for everyday practical requirements.The style of practical objects reflects the outlook and the spirit of the times in which they are made and in consequence style is constantly changing. It seems that humans possess a natural urge to improve constructed objects with decoration:sometimes for beautification,sometimes for religious reasons,sometimes to show off their wealth and power,and sometimes to tell a story.Decoration is not art in itself.Unnecessary decoration can ruin the form and perhaps the function of an object,but when decoration is used with care,it can beautify,produce variety,and add interest. The first essential in every creation is that it should properly _ its purpose;for instance,a teapot should pour perfectly,an easy chair should provide comfortable relaxation,a block of flats should be a pleasant place in which to live,and a factory or commercial building should be a suitable building in which to work. The second essential is that an object should please the eye with its form,line,proportion ,colour and texture ,and it should be capable of inspiring the emotions.For example,contemporary furniture designers must think of form,function and structure,and have taken their lead from the outstanding Scandinavian designs of Denmark,Finland and Sweden,whose preference was for simple functional furniture to suit the architectural environment of the day.Heavy furniture is no longer desirable,and by contrast,modern furniture is often characterised by its good proportion,pleasing lines,simple fittings and attractive structures. Motor vehicles are a perfect example of how design has changed to suit function.Early car design was greatly influenced by the horsedrawn carriage,but today we find functional design satisfying every requirement of practical use and good appearance.Designs in the 1980s and 1990s included streamlining to reduce wind resistance in fastmoving vehicles,and,at the same time,satisfy an important art principle--rhythm.But the cars of today,often half size of their predecessors ,have taken the concept of industrial design way beyond simple strength,comfort and beauty.They now include safety and ecological characteristics,reflecting the need to be environmentally friendly through,for example,reduced fuel consumption,while at the same time satisfying the need to be stylish,and appealing to the eye.For many people,the 21stcentury car represents the greatest work of art. What point does the writer make about decorating objects? It is something people have always done. A thermal conductor is made of often metallic Swimming and English Learning Can you swim? Do you like swimming? Yes? Well, how can you learn to swim? I think the best way is to go into the water and learn. I'm afraid you'll never learn to swim just by reading books about swimming or looking at others swimming. It's the same with the English study. We must practice, practice and practice. Listening and speaking are very important for beginners. The children in English-speaking countries first listen to others. Then they try to imitate and speak. We can listen to English programs on radio. You may just understand a few words. It doesn't matter. Just be relaxed, try to catch every word. Somebody may be a good listener. But he dare not speak. He's afraid of making mistakes. You know we sometimes make mistakes when we speak Chinese. Don't be afraid. We must be brave. If you really want to learn English well, you must try to speak with everyone so long as he knows English. Whether you know him or not is not important when there's nobody to talk with, you can talk to yourself in English. It's interesting and also a good way to practice your spoken English. Remember, the more you speak, the fewer mistakes you'll make. Reading and writing are more important for senior school students. First we must choose the books we're interested in. A lot of reading will improve your language sense. This is the most important. Keep writing English diaries. We can also write English articles. You may even post them to English magazines. Don't be afraid of failure. Failure is the mother of success. Easier said than done. Well, let's do more practice from now on. I'm sure you'll learn English well in this way. We should learn English by _ . A and B Item 78431 The Video Camera Pen $129. 95 ; Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone :1-800-321-1484 This is the pen that has a built-in video camera, capturing(,)videos or still images with a click of its button. Ideal for use while secured in a pocket, it can capture up to five hours of video. Its battery provides up to two hours of power before requiring a recharge. Item 78098 The Wristwatch Camcorder $149. 95; Available for 3-day Shipment; Order by Phone :1-800-321-1484 This is the men's watch with an unnoticeable camera located at the two-o'clock position, yet the watch's hands never make it covered. So you'll be always ready to capture a famous person or a pet's ridiculous actions. The camera's rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of use from a four-hour charge. Item 77918 The only 55 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater $ 249. 95 ; Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone:l-800-321-1484 This is the only personal media viewer that provides a private viewing experience just like watching a widescreen 55 inch television from 10 meters away. It connects to a video iPod, iPhone, portable DVD player with two AA batteries providing up to six hours of continuous operation. Item 77281 The Digital Phone Album Watch $ 99. 95 ; Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone :1-800-321-1484 This is the watch that vividly displays 120 of your favorite digital photographs. You can download digital photographs to the watch. The watch can be viewed in the Photo Album mode or digital mode ( time and date view). A six-hour charge provides up to 10 days of use. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? In a way, Item 77281 is convenient for users. Students these days often have a lot of worries. Sometimes they have problems with their schoolwork, and sometimes with their friends. _ Some people think the worst thing is to do nothing. Laura Mills, a teenager from Washington, agrees. "Problems and worries are normal in life," says Laura. "But I think talking to someone helps a lot. If we don't talk to someone, we'll certainly feel worse." Laura once lost her purse, and worried for days. She was afraid to tell her parents shout it. She even walked three miles to school each day because she didn't have any money. She just kept thinking. "If I tell my parents, they'll be angry!" But in the end, she talked to her parents and they were really understanding. Her dad said he sometimes made careless mistakes himself. They got her a new purse and asked her to be more careful. "I will always remember to share my problems in the future!" Laura says. Robert Hunt advises students about common problems. He feels the same way as Laura. "It is best not to avoid our problems. We should always try to solve them." He thinks that you can first find someone to talk to. This person doesn't need to be an expert like himself. Students often forget that their parents have more experience than them, and are always there to help them. In English, we say that sharing a problem is like cutting it in half. So you're halfway to solving a problem if you talk to someone about it! According to the passage Robert Hunt might be _ . an expert on students'problems
Question: Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new house in Arizona.He moved there a few years ago,and I wanted very much to see his new place and meet his friends. In my earliest memories my father was a tall,handsome and successful man.He loved his work and family,but was uncomfortable with his children.As a child I loved him;as a school girl and young adult I was afraid of him.He seemed unhappy with me unless I got _ in my study and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as"successful"as he was.Whenever I went out with him on week ends,I used to try hard to think up things to say to protect myself. On the first day of my visit,we went out with one of my father's friends for lunch.We walked along that afternoon,did some shopping,ate on the street table,and laughed over my son's funny talks.My father's critical air and strict rules were gone.He seemed so friendly and interesting to be with us. The next day my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me many stories about his own childhood.Although our times together became easier over the years,I never felt closer to him at that moment.After so many years,I'm at last seeing another side of my father.And in so doing,I'm happy with _ .My dad,in this new home in Arizona,is back to me from where he was. When the writer went out with his father for a walk on weekends she felt _ . A. tired B. happy C. satisfied D. nervous Answer: D Question: Millions of families around the world have been given a helping hand out of poverty by micro-credits. These very small loans , usually less than US$200, have enabled the very poorest people to set up or expand businesses and become self-sufficient. The micro-credit movement started with Professor Muhammad Yunus, who founded the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Professor Yunus, who won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, used his own money to set up a bank to benefit the poorest people in Bangladesh--families living on less than US$1 a day. There are now hundreds of organizations around the world following his blueprint to help people escape from poverty. So how does the system work? Local microfinance institutions (MFIs) make contact with families and offer loans, usually to women, to enable them to start or expand a business. These are very poor people who would not normally be able to get credit, but as no collateral is required they can get micro-credits. They pay back the loan on a weekly basis, over six months to a year. A very important aspect to the success of the micro-credit system is that receivers get local support. The MFIs educate local communities about ways to improve their lives, and offer practical support as well as collecting weekly loans payments. They encourage people to help each other, so that the whole community can pull itself out of poverty. MFIs may also help with literacy and health problems. Micro-credits are mainly given to women. Experience has shown that women are more motivated to improve their children's lives and will spend the money they make on better nutrition and schooling for their children. This may be the first chance they've had to contribute financially to the family, and their status in the home and the local community is raised. The micro-credit system is not charity. The payments are fixed-term loans and interest is charged. The costs of making such small loans, collecting them and giving personal support are high. This is shown in the interest rates, which range from 15 to 35 percent. Despite this, the repayment rate is very high, between 95 and 98 per cent, showing that micro-credit clients really value this opportunity to leave poverty behind. The high repayment rate of the loan suggests that _ . A. people hope to take advantage of the loan to get out of poverty B. it is easy to make money with the aid of micro-credits C. micro-credits are very popular with poor families D. all micro-credit clients keep their promises well Answer: A Question: Nick Hancock hopes to set a new record by living alone for 60 days on a small island in the Atlantic. Tom McClean, an SAS soldier who holds the solo record for occupying Rockall for 40 days in 1985, told Hancock that being alone for two months was the greatest challenge Hancock would have to face. "I'm fully expecting it to be tough," Nick Hancock said. "I'm hoping that by doing my daily tasks fairly slowly, I'm going to be able to keep most of my time busy. I think the worst times will come if I'm boxed up for several days by bad weather." Hancock hopes to land on Rockall in early June and will carry out the last tests of his boat next week. He has a small wind turbine and a solar panel for power, more than two months' food, a satellite phone and a laptop loaded with e-books to keep him going. Hancock will update an adventure blog, texting messages out on Twitter and emailing his wife Pam and friends every day. Rockall has been occupied before, most famously by McClean but also by three Greenpeace campaigners, who set the long-stay record of 42 days in 1997 by occupying the rock in protest at oil and gas exploration in the area. The last human inhabitants Hancock knows of are a small group of Belgian amateur radio enthusiasts, who are interested in broadcasting from distant islands; they were on Rockall overnight in late 2010. Hancock has no large support team behind him. Except for the coastguard , his only lifeline will be the Orca III, the passenger boat which will take him to Rockall. We can learn from the passage that _ . A. Tom McClean was the first person to set foot on Rockall B. Hancock will rely on his large support team C. Rockall is not suitable for humans to settle on D. Hancock was already a famous online writer before making the plan Answer: C Question: Some scientists say that animals in the ocean are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings. The noise that affects sea animals comes from a number of human activities. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves. Decibels measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land caused pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety-five would have the same effect. Some scientists have planned to set a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in oceans. They have found that noises at that level can frighten and confuse whales. A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that loud noises can seriously hurt some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing. This seriously affected the whales' ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected. Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds disagree to a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research. Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect that noise is a greater danger than they believed. They want to stop noises from harming creatures in the ocean. We can know from the passage that many scientists think that the noise limit of one hundred twenty decibels would _ . A. stop them from doing their research work B. benefit them a lot in their research work C. do good to their health D. increase the industrial output Answer: A Question: A teenager has gained a six-figure sum for a vampire novel she wrote after being inspired by the Twilight. Abigail Gibbs, 18, who started writing the book aged 14, released chapters of her novel online, where the book eventually received 17 million hits. Harper Collins in Britain has now signed this talented author following her extraordinary Internet success. Miss Gibbs, from Brixham, Devon, who is about to start studying English at Oxford University, is the first author to be discovered on Wattpad. Wattpad is an online library which allows subscribers to upload or read other people's stories. Miss Gibbs also said Stephenie Meyer's famous Twilight books had influenced her novel, The Dark Heroine. "I read the Twilight and did really enjoy it. At first, my parents were a bit opposed to my writing because I was staying up till 3 a.m. on school nights and they were worried that I might fall behind." Miss Gibbs finished her book at the age of 16. She posted each chapter after she had written it on the Internet site, until she got to five chapters before the end when she stopped. "I had signed with an agent and he basically said, 'Don't post anymore so as to keep the readers' anxiety". That was tough because I disappeared in the site for a year and there were a lot of fans asking where I was. I have had so many requests from fans to upload the last five chapters; some people even said they were going to write their own endings." Her fans can buy the e-book for PS2.99, or wait for the paperback book priced at PS6.99 in shops next month. Why did Gibbs stop posting the last five chapters of the story online? A. She would rewrite it later. B. She had to finish her university education first. C. She wanted readers to write their own ending. D. She hoped to attract readers' more interest. Answer: D
John was stuck in the middle of the ocean after his boat crashed and sank. He was worried about his friend who'd been in the boat with him. He knew that his friend has his life jacket on, so he tried not to worry too much about him. John was in a small box that fell out of the boat and kept him out of the water, floating. John had never been to sea before and one would wonder if he would ever after such a scary thing that happened to him. He sat in the box for days with no food or water, in and out of sleep. Three days later he woke up and saw land. Finally a beach was in sight, John could go home. What happened to John? Answer: His boat sank, and he was stuck at sea. Square dancing is a form of entertainment and physical exercise, which is a good thing. However, a group of senior Chinese ladies dancing in New York's Sunset Park were recently faced with noise complaints from nearby residents. The local court even served a summons related to a certain Ms. Wang. The news soon caused heated discussion across China, with many believing the incident to involve a cultural conflict between the East and West,while others view it as a form of discrimination against Chinese in the United States. The United States is a diverse society, and in many cases, Chinese dancers are tolerated and even appreciated. Meanwhile, the United States is a society based on the rule of law, and due to cultural differences, local regulations seem to be very different from those in China. As a result, some old Chinese ladies dancing in New York's Sunset Park found themselves caught in an embarrassing situation. Locals and immigrants from other nations view such noise as a violation of their right to enjoy _ . Calling the police is regarded as the most efficient way to solve such a problem. Before, these ladies probably did not understand local customs and rules. However, since the incident took place, they should perhaps know a little better next time and keep the noise to a minimum. People from different nations are often supposed to reach compromises, respecting and tolerating each other. Whatever your choice of entertainment, it is important not to affect other people's lives. Square dancing is only one of many activities during which people should mind their behavior. As for U.S. police practice, there might still be some room for improvement. Some were said to be rather rude, leading to the so-called "racial discrimination," which is a sensitive topic in U.S. society. If the involved parties could be more tolerant, and solve such problems without involving the court, perhaps immigrants would mix more. What's the writer's attitude towards senior Chinese ladies dancing in New York's Sunset Park? Answer: He thinks all parties involved should be more tolerant. A hot, boiled egg is put into a cup of cold water. What happens to the temperature of the water and the egg? Answer: The water gets warmer and the egg gets colder. If you walk slowly through downtown Helsinki during the day, taking in the splendid 19thcentury buildings, white boats and noise of passing trams , you will start to understand why it is called a city of two colors: white and blue. The sea is always present in Helsinki. When you take a walk over the great open space of the central square, you will hear seabirds screaming. When you take the tram ,suddenly and unexpectedly, you are faced with a calm, shining blue sea. You may notice that people in Helsinki do not rush about as in other cities. Instead ,they walk along the roads, politely letting other people by. An usual way to see Helsinki for the first time is to start out by the boats. You will walk by the elderly women selling fish and vegetables in the market square and find yourself in front of a beautiful park. You may enjoy a pleasant walk in the park for a few hours and then take the tram. Trams are the perfect way to get around in Helsinki. Watching the old houses, parks, theatres, churches, shops, restaurants and people in the streets, you may have a slightly sad film feeling to it. The pale summer nights are another wonder in the city. Following the waterfront of the city after sunset, you couldn't help stopping and listening to the sweet silence, interrupted only by the screaming seabirds and leaving fishing boats. However, in some way. Helsinki is also the most modern city in northern Europe. You will surely want to visit the white Glass Palace, the modern art museum, and all those extremely popular cafes and design stores. Helsinki is called a city of two colors mainly because of the colors of its _ Answer: old buildings, boats and the sea Barnes was hired as an assistant professor of mathematics at Reardon State College and is now in his third consecutive one-year contract. Under state law, he cannot acquire tenure until after five consecutive annual contracts. In his third year, Barnes was notified that he was not being rehired for the following year. Applicable state law and college rules did not require either a statement of reasons or a hearing, and in fact neither was offered to BarnesWhich of the following, if established, most strongly supports the college in refusing to give Barnes a statement of reasons or an opportunity for a hearing? Answer: Barnes worked at the college for less than five years.

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