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School Counseling In our grandparents' time, it was unthinkable.In our parents' time, it was unusual and nobody spoke openly about counseling.These days, more and more schools are asking for this service and it is considered a necessity for most.Why is it? What has changed in the last fifty years to have made counseling at schools so important? "One reason is that we expect schools to do more to protect their pupils than we did in the past," says school counselor, Mike Hudson." Also, our society doesn't work as well as it should.Many parents are either under pressure of work or face the economic problems of unemployment, while children are under more and more pressure to do well at school.Many pupils feel they are pushed to their limits by their parents and teachers." Most school children face some kind of relationship problem at some stage with family members, teachers or other pupils, so.it helps to have somebody to talk to. From the pupil' s point of view, it is easier to talk to a counselor in confidence rather than a family member or teacher.This solution is less embarrassing to pupils, who are not forced to face the person that they had problems with in the first place.They can calmly talk things through without arguments. School counselors advise not only students but also their teachers and parents, and offer other services as well, such as deciding learning disabilities or assisting parents and guardians to make the correct decisions about their children' s education. Counselors can help students with problems ranging from the most serious, like a death in the family, to what an adult would consider really trivial, like an argument with a friend. In a society that is becoming more and more stressful, this service is providing children with a supportive way to express their fear and worries. Why is school counseling becoming important? Parents and pupils are under too much pressure. It is winter in many parts of the world. For some areas, that means snow. Maybe even lots of snow. If you don't have to drive in it or remove it, snow can be very beautiful. When snow covers everything around you, the world looks like a "winter wonderland". That is the name of a very popular song about winter. Richard Smith and Felix Bernard wrote the song back in 1934. There are hundreds of recordings of this happy song. But winter is not always such a beautiful and happy time. It's cold outside. You try hard to keep warm. The days are darker and shorter. The sun rarely shines. The leaves on the trees are brown. It isn't surprising that some people are sad in winter. And some people dream about being somewhere else where it's warm and pretty--like the state of California. The Mamas and the Papas recorded this famous song "California Dreaming". During the 1960s, many other famous rock groups released songs about winter. Here is a poetic song by Simon and Garfunkel called "A Hazy Shade of Winter". They sing about life and hope and possibilities. In 1968, the group Blood, Sweat and Tears recorded this gentle, sad song about winter. They sing about a lost love and forgotten memories in "Sometimes in Winter". In the early 1990s, Tori Amos wrote and recorded the beautiful song called "Winter". She enjoyed singing about winter when she was a child. Finally, on a happier note comes this song written and recorded by Fountains of Wayne in 2003. They sing about a snowstorm in a New England town. Nothing unusual there. But instead of being sad or tense about the snow, they write a song about it. What does the passage mainly talk about? Songs about winter. Scientists and religious experts are debating the value of a small piece of papyrus that found its way to a researcher in the United States. The piece of paper raises an ages-old question about Jesus, whose life and teachings form the heart of Christianity. Could Jesus have been married? Harvard Divinity School Professor Karen King recently explained the Coptic wording on the papyrus. She says the words mean that Jesus called Mary Magdalene, an early Christian, "my wife." She says he did this while speaking to his disciples, or followers. "I don't think that this text is that significant. There are so many barriers for it to get over. You've got to show that it's reliable, and there are real questions about whether that text is reliable." Professor Bock expresses other concerns about the papyrus. For example, he says, there is not enough writing on it to establish the real meaning of the words. He says the word "wife" may not mean "wife" in the traditional way. And, he says the papyrus is just one text showing that Jesus might have been married. "And then you've got the fact that this is one text out of many, many, many texts that don't indicate that Jesus was married. And I think had Jesus been married, the early tradition about Jesus would have reflected that." Professor Bock doesn't think that Jesus was married for the following reasons EXCEPT that _ . the word "wife" can't have the same meaning as it had in the long past. Paris is the capital of the European nation of France. It is also one of the most beautiful and most famous cities in the world. Paris is called the City of Light. It is also an international fashion center. What women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world. Paris is also a famous world center of education. For example, it is where the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Seine River divides the city into two parts. Thirty-two bridges cross this beautiful river. The oldest and perhaps most well-known is the Pont Neuf, which was built in the sixteenth century. The Sorbonne, a famous university, stands on the left bank of the river. There are many other famous places in Paris, such as the famous museum, the Louvre, as well as the Notre Dame. However, the most famous building in this city is Eiffel Tower. Paris is named after a group of people called the Parisii. They built a small village on an island in the middle of the Seine River about two thousand years ago. This island, called the lie de la Cite, is where Notre Dame lies. Today around eight million people live in the Paris area. From the passage we may conclude that _ . the clothes worn by women in Paris are liked by women all over the world For a long time, the traditional method of identifying liars was to watch their body language, including facial expressions. What if the person appears to be nervous? Is the person unable to look me in the eye? Is he or she look around the room? What about other nervous movements, such as fidgeting or shifting from side to side? Many people--from parents to police officers and airport security personnel--depend on this method. But does a person's body and face reveal the truth? Not according to a new study. Talking, it seems, is the best way to smoke out a liar. That is what researchers in the United Kingdom found out recently. Their investigation took place at one place where lying can get you into big trouble--an airport. The researchers asked volunteers to pretend they were real passengers and then lie to airport security agents. Some of the agents used spoke conversation-based methods to question these make-believe passengers. Others depended instead on the person's body language, like lack of eye contact and showing signs of nervousness. The agents talking with the passengers were 20 times more likely to catch the liars. The study found that these conversation-based techniques can help you recognize when a person is lying to you. Like many methods, this conversation method has a name. It is called Controlled Cognitive Engagement or CCE, for short. The British government partly financed this study. The American Psychological (APA) published the findings. Body language cannot be trusted. Using body language and facial expressions to catch someone in a lie is really hard. And it only works, seemingly, by chance. Thomas Ormerod is the head of the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex in England. On the APA website, he reported that the "suspicious-signs method"--or using body language--"almost completely fails" in finding lies. Which would be the best way to find out a liar according to the study? Asking open-ended questions.
Agatha Christie went out at night.She never forgot the night when she met a robber many years ago. That evening, she was invited to a birthday party which lasted until 2 o'clock in the morning.Agatha walked in the quiet street alone. Suddenly from the shadow of a dark building a tall man with a sharp knife in his right hand ran out at her. "Good morning, lady," the man said in a low voice, "I don't think you wish to die here!" "What do you want?" Agatha asked. "Your earrings . Take them off!" Agatha suddenly had a bright idea. She tried to cover her necklace with the collar ( ) of her overcoat while she used the other hand to take off both of her earrings and then she quickly threw them on the ground. "Take them and let me go," she said. The robber saw that the girl didn't care for the earrings at all, only trying to protect the necklace. He thought the necklace would cost more, so he said, "Give me your necklace." "Oh, sir. It's not worth much. Please let me keep it." "Stopping rubbish . Quick!" With shaky hands, Agatha took off her necklace. As soon as the robber disappeared, she picked up her earrings and ran as fast as she could to one of her friends. The earrings cost 480 pounds and the necklace the robber had taken away cost only six pounds. After reading the story,you may know that Agatha was a _ girl. Team building games can be fun for teenagers. They can also be tools for strengthening the group. There are many levels of team building exercises. Let's look at some activities that can help you build a stronger team. Pass the Clap Pass the Clap works well as a beginning activity to help your group get to know each other. Have the participants stand in a circle. One person starts the clap and then turns to face the person next to him. As they are about to make eye contact, they clap together. That next person now has the clap and he has to pass it on. Continue to pass the clap around the circle. Blindfolded Birthday Blindfolded Birthday works well after people have become a little more familiar with each other. Everyone puts on a blindfold. Then, without talking, they have to line up in order of birthdays. Two Truths and a Lie Two truths and a Lie can be played anytime in the group's operations. Have the participants sit in a circle. Each person is supposed to tell two truths and a lie about themselves. The group has to guess which is the lie. Human Knot Human Knot is an activity best played after your group has gotten quite familiar with each other, because there can be a lot of touching going on. Everyone gathers in a circle. They put their right hands in the middle of the circle. They grab someone else's hand. Then the left hands go in the middle and they grab someone else's hand. The group is now knotted up. The object of Human Knot is to untie the group without letting go of any hands. When playing Human Knot, _ . It's high time someone spoke up for today's college students. They're probably the most hardworking, ambitious people in America and their problems are not properly appreciated. People like the Secretary of Education simply don't know what they're talking about when they knock students. Nor do those who complain about falling academic standards. The vast majority of the nation's 12 million students are struggling to pay for their educations. They are part of the invisible workforce. Many hold down full-time jobs. They're frying hamburgers, photographing weddings, working in construction, and waiting on tables. The fact that they even show up for classes is a wonderful event. The financial situation of most students explains a lot about what is happening in schools. Why are the traditional courses so unpopular? Why are students flocking to accounting and computer science and any professional programs that seem to lead to careers? Answer: Today's working student has been forced into a kind of premature matter-of-fact way of viewing things. Romance is gone. The notion of transforming one's self through study alone has disappeared. Today's students seek freedom from manual labor, and the status conferred by a good job. There are other consequences. Today's students don't have much time or energy to be devoted, and carry out independent research or even do serious homework. That's the secret behind falling academic standards. Students have become consumers. They want grades and certifications. Their professors can't be expected to give a grade of failure to students who are clearly tired from the effort to pay their bills. There's a lot wrong with this situation. It's twisting the definition of education out of shape. Worse, it's creating a generation that is totally unpleasant. The brightest students turn out to be yuppies . The vast majority are, at least, good-natured semi-literates. The time has run out for philosophical debates about fixed courses of study. What this country needs is someone to stand up and say that being a full-time student during one's formative years is an honorable calling worthy of support. If families can't or won't give it to their children, then the government should. Which of the following CANNOT be learned from the passage? Trying to recover from a devastating economic crisis, Spain is considering moving the country's clock back by one hour. Many people regard long afternoon naps and late dinners as perfect aspects of the Spanish way of life. Until the 1940s, Spain was on the same time as Britain and Portugal. In World War II, Spain and Portugal moved the clocks forward to align them with Nazi Germany. The same happened in Portugal. After the defeat of Hitler, Portugal returned to Greenwich Mean Time, but Spain did not. "The fact that for more than 71 years Spain has not been in its proper time zone means we sleep almost an hour less than the World Health Organization recommends," lawmakers in the Spanish Parliament wrote in a proposal."This has a negative effect on productivity, absenteeism, stress, accidents and school drop-out rates." Last September, a parliamentary commission recommended that the government turn back the clocks by one hour and introduce a regular eight-hour workday. For the time being, the Spanish government is treating the campaign seriously but it hasn't taken any action yet. Spain's time zone issue explains why everything in Spain happens later, from meal times to broadcast entertainment (primetime doesn't start until 10 pm). Many urban Spaniards complain of a never-ending workday that begins in the morning but is interrupted by a traditional late-morning break and then again by the midday siesta--a two-hour long lunch and nap that usually start at 2 pm. If workers return to their desks at 4 pm, they end up working late into the evening. Under the proposed new schedule, the lunchtime break would be cut to an hour or less. The interruption-filled Spanish workday would be replaced by something closer to a 9-to-5 schedule. Ignacio Buqueras, president of the Association for the Rationalization of Spanish Working Hours, told The New York Times that changing the Spanish schedule would be good news for working mothers. It would also allow families more free time together and boost Spain's economic recovery. Maria Angles Duran, a sociologist with the Spanish National Research Council, is skeptical that changing the time zone will reverse low productivity, which she attributes more to the structure of the service-oriented economy. But she agreed that a more normal work schedule would help women, who often complain that their husbands deliberately schedule meetings in the early evening. "For men, this is perfect," Duran said, "They arrive home and the children have already had their baths! Timetables can be used as a sort of weapon." Which of the following is the best title for the passage? Teeth are important.Strong,healthy teeth help you chew foods that help you grow.They help you speak clearly.And,they help you look your best.Here are some _ for you to take care of your teeth. 1.Brush your teeth in the right way. Brush your teeth at least twice a day--after breakfast and lunch or after sweet snacks,too. Brush all of your teeth,not just the front ones,Spend time brushing teeth along the sides and back of your mouth.Brush away from your gums,too. Spend at least three minutes each time you brush.Play a song you like to help pass the time.Get a new toothbrush every three months.When you buy your toothbrush,be sure it has soft bristles. 2.Learn how to floss your teeth. Flossing is a very important way to keep your teeth healthy.Food may hide in places where a toothbrush cannot get to,like the space between two teeth.Flossing can help get rid of it.Carefully move floss between two teeth.Up and down.You'll need to floss your teeth at least once a day. 3.Have good eating habits. You need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Eating sugar is a major of tooth decay.Eating sugar before you go to bed can make things even worse,eat lots of fruit and vegetables and drink water instead of soda. Which is NOT mentioned in this passage?
Question: In many cultures white is often associated with something positive. A white-collar job, for instance, is the kind of job many people look for, working with your brain and not your hands. White has a clean and pure image. That is why doctors, dentists, and nurses usually wear white uniforms. Babies are dressed in white at baptisms and brides wear white wedding gowns at weddings. White in these cases is the symbol of innocence or purity. Sometimes white is used in expressions that are not good. "Whitewash" is one such expression. At first, "whitewash" meant to paint over something with white paint to make it look better. However, it means something different today: to hide or to cover up mistakes or failures. A "white elephant" is another example of white used in a negative way. In ancient Thailand, a white elephant was regarded as a sacred animal, but it was very expensive to keep. The kings of those days presented a white elephant to the people they wanted to ruin. Once they received this holy, royal animal as a gift, they were not allowed to sell or kill it. Today, a "white elephant" means something that is big, useless, and unwanted. In America, when people want to get rid of their furniture or clothes, they often have a "white elephant sale". In which statement does "white" have a negative meaning? A. A boy is dressed in white at baptisms. B. A bride wears a white wedding gown. C. A man whitewashes his crime. D. A girl finds a white collar job. Answer: C. A man whitewashes his crime. Question: Do you need friends? I'm sure your answer is "Yes,of course. Everybody does! " You need friends when you play and when you work. If you have friends, you will feel happy. If you have no friends. you will feel lonely . Do you know how to make friends? There is only one good way--You make friends by being friendly. A friendly person is interested in other people. He is always helpful If you want to make friends with a new classmate, you can talk with him, tell him about the other classmates in your class and try your best to be helpful to him. We need friends _ . A. because we must play with them B. Because we must work with them C. when we play and when we work D. when we talk with them Answer: C. when we play and when we work Question: Which of these is never found in prokaryotic cells? A. cell membrane B. ribosome C. cell wall D. nucleus Answer: D. nucleus Question: There are 55 students in my class. They come from different places, so they go to school in different ways. Twenty students go to school on foot because they live near the school. Ten students ride the bikes to school because they live not far from the school. Ten students go to school by bus because they live far from the school. Ten students go to school in their parents' car. The other five students go to school by boat, because there is a river between their houses and the school. Five students go to school by boat because _ . A. they would like to go by boat B. they live far from the school C. they have boats D. there is a river between their houses and the school Answer: D. there is a river between their houses and the school Question: University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and it's one of the top university in the world. There is no clear date when the university started, but teaching began at Oxford in some forms in 1096 and developed quickly from 1167. There are 39 independent colleges at Oxford, attracting students and learned men from across the world. There are over 100 libraries for the students and learned men to use. At University of Oxford, they also provide a number of money for the best students. Of course, if you want to study here, first you have to reach a certain level of English language. College life at Oxford is very exciting but busy. The groups of college provide a friendly and welcoming home for students while the college are strict with students about their studies. Many Chinese students are studying here. The number of Chinese students at the university has grown quickly over the past 10 years. ,. (5,2,10) Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. The college aren't strict in studies. B. Only because of 39 dependent colleges, thousands of students come here to study. C. The university of Oxford is the most important and successful one in the world. D. The university of Oxford provides a number of money for most students. Answer: C. The university of Oxford is the most important and successful one in the world.
Most people regard zoos as safe places for animals, where struggles such as difficulty finding food and avoiding predators don't exist. Without such problems, animals in zoos should live to a ripe old age. But that may not be true for the largest land animals on Earth. Scientists have known that elephants in zoos often develop diseases, joint problems and behavior changes. Sometimes, they even become unable to have babies. To learn more about how captivity affects elephants, a team of international scientists led by Mason, a biologist, compared the life spans of female elephants born in zoos with female elephants living outdoors in the wild. Zoos keep detailed records of all the animals in their care, documenting factors such as birth dates, illnesses, weight and death. These records made it possible for the researchers to analyze 40 years of data on 800 elephants in zoos. The team found that female elephants born in zoos lived an average of 16.9 years. Their wild counterparts who died of natural causes lived an average of 56 years----more than three times as long. Scientists don't yet know for sure why wild elephants seem to live so much better than their zoo-raised counterparts. Mason thinks stress and obesity may be to blame. Zoo elephants don't get the same kind of exercise as they do in the wild, and most are very fat. Elephant social lives are also much different in zoos than in the wild, where they live in large groups. Another finding from the study showed that elephants born in zoos were more likely to die earlier than elephants captured in the wild and brought to zoos. Mason suggests stress in the mothers in zoos might cause them to have babies that are less likely to survive. The study raises some questions about acquiring more elephants to keep in zoos. While some threatened and endangered species living in zoos reproduce successfully and keep healthy populations, that doesn't appear to be the case with elephants. The text tells us that zoo elephants are different from other zoo animals because they _ Answer: develop health problems. Sunny English Club For students Open Time: 16:00--18:00 Every Saturday Tickets: 200 yuan a month Address: 9 Zhouyu Street Tel: 3785290 Foreign teachers, English songs and films and more! Ocean Museum Open Time: 9:00--17:00 From Thursday to Sunday Ticket: 50 yuan Address: 132 Xueyuan Street Tel: 5439871 Show you a full picture of sea lives! Health Centre Time: 9:00-- 17:30 Address: 16 Yongle Street Tel: 3801451 Free examinations for those over 70. Give you good advice to keep healthy! If you are interested in the life of fish, you should go to _ . Answer: Ocean Museum The first time that I had heard the term"EQ"was in the fall of 1995 when the book Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman, was widely covered by the American press. The widespread research presented in the book supported my own observations and doubts about life and emotions, and told me that I was on the right track to go after happiness. The research continues to confirm what I had concluded on my own: These feelings are extremely important to individual health, happiness, and social harmony. This might seem a bit obvious, but it was not always obvious to me. I grew up in a family where we didn't talk about feelings. We talked about ideas, concepts and principles. As a result, I could tell you what I thought about everything, but I couldn't tell you how I felt about anything. After several failed relationships, I took time off to reflect on my life and realized I had made many decisions which resulted in unhappiness for myself and others. After studying the literature on emotions and feelings, I concluded that most of my poor decisions could be directly due to what is now called low emotional intelligence, or low EQ, for short. Previously, I struggled to find happiness through the traditional routes--material success. Now, however, I realize that: There's not much point having either wealth or relationships if you aren't happy. It is hard to be happy with others if you aren't happy yourself. It is hard to be happy alone if you don't feel good about yourself, i.e. have high selfesteem and selfconfidence. It is hard to have good feelings about yourself if you don't have good emotional management skills. Emotional management skills, the main subject of EQ, are, therefore, one of the most basic elements of happiness. The author's views and ideas about life were exactly proved by _ . Answer: ideas and views in the book Emotional Intelligence MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are free, but without tutoring, and are open to anyone, anywhere in the world. The courses are flexible -- normally three to five hours of study a week -- done at any time, short (5 to 10 weeks) and video-rich. They are also heavily dependent on crowd sourcing: you can discuss a course with fellow students through online forums, discussion boards and peer review. Students don't have to finish the courses, pass assessments or do assignments, but, if they do, they get a certification of participation. The Open University launched FutureLearn, the UK's answer to US platforms such as Coursera, EdX and Udacity, which have been offering MOOCs from top US universities for the past two years. The response has been incredible, with more than three million people registering worldwide. Meanwhile, in 2012, Edinburgh University became the first non-US institution to join Coursera's partnership, comprising 13 universities. "We already run 50 online master's degrees, so this was a logical expansion," says Professor Jeff Haywood, Edinburgh's vice-principal. "It's an investment in teaching methods research. How am I going to teach introductory philosophy to 100,000 people? That's what I call educational R&D." He adds "If you look ahead 10 years, you'd expect all students graduating to have taken some online courses, so you've got to research that. Our MOOCs are no more in competition with our degrees than a lifelong learning course because they don't carry credits." Cooperation is key, Haywood stresses. It is far better to offer 20-30 courses in your own areas of expertise and let other institutions do likewise. Professor Mike Sharples, FutureLearn's academic lead, goes further: "We've tied the elements available before into a package of courses offered by leading universities worldwide on a new software platform, with a new way of promoting it and also a new social-learning teaching method. You won't just receive an exam, but be able to discuss and mark each other's assignments." Bath University, one of more than 20 universities working with FutureLearn, launches its first course, Inside Cancer, next January, and regards MOOCs as a way of breaking down age barriers. "There's no reason why someone doing GCSEs should not look at our MOOCs and get quite a way through them, or someone at PhD level and beyond," says Professor Bernie Morley, expert for learning and teaching. MOOCs have these features EXCEPT that _ . Answer: MOOCs provide teachers' instructions if you have some difficulty What would you think if you went back to school on Monday and there were no desks or chairs in your classroom? That's what some fourth-and-fifth-graders at a school in Minnesota discovered earlier this year when they took part in a research project to see if changing their classrooms would make them more active. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic were concerned about reports that as many as half of American kids could be seriously overweight - or obese - by the year 2014. So they set up a different kind of classroom, which you might see in the future. Instead of desks, the Elton Hills Elementary students had adjustable work stations where they could stand, kneel on mats or sit on big exercise balls. Students were given laptops and iPods that allowed them to move and learn at the same time. Sensors were attached to the kids' legs to calculate how many calories students burned in their new set-up. Their typical school day was probably not anything like yours. One group of students downloaded an audio file of their teacher reading a book; they listened to it while walking for exercise. Another group took a spelling test by listening to their iPods. Some students liked the freedom, but others missed the traditional classroom. "I don't like standing up," Mariah Matrious said. "My legs get tired, and I like sitting down. " So, did the experiment work? Researchers still are studying the data, but early results indicate that the kids did move around more in the new classroom. "It showed us that, given the opportunity to move, kids will move," said researcher Lorraine Lanningham-Foster. That's important because studies have shown that even simple movement - climbing stairs instead of taking an elevator , for example, or washing dishes by hand instead of loading the dishwasher - can be as important as formal exercise when it comes to controlling one's weight. The newly designed classrooms are different from the traditional ones EXCEPT that _ . Answer: teachers don't necessarily instruct the students
Adults are happy to tell their children that crusts will give them curly hair, carrots will help them see in the dark, and spinach will make them strong. Even though adults know it's not totally true, they think it's good for their children's health, a study had found. In a study about 31 per cent of adults said they once told their children the curly hair tale, and 36 per cent said they'd been told the same thing by their mother or father. Among the over-50s, almost half said they'd been promised curly hair if they ate their crusts. A quarter of the 2,000 adults questioned in the study told their children carrots would help them see in the dark. This could be true to some extent because of the high levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene in root vegetables. Another favorite among parents is that milk will make one strong. A third surveyed said their parents told them this, and about 29 per cent said they told their children the same thing. But while there is plenty of evidence to suggest milk is good for people's health, there are also a lot of scientific papers saying it isn't. Thanks to Popeye, spinach is also fed to children, along with the idea that it will make them strong. While there is also some truth in this one, scientists now believe it is not the iron, but the inorganic nitrates that improve physical power. One in seven of the surveyed admitted telling their little ones that runner beans will make them run faster, which is nothing more than wordplay and has no basis in science. Almost one in five adults were subjected to the same tale in childhood. Just over one in 10 parents told their children green food would turn them into a superhero, and a quarter admitted hiding vegetables in meals. Lyndsay Jones, spokesman for Persil Washing Up Liquid, said, "It's clear that the most persuasive stories about food are passed on from generation to generation. Our research shows that the ideas continue, and we tell our kids the same things our parents told us, even if they're not always entirely true." Crusts may not make your hair curly, but there's plenty of research that says crusts contain more of the goodness than the rest of a loaf. Hopefully, as a result of our Cook with Kids promise, more parents will be encouraged to spend time with their children in the kitchen and teach them the truth about food. How is the passage mainly developed? Technology has totally transformed our ability to communicate with each other. Linking to each other both literally and figuratively, many of us connect through cell phones, email, instant messaging, blogs, and networking web sites, yet we may be less connected to each other than we think. According to a study, Americans are becoming increasingly socially isolated . The study suggests, for example, that one quarter of Americans say that they have no one to discuss important personal issues with, and that the number of close friends that Americans have has dropped from three to two. Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports that this spreading isolation is experienced more sharply among those with less education, people of color, and older Americans. Unsurprisingly, those who are young, white, and well educated tend to have stronger social networks. From my own experience I have to say that I've never felt more connected, thanks to a web of friends, family, and colleagues. One of my closest friends is someone I met through an online discussion group who lives hundreds of miles away from me. We have met face-to-face only twice, yet our regular electronic correspondence and cell phone calls maintain our close friendship. And, speaking of blogging, my blog has introduced me to people I would never have met otherwise and has led to enduring and important friendships. On the other hand, I recently saw a scene unfold that proved to me how deeply disconnected we as Americans have become. I had just wrapped up a presentation on mediation at a family therapy center. As I was leaving, I noticed a mother and her teenage son who had just completed their session with their family therapist. After making their next appointment, they both took out their cell phones, placed calls, and began loud conversations with whoever was on the other end. I walked out behind them to the parking lot to my car. They both jumped into their cars, and, as I saw them drive off, they were still talking on their cell phones. But, alas, not to each other. What is true about the mother and son in the passage? Talk to yourself It may be obvious, but the best way to get better at a language is to speak it. Even if there is no one around to speak to, talk to yourself. Name things as you pass them - chair, television, cat, tree, school. Learn basic phrases like - 'it is cold today' or 'it is sunny today' and use whichever is appropriate when you first look out of the window. This simple language learning tip will help this everyday vocabulary sink in and become second nature. Talk to friends Even if they don't speak the language, talk to the people you know in your new language. Warm them in advance that you are practicing your new knowledge and they will know what's coming. Even a simple 'good morning ' or 'see you later' in your new language will make those phrases more natural to you. Your friends may even start to pick up a few phrases as well. Listen to music Listen to music in your new language. You'll hear the language used in a real context and this will help you pick out the rhythm and the pronunciation even better. You will also come to further understand and better appreciate the culture behind the language. Make mistakes The easiest language learning tip to try! Go ahead and speak and write! Don't be afraid to make mistakes, because I guarantee you will! In fact, you will learn as much from your mistake as you will learn from your success .Never let the fear of making any mistakes hold you back. Without making any mistakes, how will you ever to be fluent or even comfortable with the language? Find a language club When you are ready, try to find a language club in your area. Speaking with other people who have already gone through or are still going through the process of learning the language can be extremely helpful. They will give you lots of language learning tips and helpful advice. If you want to keep everyday vocabulary in your mind, you'd better _ . What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange, or red? If you do, you must be an active person who enjoys life. Do you like blue? Then you are probably quiet, shy, and would rather follow than lead. Colors do influence our moods . A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing . There was a black bridge over the Thames River, near London. The number of people who killed themselves on that bridge used to be larger than on any other bridge in the area -- until it was repainted green. Light and bright colors make people not only happier but also more active. In the factory, the workers will work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black. Most people feel more _ in a yellow room than in a dark green one. She was 6 years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live. She insisted on talking to me. "I'm building," she said. "I see that. What is it?" I asked, not caring. "Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand." That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes. A sandpiper glided by. "My mom says sandpipers come to bring us joy." "Good-bye joy," I muttered to myself, "Hello pain," and turned to walk on. I was depressed; my life seemed completely out of balance. "What's your name?" She wouldn't give up. "Robert," I answered. "Mine's Wendy... I'm 6. Why are you so quiet?" I turned to her and shouted: "Because my mother died!" "Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day." "Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and - oh, go away!" "Did it hurt?" she asked. "Did what hurt?" I was annoyed with her, with myself. "When she died?" "Of course it hurt!" I replied angrily, misunderstanding. A month after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed, I went up to the cottage and knocked at the door. A young woman answered. "Hello," I said. "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered where she was." "Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia . Maybe she didn't tell you." I had to catch my breath, saying nothing. "She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly... "She left something for you... if only I could find it," she said. "Could you wait a moment while I look?" It was a drawing in bright color1s- a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm so sorry," I muttered over and over, and we wept together. But then we looked at the picture of the sandpiper and slowly both of us began to smile, remembering the lesson that Wendy had left us. Even when life seems sad, joy can be found in the smallest of things. We should take time to seek out these little joys in life and live for the love that we have for each other. When he talked to Wendy, the author failed to understand that _ .
The way that the planet spins and moves through space can effect how A how the moon phases B the plants we are able to eat C the stars location appearance in relation to earth D the heat of the sun Answer: C A father sat at his desk poring over his monthly bills when his young son rushed in and announced, "Dad, because this is your birthday and you're 40 years old, I'm going to give you 40 kisses, one for each year!" When the boy started making good on his word, the father cried out suddenly, "Oh, Andrew, don't do it now; I'm too busy!" The youngster immediately fell silent as tears welled up in his big blue eyes.Apologicaliy the father said, "You can finish later." The boy said nothing but quietly walked away, disappointment written over his face.That evening the father said, "Come and finish the kisses now, Andrew!" But the boy didn't respond. Unfortunately, a few days later after this incident, the boy had an accident and was drowned.His heartbroken father wrote... "If only I could tell him how much I regret my thoughtless words, and could be sure that he knows how much my heart is aching." Love is not only giving.Any loving act must be warmly accepted or it will be taken as rejection and can leave a scar.If we are too busy to give and receive love, we are too busy! Nothing is more important than responding with love to the cry for love from those who are near and precious to us, because there may be no chance at all as in the case of the little boy. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A A Love Story B Love Your Son C A Father and a Son D Love is a Two-way Street Answer: D A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was showed in an _ experience. One day, I happened to meet an Englishman, on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished, gently shaking his head ,shrugging his shoulders, saying, "You don't say! You don't say!" I was puzzled, I thought, perhaps this is not a proper topic.Well, I had better change the topic. So I said to him, "Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?" "Certainly, everybody back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent(,)." He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. "The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it. " Soon I was interrupted again by his order "You don't say!" I couldn't help asking, "Why do you ask me not to talk about it?" "Well, I didn't request you to do so," He answered, greatly surprised. I said, "Didn't you say you don't say?" Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, "You don't say actually means really? It is an expression of surprise Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms" Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. A year ago, I did not pay attention to English idioms because _ . A English idioms were too difficult to master B I care little about the teacher's instruction C My teacher didn't emphasize the importance D I had no interest in English learning Answer: B Each year, road accidents kill a million people and injure millions more. The economic costs are greatest for developing countries. Earlier this year, the United Nations called for a campaign to improve road safety. One way to avoid accidents is better driving. Another is better roads and bridges. Engineers in the Unites States have designed ten new concrete mixtures that they think could make bridges last longer. Professor Paul Tikalsky leads the experiments by a team at Pennsylvania State University. He says bridges made of concrete now last about twenty-five to thirty-five years. But he says the new mixtures might extend that to seventy-five or even one-hundred years. Concrete is made of stone, sand, water and cement . The materials in the cement hold the concrete together. Ancient Romans built with concrete. Yet strengthened concrete bridges did not appear until the late 1800s. People keep looking for new ways to improve concrete. Professor Tikalsky says it is one of the most complex of all chemical systems. The new mixtures designed by his team contain industrial waste products. He says these make the concrete better able to resist damage from water and salt over time. One of the products is fly ash. This is released into the air as pollution when coal is burned. Professor Tikalsky says particles of fly ash are almost exactly the same size and chemical structure as Portland cement. _ is the most costly material in concrete. So using fly ash to replace some of it would save money. The federal government is paying for part of the research. Engineers anywhere can use the technology. Professor Tikalsky says some of the ideas have already been put to use in China, the Philippines and other countries. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A Ten new concrete bridges have already been built in the United States. B A new concrete bridge could last 50 more years than an ordinary concrete one. C People didn't know how to build with cement until the late 1800s. D Water and salt won't do any damage to bridges over time. Answer: B People communicate in many different ways. The most common way is by talking with others. Except for talking, we can also use body languages. When we use body languages, we need to use body to show what we mean. Sign language is a kind of body language. Let's see more about it. Sign language is popular among _ people who are unable to speak or don't want to speak. If you want to communicate with a foreigner ,but you can't speak his language and he can't speak Chinese, what can you do ? Maybe you can communicate by making signs. Now let's learn some signs Indians often use. When they are hungry, they move their right hands back and forth in front of their stomachs. When they mean " Let's eat", they put their right hands and move them up and down in front of their mouths. When they have had enough, they part their thumbs and first fingers, and move their hands from their chests to chins. If they have a stomach ache, they put both hands on their stomachs, and move them back and forth. If you want to show you are hungry, you can _ . A move your left hand up and down in front of your mouth. B put your right hand in front of your mouth. C move your right hand back and forth in front of your stomach. D move your right hand from your chest to chin. Answer: C
One day, a train was approaching the small town of Cheekyville. On the train was a young man with a big suitcase. He was called William Warbler, and he looked very common indeed. What made him most unusual, though, was the fact that whenever he needed to communicate he did it by singing opera . It didn't matter to William whether it was simply a matter of answering a brief greeting, like "good day". He would clear his voice and respond, "Gooood dayyy to youuuuuuuu... toooooo!" No one could get a normal spoken word out of him and no one knew how he made his living. As he lived quite simply, always wearing his same old second-hand suit, people often looked down on him. William had been in Cheekyville for some years, when, one day, word spread round town like wildfire: William had played a role in a very important opera in the nation's capital. Everyone in the capital went to see it, and it was a great success. Everyone in Cheekyville felt it was a surprise. But something more surprising was, when William was being interviewed by reporters, he answered their questions by speaking rather than singing. And he did it with great manners, and with a clear and pleasant voice. From that day, William gave up singing at all hours. Now he did it only during his stage appearances and world tours. Some people suspected why he had changed, but others continued believing him to be somewhat mad. They wouldn't have thought so if they had seen what William kept in his big suitcase. It was a large stone, with a hand-carved message on it. The message said: "Practice, my boy. Practice every second, for you never know when your chance will come." Little did people realize that he only got the role in the opera because the director had heard William singing while out buying a newspaper. Why did people in Cheekyville consider William strange? A. He always carried a big suitcase. B. He always spoke by singing opera. C. He always greeted people gladly. D. He always wore an old suit. Answer: B What will man be like in the future --- in 5,000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, because man is slowly changing all the time. Let us take an example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average , men are about three inches taller. 500 years is relatively a short period of time, so we may suppose that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still use only about 20% of the brain's capacity . As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and finally we shall need our brains more and more, and finally we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring a physical change too. The head, especially the forehead , will grow larger. Nowadays our eyes are used too much. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over a long time it is possible that man's eyes will grow stronger. On the other hand, we make use of our arms and legs less. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a lot in modern life. But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both men and women are likely to be hairless. Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive person to look at! This may be true.However, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a person, with thoughts and feelings similar to our own. How much brain's capacity of a person hasn't been used now? A. About 20% B. About 80% C. About3% D. About 50% Answer: B What would be more attracted to a magnet? A. wood B. A dog C. a cloud D. A zipper Answer: D Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful animals feeding on meat. They feast on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales, employing teeth that can be four inches (ten centimeters) long. They are known to grab seals right off the ice. They also eat fish, squid , and seabirds. Though they often frequent cold, coastal waters, orcas can be found from the polar regions to the Equator . Killer whales hunt in deadly groups, family groups of up to 40 individuals. There appear to be both permanent and temporary group populations of killer whales. These different groups may hunt different animals and use different techniques to catch them. Permanent groups tend to prefer fish, while temporary groups target marine mammals. All groups use effective, cooperative hunting techniques that some are similar to the behavior of wolf packs. Whales make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each group has various noises that its members will recognize even at a distance. They use echolocation to communicate and hunt, making sounds that travel underwater until they meet objects, then reflect back, showing their location, size, and shape. Killer whales are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. Mothers give birth every three to ten years, after a 17-month pregnancy. Killer whales are immediately recognizable by their special black-and-white coloring and are the intelligent, trainable stars of many aquarium shows. Killer whales have never been widely hunted by humans. We can conclude that _ . A. people can find killer whales everywhere around the world B. killer whales live in different groups and never live alone C. by making sounds killer whales hunt and communicate D. humans' hunt has made killer whales being endangered Answer: C How to Get What I Want? There's an expression: "What you see is what you get." My grandfather used to say: "If you looked at a tree long enough, it will move." We see what we want to see. Psychologists tell us that nothing controls our lives more than our self-image. We live like the person we see in the mirror. We are what we think we are. If you don't think you'll be successful, you won't. You can't be it if you can't see it. Your life is limited to your vision. If you want to change your life, you must change your vision of your life. Arnold Schwarzenegger was not that famous in 1976 when he met with a newspaper reporter. The reporter asked Schwarzenegger: "Now that you've retired from bodybuilding, what do you plan to do next?" Schwarzenegger answered very calmly and confidently: "I'm going to be the No. 1 movie star in Hollywood." The reporter was shocked and amused at Schwarzenegger's plan. At that time, it was very hard to imagine how this muscle-bound bodybuilder, who was not a professional actor and who spoke poor English with a strong Austrian accent, could ever hope to be Hollywood's No. 1 movie star! So when the reporter asked Schwarzenegger how he planned to make his dream come true, Schwarzenegger said: "I'll do it the same way I became the No. 1 bodybuilder in the world. What I do was create a vision of who I want to be, and then I start living like that person in my mind as if it were already true." Sounds almost childishly simple, doesn't it? But I worked! Schwarzenegger became the No. 1 highest paid movie star in Hollywood. Remember: "If you can see it, you can be it." There's a successful businessman who often wears a shirt with these words on it: " _ ! " you only get one life to live, so why not live the best life possible? So you can be fully satisfied at what you see and get. What did Schwarzenegger plan to do to make his Hollywood star dream come true? A. He continued to build his body. B. He went to make more movies. C. He lived a life like a movie star. D. He tried his best to meet the movie directors. Answer: C
Hurricane Sandy was a hurricane that destroyed parts of the Caribbean and the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States during late October 2012, with minor impacts in the Southeastern and Midwestern states and Eastern Canada. Sandy, classified as the eighteenth named storm and tenth hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, was a Category 2 storm at its peak intensity. While it was a Category 1 storm off the coast of the Northeastern United States, the storm became the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. Previous estimates of losses due to damage and business interruption are estimated at $65.6 billion, which would make it the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane, behind only Hurricane Katrina. At least 253 people were killed along the path of the storm in eight countries. Sandy developed from a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea on October 22, quickly strengthened, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm six hours later. Sandy moved slowly northward toward the Greater Antilles and gradually becoming stronger. On October 24, Sandy became a hurricane, made landfall near Kingston, Jamaica, a few hours later, entered into the Caribbean Sea again and strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane. On October 25, Sandy hit Cuba, and then weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. Early on October 26, Sandy moved through the Bahamas. On October 27, Sandy briefly weakened to a tropical storm and then restrengthened to a Category 1 hurricane. Early on October 29, Sandy turned from north to northwest and then moved ashore near Atlantic City, New Jersey, as a post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds. In the United States, Hurricane Sandy affected 24 states, including the entire eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine and west across the Appalachian Mountains to Michigan and Wisconsin, with particularly severe damage in New Jersey and New York. Its storm hit New York City on October 29, flooding streets, tunnels and subway lines and cutting power in and around the city. Damage in the US is estimated at over $63 billion. According to the passage, which of the following wind forms is the strongest? Answer: Category 2 hurricane. If someone says to you, "give me five", do not search your pocket for five yuan! It will make others laugh! The person's not asking for your money, but your fingers. In the US, "give me five" or "give me the high five" is a popular gesture. You can see it often in films or on TV. It means the slapping( ) of each other's raised right hands together. People do it when they meet for the first time or something happy happens. For example, a student has good marks in exams or wins a lottery . If a football team wins game, the players will give high fives to everyone around to cerebrate. This gesture may come from the old Rome gesture of raising the right arm for the emperor . This showed that the person raising his arm did not have a sword in his hand. The gesture "give me five" is the slapping of _ . Answer: hands Interview with a president While many teenagers may dream of meeting with pop star Jay Chou or NBA hero Yao Ming, Li Jing had a far more powerful person on her mind. The Senior 2 from Beijing No.35 High School dreamt of meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than a year of hard work and with a little good luck, Li fulfilled her dream. On October 11, 2004, the 16-year-old girl joined a team of Chinese journalists who went to the Kremlin, in Moscow, to interview Putin. Li felt nervous before talking with Putin. "But his greeting and warm smile put me at ease," she said. Li admires Putin very much, because of his strong will and style of leadership. "He looks very cool," Li said. During her interview, Li asked Putin whether he plans to educate his two teenage daughters to be officials in the future. Putin smiled and answered he hopes they can do whatever job suits their interests and personalities. Although Li would only have several minutes, she started working on her interview questions last August after applying for the opportunity. "Journalists work is by no means easy. You need to do lots of homework on your _ ," she said. She read many books about Putin and Russia in her spare time. Li's parents encouraged her to be a student journalist. "We fully support her, as long as it does not affect her studies," said her father. Previously in her job for a student magazine, Chinese Young Journalists, she wrote a letter to President Hu Jintao during the SARS epidemic. Li has learnt a lot from her experience. She said learning to manage her time and developing the confidence to speak with important people were not the things she could learn in class. Li Jing is different from those students of her age in that _ . Answer: she dreams of meeting the present powerful Russian leader Do your parents ever say "do it like a lady" or "be a gentleman" to you? But in the eyes of today's students, what should a lady or a gentleman be like? Let's take a look. What is a gentleman? _ ? _ : A gentleman doesn't always get angry . He wants others to be well and happy. He's always ready to help others. There is a boy in my class I think he is a gentleman. If I don't do well in the English exam, he will say "You will do better next time". That makes me feel happy. _ : A gentleman always says, "Ladies first". When students clean the classroom, he always does heavy work. He lets girls go into rooms first. There are no gentlemen in my class. When there is something to eat, the boys in my class always get them before girls! What is a lady? Boys tell us what they think a lady is: _ : A lady is kind and quiet ,but she's not shy and she can talk about her ideas in front of others. To me, Dong Jie, a film star, is a lady. She is pretty and kind. She does a lot for others. _ : A lady is not just beautiful but clever. She never says bad words. She is quiet and kind to others. I don't think there is a lady in my class. Most of the girls are _ , I think. Who are "wild beauties" in the eyes of Wang Lichao? Answer: Pretty but not quiet girls Doctors have known for a long time that extremely loud noises can cause hearing damage or loss. The noise can be the sound of a jet airplane or machines in factories of loud music or other common sound at home and at work. A person only needs to hear the noise for little more than one second to be affected. An American scientist has found that using aspirin increase the temporary hearing loss or damage from loud noise. He did an experiment using a number of students at a university who all had normal hearing. He gave them different amounts of aspirin for different periods of time, then he tested their hearing ability. He found that students who were given four grams of aspirin a day for two days suffered much greater temporary hearing loss than those who did not use aspirin. The hearing loss was about two times as great. The scientist said millions of persons in the U.S. use much larger amounts of aspirin than were used in his experiment. He said these persons face a serious danger of suffering hearing loss from loud noise. The American scientist did his experiment in order to find _ . Answer: whether aspirin would increase the temporary hearing damage from loud noises
In order to know a foreign language thoroughly , four things are necessary. First, we must understand the language when we hear it spoken. Secondly, we must be able to speak it ourselves, correctly with confidence and without hesitation . Thirdly, we must be able to write it. We must be able to make sentences that are correct in grammar. There is no short way to succeed in language learning. A good memory is a great help, but it is not enough only to memorize the rules from a grammar book. It is no much use learning by heart long lists of words and their meanings, studying the dictionary and so on. We must learn by using the language. If we are pleased with a few rules we have memorized, we are not really learning the language. We must "Learn through use". Practice is important. We must practise speaking and writing the language whenever we can. The most important things to learn a foreign language are _ . Answer: Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch.They may think eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness.Or,in summer, they may think it is the heat.However, the real reason lies inside their bodies.At that time--about eight hours after you wake up--your body temperature goes down.This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy.Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day.The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later. In many parts of the world,people take naps in the middle of the day.This is especially true in warmer climate ,where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon.Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate.A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general.In countries where naps are traditional,people often suffer less from problem such as heart disease. Many working people,unfortunately, have no time to take naps.Though doctors may advise taking naps,employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance,however,here are a few tips about making the most of your nap.Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up.A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward.This can also happen if you sleep for too long.If you do not have enough time,try a short nap--even ten minutes of sleep can help you. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: NOTICE DO NOT FISH FOR FOOD, FISHERMAN! FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH FISH FROM THESE WATERS SHOULD NOT BE EATEN BECAUSE OF MERCURY POLLUTION Office of Land and Forests The notice is given because _ . Answer: Here is some information about some of the wonders of the world. I am sure you will be interested in them. The Pyramids of Egypt There are about eighty pyramids known today. The most well-known was for Pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the "Great Pyramid". It's also the largest one. Workers used about 2.3 million blocks of stone to build it. (A)20. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon The garden sat on a hill. It was a large and wonderful structure . Many parts of the garden were high up on large columns . There were many big and green trees with lovely flowers. Although there are many different ideas about the garden, we are not sure whether this wonder ever existed ! The Lighthouse of Alexandria The Lighthouse of Alexandria was designed about 2,000 years ago. It was in Egypt, too. (B) It was one of the ancient wonders of the world, about 135 metres high. It was once the highest building in the world. Although it doesn't exist now, many people come to see its relic every year. _ raised high up the parts of the garden. Answer: Grace and I are good friends. We get on very well with each other, though sometimes we fight. I remember last year we didn't talk with each other for a long time before Mid-Autumn Day. But when we met each other that day, we became good friends again. We both study well. We like talking about the problems in our studies.We also like making up stories.We made one up in English last month. It was called "Magic Sunflower Club". I think this is a wonderful name. Grace is tall and active. She does better in P.E. than me. She is good at music. She plays the piano so well that sometimes birds come to listen to her. I'm shorter and quieter than Grace. I know a lot about science. I often have some new ideas. I'm good at math and art. Our teacher says my drawing is getting better and better. If we don't know something very well, we help each other. So we never have any problems. Grace _ . Answer:
Water is of vital importance in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water .It helps get _ out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients .In fact, nearly every system in our bodies depends on water for proper functioning .But how can we tell whether the water we're drinking is healthy? As to tap water, it's relatively easy .If your water comes from a governmental source , the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports .If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water .It may cost $100 or more, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind . When it comes to bottled drinking water, it can be more difficult to know what you're getting .Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a governmental source or "community water system", which means tap water .If the label doesn't give any information, you can call the bottler and ask .But don't be surprised if you get the runaround and are transferred to several different departments .Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the water as well as other information . Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business .Thousands of companies are competing for your hard earned cash , and some are not always honest about what their products offer .The initial investment in a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first , but over time , it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water .And with a water filter , you at least know where the water you drink comes from and how it is treated . Before going out and spending your hard earned money on bottled drinking water , it's a good idea to do some research .You're likely to find that a drinking water filtration system or purifier is a healthier choice and provides the best value as well . What is the main idea of this passage? A. The disadvantages of bottled water B. The benefits of drinking water C. The difference between tap water and bottled water D. The ways to ensure the safety of your drinking water Answer: D An independent college claimed to have become the first school in England to make Chinese a compulsory subject for its pupils. Richard Cairns, the headmaster of Brighton College, said the move aims to recognize the importance of China as the world's fastest growing economy. Chinese will become one of the core subjects at the 1,200-pupil college from September. At present the school has only a "handful" of native Chinese students, but it hopes to attract more in the future. Mr Cairns, who made the announcement in his first week as head of the high-achieving college, said, "One of my key tasks is to make sure that the pupils at Brighton College are equipped for the realities of the 21st century, and one of those realities is that China has the fastest growing economy in the world. "China has replaced Britain as the world's fourth-largest economy. We in Britain need to face up to this challenge, see it for the trading opportunity that it is, and ensure that our nation's children are well-placed to thrive in this new global reality. "A better understanding of the language and culture of China will be hugely important to the advantage of the children of Brighton College." Mr Cairns said he hoped the Chinese children already at the college would help and encourage their fellow pupils to learn their language. In order to lead the way, Mr Cairns, a historian from Oxford, plans to take part in the first Chinese class as a pupil. "I have agreed to join the first Chinese class as a pupil. I think it is the best way for me to show the pupils here how important I regard this new addition to our core subjects." The passage mainly tells us _ . A. how to face up to new challenges in the 21st century B. the realities of the 21st century C. the fastest growing economy in the world D. about a school which will make all its pupils learn Chinese Answer: D Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids to? Try some of these places: . Visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids' interest. Many offer workshops for making hand-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings by children's favorite writers, and even musical performances and other arts. . Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up. . Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for child and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts. Puppet making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find. Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the country. These science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They'll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building.. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums. Where does this text probably come from? A. A science textbook. B. A tourist map. C. A museum guide. D. A news report. Answer: C Some scientists have suggested that it might in some cases be ethically acceptable to clone existing people. One possibility is generating replacement for a dying . All such possibilities, however, raise the concern that the clone would be treated as less than a complete individual, because he or she would likely suffer from limitations and expectations based on the family's knowledge of the genetic "twin." Those expectations might be false, because human personality is only partly determined by genes. The clone of an extrovert could have a quite different way of behavior. Clones of athletes, movie stars, or scientists might well choose different careers because of chance events in early life. Some people have also put forward the belief that couples in which one member is infertile might choose to make a copy of one or the other partner. But society ought to be concerned that a couple might not treat naturally a child who is a copy of just one of them. Because other methods are available for the treatment of all known types of infertility, the traditional choice seems more appropriate. None of the suggested uses of cloning for making copies of existing people is ethically acceptable to my way of thinking, because they are not in the interests of the resulting child. It should go without saying that I am strongly opposed to allowing cloned human embryos to develop so that they can be tissue donors. In spite of this, it seems clear that cloning from cultured cells will offer important medical opportunities. Predictions about new technologies are often wrong: societal attitudes change; unexpected developments occur. Time will tell. But biomedical researchers looking into the potential of cloning now have plenty to do. What is the author's concern about cloning an existing person? A. The clone created will have one defect or another. B. The clone created will be mistreated. C. The clone created is unlikely to fulfill your expectations. D. The clone created is ethically unacceptable. Answer: B Mr and Mrs Smith had always spent their summer holidays in New Jersey ( ) in the past, staying in a small inn at the foot of the hill. One year, however, Mr Smith made a lot of money in his business, so they decided to go to London and stay at a really good hotel while they went touring around the famous city. They flew to London and arrived at their hotel late one evening. They had expected that they would have to go to bed hungry, because in that small inn in New Jersey, no meals were served after seven. They were surprised when the waiter asked whether they would take dinner there that night. " Are you still serving dinner?" asked Mr Smith. " Yes, certainly, sir," answered the waiter. " We serve it until half past nine." " What are the time of the meals then?" asked Mr Smith. " Well, sir, We serve breakfast from seven to half past eleven in the morning, lunch from twelve to three in the afternoon, tea from four to five, and dinner from six to half past nine." answered the waiter. " But that hardly leaves any time for us to see the sights of London." said Mr Smith. From the story we know that this was the _ time for Mr and Mrs Smith to go to London. A. first B. second C. third D. fourth Answer: A
Build the Dream is a website produced by Travis Perkins, one of the UK's leading builders merchants, to assist with self-builds, renovations, extensions and improvements. Go with the first step; find land, get planning permission and cost your project. Start out with our advice and practical help on costing your project--labor, materials and those hidden extras. All of the information you need on all aspects of building your project, from sourcing building materials to understanding building regulations and from site safety to hiring tools and equipment. Click for details Cost Your Project. Our cost-effective estimating and take-off service gets your project off to a flying start. Your material and labor costs are set out by build stage to help you control your project costs. Use Our Estimating Service All Your Toolhire Needs, All in One Place Visit the Travis Perkins Hire Website Branch Finder. We supply more than 120,000 products across our 1200+ branch network to satisfy your self-build needs. Use our Branch Finder Service your local branch. Use Our Branch Finder Service Code For Sustainable Homes. The Code for Sustainable Homes sets new national standards for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. Read More About the Code for Sustainable Homes Finishing Touches. We can provide everything you need to complete your project including _ , _ , _ , _ and _ . Building Materials. We supply over 120,000 products from the leading manufacturers. Read more about Building Materials What does Code For Sustainable Homes do? Sets national standards for design and constructions. Many Americans spend more time in cars these days than in the kitchen. But as lives grow busier--and waistlines grow larger--a number of health experts are calling for Americans to reduce their risk of cancer and other diseases by cooking at home more and eating out less. "When dining out, people are likely to _ all the wrong thing," says Rachel Brandeis of the American Dietetic Association. "People take in 50% more fat and sodium when they eat out than when they cook at home. And they often miss out on fruits, vegetables and other vitamin-rich 'powerhouse foods' that may reduce the risk of cancer." Nutritionists know it's not easy to break old habits. Many people say they hardly have time to exercise, let alone fix dinner. Brandeis says her secret is organization. She cooks six nights a week, even though she and her husband both work. She spends 20 minutes thinking about a week's worth of menus and writing a list. She shops just once a week. Brandeis says she chooses easy cooking methods, too. Since she is not quite good at cooking. The American Institute for Cancer Research has produced a guide filled with tips like "Homemade for Health". Melanie Polk, the institute's director of nutrition education, says cooking at home has many advantages. It teaches children about nutrition as well as the importance of sharing housework. The 39-year-old homemaker Kirstin Kristinus of Washington, D.C. says cooking at home brings her family together. She also tries to reduce her family's cancer risk by preparing every meal with many different kinds of food. "The only way to know that you are getting all the good things is to expose yourself to a wide variety of food," says Steven Shiff, a doctor in New Jersey. "If you eat out at a restaurant, it's a lot easier to choose unhealthful things." However, "families don't have to give up restaurants," Shiff says. "It is possible to eat healthfully if you eat outside the home. But it takes probably the same sort of planning that you would have to do to prepare meals at home." What can infer from Shiff that _ . eating out can be as healthy as at home Northern Europeans spend a lot of time in their cold and cloudy winters planning their summer holidays. They are proud of their healthy color when they return home after the holiday. But they also know that a certain amount of sunshine is good for their bodies and general health. In ancient Greece people knew about the healing powers of the sun, but this knowledge was lost. At the end of the nineteenth century a Danish doctor, Niels Finsen, began to study the effect of sunlight on certain diseases, especially diseases of the skin. He was interested not only in natural sunlight but also in artificially produced rays. Sunlight began to play a more important part in curing sick people. A Swiss doctor, Auguste Rollier, made full use of the sun in his hospital at Lysine. Lysine is a small village high up in the Alps. The position is important: the rays of the sun with the greatest healing power are the infra-red and ultra-violet rays; but ultra-violet rays are too easily lost in fog and the polluted air near industrial towns. Dr. Roller found that sunlight, fresh air and good food cure a great many diseases. He was particularly successful in curing certain forms of tuberculosis with his "sun-cure". There were a large number of children in Dr. Roller's hospital. He decided to start a school where sick children could be cured and at the same time continue to learn. It was not long before his school was full. In winter, wearing only shorts, socks and boots, the children put on their skis after breakfast and left the hospital. They carried small desks and chairs as well as their school books. Their teacher led them over the snow until they reached a slope which faced the sun and was free from cold winds. There they set out their desks and chairs, and school began. Although they wore hardly any clothes, Roller's pupils were very seldom cold. That was because their bodies were full of energy which they got from the sun. But the doctor knew that sunshine can also be dangerous. If, for example, tuberculosis is attacking the lungs, unwise sunbathing may do great harm. Today there is not just one school in the sun. There are several in Switzerland, and since Switzerland is not the only country which has the right conditions, there are similar schools in other places. Dr Roller set up a "sun-cure" school probably for the reason that _ . children could study while being treated My first born son is mentally handicapped, yet in so many ways he is far wiser than I am. He has an intuitive knowledge of what is important in life. When we go out he looks people in the eyes, calls them by name, and shares his smile far more easily than I do. He goes through life with a soul full of love, joy and kindness that he gives to everyone he meets. He makes others feel better. He makes each day shine brighter. He makes this world more beautiful just by being in it. He may not understand everything in life, but he knows how to live happily and lovingly. He shows me everyday that life is simple. It is we who make it complicated. You see, life is just the choices we make each day. We can choose to love or we can choose to be afraid. We can choose to help or we can choose to turn away. We can choose to forgive or we can choose to hate. We can choose to be kind or we can choose to be cruel. We can choose to trust or we can choose to be suspicious. We can choose to give or we can choose to take. We can choose to laugh or we can choose to cry. We can choose to smile or we can choose to stress. We can choose to shine our souls or we can choose to dwell in darkness. My son knows these choices by heart and always makes the right ones. I hope to one day get there as well. Until then I will do my best to live simply, to be wise, and to choose well. Until then I will do my best to love family, myself, and others. May you do the same. According to the author, the son lives a happy life due to _ . his less considering 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. The article suggests that possessing an alarm system will _ . persuade burglars not to break into your house
Which situation is an example of a feedback system in the body that maintains homeostasis? Answer: the brain signaling blood vessels to return to normal IF you lived by the sea, you'd know that typhoons are frequent visitors during summer .They bring Strong winds, heavy rain and flooding But most of the time, when people stay indoors, they're just all right. This is what the people in the Philippines used to believe - until they met the "super typhoon", Haiyan. The typhoon hit the country on Nov 8, at around 5 am, when most people were still asleep. But being at home didn't keep them safe, since few buildings remained standing once they were hit by wind as violent as 376 kilometers per hour, according to NBC News. "This is at the top end of any tropical system that we've seen on our planet," said Bryan Norcross, a weather scientist working for NBC. And so far, Haiyan has caused more than 3,600 deaths and left millions of people homeless. .But where did Haiyan get its destructive power? According to Brian McNoldy, a tropical weather expert at the University of Miami, US, Haiyan was so strong because "it had everything working for it" "All typhoons feed off the warm ocean waters," Colin Price, a weather researcher at Tel Aviv University in Israel, told National Geographic. Tropical storms are like giant engines ,powered by the heat transferred from the ocean waters to the air above. However, because of climate change, the oceans have been warming up in recent decades. "Warmer oceans will result in more intense storms," Price said. Also, Haiyan started near the equator ,where it was able to pick up more heat before heading to the Philippines. Moreover, the route it traveled was mostly along open ocean, which means no land prevented it from gathering steam . In addition, there happened to be very little "wind shear in the area this time. Wind shear is a sudden change in wind speed or direction, which can tear apart developing storms. This is like when you stir a glass of water with a chopstick: a swirl will form, 'but if you move the chopstick in the opposite direction, the swirl will quickly disappear." "When all those things _ in a certain way, you're going to get something like'Haiyan'."Jim Kossin, a scientist with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told National Geographic. Which of the following is TRUE about typhoons according to the article? Answer: During most typhoons people can keep safe just by staying at home. Dear Betty, My roommate's family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I'm excited about going, but I'm a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I'm a little worried about making mistakes. Should I bring a gift, such as candy 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? Yours, Knowing Nothing Dear Knowing Nothing, It's a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it. You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don't get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them. Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don't know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don't be shy about asking the person next to you; it's better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous. If you like the food, say so. Of course, you'll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It's also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after. Yours, Betty According to Betty, Knowing Nothing _ when going to a dinner party. Answer: should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late There are 5 channels on British television and each channel has several news programs all day long. Some programs are only for 3 minutes but some are one hour long. The people who read the news are called news presenters and because they appear on television every day, they are very famous. This is a popular news presenter in England called Trevor McDonald, in the news studio. He presents a program called "News at Ten"every Monday to Friday evenings. Another popular news presenter is Kirsty Young. She has a more modern style of reading the news, as you can see, she sits on the desk not on a chair! Television news presenters need to have worked as journalists because they have to write most of the news that they read. Sometimes an important new event happens after the program has started, so the presenter has to be able to read something without looking at it first. They must always keep calm even when there are many changes during the program. At the end of "News at Ten"Trevor McDonald says "And finally...". Then he reads an unusual or interesting item. It's a famous saying in England now. Which is the best title of this passage? Answer: Television News Hi!I'm Lucy. I am a student in Class 5,Grade 7.I have a big schoolbag. It is blue and red. The price is Y=88.1.have a nice pencil box in it. It is Y=10.Its color is white. I bought it in a store. There are four pencils and one pen. Each pencil is Y=1 and the pen is Y=12.My eraser is yellow. The price is Y=2.My ruler is orange and very long. I like them very much. I study very hard. The color of my eraser is _ . Answer: yellow
Santi's big brother Len had told him never to push all the remote control buttons at the same time. He said that something terrible would happen if he did. Santi didn't really believe this. While Len was out of the room, Santi jumped down on the sofa with the remote control in his hand. For a while, he changed from channel to channel, looking for something interesting to watch. Bored, Santi decided to see what Len could have meant. With a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure Len hadn't come back,he pushed all the buttons at once. Santi saw a bright flash,and he dropped the remote control. "I've broken it,"he thought. "Now I'm in trouble!" As he looked around for the remote control,he realized he was in more trouble than he'd thought. He was suddenly only the size of a mouse. "Oh,no!"Santi shouted. He had to find his parents quickly. Carefully, he climbed down the side of the huge sofa and hurried across the floor. In the kitchen, Santi could see that the sliding door had been left open. "If the door is open, then the cat might be in here," tiny Santi said. Just then, Santi and the cat saw each other. Santi ran for the door, the cat closing in quickly behind him. Just as the cat reached out to attack Santi, it slipped on some water and slid across the kitchen floor. Out of breath, Santi hid behind a flowerpot in the corridor. He could see his mum far away in the garden. "How will I ever get there?" he wondered. As he looked out from behind the flowerpot, there was the huge cat looking right at him! Santi rushed for the garden and then..., he woke up. "It was only a dream!" he said with a relieved smile. "Thank goodness!" The story probably tries to tell that _ There is growing concern about food insecurity in the developing world. Rising food prices, weather emergencies and political problems are deepening the struggle for families in many countries. Three UN agencies have published a report recently, saying high prices are likely to continue. Gregory Barrow, who is with the World Food Program in Rome, says, "If you look at the places where the World Food Program works, particularly in developing countries, you see people who might be spending more than 60 percent of their salary in purchasing food for their families." East Africa is suffering its worst drought in years. In Kenya, at least three and a half million people are going hungry, mostly in the north. Yet food is going to waste in central Kenya. Now, farmers there want the government to buy their food and give it to those in need. Farmers say bad roads and lack of transportation make it difficult for them to get their produce to the market. Mr. Barrow says, "It needs the government to make some arrangements such as providing transport. They can buy it at a good price, then give it to those people instead of asking for food from overseas, which is very bad. When we are throwing away food, _ are asking for food from overseas." Economists say that imports reduce local food prices, decrease productivity and increase the dependency on other countries. Farmers in Kenya hope the government can pay higher prices for their crops so that they can feed more Kenyans. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to this passage? In which way are rainforests and coral reefs different from ecosystems with few species? Fruit powered digital clock Fruit's not only good to eat, but it can also power this Fruit digital Clock. This clock uses the scientific principles on which modern electrical storage batteries are based. The acid from the fruit helps transmit an electrical flow between two metal poles. The clock is priced at US $ 15. Connecting any fresh fruit or vegetable to the clock will make it work. The fruit is a clean, renewable source of electrical power. USB vacuum Do you know the dirtiest parts of your desk are probably your keyboard and mouse? Get a USB Mini Vacuum with retractable cable and suck away all that _ . The US- made product is priced at US $14. SIM card reader Making useful USB 2.0 multi-card readers even handier, this card can also read and write data to phone SIM cards. It comes with SIM editing software. Download your phonebook to your computer. If you lose your cell phone, you can store missing phone numbers in your new one. The US-made IMOMO SIM card + Multi Card Reader is priced at US $ 19 (152yuan). Beer in your ear The beer barrel -shaped Naf Naf Hyp MP3 is a musical box that's capable of playing radio, CDs and cassettes. It's got all the standard features of the typical clock-radio, but with the relaxing look of a big beer barrel. The Danish product is priced at about US $ 130 (1,040yuan) Which of the following statements is True? Is it wrong to use someone else's wireless (Wi-Fi) connection? Just recently, a man was arrested for doing just that. At that time, he was sitting in the street with a laptop and using an unsecured wireless connection to surf the Net. What do you think about this topic? Listen to the following different views on it. For a start, if someone is using your Internet service or downloading, this will affect your speed of access or download limit. Also, it's bad for Internet service providers. They will suffer in the long run because fewer people will pay for an Internet service if they know they can get it for free. And finally, just imagine this: what if the person who is stealing your Internet connection is involved in an illegal activity? I think the police are totally right to arrest these criminals. -- by Sandra Wilkins Basically, if the person who paid for the service still has everything they paid for, what's the problem? It's just like using the light from streetlamps to read your book, or watching someone else's firework display. It's not stealing. Also, if you leave your wireless connection unsecured, then it is your own fault if someone else uses it. Just as you wouldn't leave your front door unlocked, or your car door open, neither should you leave your wireless connection open. By leaving your wireless connection open, you are inviting people to use it. Securing your wireless connection is as easy as clicking a few settings on your router . And finally, haven't the police got more important crimes to solve? They're always saying how they haven't got the manpower to solve real issues. But this is just ridiculous . -- by James Hoarley What does Sandra Wilkins think of people using others' Internet service?
There once was a woman named Mary. Mary's best friend was a dog named Buddy. Mary and Buddy went everywhere together. They had a lot in common. They both liked to play games like fetch and hide and seek. Neither of them liked to take a bath. Mary and Buddy enjoyed smelling flowers and eating hamburgers. But they also were very different from one another. For one thing, Buddy was a dog! Buddy liked talking to strangers and visiting new places. But Mary was shy. One day a man named John came by. Mary hid behind a tree when she saw him. Buddy tried to tell her it was okay, but she was too scared to listen. So Buddy went out to say hello to John. John was very nice and he liked the same games as Buddy. Mary watched Buddy chase after a ball John threw. She could tell John was a nice man. She wanted to play too. Buddy saw her watching and led his new friend over to Mary. John waved to Mary and brought her a flower. Mary smiled at him. She thought he was very kind and she wasn't as nervous as before. Buddy barked happily. Yay for new friends! Why did Buddy bark happily? The next day I sat down,with almost a hundred other candidates,for the intelligence test.I must have done all right because after about half an hour's wait I was sent into another room for a psychological test.This time there were only about fifty candidates.The interviewer sat at a desk.Candidates were signaled forward to occupy the seat opposite him when the previous occupant had been dismissed,after a greater or shorter time.Obviously the long interviews were the more successful ones.Some of the interviews were as short as five minutes.Mine was the only one that lasted a minute and a half. I can remember the questions now:"Why did you leave your last job?""Why did you leave your job before that?""And the one before that?"I can't recall my answers,except that they were short at first and grew progressively shorter.His closing statement,I thought,evealed a lack of sensitivity which helped to explain why as a psychologist,he had risen no higher than the underground railway."You've failed the psychological test and we are unable to offer you a position." Failing to get that job was my low point.Or so I thought,believing that the work was easy.Actually,such jobs--being a postman is another one I still desire--demand exactly the sort of elementary yet responsible awareness that the habitual dreamer is least qualified to give.But I was still far short of full self-understanding.I was also short of cash. What's the writer's opinion of the psychologist? Smiling girls have their luck. It fits Huang Ruijia well. The 15-year-old student comes from Chengdu Experimental Foreign Language School. On March 22, 2014,she won third place(junior category)at the 12th China Daily "21st Century Lenovo Cup" National High School English Speaking Competition, which was held in Beijing. During the competition, many contestants kept a serious face. But Huang was smiling all the time. Her good manners also won her the Best Style prize at the contest. "Smiling shows confidence, which is an important quality for speakers," said Meng Qingtao, associate research fellow at the National Institute of Education Sciences, and one of the judges . "Huang's smile brought judges closer to her, and also cured her stress." Huang only became a smiling girl two years ago. At the time she was busy preparing for a speaking competition. One day, when she was practicing in front of the mirror, she was shocked by what she saw. "I saw a poker face reciting a cold speech," said Huang. "Who would like to listen to a speaker like that?" Since then Huang decided to face everything with a smile. It has worked in speaking competitions and in many other situations in her life, such as building friendships. Once Huang and her friend had a fight and were mad at each other. After three days, Huang said she wanted to talk but didn't know how to start. She then decided to give a smile, the friend smiled back and gave her a hug in return. "This is the power of smiling," said Huang. "You can make a difference in your life simply by smiling." Huang Ruijia started to smile _ when she realized her poker face in the mirror. There is no doubt that to study abroad gives you an excellent opportunity to learn things which are very helpful in your career building. Today Canada has earned a good name in providing quality education and safe healthy environment for its students. That is why more than 130,000 international students enroll every year in famous Canadian universities. It is an ideal education destination and gives students a unique experience of education and its versatile arts and culture. Canada spends a lot on education and is ranked the highest in G-8 countries. To study in Canada is very cost effective. These universities are affordable compared to other universities in the world such as in the US, New Zealand and UK where cost of education and living is very high. According to a survey in 2006, "Canada offered the lowest tuition fees for foreign students compared to UK and Australia." The low rate of crimes and the peaceful safe environment of the country also attracts a lot of international students to Canadian universities. Canada has 92 universities and 175 community colleges and university degrees have three levels--Bachelor's , Master's and Doctoral . A Bachelor's degree in Canada is for three or four years' full-time study depending on the nature of the program you are doing. On the other hand, a Master's degree consists of two years of study. For a Doctoral program in Canadian universities, you require a minimum (/) of three to four or sometimes five years of research and study. You can also find many diploma and certification program in Canadian universities where the time is generally one year. Some of the Canadian universities are well-regarded worldwide and the degree and diploma obtained from these Canadian universities are recognized globally and promise bright future. After the completion of studies, a person could also find great job offers in Canada itself. International students require a work permit to work on campus. What's the best title for the passage? Here are some of the strangest buildings in the world. Please look at them and tell us your impressions. Stone House, Portugal The stone house in Portugal is really similar to the famous home of the Flintstones (<<>> ). It is built between two rocks and its architecture has impressed some of the greatest architects. The house was attacked by some bad people. The house is pretty comfortable inside, with a fireplace and every- thing necessary, so it is a wonderful example of modern architecture in Stone Age style! Dancing Building, Czech Republic The Dancing House, or "Fred and Ginger", is situated in Prague, the Czech Republic. It is an amazing masterpiece of architecture which has its own romantic charm. There is something so sweet in the way the buildings hug each other for a dance! It has become a symbol of the city! The Crooked House, Poland The crooked house in Poland has an extraordinary and amazing structure. It was built in 2003 with its design based on the pictures of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. It looks as if it has been taken from a cartoon: its design is "crooked", but it is balanced, so it is not ugly at all, just strange! The interesting part is how builders managed to create this genius idea, but the house is a fact and everyone admires their creativity! Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada Habitat 67 in Canada is a very interesting arrangement of cubes,which looks like the building blocks that children play with. It is pretty interesting how it was designed -- it looks so original, and at the same time the building is completely stable and comfortable for living! It was created as a main attraction for Expo 67, where it was officially exposed! Habitat 67 _ .
Our "Mommy and Me" time began two years ago. My next-door neighbor and fellow mother, Christie, and I were out in our front yards, watching seven children of age 6 and under ride their bikes up and down."I wish I could take one of my children out alone," said Christie. Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I'll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I'll take someone out. The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of "Mommy and Me" time. Christie's daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. "She's like a different child when there's no one else around,"Christie shared with me quietly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn't have to make an effort to gain attention. Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering son, Tom, doesn't stutter once during our activities since he doesn't have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam, who's always a follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together. The "Mommy and Me" time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child-talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves to be an only child at least once in a while. Right after McKenzie came back, the other children were _ . Answer: Marriages improve after children grow up and move out,according to an academic study,which suggests an" empty nest" is not always a bad thing. Popular wisdom has it that parents' relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop,because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.However, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley,has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together. In total,123 American mothers born in the 1930s were tracked for 18 years and asked to rate their satisfaction levels shortly after marrying, when they were bringing up babies,once their children reached their teenage years and finally at age 61,when almost all had" empty nests". Although not all said they were happier in general,most claimed their marriages had improved since their children had left home.Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other's company more. One of the participants in the study, which is published in the journal Psychological Science,said:"Once the kids grow up...there's some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed,so things are a little more relaxed.'' Psychologist Sara Gorchoff, who carried out the investigation,said:"The take-home message for couples with young children is' hang in there'."Her co-author Oliver John added:"Don't wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner." However, Dr Dorothy Rowe,from the British Psychological Society,said the effects of living in an "empty nest'" will depend on the parents'relationship with their children."If yod're just waiting for them to leave home so you Can get on with your life,then of course you'11 be pleased to see them go,"she said,''But if you've built your life around your children you'11 be terribly lonely."For some parents,their world falls apart when their Children leave.'' It is commonly believed that Answer: There is a popular belief among parents that schools are no longer interested in spelling. No school I have ever taught in has ever ignored spelling or considered it unimportant as a basic skill. There are, however, different ideas about how to teach it, or how much priority it must be given over general language development and writing ability. The problem is how to encourage a child to express himself freely and confidently in writing without holding him back with the complexities of spelling. If spelling becomes the only focal point of his teacher's interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to "play safe". He will tend to write only words within his spelling range, choosing to avoid adventurous language. That's why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability. I was once shocked to read on the bottom of a sensitive piece of writing about a personal experience: "This work is terrible! There are far too many spelling errors and your writing is terrible." It may have been a sharp criticism of the pupil's technical abilities in writing, but it was also a sad reflection on the teacher who had omitted to read the essay, which contained some beautiful expressions of the child's deep feelings. The teacher was not wrong to draw attention to the errors, but if his priorities had centered on the child's ideas, an expression of his disappointment with the presentation would have given the pupil more motivation to seek improvement. The major point discussed in the passage is _ . Answer: Asia-Pacific consumers are the world's largest group of online shopping lovers and many rely on Internet reviews when making purchases, research firm Nielsen said this week. The firm said 35% of consumers in Asia-Pacific used over 11% of their monthly spending to make online purchases, compared to a global average of 27% of consumers. South Koreans were the heaviest online buyers in Asia, with 59% directing more than 11% of their monthly spending to online purchases, followed by 41% in China, Nielsen said in a report. A further 31% of Asian consumers use between 6% and 10% of their monthly shopping purchases to buy items online. More Asia-pacific consumers also intend to buy online in the next six months than those from other regions, with South Koreans and Chinese the most likely to make such purchases. Among the purchases consumers in the region are likely to make in the next six months are books, clothing, shoes, airline tickets, electronic equipment and hotel reservations. "Technology and the Internet will very likely basically change how and where shoppers spend their money and interact with sellers," said Pete Gale, a managing director at Nielsen's Retailer Services. "We are seeing a strong trend in markets like Korea, where a significant population of online shoppers buy essentials such as groceries, cosmetics and nutrition supplies over the Internet." Nielsen said opinions posted online were important in Asia-pacific customers' decisions to buy products such as cosmetics, cars, software and food. Asia-pacific consumers were also the most likely to share dissatisfaction at a product on the Internet compared with consumers elsewhere. "The increasing accessibility of the Internet and unbelievable popularity of social media and online discussion forums mean today's brands have nowhere to hide, " said Megan Clarken, Asia-Pacific managing director at Nielsen's online division. Nielsen said in June that social media such as Facebook and Twitter or blogging sites had become powerful tools influencing what people buy and urged businesses to embrace the trend. Who uses more than 11% of their monthly spending to buy online? Answer: One day, a boy said to a girl, "If I have only one bowl of gruel, I shall give one half to my mother, and the other half to you." The little girl liked the little boy from then on. That year he was twelve and she was ten. Ten years passed. When their village was flooded, he _ rescued others, including old people, children, the acquainted and the unacquainted, everyone except her in person. After she was rescued by others, somebody asked him, "Since you like her, why didn't you rescue her?" He answered gently, "It's just because I love her that I first rescued others. I would never live alone if she died." So they got married. That year he was twenty two and she was twenty. Later, the whole country suffered from famine. They also had few in the pot. Finally, only an ounce of noodles were left, and they cooked a bowl of noodles in soup. He was reluctant to eat and let her eat; she was reluctant to eat and let him eat! Three days later, the bowl of noodles went moldy. At that time, he was forty two and she was forty. Since his grandfather was ever a landlord, he was criticized and denounced in public meetings. During those special years, the "Organization" asked her to "make clear the borderline and distinguish right and wrong", but she said, "I don't know who is the inner enemy, but I do know he is a good man. He loves me and I also love him. That's enough." That year he was fifty two and she was fifty. Many years passed, he and she began to practice Qigong in order to keep healthy. Because they were transferred to a town, every morning they took a bus to the city center park. When a young man offered his seat to them, each of them wouldn't take the seat because the other had to stand. Therefore, holding the handrail, they leaned each other with content smiles on their faces, and all of other passengers couldn't help standing up. That year he was seventy two and she was seventy. She said, "When we were both dead ten years later, I must turn into him and he must turn into me, then he could drink the half bowl of gruel that I give him!" Seventy years of hardship life interprets this true love! The best title of this story should be _ . Answer:
The Maldives faces the threat of extinction from rising sea levels, but the government said on Thursday it was looking to the future with plans to build homes and a golf course that float. An increase in sea levels of just 18 to 59 centimeters would make the Maldives -- a nation of tiny coral islands in the Indian Ocean -- virtually uninhabitable by 2100, the UN's climate change panel has warned. President Mohamed Nasheed has vowed a fight for survival, and last month he signed a deal with a Dutch company to study proposals for a floating structure that could support a convention centre, homes and an 18-hole golf course. "It is still early stages and we are awaiting a report on the possibility," a government official said. The company, Dutch Docklands, is currently building floating developments in the Netherlands and Dubai. There was no immediate comment from the firm but its website said it undertook projects that make "land from water by providing large-scale floating constructions to create similar conditions as on land". The Maldives began work on an artificial island known as the Hulhumale near the crowded capital island of Male in 1997 and more than 30,000 people have been settled there to ease _ . The city, which has a population of 100,000, is already protected from rising sea levels by a 30-million-dollar sea wall, and the government is considering increasingly imaginative ways to combat climate change. Nasheed, who staged the world's first underwater cabinet meeting in October to highlight his people's dilemma , has even spoken of buying land elsewhere in the world to enable Maldivians to relocate if their homes are flooded. He has also pledged the Hulhumale to turn his nation into a model for the rest of the world by becoming "carbon neutral" by 2020. His plan involves ending fossil fuel use and powering all vehicles and buildings from "green" sources. Which of the following is NOT Nasheed's idea? _ Answer: To build more artificial islands for people to settle there. A senior United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) official on May 29 praised China for its remarkable achievements in children s welfare. A. H. M. Farook, UNICEF's operations area officer for China and Mongolia said that China "can be very satisfied to tell the whole world what can be done with limited resources to help its children to grow healthily and happily." China's child population makes up one-filth of the world's total. "The reason behind the tremendous achievement is China's long tradition of caring for children home at home and in society." he said. "What's more is that Chinese people have always given special attention to children who are in special need." The UN official made the remarks when addressing a group of 50 children and staff from the Beijing Children's Welfare Home at the Shangri-la Hotel, Beijing. The hotel invited the orphans to share snacks, sing, dance and play games at a park inside the hotel for a "Share the Sunshine" party, as a prelude to celebrations to mark the Children's Day. The Beijing children s Welfare Home, set up soon after New China, was founded in 1949, has at present more than 400 children. A leading official of the welfare institution said that the children live a happy life and that the agency spends about 400 yuan a month for an average orphan. An average Chinese worker earned 440 yuan a month during the first quarter this year. Gu Xiaojin, deputy secretary-general of the China Youth Development foundation (CYDF), said people from all walks of life had contributed to the welfare of the Chinese children. She said that CYDF set up the Project Hope in 1989, which calls on people across the country to donate money to help poor children to continue their schooling. By the end of last year, she said, CYDF had collected nearly 700 million yuan in donations, which has helped the establishment of 2, 074 Hope primary schools and enabled more than 1.25 million dropouts to return to school classrooms. Three "Hope Stars" also attended the party. They were model teenagers chosen among students who are economically supported by the Project Hope to further their nine-year compulsory studies in the poverty-stricken regions. They will be torchbearers for the Chinese Team for the upcoming Atlanta Olympic Games this year. Every year the Beijing Children's Welfare Home spends _ on the orphans. Answer: 1,920, 000 yuan or so Yuanxiao, Chinese Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival ends the New Year's celebration. It is a fun festival. People carry lanterns and go into the streets at night to watch lion or dragon dances, play games and light firecrackers. Yuanxiao, a sweet dumpling made of rice flour, is the traditional food eaten during the festival. In Chinese, the festival is named after this food, which is said to represent family unity and happiness because it is sticky, round and sweet. The Dai WaterSplashing Festival The Dai minority in Yunnan celebrate the WaterSplashing Festival in the middle of April. The festival celebrates the Dai Lunar New Year and lasts for three days. There are dragon races and fireworks displays on the first day and a fair on the second day. At the fair, young lovers throw love pouches to each other. The third day is the actual watersplashing day, people splash water on each other to wash away illnesses and bad luck and bring good luck for the coming year. Losar Losar is a Tibetan word for New Year."Lo" means "year" and "sar" means "new". As the most popular festival among Tibetans, it is celebrated from the first day in the first month to the fifteenth day based on the traditional Tibetan calendar. On the last day of the year, people clean their houses and prepare for the festival. On the first day of the New Year, Tibetan women usually wake up early at about 5 o'clock, and prepare for a special kind of barley wine for the family which have tsamba, brown sugar, and milk dregs. The whole family have to drink the wine in their beds and then continue to sleep, while the housewives sit in front of their windows, waiting for the sunrise. As soon as they see the sun rays in the east, they go to the well for the first bucket of water in the New Year. It is said that water in the well is the freshest and sweetest at this time and the family who get the lucky water earliest will be the most fortunate. How many days does Tibetan Losar last? Answer: 15. Millions of people die of hunger in southern Africa every year, but when Zambia was offered thousands of tons of free maize by the US, the government politely said no. "We don't know whether the food is safe," said Zambia's commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Dipak Patel. His worries are shared by countries around the world that are in two minds about America's genetically modified(GM,)crops.Just last week, EU member nations were discussing whether or not to import GM sweet corn from the US. Ever since people started farming, they have tried to crossbreed plants to make them stronger or better tasting. At one time, only related plants could be crossed with each other. But when GM techniques were developed in the 1970s, scientists were able to put a single gene from a living creature into an unrelated creature. This means they can make crops more productive and resistant to disease by adding genes from other species.They can also create food with special characteristics, such as "golden rice", which is enriched with vitamin A. But many people believe GM foods are a health risk. At the moment, the official argument is that GM foods "are not likely to present risks for human health". But there are still many questions to be answered as the foods are produced in different ways. Some experts believe the genetic material added to plants can transfer to humans and give damage to our bodies. Further harm could be caused by the genes from GM plants crossbreeding with naturally produced crops. People in China are also getting worried about GM foods. More than 70 percent of the country's soybean oil is produced from imported GM soybeans. Meanwhile, an investigation last November found that 12 of 60 famous foods sold across the country were GM products. The government has begun to introduce a marking system for GM goods so that people can choose whether or not to eat them. What's the author's attitude towards GM foods? Answer: Neutral. Interest in searching for international careers has increased to a high level in recent years, improved by lasting personnel shortages that are causing companies to search beyond their home borders for talent. Professionals seek career experience outside of their home countries for a variety of reasons. They may feel the need to recharge their batteries with a new challenge. They may want a position with more responsibility that encourages creativity and initiative . Or they may wish to expose their children to another culture, and the opportunity to learn a second language. When applying for a job, one usually has to hand in a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). The two terms generally mean the same thing: one or two pages describing one's educational qualifications and professional experience. However, guidelines for preparing a resume are constantly changing. The best advice is to find out what is suitable regarding the corporation culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. The challenge will be to include two or more cultures in one page. The following list is a good place to start. * Educational requirements differ from country to country. In almost every case of 'crossborder' job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not be an adequate description. Provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience. * Pay attention to the resume way you use: chronological or reversechronological order. Chronological order means listing your 'oldest' work experience first. Reversechronological order means listing your current or most recent experience first. Most countries have preferences about which way is most acceptable. If you find no specific guidelines, the general preference is for the reversechronological way. * If you hand in your resume in English, find out if the recipient uses British English or American English because there are differences between the two versions. For example, university education is often referred to as 'tertiary education' in the United Kingdom, but this term is almost never used in the United States. A reader who is unfamiliar with these differences may think that your resume contains errors. The author believes that a person who applies to work overseas _ . Answer: seeks either his own development or his children's education
Did you sleep the day away on March 21? Well, you should have done that because it was World Sleeping Day. This is the one day of the year when people around the world care about their sleep and ask themselves a lot of questions about sleep. Why do we need sleep? Nobody as yet can give a correct answer to this question. However, tests have shown that lack of sleep over about four weeks leads to a strong drop in body temperature, great weight loss and finally sickness. Different people need different amounts of sleep. Eight hours a night is considered the average amount of sleep. For teenagers the least number of sleeping hours advised by doctors are ten hours for primary school students, nine for junior highs and eight for senior highs. Some people seem to get along just fine with very little sleep at night. Leading American scientist Thomas Edison said that sleep was a waste of time. He did, however, take naps during the day. On the other hand, Albert Einstein, another great scientist, said he needed at least ten hours' sleep a night. Here are some of the most useful suggestions, for a good night's sleep. Go to bed regularly. Use your bed only to sleep. Don't exercise in the evening. Keep the bedroom dark and quiet. Drink a glass of milk before sleep. Which is the best title of this passage? Answer: Like schools in China, American schools begin in September after a long summer vacation. There are two terms in a school year. The first term is from September to January and the second is from February to June. Usually American children begin to go to school when they are five years old. Most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they finish high school. But unlike middle school students in China, high school students in America take only four or five subjects each term. They usually go to the same classes every day and have homework for every class. After class they do all kinds of interesting things. After high school, many students go to college. They may go to a small or a large one. They usually have to pay a lot for their higher education. So lots of students work after school to make money for their studies. ,: Students only stay at school for about _ years before they go to college. Answer: If you have ever been sad because of failure,please remember,for often,achieving what you set out to do is not the most important thing. A boy decided to dig a deep hole behind his house.As he was working,a couple of older boys stopped by to watch."What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors."I want to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" the boy answered excitedly.The older boys began to laugh,telling him that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.After a while,the boy picked up a jar.He showed it to the visitors.It was full of spiders,worms and other insects.Then he said quietly and confidently,"Even if I can't dig all the way through the earth,look what I found along the way!" The boy's goal was far too difficult,but it did cause him to dig.And that is what a goal is for--to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen,in other words,to cause us to dig! Not every goal will be fully achieved.Not every job will end successfully.Not every dream will come true.Not every love will last.But when you fall short of your aim,maybe you can say,"Yes,but look what I found along the way!Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!" It is in the digging that life is lived.And I believe it is joy in the journey that really matters. According to the passage,which of the following is TRUE? Answer: I decided to have dinner in the hotel, for I arrived late one night on a business trip. As I was finishing my meal, an elderly couple came in to dine. They were holding hands and had lovely smiles on their faces. They sat three tables from me. I was amazed at the love they showed for each other. It seemed to strike home all the more, because it was shortly after ending a 20-year marriage and I still had pain in my heart. My waiter was also their waiter. As I paid my bill, I inquired as to what their bill was. He informed me, and I gave him $40 to pay their bill. He asked if I knew them and I told him "No, I just wanted to repay them for the love that they were showing to each other," and then I departed. The next day I entered the restaurant to dine before my departure. After I had been seated, the waiter who served me the night before told me that the strangest thing happened after I left the restaurant. When the elderly couple went to pay for their meal, they were informed that it had been paid. When they inquired who had done this, the hostess told them they had no idea who I was, just retelling what I said. The couple were amazed. They looked around, asked for the bill of two young couples who were seated together, paid their bill and departed, saying "Love begets Love" to the amazement of the hostess and waiter. I smiled and said "That's nice," and proceeded to order my meal. About 45 minutes later, I finished my meal and was about to head out, but my waiter was nowhere to be found. I waited and waited and finally walked over to the hostess stand and explained that I needed to pay for my meal and hurry to the airport. She smiled and explained that I would not have to pay for my meal, because both the waiter and she felt compelled to pay my bill due to the joy that was brought to the faces of the elderly couple and the amazement of the young couples. When I told her that they didn't have to do that, she said with a smile "Love begets Love." Which of the following proverbs can best explain the theme of the story? Answer: In the last eight years, a lot of bees have disappeared. Scientists have been studying why those bees have been leaving their hives and not returning. They believe that their living environment may be changing. Now, the US government is stepping in to help fight this problem. President Barack Obama has asked for $50 million(310 million yuan ) in his 2015 budget to fight this problem, and has announced the start of the Pollinator Health Task Force. This group will work on keeping the US bee population healthy and strong, and will show people what they can do to help bees. Even though many people may not like bees, they are an important part of how we grow food. As pollinators , they move from one plant to another. Through pollination, plants can grow seeds and fruit. It's said that at least 90 kinds of plants including nuts, fruits and vegetables depend on bees for pollination. The new Pollinator Health Task Force will work hard to protect bees, and build new hives for pollinators. It also plans to start a public education activity to make more people know the importance of pollinators, and actions that can be taken to protect them. The group will reach out to schools, libraries, museums and so on. Obama said that helping save the bee population will avoid other losses for the agricultural sector , and will help protect the health of the environment. According to scientists,maybe the change of _ has caused the problem of bees' disappearance. Answer:
A king often felt unhappy and he asked a clever old man how he could be happy. "That's very easy," said the old man. "You just need to put on a happy man's shirt and you'll be happy." The king believed the old man and began to look for a happy man. He visited many countries and met kings, professors and others. But they all said they were not happy. One day he saw a poor farmer working in the field. The farmer was singing all the time and looked very happy. The king came up to him and asked, "Are you happy, my good man?" "Yes, quite happy," the farmer answered. "Can you sell me your shirt?" asked the king. "My shirt?" the farmer answered in surprise. "But I don't have a shirt. In fact, I never have one." ,. The king felt very unhappy. He wanted _ . Answer: A person who forgot to bring water with them will likely die of dehydration Answer: Recently a couple in New Zealand were forbidden from naming their baby son 4 Real. Even though New Zealand has quite generous rules about naming children, names beginning with a number are not allowed. They decided to call him Superman instead. In many countries around the world, unusual names for children are becoming more popular, especially since the increasing trend for celebrities to give their children _ . In Britain, you can call a child almost anything you like--the only restrictions on parents relates to offensive words such as swear (,) words. Some parents choose names which come from popular culture. For example, there have been six boys named Gandalf after the character in the Lord of the Rings novels and films. Equally, names related to sport are fairly common--since 1984, 36 children have been called Arsenal after the football team. Other parents like to make up manes, or combine names to make their own unique version, a method demonstrated by Jordan, the British model, who recently invented the name Tiaamii for her daughter by combining the names Thea and Amy (the two grandmothers). She was quoted as saying that the accent and double letters were added to make the name "more exotic". Other countries have much stricter rulers when it comes to naming children. Countries including Japan, Denmark, Spain, Germany and Argentina have an approved list of names from which parents must choose. In China, there are some rules about what you may call a child --- no foreign letters or symbols are allowed. As a result a couple were recently banned from calling their baby @. In Britain, some names which were previously thought of as old-fashioned have become more popular again, such as Maisie or Ella for a girl, or Alfie or Noah for a baby. But the most popular names are not the odd ones. The top names are fairly traditional -- Jack, Charlie and Thomas for boys and Grace, Ruby and Jessica for girls. The two couples in China and in New Zealand have something in common that _ . Answer: Films in Beijing Theater This Week HARRY POTTER (III) American film Director: Alfonso Cuaron Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson Time: From Monday to Wednesday, at 6:00 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=50 KUNGFU HUSTLE Chinese film Director: Zhou Xingchi Starring: Zhou Xingchi, Liang Xiaolong, Yuan Hua Time: From Wednesday to Friday, at 9:00 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=40 A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES Chinese film Director: Feng Xiaogang Starring: Liu Dehua, Liu Ruoying, Ge You, Li Bingbing Time: From Friday to Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=40 (Half on Sunday for children) TROY American film Director: Wolfgang Peterson Starring: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis Time: From Tuesday to Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. Ticket Price:Y=30 If you are free on Friday morning, you can see the film _ in Beijing Theater. Answer: Bailey and her friend Kara were bored one Saturday. It was a hot summer day. They didn't want to stay inside any longer but they didn't know what to do. They were tired of watching TV inside. Suddenly, Kara had an idea. She said, "Bailey, we could make some money." "How?," asked Bailey. "Well, it is hot outside," said Kara. "People are thirsty out there. We could make money by making some lemonade and iced tea and have people pay for it." "That is a great idea," answered Bailey, "let's do it!" Kara had made some iced tea with her mom earlier that day. She asked her mom permission to use it. Her mom said yes. She and Kara made two pitchers of lemonade. They got a cooler full of ice and made a sign so people knew what was for sale. Kara's mom helped them get a table and chairs and set up out on the corner in their neighborhood. It was so hot out that people who saw their stand came to buy drinks right away. Their first visitors to their stand were their friends, Abby and Molly. In a half hour, they had to close their stand. They were all out of lemonade and iced tea. They had made a lot of money. They split the money and each got ten dollars. It was a great day. How long was their stand open? Answer:
If a rabbit hears a distant sound clearly, it can be attributed to its A. sensitive nose B. soft fur C. elongated ears D. long feet Answer: C. elongated ears Light for the City Edison and his assistants came to New York to set up an electric power system. They hoped it would provide enough electricity to light up a part of the great city. They bought several machines with them. These were called generators , which produced electricity power for lamps in Edison's building. Soon there were lights for the building. Edison lived in a room facing the street and he often worked over night. The light burned brightly and steadily and he often worked over night. People often came and stopped their horse-drawn carriage to look. Everyone knew that Thomas Edison was in town. First, the inventor and his assistants produced several large generators. A great deal of power would be needed to light up even a small part of the city. Then the workers were busy digging deep trenches in the hard earth below the city streets, and Edison had fourteen miles of wire laid into the trenches. The wire connected each building to a generator. Setting up an electric power system was not an easy job. It took a year and a half. In September, 1882, the job was finished. A small group of men stood around Edison inside the power house. The big moment came at last. The inventor, taking a deep breath, pulled a switch. The electric lights flashed up. "Very good! Very good!" a man nearby shouted to praise Edison for what he had done. "Sir," said Edison, "this is only the beginning!" And Edison was right. Soon Edison's lamp were lighting up cities all over the world. The generators they brought with them could produce as much as electricity as _ needed. A. Edison's building B. a small part of the city C. the whole city D. the world Answer: A. Edison's building Archaeologists have discovered 45 ancient Egyptian tombs in Lahoun, Egypt. The site is about 70 miles south of Cairo, Egypt's capital. In most of the tombs they found a decorated painted wooden coffin. Each one captains a mummy . In one tomb, 12 coffins from around 1500 B.C. were found piled on top of one another, so the actual number of mummies comes to 57. The oldest tombs that were discovered date back to around 2750 BC. The discovery will give scientists more information about Egypt's ancient religions. Egypt's archaeology chief, Zahi Hawass, said many of the mummies were covered in cloth with drawings of ancient Egyptian gods. The cloth is also decorated with texts from the Book of the Dead and scenes featuring ancient Egyptian gods. The book contains instructions and information that ancient Egyptians thought would help dead people deal with difficulties that they would come across in the afterlife. Abdel Rahman El-Aydi is the head of the archaeological team that made the discovery. He said some of the tombs were decorated with religious texts. The ancient Egyptians believed these texts, like the Book of the Dead, would help the dead person to cross through the underworld. The recent discovery of the 45 tombs isn't the first in Lahoun. Last year, some 53 stone tombs dating back to various ancient periods were found in the same area. How many tombs have been discovered in the same area in the past two years? A. 45. B. 98. C. 70. D. 57. Answer: B. 98. The length of daylight changes as the seasons change during the year. What causes these changes in daylight? A. Earth's tilt on its axis B. the Sun's tilt on its axis C. Earth spinning on its axis D. the Sun spinning on its axis Answer: A. Earth's tilt on its axis Sleet and hail are forms of A. clouds B. energy C. evaporation D. precipitation Answer: D. precipitation
Tony Morrison has won this year's Nobel Prize for Literature. Tony Morrison is sixty-two years old. She was born in Lorain, Ohio. She is the daughter of farmers who moved to Ohio from the southern state of Alabama. She studied at Harvard University in Washington D.C. and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Her first success came in 1970 with the book calledThe Bluest Eye. It tells the story of a young black girl in a society where golden hair and blue eyes are considered beautiful. Her next book was calledSulla. It tells the story of two black girls and pain in their lives as they grow up in a small town in Ohio. Her bookThe Song of Solomonis about a black man who tries to forget his past as a slave and begin a new life. AndTar Babyexplores the relationship of a black man and a black woman. In the story the writer argues that black men and women can not get along with each other until they join together to fight racial hatred . Miss Morrison won America's highest prize for literature, the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her bookBeloved. It is a powerful story of a slave woman who kills her baby daughter so she will not grow up to be a slave, too. Her latest bookJazzwas published last year. It tells about the sad stories in the lives of a black man and woman who moved from a small town in the south to New York City. It took place in the 1920s,a time when Jazz music became popular in America. Tony Morrison is a professor in literature at Princeton University in New Jersey. She says the most wonderful thing about winning the Nobel Prize is that it has finally been awarded to an African American writer. The prize is valued at more than 800,000 dollars. It will be awarded on Dec.10 in Stockholm in Sweden. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? When her ancestors first came to the U.S. The temperature of the sun is over 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface, but it rises to perhaps more than 16 million degrees at the center. The sun is so much hotter than the earth that matter can exist only as a gas, except at the core. In the core of the sun, the pressures are so great against the gases that, despite the high temperature, there may be a small solid core. However, no one really knows, since the center of the sun can never be directly observed. Solar astronomers do know that the sun is divided into five layers or zones. Starting at the outside and going down into the sun, the zones are the corona, chromosphere, photosphere, convection zone and finally the core. The first three zones are regarded as the sun's atmosphere ends and the main body of the sun begins. The sun's outermost layer begins about 10,000 miles above the visible surface and goes outward for millions of miles. This is the only part of the sun that can be seen during an eclipse such as the one in February 1979. At any other time, the corona can be seen only when special instruments are used on cameras and telescopes to shut out the glare of the sun's rays. The corona is a brilliant, pearly white, filmy light, about as bright as the full moon. Its beautiful rays are a sensational sight during an eclipse. The corona's rays flash out in a brilliant fan that has wispy spikelike rays near the sun's north and south poles. The corona is thickest at the sun's equator. The corona rays are made up of gases streaming outward at tremendous speeds and reaching a temperature of more than 2 million degrees Fahrenheit. The rays of gas thin out as they reach the space around the planets. By the time the sun's corona rays reach the earth, they are weak and invisible. All of the following are parts of the sun's atmosphere EXCEPT the _ . core Once there was an old man in a town. He always forgot a lot of things. So his wifealways had to say to him, " Don't forget this !" One day he went on a long trip alone. Before he left home, his wife said, " Now you have all these things. They are what you need for your trip. Take care of your things during the trip." He went to the station, bought a ticket and got on the train with it.. About half an hour later, the conductor began to see the tickets. He came to the old man and said, " Will you please show me your ticket ? " The old man looked for his ticket in all his pockets, but he could not find it. He was very worried. " I can not find my ticket. I really bought a ticket before I got on the train, " said the old man. " I believe you bought a ticket. All right, you do not have to buy another one." Said the conductor kindly. " But how can I know where I'm going ? I can not remember my station!" the old man said sadly. The old man bought the ticket _ he got on the train. before Which is a nonrenewable resource? oil Winter solstice, as the name shows, means the coming of winter. As an important solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, it is also a traditional holiday for Chinese, which is also called "", "","", etc. Generally, winter solstice occurs between December 21st and 23rd. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, five days constitutes a pentad and three pentads constitutes a solar term. One year is divided into twelve periods and twelve climates which are regarded as twenty-four solar terms. The Winter Solstice is one of twenty-four solar terms. On this day, in the Northern Hemisphere the period of daytime is the shortest of the year and the period of night is longest. . In Northern China during winter solstice there is a custom of eating dumplings. Winter solstice is in _ . December
Once my father asked me to hold his hammer while he repaired something, so we could have some time to talk to each other. For 22 years, after I left home for college, he called me every Sunday at 9 am. He was always interested in my life and how my family was doing, and I never once heard him complain about his own life. Nine years ago when I bought my first house, my father, 67 years old, spent eight hours a day painting it for three days. He would not allow me to pay someone to have it done. All he asked for was a glass of iced tea and for me to hold a paint brush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy. Five years ago, at age 71, my father spent five hours putting together a swingset for my daughter. Again, all he asked was that I get him a glass of iced tea and talk to him. But again, I was too busy. Four years ago, my father drove all the way from Denver to Topeka, with an eight-foot Colorado blue spruce in his trunk, so that my husband and I could have a part of Colorado growing on our land. I was preparing for a trip that weekend and couldn't spend much time with him. Then, one day, my father telephoned me as usual, this time from my sister's home in Florida. We talked about the tree he had brought me, "Fat Albert", but that morning he called it "Fat Oscar", and he seemed to have forgotten some things. I had to get to church, so I cut the conversation short. The call came at 4:40 pm that day: my father was in hospital in Florida with an aneurysm . I got on a plane immediately, and on the way I thought of all the times I had not taken the time to talk to my father. I realized that I had no idea who he was or what his deepest thoughts were. I promised that when I arrived, I would make up for lost time. I arrived in Florida at 1 am. My father had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk to me. Which words best describe the writer's father? A Honest and modest. B Strict and demanding . C Talkative and positive . D Caring and thoughtful. Answer: D I am a native of Bangladesh-a country in Southeast Asia,next to India.I came to Winona State University(USA)in the fall of 1986 and transferred to St.Cloud in 1989.During my first semester in Winona,I had a roommate named Mike.The day after I arrived,he asked me if I wanted a pop. Back home we refer to carbonated drinks as cold drinks. So, when he asked me to have a pop,I thought he was referring to popcorn. I said,very politely,"No,thank you.I am not hungry." He had a puzzled look on his face, one that I did not figure out for at least a week or so until somebody pointed out to me that pop meant soda and had nothing to do with corn. Speaking of pop,my very first night at Winona State University,Bangladeshi students took me to a restaurant named Papa John's. I ordered my meal and finally asked for a Pepsi.The waitress handed me an aluminum can. Now,back home we have only bottled pop drinks,and the only time I was exposed to a can was on an airplane. However,those cans were a bit different because one could open it by pulling on the tab,which came off.Imagine my embarrassment as I tried to use the same technique at the restaurant.Obviously,the tab would not come off when I struggled with the can,and I spilled the pop all over the table. My fellow Bangladeshi students and a few others at the nearby tables got a good laugh out of this.Finally,one of them showed me how to use that device. Bangladeshi cuisine is definitely spicier and usually hotter than Midwestern food.I conveyed this to my American friends whenever we talked about cuisine.Well,last fall,I was down in Orono,Minnesota,at my friend Steve Haack's house.He had told his mother all these horror stories about how I loved "hot" food.So,when it was time for Sunday brunch,I found out how Steve's mother had decided to whet my appetite.She baked some spicy enchiladas ,and she had used one full 16-ounce can of jalapeno peppers. Talking about hot--this thing was a burning.As I was swallowing platefuls of it in front of them,the Haack family were busy pouring milk,juice,or cold water down their throats to cool off the burning,Steve's dad said,"After this,I am going to need a big cork to plug the hole in my stomach."So saying,he went for a second helping. We do not have any snow in Bangladesh,so my first encounter with snow was during the end of the year in 1986 in Winona.I came out of my dorm one morning,and it was snowing! It seemed like a shower of little white feathers.I tried to catch them,but they would melt away almost instantly--so light, so soft,and so white. I walked around the campus and it was hardly cold. Everything seemed quieter and softer. If I should ever go to heaven and have a chance to have a window with a view, this would probably be one of the scenes I would like to see. For the past five years,Minnesota has been my home away from home.During this time I have had my share of laughs and tears,achievements and disappointments. But looking back on all these years,I can say today that if I had to do it all over again,I wouldn't change a thing. According to the passage,the author's life in Minnesota should be_. A boring B difficult C bitter-sweet D cheerful Answer: C Look at these two photos. They are John and Ann. They're my good friends. All of us like music and we often sing together . John lives near my house and we are in the same class. John is 15 years old and 1.68 metres tall. He has blond hair and blue eyes. John's English is very good and sometimes he helps me with my homework. He often wears a T-shirt and shorts. But in the photo, he is wearing a yellow shirt and black pants. Ann is in another school. She is short with brown hair and brown eyes. She looks very pretty. She has dance classes every Saturday afternoon and Ann can dance very well. Her favourite clothes are blouses and skirts. In the photo, she is wearing a dress and a hat. When does Ann have dance classes? A Every Saturday morning. B Every Saturday afternoon. C Every morning. D Every evening. Answer: B Charlie studied in a famous college for four years. He studied hard and did well in all his subjects. He hoped to become a good teacher. This year he left the college and began to work in a middle school. He likes his students and is strict with them. He does his best to make his classes lively and interesting. One day he carefully explained a chemical reaction to the students of Grade 2 in the chemistry lab. "Be careful, everyone," he said loudly. "Before I make the experiment,there're twenty five atoms of carbon ,but after I finish it, there're twenty four atoms of carbon left!" He stopped to watch the classroom and hoped his students would go on explaining it. But the young men looked at each other and nobody answered him. He had to ask, "What happens? What makes the atom lost?" The classroom was very quiet and none of the students looked at their teacher. "Who can tell us where it has gone?" Suddenly a soft voice came from the back row, "We did not see anybody leave the lab!" In fact, _ . A Charlie failed that day B the student in the back row didn't watch her teacher carefully C the student in the back row hadn't learned chemistry before D Charlie failed in making the experiment Answer: A The future of agriculture must achieve several goals at the same time. First, it now appears that we will have to double world food production in the next 40 years due to population growth, increasing meat consumption and pressure from biofuels . We will also have to reduce the environmental impacts from our farming practices, which have caused widespread damage to soils, ecosystems, waters and even the atmosphere. In fact, agriculture's impacts are as bad as climate change as an environmental concern. Besides, we will have to improve food security for the world's poor. While the Green Revolution of the 1960s made it possible to feed hundreds of millions more people than in earlier eras, the number of the under-nourished in the world has started to rise again. Finally, we will have to increase the recovering ability of agriculture from shocks. Today, our high-efficiency, globalized world has many benefits, but it is vulnerable to destruction, whether from droughts, diseases or sudden price rises. We must start building better food systems to better keep us away from future shocks. Currently, there are two models of agriculture: local and organic agriculture vs. globalized and industrialized agriculture. Each has been strongly supported and severely criticized, but neither of these models, standing alone, can fully meet our needs. Organic agriculture teaches us important lessons about soils, nutrition and pest management. Unfortunately, organic food provides less than 1% of the world's calories, mostly to the wealthy. It is hard to imagine organic farming developing to feed 9 billion. Globalized and industrialized agriculture has benefits of high output and low labor demands. Without it, billions of people would have starved. However, it has come with enormous environmental and social costs, which cannot be sustained. Rather than voting for just one solution, we need a third way to solve the crisis. Let's take ideas from both sides, creating new, hybrid solutions that increase production, save resources and build a more sustainable agriculture. There are many promising avenues to pursue. A new "third way" for agriculture is not only possible but also necessary. Our problems are huge, and they will require everyone at the table, working together toward solutions. What's the best title for the passage? A Organic Agriculture Vs. Industrialized Agriculture. B The Goals of Future Agriculture and Its Way Out. C A Third Possible and Necessary Way for Agriculture. D Modern Globalized and Industrialized Agriculture. Answer: B
People who are worried about bad breath often reach for a toothbrush or a gun. But in the future, personal breath monitoring may include far more than fresh breath. In face, breath is so rich in chemical compounds that fully understanding it has proved challenging. Each breath contains gases like carbon dioxide, the volatile remains of recent snacks, medicines and even compounds taken in from things like carpeting or various kinds of air pollution. But breath detectors can sort out these substances with increasing sensitivity . Scientists are building electronic sniffers that examine the exhaled air for signs of cancer, asthma , and other diseases. "There are clear signatures in the breath for liver disease, kidney disease and heart disease. Breath is a rich mixture that can reflect out state of health and disease." said Dr. Raed Dweik, director of the Cleveland Clinic, adding "Breath analysis is the future of medical testing." He and his partners are testing a desktop system called BreathLink for use in rapid identification of diseases. The system is designed to work wherever there is an Internet connection. To use BreathLink, a person breathes into a long tube, and a breath sample is collected and analyzed within the system. Then it can detail chemical concentrations of the breath in graphics. Dr. Raed Dweik said, "If you examine patients of asthma, you will find they have higher levels of nitric oxide in their exhaled air. It reflects their abnormal symptoms in the lungs." His tests have reached 85 percent accuracy so far in spotting people with some illness. But some trained dogs, he pointed out, can sniff out cancer with 99 percent accuracy--although without the ability to identify particular compounds the way some detectors can. "We are getting better and better," he said. "But whether we will ever approach the accuracy of the dog--we don't know." What's the author's attitude towards the future of breath detectors? Positive In New Britain, Connecticut, a new official in charge of schools named Kelt Cooper wants to end high truancy rates among public school students, and he's suggesting financial punishments to get job done. A plan to fine students up to $75 for each day they skip school is now being considered by New Britain authorities. The concept of fining kids for skipping school may come as a shock, but it's not new. In Ohio, the parents responsible for a student guilty of habitual truancy can be fined up to $500 and/or be required to perform up to 70 hours of community service. Until recently, students in Los Angeles could be hit with a $250 punishment for each count of truancy; in early 2012 the law was changed and the heavy fines were removed, though a $20 punishment may still be handed out if a student truants for the third time. Fines for truancy are also in effect overseas. In the UK, The Guardian reports, parents can be fined PS50 (about $80) per skipped school day. The punishment doubles if it's not paid within 28 days. The question is: Do fines like this work? The vast majority of authorities in the UK said that, indeed, they do. The fines were believed either "very successful" or "fairly successful" by 79% in reducing truancy, according to a survey. If the plan is passed in Connecticut, it's unclear how effective the law might be, how to make parents and students obey the law and what might happen if they refuse to pay. However, local officials seem to be willing to _ . According to the Hartford Courant: "The mayor agrees that truancy is a real issue in New Britain schools, and what's been done in the past hasn't been working to reduce truancy." said Phil Sherwood, assistant to Mayor Timothy O' Brien. And what do the students think? In the New Britain Herald, one 17-year-old entering her senior year called the plan "ridiculous" and predicted that the punishments will bring about negative effects on the court system. Besides, "I don't see the point," she said. "Kids will just try harder not to get caught." We can learn from the passage that _ . truancy is a serious problem in New Britain This is not a diet. It's a simple way to lose weight~ And you don' t even have to give up the food you love or join a gym. You just follow some habits that thin people have. Keep them, and you'll become thin. ( 1 ) Wake - up When you wake up in the morning, sit up slowly without using your hands. With legs straight out, bend( ) forward until you feel sore in your back. It will burn about 10 calories (,). (2) Start with soup When you have a meal, order a clear soup, and have it before having the main food. In this way, you'll feel fuller, so you'll eat less when the main food comes. (3) An apple (or more) a day Apples are full of fiber and water, so your stomach will want less. The study shows that people who eat at least three, apples a day lose weight. (4) Stand up and walk around Every time you use the mobile phone, stand up and walk around. Heavy people sit on average two and a half hours more each day than thin people. This skill is very important as standing up and walking around will burn 50 or more calories. Use these skills, and you will have a big weight loss. ,A, B, C, D,. (5,2,10) We should have _ first if we want to eat less main food. Soup. Thoughts on Shenzhen Airport Traffic Accident March 1 was a very sad day for everyone. On that day a huge traffic accident happened at the Shenzhen Airport. Nine people lost their lives and 23 people were injured. For those people, it was a night- mare! To learn a lesson, we must know who caused the accident and why. The answer looks obvious. It's the car owner's fault because she drove her car into the people. However, is that true? Is that her fault? What about the dead and injured people? Did they have their own faults as well? The answer is yes. According to news reports, at that time, many people were standing in the turning section of the viaduct watching the airplanes take off and land. Suddenly, a car appeared. Maybe the car owner got nervous, so she mistakenly stamped on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal, which caused the accident. In my opinion, of course the driver should be blamed because she caused the accident. However, for those dead and injured people, although we feel sorry for them, they have their own responsibilities as well. They should have been aware of their own safety. They shouldn't have been standing in a dangerous place to watch the airplanes take off and land. The accident happened on _ . March 1 How much do you know about school life in Singapore? In Singapore, many middle school students spend a lot of time on their studies. People there always think that good schooling is the ticket to success . So, many of these students try their best to get good results in their exams. They have a lot of homework every day and exams are usually a big problem to them. Sometimes, a few even have to go to evening classes after school. Schools have many activities outside school hours. The students can join in sports and games, music and dance, swimming and rock-climbing. They also join in community service. In their free time, most students like to listen to pop music. Hollywood movies, Hong Kong and Singapore movies are very popular, too. Some of them also spend their free time searching the Internet, e-mailing their friends, playing computer and video games. They sometimes go to cafes, fast-food restaurants, shopping centers and big bookstores. So life for middle school students in Singapore is not easy but rich and colorful. The meaning of the last sentence in the passage is that _ . the middle school students' life in Singapore is hard, but it's interesting
Penguin Group Ordinary People Change The World! Penguin Group and TFK have partnered together to help teachers show their students how they can make the world a better place. Building the encouraging lives of historic figures including Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein, this attractive program takes a look at the real life stories of ordinary young people who grew up to become extraordinary adults! Download the classroom poster, student worksheets and teacher's guide provided below. Classroom Poster : You can be a Hero, too. Classroom Poster Teachers Guide : Ordinary People Series Teacher's Guide Student Worksheet : Who's Your Hero? Worksheet Student Worksheet : Hero Matchup Worksheet PGA Junior League Golf It Takes a Team! TIME For Kids and PGA Junior League Golf have developed a program all about using teamwork to reach goals. Download this poster to get your students involved in the power and fun of teamwork and cooperation. Encourage your class to go to timeforkids.com/teampoll and take the poll! Classroom Poster : It Takes a Team! International Fund for Animal Welfare(IFAW) Cats, Dogs, & Us TIME for Kids has partnered with IFAW to present an educational animal awareness program called Cats, Dogs, & Us. This project is sure to attract and engage students with discussion starters, in-class activity ideas, a video viewing guide, and many other in-depth and fun resources. Preview IFAW's Cats, Dogs, & Us video at http://ifaw.org/cats-dogs-and-us Classroom Poster : Cats, Dogs, & Us Classroom Poster Classroom Poster / Teachers Guide : Cats, Dogs, & Us Teachers Guide Full View Teachers Guide : Cats, Dogs, & Us Teachers Guide Pages Special Olympics Special Olympics Project UNIFY(r) in TIME and Special Olympics have teamed up to promote understanding of people's differences in the classroom, school and community. Special Olympics Project UNIFY(r) is an education-based project that uses sports and education programs to activate young people to develop communities where all youth are agents of change-promoting respect, dignity and support for people with mental disabilities. TFK Extra : in TIME Project UNIFY(r) Student Guide Teachers Guide : in TIME Project UNIFY(r) Teachers Guide Which of the following is designed for students to learn to cooperate? PGA Junior League Golf MELBOURNE, Australia - A kangaroo frightened by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, throwing the pet underwater and hitting the owner in the stomach with its back legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old struck the kangaroo in the throat. Rickard said he was walking his blue dog, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek northeast of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond, when the kangaroo turned and knocked the pet underwater. When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him, attacking with its back legs and tearing a deep cut into his stomach and across his face. "I thought I might take action to drag the dog out from under his grasp, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me," Rickard, 49, told The Herald Sun newspaper. "It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5 feet high, they don't go around killing people." "I was stuck having to hold on to the dog with both hands because it was half drowned and I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just attacked me." He added, "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water, so at that point I struck him in the throat and that made him back off a little bit. "I don't think I'll ever be able to watch kangaroo programs quite the same as I used to -- it might bring back a couple of bad memories." Kangaroos rarely attack people but will fight if they feel threatened. Dogs often chase kangaroos, which have been known to lead the pets into water and defend themselves there. Rickard said he ended the attack by hitting the kangaroo in the throat adding Rocky was "half-drowned" when he pulled him from the water. The kangaroo attacked the man and his dog probably because _ . the dog chased it When I stepped out the plane from Miami into Charlotte, North Carolina, airport for a connecting flight home, I immediately knew something was wrong. Lots of desperate people crowded the terminal. I quickly learned that flights headed to the Northeast were called off because of a storm. The earliest they could get us out of Charlotte was Tuesday. It was Friday. A gate agent stood on the counter and shouted, "Don't ask us for help! We cannot help you!" I joined a crowd that ran from terminal to terminal in search of a flight out. Eventually, I found six strangers willing to rent a van with me. We drove through the night to Washington, where I took a train the rest of the way to Providence. The real problem, of course, is that incidents like this happen every day, to everyone who flies, more and more often. It really gets to me, though, because for eight years I was on the other side, as a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines (TWA). I know the days are gone when attendants could be written up if we did not put the lines napkins with the TWA logo in the lower right-hand corner of the first-class diners' trays. As are the days when there were three dinner options on flights from Boston to Los Angeles in economy class. When, once, stuck on a tarmac in Newark for four hours, a planeload of passengers got McDonald's hamburgers and fries by thoughtfulness of the airline. I have experienced the decline of service along with the rest of the flying public. But I believe everything will change little by little, because I remember the days when to fly was to soar . The airlines, and their employees, took pride in how their passengers were treated. And I think the days are sure to come back one day in the near future. Many people crowded the terminal because _ . the flights to the Northeast were canceled Where is that noise coming from? Not sure? Try living with your eyes closed for a few years. Blind people are better at locating sounds than people who can see, a new study says, Without the benefits of vision the ears seem to work much better. Previous studies have shown that blind people are better than others at reaching out and touching the sources of sounds that are close by. Researchers from the University of Montreal wanted to see if blind people were also better at locating sounds that are far away. Twenty-three blind people participated in the study. All had been sightless for at least 20 years. Fourteen of them had lost their vision before age 11. The rest went blind after age 16. The experiment also included 10 people who could see but were wearing blindfolds. In one task, volunteers had to pick the direction of a sound coming from about 3 meters away. When the sound was in front of them or slightly off center in front, both groups performed equally well. When sounds came from the side or the back, however, the blind group performed much better than the blindfolded group. The participants who had been blind since childhood did slightly better than those who lost their sight later. Recognizing the locations of distant sounds can be a matter of life-or-death for blind people, say the researchers. Crossing the street, for instance, is much harder when you can't see the cars coming. Still, the researchers were surprised by how well the blind participants did, especially those who went blind after age 16. In another experiment, the scientists also found that parts of the brain that normally deal with visual information became active in locating sound in the people who were blind by age 11. These brain parts didn't show sound-location activity in the other group of blind people or in the sighted people. The scientists now want to learn more about the workings of brains of "late-onset" blind people. If people were asked to tell the direction of a sound from the side, who would perform best? Those who have gone blind since children. Are you feeling stressed out? Anxious? Is your mind racing in circles? Are you worried about all the things you have to get done? Here's a quick--acting trick that can make you feel better. If you are sitting at a desk, place the palm of your hand on the desk, and take a moment to focus on what the surface of the desk feels like. Is it hot or cold, rough or smooth? Put all of your attention on the sensations in your palm, on how the desk feels underneath your hand. If you are not at a desk, do the same exercise by placing your palm on any nearby object--a wall, a chair, even your opposite arm. When you are feeling stressed, your thoughts tend to take on a life of their own. You may be thinking about things you wish you had done differently in the past or worrying about things that you have to do in the future. These thoughts will make you feel anxious. The anxiety, in turn, increases the number of anxious thoughts. If you can ground yourself even for a moment in the present, you will break the cycle and feel instant relief. Paying attention to what objects in your environment feel like forces you to pay more attention to the present moment than to negative, anxiety--provoking (,)thoughts about the past or about the future. Try using your other senses too: Try closing your eyes for a second(don't try this while driving!) and breathe deeply through your nose. What do you smell? When eating, put all your attention on how your food tastes. What do you hear? What little noises are there around you that you didn't notice before? Look closely at an ordinary object. Do you see anything you haven't noticed before? By saying "Is your mind racing in circles", the author intends to mean that _ . you worried a lot and the anxious thoughts will increase your anxiety
Question: Can technology improve your trip? Meet Judy Williams. When she and her husband recently checked into Blu Hotel in Zurich, a clerk asked them to sign the dotted line on a room rate hundreds of dollars higher than their online offer. "It was not a cheap stay," says Williams, a lawyer from Billings, Mont. But it became more of one after her husband fired up the Booking.com app he'd used to book their room on his smart phone. "As soon as we showed him the cost, he honored it," Williams says. Technology may create challenges for travelers but it can also solve them. It's more than making sure of a hotel cost. The latest Booking.com can help users select hotels by location, make a secure booking and view the confirmed cost so they never need to re-discuss their hotel price. Another pain point for travelers is traffic that eats away precious vacation time. There's a new app called Commute which is aimed at users who have to make the same trip every day. But if you're headed to Los Angeles or Honolulu, where visitors can easily get stuck in hours of heavy traffic, Commute can help. Just input basic information about your destination and expected leaving time, and the app will start sending you traffic information 15 minutes before you leave. Testing Commute proved to be a challenge for me, because my home address is about 900 miles from my place of work. But if you have only a short distance to travel through a heavily populated area, you can use Commute to avoid traffic jams. Another source of travel-related problems is money. That's particularly true when you're dealing with a foreign currency. The latest Travel Money Tracker helps travelers prevent currency mix-ups. It immediately changes a country's native currency to yours, so you know exactly how much that Espresso in Milan costs in dollars. It can also warn you when you're overspending, which can sometimes be a problem when you're on vacation. The only catch, of course, is that you have to remember to record all your purchases. Taken together, these apps solve some of the most common travel problems. But not all of them. Some things, no smart phone can fix, which means I get to keep my job - for now at least. What is the function of Travel Money Tracker? A. It tells people how much Espresso costs. B. It warns people when they are shopping. C. It changes the native currency to yours. D. It records all people's purchases. Answer: C Question: We've organized the following information to help you prepare for your arrival at Boston College.Please feel free to contact our Admissions Office at any time over the coming months with any questions. Your First Steps... Please return the Acknowledgment Form sent with your acceptance letter to Dean Robert Howe, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, McGuinn Hall 221,140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. #For Ph.D.Acceptances and Master's Acceptances with funding, we ask you to reply by April 25, 2008. #For Master's Acceptances without funding and Non-degree Acceptances, we ask you to reply by May 31, 2008. #You should also contact your department to receive any department information. Over the Coming Months... Get informed about services around campus.We have provided links for you to the following offices. #Student Services After you return your Acknowledgment Form, you should receive a letter containing your BC Username and Eagle ID number.With this information you can reach email and Agora.In Agora, BC's online community, you can update your student information, check your student account, and register for classes. The Office of Student Services issues your BC Eagle One Card.This ID card acts as your campus library card and meal card. Student Services' website offers a complete listing of courses for the school year, as well as student forms and other important student information.The Office of Student Services also handles billing. #Housing ... CLICK HERE for more information. If we can be of any more help to you, just contact us.Congratulations again! We look forward to you joining our University! The above page can most probably be read _ . A. on the Boston College website B. in the Boston College newspaper C. on BC Eagle One Card D. at Student Services Answer: A Question: Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it. Recite and repeat in conversation. When you hear a person's name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial. Ask the other person to recite and repeat. You can let other people help you remember their names. After you've been introduced to someone, ask that person to spell the name mad pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you're making to learn their names. Admit you don't know. Admitting that you can't remember someone's name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. "I'm working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?" Use connections. Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note: "Vicki Cheng -- tall, black hair." To reinforce your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible. Limit the number of new names you learn at one time. When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later. Go early. Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. There're fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others --- an automatic review for you. What does the text mainly tell us? A. Tips on an important social skill. B. Importance of attending parties. C. How to make use of social skills. D. How to recite and repeat names. Answer: A Question: In 1970, Oscar, owner of a 100-acre tract, prepared and duly recorded a subdivision plan called Happy Acres. The plan showed 90 one-acre lots and a tenacre tract in the center that was designated "Future Public School." Oscar published and distributed a brochure promoting Happy Acres which emphasized the proximity of the lots to the school property and indicated potential tax savings "because the school district will not have to expend tax money to acquire this property." There is no specific statute concerning the dedication of school sites. Oscar sold 50 of the lots to individual purchasers. Each deed referred to the recorded plan and also contained the following clause: "No mobile home shall be erected on any lot within Happy Acres." Sarah was one of the original purchasers from Oscar. In 1976, Oscar sold the remaining 40 lots and the 10-acre tract to Max by a deed which referred to the plan and contained the restriction relating to mobile homes. Max sold the 40 lots to individual purchasers and the 10-acre tract to Pete. None of the deeds from Max referred to the plan or contained any reference to mobile homes."Assume for this question only that in 1977 the school board of the district in which Happy Acres is situated has voted to erect a new school on the 10-acre tract. In an appropriate action between the school board and Pete to determine title, the result will be in favor of A. Pete, because the school board has been guilty of laches. B. Pete, because his deed did not refer to the subdivision plan. C. the school board, because Pete had constructive notice of the proposed use of the tract. D. the school board, because there has been a dedication and acceptance of the tract. Answer: D Question: A schoolgirl saved her father's life by kicking him in the chest after he suffered a serious allergic reaction which stopped his heart. Izzy, nine, restarted father Colm's heart by stamping on his chest after he fell down at home and stopped breathing. Izzy's mother, Debbie, immediately called 999 but Izzy knew doctors would never arrive in time to save her father, so decided to use CPR. However, she quickly discovered her arms weren't strong enough, so she stamped on her father's chest instead. Debbie then took over with some more traditional chest compressions until the ambulance arrived. Izzy, who has been given a bravery award by her school, said: "I just kicked him really hard. My mum taught me CPR but I knew I wasn't strong enough to use hands. I was quite afraid. The doctor said I might as well be a doctor or a nurse. My mum said that Dad was going to hospital with a big footprint on his chest." "She's a little star," said Debbie, "I was really upset but Izzy just took over. I just can't believe what she did. I really think all children should be taught first aid. Izzy did CPR then the doctor turned up. Colm had to have more treatment on the way to the hospital and we've got to see an expert." Truck driver Colm, 35, suffered a mystery allergic reaction on Saturday and was taken to hospital, but was sent home only for it to happen again the next day. The second attack was so serious that his airway swelled, preventing him from breathing, his blood pressure dropped suddenly, and his heart stopped for a moment. He has now made a full recovery from his suffering. Why does the author write the news? A. To describe a serious accident. B. To prove the importance of CPR. C. To report a 9-year-old girl's brave act. D. To call people's attention to allergic reaction. Answer: C
Hong Kong (CNN)--A Dutch artist and designer has come up with a device he hopes will suck pollutants from Beijing's smog-covered skies, creating columns of clean air for residents. An electromagnetic field caused by copper coils will pull small pieces in the smog to the ground where they can be easily cleaned. "It's like when you have a balloon which has electricity and your hair goes toward it.Same with the smog," says artist Daan Roosegaarde.His studio has reached an agreement with the Beijing government to test the technology in one of the capital's parks.With its skies regularly covered by filthy gray smog, Beijing this week announced a series of emergency measures to deal with the problem in public. Roosegaarde says an indoor experiment has already proved it works and he is confident the results--with the help of a team of scientists and engineers--can be copied outside."Beijing is quite good because the smog is quite low. It's in a valley so there's not so much wind.It's a good environment to explore this kind of thing.We'll be able to purify the air and the challenge is to get rid of the smog so you can see the sun again." Roosegaarde acknowledges that projects like this are a way of drawing attention to the problem, rather than a complete solution to Beijing's serious and terrible air pollution."This is not the real answer for smog.The real answer has to do with clean cars, different industry and different lifestyles," he says. However, he hopes the project will make a difference by allowing the city's residents to realize the difference between breathing clean and smog-filled air."I want to take a park in Beijing, 50m by 50m square, and make it the cleanest park in Beijing," he says.He is still discussing with local authorities which park will be used. Roosegaarde's studio has worked on several projects that use static electricity in unusual ways:creating a road that charges electric cars and a floor that generates electricity when danced on. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Roosegaarde is confident of his project. Below are four ads on the website. l Artful Experience It's an artful experience even if you're artistically challenged. Adults, teens, and children of all ages are welcome at Contemporary Art studio. We provide everything: stamps, idea books, a little coaching, and a lot of encouragement. Drop in anytime. It's creative fun for everyone to paint your own pottery ! No experience needed. Our studio will show you how. It's as easy as 1-2-3! sumplastpl@hotmail.com l Chinese-English Translator This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates looking to put their Chinese skills to use. Requirements: native speaker of English; business translation experience is preferred but not a must; able to fulfill several projects on time; excellent reading skills in Chinese. If interested, please email staff@young.com or call 453-268-130. l Ancient Object Market Here you find a large variety of old European furniture, statues and paintings. We also offer a large selection of clocks in bronze, wood, white metal. Organizing buying tours based on the needs of our clients is something else we do. We pick you up from the airport, make hotel reservations and drive you around to the best wholesale dealers. Our email is artworkdeal@hotmail.com. l _ We are delighted to offer you an efficient and reasonably priced service of high-class car rentals with qualified drivers. Suitable for your journeys to and/or from Rome's airports or other destinations. We will be there to meet you on your arrival at the airport and drive you to your destination in complete safety and comfort. If you need the service, please call 668-556-429. If Mr. Black wants to buy a painting, he can _ . Answer: send an email to artworkdeal@hotmail.com "All I could see was two sets of red eyes below me," said Dave Gatty, an Australian farmer who spent seven days up a tree in remote bush land to escape crocodiles. Gatty, 52, said he was forced to take such drastic action after he accidentally went into a crocodile-infested area of Queensland. He only had two meat sandwiches to keep him going, as crocodiles moved beneath his tree each night until his rescue. Gatty said he decided it was safer to hold out for a rescue team than try to make a run for it. His problems began after he fell off his horse while out in the northern Australia outback. Dazed and bleeding, he climbed back on his horse and hoped it would lead him home. It was only when he regained his senses he realized that he had been taken into crocodile-infested area. "I had to get off the horse and I fell straight into a crocodile nest," he told reporters. "That frightened me. I couldn't go back, it was too far and too dangerous, so I headed to the nearest high ground and stayed there, hoping someone would come and find me before the crocs did." Gatty explained how each night two crocodiles would sit at the bottom of the tree staring at him. Although Gatty's two sandwiches ran out after three days, he was able to get running water during the day and knew rescuers were looking for him as he could see helicopters in the air above his tree. "If I hadn't seen the crocs circling me, and if I hadn't fallen into the croc nest, I would have made a push for it. But I knew the safest thing was for me to sit and wait," he said. A chocolate bar, given to him by rescuers after being moved to safety by using a winch , "was like a gourmet (delicious)meal," he said. Which of the following did not help Gatty survive the accident? Answer: Chocolates On the first day of class, Mr. Whiteson gave us a lecture about a creature called cattytiger, a kind of cat-like animal that completely disappeared during the Ice Age. He passed round a skull as he talked, and we all felt interested and took notes while listening. Later, we had a test about that. When he returned my paper, I was very, very surprised. There was a very large cross through each of my answers. And so it was with everyone else's in our class. What had happened? Everyone was wondering and couldn't wait to get the answer. Very simple, Mr. Whiteson explained. He had made up all that story about the cattytiger. There had never been such an animal. So why none of us noticed that and how could we expect good marks for the incorrect answers? Needless to say, we got very angry. What kind of teacher was this? We should have guessed it out, Mr. Whiteson said. After all, at the very moment he was passing around the cattytiger skull (in fact, a cat's), hadn't he been telling us that it completely disappeared during the Ice Age? Clearly he was telling a lie. But we just kept busy making notes and none used his head. We should learn something from this. Teachers and textbooks are not always correct. We failed in the test because we didn't _ . Answer: think carefully This is No. 12 High School. My friend Dongdong is in this school. Dongdong has short hair, a big nose, a small mouth and big eyes. He is thirteen. He is in Class Two, Grade Seven. He's a good student. He has two good friends in his school. They are Jim and Jack. They're brothers . They are fourteen. They have small noses, small eyes, but they're very tall . Jim, Jack and Dongdong are in the same class. Mr. Lee is their teacher. They are good friends. ,. (10) Dongdong is in _ . Answer: Class 2, Grade 7
A student recorded the amount of rain that fell in one year in his city. What is the best way for him to organize his information? Answer: if a river ran through a region, what would be found close by? Answer: What's onOscar Film Themes Symphony Concert Film highlights accompanied by live performances of movie theme music by the China Opera and Dance Drama Theatre Symphony Orchestra, which has recorded the music for many films. Familiar tunes will come from such flicks as Titanic, Jurassic Park and Waterloo Bridge. Where: Nationality Cultural Palace Theatre When: March 8, 7:30 pm Admission:80-380 yuan Tel:6528 7674 ext 508 Fantastic View All the Way The mountains in this area are not very high, but the vistas are excellent. This walk is gentle and very interesting, going through valleys, over passes, along a ridge and through a few little tranquil villages that are located in amazing places. Many sites along the walk offer panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. Where: Pinggu, northeast of Beijing When: March 9, meet 8:30 a.m. outside Starbucks at Lido Hotel, or 9 am at Capital Paradise front gate, return 5 p.m. Admission: adults 150 yuan, children 100 yuan Tel: 13701003694 Email: fjhikers @ yahoo. com..uk Spring Greetings Paintings in bold colors in a traditional Chinese style by young artist Tian Xifeng are displayed to welcome the spring. Tian is a student of famous bird-and-flower painting artist Wang Qing. He has won several prizes at various national painting exhibitions and developed a style emphasizing vivid close-ups of natural scenes. Where: Melodic Gallery, 14 Jianwai Dajie, opposite Friendship Store When:till March 31, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission: free Tel: 65188123 Cala, My Dog Directed by Lu Xuechang, starring Ge You. The story is about a middle- aged working man, known as Lao Er, whose chief source of stability and comfort in life is his dog, Cala . One day, when his wife is out walking Cala, a policeman confiscates the unregistered canine. As Lao Er endeavors to recover his dog , the difficult circumstances of his life are revealed. Chinese with English subtitle . Where: Dongchuang Theatre, 3 Xinzhongjie, Dongzhimenwai When: March 13 and 20, 8: 30 p.m. Admission: 20 yuan Tel: 64169253 If you are a music lover you can go to _ on Women's Day. Answer: Television is a relatively stable advertising medium. In many ways, the television ads today are almost the same to those two decades ago. Most television ads still feature actors, still run 30 or 60 seconds, and still show a product. However, the different medium of the Internet causes unique challenges to advertisers, forcing them to adapt their practices and techniques. In the early days of Internet marketing, online advertisers used banner and pop-up ads to attract customers. These techniques reached large audiences, led to many sales leads, and came at a low cost. However, a small number of Internet users began to consider these advertising techniques annoying. Yet because marketing strategies relying heavily on banners and pop-ups produced results, companies invested growing amounts of money into purchasing these ad types. As consumers became more complicated, frustration with these online advertising techniques grew. Independent programmers began to develop tools that blocked banner and pop-up ads. A major development in online marketing came with the introduction of pay-per-click ads. Unlike banner or pop-up ads, which originally required companies to pay every time a website visitor saw an ad, pay-per-click ads allowed companies to pay only when an interested potential customer clicked on an ad. More importantly, however, these ads are not affected by the pop-up and banner blockers. As a result of these advantages and the incredible growth in the use of search engines, which provide excellent places for pay-per-click advertising, a great number of companies began turning to pay-per-click marketing. However, as with the banner and pop-up ads, pay-per-click ads came with their shortcomings. When companies began pouring billions of dollars into this emerging medium, online advertising specialists started to notice the presence of what would later be called click fraud : representatives of a company with no interest in the product advertised by a competitor click on the competitor's ads simply to increase the marketing cost of the competitor. Click fraud grew so rapidly that marketers sought to diversify their online positions away from pay-per-click marketing through new mediums. Although pay-per-click advertising remains a common and effective advertising tool, marketers adapted yet again to the changing elements of the Internet by adopting new techniques such as pay-per-performance advertising. As the pace of the Internet's evolution increases, it seems all the more likely that advertising successfully on the Internet will require a strategy that avoids constancy and welcomes change. What does the author imply about the future of pay-per-performance advertising? Answer: Guided Walking Week April 2016 Dates: April 30th-May 7th 2016 Location: Abdet, Costa Blanca A week of guided walking in the mountains around Abdet. Highlights include the climbing of Valencia's highest summit (Sierra de Aitana), traveling completely around the impressive Puig Campana, and several explorations in the Sierra de Serrella. Ancient trails lead through spectacular canyons to abandoned settlements situated high in the mountains. You will discover the snow trader routes which lead from the incredible snow holes high in the mountains down to the villages and towns on the coast. These years, golden eagles have made a return to this area, and you may also see other animals -- wild goats (Cabra), foxes, wild pigs and red squirrels. As part of the week you are invited to help clear some local walking paths. This involves clearing collapsed walls and rocks, cutting back fallen trees. This is of course optional and is just for half a day, it's actually great fun! Price: PS499 Includes Accommodation in the beautiful mountain village of Abdet All food -- good home cooking Beer, wine, soft drinks Snacks and post walk treats Packed lunches&drinks (except cafe/bar visits) Expert guiding Photos/Videos of your days in the mountains Airport pick-up/return PS25 each way (fly to Alicante) *Single room supplement PS75 To book or get further information, please contactinfo@abdet.com. What may you enjoy if you pay PS499? Answer:
Question: Li Siyi, a student from Jinan Foreign Language School, takes up a new habit. She refuses to believe everything that she reads. "Not everything in books is true," she said. Many other students in her school think the same thing as Li. They learned this through finding a mistake in their Chinese textbook. They learned a Tang poem, Ci Beigu Shanxia, last year. There was a picture that showed a boat in full sail on a river. "But according to the famous line from the poem, feng zheng yifan xuan, the sail shouldn't be spread ," said Zhang Jiayi, Li's classmate. To get the right answer, the students turned to their Chinese teacher, Liu Yan. Liu and the students looked up books, searched on the Internet and made sure that the People's Education Press had really made a mistake about the picture. The students wrote a letter to them about the mistake. "I think my students did a right thing but I never expected a reply," said Liu. "I took it as a way of letting them know the importance of spirit of questioning." To their surprise, one month later, they got the reply from Gu Zhenbiao, the expert of Chinese textbooks in middle schools. Gu said sorry for the mistake and he also said he really thinks the students are very great. When Liu read the letter loudly to all the students, everyone was excited. "We are very happy we have our own ideas!" said Li. Where did the students from Jinan Foreign Language School find a mistake? A. In their Chinese textbook. B. In a Tang poem. C. On the Internet. D. In their Chinese class. Answer: A. In their Chinese textbook. Question: As a published author with a degree in English, 33-year-old Tom Williams has achieved more than many people will in a lifetime. What makes those achievements more impressive is that he's dyslexic. At school Tom, who has worked as a literary agent and now has a full-time job with a digital publishing company, would often find keeping up in lessons so tiring that he would fall asleep. "I found it quite frustrating that everybody else had neat handwriting and could spell and I just couldn't do what they could," says Tom, who has written a respected biography of crime writer Raymond Chandler. It wasn't until the age of 17 that he was given a test for dyslexia that showed why he'd struggled for so long. He was always studying for A-levels including English. "My teacher didn't think I'd get the grades I was capable of," he says. "So she pushed for me to be tested and I'm grateful that she did." Until his diagnosis Tom had been ranked somewhere in the middle of his classes at school. He couldn't understand why assignments would come back covered in red ink. However, after Tom's diagnosis, when his condition began to be taken properly into account, he found himself at the top of the class. To study English well, he wrote down new words as he came across them and tried to find somewhere quiet and well lit to read and write. He says people were often surprised that someone with dyslexia wanted to pursue a degree in English. Similarly, when he went to study at University College London, the tutors were initially taken aback at his degree choice. Not everyone understands dyslexia so well. "If teachers aren't trained to recognize signs of dyslexia, they'll think children are less able," he says. To make sure that doesn't happen and to encourage a deeper understanding of the condition among those affected by it, Tom becomes a supporter of the charity Dyslexia Action. Dyslexia Action is intended to . A. get dyslexia understood better by people B. call on more people to help the disabled C. promote effective ways of teaching kids with dyslexia D. introduce how to use dyslexia to its greatest advantage Answer: A. get dyslexia understood better by people Question: I have many new teachers in high school, but Lori Runkle, my English Language and Composition teacher, is my favorite teacher. Ms. Runkle enjoys getting to know more about students, so I have many chances to talk with her after class. I have always wanted to become a journalist . Since Ms. Runkle used to be a journalist back in the United States, she has introduced many helpful journalistic writing skills to me. Although she is my teacher, Ms. Runkle and I are more like friends. She often invites my classmates and me to take part in different activities outdoors. For example, I went to listen to a journalist's speech, which helped me better understand current events . Not only does Ms. Runkle talk with me outside of school, she is also a great teacher in the classroom. English Language and Composition is a really hard subject for a second language learner. We felt worried in the beginning, but Ms. Runkle really makes an effort to help us out. In class, Ms. Runkle always encourages students to question everything to keep us active. One part of class I love the most is when groups of students are requested to give speeches on events that are happening in the world. It requires a lot of deep thinking and I really learn quite a lot from it. I love Ms. Runkle very much. She not only helps me to get good scores, but also acts as a good friend and always gives me advice on life. The author's favorite part of Ms. Runkle's class is when Ms. Runkle _ . A. tells them how to get good scores B. asks them questions about the world C. asks them to describe current events D. tells them about events that are happening Answer: C. asks them to describe current events Question: A UN report said that around 60 million people across the world are drinking polluted water. Some 4,500 children die every day because of polluted water. A report showed that environmental problems kill 3 million children under five years old each year, making them one of the key contributors in more than 10 million child deaths each year. Dangerous factors include indoor and outdoor air pollution, water pollution. Another study showed that parents and scientists from seven countries including the United States and India think pollution is the biggest threat to children's living environment. Mrs Green tries to teach her daughter Susan by setting a personal example. She picks out recyclable waste and uses the water from the washing machine to wash the toilet. Chinese children mostly learn about environmental protection in school. Some non-governmental organizations and child centres also teach kids to protect the environment. "More parents have known about it. Family is now playing a more important role," says a Chinese official. Vera Lehmann, a German scientist says many Chinese now think more of pollution. "I was surprised to find many schools in China are willing to educate the children on environment," Lehmann said. "There has been a big change between now and ten years ago when I first travelled here." From the example of Mrs Green, we can know that she _ . A. takes good care of her daughter B. is strict with her daughter C. likes housework very much D. tries to lead a green life Answer: D. tries to lead a green life Question: No Car Day was first started by 34 cities in France on September 22,1998.It was started to protect the environment.By now,more than 1,000 cities around the world have had a No Car Day. The first No Car Day in China was in Chengdu in 2001.Other cities,including Taipei,Shanghai and Wuhan,also support the day. In Beijing,more and more people are joining the campaign.It asks drivers to leave their cars at home for one day each month and walk or ride a bike to work.It also calls on Beijingers not to use cars on June 5(World Environment Day).The _ for the day is,"If we drive for one less day,we can have one more nice day." So far,more than 200,000 drivers have shown their support."We can't control the weather,but we can choose not to drive,"said Wu Zonghua,a car club chairman.Beijing is trying to have 238 blue sky days this year.In the first quarter of 2012,Beijing only had 52 blue sky days.This was 11 days less than the number for the same period the year before.Much of the dust comes from the desert,but cars cause most of the air pollution.We must do more for No Car Day. The first No Car Day fell on _ . A. February 2 nd B. June 5th C. July 5 th D. September 22nd Answer: D. September 22nd
American parents generally can choose any name they want for their children. They may choose a name because it honors a family member. Or they may choose a name just because they like it. A website called Baby Center lists some unusual names given to American babies born last year. Some were named for characters in old stories, such as Hero, Thor and Ulysses. Other people named their babies after kinds of food, like actress Gwyneth Paltrow. She named her daughter Apple. Other people named their babies Banana, Pumpkin and Cookie. Still some babies were named for places. These included Brazil, India and Rome. Some parents used names of famous people from history such as Newton and Hannibal. Other parents named their babies after flowers or the weather. These babies were named Buttercup, Iris, Sunshine and Thunder. Recording artists and movie actors influence some parents' choices of names. Babies were named Beyonce, Charlize, Reda, Pierce, Shajira and Whitney. Movie actors themselves often give their babies unusual names. For example, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt named their baby daughter Shiloh. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes named their little girl Suri. Some American parents do not want unusual names. They want their baby's name to honor their religious faith. Such names include Abraham for boys or Sarah for girls. And many people give their babies the same name as a family member or good friend. The United States Social Security Administration once published a list of the most popular names for American girls and boys born. Many of the top ten boys, names are from the Jewish and Christian Bibles. How did American parents usually name their children? A. In a way they please. B. In a scientific way. C. In a careless way. D. In a common way Answer: A. In a way they please. Snow-melting Agent A heavy snow can kill pests and this means a good harvest next year.This will bring as well as trouble to urbanites. On Nov.16,2003,a cold air current brought a heavy snow to Beijing.To prevent traffic jams,related government departments mobilized people to clear off snow on streets. One of the most effective ways to clear off snow on roads is to scatter snow-melting agent on the roads.The major component of the snow-melting agent is salt.The snow-melting agent can make snow stop from freezing,make it easier to clear off the road,and allow traffic to flow smoothly.But it also brings about some hidden dangers.In the spring of 2003,over 300 000 trees in Beijing urban districts died.After analyzing soil around these trees,experts discovered that the salt content of these soils was 392 times higher than normal.Where did the excessive salt come from?After investigating,forestry experts found that when clearing snow in the winter,people usually heap snow containing snow-melting agent at trees' roots,and that when the snow melts,this agent penetrates the soil and increases its salt content.The snow-melting agent indirectly killed the trees. Statistics show that during a heavy snow in 2002,over 1000 tons of snow-melting agent was scatterred on streets in Beijing.Snow water containing a large amount of snow-melting agent got into the soil through sewers. In addition,salt in the snow-melting agent can expedite the corrosion of steel bars in concrete buildings and cause the concrete to crack and peel,shortening the life of roads. Scientists and government officials are required to solve traffic problems caused by heavy snows as soon as possible and at the same time try to reduce the negative effects of the snow-melting agent.This is a difficult problem placed before them.Related authorities have framed some local criteria to regulate the production and use of snow-melting agents. Now,more harmless snow-melting agents are being developed.Now that even snow-melting agents that meet today's criteria must still be used carefully,we have to rely more on our manpower and machines to clear off snow. This year,in addition to using snow-melting agents,Beijing will use a large number of snow vehicles to clear snow on roads.In more places,citizens are mobilized to clear snow with their hands.This may be a test of a city's civilization level. According to the text,the most practical way to clear off snow is to _ . A. use snow-melting agent as much as possible B. only use more harmless snow-melting agent C. encourage people to clear snow with their hands D. use more snow vehicles Answer: C. encourage people to clear snow with their hands Many people go to school for an education. They learn languages, history, politics, geography, physics, chemistry and mathematics. Others go to school to learn a skill so that they can make a living. School education is very important and useful. Yet, no one can learn everything from school. A teacher, no matter how much he knows, can not teach his students everything they want to know. The teacher's job is to show his students how to learn. He teaches them how to read and how to think. So, much more is to be learned outside school by the students themselves. It is always more important to know how to study by oneself than to memorize some facts or a formula . It is actually quite easy to learn a certain fact in history or a formula in math. But it is very difficult to use a formula in working out a math problem. Great scientists before us didn't get everything from school. Their teachers only showed them the way. Edison didn't even finish primary school. But they were all so successful. They invented so many things for mankind. The reason for their success is that they knew how to study. They read books that were not taught at school. They would ask many questions as they read. They did thousands of experiments. They worked hard all their lives, wasting not a single moment. Above all, they knew how to use their brain. People go to school to _ . A. learn several subjects B. make a living C. get an education D. learn from teachers Answer: C. get an education John sent for a doctor because his wife was ill. He called the doctor and made sure they would meet at five. He arrived at the doctor's at twenty to five. He thought, "It's a little bit earlier. I'll wait for a moment. It's good to keep the time." Then he stopped his car in front of the doctor's. He looked around and saw a noisy square not far from here. He went there and sat down on a chair to enjoy the last light of afternoon sun and make himself quiet. He saw some children playing and some women talking to each other happily. Suddenly he heard a girl crying. He came up to her and asked some questions. Then he knew she got lost. John tried to find out her address and took her home. The girl's parents were very thankful. Then John hurried to the doctor's. The doctor said angrily when he saw him, "You're late. Why did you keep me waiting for twenty minutes? " John said nothing but one word--"Sorry! " From the story, we know John is a _ . A. busy person B. quiet person C. helpful person D. lucky person Answer: C. helpful person Which list contains only nonliving things? A. coins, snakes, birds B. water, rocks, sunlight C. rubber ball, plants, house D. soil, fish, air Answer: B. water, rocks, sunlight
Scientists who discovered a new way of generating electricity from water say they may have come across an alternative source of clean energy to rival wind and solar power. The breakthrough, which scientists say is the first new way to generate electricity in 160 years, could lead to batteries that use water instead of poisonous substances. The scientists made the discovery when they were investigating what happens when tap water is forced through extremely narrow glass tubes. Water squeezed down the tubes, each of which was narrower than a tenth the thickness of a human hair, generating a small electric current that ran the length of the tube. To produce a larger electric current, the team tried forcing water through a glass water filter that contained thousands of narrow channels lined up side by side. "When we took a syringe of water and squeezed it through the filter, we got enough power to light a light bulb," said Larry Kostiuk of the University of Alberta in Canada. "The harder you push the syringe, the more electric current you get." The current is produced because of an effect in the glass tubes. When they are filled with water, positively charged ions fixed in the tubes are washed away, leaving a slight negative charge on the glass surface. When water is then forced along the tube, the surface _ negatively charged ions in the water while positively charged ions are attracted down the tube. The result is a net flow of positively charged ions that sets up an electric current. According to Dr Kostiuk, no one has ever thought to use water to produce electricity in this way. "The last time someone came up with a way of generating electricity was Michael Faraday in 1839," he said. "So this is the first new way of generating electricity in 160 years, which is why we are so excited about it." Dr Kostiuk says water batteries might one day be used to power mobile phones and calculators, but admitted that the engineering challenges might make other applications more realistic. "You'd need to be sure it wouldn't leak, and you'd need to make sure it wouldn't freeze," he said. More likely would be to install the electricity-generating devices where water is already being pumped, such as at city water filtration sites, he said. "It could compete with wind and solar power," he added. Why were the scientists extremely happy about their new discovery? They were the first to find a new way to produce electricity. Leave a camera on a mountaintop, and chances are, you'll never see it again. But 24-year-old Paul Bellis, a university student from Wales, believed that most people were better than that, and set up a creative experiment to test out his theory. "I was speaking to a friend who said you can't trust anyone, anywhere these days," Bellis toldthe Daily Mail. "I didn't want to believe _ so I set up this experiment to find out what might happen and prove you can trust people." Billis decided to do an experiment by hiking up a mountain called Snowdonia, taking a photo, and leaving his camera behind. He also attached a note to the camera, asking other hikers to take photos of themselves and then leave the camera there until the roll of film was empty. He also included his address, in case someone would be nice enough to return the camera to his home after the roll of film was finished. Four days later, Bellis got a visit from a Snowdonia park manager, who came to return his camera. After Bellis got the film developed, he saw that his fellow hikers and followed his instructions. Thirty people had each taken photos of themselves at the mountain. From viewing the collection, it was clear that all the hikers had enjoyed the experiment. As for the park manager, Brian, "I found the camera and thought it had been lost until I saw the note," he said. "I was passing his home and just dropped it off. I' m glad that the photos came out very well." The experiment Bellis turned out to be _ . encouraging Before you can start speaking and writing in English, your brain must get enough correct English sentences. This is obvious . There are two ways to get correct English sentences: listening and reading. Both are good, but reading is much easier than listening. With the help of a good dictionary, you will be able to understand English texts much more easily than movies. If you just read one book in English, you will see that your English has become much better. English phrases will just come to you without thinking when you are writing or speaking. This is true for hundreds of words and grammar structures . If you read in English, you can forget about grammar rules. Throw away your grammar book! You needn't know the rules for the present perfect tense . Instead, read a few books in English, and soon you will feel that "I have seen Paul yesterday" is wrong. The only difference between you and native speakers is that they have heard and read more English sentences than you have. What is the best way to get correct English sentences according to the passage? Reading and listening. Tearing an object changes that object's what? entire appearance Edward Wilson is America's, if not the world's, leading naturalist. In The Future of Life, he takes us on a tour of the world's natural resources. How are they used? What has been lost? What remains and is it able to continue with the present speed of use? Wilson also points out the need to understand fully the biodiversity of our earth. Wilson begins with an open letter to the pioneer in environment protection, Henry David Thoreau. He compares today's Walden Pond with that of Thoreau's day. Wilson will use such comparisons for the rest of the book. The problem is clear: man has done great damage to his home over the years. Can the earth, with human help, be made to return to biodiversity levels that will be able to support us in the future? Biodiversity, Wilson argues, is the key to settling many problems the earth faces today. Even our agricultural crops can gain advantages from it. A mere hundred species are the basis of our food supply, of which but twenty carry the load. Wilson suggests changing this situation by looking into ten thousand species that could be made use of, which will be a way to reduce the clearing of the natural homes of plants and animals to enlarge farming areas. At the end of the book, Wilson discusses the importance of human values in considering the environment. If you are to continue to live on the earth, you may as well read and act on the ideas in this book. How many species are most important to our present food supply? Twenty
Scientists say life will be very different in 2050. First, there will be no TV channels in 2050. People will choose a program from a computer and watch it on TV. In 2050, we will get information from the computers only. Second, water will be a big problem in 2050. In many places, people won't have water to drink. Third, cars will use new and clean fuels and they will go very fast. There will be a computer in every car. And the computers will _ the cars and there won't be any accidents . ,,. What will be important in our future life? Answer: If I am out in the sun all day I should Answer: When I was seven, my parents gave me a doll, a doll's house and a book. The Arabian Nights, came wrapped in red paper. I was just ready to read when my mother walked into my room. "Isn't your doll just beautiful?" my mother asked. I looked at the doll, with fair hair in a pink dress----I'll have to call her "she" because I never gave her a name. I folded my lips and raised my eyebrows, not really knowing how to let my mother down easily. "This doll is different." My mother explained, trying to talk me into playing with it. Thinking the doll needed love, I hugged her tightly for a long time. Useless, I said to myself. Finally, I decided to play with the doll's house. But since rearranging the tiny furniture seemed to be the only active possible, I lost interest. I caught sight again of the third of my gifts The Arabian Nights, and I began to read it. From that moment, the book was my constant companion. Every day I climbed our garden tree, nestled among its branches, I read the stories in The Arabian Nights to my heart's content. My mother became concerned as she noticed I wasn't playing with either the doll or the little house. She insisted that I take the doll up the tree with me. Trying to read on a branch 15 feet off the ground while holding on to the silly doll was not easy. After nearly falling off twice, I tied one end of a long vine around the doll's neck and the opposite one around the branch, letting the doll hang in mid air while I read. I always looked out for my mother, though. I sensed that my playing with the doll was of great importance to her. So every time I heard her coming, I lifted the doll up and hugged her. The smile in my mother's eyes told me my plan worked. The inevitable happened one afternoon. Totally absorbed in the reading, I didn't hear my mother calling me. When I looked down, I saw my mother staring at the hanging doll. Fearing the worst of scolding, I climbed down in a flash, reaching the ground just as my mother was untying the doll. To my surprise, she didn't scold. She kept on staring at the doll. The next day, my father came home early and suggested he and I play with the doll's house. Soon I was bored, but my father seemed to be having so much fun, I didn't have the heart to tell him. Quietly I slipped out, picking up my book on my way to the yard. So absorbed was he in arranging and rearranging the tiny furniture that he didn't notice my quick exit. Almost 20 years passed before I found out why the hanging-doll incident had been so significant for my parents. By then I was a parent myself. After recalling the incident, my mother said all those years she had been afraid whether I would turn out to be a most loving and understanding mother to my son. My mother often thanks God aloud for making me a good parent, pointing out that with education I might have been a rich dentist instead of a poor poet. I look back on that same childhood incident, recalling my third gift, the book in red-paper, and I take advantage of the experiences that have made me who and what I am. Sometimes I pause to wonder at life's wonderful ironies . Why didn't the author give the doll a name? Answer: You cannot say that it's entirely true that kids learn a second language easily, but it's still the best time to learn. Babies are basically equipped to hear and distinguish every possible language and dialect, but once they reach 6 months old, they begin to focus on the particular sounds that exist in the languages that they're exposed to. In this way, kids will naturally and automatically be bilingual if they hear multiple languages on a daily basis when they are still babies. One lady told me of her son who grew up in a very multi-cultural community working at a resort. He would naturally and easily switch from Dutch, to French, to Italian, German and English depending on who he was talking to. Of course that's an extreme case, but it's completely possible and easy. It's not true that they will get mixed up by learning multiple languages. They may mix them up purposely simply because certain words or expressions are easier, but they won't develop any permanent language disabilities. Quite the contrary, bilingual children have been shown to be as much as a year more advanced in learning ability development for 2 and 3 years olds. Some kids who simply aren't gifted at learning languages, just as some aren't gifted at sports or music, will find it difficult to continue schooling in a foreign language. In that case, it may be better not to continue with the foreign language school. Perhaps for Grade Two you could try a bilingual school. In any case, learning even a small amount of a foreign language, maintaining the ability to hear and pronounce it by listening to music and movies will keep a foundation for later learning. Knowing a second language can be a great benefit for gaining employment. In which way can learning multiple languages benefit kids? Answer: 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 _ _ What does Ding Luo do in China now? Answer:
Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career ? It means a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10 000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma . Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in all of today's growing fidds--without having to go to college full time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time, so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking & Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering and more! Your training includes everything you need! Books, lessons and learning aids are all included in the low tuition price you pay. Your education is nationally recognized! Nearly 2 000 American companies--including General Electric, IBM, Mobile, General Motors, Ford, and many others--have used our training for their employees. If companies like these recognize the value of our training, you can be sure that employees in your area will, too! Earn your degree in as little as two years! Get a career diploma in just six months! The career of your dreams is closer than you think! Even if you have no experience before, you can get valuable job skills in today's hottest fields! Prepare for promotions , pay raises, even start a business of your own! Send today for FREE information about Harcourt at home training! Simply fill in your name and address on the coupon above. Then write in the name and number of the one program you're most interested in, and mail it today. We'll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities in the field you've chosen. Act today! Mail coupon today! Or call the number below 1-800-372-1589. Call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Website: www. Harcourt-learning. com. E-mail: Harcourt@learning.com. This advertisement aims at calling on people to _ . A. attend full-time universities B. work part time to further their education C. improve their education at home to get better jobs D. earn their degrees in different ways that suit them Answer: C. improve their education at home to get better jobs Teenage boys, regardless of race, are more likely to die from gunshot wounds than from all natural causes combined. By the time the average American child leaves primary school, he or she will witness 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 acts of violence on television. Youth are becoming involved in violence at an alarming rate. In fact, the young arrest rate for murder doubled, from 6 arrests per 100,000 youth aged from 10 to 17 to over 12 per 100,000. For the many youth who have not been directly exposed to violence in their own communities, the entertainment media (television, movies, music and video games) provides many opportunities for children to see and hear violent exchanges. Research shows that there are about 5~6 violent acts per hour on prime time and 20~25 violent acts on Saturday morning children's programming. In its report, the American Psychological Association (APA) reported that viewing violence on television hurts children in many ways. In particular, the APA concludes that children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, be more fearful of the world around them, be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways to- ward others, and gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems. Another form of violence involving youth is physical punishment in the schools. This form of discipline still remains legally supported in 23 nations in America. The Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Education reported that 555,000 students were physically punished in the schools during this school year. Although such punishment has been regarded as an effective method of discipline by those who apply it, the findings are obvious that physical punishment does not work and that children who are victims of physical punishment are subject to potential long-term physical and emotional damage. The author may most probably agree that physical punishment is _ . A. acceptable ,though ineffective B. illegal, though effective C. harmful, though legal D. reasonable, though illegal Answer: C. harmful, though legal If the mass of an object increases, what must the volume do for the density to stay the same? A. increase B. decrease C. stay the same D. become zero Answer: A. increase Landco purchased a large tract of land intending to construct residential housing on it. Landco hired Poolco to build a large inground swimming pool on the tract. The contract provided that Poolco would carry out blasting operations that were necessary to create an excavation large enough for the pool. create an excavation large enough for the pool. The blasting caused cracks to form in the walls of Plaintiff's home in a nearby residential neighborhood. In Plaintiff's action for damages against Landco, Plaintiff should A. prevail, only if Landco retained the right to direct and control Poolco's construction of the pool. B. prevail, because the blasting that Poolco was hired to perform damaged Plaintiff's home. C. not prevail, if Poolco used reasonable care in conducting the blasting operations. D. not prevail, if Landco used reasonable care to hire a competent contractor. Answer: B. prevail, because the blasting that Poolco was hired to perform damaged Plaintiff's home. This is a family tree. It's a very big family. Tim and Gina are very old . They have a son, David and a daughter, Sally. David and his wife Jenny have the twins , Jack and Bob. Jack is single , but Bob is married . His wife is Lucy. They have a cute son, Sam. They love Sam very much. Sally's husband is Paul. They are the parents of Peter and Lily. Peter is married .His wife is Jane. They have a daughter. Her name is Kate. Lily has a dog. It's very cute . She loves it very much. _ people are in the family. A. 12 B. 13 C. 14 D. 15 Answer: C. 14
Question: Long march exhibits. The Shenzhen History Museum is putting on an exhibition to mark the 81st anniversary of the Long March. On show are more than 220 photos and some other things that show how the Red Army made the Long March from Jiangxi Province and to northern Shanxi Province in the mid-1930s. Time: 10:00 am --- 4:00 pm Address: 1368 Shennan Road Admission: 8 yuan for Chinese / 15 yuan for foreigners Thai elephants. Eight elephants from Thailand are entertaining visitors at the Window of the World by riding bicycles, playing basketball, balancing on a beam , dancing and blowing a harmonica . People are encouraged to lie on the ground and have the elephants step over them. The elephants give three shows a day at 9:30am, 3:30pm and 8:00pm and there is an additional show at 1:30 pm at weekends. Address: West Huaqiaocheng Admission: 60 yuan Dancing dolphins. Dolphins leaping from the water to touch a ball, waving their bodies to music, kissing people and doing maths by tapping their tails have made the delphinium in Shenzhen Ocean Park an attraction for children. Seals and sea lions also perform. Hours: 10:30pm, 4:00am, and 7:30pm Admission: 40 yuan for adults and 20 yuan for children. If you go to see the Thai elephants on Sundays. You'll see the show at _ . A. 9:30am, 3:30pm , 8:00pm and 1:30 pm B. only 1:30 pm C. 9:30am, 3:30pm , and 8:00pm. D. 10:30am, 4:00pm , and 7:30 pm Answer: A Question: The population of rabbits in an area increases. That could have been caused by A. More predators have been moving into the area B. The rabbits are becoming infertile C. Hunters are trapping the rabbits D. More precipitation falling lately Answer: D Question: Geena David knew she wanted to be a movie star when she was very young. She was not sure what gave her the idea, but she wanted to look like a movie star. "I have a lot of pictures from my childhood of me wearing sunglasses," she says. "I used to wear them to watch TV." Early movie actors started wearing sunglasses not because they looked good, but because their eyes hurt. The lights used on movie sets were extremely bright and could cause a painful problem known as "Klieg eyes". It was named after the Klieg brothers who invented the lights. Actors wore sunglasses to give their eyes a rest. But when movie stars began wearing their sunglasses in public, they quickly became a must. Eventually actors started wearing sunglasses in their movies as well as on the street. Audrey Hephburn wore ultra-cool Ray-Ban sunglasses in the 1961 movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. As a result, Ray-Ban sunglasses started to appear more and more in the movies. In 1979, Ray-Ban "Wayfarers" were worn by Jake and Elwood in The Blue Brothers. Tom Cruise wore Ray-Ban "Aviator" sunglasses in the 1986 hit, Top Gun. Then in 1997, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones made Ray-Ban "Predator" sunglasses famous in Men in Black. Of course sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement. The main reason to wear sunglasses is to protect our eyes against UV radiation. UV radiation can damage our eyes, so people now choose their sunglasses carefully. But you don't have to give up style for safety. The choice of frames and lenses available these days is huge. So you can protect your eyes and still be the coolest person on the beach. Early actors' eyes hurt because _ . A. they wore sunglasses B. they went out in the sun too much C. their scripts were written in very small writing D. the lights on movie sets were too bright Answer: D Question: A good hobby is an important part of a teenager 's life. With hobbies, teenagers can become more familiar with history, social science and culture. Here are some hobbies for teenagers. Collecting Coins may be too expensive for teenagers, but postcards, bookmarks even T-shirts can be great things to collect. Teenagers can collect things that do not cost much. Many teenagers enjoy collecting things when they visit a place. No matter what they collect, the most important thing is the information they get from the collection. Writing Writing can improve teenagers' language skills. It can be a great hobby for teenagers. Writing a diary can help teenagers enter a private world. It is important for their development. They can also write stories and poems. Building Models, birdhouses and anything else that teenagers make with their own hands can make them happy. Building is a great hobby because it is easy to start. Most teenagers can find interesting things to build. Building can help them improve their creativity. Music Do you dream to be a music star? Music can give teenagers self-confidence . They can sing songs and play an instrument. Sometimes teenagers can learn music in a music club and make friends with the people who have the same hobby. Which of the following is TRUE? A. Collecting is easy and cheap. B. Teenagers can't write poems and stories. C. Building is the most difficult hobby. D. Music can give teenagers self-confidence. Answer: D Question: On April 8th, 2013, the world felt sorry because of the death of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who died at the age of 87. Besides being the country's longest leader (1979-1990) in the 20th century, she was the first woman to lead Britain. She worked hard and did well in her work, so she was called "Iron Lady". Whatever you think of Margaret Thatcher, the thing everyone does agree on is that she was a woman with great decisions. When she took over Britain in 1979, she led a country that was in economic trouble. She faced a lot of problems because of the poor economic position. In order to make the country become strong again, Ms. Thatcher had to make some hard and special decisions like raising interest rates and even taxes at a time when most British people were living a hard life. In this way she led Britain to run out of economic troubles. Early in her second term, just as things were looking a little better, she faced another problem -- a strike by the British Miners Union. Once again, the Iron Lady stood her ground to stop the longest strike in the country's history. In 1982, Argentina said that they had owned the Falkland Islands since the 19th century. Britain, however, considered the islands to be one of their overseas dependent territories . Margaret Thatcher tried to talk about the problem with Argentines. But Argentines didn't agree with her ideas, so Ms. Thatcher did what any strong leader would do -- send in the British Army. It took 74 days, and on 14th June 1982, the Argentine army finally failed and Britain controlled the Falkland Islands again. When Ms. Thatcher resigned in 1990, she left behind a country that was very strong. Unluckily, during the last few years of her life, something was wrong with her mind. She hardly remembered anything that was happening around her and even what she had done during her wonderful lifetime. It can be inferred from the passage that Ms. Thatcher was _ . A. determined B. sensitive C. humorous D. generous Answer: A
Driving a car at a high speed along a highway seems to be fun. You need only to follow the bright traffic signs beside the highways and they will take you to where you wish. But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job. A taxi driver has to have not only skills but also a good knowledge of the city of London, from the smaller road to the most popular bar .He has to be at the service of all kinds of people at all times. He usually goes home between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. There are times he has to stay longer and try to _ London taxi drivers not only "take" but also "give". Every summer hundreds of children from London will go for a day at the sea by taxi! Their rides are paid by the taxi drivers. At the sea, they are met by the mayor , and the lunch party is also held for the drivers and children. After a happy day running around the beaches and visiting the markets, the children go home again by taxi, and free of charge , of course! The passage is mainly about _ . taxi drivers' job in London Once, there was a woman who had so many problems, so many worries, so many troubles... that at times she felt she had more troubles than anyone else in the world! She was depressed. She thought she could never overcome her troubles, so she decided to end her life. That night she went to sleep early and she planned to commit suicide the next morning. But that night she had a dream... She found herself in a large cave, surrounded by gray bundles of all shapes and sizes. Walking toward her was a woman with flowing long white hair. "Who are you?" asked the dreamer, "and what is this place?" "This is the cave of bundles of troubles and I am the keeper of the cave." "Bundles of troubles?" "Yes," the keeper explained, "each person who walks on the earth carries a bundle of troubles on their left shoulder." The dreamer turned to look and there was a gray bundle on her left shoulder--it had been there all the time and she never noticed! "If you wish," the keeper continued," you can take your bundle down and exchange it for another." "Really?" The woman lowered the bundle from her left shoulder. Oh, it felt so good to put it down. Then she picked up a beautiful bundle. The keeper said, "Why don't you open it and look inside?" So the woman opened it and looked inside. "But these are the same troubles I brought here!" The keeper of the cave smiled softly and nodded. "That's usually what happens, but do not despair, for there is another bundle on your right shoulder that should help lighten your load." The woman turned and saw another bundle on her right shoulder. It had been there all the time and she never noticed! The woman took it down and opened it. Inside were her talents, her gifts, her hopes and opportunities. The woman felt her heart filled with joy and she looked up to thank the keeper of the cave, but she was gone; all were gone. And she found herself sitting up in her own bed with the morning sun streaming through the window, shining on her face. What did the woman feel when she opened the bundle on her right shoulder? Delighted. Looking out of the window, my son saw a tree whose branches were strongly swaying back and forth. "How does the tree move its branches like that?" He asked. Without rising from my chair, nor looking up from my book, I started to answer, "The tree is not moving the branches, son. The wind is..." But before the words were out, I _ myself. Instead I rose from my chair and moved to the window to join my son. I looked at the tree. From inside our room, from behind the window, I could neither feel nor hear the wind. I saw instead a tree with its branches silently moving and thought to myself, from inside this room, how could I possibly be sure that the branches were moving because of the wind rather than from the tree's own willing? As I stood there with my son watching the tree, I became struck by the movement of the branches, the shimmer of the leaves. My mind quieted and I became less sure myself of what was causing the branches to move. Was it the wind, or was it some expressive, independent movement of the tree? "I see what you mean," I said to my son. "The movement of the tree is very beautiful." "Do you think the tree is dancing?" asked my son. "Why would it be dancing?" I asked. "Maybe it is happy because the sun is shining," he said. "Perhaps," I said. "Or because it's spring," he added, "and it's not cold any more." "Perhaps," I said. As we continued to watch the tree together, I, too, began to appreciate the dance of the tree. I enjoyed the movement and sway of the branches, seeing little nuances that I hadn't noticed before. There seemed to be a rhythm to the movement, first strong and forceful, then light and gentle, then more vigorous, sometimes nearly violent. "Are trees alive?" my son asked. "Yes, they are alive. Why do you ask?" "Because this tree looks happy," he answered. "Can a tree be happy or sad?" "What do you mean?" I asked. "In the winter, trees seem sad," he said. "Their branches hang down, and they look cold and lonely. But now with the leaves on the tree and the sun shining and the birds flying, it looks happy." What on earth caused the tree to move? The wind did so. An African proverb says that a single hand cannot tie a bundle. Everyone needs companions to help them sail through the rough seas of life. Even the strongest and richest person still needs friends. Our money and strength would have no value if we had no friends to share with us. The best friendship is a give-and-take relationship. We need the support of our family, friends and the community. In turn we also give support to the society, our friends and our family. The word "friend" has many meanings. It could be the bus driver who takes you to and from work every day. It could be a parent, a colleague, a wife or husband, a brother or sister, or even the unknown person who helped you just once when you could not find your way. Real friends share not only our happiness but our sorrows as well. This may explain why we have the expression "a friend in need is a friend indeed". Friendship is like the sunshine that keeps us warm. It is like the refreshing raindrops on the fields that give the farmers hope of a good planting season. Without friends our life would be like a desert where our only friend would be loneliness and sadness. The most fortunate person is the one who has friends from all levels in the society. A driver might find friends not only among his colleagues but among farmers, bankers, traders, students, politicians or teachers. We should never forget our old friends when we make new ones. We should treasure each of our friends whether poor or rich, beautiful or not. Each friend is _ in his or her own way. And all together, they enrich life and make it very colourful. What is the main topic of the passage? Friends and friendship. Greenland is the largest island in the world.It covers over 2,000,000 square kilometers.Most of the island lies inside the Arctic Circle ,and a huge sheet of icecovers 85% of its area. Along the sea mountains rising from the sea,there are a few low trees in the southwest,but no forests.In winter snow covers everything,but in summer very low plants cover the ground between the sea and the ice sheet.Norwegians were the first Europeans to see the island in AD 875,but no one visited it until 982.Three years later a few Norwegians went to live there.In 1261 the people in Greenland decided to join Norway.Norway and Denmark united in 1380.This union ended in 1814,and Greenland stayed with Denmark.Greenland is fifty times larger than Denmark,but it is still part of this small country. What will you probably see when you come to the southwest of Greenland in summer? Very low plants along the seaside.
Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they've always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, _ In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks. The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there's much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional. Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don't cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don't have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There's also a difference between Paris and the country-side. It's true that people in Paris don't cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life. For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: "I don't go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I'm not a fan at all." What is Bernard's attitude towards British food? Answer: What is likely true? Answer: Every few years, we buy an expensive new PC and love how fast it runs. Unavoidably though, it starts to slow down until eventually we are pulling our hair out waiting for it to do tasks. Why is this? It turns out the answer is quite simple and you don't even need to be "technical" to understand the causes and solutions. In most cases, the hardware you have is capable of being restored to its original function and kept in fast running condition with little effort. Spyware are software programs that are loaded on your computer without your permission. Most spyware and viruses get onto our computers through files that we download from the Internet or as attachments to emails. They tend to take up a lot of computing power and , as a result, will slow down your computer. The simple rule to follow is to never download any free software programs from companies you do not know and trust, especially screensavers, emoticons, and the like. In addition, you should never open any attachment to an email unless you are 100 percent certain you know and trust the sender. In addition, make sure you have a good anti-virus spyware removal software running at all times. Every time you load a program, your PC's software registry is updated with new instructions needed to operate that item. However, when the item is carried out, these instructions remain on your PC. Every time you run your computer it tries to execute these instructions but, because the related program can't be founded, it causes a registry error. Your PC is doing a lot more work than it should be and the result is a slower computer. One of the best ways to manage this is with a neat little tool from Support.com. You can now get a free working version of the software which will quickly scan your entire PC and identify all of the registry errors. The free version also scans for junk and checks your PC. It will deal with the first 100 errors for free, and if you have more to clean up, you can easily upgrade to the full version for just $29.95. What is the structure of the passage? Answer: Scientists around the world have been studying the warming of waters in the Pacific Ocean known as El Nino . The appearance of El Nino is known to affect the weather around the world. Scientists still do not completely understand it. Yet they now find they can use it to tell about the future in different areas of the world. One example is the work of two scientists at Columbia University in New York, Mark Cane and Gordon Eshel. A scientist of Zimbabwe , Roger Buckland worked with them. They have found that when El Nino appears, Zimbabwe has little or no rain. This means corn crops in Zimbabwe are poor. The last El Nino was in 1991 to 1993. That was when southeastern Africa suffered a serious lack of rain. The scientists wrote about their recent work in the publication Nature. Their computer program can tell when an El Nino will develop up to a year before it does. They suggest that this could provide an effective early warning system for southern Africa, and could prevent many people from starving. What's the best title for this passage? Answer: For years my husband, John, and I had dreamed of taking our three kids to Disney World.We'd planned our trip down to the last detail and dollar.But in Georgia, halfway there, our car broke down. At a garage, the mechanic promised our Mercury Sable would be repaired by the next week.Meanwhile, John tried to find us a rental car.After many phone calls, John finally found a car.Luckily, our auto club would _ .We ended up arriving there three hours behind schedule.We tried every ride and met Mickey. At the end of the long weekend we called the garage to check on our car.It turned out that the mechanic hadn't even looked at it yet! John got on the phone again.He found it would cost more than $ l, 100 to rent a car to drive home.That plus a plane ticket for him to go pick up our own car and we'd be out over $2,000! I wailed and asked John, "What are we going to do?" He said, "It'll work out." John encouraged me not to lose heart and he insisted on trying to find a way out.Amazingly, John found a car transport company that had a car we could drive home, paying only for gas! But all the way home I couldn't stop thinking about the money we'd still need for John's trip back to the garage and another long driving home. When we got home, the high school student who had fed our cats asked how our trip was.I gave him the rundown, "Things worked out okay except that our car's still stuck in Georgia." "No problem," he said."I'm heading to Florida for a spring break with my parents.We'll be glad to stop in Georgia on the way back and pick up your car." We ended up spending only $50 more than we'd budgeted.The next week, our car was back, and I had a new understanding of dealing with trouble.Whatever happens, if you never give up, a good solution will come out at last. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer:
Question: When Abraham Lincoln was just a boy, he had to help his father to look after their farm. It was hard work and there wasn't anything interesting for him. Abraham wanted to go to school, but there was no school there. He was sad most of the time. Mrs. Lincoln loved the boy very much. She tried her best to make Abraham happy. One morning she got up early and went to the town. It was a long way, so it took her a long time to get there. She bought something there and went back. It was late in the evening when she got home. The next morning Mrs. Lincoln said to Abraham,"Today is your birthday, so we're going to have a party."She put some food on the table, and then brought out a present. "A book!"Abraham cried. It was an old book, but he liked it. A smile came on his face. He looked up at Mrs. Lincoln and said,"Thank you, Mom." What was the present for Abraham's birthday? A. A mooncake. B. A new book. C. An old book. D. A school bag. Answer: C. An old book. Question: Liyuan style Peng Liyuan,wife of President Xi Jinping, has drawn extensive attention from people both at home and abroad for her charisma and grace. Accompanying her husband on his first overseas trip after becoming president, Peng Liyuan exhibited graceful demeanor, a pleasant personality and well-chosen dress, prompting people to coin the term "Liyuan style". Peng Liyuan, as one of China's best-known singers, was popular among Chinese people long before her husband became the president. Loved by her fans, she has been in touch with the people for years. "Liyuan style" is not only representative of a fashion idol, but also overpass cultural and diplomatic barriers. The beautiful handbags Peng has carried, and the plain but elegant and delicate dresses she has worn have become popular. Her choice of clothing, made-in-China instead of luxurious foreign brands, shows her belief in domestic dress designs. But "Liyuan style" is not only about clothing and a woman's _ . It is also about diplomacy and promoting, China's soft power. In Moscow, Peng visited a boarding school for orphans and children estranged from their parents, encouraging them to strive for a better life, which brought out the maternal side of her character. In Tanzania, she donated sewing machines and school bags to women and children. And as a World Health Organization ambassador in the fight against AIDS, Peng is devoted to many public causes, including those relating to charity and healthcare. Some observers have already started saying that Peng's activities have become part of public diplomacy in China. Also, "Liyuan style" has boosted the confidence of the Chinese people. Modern but not flashy, elegant but not arrogant, Peng has all the virtues of a Chinese woman and carries them to the international stage. Since the 18th Party Congress and the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC, the country's new leadership has vowed to adopt a down-to-earth work style to connect with the people. Peng's plain but elegant style shows that thriftiness and an earthy style need not be drab and boring. So it can be said that Peng's first appearance on the international stage has kicked off well. This passage is mainly about _ . A. President Xi's wife Peng B. Peng liyuan's charming character C. a cultural phenomenon named as "Liyuan style" D. the achievements of Peng on charity and healthcare. Answer: C. a cultural phenomenon named as "Liyuan style" Question: When you're having a holiday, one of the main questions to ask is which hotel or apartment to choose. However, when it comes to France, you have another special choice: treehouses. In France, treehouses are offered to travelers as a new choice in many places. The price may be a little higher, but you do have a chance to _ your childhood memories. Alain Laurens, one of France's top treehouse designers, said, "Most of the people might have the experience of building a den when they were young. And they like that feeling of freedom when they are children." Its fairy-tale style gives travelers a special feeling. It seems as if they are living as a forest king and enjoying the fresh air in the morning. Another kind of treehouse is the "star cube". It gives travelers the chance of looking at the stars shining in the sky when they are going to sleep. Each "star cube" not only offers all the comfortable things that a hotel provides for travelers, but also gives them a chance to look for stars by using a telescope. The glass roof allows you to look at the stars from your bed. ,. What's the roof of the "star cube" made of? A. Plastic. B. Glass. C. Paper. D. Stones. Answer: B. Glass. Question: Which best explains why children resemble their parents? A. They eat the same foods. B. They have similar DNA. C. They speak the same language. D. They have the same interests. Answer: B. They have similar DNA. Question: Animals are a favorite subject of many photographers. Cats, dogs, and other pets top the list, followed by zoo animals. However, because it's hard to get them to sit still and "perform on command," some professional photographers refuse to photograph pets. One way to get an appealing portrait of a cat or dog is to hold a biscuit or treat above the camera. The animal's longing look toward the food will be captured by the camera, but the treat won't appear in the picture because it's out of the camera's range. When you show the picture to your friends afterwards, they'll be impressed by your pet's loving expression. If you are using fast film, you can take some good, quick shots of a pet by simply snapping a picture right after calling its name. You'll get a different expression from your pet using this technique. Depending on your pet's mood, the picture will capture an interested, curious expression or possibly a look of annoyance, especially if you've awakened it from a nap. Taking pictures of zoo animals requires a little more patience. After all, you can't wake up a lion! You may have to wait for a while until the animal does something interesting or moves into a position for you to get a good shot. When photographing zoo animals, don't get too close to the cages, and never tap on the glass or throw things between the bars of a cage. Concentrate on shooting some good pictures, and always respect the animals you are photographing. What is the advantage of calling your pet's name when taking a shot of it? A. To help your pet look its best. B. To make sure that your pet sits still. C. To keep your pet awake for a while. D. To catch a different expression of your pet. Answer: D. To catch a different expression of your pet.
Computers are good tools .The Internet is also good. But some people spend too much time online. They can't stop. Doctors say this is a new sickness. They call this sickness Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). People with IAD are online a lot. They spend hours chatting to their friends or playing online games. Many people with IAD spend more time on the Internet than with family or friends. Some people with IAD even quit their jobs! Do you have IAD? Think about these questions:How many hours a day are you online? Is it a lot or a little? When you are not online,are you thinking about playing a computer game or checking your messages? When you are online,do you forget the time? Do you get angry when you can't play a game? If you have IAD,what can you do? Dr. Ivan Goldberg and Dr. Kimberly S.Young have some ideas. First,ask yourself "Why am I online a lot?" Then try to take a break. For example,use the computer or play games twice a week,not every day. In this way,you can have a good social life with other friends. If you have Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD),you are _ Answer: are on the Internet more than with friends There are also two big elephants and a baby. Children like to ride on one of them. The elephants are very kind and friendly. They eat much grass and bananas. In the zoo, we can see different kinds of bears, brown bears, black bears and white bears. They are all slow and clumsy . They stand on their back legs and lift their front legs to ask for food . They like cakes very much. Do you like pandas? There's only one in the zoo . Her name is LIngling. She is very cute. She likes eating bamboo a lot . She is kind of shy. She's very interesting. There are _ elephants in the zoo . Answer: three Jane Austen, a famous English writer, was born in Steventon, Hampshire, on December 16, 1775, and died on July 18,1817. She began writing early in life, although the prejudices of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously. . But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bath's many famous local people and visitors. She paid two long visits during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806, Bath was her home. Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels, Northanger Addey and Persuasion, which are largely set in Bath. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, keeping its streets and public buildings the well--ordered world that she described so well in her novels. Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austen's Bath can be enhanced by visiting the Jane Austen Center in Gay Street. Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bath in her life and work. The Center has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society. After your visit to the Center, you can look round the attractive shop, which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books, cards and many specially designed gifts. Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy. You can also have walking tours of Jane Austen's Bath, which is a great way to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath. The tour lasts about one and a half hours. The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived, walked and shopped. Jane Austen paid two long visits to Bath _ . Answer: in her early twenties A Good Night's Steep Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. While you're sleeping, your brain is forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. Although we all know the importance of getting a good night's sleep, not all of us know the best way of getting it. A sleep expert, Phil Atherton, gave some top tips for getting the most out of the night, which will leave you ready for action in the morning. According to Phil Atherton, not eating a large meal before bedtime is important for getting a good night's sleep. The time difference between eating and sleeping should be at least three hours. So you'd better avoid eating any food three hours before bed, as it will lower your blood sugar during sleep and help minimize damage from too much sugar floating around. It's also important to find ways to prepare your body for sleep. You can follow a routine like trying not to expose yourself to too much artificial light within 1 hour before bed, as your brain uses light to help set internal "body clock". Although it might seem unnatural to schedule your sleep, the purpose is to send a signal to your body and mind that it's time to sleep. Another way to prepare your body for sleep is to get into a relaxed state by taking a bath or listening to soft music. Both of them will help to take the mind off the daytime pressures. Having a suitable bed, especially a suitable mattress , is necessary for a good night's sleep. Sleep is a personalized activity, and we all adopt different sleeping positions. Finding the mattress that suits you will reduce back pains that can result from a poor sleeping position. The bed should be four to six inches longer than its tallest user, allowing for space to move around. The recent research is pretty clear that a good night's sleep in a major component of good health. Since the start of the 21st century, studies have linked a lack of sleep to many diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Taking action now will lead to long-term benefits for you and those around you. What does the author intend to tell us in the passage? Answer: How to get a good night's sleep. Too many people want others to be their friends, but they don't give friendship back. That is why some friendships don't last very long. To have a friend, you must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend to treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules: be honest; be generous;be understanding. Honesty means being honest. It is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you don't tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven't been honest, you may lose your friend's trust. Good friends always count on one another to speak and act honestly. Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You don't have to give your friend your lunch money or your clothes, or enjoy your hobbies and interests together. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be very valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them, you help your friend know you better. Sooner or later everyone needs understanding and help with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve . Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend, you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend's place, so you can understand the problem better. No two friendships are ever exactly alike . But all true friendships have three things in common . If you plan to keep your friendships, you must practice honesty,Generosity and understanding. According to the passage ,honesty is _ . Answer: the base of a friendship
Question: Knowing about yourself not only means finding out what you're good at and what you like, but also means discovering what you're not good at and what you don't like. Both help you to see your aim in life. Although most students would be unhappy if they failed a very difficult physics examination, they have in fact learned a lot about themselves. They know that they should not become engineers or physical scientists. So failing can help a student to live a happier life if he learns something from it. They may then decide on their aims and choose the work they like and are fit for. It is impossible to decide whether you like something until you have tried it. If you decide to play the piano, you need to take more than one lesson before knowing whether you are really interested in it or able to do well. It is not enough if you want to be a great pianist. You also have to like the hard practice and long training. If you enjoy being a great pianist but hate the work, forget it. It's a good plan to try as many ideas as possible when you are young. Then you will find out what your true interests are. Failing can turn into something good _ . A. if you have aim in life B. if your decision is fight C. if you lead a happier life D. if you learn something from it Answer: D. if you learn something from it Question: Mr.Bean is an internationally recognized comedy character on TV and in films.He constantly gets into awkward and absurd situations,which greatly amuses audiences regardless of their nationalities or culture.The humour is always made clear through a series of simple and funny acts that rely purely on body language,which is universal. One of my favourite shows is that Mr.Bean has a meal in a fancy restaurant.After being seated at his table,Mr.Bean takes out a card,writes a few words on it,seals it in an envelope and places it on the table.After a moment,he looks back at the envelope but this time he looks surprised,as if he did not know it was there.He opens it to find a birthday card and delightedly puts it on the table for everyone to see. When he looks at the menu,an astonished look swiftly appears on his face.He takes all the money out of his wallet,counts it and puts it in a saucer .He then looks from the menu to the money with concern until he finds one thing that makes him smile.Then he orders a dish called "steak tartare".When the dish arrives,he is shocked to discover that "steak tartare" is actually raw hamburger.He makes an attempt to eat it,but it is clear from the look on his face that he finds the taste truly _ .He cannot hide his feelings,except when the waiter asks if everything is all right.When this happens,he smiles and nods,indicating that everything is fine.When the waiter is not looking,however,he busies himself hiding the raw meat anywhere he can reach--the sugar bowl,the tiny flower vase,inside a bun and under a plate.He becomes so desperate in the end that he even hides some inside the purse of a woman sitting near him and throws some down the trousers of the restaurant's violinist! I like to watch Mr.Bean on TV,but I wouldn't like to meet someone like him in real life and I certainly wouldn't like to have dinner with him! From the passage we know Mr.Bean is _ . A. famous for directing films B. famous for his spoken English C. well known for making films D. known for his body language and amusement in his comedies Answer: D. known for his body language and amusement in his comedies Question: The Oxford English Dictionary (OED, ) is thinking of adding the Chinese word tuhao to its 2014 edition . The word has become popular in China during the past few months to describe newly rich people who spend money in extravagant(,)ways. Tuhao has in Western countries, too, to describe similar people in their countries. The adoption of the word by foreign countries is an example of China's spreading influence in the world not just economically, but also socially and culturally. People are paying attention to what is happening in China and are picking up some Chinese words in the process, especially those words that express unique Chinese ideas that cannot be easily translated into English. The OED is also thinking of adding hukou and dama to the already 120 Chinese words in its dictionary. Hukou refers to China's system of residency permits and dama refers to middle-aged Chinese women whose gold buying habits influence the global gold markets. The news that the OED was adding these words has met with some criticism . Some people say the words embarrass China, but others insist that in a globalized society it's natural for words to spread and be adopted elsewhere. In fact, a word like tuhao expresses the humor of China. It's easy to pronounce and very accurate at poking fun at rich people who have more money than taste. _ can be called "tuhao" according to the passage. A. All newly rich people B. People who own their money easily C. People who love money very much D. Newly rich people who spend money in an extravagant way Answer: D. Newly rich people who spend money in an extravagant way Question: Most people want to work, but it has become more difficult in today's world to find work for everyone. The economy of the world needs to grow by 4% each year just to keep the old number of jobs for people. Often this is not possible, and so more people are out of work. Some people have no jobs now because new machines can do the work of many people in short time. Also, machines do not ask for more money and longer holiday. In all of the countries of the world, machines are taking work from people, not only in factories but also on the farms. One machine can often do the work from forty people. About 75,000 people are moving to the cities a day to look for jobs, but only 70% of them can find jobs. One machine can do as much work as _ . A. 40% of the people B. 4% of the people in the world C. 40 people D. 75,000 people Answer: C. 40 people Question: You know how much your telephone has changed over the past 10 years? Your car will change even more than that in the next 10 years. One of the biggest changes is that cars will drive themselves. "We certainly have the technology for it now."says Andrew Poliak of automotive technology supplier QNX."We expect self-driving cars to be a mainstream thing between 2020 and 2025." The American company Google has been working on self-driving cars for years. These cars are already on the roads in the United States and are truly self-driving. They have to steering wheels or pedals . Last week, the police ordered one of Google's cars to stop for driving too slowly on a public road. The car was not breaking any law, so no one was punished. Another American company, Tesla, added an "Autopilot" feature to its cars last month. With the Autopilot turned on, the vehicle drives itself. The car will speed up, slow down, _ and drive by itself. You can take over driving any time by turning the steering wheel or touching a pedal. The car uses sensors to know when driveway changing is safe and whether it should speed up or slow down. Tesla Autopilot is made for cross-country driving. It keeps you in the driveway and helps you avoid hitting other cars. It does not work well on local roads, for it will not stop at a red light or stop sign. Reporter Carolyn Nicander Mohr tried the Autopilot feature of a Tesla earlier this month. She had a hard time trusting the car to do what it should do. She thought about disabling the Autopilot feature many times during her trip. She wanted to take control at every bend in the road and hit the brake when the car in front of her slowed down. Yet the car drove perfectly. Other companies are working on self-driving cars, too. Marcedes-Benz, Audi, BMW.Volvo and Toyota all have plans for such vehicles. ,A, B, C, D. According to the text, Tesla Autopilot _ . A. is truley self-driving B. can sense traffic lights C. won't work on freeways D. isn't safe in crowded areas Answer: D. isn't safe in crowded areas
Jill ran upstairs as soon as she got home from school. Today she was a sad and angry girl. Her teacher had given her a lot of homework. Jill always thought homework wasn't fair. But she thought it was extra unfair today because she wanted to play with a new toy. The new toy was called Wiggle Giggle and Jill's friends said it was very fun. When Jill ran into her room, she jumped up on her bed. Frowning, she tried to think of a way to get her homework done very quickly. While she was thinking, she unwrapped a brownie and began to eat it. Brownies were her favorite snack and it made her feel a little better. Suddenly, Jill came up with a plan. She jumped down from the bed and stuffed the rest of the snack in her mouth. As she chewed, she opened her toy chest. Jill had to dig way down to the bottom, but she soon found what she was looking for: parts from a few broken toys. Things were looking up! Jill's plan was to build a robot to do her homework. Nothing would get in the way of her plan. It took her hours to finish it, but she was proud of her work. When it was done, she named the robot Mister Sparks. She told it, "Mister Sparks, do my homework!" Then Jill had to go eat dinner. After dinner, Jill spent the rest of the night playing Wiggle Giggle. It was so much fun! But Jill got some bad news before going to bed. Mister Sparks had not done any of the homework! From what things did Jill make her robot? Answer: Seven years of careful design and planning all came together on Monday, when James Cameron became the first human to make a solo trip to the deepest known point on earth - the Challenger Deep! More importantly though, he appeared safely seven hours later, completing with exciting-photos and videos from this dark mysterious world that has been visited by only two humans before! Seated inside a specially built 12-ton green submersible called the Deep Sea Challenger, the brilliant filmmaker caught every moment of his 2-hour-36-minute journey down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench on video -- given that it is 120 times larger than the Grand Canyon and a mile deeper than Mount Everest. Absolutely nothing! There were no large alien creatures or mysterious footprints -- just a flat desolate landscape, 50 times larger than the Grand Canyon. Mr. Cameron describes it as "devoid of sunlight, any heat, any warmth". The only things swimming around, were some tiny shrimp-like creatures no bigger than an inch. While the 57-year-old had expected to spend six hours at the bottom, he was forced to return in three hours, because the robotic arm that was supposed to help him collect samples went wrong and began leaking oil. He also lost some thrusters and a whole starboard side, causing the submersible to spin around in circles. However, these small setbacks did not make the whole trip any less exciting for Mr. Cameron. The director, who returned to the surface in a speedy seventy minutes, believes this is just one of many trips he and other adventurers will be taking. In fact, Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, is currently in the midst of planning a similar trip to the Puerto Rico Trench that lies five miles below the surface of the water. Though Mr. Cameron's is promising to move his historic trip into an exciting 3-D National Geographic documentary, he is tight-lipped about how the experience will be used in his next movie! We cannot wait to see! Why did Mr. Cameron return earlier than planned? Answer: A recent British study examined the salaries and jobs of people who spent time enjoying the arts when growing up. They found those who enjoyed the arts from an early age had better jobs and higher salaries than those who didn't. What's the link ?How could visiting a museum, enjoying a symphony ,or improving painting skills lead to career success? Other studies have found that students who study the arts exercise their reasoning ability. This skill helps with problem-solving. Creative and critical-thinking abilities are also developed through art study. When faced with a real-life challenge ,these skills can be put to good use. The best kind of art excites our imagination and makes us think. Paintings aren't just pretty pictures. They tell stories about the experience of the painter. See Michelangelo's art, and you will taste the power of his faith in God. Look at the world from Picasso's point of view, and you see everyday life in new ways. In Shakespeare's plays you'll find lessons about character and morality .Chinese poet Li Bai brings the wonder of nature's beauty to every reader. The arts show and explain the world beyond our own personal knowledge. When we look beyond ourselves, we can appreciate the experience of people from different walks of life. The arts help develop the ability to see things from many different points of view. These things will help us better communicate and cooperate with other people. If a person enjoys arts, he or she may _ . Answer: Good parent - teacher communication is necessary for a child's success in school. Recent studies show that the more actively parents are involved in the child's school life. The better the child does in his studies. Like all relationships, parents and teachers affect each other, but the person who is most affected is the child. What they need to understand is that the educational success depends on many things, including the ability of the parents and teacher to know his needs and what he likes, and encourage him. When a child's teacher and parents work together in the best interests of the child, he may feel able to learn, but, more importantly, also feel supported. Education is about much more than just academic success. We must use the parent-teacher relationship to help a child grow and learn. So, how should parents and teacher work together? It doesn't require a change in the school subjects. It simply means that they should work together to help make lessons practical . For instance, if a child is learning about money at school and the teacher takes the time to communicate this to the parents, the parent can take the child to the store to practice what he is learning at school. At the store, he has to pick out a thing he can afford to buy, take out the right amount of money to pay for it and check to make sure the clerk has given him the right amount of _ . Doing this can help him to learn about the world in which he lives. This is how good parent-teacher communication supports the parent, teacher and, finally, the child. Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage? Answer: Mr King was the manager of a hotel. One weekend all the hotels in the city were full because there was a large meeting. On Friday night, three men came into the hotel and asked for rooms. Mr King said there were no rooms ready because of the meeting. The men were unhappy. Mr King wanted to help them. He remembered that Room 418, a very small room, was empty. He asked them if they would share a room. The three men said they would. Mr King said the room would be thirty dollars: ten for each one. Each man gave him the money and then went up to the room. Mr King soon began to feel sorry. "Thirty dollars is a lot to ask as price for that small room. " he thought. He called his assistant over and said, "Here is five dollars. Take it to the men in Room 418. I asked too much for their room." The assistant took the money. While he was on the way there, he started to think, "How can three men divide five dollars? I'll give them each only one dollar and keep the two dollars for myself. The men will be happy to get something back, and Mr King will never know. " So the assistant returned one dollar to each man. Each man had at first paid ten dollars. After the assistant returned them one dollar each, each had paid nine. There were three men, $ 9 x3 = $ 27. The assistant kept $ 2. $ 27 + $ 2 = $ 29. Where is the missing dollar? At first _ . Answer:
Manganese has an atomic number of 25 and an atomic mass of 55 amu. How many particles are found in its nucleus? A 25 B 30 C 55 D 80 Answer: C People in Poland tend to spend Christmas with their families, and the most important part of Christmas is Christmas Eve supper. The whole family just sits around the table, and there are twelve traditional dishes on the table, and you are supposed to taste them all, because if you don't try them all you may have bad luck in the coming year. Before everybody sits down to supper, they just break wafers with each other, wishing each ot her good luck. As soon as the supper is over, the children go to the other room, where the big Christmas tree stands and they find Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. After that, the whole family just sits around the table singing Christmas songs, and waiting for midnight to come, when they go to church. Why do people in Poland have to taste all the dishes on Christmas Eve? A . Because if they don't, the one who cooks will be unhappy. B . Because they have to tell which dish is the best. C . Because if they don't, they may have bad luck in the following year. D . Because they are supposed to do so. Answer: C a seismograph is a kind of tool for measuring the size of A trees B terra plate displacements C planets D poems Answer: B On Friday night, after a three-hour weather delay, passengers boarded a Beijing-bound flight in Dhaka, Bangladesh that had a stopover in Kunming, a provincial capital in southwest China. Scheduled to leave Kunming at 8:45 p.m., the connecting flight was delayed until 11 p.m. by additional poor weather. This did not make the passengers happy. Several refused to board and demanded compensation, but by 1:45 a.m. the airline had persuaded everyone to board. But that wasn't the end of the passengers' problems. After they boarded, the airport staff had to clear snow from the runway, which took over an hour. Finally, the plane began to taxi at 3:15 p.m.--15 minutes after the pilot inexplicably shut off the air conditioning. When passengers complained, the pilot reportedly asked: "Are you going to die soon? If not, just wait." Two passengers then burst open the emergency exits, which resulted in their arrests. The journalist Matt Sheehan, who in 2013 described a Chinese airport melee in hugely entertaining fashion, told MSNBC that "Chinese people have just begun waking up to this idea that as a consumer you're entitled(...) to certain protections, but they don't have any of the institutions like consumer rights groups that do this professionally." Airlines--and the airline industry--are a useful lens for viewing China's development as a whole. In his excellent book China Airborne, Atlantic national correspondent and aviation buff James Fallows described how China is attempting to condense a century's worth of developments in aviation into a few decades. This breakneck pace has resulted in a dazzling array of new airports scattered across the country, but has included some serious growing pains. What mainly caused the two passengers to open the emergency exits ? A The connecting flight was delayed for three hours . B After they boarded, the airport staff spent over one hour clearing snow from the runway. C before the plane began to taxi , the pilot shut off the air conditioning for i5 minutes. D When passengers complained, the pilot reportedly insulted them by saying something rude and impolite . Answer: D The London Underground is one of the best transport networks in the world with around 24 million journeys made each day, so it is important that everything runs smoothly. Remember the following to travel like a Londoner. Keep right on escalator London Underground asks that you stand on the right when using the escalators and leave the left free for others to walk down. If you are traveling in a big group, or with lots of shopping bags, stand and stay right and let others pass you---it will speed up the process and be a more pleasant journey for everyone! Remember the "rush hour" The tube network is very busy during the rush hour. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning and between 17:00 and 19:00 in the evening. Move down the platform to find more space As you enter the station platform, you will often find more room if you walk down to the end of the platform. Here, the train carriages are usually the emptiest as well. Carry a bottle of water in warmer moths The London Underground is over 150 years old and although the trains have been modernized, many still lack air conditioning and cooling units. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you, especially in the summer, as the long tube journeys can get very hot. Keep your personal belongings safe Like any large city be cautions of pickpockets operating in the busy stations and tubes. Carry a bag with zips and keep your personal belongings and valuable items in it to avoid becoming the victims of theft. Plan your journey on the London Underground in advance with a free tube map. Click here to download. In order not to be stolen, you are advised to _ . A avoid traveling in a big group B avoid traveling during the rush hour C keep your valuables in a zipped bag. D stay away from busy stations and tubes Answer: C
The Internet is full of headlines that grab your attention with buzzwords . But often when we click through, we find the content hardly delivers and it wastes our time. We close the page, feeling we've been cheated. These types of headlines are called "click bait". A headline on Busin,esslnsider.com reads: "This phrase will make you seem more polite". First, when you click through, you find another headline: "Four words to seem more polite." Then, on reading the article, you find it's actually an essay about sympathy. And what are the four words? They're "Wow, that sounds hard." On some video websites, you might encounter headlines such as "Here's what happens when six puppies visited a campus". Turns out it's just some uneventful dog footage . Nowadays, with the popularity of social media, many news outlets tweet click bait links to their stories. These tweets take advantage of the curiosity gap or attempt to draw the reader into a story using a question in the headline. These click bait headlines are so annoying that someone is attempting to save people time by exposing news outlet click bait through social media. The Twitter account @SavedYouAClick, run by Jake Beckman, is one such example. Beckman's method is to grab tweets linking to a story and retweet them with a click-saving comment. For example, CNET tweeted "So iOS 8 appears to be jailbreakable but...", with a link to its coverage of Apple's product announcements. Beckman retweeted it with this comment attached: "... it hasn't been jailbroken yet." Since founding the account, Beckman's Twitter experiment has brought him more than 131,000 followers. Beckman said that @SavedYouAClick is "just my way of trying to help the Internet be less temble." Asked about his goal, he said, "I'd love to see publishers think about the experience of their readers first. I think there's an enormous opportunity for publishers to provide readers with informative updates that include links so you can click through and read more. The article on Businesslnsider.com turns out to be _ . Answer: an essay about another topic The 2012 Olympic Games are coming! More than two hundred disabled bikers from thirty-three countries have been competing in Los Angeles, California. They are seeking a chance to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. The games are to open in August after the end of the London Olympics. Here, let's know something about three excellent disabled bikers who will be seen at the 2012 Paralympic Games. American cyclist Jennifer Schuble got hurt in her brain when she was a college student and lost some of the feeling in her feet. Her arm was later damaged in a car accident and she has muscle sclerosis . But she says cycling let her return to competitive sports, "Doing physical exercise has always been part of my daily life, and every day I play soccer run to keep fit. With cycling, I'm able to strengthen my legs." She won the gold medal in the five-hundred-meter event at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008. Like most of the riders, she has moved beyond her disabilities, dealing with daily life just like everyone else. American Sam Kavanagh lost his leg in a skiing accident seven years ago. After recovering, he returned to cycling which he had enjoyed in college. He says the American team will have a hard time during the competition, " Great Britain has top athletes in paracycling events. The Americans alwayse come flying. They're very strong. But I have confidence in our team." British Paralympic champion Sarah Storey was born without a working left hand. She has won gold medals in both cyvling and swimming. She competed in her first games in 1992. She also competed in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 against non-disabled athletes. Sarah Storey says getting ready for the Paralympic Games needs continuous training. She will keep training even after the games. This passage is mainly about _ . Answer: three disabled bikers for the 2012 Paralympic Games Ever thought of moving to a new country? How about starting a new country? Patri Friedman is planning to do just that. He left Google years ago to set up the Seasteading Institute. And his dream is to build seasteads-----floating micro-nations in the middle of the ocean. So, what will life on a seastead be like? Probably a bit like life on a cruise liner , but much larger, with shops, gyms, swimming pools, schools and other areas. In fact, the early seasteads may actually be specially-rebuilt cruise liners. But as science advances, Friedman believes they'll become more like floating cities, with several hundred people. Seasteading raises a lot of questions. First of all, how will the new countries make money? The Seasteading Institute has suggested several money-making ideas, including ocean-based theme parks, casinos and fish farming. There's also the questions of safety. With storms, typhoons and pirates , the high seas are a dangerous place. However, the Institute says that it can stand bad weather and prevent crimes with its well-designed systems. So, is this just a day dream? Well, maybe not. One of the people behind the project is Peter Thiel. He founded PayPal and was one of the first investors in Facebook. So far, he's donated $ 500,000 to the project. And Friedman isn't wasting any time. He recently announced the creation of the Poseidon Award. This will be given to the first seastead with fifty people. Friedman is hoping to hand out the award in 2015. Where did Friedman use to work? Answer: In Google. OK, I admit it: emoticons are popular. Some people even think they are fun. Many seem unable to get through an e-mail or Instant Message chat sentence without using one. Some feel that they add feeling and character to otherwise cold digital communications. Some, however, such as editor and Hollywood scriptwriter John Blumenthal, blast the use of emoticons as "infantile just like the people who use them" He believes that words themselves should be enough. "If you're being funny, happy or sad, that should be apparent from the comment that goes before the emoticon," he argues. In the eyes of Blumenthal, the use of emoticons is a gender issue. "Men don't use emoticons very much. Maybe not at all," he said. "Teenage girls and women seem to use them a lot. Maybe there' s an emoticon gene." It's an interesting opinion, but it is not shared by all. In an interview with The New York Times, Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, said that emoticons are popular because our brains are programmed "to seek out representations of humanity". He believes that they appeal not because they are shortcuts for the lazy, but because they tap into something beyond language. They reach to our need to be with and communicate with people. All of these arguments may be somehow valid . Each one of us will choose to communicate in our own way. I do not have much time for emoticons. I tried to use one once and felt like I was stealing into a primary school class that I had no place being in. I'd rather let my words do the talking. Friends, however, send me messages and e-mails full of emoticons. I have no problem with this. I don't regard any of my friends as lazy or immature . It's just a question of individuality. :) According to the article, emoticons are popular because _ . Answer: they add feeling and character to a communication As a young man, Paul Beier hiked in the mountains of California. Since then, he has decided to choose his career as a wildlife protector. He went to school to learn more first of all. After he earned his doctor's degree, he eagerly signed up for a job studying cougars , which once lived throughout the United States, but now live mainly in the Rocky Mountains and westward. They need not only a lot of land to survive but also plenty of food and places to raise their young. But many wild areas have been divided by freeways and taken over by towns. The small wilderness areas of the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California didn't have much room for them. And yet a few still lived there. How did they do it? Many big animals are disappearing. Those that survive are being trapped in shrinking patches of habitat. A patch may not have enough space or food for a cougar to survive. Scientists wondered if cougars could move from one patch to another. If so, maybe humans could preserve wildlife corridors to connect the patches, providing enough room for the animals. But no one had shown that animals use wildlife corridors in real life. To see if cougars had found corridors through local suburbs and freeways, Paul and his research team studied 32 cougars for five years. They used a drug to make each cat sleep, buckled a radio collar around its neck, and let it go. Every day, Paul used an electrical device that sends and receives radio signals to find cougars, listening for radio beeps from their collars. Once or twice a week, he trailed one of the cougars all night. He traced their travels on a map. Sure enough, some of them had discovered paths from one small park land to the next. One cougar became famous for his travels. He was named M6:"M"for Male, and"6"because he was the sixth one collared in the study. M6's corner of the Santa Ana Mountains wasn't large enough for him. Chino Hills State Park was not far away, but the trip was not safe. After dark, M6 used a paved vehicle underground passage to cross undera busy eight-lane freeway. He slipped by a riding stable, and then picked his way through a golf course and across two sets of busy railroad tracks. Finally, he arrived in the sheltered canyons of 12,000-acre Chino Hills State Park. There, the cougar found deer to hunt. During a year and a half, the scientists recorded M6 making this journey 22 times! Then Paul learned of plans to build houses, gas stations, and a mall that would block M6's path. Paul once said,"The loss of this corridor would guarantee the extinction of the cougar from the Chino Hills and endanger the entire population of lions in the Santa Ana Mountains."A local citizens' group called Hills for Everyone raised money to buy the land and add it to the state park. When the group visited the state capital and showed the map that Paul had made of M6's journeys, the lawmakers saw how important the corridor was. The lawmakers had the passage preserved, with the pavement removed and with native bushes near the openings. While traffic roared above, M6 and other cougars could move safely between the state park and the mountains. Other animals such as deer, foxes, and bobcats could also use the corridor. Paul's research showed that wildlife corridors can save animals. Since his study in the Santa Ana Mountains, scientists around the world have begun restoring and protecting wildlife corridors. What is the best title of this passage? Answer: Cougars Use Corridors to Survive
Here is some news of the future. March 20, 2035 There was a lot of news around the life extension drugs that hit the market a decade ago. They didn't promise that you would like forever, but they gave you a chance to extend your life an extra five to ten years. Even though the life expectancy rate at birth has increased greatly, the life expectancy for seniors hasn't improved that much. Basically, you have a greater chance to become a senior, but you will not have a much longer lifespan, and this is where the anti-aging drugs intend to kick in. So, do the anti-aging drugs work? Well,it is too early to tell. But the sales so far are very good. April 19, 2035 Of the total US population of 378 million, people over 65 years of age now make up 20% for the first time. The senior ratio of only 4.1% by year 1900, and 12.4% 30 years ago. The number of people above 65 compared to those of what is considered working ages, between 15 and 64, is currently 33.7%. This is up from 18.5% since year 2005, which means that for every retired person there are now two workers, compared to four workers 30 years ago. The number of people above the age of 80 has grown to 23.8 million, making them 6.3% of the total population compared to 3.6% in 2005. April 12, 2040 Although introduced in the market only five years ago, 10% of all hydrogen fuel now sold in the US is of the environmentally friendly Re-Hydro label, produced through eletrolysis based on a source of 100% renewable energy. Several producers have turned to producing Re-Hydro, mainly because of lower tax, which also keeps the price of Re-Hydro on the same level as regular hydrogen. Most analysts believe that Re-Hydro will be the dominating fuel in the future. We can know from the passage that the fuel of the Re-Hydro label is _ . How many times does Earth rotate on its axis in one day? A black hole is created when a large star burns out. Like our sun, stars are unbelievably hot furnaces that burn their own matter as fuel. When most of the fuel is used up, the star begins to die. The death of a star is not a quiet event. First there is a huge explosion. As its outer layer is blasted off into space, the dying star shines as brightly as a billion suns. After the explosion gravity pulls in what's left of the star. As the outside of the star sinks toward the center, the star gets smaller and smaller. The material the star is made of becomes tightly packed together. A star is so dense that a teaspoon of matter from it weighs billion of pounds. The more the star shrinks, the stronger the gravity inside it becomes. Soon the star is very tiny, and the gravity pulling it in is unbelievably strong. In fact, the gravity is so strong that it even pulls light into the star! Since all the light is pulled in, none can go out. The star becomes black when there is no light. Then a black hole is born! That's what we know about black holes. What we don't know is this: What happens inside a black hole after the star has been squeezed into a tiny ball? Does it keep getting smaller and smaller forever? Such a possibility is hard to imagine. But if the black hole doesn't keep shrinking, what happens to it? Some scientists think black holes are like doorways to another world. They say that as the star disappears from our universe, it goes into another universe. In other words a black hole in our universe could turn into a "white hole" in a different universe. As the black hole swallows light, the white hole shines brightly--somewhere else. But where? A different place, perhaps, or a different time -- many years in the past or future. Could you travel through a black hole? Right now, no. Nothing we know of could go into a black hole without being crushed. So far the time being, black hole must remain a mystery. Black holes are a mystery--but that hasn't stopped scientists from dreaming about them. One scientist suggested that in the future we might make use of the power of black holes. They would supply all of Earth's energy needs, with plenty to spare. Another scientist wondered if a black hole could some day be used to swallow earthly waste--a sort of huge waste disposal in the sky! The black hole _ . Billie Holiday was one of the greatest jazz singers in America. Her life was just a mixture of success and tragedy. Her singing expressed her experiences and feelings. Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan in 1915 in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were Sadie Fagan and Clarence Holiday. They were young when their daughter was born. Their marriage failed because Clarence Holiday was often out. He traveled as a musician with some of the earliest jazz bands and inspired his daughter. Sadie Fagan cleaned people's houses to make a living. But she could not support her family with the money she earned. So she moved to New York City where the pay was higher. She left her daughter in Baltimore with one of her distant relatives. The young girl Eleanora Fagan changed her name to Billie, because she liked a movie star, Billie Dove. The talented Billie Holiday loved singing. She sang and listened to music whenever she could. In one place near her home there was a machine that played records. The building was a theater where many famous singers also performed their newly-made songs for free. Billie cleaned floors and did other jobs for the theater so that she could listen to the records. It was there that young Billie first heard the records of some famous black American blues artists of the 1920s. she heard Bessie Smith sing the blues. And she heard Louis Armstrong play the horn. Both musicians had a great influence on her. Billie Holiday once said, "I do not think I'm singing. I feel like I am playing a horn. _ I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That is all I know." In order to listen to the records in the theater, Billie Holiday _ . Drinking Water: Bottled or From the Tap? In America, people will include a case or two of bottled water when buying the week's groceries. When they are going to a soccer game or activity, it's common for them to grab a cold bottle of water out of the fridge with them.In fact, Americans buy more bottled water than any other nation in the world, about 29 billion bottles a year. But all these plastic bottles use a lot of fossil fuels and pollute the environment.In order to make all the 29 billion bottles, producers use 17 million barrels of crude oil, which is enough to keep a million cars going for 12 months. So why don't people drink water straight from the tap? Some people have a strong belief that bottled water is better than water out of the tap, but that's not necessarily true.In the US, the local governments make sure water from the tap is safe.There is also growing concern that chemicals in the bottles themselves may go into the water. People love the convenience of bottled water.But maybe if they realized the problems it causes, they would try drinking from a glass at home or carrying water in a reusable steel container instead of plastic. Some argue that plastic bottle recycling can help.Recycled bottles can be turned into items like carpeting or clothing.Unfortunately, only one in six bottles is recycled.The rest make it to landfills or end as trash in other places.Plastic bottles take hundreds of years for them to _ . Water is important for you, so keep drinking it.But think about how often you use water bottles, and see if you can make a change. And yes, you can make a difference.Remember this: Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for six hours. The author's intention of writing this passage is to recommend Americans _ .
Greenwich is on the River, five miles from the middle of London, and its history is two thousand years old. The first English people were fishermen there, and they named the place Greenwich, meaning "green village". Later the English kings and queens lived at Greenwich in their beautiful places. The name of the earliest palace was Placentia. Its windows were made of glass--the first in England. But trouble was coming to Greenwich. In 1649, a war started in England and for eleven years there was no king. The men who had worked for him at Placentia decided to live in the place themselves. They sold all its beautiful things, and bought small pieces of the palace garden with money. Finally, the war ended and King Charles II came back. But Placentia was falling down. So King Charles built a new and bigger palace, which is now open to the public. At this time, Charles was worried about losing so many of its ships at sea because their sailors did not know how to tell exactly where they were. So in 1675, Charles made John Flamsteed, the first astronomer in England, try to find the answer. Flamsteed worked in a new building on the high ground in Greenwich Park. From it with a telescope which he made himself, Flamsteed could look all round the sky. And he did, night after night, for twenty years. Carrying on Flamsteed's work a hundred years later, an astronomer called Harrison finally made a clock which told the time at sea, and helped sailors to know where they were.You can see Harrison's clock, still working, in Greenwich's museum of the sea. Because of Flamsteed's work, every country in the world now tells its time by Greenwich time. The first English people living in the "green village" were _ . A sailors B fishermen C King Charles and his family D The families of king and queens Answer: B. fishermen A study has found, spending hours playing violent video games prevents teenagers from their moral growth. It is thought that regular touch to violence and lack of contact with the outside world makes it harder for them to tell right from wrong.They also struggle to trust other people,and see the world from their viewpoints. Researchers from Brock University in Ontario found that those who spend more than three hours each day in front of the screen are particularly unlikely to have developed the ability to empathize . The Canadian researchers surveyed 109 boys and girls,aged 13 and 14,about whether they played video games,which games they liked,and how long they spent playing them.Their findings found that 88 percent of teens said they played games,and more than half admitted to playing games every day.Violent games were among the most popular. The teenagers also filled in a questionnaire designed to measure their moral development.For example,they were asked how important it is to save the life of a friend. Previous studies have suggested that a person's moral judgment goes through four phases as they grow from children and enter adulthood.By the age of 13 or 14,scientists claim young people should be entering the third stage,and be able to empathize with others and take their viewpoints into account.The research found that this stage appeared to be delayed in teenagers who regularly played violent video games. It is also thought that teenagers who play games regularly did not spend enough time in the real world to learn to take others' thoughts into consideration.Researcher Mirjana Bajovic said:"The present results indicate that some teenagers, who spent three or more hours a day playing violent video games,are deprived of such opportunities." he added:"Touch to violence in video games may influence the development of moral reasoning because violence is not only presented as acceptable but is also justified and rewarded." They concluded that rather than trying to enforce an 'unrealistic' ban on the games,parents and teachers should encourage teenagers to do charity work and take up after-school activities. What does Mirjana Bajovic want to tell us according to his words? A Playing games regularly will improve teens' intelligence. B Vio1ent games cost teens social experiences in real life. C Playing games makes teens help others. D Playing games inspires teens to develop fast. Answer: B. Vio1ent games cost teens social experiences in real life. Ever felt like destroying the car in front of you when you're stuck in an endless traffic jam? Well, the Spanish company StopStress is offering clients the possibility of doing just that-but in controlled, safe conditions. Clients can also destroy computers, mobile phones and TV sets in what the company calls" ". "We target the machines that cause the most stress in modern life," company co-founder Jorge Arribas said in a telephone interview."People get rid of stress by screaming and beating the machines until they are tired out,"he explained. The company, based in the northern Spanish city of Sofia, uses deserted cars that still work. Heavy-metal music is used to excite the clients. They are given protective suits and glasses, helmets and huge hammers. Most people's rage only lasts for 5 to 10 minutes. But some go on for hours: they beat cars on which they've put the names of people or ideas they would like to get rid of. "Some even get together to turn the car over,"Arribas says. A session costs 60 euros (US$80) per person. Arribas says the idea came to him when he was having trouble parking his car. Dozens of people have used the therapy, which helps people become aware of their stress level and helps them to slow down, Arribas explained. "It's better to channel violence in a controlled way than to get it out on one's wife or in a traffic husband and jam,"he added. StopStress already has branches in three Spanish cities, and is planning to extend its market beyond Spain's borders. The Spanish company StopStress offers people the chance to _ . A calm down when they are angry B destroy things they no longer need C get rid of stress by destroying things D get rid of stress by screaming and shouting Answer: C. get rid of stress by destroying things Tourism wasn't as important as it is today. In the past, only people with a good deal of money could travel on holidays to other countries. More people travel today than in the past because there is a growing middle class in many parts of the world. That is to say, people now have more money for travelling. Special airplane fares for tourists make travel less expensive and more attractive than ever before. Different people have different reasons for travelling. But most people enjoy seeing countries that are different from their own. They also like to meet new people and enjoy new food. Tourism has many changes in a country and in people's lives. People build new hotels and restaurants and train local men and women as guides to show visitors interesting places. Which of the following is TRUE according to the article? A People have some trouble in making journeys. B With the development of tourism, great changes will take place in many parts of the world. C Tourism won't bring any changes in people's minds.[:Z&xx&k.Com] D Tourism causes only some changes in clothing. Answer: B. With the development of tourism, great changes will take place in many parts of the world. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is also the most neglect . Common reasons for not eating breakfast include having no time, not feeling hungry, traditional dislike and dieting. Breakfast simply means "break the fast''. Your body spends at least 6 to 12 hours each night in a fasting state. In the morning your body needs energy for the day's work ahead. A good breakfast should provide 1/3 of your total calorie needs for the day. On average, we eat 400 less calories for breakfast than for dinner. If breakfast doesn't appeal to you in the morning, try eating a lighter dinner earlier in the evening or save half of your dinner for breakfast in the morning. If you still aren't hungry in the morning, start with something small like juice or toast or have a nutritious mid-morning snack later when you are hungry. So, you say you are on a diet. Some people fear that eating breakfast will make them hungrier during the day and they will eat more. It is true that eating breakfast is likely to make you feel hungry throughout the day. That is because your body is working correctly. Although you may feel as if you are eating more all day long, in reality you are probably not. Not eating breakfast can also cause you overeat, since a fall in blood sugar often makes you feel very hungry later. To make matters worse, since your body is in a slow state, it will not be able to burn those extra calories very efficiently . If you feed your body healthy snacks and meals throughout the day, you are less likely to become hungry and stuff yourself as soon as you begin to eat. Since breakfast is the first and most important meal of the day, choosing the right food is important. The best breakfast foods are fruits, juice, lean meat and grain products such as bread, rice, noodles and cereals. Not eating breakfast will _ . A save a lot of money B do harm to your health C do good to your health D help you keep in shape Answer: B. do harm to your health
When was the last time someone did something unexpectedly nice for you? Not someone you knew, but a total stranger? It's happened to me a few times, but two instances really stand out. A few years ago, I was dining out with a person who kept going on and on about himself, completely oblivious to the fact that I was sitting there in misery.It wasn't his company that disappointed me.I was recovering from a broken heart, and just sitting down to dinner reminded me of my last relationship.I could have collapsed in tears right there at the table. When we picked up the check, the waitress said, "Your meal was already paid for." My friend and I didn't have a clue how it happened.Then I remembered a man coming in out of the corner of my eye.He was dressed in mostly white, sat down at the bar, had a glass of wine, stayed for maybe ten minutes, and then left.The waitress said, "Yes, the gentleman who was in here a while ago paid for you." Just last year, I was running a half-marathon.With just 0.1 miles to go, I was out of gas. Runners call it "hitting the wall"; I thought I couldn't move another muscle.Out of nowhere, a teenager jogs up next to me and says, "What's your name, sweetie? Jennifer? Okay, Jennifer, let's go! Come on! It's just around the corner! You can do it!" And he ran with me until I picked up my pace.I found him at the finish line to thank him for the encouragement only to learn he wasn't even supposed to be in the race that day.He was running in place of someone else. I still shake my head when I think of these momentary angels that came to me at my point of need.Do you have any experiences like this? Why did the author say he was in misery? Answer: Which of the following organisms produces energy from sunlight? Answer: In a time when a dangerous number of people are overweight, many people seem to have forgotten the most important way to keep healthy and slim---exercise. And as a new study carried out on mice in the lab has shown, exercise done early in life can reward you in your adult years. A team of researchers at the University of California studied the effects of early exercise on adult physical activity, body mass and eating. They found that early-age exercise in mice has positive effects on adult levels of voluntary exercise in addition to reducing body mass. "These results may have an effect on the importance of regular physical education in elementary and middle schools," said Theodore Garland, a professor of biology, who led the research project. "If kids exercise regularly through their school years, then they may be more likely to exercise as adults, which could have far-reaching positive effects on human health and well-being." Although the positive effects of early-life exercise lasted for only one week, it is important to note that one week in the life of a mouse is the same as about nine months for humans. "Our results suggest that any positive effects of early-life exercise on adult exercise will need to be kept up if they are to be long-lasting." His team of researchers found, too, that all mice that had access to early exercise were lighter in weight than non-exercised mice. Garland explained that, in general, exercise will stimulate appetite sooner or later. However, it is possible that certain types of exercise, done for certain periods of time or at certain light levels, might not _ appetite much, if at all, at least in some individuals. "If we could understand what sorts of exercise these might be, then we might be able to tailor exercise recommendations in a way that would bring the benefits of exercise without increase in appetite, leading to a better chance of weight loss," he said. What is the article mainly about? Answer: H.T.B. Arts Center FILM Tickets PS2.50 / PS 1.50. Performances at 8 pm unless started otherwise. WILD AT HEART 127mins. Wen 6-Fri8 February Director: David Lynch Starring: Nicholas Cage, Laura Dern, Willam Dafoe. A first-class film. Cage and his girlfriend Dean are on the run through the dangerous Deep South. They are hiding from gunmen who have been hired to kill Cage by Dean's mother. Victims, yes--but they also have fun. It's wild at heart, strange on top. Funny, frightening and brilliant. DICK TRACY 113mins Mon 11-Sat16 February 6pm Tickets on sale 5-6 pm Director: Warren Beatty Starring: Warren Beatty , Madonna The famous detective tries to stop Big Boy and the Blank from taking over the city. A colorful and exciting film. Some parts are frightening, so think twice about taking children. BATMAN 126mins Mon11-Sat16 February 8.30pm Tickets on sale 7.30-8.30pm PIZZA PLUS offer 6-7pm Director: Tim Burton Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson. A few essential questions must be asked...Is Batman a mad hero? Why does Bruce Wayne spend millions dressing up as a bat? Has Nicholson's Joker stolen the whole movie? Great action and excellent acting, especially by Nicholson. According to the text, we can learn that _ . Answer: Many French teachers and parents complain that their kids are less bright than they were. They say young people visit museums less often and spend too much time on the Internet. They only read comics and listen to music, and like American culture more than their own. But is this true? A recent survey shows that many French kids spend their time as other kids always have. Most French teens love music, with 86% putting it as their top hobby, above the cinema, sport and television. French kids read a lot and like different things, from Japanese cartoons to American novels. Many French people worry that their children watch too many American films and listen to too much American music. But the results of this survey show that French young people like their own culture. As Silvia Berlin, a student from Paris, says, " _ " This passage is mainly about a survey of _ . Answer:
Hi! I'm Tina. This is a photo of Class 2. This class has twenty-five students, twelve girls and thirteen boys. These are Amy and Bob. Amy is Bob's sister. Amy is 12 and Bob is 13. Amy likes math and English. Bob likes music . He has a CD collection. This is Bruce. He is 14. He likes sports and has a sports collection. Jerry is a teacher . He is twenty-four. He likes blue, black and green. Many of his clothes are in these colors. Do you know the relationship between Jerry and Bruce? Aha! Jerry is Bruce's uncle. ,. _ girls are in Class 2. A. 12 B. 13 C. 24 D. 25 Answer: A Did you watch the magic shows played by Liu Qian from Taiwan in the 2009 CCTV Spring Festival Gala ? They attracted great attention and wide interests of the audience . During the gala, Liu mangaged to drop a coin into a glass which was placed upside down and _ a finger ring into an egg. The two magic shows were so successful that everyone is now mad about him and all want to know how to play magic tricks. "I saw the surprise on everyone's face. It was cool, "Liu said. However, you may not believe that Liu didn't go to any magic school. He just learned by himself. When Liu was seven, he saw a coin trick in a big store. At that moment Liu decided to learn magic. He worked hard at it. He practiced hard to improve his skills. Then one day he was able to put on a show for his class. After years of hard work, now Liu is a great magician. But he isn't satisfied with what he has got and keeps on trying every day. He may spend three years working out a new show. According to the passage, we can use the following words to describe Liu Qian EXCEPT _ . A. creative B. hardworking C. satisfied D. wise. Answer: C When I was young, my family got our first computer. As years went by, I wanted to get a new one, and my father agreed. We went to many stores and looked at many flyers . At last we bought an HP computer. During the first week, I noticed that our computer had some problems. I tried to fix it, but failed. Finally I had to phone the HP company. After five hours' hard work, the computer still did not work. My dad didn't have a choice but to return the whole thing. A few days later, we decided that I should go on the internet and order some parts to build a new computer by myself. It was not an easy thing for me to deal with it, but in the end I finished. From these setbacks , I have learned, and now believe if the computer that I bought from the store didn't have problems, then I would not learn how to build a new one. Even though I spent lots of time on it, I know it wasn't a waste of time. I now have a self-built computer, and I am very pleased. The writer wanted to have a new computer because _ . A. he has much money B. the one he had was cheap C. his dad would like to D. the first one was too old Answer: D The day before the deadline for this article,I had no clue what I was going to write about. I took my problem to the editor-in-chief, and.he said to me:"Don't worry; you're creative. " I'm not sure where the editor-in-chief reached the conclusion that I was "creative". Maybe it was through the poems I wrote. Personally, I simply enjoy writing because it's fun. There's also the fact that I can't draw or do anything else creatively, I'm equally sure that there are people in the boat on the other side who can make things look excellent, but can't write a poem. At this point you probably want to ask me what poetry and art have to do with engineering. For one, it makes you a more rounded person, making you a better engineer. More importantly, as an engineer, you will be faced with many problems every day. There are some that can be solved by consulting a textbook, but more often than not, you will need that thing in your brain to put together things in a completely original combination to solve the problem at hand. Think of the wonderful things that creative engineers have done. Civil engineers have made the road more long-lasting so we don't have to close them for repairs as often. Coming up with a new innovation is similar to writing a good poem. It's not some-thing you plan to do. The critical moment comes unexpectedly in the middle of nowhere. You don't think about what you're doing, you simply do. After some mad struggling you take a look at the end product and say to yourself, "This is a masterpiece. " This is perhaps the greatest personal satisfaction one can experience. So all you engineers out there get out and do something creative. I don't care if it's writing a poem or a computer program, just be natural and do something creative. In the author's opinion, writing poems can _ . A. show one is creative B. make him happy C. bring him in lots of money D. have an effect on one's mental health Answer: B A creature that is incapable of giving birth to offspring that are living as they exit is the A. bear B. human C. beaver D. salamander Answer: D
Question: We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. Early settlers, our forefathers set us an example of wasting everything, for they thought nature's resources were so plentiful that none of them ever imagined that natural materials would be used up in time. Within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They burned down their houses with only one aim to get the nails for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people we destroy many valuable things that other people save. I noticed this when I was living in Britain. I received a letter from one England's largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery with the names of all twenty - eight vice - presidents lists on side of the page. The writer thought their forefathers _ . A. set a good example B. wasted many natural resources C. knew natural resources would be used up in time D. made the best use of natural materials Answer: B Question: Have you ever had a science class that you look forward to? It doesn't happen often. But when you have a teacher like Mrs. Rheineck, it's more than a science class. It's a science class where learning is easy and fun. There is no getting down to a huge textbook or listening to a teacher about something you don't care about. My experience with Mrs. Rheineck didn't start with science class, but with her as my tutor(,). I was always a weak reader and wasn't getting any better. My parents told me I needed to be tutored. One day after school, I went into the library with my mom for my first tutoring time. I had no idea who was tutoring me. My mom practically had to pull me into the library. The first thing we did was to play a game to get to know each other and get rid of the awkwardness (,). We didn't even play a reading game. We also went around the library and I got to pick out a book I wanted to read. She didn't make me read a boring textbook about something I didn't care about. I didn't even pick a book. I picked out a magazine about remote control cars. I thought to myself, how bad could it be? I got to read about remote control cars. She told me even though I was reading a magazine, I was still reading. After the first magazine, she picked out a book she liked. I would read a chapter and then she would read a chapter to me, this way I didn't have to read for long periods of time. As I got better and faster at reading, I was able to read two chapters in the same amount of time, which used to take me to read one chapter. Reading is one of the most important things in high school and college to be successful. If it wasn't for her, I would not be the reader I am today and I thank her for that. Why was the writer tutored by Mrs. Rheineck? A. Because the writer was too shy to talk with others. B. Because the writer found science easy and fun. C. Because the writer liked her science class. D. Because the writer couldn't read books quickly. Answer: D Question: Dear Alice, My name is Lisa. I have social anxiety, disorder and was wondering how it would be possible to see someone for help without my parents knowing about it. I know that they'd be anything but supportive. They would think I'm ly out of my mind. The truth is, I've put off dealing with it, acting as if it'll just go away or that I'll outgrow it. But in reality, the older I'm getting, the worse I'm getting. I avoid as many social situations as I can. I completely panic when meeting new people, I only stay in classes that don't require any talking on my part. It seems the only place I'm actually happy is at home or with people that I've known all my life. Hope you can help! Dear Lisa, About 5 million Americans have some form of social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. While everyone experiences nervousness or fear in social situations to a certain extent, those with social anxiety disorder are weakened by their fear. They may have a constant, intense, and lasting fear of being watched and judged by others, or be terribly afraid of being embarrassed or laughed at by ways in which they behave. As you have described, this fear can prevent people with social anxiety disorder from doing everyday activities, such as going to school or work, and can become so much of a focus that they limit their socializing. It's understandable that you are worried about how your parents might react to knowing what's been going on for you. Many people think that their families will blame them for how they're feeling or _ their concerns. Being honest with your parents, however, might help you to feel more at ease; it's possible that they've noticed your behavior and wondered about it, or even struggled with similar feelings themselves. There's even some evidence that anxiety disorders may be genetic or run in families --perhaps due to environmental factors and patterns expressed through interpersonal interactions. The problem of Lisa is that _ . A. She is not getting along well with her parents. B. She becomes nervous meeting people. C. She always puts off dealing with her problems. D. She fears social occasions. Answer: D Question: After the Spring Festival, I found some of my mom's daily habits have changed. Her cooking way was different. Vegetables that had been cooked crisply became very tender and soft. Fish that had been fried became soup. Her old shredded potato turned into diced potato... Feeling strange, dad and I asked Mom the reason for the change. But all she said was, "Just trying a different taste". Then she was silent. But it wasn't just her cooking way. Mom also change other habits. After dinner, instead of watching films on TV as usual, she would put on her newly-bought sports clothes and asked Dad to go out for a walk. After they came back home, mom would lose herself in magazines or newspapers about healthcare. Mom almost never gets sick. Why was she suddenly interested in medicine? I couldn't understand her "abnormal" behavior. Then one day I came across her micro blog . "While visiting my parents during the Spring Festival, I suddenly realized that they are in their 70s now," my mom had written. "They move slowly and it is hard for them to do the housework. I should visit them more often... "Some cooking should be changed to keep them healthy. They like fish soup, diced potato, tender and soft vegetables... "I must also keep fit by doing physical exercise. If my parents are too weak to move around, I can be strong enough to take care of them. When I am old, my son can also pay less attention to taking care of me..." When I read this, I felt very sorry. I used to complain that Mom didn't understand me and couldn't give me everything I wanted. I always thought there was a wide gap between us. But now I completely understand her. How great she is! She always thinks of others before herself. Everything she does is to help the people she loves live better lives. How unselfish her love is! Why did mom change her cooking way? A. Because she wanted to try a different taste. B. Because she wasn't interested in cooking any more. C. Because she was suddenly interested in medicine. D. Because she tried to find a cooking way suitable for her parents. Answer: D Question: American researchers found females are the more talkative sex because of a special "language protein " in the brain. The study, conducted by neuroscientists and psychologist from the University of Maryland, concluded that women talked more because they had more of the Foxp2 protein. The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that higher levels were found among humans that were women but in rats that were males. Their findings came after it was previously claimed that ladies speak about 20,000 words a day - over 13,000 more than men. "This study is one of the first to report a sex difference in the expression of a language-associated protein in humans or animals," said Prof Margaret McCarthy, who led the study. In their study, the researchers attempted to determine what might make male rats more vocal than their female friends. They separated four-day-old rats from their mothers and then counted the number of times they cried out in the "ultrasonic range", the frequencies higher than humans can hear, over five minutes. While both sexes called out hundreds of cries, the males called out twice as often, they found. But when the pups were returned to their mother's cage, she _ her sons first. Tests conducted on the parts of the brain known to be associated with vocalcalls showed the male pups have up to twice as much Foxp2 protein as the females. The researchers then increased the production in the brains of female pups and reduced it in males. This led to the female rats crying out more often and their mothers showing more interest to them. In contrast, males became less "talkative". The researchers then tested samples from ten children, aged between three and five, which showed that females had up to 30 per cent more of the Foxp2 protein than males, in a brain area key to language in humans. "Based on our observations, we assume higher levels of Foxp2 in girls and higher levels of Foxp2 in male rats is an indication that Foxp2 protein levels are associated with the more communicative sex," said Prof McCarthy. "Our results imply Foxp2 as a component of the neurobiological basis of sex differences in vocal communication in mammals. " The researchers carried out the experiments on rats in order to _ . A. test which part of the brain is key to language in rats and humans B. prove the levels of Foxp2 protein in humans and rats are different C. determine the reason why female rats are more talkative than male rats D. discover the association between Foxp2protein and vocal communication Answer: D
Question: I was walking along prefix = st1 /Orchard Roadwhen I realized a tall young man wearing a jacket and tie was following me. I noticed him because not many people wear a jacket and tie in the middle of a hot summer day, and I had already seen this man four times that afternoon. To make sure he was following me, I walked on quickly, turned right into a shopping center and then stopped to look in a shop window. Soon the man appeared and stopped at another shop window. I walked on and stopped several times. When I stopped , he stopped too. I began to be rather worried and decided to try to lose this strange man. When I saw a taxi coming, I jumped into it. As I was telling the taxi driver where to go, I found the man get into another taxi, which then followed mine. As the two taxies slowly made their way alongOrchard Road, I looked back at the taxi behind, and saw that the stranger was looking out at me. At MRT station, I told the taxi driver to stop and I got out. As I was paying my fare, I saw the man was getting out of his taxi. By now I got angry, so I turned and walked straight to him. I asked him why he was following me. At first he said he was not following me at all, but when I threatened to call the police, he admitted he was. He then told me that he was a journalist(news reporter) and that he was writing an article on how elderly people inSingaporespend their time. He said he was observing me to gather materials for his article. What is strange about the man who followed the writer? A. He seemed to be wearing too much. B. He was out on such a hot day. C. He walked quickly behind. D. He was a tall young man. Answer: A Question: Precipitation sometimes leads to A. mountains B. earthquakes C. volcanoes D. caves Answer: D Question: VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It is also referred to as IP Telephony. It is another way of making phone calls, though the 'phone' part is not always present any more, as you can communicate without a telephone set. VOIP is especially popular with long distance calls. The main reason for which people are so massively turning to VOIP technology is the cost. VOIP is said to be cheap, but most people use it for free. Yes, if you have a computer with a microphone and speakers, and a good Internet connection, you can communicate using VOIP for free. There are basically three ways of using VOIP. One is to have a PC on both communicating sides; another is to have a phone on one side and a PC on the other and the third is to have two phones. VOIP is a ly new technology and it has already achieved wide acceptance and use. There is still a lot to improve and it is expected to have major technological advances in VOIP in the future. It has so far proved to be a good candidate for replacing the POTS (Plain Old Telephone System). It, of course, has drawbacks along with the numerous advantages it brings; and its increasing use worldwide is creating new considerations surrounding its regulations and security. The growth of VOIP today can be compared to that of the Internet in the early 90's. The public is getting more and more conscious of the advantages they can get from VOIP at home or in their businesses. Advertising campaigns, which are present everywhere on the net, are contributing a lot towards the popularization of VOIP which not only gives facilities and allows people to save, but also producing huge income for those who dived early into the new phenomenon. The author writes the passage mainly to _ . A. ask readers to buy the new type of production. B. tell us how fast the modern technology is developing. C. introduce a new type of IP technology---VOIP. D. teach the readers how to use VOIP. Answer: C Question: Shanghai Air & Hotel with Transfers/One Day Hangzhou City Tour(PK0482737SHA06) Package Inclusive Return Air Tickets 2 Nights Accommodation Return Airport Transfers One Day Hangzhou City Tour Booking Period:29 Jan 2015 to 31 Dec 2015 Travel Period:29 Jan 2015 to 31 Dec 2015 ONE DAY HANGZHOU CITY TOUR It is a city rich with history and culture,spanning back over 2000 years.With its inviting views and outstanding scenery,the area soon became popular with artists,poets and painters seeking inspiration in this little bit of paradise. Our first stop is Six Harmonies Pagoda.You will get to visit the charming museum and snap some photos in front of this architectural marvel that was built in the Song Dynasty. Next stop will be a visit to Meijiawu Tea Village,for a traditional tea ceremony and its significance to Chinese culture. After lunch,the beautiful view of West Lake is going to greet us.We will have a cruise across West Lake to experience peace and serenity like no place else in the Shanghai area.The unforgettable scenery includes Three Pools Mirroring the Moon,Bai and Su Causeways,Solitary Hill,and Leifeng Pagoda,etc.The boat ride ends at Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor.We will have the chance to walk along on Su Causeway,and feed the fish in the Red Fish Pond to pray for the good luck. Pickup Time:Between 7:30 a.m.--8:30 a.m. Duration:10 hrs 2--WAY SHANGHAI PUDONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPEIRT TRANSFERS Transfer between Shanghai Pudong International Airport(PVG) to your hotel is provided by mini bus.On arrival,you will be met by our driver after custom clearance. Should you require further assistance,please contact our hotline:+86 21 6322 3855 Which tourist attraction will you visit first? A. Meijiawu Tea Village. B. Six Harmonies Pagoda. C. West Lake. D. Su Causeways. Answer: B Question: Spring is a good season to fly kites. You can fly your kites in the park, in the field or on the play ground. There are many different kinds of kites. Some look like birds; Some look like planes and some look like butterflies. People often fly kites on a sunny and windy day. And the best month for flying kites is March. How can we fly our kites in the sky. First, we run with our kites _ the wind. Then when the kite can fly in the sky, you can just stay there with your string reel in your hand. When the kite doesn't fly in the sky, just adjust the string reel. The string on the reel must be very strong. If you want to fly kites very well, you should practice it more with your friends. Maybe you feel a little difficult at first, but if you fly kites often you will find it very easy and interesting. Flying kites is a very good activity in spring, and a lot of people like it. Where can't you fly your kites? A. In the park. B. In the field. C. In the street. D. On the playground. Answer: C
Seller owned Blackacre, improved with an aging four-story warehouse. The warehouse was built to the lot lines on all four sides. On the street side, recessed loading docks permitted semi-trailers to be backed in. After the tractors were unhooked, the trailers extended into the street and occupied most of one lane of the street. Over the years, as trailers became larger, the blocking of the street became more severe. The municipality advised Seller that the loading docks could not continue to be used because the trailers blocked the street; it gave Seller 90 days to cease and desist. During the 90 days, Seller sold and conveyed Blackacre by warranty deed for a substantial consideration to Buyer. The problem of the loading docks was not discussed in the negotiations. Upon expiration of the 90 days, the municipality required Buyer to stop using the loading docks. This action substantially reduced the value of Blackacre. Buyer brought an appropriate action against Seller seeking cancellation of the deed and return of all monies paid. Such action should be based upon a claim of Answer: Greenwich is on the River, five miles from the middle of London, and its history is two thousand years old. The first English people were fishermen there, and they named the place Greenwich, meaning "green village". Later the English kings and queens lived at Greenwich in their beautiful places. The name of the earliest palace was Placentia. Its windows were made of glass--the first in England. But trouble was coming to Greenwich. In 1649, a war started in England and for eleven years there was no king. The men who had worked for him at Placentia decided to live in the place themselves. They sold all its beautiful things, and bought small pieces of the palace garden with money. Finally, the war ended and King Charles II came back. But Placentia was falling down. So King Charles built a new and bigger palace, which is now open to the public. At this time, Charles was worried about losing so many of its ships at sea because their sailors did not know how to tell exactly where they were. So in 1675, Charles made John Flamsteed, the first astronomer in England, try to find the answer. Flamsteed worked in a new building on the high ground in Greenwich Park. From it with a telescope which he made himself, Flamsteed could look all round the sky. And he did, night after night, for twenty years. Carrying on Flamsteed's work a hundred years later, an astronomer called Harrison finally made a clock which told the time at sea, and helped sailors to know where they were.You can see Harrison's clock, still working, in Greenwich's museum of the sea. Because of Flamsteed's work, every country in the world now tells its time by Greenwich time. What kind of trouble came to Greenwich in 1649? Answer: Art lovers around the world have thought about this question for so many years: what is the secret behind the Mona Lisa's smile? However, they can ask Mona Lisa herself in the interactive exhibition in Beijing. This exhibition brings the 500-year-old painting to life. Now Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting can move her head and wave her hand in 3D, and even answer questions. She can answer the questions about her life, her age and so on. But when she talks she doesn't speak Italian but Chinese like: "Da jia hao, wo jiao Mengna Lisha. Hen gao xing jian dao ni men." The new, digital picture of Mona Lisa is the center piece of the World Classic Interactive Arts Exhibition in Beijing. You can also see other world-famous paintings such as Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. Last Supper is another picture that they made alive with 3D. In this picture, Jesus can walk and talk with his believers . It took the organizer Wang Hui and over 400 digital artists in South Korea two years to make the picture, at a cost of around 50 million yuan. He says, "What's special about it is that it's the first time to use computer technology to make her speak and move." So what does the Mona Lisa say if you ask her why she is smiling? What language does Mona Lisa speak in the exhibition? Answer: Britain's longterm unemployed could be forced to carry out manual work or risk losing their welfare benefits under plans being put forward by the government. The U.S.style scheme would see the longterm jobless ordered to take up fourweek placements in order to get them used to having a fulltime job. The idea is part of major reforms, due to be unveiled this week, to make cuts to Britain's huge welfare bill, reduce dependency on benefits and weed out those earning money but not declaring it, papers said. "What we are talking about here is people who have not been used to working having both the opportunity and perhaps a bit more of a push as well, to experience the workplace from time to time. The vast majority of people in Britain will think that is the right thing to do." Foreign Secretary William Hague told BBC TV. Shortly after the ConservativeLiberal Democrat Union took power in May, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith unveiled plans to simplify the complex web of benefits available to reduce errors and inefficiencies. Duncan Smith said the system had become regressive and was not giving people the right encouragement to work as many were financially better off unemployed. Under his plans separate benefits for items such as housing, income support or disability will be replaced by a "universal credit" system whereby individual households would get a single welfare payment to ensure those in work would be better off. The Observer newspaper said that in return, longterm unemployed would be told to take up work placements of at least 30 hours a week for a fourweek period. If they refuse or fail to complete the programme, their jobseekers' allowance, worth 64.30 pounds a week for those over 25, could be stopped for at least three months. How can a longterm unemployed save his welfare benefit at least? Answer: An eighteen-year-old high school student from Utah won the top prize in the Intel Science Talent Search in the United States. The winner received a computer and a scholarship for a college education. More than 1,500students from across the country entered projects in the competition this year. Their research included chemistry, medicine, physics, mathematics, engineering, and computer science-almost every area of science. Forty students were invited to Washington, D.C. for the final judging. A group of scientists judged them on their research abilities, critical thinking skills and creativity. The judges also questioned the students about scientific problems before deciding on the winners. The top winner received 100,000 dollars for college. Shannon Babb of American Fork High School studied the water quality of tile Spanish Fork River in Utah for six years. She found that people have a harmful effect on the river through human activity, including agriculture. And she suggested ways to improve the water quality in the future. These include educating the public not to put household chemicals down the drains , which lead to the river eventually. Seventeen-year-old Yi Sun of the Hanker School in San Jose, California, earned the second place. He won a 75,000-dollar scholarship for new discoveries about a mathematical theory known as random walks. His work could help computer scientists and chemists. Yi Sun was born in China. The third-place winner was also seventeen and born in China. Yuan "Chelsea" Zhang of Montgomery Blair High School in Rockville, Maryland, won a 50,000-dollar scholarship. She researched the molecular genetics of heart disease. Her findings could aid the development of new medicines. The Intel Science Talent Search is the oldest science competition for high school students in the United States. It is 65 years old this year. Past winners have gone on to receive six Nobel prizes and other top honors in science and math. What do we know about the talent search project? Answer:
My 10-year-old Donna said, "Mom, I made a new friend at school today. Can she come over tomorrow?" Donna was a shy girl and I wanted her to make some friends _ . "Sure, honey, that sounds great." I said, thinking back to my own best friend, Lillian. We lived across the street from each other in Washington Heights, New York. We met at the age of 10, too. Like my daughter, I was shy, but Lillian drew me out. She was one of the friendliest people in school, with shiny black hair and a mile-wide smile. In senior high school, Lillian went on a trip to Florida. This was the first time we had to be away from each other for a few days. "I'll be back soon." she told me. But three days later, Lillian's sister told me that she had fallen into a river and hadn't come out any more. Soon, my family moved to New Jersey. Whenever I thought of her, tears came into my eyes. The next day Donna brought her new friend home. "Hi, Mrs. Loggia." the little girl said. Her hair was so shiny and black and she shot me a big smile. "My name is Laura." My daughter's new friend was so much like Lillian. I was still puzzled when Laura's mom came to pick her up later that afternoon. I opened the door to let her in. "Judy!" she cried. "It's me, Lillian's sister, from Washington Heights." Yes, my daughter's friend looked familiar . She was Lillian's niece. I knew we would be best friends forever. is a sentence from the passage and should be put at the end of _ . A. Paragraph 2 B. Paragraph 3 C. Paragraph 4 D. Paragraph 5 Answer: A. Paragraph 2 Tom saw an advertisement in a newspaper for a beautiful bicycle. It cost 55 pounds. So he went to the shop and asked to see one of the wonderful bicycles. The owner of the shop was harpy to show one to Tom. Tom examined it carefully, and turned to the owner and said, "There isn't a lamp on this bicycle. hut there was one on the bicycle in your advertisement." "Yes, Sir, "answered the man." But the lamp isn't included in the price of bicycle." "Not included in the price of bicycle?" Tom said angrily. "But that's not honest. If the lamp is in the advertisement, it should be included in the price.""Well, Sir," answered the shop owner coldly. "There is also a girl on the bicycle in the advertisement. but we cannot give you a girl with the bicycle, either." Tom _ after he looked at the bike carefully. A. returned the bike to the shop owner B. didn't find a lamp on the bicycle C. showed the bike to the shop owner D. bought the bicycle at once Answer: B. didn't find a lamp on the bicycle We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. The frontiersmen began this pattern, for natural resources were so plentiful that no one ever imagined a shortage, within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They wanted to have the nails for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people,we destroy many things that other people save. I noticed a letter from one of England's largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery with the names of all twenty-eight vice-presidents listed on one side of the page. Why are Americans wasteful, according to this passage? A. They learn from their own ancestors. B. There are too many resources in America. C. They never think of the future. D. They do not know the value of resources. Answer: A. They learn from their own ancestors. Chicago On a Budget How to have fun in Chicago without spending a lot of money? Sightseeing * The Art Institute of Chicago has a fine collection of photos and paintings. The ticket is $10.00,but go on Tuesdays and you'll get in free . * The Sears Tower is the world's third tallest building. By going to the 103rd floor, you can get a great view of the whole city! All for only $8.50. * There are free concerts in Grant Park in summer. They are held Wednesday through Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. * Attend the taping of a TV show for free. The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Jenny Jones Show both offer tourists free tickets. For The Oprah Winfrey Show you'll have to book tickets at least a month before. Places to stay You can get a hotel for $100 to $ 300 a day. However, you can get a room in the dormitory at Roosevelt University for $215 for a whole week! But you have to stay for 30 days to get this great rate . According to this passage, which of the following statements in NOT TRUE ? A. You are free to go to the Art Institute on Tuesdays. B. Free Grant Park concerts are held four nights a week in summer. C. The Sears Tower is the world's third tallest building. D. You can get tickets to The Oprah Winfrey as soon as you arrive. Answer: D. You can get tickets to The Oprah Winfrey as soon as you arrive. You will go to college some day and college is one of the most exciting stages of one's life.If you wish to make the most of your campus experience and become a better person after those four years,then first you ought to make friends.Close friends contribute to your selfgrowth for they provide you with moral support that is so important to survive the stressful college life.Friends can lend a helping hand when necessary like collecting your homework when you're too sick to leave your dorm,and help you develop the right attitude by pointing out to you your weaknesses. Being home most of your life and then suddenly finding yourself on your own in a large campus without your parents to hold your hand can be annoying.However,rather than thinking about your missing home too much,why not see this new stage in your life as an opportunity for selfgrowth and develop the right attitude that will prepare you for the rigors of postgraduation life,particularly when you join the workforce? Specialinterest clubs or organizations are great for selfgrowth.Here,not only do you get the opportunity to meet with likeminded people,you can also discover more things about your field of interest.Club meetings usually include lively discussions,so go there with the right attitude.You should try to build a good name in the organization by being respectful,active and considerate to others. You might not like all of your professors,but they are there to provide knowledge you need to be successful in your chosen field.Thus,show up for each class with the right attitude and determination to learn.Whether you get along well with your professors or not has a huge effect on your selfgrowth as it is a measure of how well you can respect authority and obey requirements. Actively participating in a class debate or lecture contributes to your selfgrowth as it helps you build confidence in speaking up and improves your communication skills.It also helps you develop the right attitude by exercising diplomacy when you choose your words carefully especially when discussing a very politically sensitive issue and exercising patience when dealing with classmates who shoot down your ideas. We can learn from the text that _ . A. college life is very interesting B. friendship can help college students avoid stress C. students should choose words carefully at any occasion D. it is important to have a good teacherstudent relationship Answer: D. it is important to have a good teacherstudent relationship
When Christopher Columbus landed on a land without name in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means "rich coast" in Spanish. Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country's second most important export. Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors. Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans. In Costa Rica, boys and girls between seven and fourteen _ . Answer: When school was out, I hurried to find my sister and get out of the schoolyard before seeing anybody in my class. But Barbara and her friends had beaten us to the playground entrance and they seemed to be waiting for us. Barbara said, "So now you' re in the A class. " She sounded impressed. "What' s the A class? "I asked. Everybody made superior yet faintly envious giggling sounds. "Well, why did you think the teacher moved you to the front of the room, Dopey? Didn' t you know you were in the C class before, way in the back of the room? " Of course I hadn' t known. The Wenatchee fifth grade was bigger than my whole school which had been in North Dakota, and the idea of subdivisions within a grade had never occurred to me. The subdividing for the first marking period had been done before I came to the school, and I had never, in the six weeks I' d been there, talked to anyone long enough to find out about the A, B, and C classes. I still could not understand why that had made such a difference to Barbara and her friends. I didn' t yet know that it was shameful and dirty to be a transient laborer and ridiculous to be from North Dakota. I thought living in a tent was more fun than living in a house. I didn' t know that we were gypsies, really (how that thought would have excited me then! ), and that we were regarded with the suspicion felt by those who plant toward those who do not plant. It didn' t occur to me that we were all looked upon as one more of the untrustworthy natural phenomena, drifting here and there like mists or winds, I didn' t know that I was the only child who had camped on the Baumann' s land ever to get out of the C class. I didn' t know that school administrators and civic leaders held conferences to talk about the problem of transient laborers. I only knew that for two happy days I walked to school with Barbara and her friends, played hopscotch and jumped rope with them at class intervals, and was even invited into the house for some ginger ale--a strange drink I had never tasted before. Which of the following is NOT characteristic of Gypsies? Answer: The Last Supper is regarded as one of the supreme masterpieces in the whole field of pictorial art. Tradition has it that Leonardo Da Vinci worked for ten years upon the painting, the monks in the church annoyed at the delay. It was said that Leonardo often painted continuously from dawn to night without eating his meals. But at other times he spent hours before the picture, lost in contemplation, examining, comparing, and measuring his figures. This inactivity aroused the anger of the fussy Prior , the head of the church, who belonged to the large group of those who believed that the busier a man seems, the more he accomplishes; and so he tried to find fault with the idle painter. Leonardo was slightly unhappy and explained to somebody else that there is a great difference between the work of the creative artist and the stonemason. The creative artist needs time for contemplation; he may be busiest when his hands are idlest. Just now he needed two heads to complete the picture: that of Christ, for which no model on earth could be found, for where was the man to be found whose face would express the strength, and beauty, and tenderness, and deep sorrow of the Christ; then he also needed a head of Judas, and that was hard to find as well, for where was the man whose face could express the meanness of that base traitor . But he would look no further; if none came his way, he would be satisfied to take Prior as a model for Judas. This threat silenced the angry Prior, who quite naturally had no desire to pass to descendants in such a fashion. Why did the Prior complain about the delay? Answer: Li Ping is going to England. He wants to know something about English people. One day he sees an English girl in the street. Then he comes up to her. "Excuse me, may I ask you some questions?" "Of course you may."answers the girl politely. "I'll go to London. What should I notice when I'm talking with English people in London? "asks Li Ping. "Well, don't ask a woman how old she is and..." "But how old are you? "Li Ping stops the girl and asks suddenly. "I..."The girl gets angry. "Why do you get so angry?"asks Li Ping. "Now we are in China, not in England, you see" Why does the girl become angry? Answer: What best describes the mantle of Earth? Answer:
The famous American gorilla expert Diane Fossey had a completely new way to study gorillas -- she pretended to be one of them. She copied their actions and way of life -- eating plants and getting down on her hands and knees to walk the way a gorilla does. It was a new relationship. Diane Fossey was murdered in Rwanda in 1985 and her story was made into the popular filmGorillas in the Mist. It was a long way fromKing Kong, which is about a gorilla as a monster (a frightening animal), and helped to show a new idea: the real monster is man, while the gorilla is to be admired. Today there are thought to be around 48,000 lowland gorillas and maybe 400--450 mountain gorillas in the wild. From the Congo in West Africa, to Rwanda and Uganda further east, they are endangered by hunting and by the cutting down of their forest homes. Some time ago, I found in my letterbox a little magazine from the World Wide Fund for Nature. It had two photos side by side. One was of a young gorilla. "This is a species of mammal ," said the words below it. "It is being destroyed by man. We must save it for our own good." The other photo showed a human baby. The words also read, "This is a species of mammal," but then went on: "It is the most destructive on earth. We must retrain it for its own good." We can learn from the text that _ . A. Gorillas in the mist was based Fossey's experiences B. Lowland gorillas live longer than mountain gorillas C. King Kong showed us that a gorilla is admirable D. Diane Fossey was murdered by a gorilla Answer: A. Gorillas in the mist was based Fossey's experiences For many centuries,countless scholars have asked the question:What is beauty? As designers update the latest fashions and artists create their masterpieces, what is considered beautiful changes at an alarming pace. Fifty years ago,the full-figured Marilyn Monroe was a symbol of the American aesthetic value;today,many Hollywood actresses different in appearance from Marilyn's have taken her place. However,aesthetic values not only differ from generation to generation,but do so along cultural lines as well. Often, what is considered disgusting to one civilization is just the aesthetic appeal in another. Thus it is difficult to give an absolute definition of beauty. As fundamental physicists,my colleagues and I like to believe that we are involved in a search for a beauty that affects definition. The beauty that we search for is not what is set up through the work of people and subject to the tastes, but rather what has been laid down by nature Physics allows its students to look past outer appearances,into a deeper beauty. As a human being,I am attracted by the visual appeal of a wave crashing on the beach. As a physicist, however I am able to see the deeper beauty of the physical laws that govern such a phenomenon. In truth,since Albert Einstein put forward the idea that there might be one main physical theory that governs the universe,aesthetics have become a driving force in modern physics. Einstein and other later physicists have discovered that:Nature, as its most fundamental level,is beautifully constructed. The extraordinary simplicity of the laws that govern the universe is really breathtaking . As Einstein said, it would seem more likely that we should find ourselves living in a"chaotic world,in no way graspable through thinking". Yet we are now closer than ever to a full understanding of the universe's beautiful clockwork. As new discoveries and technologies allow us to examine the physical world on deeper and deeper levels,we find that the beauty itself becomes much deeper. The passage is mainly to _ . A. present a special way of seeing beauty B. emphasize the influence of physics C. discuss the awareness of cross-culture D. argue the traditional ideas on value Answer: A. present a special way of seeing beauty American country music is also known as country western music .It has a very long history . It comes from the folk songs of immigrants from Britain. Country music users simple music and words to express everyday feelings such as loneliness, love , and sadness . That is to say , country music describes life . It talks about friends and enemies , trucks and roads , farm and crops.. People in many parts of the world like country music, because everyone can understand what the music is about . Country western music became popular first among cowboys in the American west countryside . Cowboys had to take care of cows day and night. When they were alone with the cows, they often sang beautiful and peaceful songs to _ and to overcome their own fear .They were not well-educated and so they sang about their daily life in very simple words .They played guitars, violins. and other instruments. In the south of America , many people added instruments from their homes , like bottles and spoons, When cowboys visited their friends and families on holidays like Thanksgiving , they usually sang and played country western music . In recent years ,many musicians have made country western music a little different from the one in the past.These changes make the songs sound even better.Today singers such as Carth Brooks.Reba McEntire. Emmylou Harris. Lyle Lovett,Eddie Rabbitt, LeAnn Rimes,Randy Travis and a group called Alabama are singing and playing in different styles.They have brought country western music more and more fans from all over the wold. ,. Country western music comes from the folk songs of immigrants from _ A. America B. France C. Britain D. Germany Answer: B. France London: It's well known that Charles Darwin's famous theory of evolution annoyed many people because it was against the Biblical view of creation. But few know that it also created problems for Darwin at home with his deeply religious wife, Emma. "Darwin _ the publication of On the Origin of Species to avoid offending his wife," says Ruth Padel, the naturalist's great - great - granddaughter. "Emma told him that he seemed to be putting God further and further off", Padel says in her north London home. "But they talked it through, and Emma once said, 'Don't change any of your ideas for fear of hurting me.'" As the world celebrates the 200th birthday of the man who changed scientific thought forever and the 150th anniversary of his book today, even his opponents admitted he was a giant figure. Though opposition to his theory continues, it is the elegant explanation of how species evolutes through natural selection that makes his 200th birthday such a major event. More than 300 celebrations have been planned in Britain alone, where Darwin's face graces the 10-pound bill along with that of Queen Elizabeth II. Shrewsbury, the central England town where Darwin was born and raised, is holding a month-long festival for its most famous son. Down House, his former home near London, will hold a permanent exhibition recreating some of his most famous experiments. Many more events have been planned all over the world. What would he be doing if he were alive today? Padel thinks he would properly be studying DNA and the immune system. The main purpose of the author is _ . A. to say something about Darwin and his wife B. to introduce Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution C. to sing high praise for the book On the Origin of Species D. to report some celebrations of Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of his books Answer: D. to report some celebrations of Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of his books Does it drive you crazy that your cell phone needs to be frequently charged for hours? A team of scientists led by professor Harold Kung at Northwestern University in the US may have solved your problem. They developed a lithium ion batery that holds 10 times as much power and charges 10 times more quickly than standard batteries, according to the BBC in a report on November 15. Lithium ion bateries are rechargeable and are widely used in cameras, smartphones and laptops. They charge through a chemical reaction in which lithium ions are sent between the two ends of a battery. How much power the battery holds and how fast it charges are limited by two things:how many lithium ions it has and how quickly these ions move. Current rechargeable batteries have an anode made of many carbon-based graphene sheets. To increase energy capacity, former experiments have tried to replace the carbon with silicon, which can hold far more lithium ions. However, this method did not work because the silicon was not stable enough. Kung's team managed to stabilize the silicon. They put clusters of silicon between the graphene sheets like a sandwich so that the silicon could not move around freely and take away the energy. The speed at which a battery charges is hindered by the shape of the graphene sheets because it takes a long time for the lithium to travel from one side of the sheet to the other.Sometimes a "traffic jam" occurs around the edges of the graphene. To solve this problem, Kung's team used a special chemical process to create tiny holes of 10 to 20 nanometers wide in the graphene sheets so the lithium ions would have a "shortcut" and be able to travel directly to the other side. This reduced the time it took the battery to recharge. About 15 minutes of charging can last more than a week. "Even after 150 charges, which would be one year or more of operation, the battery is still five times more effective than lithium ion batteries on the market today," said Kung. The technology could be widely available within five years, the researchers said. We can infer from the article that _ . A. current rechargeable batteries usually last for 150 charges B. after one year's use, the newly developed batteries are less powerful C. batteries with more lithium ions are more powerful and charge faster D. further experiments may focus on improving the shape of graphene sheets Answer: B. after one year's use, the newly developed batteries are less powerful
The miracle bridge The Brooklyn Bridge that crosses the river between Manhattan and Brooklyn is simply an engineering miracle. In 1883, a creative engineer, John Roebling, was inspired by an idea for this spectacular bridge project. However, bridge-building experts told him to forget it. It just was not possible. Roebling convinced (persuade sb. to do sth. ) his son, Washington, an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge could be built. The two of them formed an idea of how it could be finished successfully and how to overcome the difficulties. Somehow, they persuaded bankers to provide money for the project. Then, with great excitement and energy, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge. The project was only a few months _ when a tragic on-site accident killed John Roebling and severely injured his son. Washington was severely brain-damaged, unable to talk or walk. Everyone thought the project would have to be thrown away, since the Roeblings were the only ones who understood how the bridge could be built. Though Washington Roebling was unable to move or talk, his mind was as sharp as ever. One day as he lay in his hospital bed, an idea flashed in his mind as to how to develop a communication code. All he could move was one finger, so he touched the arm of his wife with that finger. He tapped out the code to communicate to her what she was to tell the engineers who continued building the bridge. For 13 years, Washington tapped out his instructions with one finger until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed. This spectacular bridge project _ in 1883. Answer: was a dream of an idea that was workable There is more than one reason for which you need to hire a business attorney . It is very important to hire some good attorney for your business especially because of the fact that you will need their knowledge and advice from beginning to all the time through your business. An attorney actually provides useful advice and guidance for your business and above all for your finance. When you start some business you need to hire a business attorney for helping you in decision making for which kind of business you are going to start. So, all steps and all legal requirements will be provided to you and you can work without any trouble. Therefore, you will be introduced to all that you need to know and how to organize your business. You will be made aware about what type of organization would be the most useful and the best for you. Moreover, it is very useful when you have business consultant and especially in the law area, because he will provide you with legal knowledge and direct about what is legal for business and what is illegal. At the same time, he will provide you with legal contract that you need to have for your corporate reports. Also, when you are a beginner in business it is very difficult to handle all kind of state taxes and fee; so a business attorney is here to help you with that. When there are some questions about auction, good and professional business-attorney will lead you through acquisitions , sale mergers and similar matters. These are only few reasons why you need to hire a good attorney, but there are more of them. So when you start some business, use advice of professionals and take the right decision. If you need a good and excellent attorney, you don't hesitate to get in touch with Arizona Business Attorney .Click here to find an Arizona Business Attorney Where can the reader find the passage? Answer: On the Internet. Mirth Pham was born in Vietnam. He left his native country when he was 21 years old. Minh has been in America for almost two years. There is still much he does not understand about America. Once Minh was in a supermarket. He saw an old man and an old woman. They wanted a box of cereal .The box was on a high shelf. The man and the woman couldn't reach it. Minh saw a ladder. He got on the ladder and got the box. He handed it to the elderly couple. They thanked him. "Where are your children?" asked Minh. "Why don' t they help you buy food?" "Our children have their own lives," said the man and the woman. "We like to be independent." Mirth doesn't think this is right. In his country, .children help their parents. Minh gave the elderly couple his phone number. He told them to call him if they needed help. One night they asked Mirth to dinner, but they never asked him for help. One day, Minh was walking with a Vietnamese friend. The two were going to a movie. Minh wanted to go to a restaurant first. Minh took his friend's hand. He pulled him toward the restaurant. People on the street stared at Minh. In Vietnam, friends often hold hands. Minh found out that people in America are not used to holding hands. Minh Pham is going through a process known as re-socialization. Socialization is the process in which a person learns to live in a society. Everyone goes through this process. Minh went through it when he lived in Vietnam. But the Vietnamese way of life is much different from the American way of life. When Mirth came to America, he had to learn a new way of life. He had to learn how to live in a new society. Minh has learned a lot about American life in two years. He still has a lot to learn. The process of re-socialization can take many years. Socialization is the process in which one _ . Answer: learns to live in a society Many of us use them several times a day without really noticing. And yet the way we behave in lifts, or elevators as they are known in the US, reveals a hidden anxiety. Passengers seem to know instinctively how to arrange themselves in an elevator, like the dots on a die. With each additional passenger, the bodies shift, going into the open spaces. On your own, you can do whatever you want--it's your own little box. If there are two of you, you take different corners, creating the greatest distance. When a third person enters, you will unconsciously form a triangle. And when there is a square, with someone in every corner, a fifth person is probable going to have to stand in the middle. Why are we so awkward in lifts? "You don't have enough space," says Professor Babette Renneberg, a clinical psychologist at the Free University of Berlin. "Usually when we meet other people we have about an arm's length of distance between us. And that's not possible in most elevators, so it's a very unusual setting. It's unnatural." But perhaps there is more to it than just social awkwardness. "In the back of our minds we are a little anxious," says Nick White, an officer in New York who was unfortunate enough to be trapped in a lift for 41 hours. "We don't like to be locked into a place. We want to get out of the elevator as soon as possible, you know, it's a frightening place to be." During his terrible experience, he began to think of another enclosed space--a tomb. Dr. Lee Gray agrees that a sense of powerlessness is the main cause of lift anxiety. "You're in a machine that's moving, over which you have no control. You cannot see the elevator engine, you don't know how it's working." he says. Which of the following is true of Nick White? Answer: He was trapped in a lift for 41 hours. In addition to oxygen, which gases make up the largest percentage of Earth's atmosphere? Answer: carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen
My friend Alice decided to be a nurse when she was four years old. She always to play at "doctors and nurses" with her playmates. When she left school last year, she still wanted to be a real nurse. Late September she started her studies in a big hospital in Newcastle. She had to work very hard. She went to classes every day and studied late at night. Then a really important day came: her first day in a ward . At last she was really helping sick people, not just sitting in classes or learning from books. At first, student nurses do lots of odd jobs in the ward. They help to serve meals, or wash the patients. They also keep the ward tidy and make the beds. But they cannot give injections or help the doctors. One of Alice's first jobs was in a ward of old people. She was told to clean all the patients' false teeth. She collected all the teeth and took them to the bathroom. Instead of cleaning each set of teeth one by one, she put them all into a big bowl. "It'll be quicker this way," she said to herself. "Then I can give back everyone's teeth in a few minutes." Give back everyone's teeth! Alice stood in the middle of the ward with her big bowl of teeth. She had no idea which teeth belonged to which old man! You can imagine the confusion of the next half-hour when each patient came to find his own teeth! Student nurses usually _ in the ward at first. Answer: Children laugh often and easily. But as we grow up, we laugh less and feel more stressed. Try laughing for no reason at all. That's how thousands of people start their day at Laughter Clubs around the world, and doctors now think that having a good laugh may be one of the best ways to keep healthy. The first Laughter Club was started in Mumbai ,India ,in June,1995 by Dr Madam Kataria. " Young children laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh between 7 and 15 times a day, "says Dr Kataria . "Everyone's naturally good at laughing . We want people to feel happy with their lives." There are now more than 500 Laughter Clubs in India and over 1,300 worldwide. Place: 264 North Main Street , East Longmeadow. We're in an office building near the entrance. Walk down the hall and we're on the right .2-1-c-n-j-y When : Every Sunday afternoon from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Cost : Free. Ages : Adults from 18 to 75. Parking :If you're facing the building ,the car park is on the right of the building . Teacher : Robert Rivest. More information ,go to http:// www. robertrivest.com. If you want to feel like a kid again, try our Laughter Club . You will get used to it in five minutes and begin to laugh for real in ten minutes and sometimes you just can't stop! You'll experience deeper pleasure in half an hour. You'll meet other people who want more fun and laughter. And you will feel so relaxed in about one hour ! Come and join us for laughter and a fun social experience! Who can join the laughter Club? _ . 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. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: Days after celebrations honoring his bicentennial , Abraham Lincoln kept his rank as best US president, according to a survey of 65 historians that landed George W. Bush 36th out of 42 overall. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865), the first US president George Washington (1789-1797) and New Deal architect Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) were ranked the top three out of the 42 men who have been the country's former chiefs, according to a survey by cable channel C-SPAN. John F. Kennedy came in sixth, ahead of Ronald Reagan (10th) and Bill Clinton, who jumped to 15th from 21st during the last survey in 2000, when prefix = st1 /Lincolnalso ranked first. Of all modern presidents, Bush, who left office last month after an eight-year term, behaved worst at 36th, nearly 10 spots behind Richard Nixon (27th), who was forced to resign in disgrace in consequence of the Watergate Scandal . Bush scored lowest in international relations, where he ranked 41st, and in economic management, where he placed 40th. His best ranking was 24th, in having "pursued equal justice for all." He came 25thin crisis leadership, and for his vision and agenda setting. Reagan behaved well in public persuasion, where he was pushed to 3rd spot, from his 10th place overall. Bill Clinton also received honors for his public persuasion, landing a 10th spot in that category, up from 15th overall. But presidential historians were critical of his moral authority, placing him 37th, ahead of Richard Nixon (41st), but behind Bush (35th). Jimmy Carter fell from 22nd to 25th overall, and many other presidents moved positions. The fluidity of opinions of past presidents reflects contemporary concerns, according to Edna Medford, a survey leader and participant. "Today's concerns shape our views of the past, he it in the area of foreign policy, managing the economy or human rights," she said in a statement. Presidents James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce and William Henry Harrison ranked worst overall. What has the greatest influence on people's rankings in the survey according to the passage? Answer: FOR most people, life without plants is unimaginable. They feed us, clean up our air and brighten up our gardens. But what if someone told you that even our smartphones can benefit from plants? Meet the scientists from the Freiburg University of Mining and Technology in Germany. According to reports from Reuters, they have come up with a way to take the important element germanium from plants. The element was first discovered in Germany (hence the name) and was used to develop the first transistor because it can transport electricity very quickly. Nowadays, silicon-germanium alloy plays an important role in making computers, smartphones and fiber-optic cables . Although germanium can be found in soil around the world, it is difficult to extract . In the traditional process, people take the material after zinc mining or burning coal. But the Freiburg scientists decided to fall back on the natural world. Biology professor Hermann Heilmeier is one of the scientists who are using common plants for this uncommon process. "Different energy crops are being planted, for example, sunflowers, corn ... we want to use them for phytomining. In German we call it 'mining with plants'." Others have used this method in the past with metals like gold and copper . But in their study, the Freiburg scientists brought germanium from the soil into the roots and shoots of the plants, harvested them and then took the element from the plants. The process did not cost too much because germanium can be taken after plants are processed for use as biogas . So many of the costs are already covered in existing biogas plants. However, there is still a lot of work to do before we can all experience the benefits. At the moment germanium can only be harvested in very small amounts, just a few milligrams per liter. Now scientists are working on different plants to improve this. "As is so often the case, industry is still waiting because they want to see everything already working. Then they say, 'We'll have it.' But of course we have to complete the step in between first," said Professor Martin Bertau, head of industrial chemistry at Freiburg University. According to the article, phytomining _ . Answer:
A few years ago, a company called Space Marketing came up with a plan to send a mile-long advertisement into space. To advertising agencies , it would have been "a dream come true". However, advertising standards agencies finally decided not to allow Space Marketing to go ahead with their plans and they were forced to give them up. Space may indeed be the final place for advertisers, because on Earth we are already surrounded by advertising wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Apart from the obvious adverts that we see every day on TV, and in newspapers and magazines, there is a whole ' _ ' of advertising messages for our attention. There are ads that we see on the side of the bus we catch to work, for example. And what about the logos we see on the clothing of the people we walk past in the streets? Most of the time, we are probably not even aware of these less obvious advertising methods, but that doesn't mean that they don't work. Take 'product placement', for example. You are in a cinema, watching the latest Hollywood movie. Look carefully at the make of car your favorite actor is driving. And what about his watch? Can you see what brand it is? Chances are, you can, and the company that owns the brand is likely to have paid thousands for it to appear in the film. So, whether Space Marketing finally succeeds in sending ads into space or not is perhaps less important than it might seem. This would not change a thing. Our everyday lives are already strongly influenced by advertising whether we realize it or not. What happened to the plan of sending an ad into space? Damson was charged with murder, and Wagner testified for the prosecution. On crossexamination of Wagner, Damson seeks to elicit an admission that Wagner was also charged with the same murder and that the prosecutor told her, "If you testify against Damson, we will drop the charges against you after the conclusion of Damson's trial." The evidence about the prosecutor's promise is I was a newcomer of Miss Burn's seventh grade. Past"newcomer"experiences had been difficult, so I was very anxious to fit in. Lunchtime was a pleasant surprise when the girls all crowded around my table. Their chat was friendly, so I began to relax. My new classmates filled me in on the school, the teachers and the other kids. it wasn't long before the class herd was pointed out to me: Mary Lou. Actually she called herself Mary Louise. A formal, overmodest young girl with old-fashioned clothes, she wasn't ugly--not even funny looking. Practical shoes, long wool skirt and a blouse completed the image of a complete herd. The girls' whispers got louder and louder. Mary Lou didn't notice this. After school, the girls invited me to join them in front of the school. Arms wrapped around her backpack, Mary Lou came down the school steps. The _ began--rude, biting comments and disrespectful words from the girls. I paused, then joined right in. My force began to pick up as I approached her, mean remarks falling from my lips. I even pulled the belt of her backpack and then pushed her. The belt broke, Mary Lou fell. Everyone was laughing and patting me. I fit in. But I was not proud. Something inside me hurt. Mary Lou got up, gathered her books and--without a tear shed--off, she went. She held her head high as a small trickle of blood ran down from her injured knee. I turned to leave with my laughing friends and noticed a man standing beside his car. His skin, dark hair and handsome features told me this was her father. Respectful of Mary Lou's proud spirit, he remained still and watched the lonely girl walk toward him. Only his eyes--shining with both grief and pride--followed. As I passed, he looked at me in silence with burning tears that spoke to my shame and scolded my heart. He didn't speak a word. No scolding from a teacher or a parent could linger as much as that hurt in my heart from the day a father's eyes taught me kindness and strength and dignity. I never again joined the cruel herds. I never again hurt someone for my own gain. According to the article, the writer is probably _ . What could a person eat to avoid starvation? Sarah ran in, shouting, "Look what I found!" Over the top of the paper I was reading; came a terrible thing that caused me to jump. It was a snake skin found in our garden. "Isn't it beautiful?" said my seven-year-old daughter. I opened my eyes widely and looked at the snake skin in fear . I didn't think it was beautiful, but I learned never to appear nonchalant with children. Everything they see for the first time is important to their sense of beauty; they see only excellence in the world. "Why does it do this?" Sarah asked. "Snakes shed their skins because they need to renew themselves," I explained. "Why do they need to renew themselves?" Sarah asked. "We often need to shed our skins, those coatings that we cover ourselves with," I said to my daughter. "We leave some things and find other thing unwanted or unnecessary. This snake no longer needs this skin. It is probably too little for him, and he probably doesn't think he looks as smart in it as he once did. " As we talked, I knew that she began to understand. Although she couldn't understand clearly, she would know that renewal is part of progress; that we need to take a good look at ourselves, our rooms, schoolwork and spirit, and see what we need to keep and what we need to leave. I was careful to tell that this is a natural way, not one to be forced. "Snakes don't peel off their skins when they like them. "I explained. "It happens as a natural thing of their growth. " "I see, Dad," said Sarah as she held the snake skin, and then ran off. I hoped she would remember this; we need to throw some away because they are worthless or unnecessary. Then we can store them as memories in our deep hearts. Father's patient explanation shows that _ .
When the six very best students from different cities in Guangdong Province all together chose universities in Hong Kong ; when the very best students of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Peking or Tsinghua University ; when the highest enrollment rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it's the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is. Years ago, the answer certainly would be "Peking or Tsinghua University". But now no one could give the exact answer without hesitation . The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students. There's no doubt to call this HK craze , which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves. How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Peking and Tsinghua University and attract so many mainland students? First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive the scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it's easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great. Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students. Furthermore, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students. Can mainland top universities like Peking or Tsinghua University be calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it . The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action-taking of mainland universities , they can perform better together with HK universities. At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees are among students' top concern when they are choosing universities . It's time to move. What is the passage mainly talking about? Some thoughts brought by the enrollment of HK universities. "The world has never been a better place to live in," says science writer Matt Ridley, "and it will keep on getting better." Ridley's critics have accused him of his views on climate change and the free market. Yet Ridley, 54, sticks to his guns. "It is not mad to believe in a happy future for people and the planet," he says. Ridley, who's been a foreign correspondent, a zoologist, an economist, and a financier, brings a broad view to his sunny outlook. "People say I'm crazy to claim the world will go on getting better, yet I can't stop myself," he says. Read on to see how Ridley makes his case. Compared with 50 years ago, when I was just four years old, the average human now earns nearly three times as much money, eats one third more calories, and can expect to live one third longer. In fact, it's hard to find any region of the world that's worse off now than it was then, even though the global population has more than doubled over that period. City citizens take up less space, use less energy, and have less impact on natural ecosystems than country livers. The world's cities now contain over half its people, but they occupy less than 3 percent of its land area. Urban growth may worry environmentalists, but living in the country is not the best way to care for the earth. The best thing we can do for the planet is build more skyscrapers. The rich get richer, but the poor do even better. Between 1980 and 2000, the poor doubled their consumption. Nigerians are twice as rich and live nine more years. The percentage of the world's people living in poverty has dropped by over half. The United Nations estimates that poverty was reduced more in the past 50 years than in the previous 500. Which of the following would be the best title for the text? Cheer Up! An old porter had worked for the railway for a very long time. One morning he was standing in one of the big railway stations and waiting for travelers to ask him to help them with their luggage, when he saw a small man running toward the trains with a big bag in his hand. The porter watched the man for a few seconds, and the man saw the porter. At once the small man ran up the porter and said, "Can I catch the 10:35 train to London, porter?" He was breathing very fast, and he seemed worried. The old porter looked at him for a moment and then said with a smile, "Well, sir, I'd like to help you, but I can't answer your question because I don't know how fast you can run along rails. You see," he explained, "the 10:35 train to London left five minutes ago." At the end of the story, the porter _ . played a joke on the small man Look at this photo! It is a photo of Sam' s family and Jack' s family. They are at Jack' s home. They have a party there. Sam and Jack are good friends. Jack and his family will go on a round-the-world journey . They will start from their home in America, and they will go to Japan, China, India, Australia, Egypt, England, etc. Jack and his family have the party to say goodbye to their friends. Jack' s son Nick is only 8. Sam's son, William, is Nick's good friend. He can't see Nick for a long time. He gives Nick a nice pen. He says it can help Nick remember good things on their journey . William and Nick are _ * friends Are you feeling stressed out? Anxious? Is your mind racing in circles? Are you worried about all the things you have to get done? Here's a quick--acting trick that can make you feel better. If you are sitting at a desk, place the palm of your hand on the desk, and take a moment to focus on what the surface of the desk feels like. Is it hot or cold, rough or smooth? Put all of your attention on the sensations in your palm, on how the desk feels underneath your hand. If you are not at a desk, do the same exercise by placing your palm on any nearby object--a wall, a chair, even your opposite arm. When you are feeling stressed, your thoughts tend to take on a life of their own. You may be thinking about things you wish you had done differently in the past or worrying about things that you have to do in the future. These thoughts will make you feel anxious. The anxiety, in turn, increases the number of anxious thoughts. If you can ground yourself even for a moment in the present, you will break the cycle and feel instant relief. Paying attention to what objects in your environment feel like forces you to pay more attention to the present moment than to negative, anxiety--provoking (,)thoughts about the past or about the future. Try using your other senses too: Try closing your eyes for a second(don't try this while driving!) and breathe deeply through your nose. What do you smell? When eating, put all your attention on how your food tastes. What do you hear? What little noises are there around you that you didn't notice before? Look closely at an ordinary object. Do you see anything you haven't noticed before? Which of the following can be served as a title for the article? Frist Aid to Anxiety----Senses
The use of lotteries to allocate school places is to be reviewed by the British government because more than 20 percent of children are failing to get into their first-choice schools in parts of the country. The struggle for secondary school places has reached record levels this year, increasing anxiety for hundreds of thousands of families. A report from 43 local authorities suggests that in many areas, up to a fifth of children face disappointment. Families in London are the hardest hit. This week is admissions week, when about 570,000 families will receive notice about their child's secondary school acceptance. As the recession forces more parents to consider a state education rather than a private one for their children, more than a third of local authorities have noted rises in the number of applications for secondary school places. This year, just 62 percent of children in Richmond-upon-Thames got into their parents' first-choice school, down from 64 percent last year. The council said this was caused by an increase in applications. In another London authority, Tower Hamlet, 71.1 percent of children were admitted to their parents' first choice school. In Leeds and Warwickshire, 85 percent were successful. In Derby the figure was 81 percent, while in Wiltshire, Stockport and Lincolnshire, the figure was 89 percent. In many authorities, the figures are similar to those of last year. Exceptions include Brighton and Hove, which introduced a lottery system to allocate oversubscribed places last year. This year, it has seen a 3.5 percent increase in the number of children obtaining their first choice, bringing the total to nearly 88 percent. However, more than 5 percent of children in this area have been allocated a place at a school that was not among any of their choices. Lotteries are being used at the government's suggestion by a small number of oversubscribed schools in around twenty-five local authorities. They were meant to prevent middle-class parents from abusing the system by buying or renting homes close to the best schools. The purpose of using lottery system is to _ . Answer: Sing the Language You're Learning How can you remember a song from your childhood to this day? Why do your teachers use songs to teach you English? It seems there is a scientific reason for this. Researchers are now studying the relationship between music and remembering a foreign language. They find that remembering words in a song is the best way to remember even the most difficult language. "Singing could be a new way of learning a foreign language. The brain likes to remember things when they are used in a _ and meaningful way", said Dr, Karen Ludke. The findings may help those who have difficulties learning foreign languages. On his blog, Dr. Ludke writes, "A listen-and-repeat singing method can support foreign language learning, and opens the door for future research in this area." Many language teachers know the value of using music and singing. Hua Zhuying, a teacher at a Chinese language school in Washington, D.C. depends heavily on songs in teaching Chinese. She says, "I use music all the time to teach children Chinese. For little kids usually we use the music. Not only does it work, but it is fun for kids." "Sometimes, I think if I were taught English that way, maybe I could speak much better English than now," Hua Zhuying adds. Our brain likes music, especially for remembering. So, if you're still struggling in learning a language, why not try singing it out ? The passage mainly tells us that _ . Answer: On March 31, Selco and Byco entered into a written agreement in which Selco agreed to fabricate and sell to Byco 10,000 specially designed brake linings for a new type of power brake manufactured by Byco. The contract provided that Byco would pay half of the purchase price on May 15 in order to give Selco funds to "tool up" for the work; that Selco would deliver 5,000 brake linings on May 31; that Byco would pay the balance of the purchase price on June 15; and that Selco would deliver the balance of the brake linings on June 30. On May 10, Selco notified Byco that it doubted that it could perform because of problems encountered in modifying its production machines to produce the brake linings. On May 15, however, Selco assured Byco that the production difficulties had been overcome, and Byco paid Selco the first 50 percent installment of the purchase price. Selco did not deliver the first 5,000 brake linings on May 31, or at any time thereafter; on June 10, Selco notified Byco that it would not perform the contractWhich of the following is NOT a correct statement of the parties' legal status immediately after Selco's notice on June 10? Answer: 475 Riverside Drive New York N.Y. 10027 Jan.15, 2011 Dear John, I'm sorry you didn't get the part you tried out for in that play. I know how much you wanted to be in the play. Now you feel that maybe acting isn't the right future for you. I think you're wrong. You're a good actor. Do you remember when you played Caesar in your summer theatre group's play? You were excellent . People clapped every time you walked on stage . Even the other actors loved you. All actors have to get used to being turned down for a job. It's part of an actor's life. Even famous actors don't get every part they want. I think you should give acting another chance. You love it so much, and you're good at it. Don't be discouraged because you lose one part in the play. Wait a bit, and try for another one. After all , you can always give up some other time. Love, Jane Jane talks about other actors to show John that _ . Answer: It seems to be strange to you there is a blind spot on the eyes,Here is an interesting experiment that can make something disappear,when one eye is open. Make a card about the size of a postcard and write two English letters L and R on it,L on the left and R on the right.First,hold the card about 80 cm away and you see both the letters.Then close your right eye and look at the letter R only with your left eye.And now,as you move the card slowly towards you,you'll find the letter L disappearing.But if you move the card nearer to your face,the letter will be seen again.Now do the same experiment with your left eye closed,you'll find the letter R disappearing. Why does the letter disappear? It is because there is a blind spot on the eye.When the image of the letter falls on the blind spot,it won't be seen.That is why either of the letters disappears. You fail to see the letter L in the experiment because _ . Answer:
Steve Jobs, the designer of Apple Computer, wasn't smart when he was at school. At that time, he was not a good student and he always made trouble with his schoolmates. Then he dropped out . But he was full of new ideas. After he left college, Steve Jobs worked as a video game designer. He worked there for only several months and then he went to India. He hoped that the trip would give him some new ideas and give him a change in life. Steve Jobs lived on a farm in California for a year after he returned from India. In 1975, he began to make a new type of computer. He designed the Apple computer with his friend . He chose the name"Apple"just because it could help him to remember a happy summer he once spent in an apple tree garden. His Apple computer was such a great success that Steve Jobs soon became famous all over the world. ,. Steve Jobs was famous for his _ in the world. Police Officer Tidwell left the station just after 8 a.m.on Sunday June 4.He had spent aboring night on duty and was looking forward to his day of rest.By habit he took a short-cutdown the path behind Dugby Hall road and after a minute or two he saw a man climbing down a drainpipe from an open bedroom window of Number 29.In silence,Tidwell crept into the garden.The man reached the ground and was dusting himself down when he felt his arm caught. "It's 8:15 on a Sunday morning,"said the officer,"and this sort of thing seems an unlikely adventure at such a time.Would you mind explaining?" The man was obviously scared but tried to keep calm.He said,"I know what you are thinking,officer,but it isn't true.This is a funny mistake." "It's part of my job to take an interest in unusual events.I think you've just left this house in a manner other than the customary one.That may be quite innocent,but I'd like to make sure."Tidwell took out his notebook and a pen."Name,address and occupation and then,please,tell me your story..." "Charlie Crane,lorry driver,from Nottingham,51 Breton Street.My story..." "Yes.What were you doing like a fly on that wall,Mr.Crane?" "Well,I had a breakdown yesterday and had to stay the night here.Bed and breakfast.Theland-lady's name is Mrs.Fern.She gave me breakfast at seven,and I was out of here in the right way and down at the lorry by half past seven.Only when I felt around for a cigarette did I realize I'd left$80in my envelope under the pillow here at number 29.I always put it under my pillow at night.It's a habit I've got into.I even do it at home..." "I see.Why didn't you miss it when you went to pay Mrs...What's her name?" "I'd paid her last night.You've got to pay when you take the room,see?So I came rushing back,but it's Sunday,and she'd gone back to bed,and could I wake her?I rang the bell and banged on the front door for ten minutes before I came round here to the back and spotted my bedroom window still open.Up I went,then,up this pipe.It's a trick I learned in the army.She didn't make the bed,and money was still there.You know the rest,I hope you believe it because..." "Mr.Crane,whatever are you doing here?I thought you'd gone an hour ago."It was Mrs.Fern,speaking from the kitchen at the corner of the house. Why didn't the man realize he had left his money at the landlady's earlier? "Cool" is a word with many meanings. Its old meaning is used to express a temperature that is a little bit cold. As the world changes, the word has many different meanings. "Cool" can be used to _ feelings of interest in almost anything. When you see a famous car in the street, maybe you will say "It's cool." You may think, "He's so cool," when you see your favorite footballer. We all maximize the meaning of "cool". You can use it instead of many words such as "new" or "surprising". Here's an interesting story we can use to show the way the word is used. A teacher asked her students to write about the waterfall. On one student's paper was just the one sentence, "It's so cool". Maybe he thought it was the best way to show what he saw and felt. But the story also shows a scarcity of words, it seems that some people have no words to show the same meaning without "cool" . Can you think of many other words that make your life as colorful as the word "cool"? Yes, I can. And I think they are also very cool. In the passage, the word "express" means" _ ". I'd always dreamed of exploring Africa, ever since I read my first Tarzan(<<>> )comic as a child. Finally, in 2004, to celebrate my 60thbirthday, I went to Tanzania to experience a safari and climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Seated next to me on the flight was Tanzania's minister of water and wildlife development. We talked for thousands of miles, and he arranged me to visit a school. When I toured the school, I was shocked. The leaky roofs turned the dirt floors into mud during the rainy season, and the walls couldn't keep out the heat, cold or bugs . The school was in need of all material goods, but the kids possessed great human spirit. It broke my heart that these children had to struggle to survive, so I asked the headmaster what it would cost to feed them. As little as 20 cents per child per day, he told me. Immediately I got home, I founded Kids of Kilimanjaro. Since then we've grown to provide hot lunches for nearly 13,000 schoolchildren every day. The free lunch program has eased a major problem the youngsters face. I know a good education could really make a difference in these children's lives. My parents always stressed the importance of education. I paid my own way through college in Tokyo by teaching English to students and businesspeople. After attending university I moved to San Francisco, when I was 25 years old. In 1978 I realized my American dream when I founded my own company. My success all started with a good education. It's amazing that something as simple as a nutritious lunch can change and enrich so many lives. Giving young people a better, healthier life can inspire them to go all the way through college and lead a movement that transforms their country. Why did the author go to Tanzania to celebrate his 60thbirthday? Professor Barry Wellman of the University of Toronto in Canada has invented a term to describe the way many North Americans interact these days. The term is _ . This concept is not easy to understand because the words seem to have opposite meanings. How can we be individuals and be networked at the same time? You need other people for networks. Here is what Professor Wellman means. Before the invention of the Internet and e-mail, our social networks included live interactions with relatives, neighbors, and friends. Some of the interaction was by phone, but it was still voice to voice, person to person, in real time. A recent research study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project showed that for a lot of people, electronic interaction through the computer has replaced this person-to-person interaction. However, a lot of people interviewed for the Pew study say that's a good thing. Why? In the past, many people were worried that the internet isolated us and caused us to spend too much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew study discovered that the opposite is true. The Internet connects us with more real people than expected--helpful people who can give advice on careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million Americans told Pew that the Internet plays an important role in helping them make major life decisions. Thanks to the computer, we are able to be alone an together with other people--at the same time! Which would be the best title for this passage?
A unique thermo-solar power station Germasolar in southern Spain can work even on cloudy days:energy stored when the sun shines lets it produce electricity even during the night. It is the first solar power station in the world that works 24 hours a day! This is how it works: the panels reflect the sun's rays onto the tower, transmitting energy 1,000 times stronger than that of the sun's rays reaching the earth. Energy is stored in tanks, and then steam is produced before finally turned into electricity. It is the station's capacity to store plenty of energy that makes Gemasolar so different because it allows the plant to transmit power during the night, relying on energy it has gained during the day. Helped by the generous state aid, renewable energies have enjoyed a boom in Spain, the world number two in solar energy and the biggest wind power producer in Europe, ahead of Germany. For the Gemasolar solar product, foreign investors helped too: Torresol Energy is a joint enterprise between the Spanish engineering group Sener, which holds 60 percent, and Abu Dhabi-financed renewable energy firm Masdar. This type of station is expensive, not because of the raw material we use, which is free solar energy, but because of the enormous investment these plants require. The investment cost is over 200 million euros ($ 260 million). But the day when the business has repaid that money to the banks (maybe, in 18 years, someone estimates), this station will become a 1,000-euro note printing machine! For now, the economic crisis has nevertheless cast a shadow over this kind of project: Spain is battling to cut its deficit as it slides into a difficult time and has cancelled aid to new renewable energy projects. What makes Germasolar expensive? A The cost to build such a station. B The raw material used. C The debt owed to the bank. D Being a euro note printing machine. Answer: A The area south of the Thames at Greenwich has a long history. Throughout time different buildings have been constructed on the same site. The Palace of Placentia, an English Royal Palace built in 1447, no longer exists apart from a few remains under the present buildings. The grand buildings on the South Bank of the Thames at Greenwich were designed by Sir Christopher Wren, most famous for St. Paul's Cathedral. The buildings were finally completed in 1745, although some parts started to be used as early as 1705. They're now part of a university -- having served as a naval hospital and a naval college and the setting for several cinemas. But the buildings stand on a site which has a much longer history, of which now only a part remains that is below the ground. For nearly two hundred years, from around 1450 to 1650, Greenwich was one of the main royal palaces of England. Some of the most famous English rulers, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, not only lived there, but also were born there. Henry VIII put an armory there, and there were also gardens, a great fountain and a mass of buildings. The Palace was also in a strategic location, because at the time either side of Greenwich on the Thames were important Royal Dockyards . Eventually, though, the Palace fell into disrepair. In 1664, the King at the time, Charles II, decided to replace it with completely new buildings in a modern style. Only a cellar from the former Royal Palace now remains, under one of the new buildings. Its red brick, typical of the 16th century, contrasts sharply with the white stone above it. Would you like to join us to have a good view of Greenwich? The buildings on the South Bank of the Thames at Greenwich now _ . A are in need of repair B differ from those in the 16th century C were designed in the style of Elizabeth I D have a history of more than half a century Answer: B On October 12, 1987, some Chinese scientists were working at the computers to look for information they needed. Suddenly they saw a lot of very bright spots( )crossing the computers' screens. At the same time the computers were working much slower. To find out what was happening they stopped their work to check some parts of the computers. To their horror , they found out that most of their stored information was got rid of( ) by computer viruses! Obviously all these computers had been infected( ) by computer viruses. It is said that the computer viruses were made by a group of young man fond of playing tricks. They all had excellent education. They created the viruses just to show their intelligence. These kinds of computer viruses are named Jerusalem( )Viruses. These viruses can stay in computers for a long time. When the time comes they will attack the computers by lowering the function , damaging their normal programs or even getting rid of all the information. We now come to know that Jerusalem Viruses often attack computers on Fridays and that they are spreading to a list of computers. Among the countries that suffering computer viruses are Britain, Australia, Switzerland and the U.S. But till now, how to get rid of the terrible remains a problem. According to the passage, computer viruses seem to _ . A have been in nature for years B be difficult to get rid of at present C exist in any computers D be able to be got rid of in the near future Answer: B One morning, Daddy, Ethan, and I went out shopping for Mother's day gifts. First we went to buy some flowers. I found a nice big bunch of pink roses that were very pretty. Then we went and bought a card. There were a lot to choose from, some of them had pictures of kids and some of them had pictures of animals. Daddy wanted to get one with a kid hugging his mommy but Ethan wanted the one with a cat on it, and I wanted the one with a dog on it. We ended up getting all three. Then we went to buy ingredients so we could cook breakfast. On Mother's day I helped Daddy make breakfast. We made chocolate pancakes and eggs. It was very messy but a lot of fun. Mommy loved getting breakfast in bed and she liked the flowers and cards. We also went out to go to the park after breakfast. It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun. I can't wait for mother's day to come by again! What sort of card did I choose to get? A Kid B Dog C Cat D Animal Answer: B When Kathryn was 6 years old, she sat outside for three hours at her home and did not make a sound.Her parents wondered why she was so quiet, only to discover that she was drawing a picture of a flag outside. She recalled. "That's what I wanted to do that day," said Kathryn, who is now 23 years old. And in the future, she continued to do art as a hobby. Recently, Kathryn was named Lake Placid's first artist in the neighborhood. She will be there for at least four weeks and possibly more. During that time, she will teach an art class and focus on her own art. Much of her work includes creating photos. She said: "There is always something there that you haven't included, so you can never stop when painting a photo." Kathryn ended up as the first artist just by chance. She said her sister was on vacation in Florida and looking for a job in Lake Placid. The sister got the job and moved there. Kathryn said she visited her sister and was ordered to do wall paintings inside a building. Later, her sister saw a demand for an artist on line and suggested she should apply. Kathryn said she's the first artist in her family, but added that her parents are creative. Her father loves to create things from wood, she said. "Anything you can make out of wood, he has made it," she said. Her own creativity with art continued through college. While at college, she was once employed to recreate a photo of a couple on a vacation to Florida and one of a sunset in either North Carolina or South Carolina. Kathryn said she's looking at other forms of art. The time she spends here will help her to "figure out who I am as an artist," she said. What is the passage mainly about? A A young artist treats art more than a hobby. B A hobby becomes a pursuit for an artist. C A girl finds her value in her own hobby. D A girl walks out of her hobby as an artist. Answer: B
With rising food prices, growing population and environmental problems, many people are worrying about how we will feed ourselves in the future. Don't worry. Scientists are trying to find some answers. Some scientists believe insects will become a staple of our diet. Insects provide as many nutrients as ordinary meat and a great source of protein , they also cost less to raise than cows and use less water. About 1,400 species are suitable as food for humans. Many people have already eaten insects as a part of their diet. Locusts are popular in Africa, wasps are a dish in Japan, and crickets are eaten in Thailand. The Dutch government is preparing for insect farms and has invested one million euros into research. In the future, land and fresh water will be in short supply. It is possible that people need to find a reliable food source in the ocean. Scientists have already found one at the bottom of the food chain---seaweed. It has long been a staple in Asia, and countries including Japan have huge seaweed farms. Such farms can easily work in other countries and be very successful. The great thing about seaweed is that it grows at an amazing rate. It's the fastest growing plant on earth. Scientists are also working in the lab to solve the problem of food shortage. A few years ago, European scientists successfully produced lab meat, also known as cultured meat. They grew muscle tissue using stem cells taken from cows. The experiment was funded by NASA to see if lab meat was a food astronauts could eat in space. In 20 years' time , lab meat is likely to become a popular dish of our diet. According to research, growing meat in a lab rather than slaughtering animals can greatly reduce greenhouse gases, along with energy and water use. People can also reduce fat from the meat and add nutrients. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a potential problem humans face in the future? A. Rising food prices. B. Growing population. C. Fewer skillful farmers. D. Less fresh water available Answer: C. Fewer skillful farmers. Years ago people could hardly accept the ideas of a woman's being a doctor. In order to get into medical school in 1847, Elizabeth Blackwell was asked to keep it a secret that she was a woman. This was contrary to her beliefs, and she refused to do it. After entering medical school, prefix = st1 /Elizabethoften had to summon all her courage to free the unkindness of teachers and classmates. By her great efforts, she was able to complete her studies. Many people came to her graduation just to have a look at a woman doctor. Doctor Blackwell soon found that most people were not as ready as to go to a woman doctor. She had to struggle to make a living. Then came the great day when she was offered a job as a doctor in a hospital. She did so well that she was asked to organize a new hospital and medical college. TheUnited Statescan now be proud of thousands of women doctors. Many people came to see Elizabethwhen she graduated . A. because they wanted to congratulate her on being a doctor B. but they didn't believe she would be famous in the future C. because they wanted to find out the secret of her success D. but they weren't sure that she could manage to finish her schooling Answer: B. but they didn't believe she would be famous in the future The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the earth. On 17 July, a piece of 4 kilometers wide comet enters the Earth's atmosphere with a massive explosion . About half of the piece is destroyed, but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound. The sea boils and a huge hole is made in the seabed. Huge waves are created and spread outwards form the hole. The wall of water, a kilometer high, rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned . Before the waves reach South America, the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina. Earthquakes and volcanoes ash set off in the Andes Mountains. The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes. Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead, but the north won't escape for long. Because of the explosions, the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. Crops are ruined. The sun won't be seen again for many years. Wars break out as countries fight for food. A year later, no more than 10 million people remain alive. Could it really happen? In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the earth. The dinosaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years. Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared. Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space. The dinosaurs couldn't live through the cold climate that followed and they died out. Will we meet the same end? When the first piece hits the South Atlantic, it causes _ . A. an earthquake B. hunger C. an Earth explosion D. huge waves Answer: D. huge waves It is not only experts in China who are arguing over whether women should work after marriage or not. Worldwide this question is being discussed as an interestingly large number of married women enter the workplace. Take the United States for example. Since 1960, the percentage of married women in the work force has jumped from 31.9 per cent to 59.4 per cent. American women first moved into the paid labour force during the World War II, when men left their jobs to fight. In the last fifty years, more and more women have worked outside the home. And over these years of developing, Americans have changed their social values as a result. In 1975, women aged 35 and above made up half of all working women. And by 1980, 60 per cent were women at the age of 45 and above. Now in Japan, women's work group is M-shaped with middle-aged women and those aged 20-25 at the two peaks. According to statistics , 37.7 per cent of Japanese women at childbearing age(25-29) still engaged themselves in work in 1980. and the number reached 50 per cent the next year. Being a housewife has always been regarded as a "graceful occupation" in Japan. Some young Japanese women believe it is good to be a " professional housewife". However, old attitudes have been changing everywhere, and sometimes just out of economic necessary. In recent years, a great number of city housewives have poured out of homes to take part time jobs. Even the UN has given its support.. The 34thCongress of the United Nations in 1979 put forward the decision for formal agreement on the getting rid of discrimination against women. So far, most UN members have agreed on it, but some still haven't, including the United States. From the first passage, we can learn that _ . A. experts encourage women to take paying jobs. B. men encourage women to take paying jobs C. government encourage women to take paying jobs. D. more and more people begin to care about women's life Answer: D. more and more people begin to care about women's life At least eight babies in East China'sprefix = st1 /AnhuiProvincehave died since last year. they died of serious deficiency disease which happened to them because of fake milk powders. More than 100 other babies in Fuyang, mostly between three and five months old, are still in poor nutrition after drinking different kinds of cheap milk powders produced in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and Beijing. The baby victims were born healthy, but they became thinner and thinner, and had large heads for their bodies after fake milk powders were fed to them. "My girl, the first child of mine, died when she was only four months old after drinking the 'Haobaobei'milk powder."said Zhang Linwei, a 32-year-old villager of the Wangzhuang Village in Fuyang. Zhang found that his daughter got ill after the girl didn't want to drink the milk powder any more half a month before. "Before that , I though my daughter's face was becoming fatter and fatter because she was fed well and grew fast."the baby's father said. The girl died nine days later after she was sent to hospital and all of the family's savings were spent on her medical treatment. "It is like a terrible dream. I never thought that my baby would _ like this ."he said. Zhang said he tried to telephone and write to the producer of the milk powder by the address on the packing bag but never made it. "The fake milk powders only have 5-6 per cent protein and the lowest is has only 1 per cent. For babies, drinking such fake milk powder is no different from drinking water,"Zhang Fangjun, said a medical expert with the Fuyang People's Hospital. "Such so-called milk powders cannot afford any nutrition for babies' growth," Zhang said. Zhang Linwei_. A. found her first daughter was killed by 'Haobaobei' milk powder B. didn't' know what caused her first daughter's death at first C. got a lot of money from the producer of the milk powder D. asked the reporter to give him a hand Answer: B. didn't' know what caused her first daughter's death at first
Question: Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers. They use robotic systems to milk their cows. These systems are designed to reduce labor and increase milk production. Cows are trained to follow a series of paths that lead to the milking stations. Only one cow at a time can enter the station. Once inside,the cow is rewarded with food. As the cow eats,a robotic arm cleans and connects the animal to the milking machine. A few minutes later,the milking is completed. The gate is lifted. The cow leaves and the next cow enters. The robotic systems are designed to operate twenty four hours a day. Cows are milked on average about three times a day. Some are milked four to six times a day. The cows wear collars around their necks that identify them to the system. A computer keeps records on their eating and milking. A cow is released from the station if the computer decides it should not be milked. The system also measures the temperature and color of the freshly produced milk. Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests. Cows need two to four weeks to learn to use the robotic milking systems. Once trained,the cows no longer require human assistance,unless something goes wrong. Professor Plaut heads the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University. She believes the systems will attract especially the next generation of farmers who are more interested in technology and less interested in working all the time on the farm. Still,she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use. Doug Suhr has more than one hundred milking cows on his farm. Last year it became the fourth farm in southeast Minnesota to get a robotic milking system. A recent story in a local agricultural newspaper said the first robot cost $175,000 and the second cost $150,000.Doug says the increase in milk production reaches a high of more than 6kg per cow per day. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. the price of robotic milking systems will greatly decrease B. robotic milking systems are still too expensive to be popular C. most farmers are too old to use robotic milking systems D. robotic milking systems don't need to work at night Answer: B Question: According to a joint survey by the Social Investigation Center of China Youth Daily and the news center of Tencent.com,76.9% of the 5,21l respondents ,all being youths in their 20s, believe the society needs chutouniao("leading birds")who dare to take risks to show their worth,although,as the Chinese, saying goes, "The leading bird gets shot first."or "One who takes the lead usually bears the brunt of an attack." About 58.2%of the respondents think that one has to work hard at all times, and one must know how to show off when the chance comes.53%of them also believe that it is necessary to be aggressive ,sometimes. "I wish my employees will let me know when they have achieved something."said LiuXueyuan,the president of a media company,as it is impossible for him to know all his employees well.However, showing off too much is of course no good, either."One who likes to show off one's achievement will also be the first to be noticed when one makes a mistake."said Liu.He suggested that the employees should do their jobs steadily and surely. Although most respondents think chutouniao are necessary,not many of them like to hobnob with such persons.In fact, 65.9% of the respondents simply don't like them,while 7.1% of the respondents expressed their hatred of them. Faced with the conflict between "needed by the society" and "disliked by fellow beings," quite a large number of people have let slip chances.59.6% of the respondents regret it. Which of the following sayings explains correctly what President Liu said? A. The bird loves her nest. B. You can't sell the cow and drink the milk C. A bird is known by its note.and a man by his words. D. Every coin has two sides. Answer: D Question: April Fool's Day is supposed to be a day to play jokes on others in hopes of getting a good laugh and making one feel like a fool. However, the April Fool's Day of 2014 was quite different for my mom and me. That day my friend Jimmy and I were playing a game. I had dropped down from a bar many times in the past without ever having a problem, but that day the simple act of dropping to the ground became a nightmare . I broke my arm. Jimmy's dad heard my crying and rushed out to see what was going on. When he saw the problem he quickly put me into his truck and went inside to telephone my mom and let her know he would take me to hospital. As that day was April Fool's Day, Mom was not buying it and really thought all this was a big joke. Mom was finally convinced by Jimmy's mom. When she saw me, she broke down in tears because she felt so bad -she originally thought this was just a big prank . I guess one could compare this to the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Since I had pulled pranks before, it is no wonder that my mom didn't believe it. I as well as my mom was made to look like a fool that day. We both learned a valuable lesson. Why did Jimmy's dad phone the writer's mom? A. Because he wanted to play a joke on her. B. Because he wanted her to go to the hospital to pay the money. C. Because he wanted to see how deeply she loved her son. D. Because he wanted to inform her of the accident. Answer: D Question: She was 6 years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live. She insisted on talking to me. "I'm building," she said. "I see that. What is it?" I asked, not caring. "Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand." That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes. A sandpiper glided by. "My mom says sandpipers come to bring us joy." "Good-bye joy," I muttered to myself, "Hello pain," and turned to walk on. I was depressed; my life seemed completely out of balance. "What's your name?" She wouldn't give up. "Robert," I answered. "Mine's Wendy... I'm 6. Why are you so quiet?" I turned to her and shouted: "Because my mother died!" "Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day." "Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and - oh, go away!" "Did it hurt?" she asked. "Did what hurt?" I was annoyed with her, with myself. "When she died?" "Of course it hurt!" I replied angrily, misunderstanding. A month after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed, I went up to the cottage and knocked at the door. A young woman answered. "Hello," I said. "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered where she was." "Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia . Maybe she didn't tell you." I had to catch my breath, saying nothing. "She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly... "She left something for you... if only I could find it," she said. "Could you wait a moment while I look?" It was a drawing in bright color1s- a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm so sorry," I muttered over and over, and we wept together. But then we looked at the picture of the sandpiper and slowly both of us began to smile, remembering the lesson that Wendy had left us. Even when life seems sad, joy can be found in the smallest of things. We should take time to seek out these little joys in life and live for the love that we have for each other. What did the man learn from the little girl? A. Death is nothing to fear. B. Friendship plays an important role in life. C. Living itself is a kind of happiness. D. A person should enjoy each living day. Answer: D Question: So you have been called for an interview-well done? Your effort has been paid off. Now to get the job, you will feet better at the interview if you show an understanding of the nature of the organization. Ask a member of family or a friend to act as the employer and to give you an unreal interview.Be as realistic as possible,answer the questions seriously.Afterwards discuss how it goes. Think about how the employer would prefer to see you look. Remember the majority of employers are over 30. It is not wise to rush out and buy new clothes which will be worn for the first time at the interview. You'll feel more at ease in a familiar dress. Carelessness in any of these could cost you the job.Arrive at least 15 minutes before time.This will give you a chance to have a look around, read the notice board and get the feel of the place. Being late at interviews produces a bad impression.The first impression the interviewer gets of you forms as you walk through the door, so take a couple of deep breaths. Be ready to shake hands the interviewer offers. Don't take a seat until asked. Then sit comfortably. Make eye contact when you are greeted and again if you shake hands, and during questioning.Eye contact is a form of non-verbal greeting. Remember the interviewer's name and use it from time to time. Be ready for the question"Is there anything you want to ask?"Before the interview you should get ready for two or three such questions. Look on these not just as a chance to get information but as a means to improve your prospects in the employer's estimation .Asking can show knowledge and avoid mistakes ever before you begin. You can check on these later,when the hope for the job is offered. And if you fail, look upon the interview as an experience in itself, learn from it. We wish you good luck and good job hunting. To make a good impression, it is important for you _ . A. to walk through the door quickly B. not to see the interviewer's eyes C. to sit down in front of the interviewer D. to remember the interviewer's name and use it sometimes Answer: D
The National Dark-Sky Week (NDSW) is a week during which people all over the United States turn off their lights to enjoy the beauty of the night sky without light pollution. This even was started by Jennifer Barlow of Midlothian, Virginia in 2003, and it is becoming more popular each year. It has been supported by the International Dark-Sky Association, the American Astronomical Society, and the Astronomical League. This even always occurs in April, during the week of the new moon so that the sky can be as dark as possible for the best viewing conditions. "It is my wish that people could see the night sky without other light in the sky as our ancestors saw it hundreds of years ago," explains Barlow. _ The main goal of NDSW is to increase awareness of the harmful effects of light pollution. It is not possible for all of the light pollution in this part of the world to disappear. However, it is possible to make a small difference in the quality of the night sky. Another goal of this even is to promote the use of better lighting systems that direct light toward the ground instead of up into the sky. Jennifer Barlow states, "The night sky is a gift of such beauty that it should not be polluted by wasted light. In this way, our children will not lose touch with the wonder of our universe." Which of the following statements about the National Dark-Sky Week is WRONG? It was on the afternoon of the day of Christmas Eve, and I was in Mrs. Prothero's garden, waiting for cats, with her son Jim. It was snowing. Patient and cold, our hands wrapped in socks, we waited to snowball the cats. The wise cats never appeared. We were so still in the snows that we never heard Mrs. Prothero's first cry from the bottom of the garden. Or, if we heard it at all, it was, to us, like the cry of the neighbor's Polar cat. But soon the voice grew louder. " Fire!" cried Mrs. Prothero. And we ran down the garden, with the snowballs in our arms, towards the house; and smoke, indeed, was pouring out of the dining room. This was better than all the cats in Wales standing on the wall in a row. We loaded with snowballs, stopped at the open door of the smoke-filled room. Something was burning all right; perhaps it was Mr. Prothero, who always slept there after midday dinner with a newspaper over his face; but he was standing in the middle of the room, saying, " A fine Christmas!" There was no fire to be seen, only clouds of smoke and Mr. Prothero standing in the middle of them, waving his slipper as though he were conducting. " Do something," he said. And we throw all our snowballs into the smoke---I think we missed Mr. Porthero---and ran out of the house. " Let's call the police," Jim said. "And Ernie Jenkins, he likes fires." But we only called the fire-brigade, and soon the fire-engine came. Mr. Porthero gout out just in time before they turned the hose on. Why were the boys in Mrs. Prothero's garden? New carpet is being measured for a room that is 5.5 m by 4.6 m. On a measuring tape, what is the smallest unit that is necessary to measure the room accurately for the carpet? The sun is shining when I get on No. 151 bus. We passengers sit jammed together in heavy clothes. No one speaks. That's one of the unwritten rules of Chicago _ . Although we see the same faces every day, we prefer to hide behind our newspapers. The phenomenon is striking: people who sit so close together are using those thin sheets of newsprint to keep their distance. As the bus approaches the Magnificent Mile, a voice suddenly rings out: "Attention! Attention!" Papers rattle . Necks crane . "This is your driver speaking." We look at the back of the driver's head. His voice has authority. "All of you put your papers down." The papers come down, an inch at a time. The driver waits. The papers are folded and placed on our laps. "Now, turn and face the person next to you. Go ahead." Amazingly, we all do it. Still, no one smiles. I face an older woman, her head wrapped tightly in a red scarf. I see her nearly every day. Our eyes meet. We wait, unblinking, for the next order from the driver. "Now, repeat after me..." It is a command, delivered in the tones of a drill sergeant . "Good morning, neighbor!" Our voices are weak and timid. For many of us, these are the first words we have spoken today. But we say them at the same time, like schoolchildren, to the strangers beside us. We smile and can't help it. We have said it; the barrier has been broken. Good morning, neighbor. It is not so hard after all. Some of us repeat it. Others shake hands. Many laugh. The bus driver says nothing more. He doesn't need to. Not a single newspaper goes back up. I hear laughter, a warm sound I have never heard before on bus No. 151. This day is starting off better than most. What would be the best title for the text? Being busy can become a way of life. Our lives are always filled with emails and text messages. They make us feel wanted and important, but in a tiring and empty way. Being busy has a dangerous allure . If you are busy all the time, it's hard to sit quietly with your thoughts or to really feel what you're feeling. Whynot let everything become a choice -- how we spend time, who we reply to and how much or little we write? Many of us are busy becauseour self-worth goes up when people make demands on our time. Whydon't we free ourselves from needing, or even wanting? Why don't we make the best use of the time and space to be productive in a way that it best serves us? That may be consciously keeping ourselves not busy. In fact many great discoverieswere made by people who built white space into their day. Imagine asking "How are you?" to one of the most successful people you know like Warren Buffet. I've never heard anyone at that level answer "busy" though most people believe they are. What are they doing differently? First, they aim to project an image that things are under control. Second, they actually have things under control. They've had excellent staff, implemented thoughtful processes and they spend time only on critical tasks that require their attention. They make high-level strategic decisions with a large effect. It's time to end the glory of being busy and spend time setting up processes that make sense, rather than simply working more hours. To do this, you need to change yourway of thinking. It's cool to say you're busy, but it's better to be busy helping someone carry a stroller up the subway stairs or busy finishing a book. How to free us from the trendof being busy? Start with small steps. For one day, be mindful of every daily activity. Consider each thing a choice and decide proactively if it's necessary or simply a habit you can get rid of or do in half the time. Next, stop saying how busy you are. Then, figure out what you want to achieve with your day and begin doing it. Put your time and energy where you want it to be. The writer probably agrees that we should _ .
One day an Indian went to see his doctor. The doctor looked him over and said, "Medicine won't help you. You must have a good rest. Go to a quiet country place for a month, go to bed early, drink milk, walk a lot, and smoke only one cigar a day." A month later, the Indian came to see the doctor again. "How are you?" said the doctor. "I'm glad to see you again. You look much younger." "Oh, doctor, I feel quite well now," said the Indian, "I had a good rest. I went to bed early. I drank a lot of milk. I walked a lot. You certainly helped me. But you told me to smoke one cigar a day, and that almost killed me at first. It was not easy to begin smoking at my age." From the story we can guess_. Answer: Harbour Cruises LTD. Dining, Sightseeing and Special Events Get on board to experience Vancouver from a different perspective . Join Harbour Cruises Ltd. For Vancouver's only guided tour of the inner harbour, the always popular dinner cruise , or a luncheon cruise through a quiet coastal mountain bay . Special event cruises are available throughout the year including during the yearly fireworks competition and December's Christmas Carol Ships. Harbour Cruises Ltd. is located next to world-famous Stanley Park. Dates of Operation: April - October and December Seasonal Hours: 8 : 00 am - 7 : 00 pm, 7 days a week Directions: Drive west on Georgia and turn right at the lights at Denman Street. Take the # 135 Stanley Park bus or walk west along Georgia for 15 minutes towards Stanley Park from downtown. Information: 604.688.7246 Reservations : 1. 800. 663. 1500 Website: www. boatcruises. corn Email: tours@boatcruises . corn # 1, North Foot of Den-man Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 2w9 The Lookout at Harbour Centre Tower Not sure where to start? The Lookout,which is high atop Harbor Center Tower,is your best first choice in Vancouver.Majestic cruise ships,mountains sprinkled with fresh snow and a west coast sunset are but a few highlights of this grand 3600 view.Drink your cappuccino,join a free guided tour,learn something new about Vancouver and enjoy the view! Dates of Operation:Open 365 days/year Seasonal Hours:Winter 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Summer 8:30 am - 10:30 pm Directions:Located downtown at the SeaBus and SkyTrain station. Just steps away from the Cruise Ship Terminal and historic Gastown. Infonnation and Reservations:604.689.0421 Website: www. vancouverlookout.com Email: info@vancouverlookout.com 555 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N4 Burnaby Village Museum And Carousel Step back in time to 1925. The museum features a village, a farmhouse and the historic CW Parker Carousel. Costumed townspeople welcome you to exhibits that include a schoolhouse, a blacksmith, a Chinese medicine store and an ice - cream parlour. Seasonal Hours: May 4 - Sept 2 (11: 00 am - 4:30 pm ) Christmas Hours: Nov 23 - Dec 13 & Dec31 - Jan 4(12:00 - 5:30 pm) and Dec 14 - 30 (12:00 - 8:00 pm) Closed Dec 24& 25 Directions: Take exit 33 from Hwy 1 to Canada Way. Follow the signs along the sidewalk to Deer Lake Park. 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Information: 604. 293. 6501 Telephone: 604. 293. 6500 Website: www. city. burnaby.cb.ca. 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3T6 If you want to visit one of the places from 8:30 am to 10:30 am on Christmas Day, you can get further information on _ . Answer: "Life is speeding up . Everyone is getting unwell." This may sound like something someone would say today. But in fact, an unknown person wrote it. Inventions can change our lives. But have all these things really improved our lives? Imagine this. You're doing your homework on the computer. Your mobile phone rings and the noise from the television is getting louder and louder. Suddenly the computer is turned off and you lose all your work. How do you feel? Inventions have speeded up our lives, but they often leave us feeling tired. One family in England went "back in time" to see what life was like without these inventions. The grandparents, with their daughter and grandsons Ben 10 and Tom 7, spent nine weeks in an old house. They had no computers or mobile phones. The grandmother, Linda, said, "The more things you have, the harder life becomes." And Ben also noticed that his grandmother had changed. She cooked delicious food for them! ,. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? Answer: How do you usually celebrate your birthday? Playing a soccer game may not be your first choice. But Lu Han, the former EXO singer, did just that and showed has an unusual side of him. Lu Han celebrated his 25th birthday by playing a soccer game with players from Beijing No.47 High School on April 19th in Beijing, a day before his birthday. He scored three goals in the game. Lu Han has often shown on Weibo that he is a big soccer fan and his favorite soccer team is Manchester United. He said more than once that he used to dream of becoming a professional soccer player. So what was Lu Han's performance like on the pitch ?Fan Zhiyi, the former captain of the Chinese national soccer team, played with Lu Han in a friendly match in 2013. He thought that Lu Han is a top amateur player. ,A, B, C, D. How many goals did Lu Han score in the game against Beijing NO.47 High School. Answer: New York is a very large city with 8 million people. How do so many people move on their way to work or school? In New York you can travel by subway, bus, taxi and private car. The subway runs on the railroad lines under the city. Travelling by subway is the fastest way to get around the city. The second way to travel around the city is by public bus. It is a slower way to travel. This is because the traffic is very heavy. You can also travel around the city by taxi. This is very expensive, but the taxi will take you to the very place you want to. If traffic is heavy, the taxi will be slow, too. During the mornings and afternoons, there is the "rush hour".This is the time when the traffic is very heavy with people going to and from work. The last way to get around New York is using your own private car. It is inconvenient because you will perhaps be driving during the "rush hour".The best time to travel around the city is from 9 am to 4 pm, because it isn't the "rush hour". From the passage we know that in New York _ . Answer:
Question: To be successful in any aspect of life, you need to know when to use the carrot or the stick. Here are a few tips to help you decide whether it's better to use the carrot or the stick. With the kids The carrot When it comes to raising a kid, the carrot or the stick dilemma is quicklydisappearing as too many parents take the carrot approach to the extreme. In child raising, the carrot should never be materialistic things. If you want to ask for good behavior with a reward, it should be with something that can't be bought, say, trust. The stick Nowadays, no one likes to use the stick any more, or in my father's case, the belt. I'm not overlooking child abuse, if you ever want to call it that, but I am encouraging parents to toughen up a bit. You don't want your kid to test your limits only to find out he can get away with it. If you want to raise a kid, raise the hand and let him know it comes down on the second offense. At the office The carrot People need encouragement and motivation to perform well. However, the carrot only really works well with employees who have already proved themselves. Ifyou've got someone who can't show up at the office before noon, the promise of a raise isn't going to do much. On the contrary, if there's a guy with a good work moral, he'll thrive (grow stronger) when you add a promotion to the picture. The stick When considering the carrot or the stick in the office, remember that, overall, the stick is the more practical method in the office. A wise man, who just happened to be an Italian, once said "It's best to be both loved and feared." It's nice to have everyone love you, but running a business isn't like running a family. You need to have the stick constantly raised. With the wife The carrot When it comes to marriage, always use the carrot. I've had a lovely marriage for many years, and I've always stuck to the carrot approach. Sometimes you catch more flies with honey, and sometimes it's the crack of a whip that gets the horse moving. Try not to use too many sticks at home; the carrot is much more fun. What is the best title of this passage? A. The Carrot or the Stick? B. The Introduction to the Carrot and the Stick C. Tips in the Daily Life D. The Advantages of the Carrot and the Stick Answer: A Question: The success of Pickwick Papers made Dickens very popular. He suddenly found himself at twenty-four the most famous novelist of his day. Busy as his social life was, he worked on two novels at the same time-Oliver Twist and Pickwick Papers. He was particularly proud of Pickwick Papers, which was a huge success and was regarded as a comic masterpiece . "If I were to live a hundred years and write novels in each, I should never be so proud of any of them as I am proud of Pickwick Papers," he said. It has been said of Dickens that he grasped the imagination of' his readers because his imagination grasped himself. The people in his works were so real that they could make him laugh or cry. When writing Oliver Twist he said that he could not rest until Fagin, the wrongdoer , had been hanged. Dickens' marriage to Catherine Hagarth, with whom he had nine children, ended unhappily in 1858. He started to travel about giving readings of his works. His interest in theater gave his novels the qualities that made them suitable for reading aloud on the stage. A tiring trip to the United States affected his health. On June 9th, 1870, when he was working on a new novel, he died. Dickens had always wanted to die of working. Fagin must be _ . A. a person in real life B. a character in Oliver Twist C. a character in Pickwick Papers D. one of Dickens' works Answer: B Question: A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him. Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his s had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone." he said. "What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most'." Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him." Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom." It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day, Jack discovered a note in his mailbox "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days." the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser." "The thing he valued most was...my time" Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said, "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!" Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son? A. He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest. B. He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son. C. He had missed his son and his family for days. D. He came to realize the importance of the time with his family. Answer: D Question: What are you going to do if you are in a burning house? How will you escape? Do you know how to save yourself? Please read the following passage. Escaping a fire is a serious matter.Knowing what to do during a fire can save your life.It is important to know the ways you can use and show them to everyone in the family,such as stairways and fire escapes,but not lifts. From the lower floors of the buildings,escaping through windows is possible,learn the best way of leaving by windows with the least chance of serious injury. The second floor window is usually not very high from the ground.An average person,hanging by the finger-tips will have a drop of about six feet to the ground.It is about the height of an average man.Of course,it is safer to jump a short way than to stay in a burning building. Windows are also useful when you are waiting for help.Be sure to keep the door closed.Or smoke and fire may be drawn into the room.Keep your head low at the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may leaked into the room. On a second or third floor,the best windows for escaping are those that open onto a roof.From the roof a person can drop to the ground more safely.Dropping onto cement might end in injury.Bushes and grass can help to break a fall. It is important to _ . A. put out the fire in the burning house B. know the ways to escape the fire C. jump off a burning house D. keep the door closed Answer: B Question: Judging from recent surveys, most experts in sleep behavior agree that there is virtually an epidemic of sleepiness in the nation."I can't think of a single study that hasn't found Americans getting less sleep than they ought to," says Dr.David.Even people who think they are sleeping enough would probably be better off with more rest. The beginning of our sleep-deficit(lack)crises can be traced back to the invention of the light bulb a century ago.From diary entries and our personal accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries, sleep scientists have reached the conclusion that the average person used to sleep about 9.5 hours a night."The best sleep habits once were forced on us, when we had nothing to do in the evening down on the farm, and it was dark." By the 1950s and 1960s, the sleep schedule had been reduced dramatically, to between 7.5 and 8 hours, and most people had to wake to an alarm clock."People cheat in their sleep, and they don't even realize they're doing it," says Dr.David."They think they're okay because they can get by on 6.5 hours, when they really need 7.5, 8 or even more to feel ideally energetic. " Perhaps the most merciless robber of sleep, researches say, is the complexity of the day.Whenever pressures from work, family, friends and community increase, many people consider sleep the least expensive item on their programs."In our society, you're considered dynamic if you say you need only 5.5 hours' sleep.If you've got to get 8.5 hours, people think you lack drive and ambition." To determine the consequences of sleep-deficit, researchers have put subjects through a set of psychological and performance tests requiring them, for instance, to add columns of numbers or recall a passage read to them only minutes earlier."We've found that if you're in sleep deficit, performance suffers," says Dr.David."Short-term memory is weakened, as are abilities to make decisions and to concentrate." The major cause of sleep-deficit of modern people is _ . A. the endless TV programs in the evenings and the internet B. the heavy work load of the day C. the sufficient energy modern people usually have D. loud noises in the modern cities Answer: B
An antifreeze is a liquid that is added to water to keep it from freezing. When water freezes and turns to ice, it expands. The force of water expanding is so great that it will break the hardest metal. Water is used in car engines to keep them cool while they run, and if this water is allowed to freeze in winter it can break the iron block of the engine. That is why antifreezes are necessary. Water freezes at the 0degC: the usual kind of antifreeze will not freeze until the temperature is 40degC below zero. A mixture of 5 parts of water and 4 parts of antifreeze will prevent freezing at 18degC below zero; 4 parts of water and 5 parts of antifreeze reduce this to 22degC below zero. Alcohol is a good antifreeze, but when the car is running it becomes hot and the alcohol boils away, so it must be replaced very often. Most people use antifreezes that do not boil away when the engine is running. There are several chemicals that do this. One of the most popular is called ethylene glycol , which is sold under various trade names such as Preston and Zerex. The text is written _ . A to help to sell antifreezes B to explain what antifreezes are C to compare ethylene glycol with alcohol D to tell how to choose the best antifreeze Answer: B Swimmers Wanted Can you swim? Do you like kids? Can you help them with swimming on weekends? Come and join us. Call Jane at 330-8976 for more information . Chess Club Do you like to play chess? Mr Chen can teach you. You can come here every Friday afternoon. Tel: 623-1940 Add: Room 102 in School's P.E. Building Let's Learn French Can you speak French? Do you want to learn French? Join the French club now. Time: 9:00 am--11:30 am(from Monday to Friday) Call Henry at 543-1248. Musicians Wanted Boys and girls, are you music lovers? Can you sing or dance? Can you play any instruments ? Welcome to our Star Rock Band. Please call Victor at 891-3453 or send an email to music@yahoo.com. ,. Betty can swim well and she wants to find a job. Who can she call? A Henry. B Jane. C Victor. D Mr Chen. Answer: B In the United States,when one becomes rich,he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich,he wants people to think that he is. That is what "keeping up with the Joneses" is about. It is the story of someone who tried to look as rich as his neighbors. The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself. He began earning $125 a week at the age of 23.That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighborhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses,Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants. Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbors. It was like a race,but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment in New York City. Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich lifestyle of their neighbors. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories. He called it "Keeping up with the Joneses" because "Jones" is a very common name in the United States. "Keeping up with the Joneses" came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you. Momand's series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years. People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are "Joneses" in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does,Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead. It can be inferred from the story that rich people like to _ . A live in apartments B live in New York City C live outside New York City D have many neighbors Answer: C Become a volunteer and help those who need your help in your community ! Volunteer work includes helping the poor, helping the families whose houses were destroyed by national disasters or creating green spaces for neighborhood families. Whichever service activity you choose, you have the "power of one" to make a difference and create a real change in the community! Our holiday volunteer jobs are open to all Americans. You don't need any special skills to join and there are no age limits . With Biosphere Expedition , you can be a wildlife and environmental volunteer for anywhere from two weeks to two months. You'll work with local scientists, and the leaders from Biosphere Expedition will be by your side. We need students at the age of 16 and up who study at school and want a chance to use their talents, skills and knowledge to help the little kids. Most of them have enough patience and are warm-hearted. Join the Volunteer Service Center today! Volunteers are the greatest people in the world. Let's work together to make the world a better place. The Biosphere Expedition is probably held _ . A for three months B in summer vacation C only by local scientists D between America and China Answer: B When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer, no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not.He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work. After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself.He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote.But Alex determined to put his dream to the test--even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure.This is the shadowland of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there. One day Alex got a call, "We need an assistant, and we're paying $ 6,000 a year." $ 6,000 was real money in 1960.It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more.Besides, he could write in his spare time.As the dollars were dancing in Alex's head, something cleared his senses.He had dreamed of being a writer ?full time."Thanks, but no," Alex said firmly and swiftly, "I'm going to stick it out and write." After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents.Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself," There's everything you've made of yourself so far.I'm not sure I ever felt so low." Finally his work was published in 1970.Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience.The shadows had turned into focus of attention. Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before.Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents.Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room.It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence it takes to stay the course in the shadowland. Why did Alex give up his job? A Because he didn't like the working conditions. B Because he couldn't earn enough to make a living. C Because he wanted to be a full-time writer. D Because he felt he had no potential in his job. Answer: C
An object such as a hammer weighs less on the Moon than on Earth. This is because the Moon has a A. thinner atmosphere than Earth. B. smaller diameter than Earth. C. stronger magnetic field than Earth. D. lower mass than Earth. Answer: D Everybody has had at least one experience from which he knows the meaning of life.This time, which took place several years ago, but seems as if it just happened. On an afternoon several years ago, my brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's dress and picked out a beautiful skirt."Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago.She never wore it.She was saving it for a special occasion." he said.I guess this was the occasion: it was the funeral of my sister, after her unexpected death. He took the shirt and put it on bed, with the other clothes we were taking to the funeral.Then he closed the drawer and turned to me, "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion.Every day you're alive is a special occasion." I'm thinking about his words, and they've changed the way I live my life.I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.Whenever possible, life should be a kind of experience to enjoy, not to suffer."Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their importance on my vocabulary.If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing,I want to see and hear and do it now. Ever since that day, I have been trying very hard not to put off, hold hack or save anything that would add laughter and color to our lives.Every morning when I open my eyes.I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift.So every day and find the true meaning of your life. What's the best title for this passage? A. Every Day Is a Gift B. My Sister Jan C. What Is the Meaningful Life Like D. The Most Important Time in Your Life Answer: A Do you know any people like these? They are part of a new addiction called Internet addiction.Internet addicts spend at least thirty to forty hours online every week.The use of the Internet can be an addiction like drug use.People lose control of the time they spend on the Internet. For example,one college student was missing for several days.His friends were worried,and they called the police.The police found the student in the computer lab, he was surfing the net for several days straight. Studies show that about 6% to 10% of Internet users become addicted.And people worry about the teens because the Internet is changing the playing field for some of them.They spend more time in cyberspace than in the real world of friends and family. Is "surfing the net'' a hobby or an addiction for you? You may have a problem if you have these symptoms : You do not go to important family activities or you do not do school work because you like to spend hours on the Internet. You can't wait for your next online time. You plan to spend a short time online,but then you spend several hours. You go out with your friends less and less. What does the beginning of the passage tell us? A. How to become an Internet addict. B. What an Internet addict usually does. C. Where to find an Internet addict. D. Why to write this passage. Answer: B Suppose we built a robot to explore the planet Mars. We provide the robot with seeing detectors to keep it away from danger. It is powered entirely by the sun. Should we program the robot to be equally active at all times? No, the robot would be using up energy at a time when it was not receiving any. So we would probably program it to stop its activity at night and to wake up at dawn the next morning. According to evolutionary theory of sleep, evolution equipped us with a regular pattern of sleeping and waking for the same reason. The theory does not deny that sleep provides some important restorative functions. It merely says that evolution has programmed us to perform those functions at a time when activity would be inefficient and possibly dangerous. However, sleep protects us only from the sort of trouble we might walk into; it does not protect us from trouble that comes looking for us. So we sleep well when we are in a familiar, safe place, but we sleep lightly, if at all, when we fear that bears will nose into the tent. The evolutionary theory explain the differences in sleep among creatures. Why do cats, for instance, sleep so much, while horses sleep so little? Surely cats do not need five times as much repair and restoration as horses do. But cats can afford to have long periods of inactivity because they spend little time eating and are unlikely to be attacked while they sleep. Horses must spend almost all their waking hours eating, because what they eat is very low in energy value. Moreover, they cannot afford to sleep too long or too deeply, because their survival depends on their ability to run away from attackers. Evolution has programmed man to sleep at night chiefly to help him _ . A. keep up a regular pattern of life B. prevent trouble that comes looking for him C. avoid danger and inefficient labor D. restore his bodily functions Answer: C Many of us don't pay much attention to the importance of eye care. It is said that if you take care of your body, then you can surely be healthy. That is why our eyes should be given a lot of care. Natural eye care should be put in a number one place. There are several causes leading to poor eyesight like not enough food, genes and aging . Televisions, computers and reading are also the causes of having poor eyesight. If you happen to work in front of the computer, it is best to take a break every once in a while. Something dirty can cause redness and they will make you feel uncomfortable. It is bad for your eyes, too. If this happens, the best way is to clean your eyes by using cold water. You must also try your best to protect your eyes from harmful things. For example, sunglasses are not just for fashion but they can also serve as a great way to protect your eyesight form UV rays. Eating healthy foods will do good to your eyesight. Remember that vitamins A, C and E are good for eyes. Try to eat food groups that have these vitamins. And you should do eye exercises because exercise protects your eyesight, too. If a person exercises regularly and eats the right kind of food, his eyes will stay in good condition for a long time. All above are natural ways of eye care that help us keep healthy eyes. Being happy all the time can be helpful to a person's eyesight, too. In a word, eye care is very important, no matter how old a person is. _ is the most important way to protect our eyes. A. Seeing the doctor B. Taking medicine C. Natural eye care D. Being happy all the time Answer: C
Before Alaska became part of the U.S., it had been owned by Russia. Trading posts and small settlements were scattered along the coast. The rest of land was left unexplored. The Russians were mainly interested in the wealth of furs from the vast herds of seals they found there. By the mid-1800's, most of the seal herds had been wiped out, and Russia no longer wanted to keep Alaska. William Seward, Secretary of State for President Johnson, believed the United States should buy Alaska from Russia. President Johnson wasn't so sure it was a wise way to spend U.S. money, but he agreed to let Seward discuss it with the Russians. Acting quickly, Seward made a deal. On March 30, 1867, he signed an agreement for the U.S. to pay seven million dollars for the land. Many people thought it was a foolish waste of America's money. They called the deal "Seward's folly". Then gold was discovered in Alaska and public opinion changed quickly. Seward did not live to see the true value of Alaska. He died in 1872, five years after making the purchase . Each year, Alaska's natural resources have brought in many times the $7,000,000 paid for it. Natural gas, coal, oil, lumber, seafood and other minerals, besides the gold first found, have made it a valuable addition to the United States. In 1959, Alaska be-came the 49th state of the United States. When Seward signed the agreement, many people thought _ . Answer: he wasted U.S. money Drug Use Report A new study examines drug use by young people in t he United States. The study found that cigarette smoking among American teenagers dropped during t he past years. The drop continues a general decrease in teenager smoking rates that started in 1996. American health officials praised the decrease as good news in the nation's battle against smoking. They note that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Smoking rates among American teenagers increased in the first half of the 1990's. However, teenage smoking rates have been decreasing in recent years. The University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research supervised the latest study. The Department of Health and Human Services reported the findings. The study involved more than forty-four-thousand students in more than four-hundred schools across the United States. They were asked about past and daily use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs. The youngest students questioned were thirteen years old. The study also involved fifteen-year-old students and seventeen-year-olds. The most notable change in the study was a continuation of the decrease in cigarette use among thirteen and fifteen-year-olds. For example, about twelve percent of thirteen-year-old students questioned reported smoking at least one cigarette during the past month. Six years ago, the rate was twenty-one percent. Among fifteen-year-olds, the rate dropped from thirty percent in 1996 to twenty-one percent last year. Tommy Thompson is the secretary of Health and Human Services. He praised the findings. He said more teenagers are making correct choices that will help them avoid health problems caused by tobacco. The study found that use of alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs among American teenagers remained the same or dropped during the past year. However, the use of one illegal drug known as Ecstasy continued to increase. Yet the rate of increase was not as great as in recent years. American health officials said they will continue to give teenagers scientific information about the serious health risks of Ecstasy and other illegal drugs. The goal is to further reduce the use of these drugs. From the passage, we can learn that _ . Answer: America has done a lot to help the teenagers keep off the drugs If sustainable competitive advantage depends on workforce skills, American firms have a problem. Human-resource management is not traditionally seen as central to the competitive survival of the firm in the United States. Skill acquisition is considered an individual responsibility. Labour is simply another factor of production to be hired--rented at the lowest possible cost--much as one buys materials or equipment. The lack of importance attached to human-resource management can be seen in the corporate management. In an American firm the chief financial officer is almost always second in command. The post of head of human-resource management is usually a specialized job, off at the edge of the corporate hierarchy. The executive who holds it is never consulted on major strategic decisions and has no chance to move up to Chief Executive Officer(CEO). By way of contrast, in Japan the head of human-resource management is central--usually the second most important executive, after the CEO, in the firm's hierarchy. While American firms often talk about the vast amounts spent on training their work force, in fact they invest less in the skills of their employees than do either Japanese or German firms. The money they do invest is also more highly concentrated on professional and managerial employees. And the limited investments that are made in training workers are also much more narrowly focused on the specific skills necessary to do the next job rather than on the basic background skills that make it possible to absorb new technologies. As a result, problems arise when new breakthrough technologies arrive. If American workers, for example, take much longer to learn how to operate new flexible manufacturing stations than workers on Germany (as they do), the effective cost of those stations is lower in Germany than it is in the United States. More time is required before equipment is up and running in production, and the need for extensive retraining generates costs and creates bottlenecks that limit the speed with which new equipment can be used. The result is a slower pace of technological change, and in the end the skills of the bottom half of the population affect the wages of the top half. If the bottom half can't effectively make the processes that have to be operated, the management and professional jobs that go with these processes will disappear. What is the main idea of the passage ? Answer: The human-resource management strategies of American firms affect their competitive capacity. Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. Finally, there was only one family between the ticket office and us. This family made a big impression on me. There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. You could tell they didn't have a lot of money. _ The children talked excitedly about the clowns. It was clearly a very important day out for them. The father and mother seemed happy as they could be. The tickets lady asked how many tickets the father wanted, he proudly answered, "Please let me buy eight children's tickets and two adults' tickets, so I can take my family to the circus." The ticket lady told him the price. The man's wife lowered her head. There was no longer a smile on the man's face. He quietly asked, "How much did you say?" The ticket lady again told him the price. The man obviously didn't have enough money. But how could he tell his kids the bad news? Seeing what was happening, my dad took a $20 note from his pocket and dropped in on the ground. (We were not rich ourselves at all!) He then tapped the man on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, sir, you dropped this." The man understood my father was helping him. He picked up the money, looked straight into my dad's eyes, and in tears replied. "Thank you. This really means a lot to me and my family." Although we did not go to the circus that night, we didn't go without. Who did the $20 note belong to? Answer: The writer's father. thermal energy insulators are often good electrical insulators like: Answer: the rubber sandwiched between two iron slabs
If a thing is going to shock you, you could block the shock best with A. a log cabin B. a metal plane C. an aluminium cup D. a tin can Answer: A The roots of what we call"volunteerism"reach back many generations, to a time when neighbors and townspeople would come together to build and run their communities' most important organizations--everything from schools and governments to fire-fighting and self-defense. Besides organizations,however, this early volunteerism brought community elements more tightly together, allowing neighbors to get to know one another, to achieve something important and,more often than not to have fun. _ Today,volunteerism continues to thrive.Why? Because volunteerism gets people out of their homes,and brings them together with others who share their interests and concerns.It gives people a chance to directly improve the communalities in which they live.And it's still fun. As an important part of social life,volunteer service is gaining more attention and support in the whole world.Volunteers make considerable contributors to social and economic development of the world in the fields such as humanitarian assistance ,social welfare ,education,environmental protection,health and etc.In 1985,the United Nations General Assembly announced the December 5th of each year as the International Volunteers'Day--the day for volunteers all over the world.On this day,many countries in the world organize various activities to celebrate International Volunteers' Day and encourage volunteerism and voluntary service. In recent years,volunteer service in China is also developing very fast With the coming of the Olympic Games to Beijing,more and more citizens are willing to be volunteers and various voluntary organizations are set up.Olympic volunteers won't just watch history unfold on their television screens--they'll have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the excitement. and make history themselves. What was the advantage of volunteerism many generations ago? A. It helped townspeople to build their houses and schools. B. It gave people an opportunity to improve the environment. C. Community elements could be held tightly together. D. People could share their interests and concerns. Answer: C Armed only with iPhones, the inventive rock band Atomic Tom has gone viral by way of the New York subway. The band has scored an Internet hit with the video to the song "Take Me Out." Singer Luke White says the production was a top-secret operation. "We didn't tell anyone about this. It was completely top-secret from our family, from our friends, from our label, our management, everybody. So the first time that people saw this video was last Friday when we put it on YouTube,"explained White. Since uploading the video to YouTube, band members have spent several days refreshing the page to watch the number of hits rise. The video has also made its way around Twitter as many people have shared it with their friends. "I mean, it still hasn' t quite hit.It' s just kind of blowing our minds right now that we're getting this: ma ny people are fond of it, and they' re sharing it with their friends.We don' t know what it's like really to have something that's viral, so all of this is very new to us." said Eric Espiritu, the lead guitarist of the band. White explains how the video came together: "We did our research with the applications( ) and found applications that worked out really well with the instruments and then we plugged them all into, plugged our phones into mini-battery powered amplifiers that we put underneath our seats, and we did a lot of, you know, practices, in terms of figuring out what the balance of the sound and like who was overpowering, who was too loud or who was too soft." The idea for the video came from Espiritu's younger brother Benjamin. The younger Espiritu directed the video from his initial concept through the final edit and upload to the Internet. "I' ve seen a lot of the music applications come out, and I' ve never actually had the chance to play with them,"says Ben Espiritu. "When I started hearing about how they sound and e verything, I thought it might be unique to take it one step further and then create an entire band just performing solely on the iPhones, and I thought it would be a pretty cool idea." Ben says the success of the band' s music video is a credit to the talent and ability of the musicians, but it' s also a sign of the times. "It really comes down to seeing something different, seeing something unique, and I think that that' s always, in any type of art form, what will speak to people, and I think it does reflect the times that we live in, taking a smart phone and then being able to turn it into an instrument, not only just an instrument, but making it sound really good." What is the significance of the success of the band' s music video? A. It has introduced us several talented musicians. B. It has made the musicians into millionaires. C. It teaches the young a big lesson. D. It reflects the talent and ability of the musicians and the times that we live in. Answer: D Jane Scott is fourteen and the year before last she began to study in a middle school. She likes dancing and singing and spends a lot of time on them. But she hates math and does not work hard at it. She thinks it difficult to learn. She falls behind her classmates and once failed the math exam. She decides to drop it. Her father is angry with her when he knows about it. It was Sunday. Mr Scott gave a call to his sister, who teaches math in another school. He hoped she would come and tell his daughter how to learn math. The woman came quickly and said. "You're a clever girl, Jane. I'm sure you'll soon do well in math if you work hard at it." "I'm afraid I can't, Aunt," said Jane, "Girls can't be good at math." "I don't think so," said the woman. "I was good at it when was a girl. You must do more exercises and practice a math problem again and again until you master it. Remember: Practice makes perfect. Well, it's a math problem. Think about it and practice it again, and you'll work it out." "OK," said the girl, "Let me try." About an hour later, Jane took the exercise book to her aunt and said, "I've done the problem ten times." "Well done!" her aunt said happily, "What result did you get?" "Ten answers." Which of the following is true? A. Jane has learned math. B. Jane agreed with her aunt. C. The woman is pleased with Jane's answers D. Jane hasn't worked out the math problem at all. Answer: D Katie always felt there had to be something more to life than just partying, buying clothes and driving a cool car. She finally discovered what she was missing out on when she traveled halfway around the world to help poor kids. When she was 14, she discovered a club at school called Operation Smile, an organization that supports free operation for facially deformed kids in developing countries. At that time, she joined Operation Smile just to satisfy her school's community service requirement. After working with Operation Smile for a while, she learned different countries have different deformities . The more she learned about what affects kids around the world, the more she wanted to go abroad with Operation Smile. At 15, she was chosen to go abroad. She was so happy - even though she didn't realize what she was getting herself into. Before her trip, she attended a weekend "mission training". That's when she was told she'd be going to the Philippines. Although she was excited, one night during training, she broke down in tears. She didn't know if she was prepared to see all these unfortunate kids. She was put to work three days after her arrival in the Philippines. Her first day was at the hospital, where she met those kids waiting for operation, and they were running around and happy, it seemed normal. Her job was to play with the kids before their operation to help them feel more at ease. She also went to nearby schools to hand out toothbrushes and teach students how to brush their teeth. When their operation was over, the kids were always overjoyed, but their parents were blown away. Sometimes they couldn't even recognize their kids because their appearances had improved so much. They'd cry and hug the doctors and nurses and give them presents--they were so grateful. Why did the author join the Operation Smile? A. To help poor kids in developing countries, B. To satisfy her own curiosity. C. To do what was required by the school. D. To operate on those unfortunate kids. Answer: C
Cara and Ben are twins . They are ten. This is their room. It's a nice room. Two beds are in the room. The yellow bed is Cara's and that green one is Ben's. The twins have one desk and two chairs . Cara's English book is on his bed. Ben's CD is on his chair. Their clock and pencil boxes are on the desk . Their schoolbags are on the chairs. _ are in their room. I once studied at a major university in the Midwest United States. At the beginning of each term, I could see lots of undergraduates accompanied by their parents gather around the dormitory buildings. Fathers often helped children with huge luggage; mothers took much concern over children's necessities in university; while children were only absorbed in chatting with friends and getting to know each other, showing no sign of worrying about their future lives. In fact, compared with Chinese parents, American parents care equally about their children's advanced education and make plans accordingly. It is true that some students begin to save money for their university education quite earlier---- for example, Amy, the daughter of my workmate Stevenson, planned to continue her education after secondary school. However Stevenson earned little and could not afford the tuition. Amy had to find a part-time job, working from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on holiday ----but for most American students, at least the majority of undergraduates, _ Some parents not only take the financial burden for their children's advanced education but also try every possible way to help them. I could still remember that our teacher once said that American parents seldom offered help to their children, by which she meant to say that Chinese parents might be too caring. However every coin has two sides. For example, my academic advisor successfully got money from a major scientific grant to continue his research project, and then he hired an undergraduate Sarah to work with us. The fact is that research assistantship is usually competitive, especially to undergraduate students, and it turned out that Sarah was the daughter of my advisor! "When I apply to the graduate school next year, the money I make and the research experience I build up will benefit me a lot," Sarah said. I used to think that American people behave like businessmen, but this small incident proves that they still might compromise the rules for the benefit of their children as loving parents. What's the writer's attitude toward the academic advisor? I am Bill Jones. I am a teacher of English. My wife is Linda Jones. She is a nurse. We have a daughter and a son. We have many friends. Look! These are my friends. This is Mr. Black. He is a worker. He works in a shoe factory He makes shoes there. That's Mrs. Black. She is a worker on a farm near here. The girl is their daughter. She is a student. She is thirteen. The boy is their son. He is a young soldier . His name is Carl Black. Where does Mr. Black work? Michael Rossi is the Internet favorite Dad right now. Mr. Rossi, a father from Philadelphia, recently took his kids, Jack and Victoria, to Boston for three days during the school term. But Rydal Elementary School, one of the oldest schools in Boston, doesn't accept family holidays as an excuse for their absence and give them a warming notice. So Mr. Rossi wrote a letter to the school, which has been shared by thousands of parents online. Dear Mrs. Marbyry, While I am thankful for your concern for our children and the best education our kids receive from you, I can promise you they've learned as much in the three days we were in Boston as they would in a whole year in school. Although they missed an important test, they learned about something more important for them, especially for their future. They experienced first -hand the love and support form thousands of other people with a common goal. At the marathon , which is known as the most difficult one in the world, they watched runners with disabilities work together to collect money for children in poor areas. In addition, our children walked the Freedom Trail, visited the site of the Boston Tea Party and the graves of several great pioneers of America. These are thing they WILL learn in school a year or more from now. We truly love our school and teachers. But I wouldn't hesitate to pull them out of school again for an experience like the one they had this time. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Michael Rossi Why did the school get angry with Michael? Shark on the bait !" shouted Andre Harman, pointing to a spot a few yards behind the outboard motors. His voice gave no indication of panic, but the crew suddenly became tense and fixed their eyes on the water. Slowly, smoothly, Andre drew in the bait.The shark followed. No one asked what kind of shark it was. Everything about it, from its color to its shape, tells that it was a great white shark. Andre lifted the bait aboard. Placing himself between the two motors, he dropped his right hand into the water just as the great head reached the first motor. "My goodness Andre!" I said. His hand seized the big nose, moving it away from the tube of the motor, guiding the shark's head up as it rose out of the water. Andre's hand held the nose, touching it gently. No one spoke. No one breathed. The moment seemed endless. In fact, it lasted less than five seconds before Andre pulled his hand back. Still nobody spoke. Then Andre smiled and said: "The first time was an accident. I was just trying to move the shark away from the motor. Sharks are attracted to motors by their electrical signals and have a habit of biting them to see if they are eatable. " Andre has worked with great white sharks for years. "My hand landed on its nose, and it sort of paused, so I kept it there, and when I did let go, the shark bit and bit as if it was searching for whatever it was that had attracted it." Nearly every encounter we had had with the great whites had been totally illogical. The more we learned, the more we realized how little was really known about them in the past years. Back then, it was generally accepted that great whites ate people by choice. Now we know that almost every attack on a human is an accident in which the shark mistakes a human for its normal food. Back then, we thought that once a great white smelt blood, it would lead to death. Now we know that nearly three-quarters of bite victims survive, perhaps because the shark recognizes that is has made a mistake and doesn't return for a second bite. Most bite victims survive in shark attacks because _ .
Some children are flying kites near the river. They are very high and Peter can see them from the classroom. After lunch his aunt comes to see his mother and brings a kite to him. It looks like a bird. He wants to fly it but his mother doesn't let him do that. "It's time to go to school," says his mother, "You can fly it after dinner." The boy is unhappy, and says goodbye to his aunt and leaves. Now he is in the classroom but he doesn't listen to Miss Black. He only thinks how to fly the kite. Miss Black writes something on the blackboard and then turns to the class. "Name(......) nine things with milk in them, Peter." she says. The boy doesn't hear her and still sits there. A boy in Row 4 beats his back and he knows it. He stands up and Miss Black asks him the question again. He thinks for some time and then says, "Yes, madam, tea, coffee, cake and ...er...six cows ." In class, Peter only thinks _ . A. his teacher's words B. what the kite looks like C. how to fly the kite D. how to answer the teacher's question Answer: C Do you have a lucky number? What is it? Many people have a special number that they hope will bring them good luck. In Chinese culture, some numbers are believed to be lucky or unlucky based on the Chinese word that the number sounds similar to. For example, the word for the number 8 sounds similar to the word for "making a fortune ". So, people consider it a very lucky number. Some people will even spend a lot of money to have 8s in their phone numbers or vehicle license plate numbers. The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics began at 8:08 p.m. on August 8, 2008. The number 9 is also a lucky number because of its connection to the emperors of China. There were nine dragons on emperors' robes and Chinese myth held that the dragon has nine children. The number 9 also stands for "long lasting". That's why a man always proposes to(---)a woman with 99 or 999 roses. So what's a "bad luck" number in China? It might be 4. Many Chinese people see 4 as a "bad luck" number because it sounds similar to the character for "death". Because of this, many buildings skip the fourth floor, and simply call it the fifth floor. In Hong Kong, some buildings even skip all floors numbered with 4, such as, 4, 14, 24, 34 and all 40-49 floors. Some buildings also skip the 13th floor, as this is considered an unlucky number in many Christian countries. As a result, a building whose highest floor is 50 may have only 35 physical floors. What makes Chinese people believe a number is lucky or unlucky? A. the shape of the number B. the sound of the number in Chinese C. the history of the numbers D. the sound of the number in English Answer: B When many people are worried that there are no more heroes in the modern era two university students who lost their lives to rescue drowning children have shown that heroes still exist . According to the Inner Mongolia Morning Post, the tragedy occurred on the afternoon of December 14, 2002 when three school students skating on a frozen lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot fell through the ice into the freezing water. More than 20 university students who happened to be near the spot immediately went to the rescue of the children. Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child's body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao, also died of cold and exhaustion . The body of Hao and who took the lead in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day. A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children's cries for help, they went to the ice hole hand in hand to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of then to fall into the icy water. Local residents held mourning ceremonies at the lake. Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation, but their lives were no longer in danger. It can be inferred that _ A. people think little of the two university students' death B. the ice on the lake wasn't strong enough to skate on C. some students regretted for what they had done D. heroes don't agree with the steps of modern times Answer: B Mark Twain, the famous American writer, was traveling in France. Once he was going by train to Dijon. That afternoon he was very tired and wanted to sleep, so he asked the conductor to wake him up when they came to Dijon. But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. "I'll probably protest loudly when you try to wake me up," he said to the conductor, "but do not take any notice, just put me off the train anyway." Then Mark Twain went to sleep. Later, when he woke up, it was night-time and the train was in Paris already. He realized at once that the conductor had forgotten to wake him up at Dijon. He was very angry. He ran up to the conductor and began to shout at him."I have never been so angry in all my life," Mark Twain said. The conductor looked at him calmly. "You are not half so angry as the American whom I put off at Dijon," he said. Who' s Mark Twain? _ A. A French writer. B. A famous artist. C. An American writer. D. A traveler. Answer: C Electricity causes less pollution than what? A. sound B. car propellant C. water D. sunlight Answer: B
I am especially interested in eco-friendly cars. Would you please give me some help? -John Lily John Lily, More and more automobile companies are taking measures to create cars that do less harm to the planet. Here are some of the top green cars this year. Tesla Roadster This is an electric sports car. You can travel 220 miles before recharging the battery. The only problem? It will cost you $ 100 000. So, until you win the lottery or happen to find a box of gold at the end of a rainbow, let's move on to the more reasonable choices. Aptera 2e This electric car is much more affordable than the Tesla Roadster, with a starting price of around $25 000. Its electric motor runs 100 miles per charge. Unfortunately, it is currently only available in California through a complex booking process. Toyota Prius At 51 miles per gallon in the city and 48 0n the highway, the Toyota Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world With an annual C02 rating of 1 968 kilograms, this car holds the first place on MSN's list of the Least Polluting Vehicles of 2009. It also has other eco-friendly features like a solar-powered ventilation system. Honda Civic Hybrid The Honda Civic Hybrid is competitive with the Toyota Prius when it comes to fuel efficiency. It gets 40 miles per gallon in the city and 45 0n the highway. It also has the second-lowest annual CO2figure, releasing 2 160 kilograms in a year. Honda Insight Hybrid With a base price of just $20 000, the Honda Insight Hybrid is the least expensive Hybrid on the market today. Coming just after the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius in terms of pollution, this fuel-efficient vehicle gets 40 miles per gallon in the city and 43 0n the highway: Besides all these, Toyota Camry Hybrid is also a good choice. William We can infer from the passage that _ Answer: Honda Insight Hybrid may be the third least polluting hybrid of 2009 prefix = st1 /Pennsylvania--When Connie Beck and her husband awoke to strange noises last weekend, they thought high winds were rattling their home. What they found was even more unexpected: A deer was taking a bubble bath in their bathtub. " _ ," Mrs. Beck said. "We were just waking up." The deer burst through the front door early on Saturday, ran past the couple's bedroom and into the bathroom. Somehow he managed to turn on the water in the bathtub and knock over a bottle of bubble bath into the bathtub. He then got himself into the bubbly water. "You could hear the water running over the kicking," Beck said. The Becks called State Game Commission officials, who arrived with tranquilizers and a lot of laughter. "A guy said, 'There's nothing wrong... he's just in there taking a bubble bath,'" Mrs. Beck said. The animal was soon brought under control, removed from the house and released. "He was unharmed except for a little cut above the eye," said Mrs. Beck. "We were also fortunate. There wasn't much damage, except for the front door, some marks on the tub, and a few hoof prints on the floor." When did the story take place? Answer: On the early morning of Saturday. On a Friday night,a poor young violinist was playing his violin at the entrance of the subway station. The music was so great that people slowed down to listen and put some money into his hat. The next day,the violinist came to the entrance again. He put down his hat as usual. Beside the hat was a piece of paper with some words on it. It said,"A George Sang has put an important thing into my hat by mistake. Welcome to claim it."Soon the people were all attracted by the words and wondered what it could be. After a while a man rushed through the crowd,took the violinist's shoulders and said,"I knew you would certainly come here."The violinist asked,"Did you lose something?""Lottery ."The violinist took out a lottery ticket with Sang's name on it. Sang took it and danced happily. Sang was an office worker. He bought the lottery and won a prize of$500,000.But when he gave$50 to the violinist for his wonderful music,the lottery ticket was thrown in, too. The violinist was a college student. That morning,he was going to fly to Vienna for high education. However,when he found the ticket,he cancelled the flight and returned to the entrance. Later someone asked the violinist why he didn't take the lottery ticket to pay the tuition fee .He said"Although I don't have much money,I live happily. If I lose honesty ,I won't be happy forever." The young man played the violin for _ at the entrance of the subway station. Answer: money An endangered deer with vampire-like fangs was spotted for the first time in nearly 60 years, in a remote forest in northeastern Afghanistan. The fanged creature is known as the Kashmir musk deer, and it is native to the Himalayas of northern India, Pakistan's Kashmir region and northern Afghanistan. Only the male deer have fangs, and they use them during mating season to compete for females. A team of researchers scoured Afghanistan's Nuristan province during 2008 and 2009, and recorded five sightings of the animal. This was the first time the species had been spotted since 1948. During the survey, the researchers spotted a single male Kashmir musk deer near the same area three separate times. The researchers also recorded one female and her baby, and saw a second single female that they think may have been the same deer, without her baby. These musk deer are classified as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Musk-deer meat is a local delicacy, but the species is mostly hunted for its scent glands that are more valuable by weight than gold -- some believe the glands have pharmaceutical properties, and they sell for nearly $20,455 per pound ($45,000 per kilogram) on the black market, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Three decades of war have ravaged Nuristan province, and the continued violence and political instability make the black-market trade of scent glands uncontrollable. Furthermore, the species is quickly losing suitable habitat. All of the musk deer were spotted on sheltered rocky outcrops around 9,843 feet (3,000 meters) high. In the summer, they regularly trek along steep slopes that make them almost impossible to approach and keep them ly safe from hunters. However, heavy snowfall in the winter drives the species farther down, to more human-accessible slopes, and hunters come from all over the country to stalk the deer for their valuable scent glands. Due to violence and unrest, nongovernmental organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society have not been able to operate in the Nuristan province since 2010. The WCS maintains contact with locals they have trained to survey and search for the musk deer. Once the situation in Nuristan improves, the WCS intends to return to the area to continue research and to formulate a conservation plan. Male deer use fangs in mating season to _ . Answer: beat for females Honestly, since my daughter was born, I have thought a lot about how to raise a child. I once heard a story that told about when a baby was born. The story said that when a baby was born, a new master was born. The parents of that baby would become the servants. The question is: Why? Based on my observation, this phenomenon is true. Most parents who don't pay much attention to their kids have difficulties with their kids' attitude. I'll make a comparison of how two families raise their children. The first one is a family with three children. Both mother and father never say "No" to their children's demands. As a result, all of their children became stubborn and won't listen to their parents' words, "We can't." The second family educated their children strictly from one year old to high school. The parents never approved or agreed directly to give their children what they wanted. They always postponed one or two days, even if they could afford it. Due to the way their parents educated them, these children understood that if they wanted something, they had to wait or they had to make an effort first. As a result, all the kids from the second family successfully graduated from university on time. In my opinion, if we want to be successful parents and raise our children well, we have to start disciplining them when they are toddlers but not wait until they become teenagers. Why did the writer give two different stories in this passage? Answer: To help prove his opinion about raising a child.
Please read and discuss the following information.We ask for your support in making 2008~2009 the best school year for everyone!If you have questions,please call us. STUDENT IDENTIFICATION BADGES Please remind your child to have his/her school ID badge on every school day from 8:00 a.m.~2:40 p.m..Each student is given an ID badge at the beginning of the school year. NO PHONE MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS Only calls about Extreme Emergencies such as death or serious illness will be taken for students.A question about where something is at home or other messages about picking up brother/sister will be given to the student after school. STUDENT ABSENCES Parents must telephone the school,6538100,BEFORE,OR THE DAY OF,the student's absence.Notes from parents are NOT accepted.An answering machine is on before and after school hours for you. OPEN HOUSE We hope you will come to our Open House at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday,September 11th.We will have a meeting in the Auditorium,and after the meeting,parents will follow your child's schedule. PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES Please attend the Parent/Teacher Conferences on November 5th & 6th (3:30~6:30 p.m.).Teachers will discuss your child's behavior and grades with you. DATES TO REMEMBER Aug.18.............................First Day of School Sep.1...............................Labor Day (NO SCHOOL) Sep.11..............................Open House Nov.5 & 6...........................Parent/Teacher Conferences Nov.26~28.........................Thanksgiving Holiday (NO SCHOOL) Dec.22 through Jan.4...............Winter Break (NO SCHOOL) Jan.5....................................Return to School Mar.23~29............................Spring Break (NO SCHOOL) Mar.30..................................Return to School May.29..................................Last Day of School According to the passage,students will not go to school on _ . 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. How many students are not in the classroom? A listener from Brazil recently wrote to us asking for some advice. He's planning a trip to the United States, and wanted to know about the best places to travel in America. Today, we tell about the most popular places to visit in the country, and hear about what makes them so appealing. Each of the 50 states in America has interesting things to offer visitors, but some are more popular than others. Washington, D.C. is famous for its historical places, like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors to Los Angeles, California can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or shop the stores on Rodeo Drive where they may see a star or two. The Grand Canyon in Arizona appeals to hikers, climbers and nature lovers, as does Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Trip Advisor is a website where people can write reviews about their travel experiences. There are also ratings for hotels, restaurants, and places people have visited around the world. Every year, Trip Advisor makes a list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. The results are based on the opinions of visitors to the website. America's major cities are still the most popular destinations for visitors. This is probably because of the good quality of services they provide tourists. "They do a great job of giving travelers what they want when they're on vacation. I think they kind of cater to every type of traveler need. So whether you're traveling alone, you're traveling for business, you're traveling with your family - whatever it is, those destinations are really tuned in to delivering amazing experiences and just a lot of different opportunities when you're there." said Brooke Ferencsik, a tourist from Germany. The author is most possibly _ . Which of these is most likely caused by the action of water, wind, and animals? People visit other countries for many reasons.Some travel on business;others travel to visit interesting places that are only found in other countries,such as the Taj Mahal in India. Wherever you go, and for whatever reason,it is important to be safe.While the majority of people you will meet when traveling are sure to be friendly and welcoming, there are dangers--theft being the most common.Just as in your home country, do not expect everyone you meet to be friendly and helpful.It is important to prepare for your trip in advance, and to take precautions while you are traveling. As you prepare for your trip, make sure you have the right paperwork.You don't want to get to your destination only to find you have the wrong visa,or worse,that your passport is about to _ .Also, make sure you travel with proper medical insurance, so that if you are sick during your travels,you will be able to get treatment.If you want to drive while you are abroad,make sure you have an international driver's license. Buy a guidebook and read about the local customs of the country you are going to.Also, try to learn a few basic words and phrases. When you get to your destination, use official transport.Always go to bus and taxi stands; don't accept rides from strangers who offer you a lift.If there is no meter in the taxi, agree on a price before you get in.If you prefer to stay in cheap hotels while traveling,make sure you can lock the door of your room from the inside.If you are traveling with valuables such as jewelry, or a lot of cash, you should ask about a safe for storing them in.Finally, remember to smile.Smiling is the friendliest and most sincere form of communication, and is sure to be understood in any part of the world! Which of the following will expire?
I ran into a local store today to pick up a few things. With an important meeting to attend, I was in a hurry , so I didn't take a cart on my way inside. As I walked between the shelves in the store, I passed by a young couple and their baby. I continued going through the store, picked up a few items I needed and ended up standing behind this couple in the checkout line. While waiting, I noticed that the young father was holding his money tightly and nervously. The young mother was carrying a baby in her arms and asked the cashier for a job application. When the total was rung up, they had to pick items out of their cart because they didn't have enough money. But all their items were basic necessities that they needed most. It just broke my heart to watch the couple try to think about what they could do without. However, they were able to _ their items and paid the bill with the money that they had. After they left, I quietly asked the cashier to add those items to mine. The cashier rang everything up, and then got me a shopping cart. We put in their items and I hurried over to their car. "This is for you," I told them. The young father just looked at me with such appreciation and thanked me. I will never forget the expression in his eyes. As I was getting into my car, they drove over. The young mother said, "Miss, thank you so much." Tears welled up in my eyes---as they are again now, while I write this. "You are so welcome. Pay it forward some day," I replied. The author's main purpose in sharing the story is to tell us _ . Answer: Two men in Shanghai have been dead from H7N9, while a woman in Anhui province is seriously ill from the virus, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said on Sunday. This is the first time a human from H7N9 has been found. Little research has been done on this unknown bird flu, and three are no vaccines against the virus. The reported deaths were of an 87-year-old man who was found ill on Feb. 19 and died on March 4, and a 27-year-old man who was found ill on Feb. 27 and died on March 10. The third person, a 35-year-old woman from Chuzhou, Anhui province, is in hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. It is still unknown how the three became ill, and experts said there is no evidence that they caught the illness from each other. There is also no evidence of anyone who stay closely with them being ill. To be away from H7N9 and stay healthy, remember the following things. * Go to crowded places as less as possible, especially the elderly and children. Pay attention to personal self-protection. * Keep the air in door fresh. Often wash your hands. Cover the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing . Wash hands after cleaning the nose and mouth. * Eat clean food. Don't put raw and cooked food together. And do not eat raw or _ meat, eggs and other food. * Take more exercise, have enough sleep and rest, so that you can get yourself stronger. Which is NOT suggested in the passage to be away from H7N9? Answer: Renata Di Pietro was studying to be an opera singer. But at 23, while on a music scholarship at the University of Iowa in 1976, her sight began to fail. Soon, it became increasingly difficult to read scores and pick up hand signals from conductors, and the gifted singer was forced to drop out. After moving to Cleveland, Georgia in 2005, Di Pietro relied on guide dogs to get around. Over the years, she became depressed when she'd lose one of the dogs, who had become her best friend, to old age or death. "It's very painful, because you love each one," she says. In 2009, Di Pietro was _ by information from a friend that miniature horses typically live for at least 30 years and make calm and strong guides. She started with a male horse, but he was too hard to control. Angel came next, a mini white female horse Di Pietro has mostly trained herself. "Horses have the ability to avoid the things in the way," she says. "If I am about to run into something, she slides her body in front of me." Di Pietro, now 59, has taught her guide horse to make some sounds with her hoof when she comes to stairs. "Angel can find a chair and locate the nearest door for me," Di Pietro says. Currently, she's training Angel to pull her wheelchair and to fetch. Despite her disability, Di Pietro still sings, performing with her husband, musician Carl Hummer, at special events. Angel is always by her side. "I fight a battle every day to take courage to engage the world," Di Pietro says. "Angel is my warhorse. We fight that battle together." Why did Di Pietro have to give up her studying in the university? Answer: All police officers should be made to take a fitness test every year,with a pay cut for those who repeatedly fail,a review said. In the Metropolitan Police,more than half(52 percent)of its men officers are over- weight, a fifth (22 percent) are obese, and one in 100 are"morbidly obese".For women officers in the Met,a third(32 percent) are overweight,16 percent are obese and 2 per-cent are morbidly obese. Tom Winsor,who has carried out the widest-ranging research of police pay and conditions in more than 30 years,said those who fail the test three times should face a pay cut. Chief constables should be able to fire any officer as part of budget cuts, ending a job for life. It also recommended that applicants should be able to enter the police service directly at inspector rank,and,"after strict testing",at superintendent rank. Mr Winsor said:"I think the public will be surprised that after passing a fitness test when they join the police,physical fitness is not tested again in a 30,35-year career." An initial yearly test requiring officers to reach level 5'4 on the bleep test should be brought in by September next year. This is equal to an average speed of 8. 8kph(5.5mph) for three minutes 35 seconds,he said. But this should get tougher by September 2018,along similar lines to the test currently used in Northern Ireland. This includes climbing over walls and pulling bodies and was designed to reflect situations which"police officers do and can become involved in". Mr Winsor expected that many officers would welcome the proposals,saying they would see it"as a necessary protection for themselves and the public". It is suggested that if they fail the fitness test three times.they should _ Answer: Prana, our beautiful dog whose name means 'breath of life', isn't with us any more. But she brought such joy and love that we still miss her. There are so many wonderful stories about the love in this dog, but my favorite is this one. It was an autumn day in Minnesota, but the weather didn't know the difference between autumn and winter. Unexpectedly, we were hit with a big snow fall for which no one was prepared. We have two apple trees in our backyard. Prana loved apples. When she went outside, she'd take hold of an apple, put it far back in her mouth, and _ the house to save for eating later. The apples had been on the ground and were often dirty so I wasn't always happy that Prana had brought them into the house. Feeling my displeasure, she would turn her head so I wouldn't see her hidden treasure. On the day that it snowed too early in the season, Prana went outside and I watched her from the window. I noticed that she was madly digging holes and brought the apples to the surface so they could be seen above the snow. I wondered why she was doing this. She seemed to be completely busy with some kind of important task to dig up as many apples as possible during her yard time. When I called her back into the house, she had her usual one apple in her mouth. About five minutes later, I looked outside. The yard was completely covered with birds. Prana had dug up all those apples for her bird friends to eat. She knew that they wouldn't have stored enough food to live through such an early winter. From the story we can learn that _ . Answer:
Every people uses its own special word to show its ideas and feelings. Some of these expressions are commonly used for many years. Others are popular for just a short time. One such American expression is "Where's the beef?" It is used when something is not as good as it is said to be. In the early 1980s "Where's the beef?" was one of the most popular expressions in the United States. It seemed as if everyone using it at the time. Beef, of course, is the meat from a cow, and food is more popular in America than a hamburger made from beef. In the 1960s a businessman named Ray began building small restaurants that sold hamburgers at a low price. Ray called this "McDonald's". Ray became one of the richest businessmen at last in America. Other business people watched his success. Some of them opened their own hamburger restaurants. One company called "Wendy's" said its hamburgers were bigger than those sold by McDonald's or anyone else. The Wendy's Company began to use the expression "Where's the beef?" to make people know that Wendy's hamburgers were the biggest. The Wendy's television advertisement showed three old women eating hamburgers. The bread that covered the meat was very big, but inside there was only a bit of meat. One of the women said she would not eat a hamburger with such a little piece of beef. "Where's the beef?" she shouted in a funny way. The advertisement for Wendy's hamburger restaurants was a success. As we said, it seemed everyone began using the expression "Where's the beef?" _ started McDonald's restaurant. A McDonald B Ray C Wendy D Three old women Answer: B. Ray Request a teacher training workshop or school visit If you are interested in discovering new ways to supplement the materials you use in the classroom through the use of a daily newspaper, our Youth Outreach Specialist can come to your school and show you how to incorporate(... )the news into your curriculum. Armed with your newspapers and experience, she can conduct an activity with your class, making it fun and easy for you to bring real-world learning into your classroom. The Outreach Specialist is also available to run workshops with staff who are also looking for new ideas on how to use the newspaper as a learning tool. Please send us an e-mail at ghiten@seattletimes.com or give us a call at 206/652-6290. Once we have received your request, we will confirm the date, time, place and activity with you. Your request will be honored of a first-come, first-served basis. These services are FREE for current Newspapers In Education (NIE) subscribers . We recently visited Ridgecrest Elementary and conducted a class workshop. An overview of our time in the classroom, and our in-class lesson, can be read online. Schedule a tour Follow a newspaper from start to finish ... and get your copy that has just recently been printed. See how robots move giant paper rolls, how the press is "prepared" for printing and much more. Tours of our North Creek production facility in Bothell are offered Thursdays throughout the school year at either 10 am, 11 am or 4 pm. The tour lasts one hour. To make reservations contact: Kate Palmer 425/489-7000 kpalmer(r) seattletimes.com North Creek Facility is located at: prefix = st1 /19200 120th Avenue NE, Bothell. WA 98011-9506 The purpose of the tour is to _ . A show people how a newspaper is made B show people how a newspaper is edited C encourage people to visit Bothell D encourage people to read a newspaper Answer: A. show people how a newspaper is made Mr. White's family decided to repair their house. Mr. White bought the house two and a half years ago. Since his kids were growing up, he and his wife wanted to make some changes to the house. They decided to knock down their living room wall to open up the space. When the wooden walls were moved, they were shocked to find a lizard stuck in the small space between the walls. The lizard's foot was stuck by a nail which was knocked into the wall from the other side several months ago. However, they wondered how the lizard had _ so long without moving from that place. The family decided to wait for a while and see how the lizard survived several months without moving. While they were doing other things, they kept an eye on the lizard. The son, Ray, suddenly shouted, "Dad, look here!" Another lizard appeared, carrying food to the stuck lizard's mouth. That was a real surprise! Everyone was touched that the lizard fed the other one for all this time. Both lizards had never-ending hope for each other and carried their hearts with love and care. Why can't we humans always carry that kind of love in our hearts? Life is full of all kinds of difficulties. What we can do is to give our hand to the one in need and share our love. Sharing is caring. Which of the following is NOT true? A The lizards didn't give up hope. B The son helped the stuck lizard out. C Another lizard came to feed the stuck one. D The family was moved by the lizard's act. Answer: B. The son helped the stuck lizard out. Plants have family values, too; it seems, with new research suggesting they can recognize close relatives in order to work together. An ability to tell family from strangers is well known in animals, allowing them to cooperate and share resources, but plants may possess similar social skills, scientists believe. Susan Dudley and Amanda File of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, report they have demonstrated for the first time that plants can recognize their kin. This suggests that plants, though lacking recognition and memory, are capable of complex social interactions. "Plants have this kind of hidden but complicated social life," Dudley said. The study found plants from the same species of beach-dwelling wildflower grew aggressively alongside unrelated neighbors but were less competitive when they shared soil with their families. Sea rocket, a North American species, showed stronger and healthier root growth when planted in pots with strangers than when raised with relatives from the same maternal family, the study found. This is an example of kin selection, a behavior common in animals in which closely related individuals take a group approach to succeeding in their environment, the researchers said. Kin selection also applies to competition, because if family members compete less with each other, the group will do better overall. "Everywhere you look, plants are growing right up next to other plants," Dudley said," Usually it's a case of each plant for itself. But sometimes those plants are related, and there are benefits to not wasting resources on being competitive, and there is not really a cost to not being competitive as long as your neighbor is also not being competitive." Learning and memory appear to be important for kin recognition in animals, but this isn't an option for plants, she noted. Some researchers speculate that plants communicate through their roots, identifying themselves using tiny chemical signatures specific to each plant's family. How can the plants communicate with each other according to experts' suppose? A Plants communicate by using tiny chemical signatures specific to each plant's family. B Plants communicate with each other through their roots. C Plants communicate with each other by their leaves. D Plants communicate with each other with their flowers. Answer: B. Plants communicate with each other through their roots. My dad loved pennies, especially those with wheat. Those were the pennies he grew up with in Iowa and he didn't have many. When I was a kid, Dad and I would go for walks together. We'd spy coins along the way. Whenever I picked up a penny, he'd ask, "Is it a wheat?" It always thrilled him when we found one of those special coins produced between 1909 and 1958, the year of my birth. He told me he often dreamed of finding coins. "I have that dream too!" I told him. It was our secret connection. Dad died in 2002. One grey day, not long after his death, I was walking down Fifth Avenue and I found myself in front of the oldest church in Manhattan, which my father had been attending. I was greeted in warmly. The song was Dad's favorite, one we'd sung at his funeral. After the service, I walked out, stepped onto the sidewalk--and there was a penny. I picked it up, and sure enough, it was a wheat, a 1944, a year my father was serving on a ship in the South Pacific. Then, wheat pennies began turning up on the sidewalks everywhere. I got most of the important years: his birth year, the war years, the year he met my mom, the year they got married. But, no 1958 penny-my year. The next Sunday, after the service, I was walking up Fifth Avenue and spotted a penny in the middle of the street. It was a busy street, but I risked my safety and got it. A wheat! There was my birthday. _ What is the best title for the text? A Pennies from Heaven B My loving Dad C My happy childhood D Days in New York Answer: A. Pennies from Heaven
When you're not at home,many worries may start to crowd your mind.Did I turn the coffee maker off?Did I lock the door?Are the kids doing their homework or watching television?With a smart home,you can quiet all of these worries. A smart home is a home with a communication network.This network connects devices ,such as lights and TV sets,and allows them to be controlled from far away through electrical wiring,mobile phone communication or WiFi over the internet. More and more people may start to consider owning a smart home,because it makes life much more convenient.It can help keep your room at a certain temperature.It can record what happens inside the home and send the video to your phone.When you are on vacation abroad,you can use a smart home controller to switch on or off the electricity when necessary.Some smart homes can receive a visitor,allowing him to come in and offering him a drink.They can even feed the cat and water the plants. Besides,smart homes are easy to fix.Most smart home technology and devices are wireless and can be set up with a minimum of tools,using only the guiding information.When a problem appears,you can deal with it yourself without paying a professional. However,for home-users,the smart home technology is far from perfect.It can be rather expensive to own the technology and the devices.Also,because the smart home system allow its owner to get home information from anywhere,it leaves the home easy to be attacked by hackers ,who may secretly use or change the information in the system. Now,many scientists are excited at the future of smart home technology.Imagine being able to get fashion advice from your mirror,or receive food shopping suggestions from your refrigerator.While there are others who worry that those smart devices will make people lazier and lonelier.Whatever it is,one thing is for sure---smart home technology will change the way we live and work. According to the passage,nowadays a smart home can lock the door through _ . 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 . What did the five campers do when they saw a group of apelike creatures? I have to admit: I don't flush the toilet every time I go to the bathroom. In fact, I firmly believe "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down." I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I work at home. Alone (well, except for the cats and dog). All day. And I drink a lot of water, which makes for many trips to the bathroom. Another thing I have to admit: I also try to use very little toilet paper. I wash my hands after, though. Every time. (So maybe the water I don't use flushing makes up for the water used to wash my hands?) Ironically, my husband, who only uses toilet paper when necessary, always flushes. But he doesn't seem to mind that I don't flush every time. Or, at least not enough to file for divorce. Yet. Posted by Juliet Farmer Jun 14, 2010 at 10:21 PM _ When I'm at home alone I do not flush every time I pee . My husband hates that, though, so when he's home, I flush a little more often. I grew up doing that because I had a family that lived with huge tanks and you have to do it that way because it's easier on the system, so it doesn't bother me. I do flush when I'm out in public, at people's houses that don't have big tanks and when we have company! CherBearCM, Jun 15, 2010 at 4:21 PM Not always. But I have 4 children who are always hanging from the door knob while I pee anyway. So I'm lucky I have time to wash my hands after. The average toilet uses 8 gallons of water per flush! Much less than what it takes to wash my hands after. (just saying) luvbnmomnwife, Jun 15, 2010 at 4:32 PM Which of the following titles best suits the text? I once went on a week-long backpacking trip through the mountains. We had a lot of fun and saw a lot of animals. We saw two bears on the first. We also saw one buffalo. During the week we climbed four different mountains. The best day of the trip was the last day. On the last day we heard that one of best things to do was to climb the last mountain at night so that way you could watch the sunrise on top of the mountain. We had to wake up at two in the morning to do the climb. It was very tough to climb a mountain at night. We finally got to the top of the mountain at five in the morning. We watched the sunrise an hour later at six in the morning. It was very beautiful. In fact, at one time because of the rise of the mountain you it was daytime in front of us and nighttime behind us. This was one of the best times in my life. How many animals are named in the story? Larry the dinosaur was going to go to a dinosaur birthday party that night, and he was very excited, because the party was for him! He was turning 7 years old, which in dinosaur years, that means he was going to be an adult! There were so many different things he was going to do! He knew that there was going to be a moon bounce, and that he was going to get a lot of presents from all of his dinosaur friends, but the thing that he was most excited about, was the cake! Larry's favorite food was cake, and he hoped that they got the right flavor. Larry's favorite flavor was banana. Larry went to school that day and everyone told him happy birthday! When he came home from school, all the lights were out. "Hello?" Larry said, as he came into the house. All of the sudden, the lights went on, and there was everyone! "Happy birthday Larry!" all of his friends shouted. Confetti went everywhere. "Where is the cake?" he asked. "Here it is!" said his mom, and brought out the cake. "It's a chocolate cake, like you wanted!" Larry froze. "I said that I wanted a banana cake." said Larry. He was very sad. "Now the party is going to be no fun." "Oh Larry." said his mom. "Your friends are here, and we worked very hard to set up this party for you! Please at least go spend some time with your friends." Larry was sad, but he tried to have fun. And the more he tried to have fun, the more he liked the party. The moon bounce was fun, and the gifts were very nice. He found out that you can still have fun even when things don't go as planned. When Larry went to school that day...
Question: We know music is very important in our daily life. Today most stores, stations, restaurants and other places play music. Do you notice music playing at any of these places when you go somewhere? You might even hear music in an office or on a farm. Scientists believe that music influences the way people behave. They think that the sound of western classical music makes people feel richer. When a restaurant plays classical music, people spend more money on food and drinks. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend less money. Without music, people spend even less. Scientists also believe that loud, fast music makes people eat faster. Some restaurants play fast music during meal time. This makes people eat faster and leave quickly. Restaurants can make more money in this way. Some scientists think that music makes you think and learn better. They say that music helps students to be more active. It is true that people learn better when they are relaxed. And listening to music can help you relax. Next time you hear music somewhere, be careful. It might influence the way you do things. The habit of listening to music can make a student _ . A. slow in action B. care about manners C. fresh in mind D. worry about studies Answer: C. fresh in mind Question: Many immigrants to the United States find the decision to seek better lives for their families in America can have an unexpected and tragic consequence . Deep differences with their children develop over language and culture. "Many immigrants arrive here without much education. Their kids soon gain language skills and also street marts on how to live in America, leaving the parents at a disadvantage," Ileana , Roses, pastor of a Methodist church group operating in Virginia, said. "Not only that but they find they cannot relate to children who quickly absorb American culture," she said. According to the US Census Bureau , the number of foreign born or first generation Americans reached 55 million last year, a record one in five of the total population. A government survey of 922 immigrants in 2000 found that nearly 40 percent of those who had been in the United States for more than 15 years would still like to take English classes if they had the time. Two thirds of low income households depended on their children for translation. Psychologists and sociologists say parents can lose their position of authority in a family as a result and the effects of that can be far-reaching. Children exposed to American pop culture that glorifies youth and sexuality often rebel when their parents try to impose the conservative values they brought with them. "Americanization erodes all important aspects of parenting," said Richard Weissbourd, who teaches education at Harvard University. "I feel a part of me is dying with my children. They don't listen to my music. I have to play it on Sunday morning when they are not around," said an immigrant. From the passage we can infer that the population of the states at present is about _ . A. 275 million B. 220 million C. 255 million D. smaller than 250 million Answer: A. 275 million Question: Lina is a Chinese tennis star. She plays tennis well. She plays tennis every day. She has some tennis rackets and tennis balls. She has lots of healthy food. For breakfast, she has eggs and milk. She usually plays tennis for three hours in the moming. Then she has a big lunch-carrots, rice, fish and meat. After that she plays tennis for two hours in the afternoon.For dinner, she has chicken, apples and soup. After dinner, she watches tennis on TV for half hour. She has a busy life. . Lina is a _ star. A. ping-pong B. tennis C. basketball D. baseball Answer: B. tennis Question: Do you want a job?Here are some positions for you. Please have a look! A WANTED Are you hardworking? Do you like to meet people? If your answer is "Yes", and then we have a job for you as a waiter. Call AL Hotel at 556779! SUMMER JOB Do you like to talk with people? Do you like to write stories? If you want to work for our magazines as a reporter, please call Karen at 558366. 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. Hurry! CLEANER WANTED Can you make a large house clean and tidy? If you hope to get the job paid at $20 a time, call us this evening 18:00-20:00. Tel: 633800. The above job ads are probably from _ . A. a newspaper B. a story book C. a science book D. a guide book Answer: A. a newspaper Question: Saturn hangs around because of A. rocket fuel B. Sega C. a central star D. Saturnalia Answer: C. a central star
Question: There is a nice girl in our class. She is twelve. She is not tall and is not short. She is a little fat . She has a round face like an apple. She has big black eyes and a small nose. Her mouth is small, but her ears are big. Her hair is short and black. She likes red. She is often in a red skirt. But today she is in a yellow T-shirt, blue pants and brown shoes. She has a toy dog. It's her friend. ,. The color of her eyes is _ . A. red B. black C. blue D. orange Answer: B Question: I am Sergey Brin! I was born in Moscow. In 1979, when I was 5, my family immigrated to the United States. I remember that on my 9th birthday I got my first computer "Commodore 64". Later I graduated with honors in the University of Maryland in Mathematics and IT. The main field of my science research was the technologies used to collect data from unsystematic sources as well as large quantities of texts and science data. I was the author of dozens of articles in leading American academic magazines. The greatest event in my life happened when in 1998 I was preparing for the defense of my Doctor's degree in Stanford University. There the fate made me meet Larry Page--a young computer genius. Larry belonged to the intellectual society. Larry and I quickly became friends when we worked together. We were searching day and night on the Internet. We were finding a lot of information but with the feeling we still couldn't find enough of what we were looking for. Naturally the idea for a search engine that would allow specific information to be found in the endless pool of data was born like it came to us. It wasn't our plans but we gave up the education at the university. You know the next part, maybe we managed to turn an ordinary garage in Meplo Park, California, the U. S. A. into our first office, in which Google was born. With excitement we typed the name of the thing which we created with love on September 14th 1998--www. google.com. Now, after those years we bought this garage. As a symbol it will always remind us that everything is possible. Sergey Brin actually graduated from _ . A. the University of Maryland B. the University of Moscow C. the University of California D. Stanford University Answer: A Question: Bedazzling with their bright colors and eye-catching displays, fireworks light up our night skies during the holidays. However, these crowd-pleasers can have some damaging side effects. Once a firework is set off, it only takes a couple of seconds before smoke, dust and harmful chemicals are let out into the atmosphere. The loud booming noises are caused by gunpowder. While the sounds may excite some people, they can be frightening to domestic and wild animals--as well as some humans. The pretty colors you see are a result of more chemicals. Barium, added to make green, is known for its poisonous and radioactive qualities. Blue comes from copper compounds. Cadmium, lithium and lead--all found in fireworks--have been linked to diseases, such as allergies and skin rashes in both humans and animals. Acid rain has been linked to gases given off by fireworks, which sometimes go beyond the toxin limits of the United States Clean Air Act. Once all those chemicals come back down to the ground, they can cause problems too. Debris from the fireworks falls to the ground, where animals can burn their paws or noses on piping hot pieces. Humans also are at risk of stepping on or picking up something sharp or hot. Meanwhile, debris that finds its way into waterways can damage animal habitats and water supply sources. Instead of setting off fireworks, try to come up with some new ways for fun. Here are some ideas to get you started: * Sky lanterns--a tradition that originated long ago in the most-populated Asian country. * Party crackers--a favorite in the United Kingdom--give you noise and surprises without the mess of fireworks. You can make your own or buy eco-friendly crackers. * Want noise excitement with less volume? Consider a fireworks sound recording beforehand or break out the party horns and blow up a storm! What can be concluded as the writer's attitude towards fireworks? A. It is not allowed to set off fireworks except during the holidays. B. Fireworks should be banned and replaced by some other means. C. Night is the best time to set off fireworks and see the pretty colors. D. You cannot set off fireworks unless you come up with new ways. Answer: B Question: Is there something that you've always wanted to try but just never had the time?Well,make plans to try it now since you are on summer vacation.Not all vacations call for taking a tour bus to take photos of famous landmarks.Some vacations allow you plenty of opportunities to learn. The most difficult aspect of a learning vacation may be choosing one because the possibilities are endless.If you enjoy cooking,various companies can take you to Italy,France,Spain,Mexico or even Peru.Once there,you can learn to prepare the local cuisine .Trips are often planned to fit in with local food festivals or special events. The term"learning vacation"often brings language to mind.The best way to learn a language is in an environment where it' s spoken.Study Spanish,French or English.Or attempt a more unusual language like Polish,Estonian or Thai.You'll be able to learn about the country and absorb the culture at the same time. If you are fond of sports,you can polish your skills or learn new ones.Golf and tennis schools welcome players of all levels.If you want a bigger thrill,you can learn to surf,go climbing or race cars.It' s even possible to learn the art and techniques of bull fighting while on vacation! You can also discover our inner artist.Many places offer painting classes in different mediums.The scenic locations of the schools offer plenty of subjects that provide inspiration for practice. If you prefer capturing the world on film,take a photography vacation.Travel with a small group to photograph beautiful animals or scenery .You can also practise your technique on people or at historical sights. Once you decide on a vacation,choose a company carefully.Request names of recent customers you can contact,and then ask them for an evaluation.The more you know before you go,the better prepared you'll be.Then go out and learn something! The advantage of learning a language in its native country is that _ . A. the environment is fit for you to use the language B. you are able to learn the original foreign language C. native speakers offer you a lot of chances to practise D. you can learn the language and experience its culture Answer: D Question: During his life Dr James Naismith worked as a doctor, taught P.E and wrote several books. While he never thought it very important, Dr Naismith is today best known for one thing. He was the inventor of basketball. Dr James Naismith was born in Canada in 1861 and his first job was at a special sports school in the USA. One day the school principal told James he was having a problem with the students. Because of heavy snow, the students could not go outside. He told James that they needed a sport the boys could play indoors and gave the teacher two weeks to think of something. It was on the very last day that James came up with his idea. The "birth of basketball" is said to be on December 21, 1891, when two teams from the school played the first game. It was quite different from the basketball games of today. It had 9 players on each team and footballs were used instead of basketballs. Soon after, the game changed to 5 players on each side, using special "basketballs" through nets. Although Dr Naismith did not live to see basketball become the worldwide game it is today, in 1936, just three years before his death, basketball became an Olympic sport at the games in Berlin. What would be the best title for this story? A. History of Basketball B. How Basketball Has Changed C. Father of Basketball D. Happy Birthday, Basketball Answer: C
The oceans most influence global climate by Answer: releasing heat to the atmosphere. EVERY few hundred years, a sleeping giant in southern Italy awakens with a bang, spewing volcanic ash across the countryside. The volcano, called Mount Vesuvius, formed 25,000 years ago. During its most explosive eruptions, the volcano could blanket nearby cities with hot ash, sometimes also burying them with deadly flows of mud and rocks. One famous eruption occurred nearly 2,000 years ago, in the year AD 79. It lasted 18 hours and destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, killing thousands of people as they tried to escape. Scientists and city officials had supposed that Naples, one of Italy's most populous cities, was far enough away that it would be safe from the volcano's _ . New evidence suggests that this might not be the case. Researchers recently discovered 4000-year-old layers of ash and mud under present-day Naples. Just outside the city, they also uncovered abandoned villages, as well as human and animal skeletons. Most surprising of all, the researchers say, was the discovery of thousands of footprints from the same time period, pressed into layers of wet ash that had rained from the sky. The footprints show that thousands of people were fleeing to the northwest, away from the volcano, as it erupted. Mount Vesuvius hasn't had a major eruption since 1631, but it's still very active. The discovery of the ancient ash layers, skeletons, and footprints is a warning that modern Naples, a city of 3 million people, isn't safe from the volcano, scientists say. So, when the volcano begins to rumble again, Naples should have an emergency evacuation plan ready - just in case. The author of the passage intends to _ . Answer: introduce Mount Vesuvius The Tropical Paradise Holiday Welcome to St Anna, our tropical paradise just off the coast of Latin America. You can spend two weeks in our luxury four-star hotel. The cost of your flight is included in the holiday, and you can be picked up from your home by our special airport bus. On your arriving, our coach will be waiting to take you to the hotel. All flights leave from Heathrow on a Monday morning. The Cowrie Hotel is built right on the beachfront, and many rooms have wonderful ocean views. If swimming and surfing are not enough for you, the hotel also offers horse rides on the island, and a discount membership of the golf club. The Rain Forest Adventure Holiday Every year Broughton holidays offer twelve days of unforgettable adventure in a tropical rain forest. You may have a choice of Borneo, Malaysia, Indonesia, or even to the greatest rain forest of them all, the mighty Amazonian forest. You will fly to our special base camps at the edge of the forest, where you will be given five days of survival training, and talks on the local wildlife. Then you take a bus into the forest. You will have to walk the final five miles to the camp sites to avoid disturbing the local ecology. All of the camp sites have been carefully built to cause the minimal amount of disturbance to the local wildlife. Remember that these adventure holidays take you deep into the wilderness,and they are not suitable for families with young children. Also remember that no more than two dozen guests can stay at any camp at one time, so if you want to go on one of these very special holidays, you will need to book early ![: _ Which of the following is mentioned in both holidays? Answer: Transportation. A boat is acted on by a river current flowing north and by wind blowing on its sails. The boat travels northeast. In which direction is the wind most likely applying force to the sails of the boat? Answer: east Like fine food, good writing is something we approach with pleasure and enjoy from the first taste to the last. And good writers, like good cooks, do not suddenly appear full-blown. Quite the opposite, just as the cook has to undergo a particular training, mastering the skills of his trade, the writer must sit at his desk and devote long hours to achieving a style in his writing, whatever its purpose is--schoolwork, matters of business, or purely social communication. You may be sure that the more painstaking the effort, the more effective the writing, and the more rewarding. There are still some faraway places in the world where you might find a public scribe to do your business or social writing for you, for money. There are a few managers who are lucky enough to have the service of that rare kind of secretary who can take care of all sorts of letter writing with no more than a quick note to work from. But for most of us, if there is any writing to be done, we have to do it ourselves. We have to write school papers, business papers or home papers. We are constantly called on to put words to papers. It would be difficult to count the number of such words, messages, letters, and reports put into mails or delivered by hand, but the daily figures must be extremely large. What is more, everyone who writes expects, or at least hopes whatever he writes will be read, from first word to last, not just thrown into some "letters-to-be-read" files or into a wastepaper basket. This is the reason we bend our efforts toward learning and practicing the skills of interesting, effective writing. The author thinks that the most important reason for us to practice writing skills is _ . Answer: to attract others to read
Television is good. You'd like to watch it all day and all night. But too much TV is a very bad thing. Scientists found that kids who watch too much TV may have more trouble learning to read. They can't focus on their work. Kids learn language skills best by reading, talking and playing with others. If they spend too much time watching TV, they'll have less time for those things. Watching too much TV is bad for people's health. People don't move much while watching TV. What's more, they may eat a lot of food while watching. This can make them fat. We call these people couch potatoes. Fighting on TV is a big problem for kids. Yong people are good at following. Scientists have found that those who watch a lot of fighting shows are more likely to fight. Which of the following is true? A AnAmericanchildwillwatch12,000fightingactsonTVayear. B It'sgoodforkidstolearnfromfightingactsonTV. C ToomuchTVisgoodforpeople'shealth. D It'seasyforkidswhowatchalotoffightingshowstofight withothers. Answer: D Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii, Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for-its stadium and theatres, its shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii's people. They do not see them because Pompeii has no people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2000 years. Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, a grass-covered volcano. Mount Vesuvius had not erupted for centuries, so the people of Pompeii felt safe, But they were not. In August of AD 79 , Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ash began to fall on Pompeii . When the eruption ended , Pompeii was hurried under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all of its people were dead. For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under stone and ash. Then, in the year 1861,an Italian scientist named Ginseppe began to uncover Pompeii. Slowly, carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug. The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD79 , There were streets and fountains, houses and shops, There was a stadium with 20,000 seats , Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects, which tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Many glasses and jars had some dark blue color in the bottom, so we know that the people of Pompeii liked wine, They liked bread, too; metal bread pans were in the bakery .In one bakery there were 81 round , flat loaves of bread -a type of bread that is still sold in Italy today . Tiny boxes filled with a dark, shiny powder tell us that women liked to wear eye-makeup. Why did the city uncovered look almost the same as it had looked in AD 79? A Ginseppe and his men dug it slowly and carefully. B The city was buried alive and remained untouched. C Scientists successfully rebuilt the city with everyday objects. D Nobody had lived in the city ever since the volcano erupted. Answer: B Cold weather has a great effect on how our minds and our bodies work. Maybe that is why there are so many expressions that use the word "cold". For centuries, the body's blood has been linked closely with the emotions. People who show no human emotions or feelings, for example, are said to be cold-blooded. Cold-blooded people act in merciless ways. They may do brutal things to others, and not by accident. For example, a newspaper says the police are searching for a cold-blooded killer. The killer murdered someone, not in self-defense. He seemed to kill for no reason, and with no emotion, as if taking someone's life meant nothing. Cold can affect other parts of the body, the feet, for example. Heavy socks can you're your feet, if your feet are really cold. But there is an expression--to get cold feet--that has nothing to do with cold or your feet. The expression means being afraid to do something you have decided to do. For example, you agree to be president of an organization. But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned. All the work of the organization will be your responsibility. You are likely to get cold feet about being the president when you understand the situation. Cold can also affect your shoulder. You give someone the cold shoulder when you refuse to speak to them. You treat them in a distant and cold way. The expression probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face-to-face. You may give a cold shoulder to a friend who has not kept a promise he made to you, or to someone who has lied about you to others. A cold fish is not a fish. It is a person. But it is a person who is unfriendly, unemotional and shows no love or warmth. A cold fish does not offer much of himself to anyone. Out in the cold is an expression often heard. It means not getting something that everybody else got. A person might say that everybody but him got a pay raise, and that he was left out in the cold. And it is not a pleasant place to be. The passage is intended to tell us that _ . A cold weather has a great effect on human bodies B many English expressions contain the word "cold" C cold is a word closely linked with human emotions D the word "cold" has many different meanings in English Answer: B Our "Mommy and Me" time began two years ago. My next-door neighbor and fellow mother, Christie, and I were out in our front yards, watching seven children of age 6 and under ride their bikes up and down."I wish I could take one of my children out alone," said Christie. Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I'll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I'll take someone out. The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of "Mommy and Me" time. Christie's daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. "She's like a different child when there's no one else around,"Christie shared with me quietly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn't have to make an effort to gain attention. Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering son, Tom, doesn't stutter once during our activities since he doesn't have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam, who's always a follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together. The "Mommy and Me" time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child-talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves to be an only child at least once in a while. What is the text mainly about? A The experience of the only child being with mother. B The advantage of spending time with one child at a time. C The happy life of two families. D The basic needs of children. Answer: B Deserts are found where there is little rainfall or where rain for a whole year falls in only a few weeks' time. Ten inches of rain may be enough for many plants to survive if the rain is spread throughout the year. If it falls within one or two months and the rest of the year is dry, those plants may die and a desert may form. Sand begins as tiny pieces of rock that get smaller and smaller as wind and weather wear them down. Sand dunes are formed as winds move the sand across the desert. Bit by bit, the dunes grow over the years, always moving with the winds and changing the shape. Most of them are only a few feet tall, but they can grow to be several hundred feet high. There is, however, much more to a desert than sand. In the deserts of the southwestern United States, cliffs and deep valleys were formed from thick mud that once lay beneath a sea more than millions of years ago. Over the centuries, the water dried up. Wind, sand, rain, heat and cold all wore away at the remaining rocks. The faces of the desert mountains are always changing--very, very slowly--as these forces of nature continue to work on the rock. Most deserts have a surprising variety of life. There are plants, animals and insects that have adapted to life in the desert. During the heat of the day, a visitor may see very few signs of living things, but as the air begins to cool in the evening, the desert comes to life. As the sun begins to rise again in the sky, the desert once again becomes quiet and lonely. Sand dunes are formed when _ . A there is plenty of rain in a year B sand piles up gradually C the sea has dried up over the years D pieces of rock get smaller Answer: B
One evening last summer, when I asked my 17-year-old son, Ray, for help with dinner, his response surprised me, "What's a colander ?" he asked. I could only blame myself. Nobody's hands went in the sauce except my own. But that night, as I explained with a touch of panic that a colander is the thing with holes in it, I wondered what else I hadn't prepared Ray for. As parents, while we focus on our child's confidence and character, we perhaps don't always consider that we are also raising someone's future roommate, boyfriend, husband, or father. I wanted to know that I'd raised a boy who would never ask the woman in his life, "What's for dinner?" So I came up with a plan: I would offer Ray a private home economics course. I was delighted to find that he didn't say no. For two hours, three days a week, Ray was all mine. One day, as his tomato sauce reduced on the stove, he washed and seasoned a chicken for roasting. Then he rolled out the piecrust and filled it with apples, all while listening to my explanation on the importance of preheating an oven. I knew that he would rather have been shooting hoops I the driveway than learning to mend socks with his mother -- he tried to beg off sewing lessons, even though I insisted that one day, someone would find the sight of him fixing his own shirt very attractive -- but it couldn't be denied that he was learning, and _ . "I appreciate more what you do as a mom," he told me one day. Ray now understands the finer points of cooking, and more important, he realizes there's nothing masculine about being helpless. Not only can he make his own dinner, he can make it for his family, too. That's what I call a man. We can learn from the text that Ray _ . A. preferred sewing to cooking B. made great progress in cooking C. was unwilling to take the course at first D. always thought it attractive to do housework Answer: B. made great progress in cooking Li Shizhen was born in 1518. When he grew up, he liked his father's job and he was interested in medicine. He read many books about medicine and found something wrong in them. So he decided to write a new one. He tried his best to study medicine. He set out many times on long trips to collect herbs and talked with old farmers. In this way, he learned a lot from the working people. After many years of hard work and study, Li Shizhen at last finished his great work, the Ben Cao Gang Mu in 1578. The book was one of the most important books in the medical science of the world. He finished his work when he was _ years old. A. sixty B. fifty C. in 1578 D. seventy Answer: A. sixty I had an experience some years ago which taught me something about the ways in which people make a bad situation worse by blaming themselves. One January, I had to conduct two funerals on successive days for two elderly women in my community. Both had died "full of years," as the Bible would say; both yielded to the normal wearing out of the body after a long and full life. Their homes happened to be near each other, so I paid condolence calls on the two families on the same afternoon. At the first home, the son of the dead woman said to me, "If only I had sent my mother to Florida and gotten her out of this cold and snow, she would be alive today. It's my fault that she died." At the second home, the son of the other dead woman said, "If only I hadn't insisted on my mother's going to Florida, she would be alive today. That long airplane ride, the abrupt change of climate, was more than she could take. It's my fault that she's dead." When things don't turn out as we would like them to, it is very tempting to assume that had we done things differently, the story would have had a happier ending. Priests know that any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty. Because the course of action they took turned out badly, they believe that the opposite course - keeping Mother at home, delaying the operation would have turned out better. After all, how could it have turned out any worse? There seem to be two elements involved in our readiness to feel guilt. The first is our pressing need to believe that the world makes sense, that there is a cause for every effect and a reason for everything that happens. That leads us to find patterns and connections both where they really exist and where they exist only in our minds. The second element is the concept that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen. It seems to be a short step from believing that every event has a cause to believing that every disaster is our fault. The roots of this feeling may lie in our childhood. Psychologists speak of the infantile myth of omnipotence . A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. He wakes up in the morning and orders the rest of the world to its tasks. He cries, and someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him, and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely outgrow that infantile concept that our wishes cause things to happen. People have been made to believe since infancy that _ . A. everybody is at their command B. life and death is an unsolved mystery C. every story should have a happy ending D. their wishes are the cause of everything that happens Answer: D. their wishes are the cause of everything that happens When the game console's power cable was attached to the wall, electricity ended up in A. the plug B. the power cable C. the wall D. the game console Answer: D. the game console Parents should send their children to preschools which combine learning with entertainment and fun. It's important that parents educate their children right from their early childhood days. Preschool education is always important for children since it prepares them with patience and dedication for accepting their high school education later. Many growing children become dissatisfied with school. They only enjoy playing all day at home before their parents. Modern preschools provide quality training to children where learning goes along with fun and entertainment. The days have gone by when students received education only through school texts, with little attention paid to what was being taught. In recent times, numerous preschools have come up with wonderful methods that help attract students to learn. Do not expect your children to give up playing for learning, as children will never do so. Rather, you should ensure that your children will be educated while having fun by admitting them to a modern preschool. Before you send your children to any preschool, the first thing you should do is find out much information on the school. Quality education in any preschool is necessary for growing children. Only preschools of a good reputation attach importance to entertainment in education. Preschool teachers have to be friendly with children. They need to make your children feel at home and completely relaxed while they're receiving education. It is an equally good idea to check if the preschool takes care of children's health needs. Teachers need to be like second parents to children. Preschool teachers should _ . A. be strict with the children when educating them B. send the children home after school C. treat the children exactly in their parents' way D. care for children's health as well as their studies Answer: D. care for children's health as well as their studies
Do you know that you are not outgoing enough? Do you want to make friends, but are you too shy? Read the following rules. They will help you. Feel comfortable. Always be clean. Shower, brush your teeth, and try to look nice. Dress in clean clothes. They must make you feel good and comfortable. Those make you feel more confident . Smile more often. Try to smile more often at people. It will get them to think that you are friendly Then they'll talk to you more even if they don't know you. Just talk Some people worry about talking because they think,"What am I going to talk about with that person?" Outgoing people don't even think about it.They just go up to people and say what they think. Listen to people. You can't just talk. People will think that you're self-centered .You have to listen to others and give your ideas. Let them know what you think. Read the news. Don't just stay at home and do nothing. Surf the net for news and information, and talk about them when you're with friends. ,. The third rule means that _ . A. you should be friendly B. you should think more C. you should talk much and never think D. you should say what you are thinking Answer: D Hellen Keller lived in the USA. She was a great woman. When Hellen was a baby, she got very sick. Several weeks later. The doctor said," She is better, but now she can not see and hear." Her mother and father were very sad. After a few years, things got worse. There was no way for Hellen to speak to other people, She heard nothing. She did not understand anything. Then one day a teacher came to live with Hellen and her family. The teacher helped Hellen learn about words. Hellen was a very bright child and soon she learned to spell her first word. When she was old enough, she went to college. Hellen was very famous. She helped many blind and deaf people. She travelled around the world and helped many people. The world remember her today as a brave and wonderful woman. She was blind and deaf, but she found a way to see and hear. _ taught her the first word. A. Hellen's mother B. Hellen's father C. Hellen's teacher D. Hellen's friend Answer: C I must first thank the writers and editors of Scienlljic American and Scientific American Mind for the excellent articles on which so much of this book is based; they arc acknowledged in detail in the Sources. I am most grateful to he famous netunscicutists ( ) and experts who kindly gave their time to help re c son out what might be in the quite near future, and who have contributed much toneuroscience, especially R. Douglas Fields, Joseph l.cl)oux, Richard Davidson, Philip Kennedy, and Hank Greely, an expert on the legal, ethical, and social problems surrounding this brave new world of neuroscience. The captivating concept for this book came from the creative and hard working team at Jossey-Bass. who arc much appreciated. For the second time, I want to give heartfelt thanks to my editor Alan Rinzler and senior editorial assistant Nana Twumasi. who have contributed so much to the shaping and creation of this book; Carol Hartland, production talent; l3ev Miller, much more than a copyeditor;first-rate writer researcher l3rianna Smith; Paula Goldstein. who designed the book's inside; and all the marketing people who put my book in your hands: Jennifer Wenzel. Erin 13carn. P. J. Campbell, Karen Warner. At Scie,rifre American, Diane McGarvey and Lisa Pallatroni were responsible fur finding archived material of so many years. Thank you. My family, good friends, and fellow writers have once again listened to me struggle endlessly and talk wildly about the difficulties of writing about brain. Many thanks to you all, in particular to first readers Kelly A. Dakin (who corrected many of my errors and added valuable content). Ann Crew, Ferris Buck Kelley, Frank Urbanowski, and Andrea llurst (for sending this book my way) and the wonderfully productive and generous writing community of Sacramento. What is the author's book mainly about? A. Literature. B. Health. C. Law. D. Brain. Answer: D Warley Woods Community Trust Welcome to our third newsletter of the year! Our main activity for March is our Walk for the Woods fundraising events on Saturday,17thMarch,starting any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. We will be walking the distance between Warley Woods and Tipperary. It is indeed a long way-80 miles. The more people that you can get sponsor you,the more money we can raise to help look after our beautiful woodland. More information is available at our website. The Sunday volunteers planted two beeches and on oak last week. This was thanks to the money fro the Big Tree Plant and to Lisa and Gordon Whitiker,whose friends gave money for the big trees instead of for their wedding presents. Thanks to everyone who took part. There were 15 volunteers at the Oral History Training Day which was led by vey ably by Julia Letts. The group will be meeting again and will start to interview the local people who have offered to tell their stories. We are happy to hear from others who would like to be interviewed about their memories of the Woods for the project. If you or anyone you know is interested,please call Viv Cole at the office. This project is financed by Heritage Lottery Fund. There was a huge response to the Forest Schools activities held at half term. These will be held again during the Easter holidays on the following dates: 4thApril from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for over 8s. On 12th April form 10 a.m. to 12 noon,there will be a Teddy Bears' Picnic for the under 8s. All these must be booked in advance. Finally,don't forget the Easter Egg Roll on Bank Holiday,9th April,staring at 11 a.m. Bring your own hard-boiled and decorated egg to roll down the hill in the woods. The first past the finishing line will win a large chocolate egg! This year,due to popular demand,there will also be an Adults' Easter Egg Roll following the children's competition. We look forward to seeing you all soon,at one of our many events. The passage is written to A. inform people of the coming events B. encourage people to work as volunteers C. invite people to take part in the competition D. tell people about some famous organization Answer: A In Germany , more than 70% of people like reading. They often read. They read in their homes. They read in libraries. They read in parks. They even read in hospitals. Parents often read books for kids . It is easy to buy books in Germany. There are many bookshops in Germany. They are in big cities and small towns . A bookshop can sell many books every day. Germans also like to buy books on the Internet. More and more people buy books on the Internet. In Germany, people often have reading parties. They are happy at the parties. According to the passage, we can know Germans _ . A. have much money B. have good education C. have good jobs D. Have little knowledge Answer: B
For the Travel section, writers and editors selected special items to profile from a dozen cities. Brussels: Chocolate. Nearly half the chocolate consumed in the world is eaten in Europe, and Belgium--with average consumption of 14.99 pounds per person a year--certainly covers its fair share. While Brussels, the country's capital, is home to hundreds of chocolate makers, what makes a visit necessary is the rich heritage of traditional chocolate makers. Budapest: Paprika The job of preparing Hungarian paprika was once considered too dangerous for mothers to do. A woman who touched her children upon returning from work risked burning them, so only the elderly and unmarried were allowed the delicate task of separating the skin from the flesh. But by the early 20thcentury, sweeter varieties and a machine turned paprika into a common feature of all Hungarian cuisine. Lisbon: Tiles Is there a bluer country than Portugal? The blue sky and Atlantic Ocean embrace the land. The blue moods of Fado, the dark folk music, form the national soundtrack. And all across Portugal, the typically--blue designs of azulejos--ceramic tiles--are spread across churches, castles, palaces, university halls, parks. The result is a beautiful land of Christian saints, Portuguese kings, historical glories, aristocrats at leisure, seascapes and so on. Madrid: Guitars Walking into one the Madrid's storied guitar makers' workshops can feel like stepping into the past. Curly wood shavings, from the palest pine to ebony, fall onto the floor as artisans turn some humble wood into works of art. It's painstaking work--all done by hand--with classical guitar models and the methods of making them changing little over the last century. Which city can be a splendid setting for a film? A. Brussels. B. Budapest. C. Lisbon. D. Madrid. Answer: C Ten years ago I used to be very fit . I rode a bike to work and I got a lot of exercise at weekends. I used to play tennis a lot and go for long walks. In those days I didn't earn very much. I had a job in an office. It wasn't a very good job but I had a lot of time to do the things I enjoyed doing. Then, about eight years ago, I got a much better job. The pay was better, but the hours were a lot longer. I bought a car and drove to work every day. I began to take people out to lunch. And I began to put on weight, too. I stopped playing tennis and going for long walks at weekends because I just didn't have any time for things like that any more. There's a lot of stress in my job. Perhaps that's why I started drinking more than I used to. For example, I used to have only half a glass of whisky when I got home, but then I started filling my glass to the top, and instead of having one glass, I would have several. I started smoking a lot, too. I never used to smoke at all. Two months ago I had a heart attack. At first I just couldn't believe it. Luckily it wasn't very serious. The doctor advised me to stop smoking and to eat less. He also advised me to work less and get more exercise. But I just haven't any time! My job takes everything out of me! Sometimes I wonder if I should get another job. Perhaps I could do something like I used to do. But if I do that, I won't earn as much. I have a family to support. I have to think of them, too. I just don't know what I should do. What do you think? According to the passage, when the author got the better job, which of the following is NOT true? A. He got higher pay. B. His working hours weren't long. C. He found it very stressful. D. He had little free time at weekends. Answer: B One day an Australian farmer,Joe,saw a bright light in the sky.The light came nearer and nearer and suddenly Joe saw that it was a spaceship landed in a field nearby. The door of the spaceship opened and two strange beings climbed out.They seemed to be half man and half bird.Joe was afraid of them.He tried to run away.But the spacemen walked towards him,picked him up and carried him into the spaceship. They asked him questions about Each."We're from Venus ,"they said,"but it is getting very hot there.A lot of our people are dying and we haven't much time left.We ale trying to find a new home." After some time they freed Joe and at last the spaceship took off and could not be seen. Joe told his friends about the spacemen,but no one believed his story. "You will believe me one day".Joe told them."The spacemen will come back..." The bright light in the sky was _ . A. the sun B. Venus C. a machine D. a spaceship Answer: D In which oceanic zone do clams and crabs survive by burrowing in the sand? A. oceanic B. intertidal C. deep ocean D. open ocean Answer: B Scientists believe that one of our most important means of knowing what is going on around us is the sense of sound. We are warned of danger by sounds. Sounds serve to please us in music. Sound has a waste product, too, in the form of noise. Noise has been called unwanted sound. Noise is growing and it may get much worse before it gets any better. In order to know how noise affects people and animals, scientists have been studying for several years. They are surprised by what they have learned. Peace and quiet are becoming harder to find. Noise pollution is a threat that should be looked at carefully. Sounds is measured in units called decibels . At a level of 140 decibels people feel pain in their ears. Trucks , buses , motorcycles, airplanes, boats, factories---all these things make noise. They trouble not only our ears, but minds and bodies as well. There is a saying that it is so noisy that you can't hear yourself think. Doctors who study noise believe that we must sometimes hear ourselves think. If we don't, we may have headaches, other aches and pains, or even worse mental problems. Noise adds more tension to a society that has already faced enough stress. When sound is turned into noise, _ . A. people grow worse and worse B. it makes us forget all the past C. people don't know what to do with everyday life D. it will be a kind of pollution to people Answer: D
Jessica Alba rebelled from her "strict" parents when she was just five. The 29-year-old actress admits her Catholic education made her want to "break away" from her mother Catherine and father Mark. She explained: "It's always been weird because I grew up in a very traditional, Catholic household. My parents were very strict but I broke away from that at an early age. I was a feminist when I was five. These days, I am much more independent but I still respect their beliefs." As Jessica has grown older she has learnt to accept her parents' views, but still considers herself an independent woman. In her latest film 'Machete' Jessica gets to stab a love rival in the eye with her stiletto heels , something she thoroughly enjoyed. She said: "Walking in 3in heels wasn't as much fun as putting one in someone's eye. It was 104 degrees where we were shooting in Texas and they were not comfortable." Jessica - who has a two-year-old daughter Honor with husband Cash Warren - is regularly referred to as one of the world's most beautiful women, but she doesn't think of herself as "sexy". She added in an interview with the Metro newspaper: "I don't really pay attention to that sexy image. It just goes with the character in the movie. At the end of the day, it's all a part of selling a product." From this passage we know that _ . Answer: Jessica's parents believe in Catholic There are some topics that readers never grow bored with, and the search for a suitable partner is one of them. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, first published in 1813, tells the story of five young women, all of whom are looking for a husband. In order to fully understand the novel, the readers must know that at the time when Jane Austen was writing, if a family was not rich, the daughters needed to marry well in order to live a comfortable, independent life. That is the reason why Mrs Bennet, the mother of the five girls, is so eager to have her daughters married. The heroine of the story is Elizabeth Bennet, and as in all good romantic novels, she and Darcy, the man she finally marries, remain separate until the very end of the story. The wealthy Darcy is a proud, unsociable man, and when Elizabeth hears that he has insulted both her and her family, she dislikes him very much. Poor Darcy then falls head over heels in love with Elizabeth, and has to work terribly hard to persuade her to change her mind about him. He succeeds of course, and they live happily ever after. Set at the turn of the 19th century, the novel is still attractive to modern readers. It has become one of the most popular novels and receives great attention from literary scholars .Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramas and a lot of novels and stories modeling after Austen's memorable characters or themes. To date, the book has sold some 20 million copies worldwide. Jane Austen is rightly famous for her style. Her sentences have a wonderful rhythm , and she makes such clever, true comments about people. It is not surprising that Pride and Prejudice has lasted. In the 19th century, a poor girl in Britain was often encouraged to _ . Answer: change her life by marrying rich When my father was dying, I traveled a thousand miles from home to be with him in his last days. It was far more heartbreaking than I'd expected, one of the most difficult and painful times in my life. After he passed away I stayed alone in his apartment. There were so many things to deal with. It all seemed endless. I was lonely. I hated the silence of the apartment. But one evening the silence was broken: I heard crying outside. I opened the door to find a little cat on the steps. He was thin and poor. He looked the way I felt. I brought him inside and gave him a can of fish. He ate it and then almost immediately fell sound asleep. The next morning I checked with neighbors and learned that the cat had been abandoned by his owner who's moved out. So the little cat was there all alone, just like I was. As I walked back to the apartment, I tried to figure out what to do with him. Having something else to take care of seemed _ But as soon as I opened the apartment door he came running and jumped into my arms. It was clear from that moment that he had no intention of going anywhere. I started calling him Willis, in honor of my father's best friend. From then on, things grew easier. With Willis in my lap time seemed to pass much more quickly. When the time finally came for me to return home I had to decide what to do about Willis. There was absolutely no way I would leave without him. It's now been five years since my father died. Over the years, several people have commented on how nice it was of me to rescue the cat. But I know that we rescued each other. I may have given him a home but he gave me something greater. We can learn form the passage that _ . Answer: time passed quickly after the author adopted Willis She must be the wisest woman on this planet, for she has lived up to the three words "Seize the moment". Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, or because they are unwilling to try something new. My sister died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. I can't remember how many times I was refused when I called her to go to lunch. She would say to me: "I can't. I have clothes on the line." "My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday." "I had a late breakfast." "It looks like rain." Only after her death did I choose to be a little more flexible. Life is not made up of thing that you do at a particular time, but it demands variety and adventure. As we grow older, the list of promises made to ourselves may get longer. Perhaps one morning, when we awaken, we will find to our surprise that our life is full of "I'm going to", "I plan to" and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit." My seize-the-moment friend is open to adventure and ready at any moment to make a new start. She keeps an open mind about new ideas. Her great interest in life is _ . With her around you, you may trade your bad feet for good shoes. I have not touched ice cream for 10 years. The other day, I stopped off and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy. The author expects those who have read the passage to _ . Answer: be as adventurous as himself Researchers who study relationships have discovered that a big difference between those who make new friends easily, and those who don't, is that socially successful people tend to make eye contact with their conversation partners much more frequently than those who are less successful socially. In fact, you may be able to become much more socially successful by making this one simple change to your behavior. Most Americans prefer to have a lot of eye contact when they are talking with someone. When a person doesn't make eye contact with them, they tend to think that the person is hiding something or the person doesn't believe in himself/herself. When you are having a conversation and you want to leave a friendly impression, be sure to keep looking at that person frequently while you are talking. If it really bothers you to look directly into another person's eyes, you can gaze generally at, not above, the eyebrow area or the bridge of the nose; this is close enough to the eye region that you will appear to be looking at the person's eyes. But neither the hair or the shoulders have the same effect. Don't stare at other people too intensely, otherwise, you will look aggressive . Keep the majority of your focus on the other person. If you glance around the room too much, or look too frequently at other people, your conversation partner may guess that you are looking around for someone else you would rather talk with. You can lighten your nervousness by smiling more often, nodding, and by gazing at the entire face as well as the eyes. In addition, you can frequently look away for very short periods. When people get the sense that you are really paying attention to them, they will be much more likely to want to have conversations with you! What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: How to use eye contact to make a good impression
Question: Researchers are now using 3D printing to create models of the human heart to help heart specialists. The heart doctors can use the models to better help patients before an operation. Dr. Bramlet, a children's heart expert at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, says the 3-D models show information he cannot get any other way. "And so what we've done with the printed models? We've pulled it out of the screen so that you can actually hold it in your hand and evaluate the anatomy ." A 3-D printer uses images from a digital display to create a physical model of a human heart. Matthew Bramlet says doctors can use the model to understand the anatomy. Pictures from medical tests like CAT scan or MRI are sent to a 3-D printer to create a heart in a plaster form. The printer then constructs the heart, thin layer by thin layer. Dr. Bramlet says the model matches the real heart in every detail. "When we're done with the model and made our decision, we want to be able to go back to the source image and confirm those findings," he says. Dr. Bramlet has built model hearts for different kinds of heart operations. All of the operations were successful. In his first case, digital images showed only one tiny hole in a baby's heart. But, the 3-D printed model showed several defects or problems that the baby was born with. Dr. Bramlet says those defects could not be seen easily in the images. The heart surgeon was able to change the type of surgery for the patient based on the 3-D model. He added that 3-D heart models saves time during heart operations. Kathy Magliato is a heart surgeon at Saint John's Health Center in Los Angeles. She welcomes the new technology. She says it could help her make better decisions before she operates on the hearts of her patients. "I can then take this very complicated structure before the operation and I can hold it in my hand and plan an operation around what I'm seeing, touching and feeling. That to me is what can potentially change the game in an operation and save lives." Dr Bramlet continues to research the technology. He is working with the National Institutes of Health to build a 3-D library that includes heart models and images that others can use. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. The 3-D model can be taken out of a screen. B. CAT scan and MRI are no longer needed. C. The 3-D model is an exact copy of the heart. D. Digital images are not reliable in heart operations. Answer: C. The 3-D model is an exact copy of the heart. Question: Smoggy weather has become common in China. But these days, air pollution levels in the north eastern city of Harbin surpassed the previous record levels. The city was essentially shut down after PM2. 5, fine Particulate pollution that is considered hazardous . reached levels of 1000 micrograms per cubic meter-40 times the safety level remended by the World Health Organization. Schools, motorways and an airport were closed on Tuesday as visibility in some areas of the city dropped to less than 10 meters. Photos from Harbin showed residents covering their mouths with masks and scarves, and moving like ghostly shadows through the fog. Cars and motorcycles are moving slowly as traffic came to a standstill with traffic lights barely visible. . Just days previously , the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified air pollution as a carcinogen . It stated that there is " sufficient evidence" that exposure to outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer and also linked it with an increased risk of bladder cancer. It's said that exposure has increased significantly particularly in " rapidly industrial countries with large populations". "The air we breathe has become polluted with a mixture of cancer-causing substances" , Dr Kurt Straif , head of the IARC said in a press released. "We now know that outdoor air pollution is not only a major risk to health in general, but also a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths. " On the Chinese social media site Weibo , many users complained about the pollution and shared their concerns. References to "feed people with smog "have become popular on Weibo and there is a sarcastic play on the expression "serve the people" , as the two have a similar pronunciation. "The impact of air pollution on people will be gradual. There won't be a sudden outbreak of symptoms, but normally three to five days after the smoggy weather occurs, there is a peak in the number of people seeing doctors, " Deng Ying, a doctor at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University was quoted as saying. The purpose of this passage is to A. awaken people's environmental awareness B. warn people not to go out in smoggy weather C. call for the public to wear their masks D. advise people not to live in Harbin Answer: A. awaken people's environmental awareness Question: Why Are Pig Farmers Still Using Growth-Promoting Drugs? It's one of the most controversial practices in agriculture: feeding small amounts of antibiotics to animals in order to make them grow faster. But what if the drugs don't even work very well? There's some good evidence that they don't, at least in pigs. They used to deliver a boost in growth, but that effect has disappeared in recent years or declined greatly. The reason for this is interesting and even paradoxical. Researchers think the antibiotics used to work by suppressing low-grade infections. In recent years, however, pork producers found other ways to accomplish the same thing through improved hygiene . As a result, the drugs have become largely superfluous -- yet many farmers still use them. To understand how this happened, you have to step back in time, says Steve Dritz, a specialist in pig nutrition at Kansas State University. Sixty years ago, when antibiotics were new, "people started treating animals, and feeding [the antibiotics], and finding that they had increased growth rates and feed efficiencies," he says. Nursery-age pigs, for instance, grew 12 to 15 percent faster with antibiotics. The animals also needed less feed to reach full weight. Other studies showed similar results in chickens and cattle. In the 1980s, a new set of studies found similar effects. So the growth-promoting effects of antibiotics became standard practice among meat producers. Fast forward to the 1990s. Dritz was starting his career as a scientist at Kansas State University, and pork production was changing dramatically. Previously, pigs were born and raised in one barn or in several barns close together. This meant infections could easily pass from one generation to the next, the way that kids share germs between their friends on the playground and their parents at home. Under the new system, when piglets are weaned, they move to a whole different place. That new site is carefully scrubbed and free of disease. Craig Rowles, who runs a large swine operation in Carroll, Iowa, shows me one such room. There's not a piglet in sight. "This room just got completely washed and disinfected, and now it's going to sit here and dry for a while," he says. A whole group of pigs will come in here together, and later they will move out together to yet another site. "That group of pigs will stay together until they go to market," Rowles says. The groups are kept strictly separated from each other. If workers move between the groups, they first have to change their boots. When farmers adopted multisite production, it cut down on disease -- and pigs actually grew faster. One of the advantages of using antibiotics in the past is that it _ . A. helped animals grow faster B. decreased the death rate of animals C. helped animals have a better appetite D. increased animal reproduction Answer: A. helped animals grow faster Question: During photosynthesis plants make their own A. magic B. candy C. sustenance D. cars Answer: C. sustenance Question: A handsome man can earn a fifth more than an average-looking colleague but a beautiful woman is not paid a penny more than her average-looking colleague, new research has shown. The study by senior economists found that being good-looking meant male workers could earn 22 percent more than average-looking colleagues. Researchers said good looks did not give women a similar advantage. Andrew Leigh, a former economics professor at the Australian National University who co-authored the report, said: "Beauty can be a double-edged sword for women." "Some people still believe good looks and intelligence are incompatible in women, so a good-looking women can't be that productive, but it doesn't affect men's pay." He said that although he believed good-looking women may also earn more, the research did not support his theory. The research found that handsome men in all jobs, from manual labour to highly-paid professional careers, can earn 22 percent more than their colleagues doing the same work. Men with below-average looks face a battle in the office, with ugliness reducing a man's earnings by 26 percent compared to an average-looking worker. Former male model, Caitlan Mitchell, 28, who has a first class degree in history from Edinburgh University and now works for a cosmetics company, told theSunday Times:' It gives you confidence, and I suspect people tend to warm to you more quickly." The study, named Unpacking the Beauty Premium, was the largest exercise of its kind and repeated a survey from 1984 to see if the beauty premium had changed. Leigh said the research showed people in the workplace were "lookist "and he hoped the findings would encourage employers to remove their prejudice. What is the main idea of the text? A. Employees should pay more attention to their appearance. B. Males and females should be treated equally in interviews. C. Good-looking men tend to earn more. D. Beautiful female interviewees aren't popular in interviews. Answer: C. Good-looking men tend to earn more.
A man and his son were once going with their donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: "You fools, what is a donkey for but to ride upon?" So the man put the boy on the donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See that lazy boy, he lets his father walk while he rides." So the man ordered his boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Isn't that lazy man ashamed of making his pool little son walk while he rides?" The man didn't know what to do. At last he took his boy up before him on the donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The man stopped and asked what they were laughing at. The men said: "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey with you and your son?" The man and boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought again and again and then they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along surrounded by the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet were tied together,so it was drowned. What can we learn from the this text? A. You can't please everyone. B. The more you put in, the more you get out. C. Human beings and animals are friends. D. You should respect others' advice. Answer: A. You can't please everyone. Why does most of the world travel on the right side today? Theories differ, but there's no doubt that Napoleon was a major influence. The French had used the right since at least the late 18th century. Some say that before the French Revolution, noblemen drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasants to the right. Regardless of the origin, Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered, including Russia, Switzerland and Germany. Hitler, in turn, ordered right-hand traffic in Czechoslovakia and Austria in the 1930s. Nations that escaped right-hand control, like Great Britain, followed their left-hand tradition. The U.S. has not always been a nation of right-hand rivers; earlier in its history, carriage and horse traffic traveled on the left, as it did in England. But by the late 1700s, people driving large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses began promoting a shift to the right. A driver would sit on the rear left horse in order to wave his whip with his right hand; to see opposite traffic clearly, they traveled on the right. One of the final moves to firmly standardize traffic directions in the U.S. occurred in the 20th century, when Henry Ford decided to mass-produce his cars with controls on the left (one reason, stated in 1908; the convenience for passengers exiting directly onto the edge, especially... if there is a lady to be considered). Once these rules were set, many countries eventually adjusted to the right-hand standard, including Canada in the 1920s, Sweden in 1967 and Burma in 1970. The U.K. and former colonies such as Australia and India are among the western world's few remaining holdouts. Several Asian countries, including Japan, use the left as well -- thought many places use both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive cars. Henry Ford produced cars with controls on the left _ . A. in order to change traffic directions in the U.S. B. so that passengers could get off conveniently C. because rules at that time weren't perfect D. though many countries were strongly against that Answer: B. so that passengers could get off conveniently London has held two Olympic Games , in 1908 and 1948, with a third one in 2012. The thirtieth Olympic Games will make London the first city to have held the modern Games of three Olympics and it's the only city in the United Kingdom to have ever held the Olympics. The Games will start on 27 July local time, which is 28 July Beijing time. And it will end on 12 August. Athletes from different countries and areas will take part in 300 events and have a good time. When talking about London Olympic Games, "London Bowl" is often mentioned . It is not the bowl that Londoners use to eat during the Olympics, but the main place where athletes take part in the games. Do you still remember "You and Me", the theme song of the Beijing Olympic Games ? For the London Olympic Games, you will hear another song called "Passion" . The Olympic Games will begin in 2 months, but the ticket price is still unknown. It's said that half of the tickets will be less than 20 pounds each. So would you like to go? The best title of the passage is _ . A. The History of Olympic Games B. How To Win The Olympic Games C. London Olympic Games D. The Athletes in London Olympic Games Answer: C. London Olympic Games More Chinese are seeking out the surgeon's knife to improve their looks.Yet the tragic death of the former Super Girl Wang Bei has made people aware of the risks of cosmetic surgery, which is becoming increasingly popular. Wang Bei,24,is said to have gone under the knife in Wuhan,to jump-start her stage-show career. It seems that the ambitious singer has finally achieved the fame and influence after her death. For years Miss Lu expected a plastic surgery to make her jaw fashionable narrow and her face smaller. She finally decided against it after hearing of the death of Wang Bei. "Wang Bei's death rang the warning bell for me,"Miss Lu said in her blog." It was frightening and I gave up the plan. " A common thread of online discussion is why someone considered beautiful was so dissatisfied with her looks. Some netizens said Wang was a victim of society's impractical standard of beauty:double eyelids,and the pointed chin typical of Western actresses. Others said her death indicated the limits to which people would go to achieve fame and fortune. Last year 15 billion was spent on cosmetic surgery and the figure is expected to rise 20% annually. The International Society of Plastic Surgery ranks China first in Asia in terms of the number of cosmetic surgeries in 2009. Worldwide, China is third, after Brazil, while the United States is first. Nowadays,people are living longer and better. But the effect of aging off their appearance affects their mood and confidence. Many older women want to look young and beautiful. Young people, on the other hand, see cosmetic surgery as the key to wealth and love. "They want to improve their appearance to find better opportunities at work and in marriage,"says a famous plastic surgeon. "We're living in a highly competitive society. People regard appearance as a weapon in life battle. Those who are young and naturally good-looking tell me,'I don't care how much I spend. Just make me look more beautiful.' " Advice from a surgeon and psychologist: 1.Choose regular, qualified hospitals with a good reputation. 2.Try to find an expert surgeon who will not suggest several operations over time. 3.Don't expect too much from changing your appearance. Safety should be the first. 4.Have a realistic understanding of the risks of the surgery (death,injury and failure)and make a balanced decision. According to a surgeon and psychologist,it is better to _ . A. change your appearance sooner B. make a reasonable decision C. do several operations over time D. try some different hospitals Answer: B. make a reasonable decision A baby chick hatches and recognizes the mother bird above it from A. the worms it ate B. the birds it discovered C. the warmth it provided D. the leaves it saw Answer: C. the warmth it provided
A father isn't happy with his only son. He doesn't think his son is clever. One day, the father gives his son a task. He says, here is a coin. Go to buy one thing. That must be something to eat, something to drink, and something to plant. "What can I buy with one coin? It is too hard!" Then a girl finds the boy is not happy and comes up to him. "Can I help you? " The boy tells her that hard task. "I know what you can do, " she says. "Go and buy a watermelon with this coin. " It will give you everything your father wants." The boy thanks the girl and then runs to buy a watermelon. When the father sees the watermelon, he is very happy. "Good Job!" "In fact, that's not my idea. A girl helps me", says the boy. The father then says, " _ is more important than cleverness." ,. The father isn't happy, because _ . A he doesn't think his son is clever B his son is lazy C his son doesn't study hard D his son can't buy something for him Answer: A Having Breakfast Or Not Will it matter if you don't take your breakfast? A short time ago, a test was given in the United States. People of different ages, from 12 to 83, were asked to have a test. During the test, these people were given all kinds of breakfast, and sometimes they got no breakfast at all. Scientists wanted to see how well their bodies worked when they had eaten different kinds of breakfast. The results show that if a person eats a right breakfast, he or she will work better than if he or she has no breakfast. If a student has fruit, eggs, bread and milk before going to school, he or she will learn more quickly and listen more carefully in class. The result is opposite to what some people think. Having no breakfast will not help you lose weight . This is because people become so hungry at noon that they eat too much for lunch. They will gain weight instead of losing it. You will lose more weight if you reduce your other meals. Which of the following is NOT true? A It is bad for your health to have no breakfast. B Too little for breakfast and too much for lunch may make you fatter. C If you don't eat much for lunch and supper, you may lose weight. D The more breakfast you have, the more quickly you'll learn in class. Answer: D Can you imagine that someone could cure all the diseases in the world? It seems like an impossible job, But Priscilla Chan wants to make it come true. Chan, 31, is from the United States. Many people may know her as a wife of Mark Zuckerberg , the founder of Facebook. But Chan herself has done a lot to help people. Chan and Zuckerberg said in September that they would give out $3 billion , that's about Y=20 billion in the next 10 years to help deal with all of the world's diseases. As a doctor for children, Chan was a big driver in this decision. "By investing in science today, we hope to build a future in which all of our children can live long and meaningful lives," she said. She cares about not only children's health but also their education. Before becoming a doctor, Chan taught science to the 4th and 5th graders at a school in California for a year. That year she started a project called The Primary School. It provides education for children from kindergarten to the 12th grade. Chan herself knows how important education is to a child. She has a Chinese father and a Vietnamese mother. Her parents didn't come to the US with much. But they worked hard to make sure Chan and their other two daughters had the best opportunities possible. Chan went to Harvard University in 2003 and now works as a doctor. "I realized that I was so lucky to be what I was," said Chan. "It drives me to make sure others, no matter what background they have, can have their opportunities, to reach their dreams and their full potential ." What's the best title of the passage? A Chan's dream B Chan's family C Chan's work D Chan's quality Answer: A Animals do many different, amazing things to get through the winter. Some of them migrate .Many birds migrate in autumn. Because the trip can be dangerous, some travel in large groups. For example, geese fly in noisy, "V"-shaped groups. Other kinds of birds fly alone. Some animals stay active in winter. They must change themselves as weather changes. For example, a kind of rabbits grow white fur to help them hide in the snow. It's hard to find food in winter for animals. Some animals, like mice, collect lots of food in autumn. Some animals eat different kinds of food as the seasons change. The red fox eats fruit and insects in spring, summer and autumn. In winter, it cannot find these things, so it eats small animals instead. Some animals hibernate for part or all of the winter. This is a special, very deep sleep. The animal uses very little energy. In autumn, these animals get ready for winter by eating much more food than in summer and storing it as body fat. Squirrels store food like nuts to eat later in winter. Bears and some bats hibernate. Cold-blooded animals like fish, frogs and snakes have no way to keep warm during the winter. Snakes find protection in holes, and spend the winter without moving during the whole season. In winter, snakes _ . A move slowly B eat a lot C hide in holes D eat frogs Answer: C Soft Police Jumbo Set Model No.:1530 Product Specifications: This soft play set features soft toys that will not hurt your precious babies. It does not include any small parts or accessories that can be easily swallowed. It boosts your children's imagination and creativity. The colorful appearance of the items can surely attract kids. Suitable for children aged over 1. Baby Toys Model No.:MSM-12LL1 Product Specifications: This set of soft toys is suitable for children of all ages. It features two sleeping mice, lying on each other, creating a warm and intimate image. One of the pieces is designed in a circular shape, which can serve as a baby's neck rest. Can be your children's bedside companion. Safe for children. Comfortable and soft to touch. Hanging Decoration for Babies Product Specifications: The featured item is a hanging decoration for babies. It is usually hung on ceilings or above baby cots. Comes in separate pieces. Easy assembling. Rotating umbrella with music. Decorations consist of several stuffed toys. For babies of 0-12 months. Baby Pulling Toys Product Specifications: This is a series of baby pulling to toys. They are decorated with stuffed mini dolls like bears, sheep and rabbits. When the babies pull strings, the toy is wound. When the pulling toy is released, the toy contracts back and produces different sounds. Made of polyester . Suitable for children of 1,2,3,4, or above. Hello Kitty Doll with Swing Chair Model No.:62558 Product Specifications: 38cm doll with swing chair. This foldable swing chair with the cutest Hello Kitty is perfect for all lovely infants under one. It has adorable printing that can surely appeal to babies. It is also strongly constructed and designed to ensure maximum safety. Made of high quality material. Soft Dinosaur 5pcs Set Model No.:1801 Product Specifications: The soft and smooth texture offers a pleasure touch. Absence of small parts makes it safe for kids. Attractive to kids with the colorful appearance. Suitable for children aged over 1. An excellent and playful household decoration. What do we know about Model No. 62558 and Model No. 1801? A Model No. 62558 is much safer than Model No. 1801. B Model No. 62558 is more suitable for babies of 0-12 months. C Model No. 1801 is more attractive in appearance. D Model No. 1801 is made up of many small parts. Answer: B
Like a backward tape, time returns to my mom's teens.She is waiting for admission results from a famous high school.She has studied for the test but with joy, since she feels no suffering in learning.Suddenly I spy her jumping and laughing, waving a paper in her hand while her family stands nearby, more shocked than happy.No one else from their village has ever passed the test. Later, at her new high school, I proudly watch as she continues to rise to the top.Many of her essays are published in newspapers, and her classmates seek her advice when a test is approaching. She never refuses them, and I feel honored to be related to such an intelligent person. As I walk with her through her journey, I finally come to the point I have been looking forward to most: her life in America. After passing several tests and finding a kind boss to sponsor her, she becomes a college student at University of California, Los Angeles. At first, I sense her loneliness and panic as she tries to adapt to her new surroundings.Though her English is broken and she knows little about American culture, I can tell she is more than grateful to be here. Here she has access to electricity and running water, and most importantly, better schools. At UCLA, she has so many opportunities to grow and advance in her field. Her journey to America was for just one reason: education.Though having an education will better her life, I know she doesn't do it for herself.My mom wants her children to have an easier life that will not require hard labor.I see what my mom goes through, and I'm filled with gratitude that she has made the brave choice to move here. Which of the following does the writer's mother do at high school? Answer: Giving her classmates advice before tests. In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl going to Howard University, aiming at a law career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different story to tell. My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to leave college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait. Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a mix of adopted and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To put eyes on him was wonderful---and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy then followed son No.3. in 2003, I gave birth to another boy. You can imagine how engaged I became, raising four boys under the age of 8! Our home was a complete zoo---a joyous zoo. Not surprising, I never did make it back to college full-time. But I never gave up on the dream either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant taking as few as one class each term The hardest part was feeling sorry about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to give up, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives. In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree! I am not special, just single-minded. It always struck me that when you are looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you are in the middle of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won't arrive in your life on one day. It's a process . Remember: little steps add up to big dreams. When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be _ . Answer: a judge The secret of happiness An old man walked slowly with a cane into the restaurant .His old jacket, worn-out shoes and warm personality made him stand out from the usual crowd. A young waitress watched him move toward a table by the window. She ran over to him, and said: "Here, sir......let me help you with that chair." Without saying a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table and helped him sit. Then she put his came against the table. "Thank you, miss."he said, kindly. "You're welcome, sir."she said. After he had finished his breakfast, the waitress brought him the change from his bill. He left it on the table. She helped him up and walked with him to the front door. When she went to clean his table, she found a business card under his plate and note on a napkin . Under the napkin was a 100-dollar bill. The note on the napkin read: "Dear miss, I respect you very much and I can see you respect yourself, too. It shows by the way you treat others. (3) _ ." The man she had _ was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that she or any of the other workers had ever seen him in person. By Steve Brunkhorst We can tell from the story that the old man went to the restaurant to _ . Answer: see the restaurant for himself Hello,everyone.Because of the high rate of school violence in some areas,teenagers'safety becomes a serious problem.We are planning to set up an organization named School Watch to make sure that students have a safe school environment.Please be part of our plan! What is School Watch? School Watch is a volunteer project in our school.It helps us stop violence and improve the quality of school life.It will keep yourself and your schoolmates safe.The other members of School Watch care for you and your classroom and you do the same for them. Is it for everyone? Anybody can become a member of School Watch because everyone has something to offer. What else can it do? School Watch makes it possible for us not only to help each other but also to make friends with each other.Some members may offer to help schoolmates who have problems with their homework. Who is the Best School Watcher? Our school will look for the Best School Watcher and give him or her lots of prizes.You could be the one! How do you start? To be part of this plan,the only thing you need to do is to talk to the director of the plan in your grade.If you want to get more information, check the official website at www.schoolwatch. com. The Best School Watcher will get a lot of prizes from _ every year. Answer: the school Every culture has it own ways to show friendship. On the island of Hawaii, _ aloha spirit". In the language of the Hawaiians who first settled the islands long ago,alohahad a very special meaning. That is "to be with happiness". Hawaiians believe that once somebody loves the land, they are ready to love their people or community. This is the second most important thing of friendship. It is calledlokahiin the Hawaiian language, which means "oneness with all people". To enjoy the land you should not be selfish. The land is for everyone who lives on. Today many different people call Hawaii their home. Indeed, Hawaii is a place where people make one big community from many smaller communities. Each person giveskokua(help) to other people so that all feel stronger. It is believed that the islands can be a paradise when people live in peace. People are told that their actions should be as gentle as the wind that blows from the sea. When problems happen, people are asked to solve them with understanding. So when people of Hawaii talk aboutohana(family), they are really talking about all those who live on the island. Living in peace, Hawaiians have developed a third sign of friendship. This personal friendship is shown by givingleisto one another. Thelei, a string of flowers, is put over a friend's neck. Then the friend is given a kiss on the cheek. Visitors to the islands are also givenleis. When they hearaloha, visitors began to feel at home.Alohaalso means "goodbye", so visitors will hear it again when they leave. It can mean "our hearts singing together". Perhaps this is how most visitors will remember their new friendship. Which of the following is a sign to show friendship by Hawaiians? Answer: A string of flowers.
We tried so hard to make things better for our kids but we made them worse. For my naughty boys, I'd know better. I'd really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes and home-made ice cream and leftover meatloaf. I really would. My cherished boys, I hope you learn humility by surviving failure and that you learn to be honest even when no one is looking. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it is all right to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you'll let him. And when you want to see a Disney movie and your kid brother wants to tag along, I hope you take him. I hope you have to walk uphill with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books, and when you learn to use computers, you also learn how to add and subtract in your head. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on the stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole . I hope you get sick when someone blows smoke in your face. I don't care if you try beer once, but I hope you won't like it. I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandpa or go fishing with your uncle. I hope your father punishes you when you throw a baseball through a neighbor's window, and that your mother hugs you and kisses you when you give her a plaster of pared mold of your hand. These things I wish for you--tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. It can be inferred from the text that the boys _ . A. often fight with others B. are to develop good qualities C. always keep their grandpa company D. score high in the exam Answer: B In the 18th century, New York was smaller than Philadelphia and Boston. Today it is the largest city in America. How can the change in its size and importance be explained? To answer this question we must consider certain facts about geography, history, and economics. Together these three will explain the huge growth of America's most famous city. The map of the Northeast shows that the four areas with the largest populations in this region are around seaports. At these points materials from across the sea enter the United States, and the products of the land are sent there for export across the sea. We know that places where transportation lines meet are good places for making raw materials into finished goods. That is why seaports often have cities nearby. But cities like New York needed more than their geographical location in order to become great industrial centers. Their development did not happen simply by chance.www.zxxk.com About 1815, when many Americans from the east had already moved toward the west, transportation routes from the seaports to the central regions of the country began to be a serious problem. The slow wagons of that time, usually drawn by horses, were too expensive for moving heavy freight very far. In New York State a canal seemed the best answer to the transportation problem. From the eastern end of Lake Erie all the way across the state to the Hudson River there is a long strip of low land. Here the Erie Canal was built, and after several years of work it was completed in 1825. The canal produced an immediate effect. Freight costs were cut to about one tenth of what they had been. New York City, which had been smaller than Philadelphia and Boston, quickly became the leading city of the coast. In the years that followed, transportation routes on the Great Lakes were joined to routes on the Mississippi River. Then New York City became the end point of a great inland shipping system that started from the Atlantic Ocean far up the western branches of the Mississippi. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. The Development of Transportation in New York B. Export and Import of New York C. How New York Became America's Largest City D. How New York Exchanged with Europe Answer: C Like most people,1 was brought up to look upon life as a process of getting It was not until in my late thirties that 1 made this important discovery:giving-away makes life so much more exciting You need not worry if you lack money This is how 1 experimented with giving-away.If an idea for improving the window display of a neighborhood store flashes to me,I step in and make the suggestion to the storekeeper.One discovery I made about giving-away is that it is almost impossible to give away anything in this world without getting something back,though the return often comes in all unexpected form.One Sunday morning the local post office delivered an important special delivery letter to my home,though it was addressed to me at my Office.1 wrote the postmaster a note of appreciation More than a year later I needed a post--office box for a new business 1 was starting 1 was told at the window that there were no boxes left,and that my name would have to go on a long waiting list.As 1 was about to leave,the postmaster appeared in the doorway.He had overheard our conversation."Wasn't it you that wrote US that letter a year ago about delivering a special delivery to your home?"I said yes"Well,you certainly are going to have a box in this post office if we have to make one for you.You don't know what a letter like that means to us. We usually get nothing but complaints.'' According to the author _ A. giving means you will lack money B. the excitement of giving can bring you money C. you don't have to be rich in order to give D. when you give away money,you will be rich Answer: C Tourism wasn't as important as it is today. In the past, only people with a good deal of money could travel on holidays to other countries. More people travel today than in the past because there is a growing middle class in many parts of the world. That is to say, people now have more money for travelling. Special airplane fares for tourists make travel less expensive and more attractive than ever before. Different people have different reasons for travelling. But most people enjoy seeing countries that are different from their own. They also like to meet new people and enjoy new food. Tourism has many changes in a country and in people's lives. People build new hotels and restaurants and train local men and women as guides to show visitors interesting places. What makes travel more attractive than before? A. Modern telegraph lines make travel less expensive. B. Travelling by air to other countries is much cheaper today. C. More guides are being trained to show beautiful spots. D. New hotels and restaurants have been built. Answer: B Plan on traveling around the USA this summer. If you need help in arranging the trip, or want ideas about where to go and what to do, there are a number of outstanding websites that can make your American dream come true. http://byways. org The National Scenic Byways Program covers l50 memorable roads. Some are natural routes, such as Route l along the California coast. Others focus on history(such as Route 6) or man-made attractions (the Las Vegas Trip). For each, you are provided with a map, told the route's length and how long is allowed, and given detailed suggestions on sights and stop-offs. www. oyster. com This is the best website for reviews of hotels in US cities and resorts. The reviews are impressively thorough--covering locations, rooms, cleanliness, food and so on. Importantly, these are not promotional photos by the hotels, but more honest and revealing ones taken by inspectors. Search facilities are excellent. From the 243 hotels reviewed in the New York, you can narrow down what you are looking for by locations, facilities and styles, or just pick out a selection of the best. www. 101usaholidays. co. uk This is the latest offering that features l01 holiday ideas to the USA. It's an impressively diverse selection, ranging from touring in the footsteps of Martin Luther King to a golfing break in Arizona and a cycling and wine--tasting trip in California's Napa Valley. Narrow down what you are looking for--whether by price, region, theme and who will be traveling--and then just the photos of the relevant holidays remain on view. It's a really clever design. www. mousesavers. com Walt Disney World in California can make dreams come true, but the price is not affordable for the majority of people. So turn to long established Mousesavers. com, dedicated to giving big discounts on tickets, hotels and dining at Walt Disney World. The website also offers general money--saving tips, suggestions for cheap and free stuff and brief coverage of other Florida and California theme parks. Travel ideas for a big family with kids and the old are available at _ . A. http://byways. org B. www. oyster. com C. www. 101 us holidays. co. uk D. www. mouse savers. com Answer: C
A ramp can move a person to what level? a higher one Before I had my son, I spent two years working with children with disabilities. I learned that shouting and threats of punishment would result in a disaster. Coming up against their behaviour could only make the job harder and their behaviour more extreme. I found something that worked, though. There was a very naughty boy in the nursery and a teacher who was generally very confident with the children was asked to take charge of him. One day the boy joined a session in the room next to mine. His appearance created an atmosphere of tension. He spent the entire session running around, hitting and kicking, and destroying property. I was in the craft room working with some other children when my co-worker told me that this boy's teacher was in tears, and could not get control of the situation. As we were talking,the boy ran in. I told my co-worker that I would take care of him. I closed the door. He was full of energy, throwing things around and making a huge mess. But I could see that he was doing all these to annoy me. He needed connection, and this was the only way he knew how to ask for it. So I sat back down and kept quiet. Then he slowed down and began making a rocket. I talked to him about it. We continued like this for a few minutes before I slipped into the conversation: "So what happened today?" It was purely a question, no blame or anger in my tone. I believe that if I had criticized him, the gate that was slowly opening would have shut firmly closed. He told me that the teacher didn't let him do what he knew well due to safety but asked him to do what he disliked. He also admitted that he had enjoyed making her run around and saw it as a game. I explained that his teacher had not seen it as a game and was very upset. This again was stated simply as a fact. I suggested that next time he had a session, he talk about what he hoped to do at the start,which might be easier for everyone. He agreed and was quiet for a moment. Then he looked at me with tears in his eyes before quietly asking if he could go to find his teacher to apologize. Why didn't the author do anything about the boy's bad behavior at first? She didn't want to make it worse. Reading is thought to be a kind of conversation between the reader and the text. The reader puts questions to the text and gets answers. In the light of these he puts further questions, etc. For most of the time this "conversation" goes on below the level of consciousness. At times, however, we become aware of it. This is usually when we are running into difficulties, when mismatch is occurring between our expectations and meaning of the text. When successful matching is being experienced, our questioning of the text continues at the unconscious level. Different people converse with the text differently. Some stay very close to the words on the pages; others take off imaginatively from the words, interpreting, criticizing, analyzing and examining. The former represents a kind of comprehension which is written in the text. The latter represents higher levels of comprehension. The balance between these is important, especially for the advanced readers. There is another conversation which from our point of view is equally important, and that has nothing to do with what is read but with how it is read. We call this a "process" conversation as opposed to "content" conversation. It is concerned not with meaning but with the strategies we employ in reading. If we are advanced reader our ability to hold a content conversation with text is usually well developed but not so our ability to hold a process conversation. It is just this kind of conversation that is of importance when we are seeking to develop our reading to meet the new demands being placed upon us by studying at a higher level. At a lower level of comprehension, readers tend to _ . concentrate on the meaning of words only A Policeman and a Thief One day a policeman was taking a thief to the city . On the way , they saw a shop . The thief said . " Let me go into the shop to buy some bread . We can eat it in the train . " The policeman agreed . The thief went into the shop and ran out of the back door . When the policeman knew that , he began to look for the thief everywhere . At last the policeman caught thief again . They went on to the city . On the way they came to the same shop . The thief wanted to buy some bread again . "Oh , no . " said the policeman , "You did that before , and you ran away . This time I'll go into the shop and buy bread . You must wait here for me . " On the way the thief asked to _ . buy some food to eat . When I was sixteen years old, I made my first visit to the United States. It wasn't the first time I had been abroad. Like most English children I learned French at school. And I had often been to France, so I was used to speaking a foreign language to people who didn't understand English. But when I went to America I was really looking forward to having a nice easy holiday without any language barriers. How wrong I was! The misunderstandings began at the airport. I was looking for a public telephone to give my American friend Penny a call and tell her that I had arrived. A friendly old man saw me looking lost and asked if he could help me. "Yes," I said, "I want to give my friend a ring." "Well, that's nice," he said. "Are you getting married? But aren't you a bit young?" "Who is talking about marriage?" I replied. "I only want to give my friend a ring to tell her I've arrived. Can you tell me where there's a phone box?" "Oh!" he said, "There's a phone downstairs." When at last we met, Penny explained the misunderstandings to me. "Don't worry," she said to me. "I had so many difficulties at first. There are lots of words which the Americans use differently in meaning from British. You'll soon get used to all the funny things _ say. Most of the time British and American people understand each other!" From the passage we can see that "give somebody a ring" _ . has two different meanings
Ginger and Joey were two young dogs. They were happy because it was now the summer and they could play outside more often. Today Ginger and Joey were running around in their big backyard. They had fun barking at many things. They barked at squirrels. They barked at a bus. They barked at the mailman. They barked at a weird bug. They barked so much, they were never quiet! The neighbor was a grumpy old man. His name was Bert. Bert threw a shoe at them because they were barking too much. He couldn't take a nap because they were so loud. Bert got too angry and Bert throws things when he gets too angry. The shoe missed both Ginger and Joey, but they barked a little less. Now they ran even faster. After a very long time, they began to get tired. They sniffed around the edges of the yard and found some old watermelon. That's a good snack for young dogs like Ginger and Joey! Next, they rolled around in the dirt. Then they chased their tails. Finally, their mom came out and told them to come inside. They were so dirty, they needed a bath. Ginger loved baths and jumped right into the tub. Joey was scared and ran away to hide. After a little bit, his mom found him and he got a bath in the end, too. What did Ginger and Joey bark at? Answer: The mailman I was born in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Caracas. By the time I was fifteen, my parents had discussed what I wanted to do when I grew up. Mom was very excited about my future. One day she came home with a booklet from one of the best colleges in the country, which happened to be located fairly close to our neighborhood. That was one of the most expensive colleges in the country, so we could not afford it. At that point she smiled and opened the booklet. Among the descriptions was a very small paragraph indicating that there was a scholarship program. I decided to let her dream a little bit longer, so I agreed to submit my application. I didn't pay attention to the subject until the day of the admittance test. I have to confess I took the exam to humor my mom. The first surprise came when I saw my name on the list. I was accepted! My dad was terrified. How were we going to pay the tuition? My mom used one of her typical answers, "I don't know, but we will. Even if we have to work day and night, our daughter is going to that college." Her determination was so strong that we didn't dare say anything. We filed the papers for the scholarship and for weeks we waited. Finally I got a scholarship that would cover eighty-five percent of the tuition for three years. I won't say college was easy. I had to borrow material and books because we could barely find the money to pay the fifteen percent the scholarship didn't cover. The day I graduated, I gave my mom the medal. She was so proud. I remember telling her that if it hadn't been for her, I would have never even tried. She said, "Don't worry about it, baby. Even before you were born I would pass in front of this university every day. I saw the students lying on the grass, and I would think: one day a daughter of mine is going to study there. I dreamed of this green grass too many times; it had to come true." I found a good job after college. But I never forget that it was my mom's dream that made me do what everyone thought was impossible. Why does the author say "I won't say college was easy"? Answer: Because the author's life was difficult even though she was given a scholarship. The China Daily newspaper group is hunting for English-language senior business editors, senior copy editors, copy editors and graphic designers to strengthen its international team. We offer a competitive salary package, free accommodation with utilities paid for, 90 per cent medical reimbursement, a seven-day paid leave, eleven day public holidays and a return ticket to the country of residence. Senior Business Editor You must: Assist the Business editor in setting goals and working on achieving them; Be an excellent team person who can generate ideas and think creatively and be able to rewrite totally if needed and mentor junior staff; Ideally have been working or have worked in a position of responsibility and understand what leadership entails; Have had at least five year's editing experience working on editing the Business Desk and be familiar with industry software. Senior Copy Editor You must: Work on shifts in the Business Desk and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; Edit or rewrite copy and give snappy headlines and captions; Have had at least two years' editing experience working on editing desks and be familiar with industry software. CopyEditor You must: Be good at editing or rewriting copy and writing snappy headlines and captions; Be able to work on shifts for different pages, and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; Have two years of editing experience working on copy desks, and be familiar with industry software. Graphic Designer You must: Have excellent skills in information graphics; Be good at illustrations and freehand drawings; Be experienced in newspaper or magazine layouts; Have a good sense of typography; Have good news judgment; Be wellversed with Macintosh software, including in Design, Illustrator and Photoshop; Be fluent in English. For enquiries or to apply, write tojob@chinadaily.com.cn. What is not required about Graphic Designer? Answer: Writing snappy headlines and captions. To get an extra 14 years of life, don't smoke, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in a proper amount.That is according to a study published this Monday in the Public Library of Science Medicine Journal. After tracking more than 20,000 people aged 45 to 79 years in the United Kingdom from about 1993 to 2007, Kay-Tee Khaw of the University of Cambridge and his colleagues found that people who adopted these four healthy habits lived all average of 14 years longer than those who didn't. "We've known for a long time that these behaviors are good things to do, but we've not seen this benefit before, "said Susan Jebb, head of Nutrition and Health at Britain's Medical Research Council."The benefit was also seen regardless of whether or not people were fat and what social class they came from." Study participants scored a point each for not smoking, regular physical activity, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and moderate alcohol intake. Public health experts said they hoped the study would inspire governments to introduce policies helping people to adopt these changes.But because the study only observed people rather than testing specific changes, it would be impossible to conclude that people who suddenly adopted these healthy behaviors would surely gain 14 years. "We can't say that any person could gain 14 years by doing these things, "said Dr.Tim Armstrong, a physical activity expert at the World Health Organization."The 14 years is an average across the population of what's theoretically possible." "Most people know that things like a good diet matter and that smoking isn't good for them, "Susan Jebb said."We need to work on providing people with much more practical support to help them change." What would be the best title for this passage? Answer: Healthy Habits May Give Extra 14 Years Dower, an inexperienced driver, borrowed a car from Puder, a casual acquaintance, for the express purpose of driving it several blocks to the local drug store. Instead, Dower drove the car, which then was worth $12,000, 100 miles to Other City. While Dower was driving in Other City the next day, the car was hit by a negligently driven truck and sustained damage that will cost $3,000 to repair. If repaired, the car will be fully restored to its former condition. If Puder asserts a claim against Dower based on conversion, Puder should recover a judgment for Answer: $12,000.00
The greatest saleswoman in the world today doesn't mind if you call her a girl. That's because Markita Andrews has got more than eight thousand dollars selling Girl Scout cookies since she was seven years old. Going door-to-door after school, the terribly shy Markita changed herself into the cookie-selling dynamo . It starts with great wish. For Markita and her mother, whose husband left them when Markita was eight years old, their dream was to travel the world. "I'll work hard to make enough money to send you to college," her mother said one day. "When you leave college, you'll make enough money to take you and me around the world. Okay?" So at the age of 13 when Markita read in her Girl Scout magazine that the Scout who sold the most cookies would win a free trip for two around the world, she decided to sell all the Girl Scout cookies she could--more Girl Scout cookies than anyone in the world, ever. Wish, however, alone is not enough. To make her dream come true, Markita knew she needed a plan. "When you are doing business, wear your Girl Scout clothes when you go up to people in their building, " her aunt told her. "Always smile, whether they buy something or not and always be nice." Lots of other Scouts may have wanted that trip around the world, but only Markita went off in her own uniform each day after school, ready to ask--and keep asking--people to help in her dream. Markita sold 3,526 boxes of Girl Scout cookies that year and won her trip around the world. Since then, she has sold more than 42,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Markita is no cleverer than thousands of other people, with dreams of their own. The difference is that many people fail before they even begin. They fear that they will be refused. This fear leads many of us to refuse ourselves and prevents us from getting where we have set off for long before anyone else ever has the chance--no matter what we are selling. "It takes courage to ask for what you want," she said. "Courage is not that you don't have fear. It means doing what it takes although you have a fear of it". The main reason for Markita's success is that _ . Answer: she isn't afraid to be refused We all know that the cost of heating our homes will continue to be a significant burden on the family budget. Now millions of people are saving on their heating bills with the EP portable heater. With over one million satisfied customers around d the world, the new EP heats better and faster, saves more on heating bills, and runs almost silent. The EP has no exposed heating parts that can cause a fire. The outside of the EP only gets warm to the touch so that it will not burn children or pets. The EP will not reduce oxygen in the room. With other heaters you'll notice that you get sleepy when the heat comes on because they are burning up oxygen. The advanced EP also heats the room evenly, wall to wall and floor to ceiling. It comfortably covers an area up t0 350 square feet. Other heaters heat rooms unevenly with most of the heat concentrated to the center of the room. And they only heat an area a few feet around the heater. With the EP, the temperature will not vary in any part of the room. The EP comes with a 3-year warranty and a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. If you are not totally satisfied, return it at our expense and your money will be given back to you. Now we have a special offer for l0 day3, during which you can enjoy a half price discount and a free delivery. if you order after that, we reserve the right to either accept or reject order requests at the discounted price. Take action right now ! The main purpose of the passage is to _ ' Answer: persuade people to buy the product My name is Clyde. I am am a cat. I have had a life full of adventure. I started out as a small kitten living in a house. I lived with my human family. I also lived with my mother and brothers and sisters. There were some other animals there too. They were not cats but they were not humans. I am not sure what they were but they were big and friendly. I left his house and moved into different house. I had to leave my family. There were new humans now. They took me in this thing they called a car. It scared me! Everything was moving so fast. There was another one of those different animals. I think the humans called it a dog. His name was Rex. The humans were very nice to me but the dog was not. He would chase me around the house. I would have to hide under the couch or in some other small space. I heard the humans talk about taking me some place else to live. Next thing I know I am in the car again. I am living in another house. Uh oh! This house has a dog and other humans. This dog, who they call Sophie, was very nice to me. She smelled me and licked me like my mother used to do! We became close friends. I liked this new house. The humans were nice to me too. They had two small humans. Their names were Thomas and Nicole. I liked them because they like to play with me a lot. One day a big truck came to the house and the humans put me in a room and closed the door. I was in there for a long time. When I came out all the human stuff was not there. They had put it all into the truck. I was scared again that I would have to go with new humans. This time, the humans took me with them! We moved to a new apartment in the city. I knew that these were not my humans. They loved me. They were my new family. What did Rex do to Clyde? Answer: chased him Thermal conduction occurs when Answer: I leave a log poker in the fire Bottled water has become the choice for people who are healthy and thirsty. Bottled water is all over the world. But some say the planet's health, and people's health may be suffering from it. The idea that bottled water is safer for humans may not be true. The Natural Resources Defense Council of America said, "There is no promise that because water comes out of a bottle, it is cleaner or safer than water from the tap." Another New York City-based action group added that some bottled water is "really just tap water in a bottle--sometimes more clean, sometimes not." It is not proven that bottled water is better than tap water. Nick Reeves from the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management said, "The high mineral content of some bottled water makes them not good for feeding babies and young children." Also, most bottled water doesn't have fluoride , which can make teeth stronger. Kids are drinking more bottled water and less fluoridated tap water, and some say that's behind the recent rise in bad teeth. Storing is another problem. Placed near heat, the plastic bottles can produce bad chemicals into the water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, some 2.7 million tons of plastic are used worldwide to bottle water each year. The plastic can take between 400 and 1,000 years to break down. In terms of energy use, plastic bottles are also not cheap. One report said that if water and soft drink bottlers had used 10 percent recycled materials in their plastic bottles, they would have saved about 72 million gallons of gas. So, if you are worried about the effect of bottled water on the Earth, you can take the following steps. Drink from your tap. Unless your government warns against this, it should be fine. Get a container . Carry your tap water in a steel or a lined drinking container, and clean it between uses. Keep it cool. Don't drink from a bottle that has been sitting in the sun, don't store it near chemicals, and don't reuse plastic bottles. Choose glass containers over plastic if possible. When finished, recycle! What is the main idea of the article? Answer: Bottled water may not be as good as we think.
(1)Shirley Temple, the once-famous child movie star, died at the age of 85 on February 10, 2014. She was born on April 23, 1928. She was good at acting and dancing. In 1934, she starred in the movie Bright Eyes. From then on she became famous around the world. Later she starred in other movies and won a Juvenile Oscar in February, 1935. For many Americans born in the 1930s and 1940s, Temple was not just an on-screen star but also a close friend in their childhood. She was remembered by the world as the forever "little angle". An American movie star said, "Little Shirley Temple encouraged the whole country during the Great Depression ." (2)Shi Li and Cui Jiping are husband and wife. They are disabled. They complete the first Chinese encyclopedic dictionary for deaf people and people with hearing problems. The dictionary includes words on medicine, education, psychology, law, history and culture about deaf people's life. This book provides a learning tool for this special group of people and it helps them know about the world more easily. They spent six years and over 1,000,000 yuan on the book. They first collected material for the book by themselves, then they invited a lot of experts across the country to write. The book is warmly welcomed by the deaf. One of the readers said, "The book shows that we're not alone. We can have our own way to communicate with the world. " According to the passage, Shi Li and Cui Jiping _ . A. are disabled people full of love B. wrote many famous books. C. finished the book by themselves D. live a very poor life Answer: A A Battery's Nightmare Portable electronics that can be carried about easily are only as good as their batteries and, let's face it, batteries aren't very good, especially when compared with, say, petrol, which packs 100 times a battery's energy into an equal space. That's why a large group of mechanical engineers (centered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but with partners at other universities and companies) are hard at work in an effort to replace batteries with a tiny engine that runs on fuel. Imagine a battery-free life! When the fuel runs out in your mobile phone, you just fill up and go. The engine---about the size of a ten-cent coin---starts with a combustion chamber that burns hydrogen. Its tiny parts are etched onto silicon wafers in the same manner that computer parts are etched onto integrated circuits . The first engine is made up of five wafers. And since these wafers could be produced in much the same way as computer chips, they could probably be produced quite cheaply. But the _ in all this nice detail is efficiency. Tiny engine parts don't always behave like the bigger parts of the first engine. Something between the parts can slow down the works, according to Columbia University Professor LucFrechette, one of the engine's designers. Extreme heat from the combustion chamber is also a problem, often leaking to other parts of the engine. The scientists' goal is to create an engine that will operate 10 times better than batteries operate. Frechette says that a complete system, with all parts in place and working, will be set up in the next couple of years, but commercial models aren't likely until at least the end of the next ten years. According to the passage, the title suggests that _ . A. batteries should be greatly improved B. petrol will be used instead of batteries C. the time of batteries will be gone forever D. pollution problems caused by batteries must be solved Answer: C Pearl and June were good friends and spent most of their time together. They were both very old and they worried about their health. Most of the time they talked about nothing else. They worried about their food. Was it clean? Would it give them pains in the stomach? They worried about the weather. Was it too cold and wet? Would it give them pains in their bones? They worried about pollution in the air. would it give them pains in their chests and throats? They worried about being hurt in a car accident, killed in a plane crash, getting sick, and so on. All they could think about was being ill or hurt. One day they went on a train journey together. "We'll need some food," Pearl said. "We'll buy some bananas," June said. "They are good to eat and always clean." And so they bought two bananas to eat on the train. It was not long before they were hungry. Pearl took out the bananas and gave one to June. Then she peeled the skin of her banana and took a large bite of it. At that moment the train went into a tunnel. Everything went black. "Don't eat your banana," Pearl shouted at June. "Mine has made me go blind!" Pearl ate her banana _ . A. after they came out of the tunnel B. at the station C. before June ate hers D. before she was hungry Answer: C A round of applause, please, for the Indian man who recently sang for 80 hours straight, setting a new Guinness world record. It's an impressive feat, to be sure, but let's just hope he still has a voice.According to Indian newspapers, Rajesh Burbure has been told to keep silent for several days so his vocal cords can heal. It was reported that Burbure and his family are in a celebratory mood. "It's a proud moment for all of us," his wife told DNAIndia.com. I, on the other hand, am unable to share their enthusiasm.Don't get me wrong: I hope the 35-year-old Burbure lives forever, sells a million records and becomes an international celebrity.But his record--singing for 80 hours straight--is about as meaningful as most of the other curious but crazy feats listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Granted, I'm not qualified to speak on the subject.I've got no world records to my name, and I never expect to have any.Then again, maybe I am qualified to speak for those of us who have better things to do than train for years to sing an 80-hour medley of pop songs. But let's not just pick on poor Burbure.He's not the only person chasing meaningless accolades .The Guinness Book of World Records is full of the names of people who at one time grew the longest hair, or built the biggest bicycle, or baked the largest cheesecake. To all of these enterprising souls I ask, simply, "What was it all for?" Congratulations! For all of your painstaking effort, you became a footnote in a thick book that no one reads, except for you and the person who will eventually surpass you, with one more hour of singing, a few more centimeters of steel or a few more pounds of cheese. After all, records are made to be broken. From the text, we can conclude that the author _ . A. thinks singing for 80 hours straight is completely meaningless B. feels it a pity he was not invited to share the happiness with the Burbures C. is quite worried about Burbure's vocal cords D. has no Guinness records, so he admires Burbures' feat Answer: A The Little Prince was written by a French pilot and writer Antoine de Saint--Exupery. It is one of the most famous books around the world. It was published in 1943. This story has been translated into 42 languages and was adapted into a movie. The little prince lives on a small planet alone. He leads a happy life. One day the winds brings him a seed. The seed then turns into the loveliest flower he has ever seen. He takes good care of the flower, but finally he decides to leave it and his planet in search for a secret--the most important thing in his life. During his journey in space, the little prince meets a king, a businessman, a lamplighter and a geographer. They all live alone on different planets. At last he finds out the secret from a fox of the Earth. Before he returns to his planet, he tells his secret to the writer of the book, whom he meets in the desert. The secret is: the power of love. When you read this _ and sincere story of the little prince, you can't help smiling and feeling the beauty of life and love in your heart. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The story has been translated into 24 languages. B. The secret is the power of knowledge. C. The little prince met the writer of the book in the desert. D. The king, the businessman, the lamplighter and the geographer live on the same planet. Answer: C
One little miracle has been happening to me recently, and it gives me a special joy. A few months ago, I was telling my daughter, Sally, some stories about my mother. Mydaughter was so young when my mother died that she doesn't remember her well. I told her allI could remember, like how wonderful my mother was and how much she meant to me. One day, Sally was sad because her grandmother was in heaven and she couldn't see her. I explained that though her grandmother was dead, now she was still watching over usand could send us something to let us know she was there. She could be anywhere, even ridinginvisibly on the back of a butterfly . Just after I said this, a butterflyflew down right by us, and we laughed happily. Now many people would say it was just luck that the butterfly flew down at that time. A funnything, however, has happened since then. Every time I go out in any type of weather I seebutterflies. Very often they fly right by my face to get my attention. I always say hi to Mom,send her my love, and thank God for little miracles. Everyone is always looking for some big miracles to come out and save them when they are introuble, but they don't notice the little miracles that happen every day right in front of theireyes. I know what they really are, however. For me little miracles are the best kind. So manylittle miracles happen around me all the time that I know _ are not just luck. ,. When her grandmother died, Sally was _ . Answer: quite young One kilogram----that was all it took to crown(......) the world's strongest man. German weightlifter Matthias Steiner pulled ahead of Russian rival Evgeny Chigishev to win the Olympic men's +105 kg weightlifting gold medal on Tuesday. Steiner lifted a total of 461kg, 203kg in the snatch and 258kg in the clean and jerk , to beat Chigishev by a single kilogram. The German won the battle of giants in his last lift, winning his country's first gold medal in the event at this year's Games. Steiner's winning lift was also the last effort of the sport for this Olympics at which China earned eight of the 15 golds. Steiner was born in Austria and represented his country of birth at the Athens Olympics four years ago, placing seventh in the lower 105kg category, but had a falling out with Austria's weightlifting federation afterwards. He applied for German citizenship in 2005 and got married, but his career went into deep freeze as he could not compete without a passport. He finally obtained the document last January. The German, who turns 26 on Monday, had come to these Games on a mission to win the title for his wife Susann, who died in a car accident in July last year. The German team said he used the personal tragedy to motivate himself to win the gold medal. Chigishev was the strongest in the snatch session Tuesday. He kissed his fists after a 210-kg lift that gave him a 7-kg advantage over fourth-placed Steiner going into the second event -- the clean and jerk. He let out a victorious roar after clearing 250 kg in his last lift, but the glory was short-lived as Steiner stunned everyone with his final, winning clean and jerk effort. Steiner had finished seventh in the 2004 Olympics in the 105kg weight category, and took the gold in the 2008 European Championship +105kg snatch competition, bronze in the clean and jerk and silver overall, with a total weight of 446kg. World champion Viktors Scerbatihs of Latvia settled for bronze. Four years ago at the Athens Olympics Steiner represented _ . Answer: Austria A Brown University sleep researcher has some advice for people who run high schools: Don't start classes so early in the morning. It may not be that the students who at their desks are lazy. And it may not be that their parents have failed to enforce bedtime. Instead, it may be that biologically these sleepyhead students aren't used to the early hour. "Maybe these kids are being asked to rise at the wrong time for their bodies," says Mary Carskadon, a professor looking at problem of adolescent sleep at Brown's School of Medicine. Carskadon is trying to understand more about the effects of early school time in adolescents. And, at a more basic level. she and her team are trying to learn more about how the biological changes of adolescence affect sleep needs and patterns. Carskadon says her work suggests that adolescents may need more sleep than they did at childhood, no less, as commonly thought. Sleep patterns change during adolescence, as any parent of an adolescent can prove. Most adolescents prefer to stay up later at nigh and sleep later in the morning. But it's not just a matter of choice -their bodies are going through a change of sleep patterns. All of this makes the transfer from middle school to high school--which may start one hour earlier in the morning ---- all the more difficult , Carskadon says. With their increased need for sleep and their biological clocks set on the "sleep late, rise late" pattern, adolescent are up against difficulties when it comes to trying to be up by 5 or 6 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. first bell. A short sleep on a desktop may be their body's way of saying. "I need a timeout." What might be a reason for the hard transfer from middle school to high school? Answer: Adolescents sleep better than they did at childhood. Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to electronic products that are no longer usable. This can include TVs, cell phones and computers and other office electronics, electronic toys and videos machines. Today, the average turnover rate for a computer in the United States is every two years, according to the environmental group, Greenpeace. The group's Dai Yun says e-waste is a global problem. "The electronic industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The high speed of growth in this industry means more and more electronic products are being wasted and thrown away. If no one decides to retrieve the old products and process them properly, the electronic waste will sweep over the earth like the huge wave behind me and pollute the Earth seriously." Greenpeace works out that 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste are produced globally each year. The components in many electronic products contain harmful chemicals that pollute ground water and the environment. At present , the U.S. has no federal law for the disposal of e-waste although a few states have e-waste recycling programs in place, but there is no law. The U.S. exports much of its e-waste to third world countries, such as India and China, where workers took apart computers for valuable parts, hoping to sell them for money. But harmful wastes expert, Dr. Bakul Rao, says that's a dangerous practice. "From now on, the recyclers are not very educated. All they know is they can retrieve copper or gold out of it. So, the easiest way to do that is leach it out in an acid or burn it off to retrieve it. So, that's where they don't know how to deal with it, neither do they have any health systems in place. So, their exposure is more." Which of the following is most likely not to be a form of e-waste? Answer: A table Here's this week's list of four open jobs throughout the local area. Whether you're unemployed and need a job or you are just _ of the one you have, Roswell Patch wants to help. We know new jobs can be hard to come by these days, which is why we'll try to post a selection of jobs we've found in the area on the site each week. Happy hunting! Part-time Spanish Instructor-World Language Institute, Inc. - Roswell. World Language Institute, Inc. in Roswell is currently hiring a part-time, native-speaking Spanish instructor. Applicants must be able to pass a background check and drive a 15-passenger bus to pick up students from several schools, from 2 p. m. - 6 p. m. Monday-Friday. The position pays $ 10 per hour. More information about the job is available online. Experienced Servers - Chili's - Alpharetta Chili's in Alpharetta is seeking experienced servers to add to its team. Qualifications will include being clean and neat and having great attitude and customer service skills. The pay is $ 2.13, plus tips. Stop by the store to fill out an application. More information about this position is available online. Registered Nurse-North Fulton Regional Hospital-Roswell North Fulton Regional Hospital is looking for a RN/Registered Nurse to fill a 12-hour night shift. Applicants must be registered and previous hospital experience is preferred. More information about the position is available online. Software Engineer-ControlScan-Alpharetta ControlScan in Alpharetta is hiring a software engineer. Applicants should have five or more years of relevant experience, as well as advanced knowledge of computer technology. Pay is commensurate with experience. More information about the position can be found online. Where can we most probably read the passage? Answer: On a website.
My name is Jim Smith. I come from Canada. I teach English in a high school in China. I like my work. I have a son, Mike and two daughters, Jane and Jenny. They are all in China. We lived in a tall building of the city center one month ago. But now we live in the countryside. We think the cost of living is high and the traffic is heavy in the city. And there is a beautiful park. It's not far from my home. It is _ Jim's family lives in _ now. A. Canada B. China C. America D. England Answer: B. China My grandfather took me to the fishing pond on the farm when I was about 7 years old, and he asked me to throw a stone into the water. I did what I was asked. Then my grandfather told me to watch the waves made by the stone. Moments later, he asked me to think of myself as that stone. "You may make a lot of splashes in your life, but remember the waves that come from those splashes will affect the peace of all your friends beside you," he said. "Remember that you are responsible for what you throw into your circle, and that your waves will touch many other circles. Always try to live in a way that the waves that come from your circle send out the peace of your goodness to other circles." "Remember the waves that come from anger and jealousy will also send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for all the waves." That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or anger that flows out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we have hatred and anger. We _ the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we tell others about them or not. Whatever is inside of us is flowing out into the world and touching all the other circles of life. ,. What did the writer's grandfather ask him to do on the farm? A. To catch some fish in the fishpond. B. To throw a stone into the water. C. To swim with him. D. To do some farm work. Answer: B. To throw a stone into the water. The Real Chinese Food In China, there're many different kinds of food. Some of them are very popular. Dumplings are the real Chinese food. Now let's talk about them, OK? Everyone in China likes dumplings very much, and there are many different kinds of dumplings. Some have meat and vegetables in them, others have sugar( ), eggs and so on. I like dumplings with vegetables and pork best. Usually people make dumplings at home. If you have no time to make them, you can buy them in any supermarkets. Then you take them home and eat them with _ The Spring Festival is very important in China. When it comes, we make dumplings, usually we put a coin ( ) in a dumpling. If one eats the dumpling with the coin in it, he will be lucky in the year. Now tell me, do you like dumplings? Welcome to China, we'll ask you to eat the real Chinese food: dumplings. In China, _ are the real Chinese food. A. noodles B. dumplings C. moon cakes D. only vegetables Answer: B. dumplings What will power your house in the future? Nuclear, wind, or solar power? According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, it might be leaves -- but artificial ones. Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis . Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process. The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts . Similar to natural leaves, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell, which uses those two materials to produce electricity, located either on top of a house or beside the house. Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card, scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. "One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology," said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society. The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf, by contrast, is made of cheap materials, easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies, Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity. The wonderful improvements come from Nocera's recent discovery of several powerful, new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now, the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides, the device can run in whatever water is available; that is, it doesn't need pure water. This is important for some countries that don't have access to pure water. With the goal to "make each home its own power station" and "give energy to the poor", scientists believe that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries, especially in India and rural China. The main idea of this passage is about _ . A. saving energy B. a mixture of water power and solar energy C. an invention copying photosynthesis D. an introduction to the history of artificial leaves Answer: C. an invention copying photosynthesis The events of Saturday night in Kunming are deeply engraved in the mind of Xie Qiming, who narrowly escaped death in the terrorist attack at the city's railway station. The 48-year-old policeman intervened to stop the butchering of unarmed civilians, saving many from death and injury, but he was injured in the process. Lying in a hospital bed, his head and nose marked by serious hacking wounds - one more than 20 centimeters long - Xie recounted his actions on the day he describes as a nightmare. "I shot at them but fell to the ground during the fighting. After the shots, the terrorists turned their attention to the police and several of them surrounded me and stabbed me like crazy," he said. "There is no humanity in them." Xie is from the Beijinglu Police Station, the closest to the attack, and four police officers from the station were the first to respond. He survived because he was wearing a bulletproof vest, which was damaged by the attackers. When the officers arrived, the attackers were running out of the ticket hall, attacking people with long knives. Xie and his colleagues tried to stop the attack, which is when Xie was injured. In addition to the deep cuts, his skull was fractured, and at the time of writing he was awaiting further surgery. "A wave of fierce anger rose up in my mind, and we all forgot to think about the possible danger to us," said Hu Zhe, 23, a police officer trainee at the Beijinglu Police Station. Having no firearm, he fought the terrorists with a wooden baton, but it got broken in the fighting. He sustained a 6-centimeter wound to his left eyebrow. Wan Weiqing, a neurosurgeon from Beijing Tiantan Hospital, learned of the attack at 2 am on Sunday and took the first flight to Kunming, where he has been helping the victims. He said that 71 victims are being treated at the Kunming First People's Hospital, most of them with severe multiple injuries. "There is one victim whose rib, breastbone, lung and even heart were all injured in one chopping action. The attackers had obviously prepared and practiced for a long time," he said. Zhou Hongmei, director of the Medical Reform Office at the Yunnan Health Department, said a team of medical experts including 29 doctors had arrived in Kunming by Monday night. They have been working at the five hospitals treating victims of the attack. Chen Min, a Neurology Department nurse at Kunming First People's Hospital, said the department usually had seven nurses in the daytime and three at night. "But all the other nurses who were not on duty returned to the hospital voluntarily on Saturday night," she said. In the past three days, none of them had more than 10 hours of rest. "The crucial factor in saving lives in such incidents is treatment without delay," said Chai Wenzhao, associate director of the Intensive Care Unit in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Chai has participated in many emergency rescue efforts. He said that the victims will need psychological counseling once their physical injuries have been dealt with, because the emotional impact of such an incident can be severe. Four psychologists from Anding Hospital in Beijing have begun treating some of the victims. When did the terrorist attack happen? A. on Saturday afternoon B. on Sunday night C. Three days before the report came out. D. Just before the report was written. Answer: C. Three days before the report came out.
Most young people like to go to rock concerts these days. They like the loud and exciting sound of the music and they enjoy the excitement of a big concert. Rock stars usually have a different style. Their music is exciting and different, and the way they dance and dress makes them popular with young people. The words of rock songs are usually quite simple, but the music itself is complex . But some rock stars have problems after they become famous. They don't know what to do when they suddenly succeed, and often they start to drink or to take drugs . Then their health becomes bad. Some like Elvis Presley , died very young because of drugs. What may happen after some rock stars suddenly become famous ? A. They become unhealthy. B. They don't know what to do C. They begin to drink a lot D. All the above. Answer: D. All the above. (Q =" Question;" A = Answer) Situation I Q: If someone sits right next to me in an empty movie theater, is it rude to move? A: Maybe, but nobody will fault you for it. Chances are that the close sitter doesn't realize he disturbs you, so he may miss your annoyance. You undoubtedly aren't the first person he's met who needs enough room. Forgive his bad judgment, move quietly and enjoy the show. Situation II Q: If I use the bathroom at a store, do I need to buy something? A: Consider frequency and urgency. Is this a one-time thing or an emergency? If so, you don't have to buy anything, but it would be kind if you did. However, if you regularly use the bathroom at this place, then you are a customer, and you should act like one. Situation III Q: If someone is talking loudly on the bus, is there a nice way to ask him to keep it down? A: No. Try other means: 1) Stare at him until he gets aware of it and quiets down. 2) Lift your finger in a silence motion and smile. 3) Put on earphones and ignore him. Situation IV Q: If I remember my friend's birthday a day late, should I apologize or just wish her a happy birthday like nothing happened? A: This is the reason why the word _ was invented. "Happy belated birthday!" is short for: "Well, I know I forgot, but then I remembered. Forgive me and happy birthday." Situation V Q: Can I lie about seeing a text because I was loo busy or lazy to respond to it? A: Don't lie. Receiving a text does not mean you need to respond to it. Why waste a perfectly good lie when the truth will serve? "Yes," you can say if ever asked, "I saw it." No explanation is needed as to why you don't respond. You will get annoyed in a theater when _ . A. a person is too rude to you B. a person sits too close to you C. a person is too active D. a person talks too loudly Answer: B. a person sits too close to you One of the most successful singers of the twentieth century, Ella Fitzgerald has made several different styles of her own. She was born in Virginia but was brought up in an orphanage in Yonkers, New York. Chick Webb _ her in an amateur competition when she was sixteen. He engaged her to sing with his band and when he died in 1939, she took over. Unlike Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald taught herself the sentimental music so popular in the 1930's -- songs like "My Heart Belongs to Daddy"-- and her recordings became best-sellers. During the 1940's she developed her own "scat singing" -- a breathless, nonsense--syllable style--for songs like "Flying Home" and "Lady Be Good." Ella Fitzgerald was the perfect musical partner for her friend, the trumpeter Louis Armstrong, matching him in warmth and artistry. "I just like music, period," she said. "To me, it's a story. There's only one thing better than singing.... It's more singing." What does the passage mainly discuss? A. A comparison of Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith. B. The musical career of Ella Fitzgerald. C. Ella Fitzgerald's early childhood. D. Ella Fitzgerald's most recent recordings. Answer: B. The musical career of Ella Fitzgerald. prefix = st1 /Yao-less Rockets Keep Rising Houston Agencies(March 9,2008)--Tracy McGrady had 41 points and nine assists as the Houston Rockets won their 18th game continuously with a 106-96 win over New Orleans on Saturday. McGrady fell just six points short of his season high for points as the Rockets kept their winning record. The Rockets won their sixth in a row since Chinese All-Star Yao Ming went out for the season with his left foot hurt.Yao had an operation earlier in the week. Joining Hands China Daily(March 10.2008)--To celebrate International Women's Day on Saturday, March 8,Avon Products,Inc,a leading global beauty company with almost $10 billion in yearly income and the United Nations Development Fund for Women(UNIFEM)have announced their partnership to ensure women's rights and end violence against women. Avon has offered $1 million to the UNIFEM.The partnership will enlarge the work of the UN to improve women's economic security and rights. Oil prices fall below the $105 mark Bloomberg News(March 11, 2008)--Oil prices dropped below $105 yesterday after last week's record highs and it reduced tension between oil producers Venezuela and Colombia over the weekend. Cold weather in the United States and the continuing weakening of the US dollars were set as main factors supporting prices. The rush to a new record was driven by a US Labour Department report saying that employers cut 63,000 jobs in February--the biggest drop in five years. The above news items are most probably taken from_. A. business weeklies B. sports magazines C. daily newspapers D. political newspapers Answer: C. daily newspapers Charlie Chaplin was one of the greatest and widely loved silent movie stars. From "Easy Street" (1917) to "Modern Times" (1936), he made many of the funniest and most popular films of his time. He was best known for his character, the naive and lovable Little Tramp. The Little Tramp, a well meaning man in a raggedy suit with cane, always found himself wobbling into awkward situations and strangely wobbling away. More than any other figure, it is this kind-hearted character that we associate with the time before the talkies (sound films). Born in London in 1889, Chaplin first visited America with a theater company in 1907. Appearing as "Billy" in the play "Sherlock Holmes", the young Chaplin toured the country twice. On his second tour, he met Mack Sennett and was signed to Keystone Studios to act in films. In 1914 Chaplin made his first one-reeler, "Making a Living". That same year he made thirty-four more short films, including "Caught in a Cabaret", "Caught in the Rain", "The Face on the Bar-Room Floor", and "His Trysting Place". These early silent shorts allowed very little time for anything but physical comedy, and Chaplin was a master at it. Though Chaplin is of the silent movie era, we see his achievements carried through in the films of today. With the appearance of the feature-length talkies, the need for more subtle acting became apparent. To maintain the audience's attention throughout a six-reel film, an actor needed to move beyond constant comedy. Chaplin had demanded this depth long before anyone else. His strictness and concern for the processes of acting and directing made his films great and led the way to a new, more sophisticated, cinema. What do you think is the passage about? A. Life of Chaplin B. Works of Chaplin C. Characters of Chaplin D. An introduction of Chaplin Answer: D. An introduction of Chaplin
Last summer holiday, I took a trip to Yunnan. It is in the southern part of our country .It is really a very beautiful place-grand mountains, clean rivers and kind people. Trees and flowers are seen everywhere. Every year there are lots and lots of visitors. Maybe you have heard about Shi Lin (stone forests). There are all kinds of strange stones. Some of the small stones look like graceful girls; and the big stones look like handsome men. Other stones look like cats, peafowls, double-edged swords, mice, elephants and so on. Of all the stones, the stone like a beautiful girl in a legend is the most famous .Its name is A Shima. I also went to Li Jiang. The roads in that city are just like the Eight Diagrams. Any road in the city goes to the center of Li Jiang. A river runs through the whole city. If you go along the river, you'll never get lost. There are many ethnic minority people in Yunnan. They are very cordial. And they all like singing and dancing. We danced with them around the campfire that night. I really had a good time. I like the elephants and fruits there best. An elephant is even taller than me! I even mounted the elephant, though I was very afraid at first. But the elephant seemed very friendly. I took some photos with it. The fruits there are very fresh and delicious. They are very good for our health. The trip to Yunnan impressed me greatly. I will never forget it. Which of the following is not included in the advantages of Yunnan? Answer: As the global financial crisis hits the economy, it's tough finding a job--especially if you're competing with thousands of other hopeful students. Sometimes you get the interview, but don't quite seem to land the job because you don't have related experience. Don't despair! Here are a few tips that might give you an edge. Get connected to your network and try to expand it. Talk to friends, family and acquaintances. Let everyone know you are looking for a job. Prepare your resume carefully and be sure it's perfect. Have someone else read it over for typos and grammatical errors. Get professional help. It's worth the money to present yourself well. If money is tight, read books on resume writing from your public library or search for free help on the Internet. When you apply for a job, be sure you match and list any skills listed on the posting with the skills you have. If you get an interview, be sure to describe those skills thoroughly. Just having the skills is not enough. Expressing your abilities well can make all the difference in getting the job. Research typical interview questions and practice interviewing. Be well prepared for every interview.www.ks5u.com Don't be afraid to accept a position for which you are overqualified--if there's room for advancements. Many great job advancements come from first doing well at an entrylevel position. If you have the right skills and attitude, it won't be long before you're in the job you want. Volunteer for a few weeks in your field of study to gain experience if you feel your resume needs an improvement. When deciding what to wear for an interview, think about the position level and the dress code of the organization. Use every tool available to you. For example, this site has many job links for your use. Good luck! The purpose of the text is to _ . Answer: An object has a weight of 10 kg on the surface of Earth. If the same object were transported to the surface of Mars, the object would have a weight of 3.8 kg. Which best explains why the weight of the object changed when transported from Earth to Mars? Answer: Greeks play a special game at Easter and it's good fun! The rules of the game are as follows: 1.Everyone picks out a hard-boiled Waster Egg.2.Each player finds a partner.One person will be a "holder", and the other will be a "tapper".Holders should hold the egg with either the pointy end or the round end facing up.Tappers should hold the egg with that same end facing down.Tapping must be done pointy-end-to-pointy-end or round-end-to-round-end.3.With one good tap, the tapper tries to crack the holder's egg.One player will end up with a cracked egg.4.Each player finds another partner and repeats steps 2 and 3.(After one end of the egg is cracked, players may continue to play using the uncracked end).5.A player loses when both ends of his egg have been cracked.The winner is the person who still has an uncracked egg.6.Enjoy eating the eggs! Dye your Easter eggs.With an adult's help, dye hard-boiled eggs red using food coloring or egg dye.For a nice sheen, use a paper towel to rub some oil on each egg.But don't use too much oil---you wouldn't want your egg to slide out of your hand when you play the egg-cracking game! Why dye eggs red? Eggs represent new life and the red dye symbolizes the pain and suffering in the past. Why crack eggs? Some say that the cracking of the eggs symbolizes a wish to break away from human misery and enter the new life. Why is oil rubbed on the egg? Answer: How much paper do you use every year? Maybe you can't answer this question quickly. In 1900 the world's use of paper was about one kilogram for each person in a year. Now some countries use 50 kilograms of paper for each person in a year. But countries like America, England and Sweden certainly use more paper than other countries. Paper was first made in China about 2000 years ago. It was made from the hair-like parts of certain plants. Paper was not made in southern Europe until about the year 1100. In 1500, a German named Schaeffer found out that one could make the best paper from trees. After that the forest countries of Canada, Sweden, America, Finland became the most important ones in paper making. When we think of paper, we think of newspapers, books and writing paper. But there are many other uses. Only half of the paper is used for books and things like that. Paper is very good for keeping you warm. Houses are often insulated(, ) with paper. You may see some men asleep on a large number of newspapers. They're insulating themselves from the cold. In Finland the temperature is sometimes -40 centigrade (C). The farmers wear paper boots in the snow. Nothing could be warmer. Each year more and more things are made of paper. We have had paper cups and plates for a long time. But now we hear that chairs, tables and even beds can be made of paper. With paper boots and shoes, you can wear paper hats, paper dresses and paper raincoats. When you have used them away and buy new ones. People have made paper boats, but they haven't made paper planes or cars. Just wait they perhaps will. How much paper does each person use in a year in some countries now? Answer:
With fifteen years prefix = st1 /Britainand other nations should be well on with the building of huge industrial complexes for the recycling of waste . The word rubbish could lose its meaning because everything which goes into the dumps would be made into something useful . Even the most dangerous and unpleasant wastes would provide energy if nothing else . The latest project is to take a city of around half a million inhabitants and discover exactly what raw materials go into it and what go out . The aim is to find out how much of these raw materials could be provided if a plant for recycling waste were built just outside the city . This plant would recycle not only metal such as steel , lead and copper , but also paper and rubber as well . Another new project is being set up to discover the best ways of sorting and separating the rubbish . When this project is complete , the rubbish will be processed like this : First , it will pass through sharp metal bars which will tear open the plastic bags in which rubbish is usually packed ; then it will pass through a powerful fan to separate the lightest elements from the heavy solids ; after that founders and rollers will break up everything that can be broken . Finally , the rubbish will pass under magnets , which will remove the bits of iron and steel ; the rubber and plastic will then be sorted out in the final stage . The first full-scale giant recycling plants are perhaps fifteen years away . Indeed , with the growing cost of transporting rubbish to more distant dumps , some big cities will be forced to build their own recycling plants before long . The phrase "be well on with ......" (Para .1) most probably means_. A have completed what was started B get ready to start C have achieved a great deal in D put an end to Answer: C Below are Top 10 Scholarly Stars in America in 2011. It's not always about fame and fortune for these celebs - education is a priority in their lives. Find out what scholarly stars have earned degrees and diplomas or are returning to the classroom as you head back to school. No. 10: James Franco James has attended FOUR prestigious universities in his life: UCLA, New York University, Columbia University and Yale University. We hear he's is so serious about school, he missed the Oscar nominations to attend class! No. 9: Natalie Portman Natalie Portman is so Ivy League: she graduated from Harvard University in 2003, thanks to her parents, who she says always made sure she put her studies before her acting. No. 8: Haley Joel Osment When students at NYU heard Haley Joel would be joining them as a freshman in 2006, they chalked the campus' sidewalks with his famous Sixth Sense movie line: "I see dead people." No. 7: Emma Watson Although Emma Watson put her education on hold to wrap up the Harry Potter film series, in July 2011 she announced that she was going back to school at Brown University to complete her degree. No. 6: Dakota and Elle Fanning Celeb sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning are stars on screen and in class. Dakota was her high school's homecoming queen two years in a row while Elle, who still attends middle school, somehow manages to balance her acting career with math tests and gym class. No. 5: Mara Wilson Mara Wilson graduated from NYU in 2009. Mara, who played the adorable Nattie in Mrs. Doubtfire, eventually grew up and headed to New York to attend NYU's Tisch School of the Arts; she graduated in 2009. No. 4: Tyra Banks Tyra Banks is known for being a savvy businesswoman, but even the best could use some formal training. She enrolled in Harvard Business School in 2011 and even went so far as to live in a dorm with her fellow classmates! "We live in dorms," confirmed the TV star. "I have my own room but we share a kitchen, living room and study area. It's mandatory dorms. I freaked out. In the beginning I was like, 'Oh yes, I'm going to Harvard and I'll be at the Four Seasons down the street.' And they were like, 'Girl, you're living in dorms!'" No. 3: Shakira Singer Shakira is resting her hips and giving her brain a workout at UCLA, attending classes on the history of western civilization so she could "learn from the best". No. 2: Steven Spielberg Director Steven skipped getting a formal education to be an unpaid intern at Universal Studios, where he learned his tricks of the _ . But eventually he did go back and earned his film degree in 2002. No. 1: Danica McKellar Danica McKellar is a math whiz. She used to be known for starring as Winnie Cooper in the Wonder Years, but Danica is also a UCLA graduate, math whiz and education advocate who's written three best-selling books encouraging middle-school girls to have confidence and succeed in mathematics. What Danica McKellar and Natalie Portman share in common is that _ . A both put their education in the first place B they graduated from the same university C the two actresses wrote best-selling books D both of them will abandon their acting Answer: A As I grew older, Dad was to build all sorts of things for me as I explored a variety of interests: magic tricks, a toy circus, neighborhood shows and science projects. From as early as I can remember to the time I left home for college, I continued to come to him with a design or an idea, and he would figure out how to build it. In fifth grade, a schoolmate and I wrote a puppet show that we wanted to perform for our class. I made the puppet heads myself, and I made the costumes and curtains with Mon---who was as expert designing and sewing with cloth as my father was designing and working with wood and metal. With Dad I made the puppet stage, in our own invented style between kid and adult with me saying something like, " It has to be this high, and it needs to come apart and fold up so it can fit in the backseat of the car, and it needs to set up fast, and it needs to have different color1ed lights on top with switches you can reach to control them and a curtain you can pull from under it, even if you still have a puppet on your hand." Dad figured out how to make it all work, making plans as we went along. Then with the tools in his shop he built it, and I helped. Dad also spent a lot of time out in the garage or in the driveway working on the family car. I don't remember that he ever took it to a professional auto-repair shop. Maybe to save money, but also because he could usually figure out what needed fixing, just by taking it apart and looking. Though not trained as an auto mechanic, he could look under the engine cover and take parts and pieces out, spread them on a tarp to catch the oil and figure out what was supposed to happen to the machine and then figure out what wasn't happening and then replace the worn-out part or whatever and then put everything back together again. Who helped the writer to make the puppet? A The writer himself. B His classmate. C His teacher. D His parents. Answer: D Recently, I took part in the first strategic planning meeting at school. I didn't know what strategic planning meant when I was invited. So I set about trying to find out what it was. Later, I learnt it meant setting short and long term goals . The meeting took place in Ms Gallup's room on Tuesday after school. I really didn't know what to expect. I was very nervous ,but I felt very lucky to have been included. I really wanted to do the best I could. The desks in the room were laid out into two circles so that the upper school and lower school could be divided. There were fifteen students in the room. We were directed to discuss how to _ the school, what we'd like to be taught, and what we thought could be improved upon. I felt this was a very important responsibility as I was representing the fourth grade. So I tried to do the best I could. There were a lot of suggestions on how to improve our school. One student felt that the uniform sweater policy was really important and another student felt that building a paintable field would help improve the school greatly. I suggested that we should have Chinese classes because China is the most highly populated place on Earth with a growing industrial power. We should learn how to communicate with the Chinese . We discussed a lot and sometimes the discussion became heated, but they were interesting. I think it is amazing that the teacher asked the students about their opinions and gave us a voice. It is exciting if they adopt any of our suggestions. What dose the writer think of the discussions? A They were useless B They were too heated C They were surprising D They were interesting Answer: D Dear Jenny, Please take these things to your brother: his math book, baseball, notebook, CDs, and video tape. The math book is on the dresser. The baseball is under the bed. The notebook is on the bed. The CDs are in the drawer. The video tape is on the table. Thanks! Mom The _ are in the drawer. A rulers B books C CDs D pens Answer: C
Mosquitoes have an extraordinary ability to target humans far away and fly straight to their unprotected skin. Regrettably,mosquitoes can do more than cause an itchy wound. Some mosquitoes spread several serious diseases,including Dengue,yellow fever and malaria. Over one million people worldwide die from these diseases each year. New research now shows how mosquitoes choose who to bite. Mosquitoes need blood to survive. They are attracted to human skin and breath. They smell the carbon dioxide gas,which all mammals breathe out. This gas is the main way for mosquitoes to know that a warm-blooded creature is nearby. But mosquitoes also use their eyes and sense of touch. Michael Dickinson is a professor at the California Institute of Technology. His research shows how these small insects,with even smaller brains,use three senses to find a blood meal. Michael Dickinson's team used plumes--a material that rises into the air of carbon dioxide gas into a wind tunnel. They then used cameras to record the mosquitoes. The insects followed the plume. Then,the scientists placed dark objects on the lighter colored floor and walls of the tunnel. Mr. Dickinson said,at first,the mosquitoes showed no interest in the objects at all. "What was quite striking and quite surprising is that the mosquitoes fly back and forth for hours. These are hungry females and they completely ignore the objects on the floor and wall of the tunnel. But the moment they get a hit of CO2,they change their behavior quite obviously and now would become attracted to these little visual blobs ." This suggested to the researchers that a mosquito's sense of smell is more important in the search for food. Once mosquitoes catch a smell of a human or animal,they also follow visual signals. What do mosquitoes mainly use to find their targets? Sense of smell. At least once each winter I manage to get a good flight in the middle of a snowstorm. Last Sunday was that flight. My gliding partners had looked at the weather reports of showers and decided to stay at home. People say that you shouldn't fly by yourself, but on that day I felt the urge to go flying and so headed for my favorite gliding site. I had the mountain ridge to myself. After a smooth lift-off, I floated stably in the breeze, feeling at peace with myself and the world. I looked across the valley to Bedford and a moment later saw the town disappear in a band of snow that was moving towards me. The breeze remained strong enough for flying and I knew that as long as the _ was good, it was OK for me to stay in the air. The snow moved in and swirled around me. It was a light dry snow. The day was already very quiet but, somehow, the light snow made it even more silent. I felt like a snowflake. Two bald eagles joined me. They didn't pay me any attention and spent a few minutes flying around the ridge before disappearing. I flew through another band of snow. I had been flying for about 45 minutes when I next looked across the valley. I could see there were more bands of snow to come and the breeze was dying too. It was time to go home, get in a hot bath and warm up. I couldn't wait to tell my gliding partners that they had missed out on a perfect flight. Why did the author's gliding partners refuse to fly on that day? The weather did not permit Science has a lot of uses. It can reveal laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there's always a temptation to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author ofThe Social Animal, The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation. Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest bookThe Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren't? To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of subjects. Because of this, you might expect the book to cover a variety of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unusual, and perhaps unfortunate way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader's attention. So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters. On the whole, Brooks's story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong characters, the more serious problems withThe Social Animallie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks's attempt to translate his tale into science. What is the author's general attitude towards the book? Critical. It helps us understand the world better if we know a little geography and have some maps at hand. But with maps in Chinese only, misunderstanding is possible in studying world events. Chinese names are long, hard to pronounce and without meaning to a foreigner. For the opening of the country maps are important and helpful and needed badly. I wish maps various languages, such as those used in the United Nations, would come out and be sold in all bookstores open to Chinese. In the United Nations people use maps in _ . various languages Which of the following statements best describes one way that the Moon is different from Earth? The Moon has almost no atmosphere.
In Asia,there are special competitions where kites have complex designs and are fitted with instruments that make musical sounds as the wind blows through them.Although all kites have a similar structure ,they are widely different in size and shape.Kitefighting competitions are also held,in which competitors use their kites to attack and bring down their opponents' kites or cut their strings . For more than 15 years,the Big Wind Kite Factory has been giving kitemaking and kiteflying classes for the children on an island in Hawaii.In its kitemaking lessons,students can make kites in as little as 20 minutes!Children as young as four years old can learn how to fly a kite.Jonathan Socher and his wife Daphne started the kite factory in 1980.Their kites are made of nylon .Their designs are Hawaiian themes created by Daphne.The designs are cut out of the nylon with a hot knife that seals the edges and then fastened directly onto the kite. The kite that is used to give lessons is a regular diamond kite with a rainbow pattern.The difference between this kite and the ones they make during the lessons is that it is a twostring controllable kite.Big Wind employees fly the kite and for a few minutes show students how pulling on one line and then on the other controls the direction the kite goes in.Then the controls are given to the students. Jonathan insists that it is not necessary to make a huge impressive kite to have fun making and flying kites.Even the simplest structure can work,and can give hours of fun.Go on,give it a try! (2012*,D) According to Jonathan,what do you need to have fun with kites? Becky was really smart. She knew how to spell really well. She won every spelling prize from her teacher. Her teacher told her that soon the whole school would have a spelling test. Becky wanted to get the highest grade. Her two best friends were going take it too. She dreamed that they would all get prizes. Every day she practiced spelling new words. Her family always laughed. "Is that a spelling word Becky?" they would ask. Then they would all practice it together. Becky walked with her dog to school each day excited. Soon the day of the test arrived. Becky was not nervous. She had eaten a big breakfast. She had worn her lucky socks. She had spelled every single word she knew out loud. When Becky got her test, she picked up her sharpened pencil and happily started writing her name. The spelling test was going to be hard, but she could do it! What did Becky want to get the highest grade on? At the beginning of every year we promise ourselves we will live a healthier life, and exercise more. The year tarts with the best of intentions, but many times we are unable to keep up with very high goals. Good news is that a healthy lifestyle is achievable and it's all about making small changes that make a difference. News on healthy lifestyles says that the key is moderation and consistency. There are so many health and well-being products out there in the market promising many things. And although many may be true, select carefully. The basics of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a balanced diet and doing regular exercise. By eating well, it means really to make sure you include plenty of vegetables and fruit preferably in season in your diet, avoid fried and junk foods and foods high in sugar as well as processed foods. Eating fresh homemade meals rather than ready-made meals which are high in salt and sugar is always the better option. Reducing alcohol intake, drinking plenty of water and supplementing your diet with healthy snacks like nuts and seeds. For external care choose natural skin care products and hair care oil. Natural beauty care involves using natural moisturizers like Argan oil, Coconut oil and Sweet Almond oil. These nourish the skin far more than counter creams full of chemicals. Skin reflects what we put inside of us, so a healthy diet with plenty of greens and healthy protein will make your skin brighter. Of course exercise is essential but the key is regular and consistent exercise. So walking three times a week for 45 minutes is much more beneficial than a binge workout once a week. What does the passage mainly talk about? April 27 is Take Our Daughters to Work Day in Britain. Started at first in the United States and brought to Britain in 1994, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has become a special day for girls between 11 and 15. On that day thousands of girls take a day off school and go together with one of their parents to their work places. The purpose of this day is to broaden girls' horizons and raise their self-confidence. For many years people have thought that boys can do better than girls in society. But actually, "girls can be whatever they want to be just like boys, whether it is a pilot, a nurse or a chief executive ."says the chairman of the Our Sons and Daughters Charitable Trust, an organization which supported the activity of the Day. "Now the girls have a close look at what their parents are doing and this may help them to be more self-confident when they are faced with a choice of work." Schools and many companies support the activity too. Palmers Green High School for girls in north of London, has made the day a necessary part of careers education. Zarina Bart, 15, from Palmers Green, went with her mother Gwen to her Lawyer's office this year's Take Our Daughters to Work Day. "I learned how to fill in a legal aid form and I read details of a case. Then I went to see the actual trial." she said. Zarina found it interesting to see her mother at work. "It's really strange seeing Mum at work--running around, getting serious and telling people what to do." She has always liked this idea of going into law and thinks it likely that she will follow in her mother's footsteps. Having a chance to see how her mother works has given her more self-confidence. Experts believe that girls with higher self-confidence aim higher and are more likely to be successful in life. Parents have important effect on the confidence of teenage girls. If parents believe in their daughters and show examples both at work as well as at home for them, this will give a lot of help to girls. Take Our Daughters to Work Day is surely a step in the right direction. In the text the writer especially suggests the importance of _ . Canadian short story writer Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Eighty-two-year-old Munro is only the 13th woman to win the 112-year-old prize. Munro didn't publish her first collection of short stories until she was 37 years old, but her stories have always been well-received. Lots of her stories share similar themes and characters, but each story has its own twists and turns. Even though she's won Canada's most famous literary award, the Giller Prize, twice, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature is the cherry on top of Munro's career. "It brings this incredible recognition, both of her and her career, and of the dedication to the short story," said one person. Along with the well-respected title comes 1.3 million dollars.Munro said everything was "so surprising and wonderful" and that she was "dazed by all the attention and affection that has been coming my way." Munro knew she was in the running-she was named the second-most likely person to win this year's prize, after Haruki Murakami of Japan-but she never thought that she would win. Munro's win also represents the long way Canadian writers have come."When I began writing there was a very small community of Canadian writers and little attention was paid by the world.Now Canadian writers are read, admired and respected around the globe," Munro said on Thursday. She is technically not the first Canadian to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, but many like to think that she is.In 1976 Saul Bellow, who was born in Quebec but moved to Chicago when he was still a child, won the prize.Even though he was born in Canada, he is mostly considered to be an American writer. "This is a win for us all.Canadians, by our very nature, are not very nationalistic," said Geoffrey Taylor."But things like this suddenly make you want to find a flag." She wasn't sure if she would keep writing if she won the prize, saying that it would be "nice to go out with a bang.But this may change my mind." What does the passage mainly tell us?
if a person rips up their notebook, what happens? A. all the mentioned options B. the shape becomes different C. it takes a new structure D. it loses its original form Answer: A Mrs Green is going to give a birthday party for Mary . Mary is her daughter . Mary will be thirteen years old . A lot of Mary's friends are going to the party . There are going to be twenty girls at the party . Mrs Green are getting ready for the party . Mrs White is helping her . " That's a pretty ( ) cake , " Mrs White says to Mrs Green . " Thank you very much ." Mrs Green is going shopping now . She's buying fruit for the party . She buys a lot of oranges ,apples and bananas . Then she goes home . It's three o'clock in the afternoon . Everything is ready . Now the first girl is arriving . The party is going to start . How old is Mary now ? A. Eleven B. Twelve C. Thirteen D. Fourteen Answer: C seed dispersal is when the seeds of a plant are moved from the plant to a new what? A. planet B. bus C. page D. locale Answer: D HAVE FUN IN SPRING! Special four-week mini-session April -- May Acting Classes for Ages 4+ and Teens! Classes meet once a week for four weeks. All classes are led by highly experienced Dallas Children's Theater (DCT) artists. Since this is a mini-session, classes will not present a show. Pre-K (Pre-Kindergarten) students will explore stories and characters from the world of books and literature. For students in Act It Up (K-1st && 2nd-3rd) and Acting (4th-6th), the classes will explore characters, expression and creativity through creative dramatics activities. Full $80 payment per student is required for enrollment . Classes will be filled first-come-first-served. For questions or to enroll, contact Nancy Schaeffer at 214-978-0110 or nancy@dct.org. Tuesdays 4:00-5:30 April 22-May 13, 2008 Play Days -- Pre-K Explore the wonderful characters from your favorite books Act out the stories you know so well and maybe a few new ones too! Take turns being on the stage with your class as you become many fun and creative characters Act It Up! Grades K-1 & Grades 2-3 Explore the most important aspects of acting: Characters: Who are You? * Imagination: See where it takes you -- be creative! Wednesdays 4:30-6:00 April 23-May 14, 2008 Acting -- Grades 4-6 Explore the most important aspects of acting: * Characterization: Movement and Voice * Imagination: Listening, Learning and Taking a chance Auditions and Monologues -- Grade 7+ * Work on a monologue that you can use for any audition Learn the tricks for how to do your best at your next audition -- at school, church or local theater Get feedback from a professional and make improvements to your auditioning skills To attend the special four-week mini-session, you'll have to _ . A. register at DCT B. prove that you can act C. be old enough for each class D. pay $80 once a week Answer: C In a room at Texas Children Cancer Center in Houston, eight-year-old Simran Jatar lay in bed with a drip above her to fight her bone cancer. Over her bald head, she wore a pink hat that matched her clothes. But the third grader's cheery dressing didn't mask her pain and weary eyes. Then a visitor showed up. "Do you want to write a song?" asked Anita Kruse, 49, rolling a cart equipped with an electronic keyboard, a microphone and speakers. Simran stared. "Have you ever written a poem?" Anita Kruse continued. "Well, yes," Simran said. Within minutes, Simran was reading her poem into the microphone. "Some bird soaring through the sky," she said softly. "Imagination in its head..." Anita Kruse added piano music, a few warbling (, ) birds, and finally the girl's voice. Thirty minutes later, she presented Simran with a CD of her first recorded song. That was the beginning of Anita Kruse's project, Purple Songs Can Fly, one that has helped more than 125 young patients write and record songs. As a composer and pianist who had performed at the hospital, Kruse said that the idea of how she could help "came in one flash". The effect on the kids has been great. One teenage girl, curling in pain in her wheelchair, stood unaided to dance to a hip-hop song she had written. A 12-year-old boy with Hodgkin's disease who rarely spoke surprised his doctors with a song he calledI Can Make It. "My time with the kids is heartbreaking because of the severity of their illnesses," says Anita Kruse. "But they also make you happy, when the children are smiling, excited to share their CD with their families." Simran is now an active sixth grader and cancer-free. From time to time, she and her mother listen to her song,Always Remembering, and they always remember the "really sweet and nice and loving" lady who gave them a shining moment in the dark hour. What do we know about Anita Kruse's project? A. It helps young patients record songs. B. It is supported by singers and patients. C. It aims to replace the medical treatment. D. It offers patients chances to realize their dreams. Answer: A
Do you think hard work can make anything possible? If you don't, you may want to read the book We Can Do written by Moshe Kai Cavalin. It might change your mind. Moshe Kai Cavalin is a 14-year-old American boy. He is about to graduate from UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) this year. Before that, he had already gotten a degree from East Los Angeles Community College in 2009. Recently, Cavalin published the book We Can Do. In this book, he talks about how to achieve things we want, by keeping yourself focused and trying your best to do everything. He says this doesn't need genius , just hard work. Cavalin says being called a genius "has always bothered me... People need to know they don't have to be geniuses; they just need to work hard and they can achieve anything. If I can reach the stars, others can reach the Milky Way(,)." The idea of writing a book came from a teacher named Richard Avila at his first college. Cavalin says Avila inspired him to write a book to explain how he succeeded, so he could inspire other people. It took Cavalin four years to finish the book. Because his mother is Chinese, she wanted to publish the book in Chinese. So Cavalin translated the book into Chinese by himself. The book did well in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Cavalin says "If I can reach the stars, others can reach the Milky Way" to _ . A show he can do better than others B say working hard is the way to success C show a genius must be a really smart person D prove the Milky Way is farther than the stars Answer: B In James Cameron's fantasy films, such as Avatar and The Abyss, the unexplored is decorated in color and filled with alien danger. But on his dive to the deepest place on Earth, which took place on a Sunday last month, reality proved far different: white, deserted, and dull. "I felt like I literally had gone to another planet and come back," Cameron said after returning from the cold, dark place in the western Pacific Ocean, nearly 7 miles (11km) below the surface. "It was a very fantastic day." Cameron is the first person to explore the deepest valley in the ocean since two men made a 20-minute trip there in 1960. He spent about three hours gliding through the icy darkness, brightened only by lights on the one-man sub . This deepest section of the Mariana Trench is so untouched that at first it appeared dull. But there's something strangely interesting about the first pieces of video that Cameron shot -- a sense of aloneness. "It's really the sense of isolation, realizing how tiny you are down in this big, black and unexplored place," the Titanic director said. The wordless minute-long video, released by sponsor National Geographic, shows Cameron's sub gliding across what he calls "the very soft, almost gelatinous flat plain." To Cameron, the main thing was to appreciate being there. "There had to be a moment where I just stopped, and took it in, and said, ' _ What does that mean?'" Cameron told reporters during a conference call. The trip was only about half as long as planned because Cameron's battery ran low. He said he would return and film it in 3D for later viewing. "I see this as the beginning," Cameron said. "It's not a one-time deal and then moving on. This is the beginning of opening up this new frontier." What's the best title of the passage? A James Cameron's Fantasy Films. B The First to Explore the Deepest Place on Earth. C A Dive to the Deepest Place on Earth. D Crazy Cameron. Answer: C Anger is a kind of feeling. Many things can make you angry. When your teacher gives you too much homework, when your team loses an important game, when a friend borrows your favorite thing and then breaks it, you may get really angry. Usually, your body will tell you when you are angry. For example, you breathe faster, your face turns red, and you may want to break something or hit someone, but sometimes, you hide your anger. For example, you may hide it in your heart. The problem is that if you do this, you may get a headache or your stomach may hurt. In fact, it's not good to hide your anger, and it's normal for you to get angry sometimes. But anger must be let out in the right way, without hurting others or yourself. When you get angry, you can talk about it with other people. It's helpful to talk about your anger with an adult, such as parents, a teacher, etc. When you talk about anger, those bad feelings can start to go away. Here are some other things you can do when you start to feel angry: talk to a good friend; count from 1 to 100; give someone a hug ; go for a bike ride; think about good things, etc. Remember that how you act when you are angry can make everything better or worse. Don't let your anger you. You may not get angry when _ . A there is too much homework on this weekend B your favorite basketball team wins the game C a friend breaks your favorite thing D your parents don't let you watch TV Answer: B Here's a hotel worth writing home about:a company in Poland plans to build tourist accommodation under the sea.The structure can be dragged to a suitable location and placed on supports on the sea bed. The 'Water Discus' will be made up of an underwater disc containing 22 bedrooms with sea views, connected by lift and stairs to a disc above the surface containing other hotel facilities. Project manager Robert Bursiewicz says:"Nowadays it's possible to build submarilles which go deeper than 500m below the sea surface,so building an underwater hotel is not a problem." In fact,they don't plan to have the hotel very deep.Water acts like a filter for sunlight, and below l5m most colours,apart from blue,are washed out.And we all want to see colourful marine life,don't we? But this isn't the first hotel to offer underwater views from the bedrooms.The two-bedroom Jules' Undersea Lodge,off the coast of Florida,has been taking in guests 10m beneath the surface since 1986. The company that operates the hotel also runs a diving course for beginners to help get guests down and into the hotel.It is accessible only through an opening at the bottom. And you'll find all the usual facilities in the room,according to Teresa McKirma,Jules's chief financial officer.It has a television,air conditioning and wi--fi.But for the staft, simple things like cleaning and making beds can be challenging,since the lodge is in sea water. ''It actually takes quite a lot of work to get anything down there,"she says."We have to put everything in waterproof boxes and attach weights to them to counter their buoymacy ." The hotel has suitably sized waterproof boxes so that pizzas can be delivered by divers to guests wllo order them for their evening meal.And after a meal,if you can't sleep because of the excitement of the experience,you don't have to count sheep.You'll fall asleep quicker if you count fish. The new hotel will_. A have movable structure B contain three discs C be built 500m beneath the surface D come into use soon Answer: A Jean is a bright young woman who comes from a rich and famous family. She goes to a good university and has everything that money can buy, well, almost everything. The problem is that 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 time on her QQ. She likes being anonymous , talking to people who do not know about her famous family and her rich life. She uses the name Linda on QQ and has made a lot of friends who she keeps in touch with quite often. Last year Jean made a very special friend on QQ. His name was David and lived in San Francisco. David was full of stories and jokes. He and Jean had a common interest in rock music and modern dance. So it always took them hours to talk happily on QQ and sometimes they even forgot their time. Of course, they wanted to know more about each other. David sent a picture of himself. He was a tall, good-looking young man with a big happy smile. As time went by, they became good friends and often sent cards and small things to each other. When Jean's father told her that he was going on a business trip to San Francisco, she asked him to let her go with him so that she could give David a surprise for his birthday. She would take him the latest DVD of their own rock singer. But when she knocked on David's door in San Francisco, she found that her special friend was a twelve-year-old boy named Jim. Jean spends a lot of time on QQ because she is _ . A rich B famous C young D lonely Answer: D
At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that "The people were very attentive." John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that "Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . ." A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri's Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered "fire scars" on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree's cambium . Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. "The record fits pretty close," says Guyette. "We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there." Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, "Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes." Others gave different answers. One stated that a "flaming star" had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English. New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations. What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780? Answer: Macao is only forty miles from Hong Kong and it is easy to reach. You can get there by sea. It is an interesting place and it has a long history. Macao is a part of China and most people living there are Chinese. The first Europeans to go to Macao came from Portugal. More than four hundred years ago the Portuguese went there to trade with China. Some settled and made their homes there. They built strong forts to guard the city and the harbor . They also built churches, schools, hospitals and other places. Slowly the city grew. People from many countries came to live and work in Macao. Today many people visit Macao. Some only go there to watch dog-racing or motor-racing or to " _ with their money, whether they lose or win. But Macao is a quiet and peaceful place. It is pleasant just to walk around and look at the old buildings and forts. You feel you are back in the old days. Of course, some of the buildings are now in ruins . The Church of St. Paul has only the front wall with many steps leading up to it. But it is still interesting to see. When you are hot and tired, there are small cool gardens to rest in. When you are hungry, there are good restaurants with many kinds of food. Nearby are some islands, which are also nice to visit and are easy to get to. There is certainly a lot to see and to do in Macao. You feel in Macao you are back in the old days because _ . Answer: What can melting glaciers deposit? Answer: Sharing not only exists between humanbeings.As is often seen that some plants and anima1s live close together, and they depend on each other. They are usually very different from their partner, and yet all live easier lives because of each other. It is nature's idea of sharing. An example of a partnership is the shark and pilot fish. The pilot fish is a little fish only about nine inches long. He would be. helpless if he hung around by himself in the mighty ocean. He makes up for his size with his smartness. He cleverly swims along beside the shark. When the shark eats, the pilot fish gets the leftovers. And the pilot fish needn't worry about his safety. The shark also gets benefits from this relationship. The pilot fish cleans food scraps and insects from the shark's hide. Another example of depending on each other is the sea anemone and striped clown fish. The sea anemone looks like a flower and has petals that contain poisonous stinging cells. When small fish swim into the petals, the anemone traps and paralyzes them. However,the striped clown fish is able to swim into the poisonous petals without being harmed. When he is in danger, he quickly swims into the sea anemone and is unable to be seen by his enemies. To pay for his safety,the clown fish brings food to the anemone. He also guides other fish into the anemone's deadly trap. Large mammals such as the ox, antelope, rhinoceroses and African buffalo form such a relationship with the red-billed ox-peeker. They provide daily meals for the bird. In fact the bird eats insects. The various large mammals act as a restaurant with a varied menu for the ox-peeker. What do they get in return from the bird? Free beauty treatments! Some plants live together in a beneficial relationship of symbiosis. The fungus does not have chlorophyll that plants need to make food. However, green algae does contain chlorophyll. It is, therefore, able to feed the fungus along with itself. But nothing is free! The fungus repays it by protecting the algae. Since it takes in and stores water, it can provide the algae with a non-ending water supply. Why does the pilot fish swim along beside the shark? Answer: Air traffic controllers in the US have been advised to take 26-minute naps , after a series of accidents involving workers falling asleep. Now the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for "controlled naps" during nightshifts . NTSB member Mark Rosekind said that a 26-minute nap would improve performance by 34%. He believes that beyond the aviation industry, other professions, such as motoring and machinery, also carry obvious risks. But other experts doubt whether 26 minutes is the appropriate napping time. It's a bit too long and risks you falling into a deep sleep, says Jim Horne, director of the Sleep Research Council. He said, "A nap of about 15 minutes is best; once you get beyond 20 minutes, you risk a deep sleep and you can be much more tired when you wake up. Therefore, we suggest that a nap be combined with a cup of coffee so that you can enjoy an effective sleep before the caffeine takes effect in 20 minutes. However, this method only works on those who have had a poor night's sleep. If you haven't had a sleep the night before, this method won't be enough to make you fresh." Health writer, Linda Wasmer Andrews, also believes that 26 minutes is too long. She says a nap between 10 and 20 minutes is enough, and the timing of the nap is also important. Putting your head down too early means your body may not be ready to sleep yet, but a nap that is too late in a day might make it harder to fall asleep. Early afternoon is often the best time, between l pm to 3pm, when people experience a post-lunch decrease in energy. What does the text mainly talk about? Answer:

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