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Everyone agrees that it's necessary to reduce carbon emissions around the world. There is less agreement over exactly how nations should go about achieving a more carbon - free planet. Thus, the environmental equivalent: cap - and - trade carbon emissions, or place a carbon tax on all users? With cap - and - trade programs, governments limit the level of carbon produced by an industry. Companies that hold their emissions below the _ can sell their remaining allowance on a carbon market, while companies that go beyond their limit must purchase credits on that market. Carbon taxes are more straightforward: a set tax rate is placed on the consumption of carbon with the idea that raising the price will encourage industries and individuals to consume less. At the moment, cap-and-trade has the upper hand, but doesn't defeat the tax just yet. Supporters of the tax argue that a cap - and - trade system would be too difficult to administer - and too easily gamed by industries looking to sidestep emissions caps. Cap-and-trade advocates contradict that like all other flat taxes, a carbon collection would relatively burden lower - income families, who spend a greater percentage of their income on energy than rich households. So which system will have a larger effect on carbon consumption? A 10% carbon tax might reduce the demand for carbon about 5 % or less, according to an analysis by the Carbon Tax Center, an environmental advocacy group. That may not be enough. Businesses and governments haven't figured out how the two competing systems can work together, but in the end, the world may need both. The passage focuses on _ . Answer: Do you get angry when your friends sing loudly while you are trying to work or when your best friend does not wait for you after school? If you do,you need to take control of your feelings.Getting angry with others can cause you to 1ose friends. Gary Egeberg,an American high school teacher,has written _ to help you control your feelings.It tells how to stay cool when bad things happen. The book says that getting angry only makes problems worse.It can never make them better. "Getting angry is not a natural way to act,"the book says.It is just a bad habit,like smoking. The book says you can control your anger easily-all you have to do is to tell yourself not to be angry. The book gives many tips to help you if you get angry easily.Here are the top three. Keep a record.Every time you get angry,write down why you are angry.Look at it later and you will see you get angry too easily. Ask your friends to stop talking to you when you get angry.This will teach you not to be angry. Do something different.When you get angry,walk away from the problem and go somewhere else.Try to laugh. If you often get angry, _ . Answer: This might not sound so extraordinary, but I didn't just read a book in print, on an e-reader or even on a mobile phone. Instead, I read a book on dozens of devices . I was not trying to set a Guinness world record. I wanted to answer a question I often hear: which e-reader or tablet is the best for reading books? So I set out to try them all, reading a chapter on each: the Amazon Kindle, the first and second generation Apple iPads and mobile phones. To be fair, I also read a chapter in that old-fashioned form -- an old print paperback. The book I chose was The Alienist. For the first chapter, I turned to an Amazon Kindle. Shopping on Amazon for the Kindle is simple; you go to Amazon's Web site and buy the book, which is then sent to any devices with Kindle software installed . Reading on the Amazon Kindle is a joy in many aspects. The Kindle is light.Its six-inch screen is the perfect size for reading, and reading on its black and white E Ink display doesn't harm your eyes. Battery life is outstanding; on average you charge the device only once a month. My only complaint with the Kindle design is the placement of the keyboard at the bottom of the device. Amazon's CEO has noted during past product announcements that the keyboard is there to help people take notes or search. But to me,it seems like a waste of space. Despite the small screen on a mobile phone, I find reading on one to be simple and satisfactory. All of the mobile phones on which I read chapters felt somewhat similar; although screen brightness and the size of the phone's screen did vary. If I had wanted to, I could have bought my book through dozens of e-book apps in the Apple App Store. Most are free and offer access to thousands of free e-books or paid versions. But the big downside for many is that you can read them only on Apple devices. Both iPads 1&2 offer an immersive reading experience. I found myself jumping back and forth between my book and the Web, looking up old facts and pictures of New York City. I also found myself being sucked into the wormhole of the Internet and a few games of Angry Birds rather than reading my book. For the last chapters of the book, I read the paperback, which is still my favourite choice. Since we are comparing devices so I guess I need to choose one. In the end it might come down to Kindle. But if money is tight, go for print. My used paperback cost only$4 from Amazon. A possible customer would not buy iPads 1 & 2 for reading because _ . Answer: You may use a tree to Answer: From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once fatal illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and surgery. It is almost certain hat one day remedies will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the incredible slaughter of men, women and children on the roads. Man versus the motorcar! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen. It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motorcar often brings out a man's very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-years-olds and utterly selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments and jealousies seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving. The surprising thing is that society smiles so kindly on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy tragic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is desecrated by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten. It is high time a world code were created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are notoriously lax and even the strictest are not strict enough. A code which was universally accepted could only have a dramatically beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so, the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict annual tests for safety. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can weaken a person's driving ability. Present drinking and drinking laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Maximum and minimum speed limits should be enforced on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for manufacturers. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may sound extremely harsh. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the annual loss of human life. After all, the world is for human being, not motorcars. The main idea of this passage is that _ . Answer:
Do you know a child who has used first aid to save a life or help an injured person? St. John Ambulance is seeking young people who have acted quickly, calmly and effectively at a real emergency for its annual Young First Aider of the Year awards. The awards are open to all those under 18, and the closing date for nomination is April 30, 2016. The winners will be invited to attend a special ceremony in June, 2016. "St. John Ambulance believes it is essential for young people to learn first aid so that they can help anyone who is injured," said Sandra Stocker, director of St. John Ambulance Awards Committee. "The Young First Aider of the Year is a wonderful way to celebrate their bravery and quick-thinking." Nomination for the Young First Aider of the Year is now open. Please complete and return the nomination forms as soon as possible and certainly no later than April 30, 2016. The committee will decide which of the nominees will receive the Young First Aider of the Year awards by considering the actions of the nominees along with their ages and other factors. You should send any evidence you have with the nomination form, showing the nominees' actions. Examples of evidence could include: * Newspaper clippings of the incident. * Police incident record numbers. Once a nomination form is received, the nominee or nominator may be approached for further details of the incident. For further information please get in touch with Sandra Stocker by email or on 020-73244082 or 020-73244083. Find out who our winners will be for 2016. What does the St. John Ambulance Awards Committee intend to convey? Answer: Your peers are people your age or close to it who have experiences and interests similar to yours. You and your friends make dozens of decisions every day, and you influence each other's choices and behavior. This is often _ --- it's human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group. Sometimes, though, the stresses in your life can actually come from your peers. They may pressure you into doing something you're uncomfortable with, such as shoplifting, doing drugs or drinking, or taking dangerous risks when driving a car. The pressure to conform can be powerful and hard to resist. A person might feel pressure to do something just because others are doing it. Peer pressure can influence a person to do something that is relatively harmless--- or something that has more serious consequences. People may feel pressure to conform, so they fit in or are accepted, or so they don't feel awkward or uncomfortable. When people are unsure of what to do in a social situation, they naturally look to others for cues about what is and isn't acceptable. The people who are most easily influenced will follow someone else's lead first. Then others may go along, too --- so it can be easy to think, "It must be OK. Everyone else is doing it. They must know what they're doing." Before you know it, many people are going along with the crowd --- perhaps on something they might not otherwise do. Responding to peer pressure is part of human nature --- but some people are more likely to give in, and others are better able to resist and stand their ground. It's not always easy to resist negative peer pressure. But when you do, it is easy to feel good about it afterwards. And you may even be a positive influence on your peers who feel the same way --- often it just takes one person to speak out or take a different action to change a situation. What can we know according to the author? Answer: My name is Joan. I'm a student. I'm fifteen. My dad and mom are teachers. I have a sister. Her name is Lily. She is sixteen.She is a student,too.We are from Canada, but we are in Beijing now. Look! The man in a white coat is my dad. The woman in a red dress is my mom.The girl in a pink skirt is Lily and I'm in a yellow skirt. Are we cool? ,. Joan's mom is _ . Answer: 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. At the exhibition, you'll see _ . Answer: There are lots of animals on the earth. What is the biggest animal of all? The whale is. A blue whale weighs more than a hundred tons. Whales live in the sea, but they are not fish. They are mammals and must have air to breathe. The babies drink milk from the mother's body. Every spring, groups of whales swim hundreds of kilometers to warm places. Each group goes to the same place every year. The mothers take very good care of their babies. Whales are a gentle kind of giant. They always live together and help each other. They "talk" to each other in the water with a high noise that sounds like singing. Yet people kill over a hundred whales a day. They kill them to make many things. The whale dies very slowly and in great pain. Some ships kill every whale they can find, even mother whales and babies. If things go on like this, there will be no young whales to grow up and no mother whales to have more young. Whales can live _ . Answer:
The great Snipe is a little shore bird-not one that would be considered a great athlete. However, a recent study has shown that these slightly fat birds not only fly nonstop for long periods of time during their annual migration, but do so at record speeds. The brown migratory birds that are about the size of a pigeon spend their summers in Eastern Europe and winters in Central Africa, a distance of about 2,800 to 4,000 miles. In May 2009, a team of researchers led by Dr. Raymond Klaasen from Sweden's Lund University fitted ten Great Snipes with tiny geo-locating devices that allow scientists to figure out when and where the birds travel, and let them loose. The following year they found three of the birds and took back the devices. What they discovered was quite _ . All three birds had flown nonstop to Central Africa in August of 2009-one had flown 4,225 miles in just 3.5 days. The second one had covered a distance of 3,833 miles in three days, while the third had managed to fly 2,870 miles in a mere 48 hours or two days. Even more surprising was that these birds had traveled at speeds that averaged about 50 miles per hour-making it the fastest known migration ever. While many birds migrate longer distances, they do so over a period of a few months, resting and feeding in between. However, despite the fact the Great Snipe has plenty of opportunities, it does not stop. And they do the entire flight with their own power, with no assistance from the wind. The tiny bird is able to make this unbelievable direct flight because of all the fat it gradually gathers in its body, which it then uses as fuel. Native no North Eastern Europe, Great Snipes live in marshlands and wet meadows . But they are also on the list of endangered animals because of loss of habitat. During their migration, Great Snipes _ . A. frequently pause to feed B. fly with the help of the wind C. use the fat in their body as fuel D. sometimes take the opportunity to rest Answer: C In 1953, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary, then 33, joined a British Qomolangma expedition led by Colonel John Hunt. Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans were the first team to attempt the summit . Despite a violent storm, they reached the South Summit -- at 28,700 feet (8,748 meters) -- by 1 p.m. on May 26. But both men knew they would run out of oxygen if they went on. They agreed to turn back. Two days later, Hillary and Norgay, set out from Camp IX at 25,900 feet to make the next attempt. At 27,900 feet they made a temporary camp on a six foot wide rock to spend the night. At 6:30 the next morning, cheered by clearing skies, the team moved out. Roped together, cutting steps with their ice axes, they inched up a steep, knife-edged ridge southeast of the summit. They reached the South Summit by 9:00 a.m. Farther up, they met a 40-foot icy rock face, which was later named the Hillary Step. "...looking up at the rock step at 29,000 feet, it really did look extremely difficult to overcome," said Hillary. But they found a narrow crack on the surface of the rock, just large enough to move inside on hands and knees, and managed to climb it by supporting feet against one side and backs against the other. Hillary said, "That was really the first moment during the whole of the expedition that I was confident that we were going to get to the top." The last few yards to the summit were relatively easy. "Then I realized that the ridge, instead of rising ahead, now dropped sharply away," Hillary said. "I looked upward to see a narrow ridge running up to a sharp point. ...and we stood on the summit." It was 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953. When looking back, Hillary described the Hillary Step as _ . A. much easier to climb than she expected B. impossible for her to overcome again C. easy to climb up but hard to climb down D. one of the biggest barriers before the summit Answer: D A fried of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a naughty street boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.. Paul nodded, "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was surprised. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything? I wish..." He hesitated . Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said made Paul think all the way. "I wish ," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Paul looked at the boy in surprise, adding, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" "Yes, I'd love that." After a short ride, the boy turned and said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled, He thought he knew what the boy wanted. But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a while Paul heard him coming back, but he didn't come fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He pointed to the car and said, "There it is, Buddy, just like I told you up stairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas. And some day I'm going to give one just like it and then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying tell you about. " Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what "It is more blessed to give" means. (Originally created) The last sentence "It is more blessed to give" in this story means following EXCEPT _ . A. It is better to help than to get helped. B. The more help you give to others, the happier you will feel. C. To help other people is a way to make a person to become a true man. D. To give away all your wealth, otherwise, you won't be blessed by God. Answer: D Forget about Super Junior. We now have TFBOYS. TFBOYS is a popular Chinese boy band made up of three members. They are Wang Junkai, 14, Wang Yuan, 13, and Yi Yangqianxi, 13. The boys are all junior middle school students. The band name TFBOYS means The Fighting Boys. TFBOYS started in 2013, but has become popular in just one year. Fans love their sweet looks and cute voices. Their songs are full of positive energy. In their latest single Magic Castle(<>), they call on teenagers to not be afraid of dreaming big. The three boys are all top students in school. Wang Junkai, the eldest, has recently taken the senior middle entrance exam . We hope he's done well. The band has become popular because _ ? A. Fans love their sweet voices B. Fans love their cute looks. C. Their songs are full of positive energy. D. All the above Answer: D Last month, Justin Valdez, a college student, was shot in a subway station in San Francisco. The surveillance video showed that before Justin was killed, the killer pulled out his gun several times, and even wiped his nose with it. However, nobody noticed the killer. The surrounding passengers all focused on their cell phones. We may see the same scene everywhere in our life: in subway stations, restaurants, elevators and so on, people are watching their cell phones. From a family reunion to a date with a friend, people couldn't stop checking their twitter and facebook on the cell phones and ignoring the persons in front completely, Phubbing not only involves young people, but also the elderly and kids. "Phubbing" is a new term which comes from the words "phone'' and "snub ". It describes the habit of snubbing someone in favor of a cell phone. The word "phubbing" was included in the Australian National Dictionary in 2012. Obviously, the indifference) and rudeness of the information age are spreading globally. A Stop Phubbing campaign website has been set up. You can find the slogan of the website as follows: "stop twittering, stop posting photos...enjoy your food, enjoy the music and respect others." Phubbing appears harmless. However, it does influence our life. Jimmy, an epicure , wrote in his blog: "I can no longer focus on what I am eating since I started twittering. My skill of food photography has improved very fast, while my interest in food drops as a result." Let us put down our cell phones and re-enjoy the real taste of our food and the warmth of interpersonal communication. Jimmy's words suggest that _ . A. phubbing is actually harmless B. phubbing stops people enjoying their life C. phubbing affects people's eating habits the most D. phubbing helps people improve their photographic skills Answer: B
David likes to eat in KFC. He often eats a chicken hamburger and French fries. Most people working in KFC know David very well. Sometimes they often ask him, "How many times do you eat chicken hamburgers and French fries a week?" David will answer, "Three times a week." "Why do you like KFC better?" They ask. "Because every time I can get a small toy car." People around him laugh and say, "Why don't you go to the toy store ? " "Because in the toy store they don't have KFC." How often does David go to KFC? Answer: People have talked about whether aliens are real or not for thousands of years.Some ancient drawings over 50,000 years ago are thought to be the first pictures of spacecrafts.Alien spacecrafts are often called flying saucers .The first person to use this name was an Amerlean,Kenneth Arnold.On 24th June,1947,he was flying a small plane in Washington State in the USA when he saw something strange."I was looking out of the window,"Arnold said,"when I saw nine saucer-like things in front of me." Two other Americans,Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker,said that aliens took them into a flying saucer! They were fishing on the Mississippi River in the USA on the night of 11th October,l973.It was a dark night.The two men were sitting in their fishing boat when they saw a bright light.It was hanging in the air over the water and it looked like a flying saucer and brought Hickson and Parker into their spacecraft.In the spacecraft the aliens looked at the two men very carefully and then took them back to their boat."The aliens were in a pale colour and had very small eyes." Hiekson said."But they didn't hurt us." In l983,Pioneer 10,an American spacecraft,went into space.On the outside of the spacecraft are 13 pictures of men and women,and a map of space.If aliens find Pioneer 10,they will know how to get to the Earth! What is special about Pioneer 10? Answer: Understanding the process of making career choices and managing your career is a basic life skill that everyone should understand. Your career decisions have such a profound effect on all aspects of your life. It's important to have the knowledge and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions. Whether you are looking for a new job, aiming to take the next step at your current job or planning your retirement options, you are making career decisions. Using good resources and the guidance of a career counselor can help you to make those decisions well. Many people mistakenly believe that choosing a career is a one-time event that happens some time in early adulthood. However, career management is actually a life-long process, and we continue to make consequential career choices over the years. When people want to take action in their career, career management and job search are about so much more than writing a good resume. If you learn about and act on the following areas of career management, you'll be rewarded throughout your career. Your interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities should all be taken into account in any career decision making process. You spend countless hours at work, and it impacts your life in so many ways; it makes sense that you should be fully informed before making such profound decisions. Do you know how many different career choices are available to you? Both The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (American) and The National Occupational Classification (Canadian) list well over 20,000 different job titles. So unless you've actively explored a variety of career options, there's a very good chance that there are great possibilities available to you, and you don't even realize they exist. Match your understanding of yourself with your understanding of possible career options. Once you have developed a good understanding of yourself, you will be able to combine that self-knowledge with your career and labor market research to determine potential careers that are a great fit for you. When you've made a well informed decision, then you're ready to make it happen. Making use of good career guidance and resources will help you to acquire the education, skills, and experience needed to get the job and learn and implement effective job search strategies. Time spent understanding your needs, researching your career options and developing outstanding job search skills, guided by great career resources, is a powerful investment in your future. It can be inferred that _ . Answer: Thailand is a country with a long and rich history. It is also one of those countries which have many traditions which modern times fortunately have not affected. Thailand is famous for its unique culture. It is well worth noting that Thai culture handed down from one generation to the next. Thai Classical Dance The inspiring culture includes local music and wonderful Thai dances. The dances of course have something to do with its deep rooted Buddhist religion, fighting arts and beautiful clothing. Thai classical dance performances are generally performed by gracious Thai ladies wearing beautiful Thai local costumes. Most resort areas and many hotels frequently offer these Thai culture dance shows for foreign visitors. Thai Greeting The Thai unique gesture of greeting another person, the wai, is especially one of the great aspects of Thai culture. The wai is when a person joins both hands to either head or chest level while bending their head slightly towards their hands. This way of greeting is especially done when a younger person greets an older person and it indicates a sign of respect to their elders. Employees would also wai their managers even if the manager would be younger than themselves. Bangkok Bangkok is the culture center of Thailand and has been the Thai capital since the end of the eighteenth century. Observing Thai culture in Bangkok can be great experience as the combination of modern times and traditions have created a kind of unique atmosphere. Bangkok offers a package of Thai culture which is shown by numerous beautiful Buddhist temples and many examples of modern Thai architecture. Bangkok National Museum Another location in Bangkok where one can enjoy and see Thai culture is at the famed Bangkok national museum, which offers tourists an opportunity to view national treasures and unique Thai art pieces with its culture feature dating back as early as the late sixteenth century. If you want to watch Thai culture dance shows you can go to _ . Answer: A well-dressed man came to a famous jewelry shop. He explained that he wished to buy a pearl for his wife's birthday. The price didn't matter. Since business had been very good for him that year. After examining a nice black one that cost $5000, he paid for the pearl in cash, shook hands with the jeweler, and left. A few days later the man returned and said that his wife liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality, because she wanted a pair of earrings made, "Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl? " said the man. The jeweler regretfully replied, "I would say it's exactly impossible to find one exactly like that pearl. " The rich man insisted that the jeweler advertise in the newspapers, offering $ 25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the advertisement but nobody had a pearl that was just right. Just when the jeweler had given up hope, a little old lady came into his store. To his great surprise, she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse. "I don't like to part with it," she said sadly, "I inherited it from my mother, and my mother inherited it from hers. But I really need the money. " The jeweler was quick to pay her before she changed her mind. Then he called the rich man's hotel to tell him the good news. The man, however, was nowhere to be found. He paid $ 5,000 for the black pearl without bargaining because _ . Answer:
AFRICAN MANGO FAQs Q : How do I use AFRICAN MANGO? A : It's simple... Just take one rapid - release capsule , 3 times daily before meals (i.e., 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch, and dinner.) Q : Is it safe? A : Yes. Unlike other diet pills, Pure African Mango Extract (lrvingia gabonensis) does not contain any natural or artificial stimulants. Clinical studies have shown this nutrient to be both safe and well-tolerated. It's easy on your system and helps you lose body fat naturally. Q : Who uses AFRICAN MANGO? A : Everybody from A-List Hollywood movie stars to everyday men and women who want to lose pounds and inches of excess body fat. It's currently popular in Hollywood today because many of today's movie scripts call for actors and actresses to be in their absolute best shape. Q : Do I have to exercise and diet in order to see results? A : Research shows 100% Pure African Mango Extract helped people lose weight and belly fat without additional diet or exercise. However, in order to achieve your best weight-loss results, we highly recommend incorporating fun lifestyle exercises (like walking, tennis, etc.) and replacing high-calorie foods with healthy nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and lean proteins. Also, drinking more water daily speeds weight loss, according to a new study from Viginia Tech University. Q : When I place my order, it's a one-time-only transaction , right? A : Yes. Rest assured. When you shop with us, you can shop with confidence and peace of mind. Every order placed with us is 100% safe and secure. Our site is scanned and tested daily by McAfee SECURE. "The McAfee SECURE" trust mark (see the upper-left corner of our website) only appears when the website has passed their intensive, daily security scan. What's more, our customers never have to worry about being enrolled in auto-reship or auto-rebilling scams . Each and every order placed with us is a one-time-only transaction. CONSUMER TIP: Beware of sites that offer "free trials", which claim to charge only a small fee for shipping. However, more often than not, these "free trials" websites will continue to charge your card for regular monthly shipments if you don't return your "free trials" within 10 to 14 days. As the Official Website of African Mango, we offer only the purest, most effective African Mango available. What's more, as an accredited business, we do not engage in auto-rebilling, auto-reshipping, or any other business practices that are considered morally unacceptable. Your results, and your satisfaction, are 100% guaranteed. In what way will the medicine take effect to its fullest? Answer: A healthy diet, adequate water and more exercise will contribute. I am a person who does not like to wait.I don' t like lines, being put on hold when making a phone call, arriving at an appointment to find that my companion will be delayed and of course, I don * t like waiting rooms. However, I realize that my agony will not be good for me, as an increasingly, crowded world can only mean one thing--more waiting. Owing to this, I have taken a measure and decided to turn my disappointment to productive ends.In short, I am looking for what I call "waiting in line books". These are books that contain material designed for being read in shortened words, so there is no extended story line to lose track of.Another requirement is that they be small enough to slip neatly into my back pocket. The other day I went to the supermarket.Convinced that the rain would keep most people away, I was surprised to see that the place was crowded with shoppers.Every checkout was open--and jammed! But I could take out my pocket book and go to work. The more the world demands that I wait, the more I learn from my waiting library.Look at these titles: One Hundred Things Every American Should Know; The Poetry of Robert Frost; Living Thoughts of Leading Thinkers; Still More Toasts.I have learned interesting and enriching things and much knowledge from these books. On a recent visit to the general store, I placed my order at the counter along with six or seven other people.The one female employee seemed to have her hands full as she rushed about."Just be patient," she said to me. No problem.I quietly opened my dictionary of prose and poetical quotations. Perhaps the other customers regarded me as a bookish, lonely soul.But little did they realize that I was enjoying the company of Shakespeare, Thoreau, Homer and Ben Johnson. How did the author overcome his agony of waiting? Answer: By reading books designed to be read in shortened words. What's on TV? 6:00 Channel 3Let's Talk! Guest: Animal expert Jim Porter Channel 5 Cartoons Channel 8 News Channel 9 News 7:00 Channel 3Cooking with Cathy Tonight: Chicken with mushrooms Channel 5 MovieA laugh a Minute(1955) James Rayburn Channel 8 Spin for Dollars! Channel 9 Farm Report 7:30 Channel 3 Double Trouble (comedy)The twins disrupt the high school dance Channel 9 Wall Street Today. Stock Market Report 8:00 Channel 3 NBA Basketball. Teams to be announced Channel 8 Movie At Day's End (1981) Michael Collier, Julie Romer. Drama set in World War II Channel 9 News Special "Saving Our Waterways: Pollution in the Mississippi" Which is most probably the News Channel? Answer: Channel9. Riding School: You can start horse-riding at any age. Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (3:30p.m. on Saturday). There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country. You will need a riding hat. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00a.m.---8:30 p.m. Phone: (412) 396---6754 Fax: (412)396---6752 Sailing Club: Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course member , afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two-hour 1essons (Tuesdays 6 p.m.~8 Pp.m.). Opening Hours:Tuesdays:6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6644 Fax:(412)396--6644 Diving Centre: Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week,in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need your own swimming costume and towel.Reduced rates for couples. Opening Hours:Monday and Friday:6:30 p.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6312 Fax:(412)396--6706 Medical Center: The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university.The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation.Also,all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores. Opening Hours:24 hour from Monday to Sunday Phone:(412)396--6649 Fax:(412)396--6648 Watersports Club: We are a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water-skiing, A beginners' course consists of ten 20-minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. with lessons all through the day. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00a.m. ---4:00 p.m. Phone: (412)396---6899 Fax: (412)396---6890 If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings,you may fax _ . Answer: (412)396--6752 There's a small town in the central part of England called Gotham. Some say it's a town of fools. Others say all the villagers are wise. Let me tell you about the people of Gotham so you can decide for yourself. Long ago, England was ruled by a cruel king named John. One day, the people of Gotham heard that King John and his men would soon be riding through their town.This worried the villagers, for they knew the greedy king would demand food and accommodation for his men. What's more, if he saw anything to his liking, he would surely take it. A town meeting was called. After much discussion, the townspeople decided to cut down a number of huge trees to block the roads leading into Gotham. When King John and his men reached the outskirts of the village, they could not pass. Angry, King John ordered his men to go into the town and punish the villagers. When the king's officers finally made their way over the trees, they found a village of fools. Some say that was because the people of Gotham had a plan--they had decided to act like fools since they had never heard of anyone being punished for being a noodlehead. Others say that's just the way they were. In the village, the king's men encountered a man riding a donkey. The man was bent over because he carried a huge bag of grain on his own shoulders. He looked exhausted. One of the king's men approached him and asked, "Why, in heaven's name, are you carrying that bag? Why don't you just put it behind you on your donkey's back?" "You see," replied the man from Gotham, "my donkey is feeling poor today. It's bad enough that she has to carry me, so I decided to lighten her burden by carrying the bag myself." The king's men said, "But sir, don't you see that if you're riding on top of the donkey, she's still carrying the weight of the bag?" The man didn't reply. He just looked at the king's men as if they were crazy and went on his way. The king's officers giggled at the foolishness of the man. Before long, they passed a pond where they found a number of villagers in the midst of a great argument. Two of them were holding a big eel. "Quiet down," commanded one of the king's men. "What's the problem here?" One of the villagers stepped forward and said, "Last year we took all the extra fish we [caught and put them in this pond so they would multiply. But this year when we came back, all we caught was this one huge eel. Obviously it has eaten all of our fish! Since then, we have argued long and hard over how to punish this bad eel. But we have finally agreed on the perfect punishment. We are just about to drown the eel in this very pond!" The king's officers couldn't believe their ears. Drown an eel whose home is in the water? These men were sillier than the first man they met! Before long, they reached the center of the village, where they were in for another surprise. There they found the rest of the townspeople building a towering stone wall. When the soldiers inquired what was going on, one of the villagers replied, "Every spring a cuckoo comes to live in our village. It always brings warm weather. When it leaves, the cold weather returns. Last year we decided that if we could get the cuckoo to stay here all year, we would always have warm weather. We built this stone wall, but it obviously wasn't high enough because the bird flew away. This year we're determined to build it so high that the cuckoo can't escape." The king's officers had heard enough. They couldn't bring themselves to punish such stupid people. They returned to King John and told him all about the fools of Gotham. Whether it's fair or not, the people of Gotham have been known as fools ever since. What do you think? Were the villagers of Gotham wise or foolish? Why do the townspeople cut down the trees? Answer: To block the roads to the village.
When I was watching a sports event yesterday, I met with an amazing sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of pure courage and determination. The event was swimming. I watched a man dive off the blocks and knew right away that something was wrong. I'm not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold -- his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. I heard the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out. But in those few awkward strokes, the crowd changed. No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and yell things like, "Come on, you can do it!" He did. The crowd went wild. Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to take part in the event. Even though he recorded the slowest time, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors--a man that gave his all, knowing that he had no chance but to compete because of the spirit of the games. Which one is the best title of the story? A Successful Swimmers B Go for it C What an Event D Awkward Strokes Answer: B Which activity has the invention of the light bulb helped the most? A swimming B walking C reading D talking Answer: C The train started moving. There were many people of all ages. Most of them were working men and women and young college boys and girls. Near the window sat an old man with his son, who looked about thirty years old. As the train moved, the son was filled with joy because he was very excited at the scenery outside. He said in a high voice, "See, Dad, the green trees and the scenery are very beautiful!" It made the other people feel very strange. Everyone started talking in a low voice about the old man's son. A few minutes later it started raining. Raindrops fell on the travelers through the opened window. Seeing the rain, the old man's son said happily, "See ,Dad, how beautiful the rain is!" Hearing these words, a young lady became angry with the man, as the raindrops were dropping on her new clothes. She shouted at the noisy son and his father. "Can't you see it is raining? You! Old man! If your son is not feeling well, get him to a mental hospital quickly and please don't disturb us any more!" The old man's face turned red and then he answered in a low voice, "We are on the way back from hospital. He couldn't see anything at birth. Only last week he could see again. The rain and the nature are new to him. Please _ him." All the other people became quiet. What was wrong with the son when he was born? A He had mental illness. B He couldn't see. C He couldn't hear. D He couldn't walk. Answer: B Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All believed that they were the most important. " Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. Without me, all animals would die. " Green said. " You only think about the earth," Blue interrupted, " but consider the sky and the sea. The sky gives space, peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing. " Yellow shouted, " You are all so serious. I bring laughter and warmth into the world. Without me there would be no fun. " Orange started next , " I am the color of health and strength. My beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you. " Red could stand it no longer, he shouted out, " I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and of bravery. Without me, the earth would be an empty as the moon. " Purple rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp , " I am the color of loyalty and power. I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey. " Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, " I represent thought and reflection . You need me for balance and contrast . " Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning. Rain started to pour down and speak " You should stretch across the sky in a great bow of color. Remember to appreciate one another. Only the rainbow is the most beautiful. " Purple thinks people should listen and obey him because he stands for _ . A life B peace C power D strength Answer: C Some weird , wild and wonderful stories color1ed the news in 2010: A Copenhagen bus company has put "love seats" on 103 of its vehicles for people looking for a partner."Even love at first sight is possible on the bus," said a spokesman for the British Arriva company to explain the two seats on each bus that are covered in red cloth and a "love seat" sign. Shoppers at an international luxury fair in Verona, Italy, found a cell-phone-equipped golden coffin among the items on display.The phones will help "the dead" contact s if they have been buried alive by mistake. A man in New York came up with a disarming way to set off his latest bank heist, approaching the clerk's window with a large bunch of flowers and handing over a hold-up note saying "give me the money!" An Englishman who lost all his legs and arms in an electrical accident successfully swam across the Channel, a challenge he had been preparing for two years.The whole cost is 400 dollars. A set of artificial teeth made for Britain's war-time prime minister Winston Churchill known as "the teeth that saved the world" sold for nearly 18,000 pounds (21,500 euros, 24,000 dollars) at auction . A British woman caused an Internet hate campaign after she was caught on camera dumping a cat in a rubbish bin.She was fined 250 pounds (400 dollars, 280 euros) after pleading guilty. The BBC apologized completely and without any doubts after a radio presenter jokingly announced that Queen Elizabeth II had died. Two Australian men needing surgery after shooting each other in the buttocks during a drinking session to see if it would hurt were charged 400 dollars separately. A Kuwaiti MP proposed state-aid for male citizens to take second wives, in a bid to reduce the large number of unmarried women in the state. Who had to pay 400 dollars for the surgery? A A British woman who dumped a cat in a rubbish bin. B One who bought Winston Churchill's artificial teeth. C One of the Australian men who shot each other for the pain test. D An Englishman crossing the Channel without legs and arms. Answer: C
Good health is the most valuable thing a person can have, but one cannot take good health for granted. It is important to remember that the body needs proper care in order to be healthy. There are three things that a person can do to help stay in good shape: eat right food ,get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. Proper nutrition is important for good health. Your body cannot work well unless it receives the proper kind of "fuel" .Don't eat too much food with lots of sugar and fat. Eat plenty of foods high in protein ,like meat, fish, eggs and nuts. Vegetables and fruits are very important because they provide necessary vitamins and minerals. However, don't overeat. It is not helpful to be overweight. Getting the proper amount of sleep is also important. If you don't get enough sleep, you feel tired and easily get angry. You have no energy. Over a long period of time a little a amount of sleep may even result in a change of personality .Be sure to allow yourself from seven to nine hours of sleep each night. If you do, your body will feel strong and refreshed, and your mind will be sharp. Finally, get plenty of exercise. Exercise firms the body, strengthens the muscles, and prevents you from gaining weight. It also improves your heart and lungs. If you follow a regular exercise program, you will probably increase your life-span .Any kind of exercise is good. Most sports are excellent for keeping the body in good shapes: basketball, swimming, bicycling, running and so on are good examples. Sports are not only good for your body, but they are enjoyable and interesting, too. If everybody, were to eat the right foods, get plenty of sleep and exercise regularly, the world would be a happier and healthier place. We would all live to be much older and wiser. In order to keep good health, _ . A we should eat a lot of sweets B one needs a large amount of fat C people should eat according to the foods nutrition D we must try to sleep now and then Answer: C For most seventh graders,life doesn't get much harder than a history test.But for Grant Reed of Bellville,Ohio,it's his own current events that are so painful."Honestly,I don't want to die,"Grant says.Last year,doctors at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus found a tumor in Grant's brain.They cut it out,but the surgery left him with stroke--like symptoms.Plus,he had to go through months of radiation and chemotherapy to try to stop the spread of the disease. Yet,through it all,Grant has shown remarkable determination,which he owes, partly,to Ohio State football.His parents,Troy and Denise,were both in the OSU marching band and fell in love during halftime of the Michigan game.His cat is named after the team Buckeye.His wardrobe is painted scarlet(the color1 of the team's sportswear).The point is,almost nothing mattered more to Grant than Ohio State football-until he got sick,of course. ''I didn't like the word cancer,"Grant says.So he decided not to use the word.Instead,the kid named his cancer Michigan and insisted everyone in his life refer to it as such,because Ohio State always beats Michigan.That was something he could understand and make it into a competition.He was going to beat this disease. It's now been more than a year since Grant issued that announcement."And if you look at his scans,"Dr.Randal Olshefski at Nationwide Children's says,"There's nothing there.There's a big space,but there's no tumor.'' "Grant is beating Michigan.And although much of it has to go to science,don't discount the semantics .You have to do something to make it a disease you can fight.And for Grant,that was naming it Michigan."his parents say. This weekend,Ohio State and Michigan will be battling like their lives depend on it.But in this house,the Reed family will be watching with a calm insight:it's just a game. By saying that it's just a game,we can infer that the Reed family_. A has lost interest in the match between Ohio State and Michigan B believes Michigan will surely beat Ohio State this weekend C has a better understanding of life D views the match as a matter of life and death Answer: C Of all the websites,one that has attracted attention recently is _ .Most of this attention has come from the media and tells every reason why the website should be shut down.The threat of internet predators is indeed a tough reality,but shutting down the site is not the answer.If _ were shut down,another site would quickly take its place.Therefore,the right way is to teach teens how to use the site safely and educate them about who may be predators and how to avoid them. The key to staying safe on the Internet is to make sure that your profile is secure.The simplest way is to change the privacy setting on your profile to "private", which protects your information so that only the people on your friend list can view it.Although this is effective,it is not perfect.Predators can find ways to view your profile if they really want to,whether through hacking in or figuring out their way onto your friend list.Thus,you should never post too much personal information.Some people actually post their home and school addresses,date of birth,and other personal information, often letting predators know exactly where they will be and when.The most information that is safe is your first name and province.Anything more is basically inviting a predator into your life. Another big issue is photos. I suggest completely skipping photos and never posting a photo of a friend online without asking permission. Most importantly, never,under any circumstances,agree to a real-life meeting with anyone you meet online.No matter how well you think you know this person, there are no guarantees that they have told the truth.But you could feel free to chat with people you meet on the site, but just remember that not everyone is who they say they are.Hopefully,the next time you edit your profile,you'll be more informed about the dangers of internet predators and take the steps to defend yourself. The safest basic personal information that you can share online is . A your home address and birthday B school address and your first name C your first name and province D your province and cell phone number Answer: C Jack is 10 years old, and I am his pencil. I'm Jack's helper . Jack's pencil box is my home. I have some friends here. They are seven crayons, a ruler, a pencil-sharpener and an eraser. Because Jack loves me, I'm the king in the pencil box. My friends and I are happy every day. Today, I am not happy because a pen comes in. It's new and nice. It's a music pen. It can write and sing. But I'm old and I can only help Jack to write. Jack likes it very much! The new pen is his helper now. It's the new king. What can I do now? Shall I go to a new home? According to the passage, Jack is probably a _ . A student B pencil-case C school bag D pencil Answer: A On a Friday night, a poor young artist stood at the gate of a New York subway station, playing his violin. Many of passers-by slowed down their paces and put some money into the hat of the young man. The next day, at the same place, he put his hat on the ground gracefully. Different than the day before, he took out a large piece of paper and laid it on the ground and put some stones on it. Then he adjusted the violin and began playing. It seemed more pleasant to listen to. The words read, "Last night, a gentleman named George Sang put an important thing into my hat mistakenly. Please come to claim it soon." Seeing this, people wondered what it could be. After about half an hour, a middle-aged man ran there hurriedly and rushed through the crowd to the violinist and grabbed his shoulders and said, "Yes, it's you. You did come here. I knew that you're an honest man and would certainly come here." "Are you Mr. George Sang"? asked the young violinist. The man nodded. "Did you lose something?" "Lottery. It's lottery." "Is it?" The violinist took out a lottery ticket and asked. George nodded promptly and seized the lottery ticket and kissed it, then he danced with the violinist. The story turned out to be this: George Sang bought a lottery ticket, winning a prize of $500,000. After work, he passed the station and felt the music was so wonderful that he took out 50 dollars and put it in the hat. However, the lottery ticket was also thrown in. The violinist was a student at an Arts College and had planned to attend further study in Vienna. He had booked the ticket and would fly that morning. However when he was cleaning up he found the lottery ticket. Thinking that the owner would return to look for it, he cancelled the flight and came back to where he was given the lottery ticket. When asked why he didn't take the lottery ticket for himself, the violinist said, "Although I don't have much money, I live happily; but if I lose honesty I won't be happy forever." By telling the story, the writer intends to tell us that _ . A getting rich overnight is important B showing sympathy for others is important C being honest is of great importance D school fees are high at the present time Answer: C
The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single-engined aeroplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather. To make things worse, her altimeter failed and she didn't know how high she was flying. At night, and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged into the sea. Just before dawn, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames coming from the engine. Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except to keep going and to hope. In the end, Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly welcomed in England and Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart was famous. What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean alone, and she had set a record of fourteen hours and fifty-six minutes. In the years that followed, Amelia Earhart made several flights across the United States, and on each occasion she set a new record for flying time. Amelia Earhart made these flights to show that women had a place in aviation and that air travel was useful. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A Amelia Earhart--First Across the Atlantic B Amelia Earhart--Pioneer in Women's Aviation C A New Record for Flying Time D A Dangerous Flight from North America to England Answer: B Almost everyone stood when the bride walked down the aisle in her white dress,but not the wedding conductor,because she was fixed on her chair. The wedding was led by "IFairy",a 1.5meter tall seated robot with flashing eyes and plastic hair. Sunday's wedding was the first time a marriage had been led by a robot,according to manufacturer,Kokoro Co. "Please lift the bride's veil ," the robot said in a tinny voice,waving its arms in the air as the newlymarried couple kissed in front of about 50 guests. The wedding took place at a restaurant in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo,where the IFairy wore flowers and directed a rooftop ceremony. Wires led out from beneath it to a black curtain a few feet away,where a man clicked commands into a computer. Japan has one of the most advanced robotics industries in the world,with the government actively supporting the field for future growth. Industrial models in factories are now standard,but recently Japanese companies have been making a push to inject robots into everyday life. Honda makes a walking childshaped robot,and other firms have developed robots to entertain the elderly or play baseball. Kokoro,whose corporate goal is to "touch the hearts of the people",also makes giant dinosaur robots for exhibitions and lifelike Android models that can smile and laugh. The company is a subcompany of Sanrio Co.,which owns the rights to Hello Kitty and other Japanese characters. "This was a lot of fun. I think that Japanese people have a strong sense that robots are our friends. Those in the robot industry mostly understand this,but people mainly want robots near them to serve some purpose," said the bride,Satoko Inoue,36,who works at Kokoro. The IFairy sells for about 6.3 million yen ($68,000) and three are in use in Singapore,the US and Japan,according to company spokeswoman,Kayako Kido. What does the text mainly convey? A Robot wedding conductors are becoming popular. B The manufacturing industry in Japan is booming. C The Japanese pay a lot of attention to robots. D Robots are increasingly entering everyday life. Answer: D Winners Club You choose to be a winner! The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers.It has been made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7--that' s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! It' s a club with impressive features for teenagers: * No account keeping fees! You' re no millionaire so we don' t expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping or transaction fees! * Excellent interest rates! You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits without taking them out in a month. * Convenient Teenagers are busy--we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet...You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job! * Mega magazine included Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members. The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian(so we can organize that cool key-card)but it is easy. We can' t wait to hear from you. It' s the best way to choose to be a winner! The Winners Club is a bank account intended for _ . A parents B teenagers C winners D adults Answer: B You are going to high school, aren't you? Maybe you don't know what to do. Well, here's a list of the top six things to do when you are in high school. These things will give you ideas of what your high school life could be like. Here you go! 1 Find your passion and what kind of person you are: Whether it's dance, basketball, or drawing, the important thing is that you have found something you are interested in. 2 Talk to people you wouldn't usually talk to: meet new people, find new friends and even talk to people you don't like. It will show what a great person you are. You never know what will happen after high school. 3 Take part in at least one contest : This will give you tears of laughter, happiness and memories. 4 Get a job: This will help you see what it's like to have responsibility . It can also help you make a little money to spend on yourself. 5 Take a trip with your friends: It doesn't matter where you go or what you do, the memories will happen on the way and go on till the final place. 6 Do your best at school: Don't ever get lazy; working hard now will help you in the future. What's the main idea of the passage? A Have a happy school life B How to get along with your schoolmates C Ideas of successful high school life D Make sure your school life easy Answer: C (2013*,D)About 30 years ago,I left Cuba for the United States with my son.After getting settled finally in Brunswick,New Jersey,I enrolled my son in kindergarten.Several weeks later,my son's teacher asked me to meet him at his office. In the teacher's office,and exchange of greetings was followed by his questions:"Is your son mentally retarded ?Does he suffer from any kind of mental disability?" Was he talking about my wonderful Scola? NO,no,it can't be.What a helpless,lonely moment!I told him that Scola was a quiet,sweet little boy,instead.I asked him why he was asking me all these questions. My son could not follow the teacher's directions,he told me,and thus,Scola was _ the class,Didn't he know my son did not speak English yet? He was angry;"Why hasn't your son been taught to speak English? Don't you speak English at home?" No,I didn't speak English at home,I replied.I was sure my son would learn English in a couple of months,and I didn't want him to forget his native language.Well,wrong answer!What kind of person would not speak in English to her son at home and at all times? "Are you one of those people who come to this country to save dollars and send them back to their country,never wanting to be a part of this society?" Needless to say,I tried to tell him I was not one of "those people".Then he told me the meeting was over,and I left. As I had expected,my son learned to speak English fluently before the school year was over.He went on to graduate from college and got a job,earning close to six figures.He travels widely and leads a welladjusted,contented life.And he has benefited from being bilingual . Speaking more than one language allows people to communicate with others;it teaches people about other cultures and other places--something very basic and obviously lacking in the"educator"I met in New Jersey. The teacher asked the author to his office _ . A to discuss Scola's inclass performance B to get Scola enrolled in kindergarten C to find a language partner for Scola D to work out a study plan for Scola Answer: A
In 1959, when Jean Harper was in the third grade, her teacher gave the class an assignment to write a report on what they wanted to be when they grew up. She poured her heart into her report and expressed her dream of becoming an airline pilot. Her paper came back with an "F" on it. The teacher told her it was a "fairy tale". Jean was heartbroken and ashamed. As the years went by, Jean was beaten down by the discouragement and negativity she encountered whenever she talked about her dream. "Girls can't become airline pilots; never have, never will. You're crazy. That's impossible. "Finally Jean gave up. In her senior year of high school, her English teacher was a Mrs. Dorothy Slaton, a demanding teacher with high standards. One day Mrs. Slaton asked this question: "If you had unlimited finances, unlimited access to the finest schools, unlimited talents and abilities, what would you do?" Jean felt a rush of the old enthusiasm, and with excitement she wrote down the very old dream. The next thing that Mrs. Slaton said changed the course of Jean's life. The teacher leaned forward over her desk and said, "I have a little secret for you. You do have unlimited abilities and talents. When you leave school, if you don't go for your dreams, no one will do it for you. You can have what you want if you want it enough." The hurt and fear of years of discouragement disappeared all of a sudden. Jean felt thrilled and told her about her dream of becoming a pilot. Mrs. Slaton slapped the desk top. "Then do it!" she said. So Jean did. It didn't happen overnight. In her l0 years of hard work, even facing varieties of laugh, frustration and opposition, she never gave up her dream. Instead, she went on doing everything her third-grade teacher said was fairy-tale. Eventually, Jean Harper became a Boeing 737 captain for the United Airline Company. Mrs. Slaton may hold the view that _ . Answer: belief contributes to realizing a dream What a great project this is, building your own greenhouse! If you're a gardener, then a greenhouse is necessary no matter where you live. As long as you've got some good plans, it's possible to build a backyard greenhouse within just a few days. It's a great way to impress the neighbors! Metal greenhouses are practical, I agree, but they look ugly. If you build your own backyard greenhouse from wood, you'll end up with a lovely looking Victorian-style greenhouse, which will last very long if you treat it with the correct wood protection. Of course you'll save a lot of money in the process too. How much exactly? It's difficult to say as it depends on how much glass costs where you live. After all, there isn't much wood required, as it's only the actual frame that is wooden. To make sure you save the most money, it's best to take your plans to wherever you plan to buy your materials. That way you won't end up wasting any money on unnecessary materials. To be honest, saving money is not the main reason for building your own greenhouse. It's the fun you'll get from building it and the pleasure you'll get from showing it off to your friends and family that makes the project worth doing. Nothing beats the feeling when someone asks you where you bought something and you turn around and say "Oh, actually, I built it myself!" That feeling is priceless! You'll never feel like that over something you've bought! In writing the passage, the author's main aim is to _ . Answer: persuade people to build a greenhouse by themselves Mr. Hungerton, her father, really was absolutely centered upon his own silly self. If anything could have driven me from Gladys, it would have been the thought of such a father-in-law. I am convinced that he really believed in his heart that I came round to the Chestnuts three days a week for the pleasure of his company, and very especially to hear his views upon bimetallism . For an hour or more that evening I listened to his tiring talk about bad money driving out good, and the true standards of exchange. "Suppose," he cried, "that all the debts in the world were called up at once, and immediate payment insisted upon,--what under our present conditions would happen then?" I gave the self-evident answer that I should be a ruined man, upon which he jumped from his chair, scolding me for my thoughtless quickness, which made it impossible for him to discuss any reasonable subject in my presence. At last I was alone with Gladys, and the moment of Fate had come! She sat with that proud, delicate figure of hers outlined against the red curtain. How beautiful she was! Gladys was full of every womanly quality. I was about to break the long and uneasy silence, when two critical, dark eyes looked round at me, and the proud head was shaken disapprovingly. "I have a feeling that you are going to propose, Ned. I do wish you wouldn't; for things are so much nicer as they are." I drew my chair a little nearer. "Now, how did you know that I was going to propose?" I asked in wonder. "Don't women always know? Do you suppose any woman in the world was ever taken unawares? But--oh, Ned, our friendship has been so good and so pleasant! What a pity to spoil it! Don't you feel how splendid it is that a young man and a young woman should be able to talk face to face as we have talked?" She had sprung from her chair, as she saw signs that I proposed to announce some of my wants. "You've spoiled everything, Ned," she said. "It's all so beautiful and natural until this kind of thing comes in! It is such a pity! Why can't you control yourself?" "But why can't you love me, Gladys? Is it my appearance, or what?" "No, it isn't that." "My character?" She nodded severely. "What can I do to mend it?" She looked at me with a wondering distrust which was much more to my mind than her whole-hearted confidence. "Now tell me what's amiss with me?" "I'm in love with somebody else," said she. It was my turn to jump out of my chair. "It's nobody in particular," she explained, laughing at the expression of my face: "only an ideal. I've never met the kind of man I mean." "Tell me about him. What does he look like?" "Oh, he might look very much like you." "How dear of you to say that! Well, what is it that he does that I don't do? I'll have a try at it, Gladys, if you will only give me an idea what would please you." "Well, it is never a man that I should love, but always the glories he had won; for they would be reflected upon me. Think of Richard Burton! When I read his wife's life of him I could so understand her love! And Lady Stanley! Did you ever read the wonderful last chapter of that book about her husband? These are the sort of men that a woman could worship with all her soul, and yet be the greater, not the less, on account of her love, honored by all the world as the inspirer of noble deeds." "And if I do----" Her dear hand rested upon my lips. "Not another word, Sir! You should have been at the office for evening duty half an hour ago; only I hadn't the heart to remind you. Some day, perhaps, when you have won your place in the world, we shall talk it over again." Which of the following words can best describe Gladys? Answer: Lovely, confident, and idealistic. Disregarding nuclear holocausts, how many suns will be in the sunset? Answer: 1 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. In this passage, good writing is compared to fine food because _ . Answer: both are enjoyable
Question: Wild animals are our friends, but many of them are getting fewer and fewer. We should try to protect them. The four animals below are now in danger. Tibetan Antelopes Tibetan antelopes are medium-sized animals. They mainly feed on grass. They are usually found in groups of about 20. They are killed for their wool, which is warm, soft and fine and can be made into expensive clothes. Although people can get the wool without killing the animals, people simply kill them before taking the wool. The number of them is dropping year by year. There are less than 75,000 Tibetan antelopes left in the world, down from a million 50 years ago. Golden Monkeys Golden monkeys are mainly found in Sichuan, Gansu, Shanxi provinces and Shengnongjia mountainous area of Hubei Province. Golden monkeys have golden-orange fur. They move around in the daytime, usually in groups of as many as 100 to 200 heads, or 20 to 30 heads. They feed on fruits and young leaves of bamboos. But people are destroying the environment where they live. Trees and bamboos are disappearing, so golden monkeys have less and less to eat. Elephans ks5u Elephants are very big and strong. They are bigger than any other animals on land. They are grey and have long trunks and tusks. They have poor eyesight, but very good hearing and smell. They can lift heavy things and break down branches with their trunks. Elephants are very friendly towards each other and towards their neighbours. Normally, they live in a group for many years. Young male elephants do not leave the group until they are about 12 years old. Now, there are very few elephants in the world. The number of them is becoming smaller and smaller because their living areas are used for farming. Also, people hunt them for their tusks. Wolves Wolves are not very big. They have grey fur. Wolves have very good eyesight, hearing and smell. Wolves' food is vavious. They eat animals, insects and snails. They are friendly to each other and never attack people. They do not kill for fun. Wolves are in danger, too. They are losing their living areas because people cut down forests. Soon they will have no home or food. Which of the following animals are the biggest on land? A. Tibetan antelopes. B. Golden monkeys. C. Elephants. D. Wolves Answer: C. Elephants. Question: Once upon a time an old man and woman lived in the mountains in Japan. Every day the old man went to the mountain and collected firewood, while the old woman went to the river and did the washing. One day, she was doing the washing when a big peach came floating down the river towards her. As it was a big and juicy-looking fruit, she thought that her husband would be glad to eat it, so she took it home. When the old man came back for lunch and saw the nice peach, he was really happy. The old woman cut the big peach open with a knife! What a surprise! A lovely little boy was in the peach. The old man and woman had no children, so they were really grateful the gods sent them a boy in this peach. Since he was born in a peach they decided to call him Momotaro which means "peach-boy". The old woman cooked a meal for the little boy who ate as much as he could. The more he ate, the more he grew. Soon he became a tall and strong boy. Day after day, all Momotaro did was sleep and eat. In the village the other boys went to the mountain and picked firewood while Monotaro was the only one doing nothing. This worried the old man and the old woman. The boys then invited him, "Momotaro, would you come with us? We're going to collect fire wood." But he answered, "I don't have a basket, so I can't go with you", and went back to sleep. On hearing this, the old woman got angry with Momotaro for being so lazy, so the next day he went to collect firewood with the other boys. The old woman took the peach home because _ . A. she knew there was a little boy in it B. she was grateful the god sent them a peach C. she wanted her husband to eat the juicy-looking fruit D. she wanted to give her husband a surprise Answer: C. she wanted her husband to eat the juicy-looking fruit Question: Which of these cell parts contain instructions for the passage of traits from one generation to the next? A. cell membrane B. Golgi apparatus C. chromosomes D. endoplasmic reticulum Answer: C. chromosomes Question: Life affects friendships. As we grow, marry, fight in wars, move across the country or change jobs, old friendships fall away and new ones form. As long as we live, the things around us change, and as long as things change, friendships are affected. When we were children we had best friends. No matter what happened we were still friends. We live our lives, however, and do what life calls for us to do, and as we get older, memories fade , faces blur , and even friends' names from childhood are forgotten. Do you have a question about friendship? Do you wonder what to do with a friend who is no longer friendly? Perhaps you will see that you can't control others. If someone wants to be your friend, it is their choice. All you can do is treat them well and do the best for them when you are with them. Then you wish them well when they leave. You can talk to _ and they will tell you that life is full of incredible joy and incredible sorrow, and that what bothers you today will one day become a memory and the sting will be gone. Seniors might tell you that you will learn more as you get older. They will tell you that friendships come and friendships go.Sometimes when they go it will hurt, but you will be okay with it.It's the way life works, after all. The text mainly tells us _ A. How to deal with unfriendly People B. that childhood friendship is valuable C. how to face the change in friendship D. how to share happiness with friends Answer: C. how to face the change in friendship Question: Arctic foxes are white in order to A. hide from their predators B. hide in their environment C. keep their bodies warm D. keep their fur clean Answer: B. hide in their environment
Question: Chaplin was one of the famous clown-style actors of the silent time. It was through Charlie Chaplin that the Hollywood comedy movies became famous. Then in the 1920s came another trend of animated cartoons. They were the most popular Hollywood comedy movies of the time. The several popular characters of that era were Felix the cat, Krazy Kat and Betty Boop. However, the popularity of these movies was blocked out due to lack of sound and color. The end of 1920s, the Hollywood comedy industry marked a change brought about by the introduction of sound into the movies. This has allowed the industry to create dramatic new film styles and use verbal humor. These films were soon replacing silent movies. These films used dialogue of comedians such as the W.C Fields and the Marx Brothers. Charlie Chaplin was the last comedian to have acted in the silent films. When the United States entered into World War II, Hollywood movies changed its course to themes related to the conflicts, and Hollywood comedy movies described more on military themes. The war time experienced a boom, where restrictions on the traveling made nearly a quarter of the money spent on attending movies. In the 1950s, the interest shifted where the TV became popular. During this time the release of Hollywood comedy films declined . The 1960s saw an increasing number of broad, star-packed comedies. In 1970 Hollywood comedy movies reflected the anti-war sentiment, which was popular then. In the 1980s the gag based comedy Airplane was released, and Hollywood comedy movies paved its way for more of the same. The popular comedians of this time included Dudley Moore, Tom Hanks, etc. Jim Carrey, the Canadian actor and a comedian, came into Hollywood comedy movies in the late 1980s where he won the role in such a comedy, Copper Mountain. The most popular Hollywood comedy movies were of John Hughes, which includes Ferris Buellers Day Off and Home Alone series of 1990s. The later films focused more on family audience. This was a revival in comedy movies. Comedy movies remain popular till date. What does this passage mainly talk about? A. Development of Hollywood comedy movies. B. Famous comedians in Hollywood history. C. Outstanding comedies made in Hollywood. D. Chaplin's contribution to comedies. Answer: A Question: Albert Einstein (1879--1955) was one of the greatest and most original scientific thinkers of all time. Born of Jewish parents at Ulm in Germany,he completed his education in Switzerland and got his Ph. D at the University of Zurich. He went to live in the United States in 1933 because of the rise of Nazism in Germany and Hitler's persecution of the Jews. In 1905, while still at Zurich, he published his Special Theory of Relativity, which was based on things everyone may have noticed. If two trains are standing alongside each other and one train starts to move, a person sitting in the train may wonder whether his own train is moving or the other is moving, and before he finds out what is happening, he can see that one train is moving ly to the other. From this and also from other more complicated facts, Einstein came to the conclusion that all motion is and that there are really no such things as motion. Some of the other conclusions he drew are that nothing can go faster than light, and that if something such as a ruler was moving faster and faster it would seem to get shorter and shorter as its speed was near the speed of light. By 1915, Einstein had made his General Theory of Relativity known. He also improved on Newton's theory of gravity. Most of his theories have been tested and found to be true though some may sound strange. For his important work he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics. Einstein published his Special Theory of Relativity when he was _ . A. in the United States. B. in Ulm, Germany after he got his Ph. D C. still at the University of Zurich at the age of thirty-six D. still in Switzerland at the age of twenty-six Answer: D Question: Imagine you're in a dark room, running your fingers over a smooth surface in search of a single dot the size of this period, How high do you think the dot must be for your finger to feel it? Scientists have determined that the human finger is so sensitive it can detect a surface bump just one micron(l0-6m)"high. The human eye, by contrast, can't tell anything much smaller than100 microns.No wonder we rely on touch rather than eyesight when faced with a new roll of toilet paper. Biologically, touch is the mother of all sensory systems.It is an ancient sense in evolution: even the simplest single-celled living things can feel when something brushes up against them and will respond by moving closer or pulling away. It is the first sense aroused during a baby's development and the last to weaken at life's peak. Patients in a deep coma who seem otherwise lost to the world will show skin reaction when touched by a nurse. "Touch ,is so central to what we are that we almost cannot imagine ourselves without it," said Chris Dijkerman."It's 'not like eyesight, where you close your eyes and you don't see anything. _ .It's always there." Long ignored in favor of the sensory heavyweights of eyesight and hearing, the study of touch lately:: has been gaining new concern among scientists.They're exploring the effects of recently reported false touch impressions, of people being made to feel as though they had three arms, for example, with the hope of gaining the true understanding of how the mind works. Others are turning to touch for more practical purposes: to build better touch screen instruments and robot hands, a more well-rounded virtual life.. "There's a fair amount of research into new ways of offloading information onto our sense of touch," said Lynette Jones. "To have your cell phone buzzing (making a low sound) as opposed to ringing turned out to have a lot of advantages in.some situations." Touch is our most active sense, our means of seizing the world and experiencing it 'first hand. Dr.Susan Lederman pointed out that while we can become aware of something by seeing or hear,ing7;-.from a distance and without really trying, if we want to learn about something by means of touch, we must make a move.We must rub the cloth, or pet the cat. Touching is a two-way street, and that's not true for seeing or hearing. If you have a soft object and you squeeze it, you change its shape. The physical world reacts back." Our hands are smart and can do many tasks automatically - button a shirt, fit a key in a lock, play the; piano for others.Dr.Lederman and her colleagues have shown that blindfolded subjects can easily recognize a wide range of common -objects placed.in their hands.But on some feeling tasks, touch is all thumbs (very clumsy). When people are given a raised line drawing of a common object, they're puzzled."If all we've got is outline information;" Dr.Lederman said,."no weight, no texture, no temperature information, well, we're very, very bad with that." Touch also turns out to be easy to fool, Among the sensory tricks now being investigated is something called the Pinocchio illusion. Researchers have found that if they shake the band of the biceps , many people report feeling that their forearm is getting 'longer, their hand floating ever further from their elbow . And if they are told to touch the forefinger of the shaken arm to the tip of their nose, they feel as though their nose was lengthening, too. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A. Our eyes are more sensitive than our fingers. B. Our fingers are more sensitive than our eyes. C. Our eyes are more sensitive than our ears. D. Our noses are less sensitive than our ears. Answer: B Question: Most of the stories are written by young,unpublished writers.And the audience undoubtedly will relate perfectly to the tales told in the book.The editors have organized this collection into nine categories :Relationships,Friendship,The Power of Love,Family,Lessons,Difficult Stuff,Overcoming Obstacles ,SelfDiscovery,and Growing Up.You'll be comforted to know that you're never as alone as you think. This book is written to help teens to deal with the problems that they face every day,from first love to heartache,from best friends to enemies.This book will help guide you through the difficult times and add happiness to the great times.The best part of this book is that there is something for everyone in it.The variety in this book is great.From the cartoons to the poems,you will never get bored of reading it. The text is written to _ . A. introduce a book B. give some advice C. tell stories D. please readers Answer: A Question: Alpha and Beta made a written contract pursuant to which Alpha promised to convey a specified apartment house to Beta in return for Beta's promise (1) to convey a 100-acre farm to Alpha and (2) to pay Alpha $1,000 in cash six months after the exchange of the apartment house and the farm. The contract contained the following provision: "It is understood and agreed that Beta's obligation to pay the $1,000 six months after the exchange of the apartment house and the farm shall be voided if Alpha has not, within three months after the aforesaid exchange, removed the existing shed in the parking area in the rear of the said apartment house.""Alpha's removal of the shed from the parking area of the apartment house is A. a condition subsequent in form but precedent in substance to Beta's duty to pay the $1,000. B. a condition precedent in form but subsequent in substance to Beta's duty to pay the $1,000. C. a condition subsequent to Beta's duty to pay the $1,000. 67 D. not a condition, either precedent or subsequent, to Beta's duty to pay the $1,000 Answer: A
Today there are 6.4 billion people on the earth. By the year 2050 there may be 12.5 billion . There are a lot of people to feed. We need more and more food. One way to produce more food is growing stronger plants. For thousands of years, farmers have made plants better. Every season, they pick the best plants for the next season. It works very slowly. Since 1983, scientists have been able to change plants more quickly by changing their genetic material. Foods from plants grown in this way are called genetically modified foods, or GM foods By changing the genetic material of a plant, it is possible to make new plants. They make plants which are strong against plant diseases. They can also help in our diseases; a kind of rice is being prepared , for example , which stops people becoming blind. Rich countries produce GM foods because they are easy to grow and bring in more money. Poor countries are interested in them because they help produce more food. GM plants are not natural. No one knows how good or bad they are,. Making GM foods is only one way of feeding people in 2050. There are strong feelings against them, because they are unnatural. They may feed people , then hurt them or their children later. But both rich and poor countries are interested in their use, and they are not going to go away. In 2050, we may think differently about them. GM foods are made by _ . A. farmers B. workers C. scientists D. plants Answer: C House of noodles We have three size bowls of noodles, small, medium and large. A small bowl of mutton and carrot noodles is RMB 5. A medium bowl of beef and potato noodles is RMB 7. A large bowl of chicken and cabbage noodles is RMB 8. Welcome to our house. Lunch special We have some great specials. The cabbage, tomatoes and rice lunch special is RMB 3. The beef, carrots and rice lunch special is RMB 5. The dumplings and soup lunch special is RMB 8. Time: 11:00a.m---2:00p.m Dessert house What kind of dessert would you like? We have two new specials: (1) Apple, strawberry and ice cream. (2) Banana, orange and ice cream. And what size of dessert would you like? Small, medium or large? And we also have juice and tea. If you have only RMB 3, you can buy _ at lunch time. A. rice, cabbage and tomatoes B. beef, carrots and rice C. dumplings and soup D. dumplings and tomatoes Answer: A After the coming of Europeans to the Americas, Indians were forced to change their way of life. Yet the influence of Native American culture is still felt throughout the United States. Many of the foods commonly eaten in the United States today were first grown by American Indians. Among these foods are corn, white and sweet potatoes, peanuts, pumpkins, tomatoes, and certain beans and berries. Native Americans also discovered ways to use herbs and other plants as medicines. Native American inventions, such as canoes, ponchos and parkas ,hammocks and snowshoes are still in use today. Other marks of Indian culture were left in American place names. The state of Alaska, for example, takes its name from a Native American word meaning "great land". Today nearly 1.5 million Native Americans live in the United States. Some still preserve the ways of their ancestors, speaking Indian languages and keeping alive their legends, art forms, and customs. Other Native Americans keep few of the old ways, but remain proud of their people's contributions to American history. Americans have come to appreciate the beauty of Indian crafts . Many artists find _ in traditional Indian designs. Many Indian values, too, have become widely held. Americans today believe that the land, air and water are precious resources that must be carefully protected. As one government official wrote recently: We have slowly come back to some of the truths that the Indians knew from the beginning. People need to learn from nature, to keep an ear to the earth, and to refill their spirits in frequent contacts with animals and wild land. What does "Native Americans" refer to in the passage? A. Europeans settling in the Americas. B. People born and living in America. C. American Indians. D. Americans. Answer: C Where is a portable way of creating light most useful? A. pitch-black caverns B. sunny days C. a bright rooms D. the sun Answer: A Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is one of the largest cities in the world. It is also one of the world's most modern cities. Twice last century, the city was destroyed and rebuilt. In 1923 a major earthquake struck the city. Thousands of people were killed and millions were left homeless as buildings collapsed and fires broke out throughout Tokyo. It took seven years to rebuild the city. During World War II, Tokyo was destroyed once again. As a result of these disasters, there is nothing of old Tokyo remaining in the downtown area. After the war, the people of Tokyo began to rebuild their city. Buildings went up at a fantastic rate, and between1945 and 1960, the city's population more than doubled. Because of the Olympic Games held in Tokyo in 1964, many new stadiums, parks and hotels were built to treat visitors from all over the world. As a result of this rapid development, however, many problems have risen. Housing shortage, pollution, and waste disposal have presented serious challenges to the city, but the government has begun several programs to answer them. What has brought so many problems to Tokyo today? A. A severe earthquake and the Second World War. B. The foreign occupation after the war. C. The population explosion between 1945 and 1960. D. The rapid development of the city after the war. Answer: D
There is a one-day holiday in most western countries on New Year's Day. The real celebration begins on New Year's Eve-the night before New Year's Day. There are several interesting customs in the west, and there are many differences in different countries. Though Christmas is a good time for families to get together, New Year's Day is a time for some western people to be with friends. On New Year's Day, there are always parties. At such parties, there is food, drinks and dances until New Year comes At midnight, people often say "Happy New Year! "to each other. In many western countries, _ are let off at midnight and some people like to shout aloud to drive away evil spirits. People begin to have great celebrations for the New Year on _ . Answer: Different units of measurement are more useful in some settings than in others. Which unit of measurement is most used when comparing distances within the solar system? Answer: Shundagarh is a village on India's east-facing coast. It is a village of simple mud and grass houses built on the beach just above the waterline. The Khadra Hills rise immediately behind the village, to a height of one hundred and fifty meters. A simple, good-hearted old man, whose name was Jalpur, farmed two small fields on the very edge of these hills. From his fields he could see the fishing boats that traveled up and down the coast. He could see the children playing on the sands; their mothers washing clothes on the flat stones where the Shiva River flowed into the sea; and their fathers landing the latest catch or repairing nets and telling stories that had no end. All Jalpur owned in the world were the clothes he wore day in and day out, the miserable hut that he slept in at night, a few tools and cooking pots - and his fields. The corn that he grew was all that made life possible. If the weather was kind and the harvest was good, Jalpur could live happily enough - not well, but happily. When the sun was fierce, and there was little or no rain, then he came close to the line between life and death. Last year the weather had been so kind, and the harvest promised to be so good, that Jalpur had been wondering whether he could sell all that he had and live with his son farther up the coast. He had been thinking about doing this for some years. It was his dearest wish to spend his last days with his son and his wife. But he would go only if he could give; he would not go if it meant taking food out of the mouths of his grandchildren. He would rather die hungry than do this. On the day when Jalpur decided that he would harvest his corn, sell it, and move up the coast, he looked out to the sea and saw a huge wave, several kilometers out, advancing on the coast and on the village of Shundagarh. Within ten minutes everyone in Shundagarh would be drowned. Jalpur would have shouted, but the people were too far away to hear. He would have run down the hill, but he was too old to run. He was prepared to do anything to save the people of Shundagarh, so he did the only thing that he could do: he set fire to his corn. In a matter of seconds the flames were rising high and smoke was rising higher. Within a minute the people of Shundagarh were racing up the hill to see what had happened. There, in the middle of his blackened cornfield, they found Jalpur; and there they buried him. On his grave, they wrote the words: Here lies Jalpur, a man who gave, living; a man who died, giving. Why didn't Jalpur live well? Answer: For pet owners, the hundreds of pet food recalls taking place each year has raised a lot of alarm. "Most people are caring pet owners, and they want to do what helps protect their pet," explains Will Post, founder and CEO, Hound & Gatos Pet Foods Corporation. "Yet the problem is that most are not sure what that means and how to go about it. The more they learn about pet food, the better able they will be to make an informed decision that will keep their pet healthier and safer." Here are several tips that consumers may want to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a pet food that will help reduce the risks. Get to know the company. Most people may know a company name simply because they spend millions on advertising. But that doesn't mean they know much about the company or their morals. Research companies to find one that offers high standards, quality products, and great customer service. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to get in touch with a pet food company and ask them where something was made, where ingredients came from, or any other questions. They should have no problem answering questions about their products, or with being able to provide proof of their quality standards. Read reviews. Do some searches to read some reviews about various brands of pet food. Keep in mind that some reviews can be one-sided and even planted by the company itself, so look for fair third-party sources giving the review. Investigate ingredients. The source of ingredients is of major concern when it comes to reducing the risks of pet food recalls and keeping pets healthy. Read the labels and ask questions to determine where the ingredients are coming from. Understand pet foods. Cat and dog food should contain 100 percent protein, which will supply them with the nutrients their bodies require. The problem with many commercial pet foods is that it is full of numerous fillers, such as cheap fillers and grains. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: "I've changed my mind. I wanted to have a telescope, but now I want my daddy back." Lucien Lawrence's letter to Father Christmas written after his schoolteacher father had been knifed to death outside his school gate, must have touched every heart. Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn't see the stars in the sky. When those whom we love depart from us, we cannot see the stars for a while. But Lucien, the stars are still there, and one day, when you are older and your tears have gone, you will see them again. And, in a strange way, I expect that you will find your father is there too, in your mind and in your heart. I find that my parents, long dead now, still figure in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive. I still live to please them and I' m still surprised by their reactions. I remember that when I became a professor, I was so proud, or rather so pleased with myself, that I couldn't wait to cable my parents. The reply was a long time in coming, but when it did, all Mother said was "I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!" I haven' t forgotten. The values of my parents still live on. It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care. Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence have been to face the aggressors ,and to lay down my life for those in my care? How many people would want me back for Christmas? It's a serious thought, one to give me pause. I pray silently, sometimes, in the dead of night, that ancient cry of a poet "Deliver my soul from the sword , and my darling from the power of the dog." Yet I know the death comes to us all, and sometimes comes suddenly. We must therefore plan to live forever, but live as if we will die tomorrow. We live on, I'm sure, in the lives of those we loved, and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure. If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true, there might be fewer knives on our streets today. In the writer's opinion, the value of a person's life is _ . Answer:
First published in 2001, the book Life of Pi written by Canadian author Yann Martel won the Man Booker Prize and an Asian American Prize for Literature. It is the story of a young boy named Pi who spends 227 days at sea with a small group of animals after disaster strikes their ship and is an account of his journey of survival and hardship. Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel, on whom Life of Pi is based, is a young boy living in Pondicherry, India, where his father owns a zoo. The story starts when Patel's family decide to move to Canada, along with their zoo animals for their new home. However, because of the bad weather, the ship sinks. Pi along with an orangutan , an injured zebra, a hyena and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker are the only survivors who take shelter in a small lifeboat. Both the injured zebra and the orangutan are soon killed and eaten by the hyena. The tiger in turn kills and eats the hyena, leaving just the two of them alone on the boat now. In an effort to avoid being eaten by Richard Parker, Pi acts himself as the head of the group and remains safe from harm. Since he does not want the tiger to die for fear of going mad by being alone on the boat, he fishes and feeds the two of them in order to stay alive. The life of Pi then enters its third stage when their lifeboat washes up on the shores of Mexico and the tiger escapes into a nearby forest leaving Pi alone. After the Mexicans refuse to believe Pi's story, he changes his tale by replacing the animals with his mother, a cook and a sailor and asks the Mexicans which one they prefer. They prefer hearing the first story though they do not believe a word of it. In my view, Life of Pi is a must read book for all those who love reading. How does Pi escape being eaten by the tiger? Brownie and Spotty were neighbor dogs who met every day to play together. Like pairs of dogs you can find in any neighborhood, these two loved each other and played together so often that they had worn a path through the grass of the field between their houses. One evening, Brownie's family noticed that Brownie hadn't returned home. They went looking for him with no success. Brownie didn't show up the next day, and, although they made their efforts to find him, by the next week he was still missing, Curiously, Spotty showed up at Brownie's house alone, barking and jumping. Busy with their own lives, they paid no attention to the nervous little neighbor dog. Finally, one morning Spotty refused to take "no" for an answer. Ted, Brownie's owner, was continuously disturbed by the angry, determined little dog. Spotty followed Ted about, barking all the time, then rushing toward a nearby empty lot and back, as if to say, "Follow me! It's urgent!" Eventually, Ted followed Spotty across the empty lot as Spotty stopped to race back and barked encouragingly. The little dog led the man to a deserted spot a half mile from the house. There Ted found his beloved Brownie alive, one of his legs crushed in a steel trap . Frightened, Ted now wished he had taken Spotty's earlier appeals seriously. Then Ted noticed something. Spotty had done something else besides leading Brownie's human owner to his trapped friend. In a circle around the injured dog, Ted found some food remains of every meal. Brownie had been fed that week! Spotty had been visiting Brownie regularly, in the hope of keeping his friend alive. Spotty had actually stayed with Brownie to protect him from hunger and other dangers, and keep his spirits up. Brownie's leg was carefully treated and he soon got well again. For many years thereafter the two families watched the faithful friends chasing each other down that well-worn path between their houses. At the very beginning, Ted paid little attention to Spotty because _ . Tuesday, Jan. 6, 9:50 p.m. We were sitting in our warm living room. The TV was on, and everything was peaceful. Suddenly the light went on and off for a few times and then went out completely. Then the rain started, and everything went black. We found the flashlight and some candles and went to bed. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 7:30 a.m. My first thought after waking up was that it was pretty cold in my bedroom. Clearly, the power didn't come back. After I looked out of the window, I felt even sadder: it was still raining heavily. The room was becoming colder and colder. We had no idea when the power would come back, so my wife started a fire in the fireplace. Thursday, Jan. 8, 12:30 p.m. The snow started. The poor trees now had to carry the heavy snow. The storm seemed to last and we had nothing to do but stay at home. Friday, Jan. 9, 6:00 p.m. Still no power. Even though we lit a few candles, it was still difficult to do anything in their weak light. I was sitting near several candles, but I had trouble reading. Saturday, Jan. 10, 1:00 p.m. The storm stopped this morning, and I drove my car to look for an open store. The trees along the roads were broken. I only bought the most necessary things: bread, some fruit, more drinking water and batteries for the flashlight. On my way home, the power came back and people were very happy. How did the writer feel when he found it was still raining heavily? The turtle and the fox were best friends. One day Turtle wanted to find Fox and ask if he would come fishing with him. Turtle went to foxes house. Fox was not home. Turtle went to look for Fox. Fox lived near several friends. Turtle went to Bear's house first. Bear lived next door to Fox. Bear answered the door, but Fox wasn't there. Turtle went to Duck's house next. Duck lived next door to Bear. Duck answered the door, but Fox wasn't there. Turtle went to Goose's house next. Goose answered the door, but Fox wasn't there. Finally, Turtle stopped at Rabbit's house. Rabbit wasn't home, and Fox wasn't there. Turtle was sad because he wanted to go fishing with his friend. He walked slowly toward the stream to go fishing by himself. When he got to the stream, he found Fox and Rabbit were there. They were fishing. They asked Turtle to join them. Turtle was very happy that he had found Fox, and he joined them for a fun afternoon of fishing in the stream. Who was Fox fishing with? In the United States, it is important to be on time , or punctual , for an appointment , a class, a meeting, etc. However, this may not be true in all countries. An American professor discovered the difference while teaching a class in a Brazilian university. The two-hour class was scheduled to begin at 10 A.M. and end at 12. On the first day , when the professor arrived on time, no one was in the classroom. Many students came after 10:30 A.M. Two students came after 11 A.M. Although all the students greeted the professor as they arrived, few apologized for their lateness.Were these students being rude? He decided to study the students' behavior. The professor talked to American and Brazilian students about lateness in both an informal and a formal situation:at a lunch with a friend and in a university class, respectively.He gave them an example and asked them how they would react, If they had a lunch appointment with a friend,the average American student defined lateness as 19 minutes after the agreed time,On the other hand.the average Brazilian student felt the friend was late after 33 minutes. In an American university, students are expected to arrive at the appointed hour.In contrast, in Brazil,neither the teacher nor the students always arrive at the appointed hour.Classes not only begin at the scheduled time in the United States,but also end at the scheduled time.In the Brazilian class, only a few students left the class at 12:00;many remained past 12:30 to discuss the class and ask more questions.While arriving late may not be very important in Brazil , neither is staying late. What is the main idea of this passage?
"Everybody in this city wants a car, and I'm no exception. A car brings with it the freedom to travel", said a friend of mine while reading a car magazine. I might not agree with him, but no doubt he was speaking for a rapidly growing number of middle-class Chinese. While it is true that all the waiting, walking, being part of a crowd, and sweating, are somewhat unpleasant, there are many problems which can arise when our lives rely too much on this invention. First of all, in terms of polluting the environment, driving a car is the worst act an average person can _ . Beijing now finds itself at the top of the list of the most polluted capital cities in the world with Mexico City in the second place. Research also shows that by 2010 around 90% of total pollutants in Shanghai have come from cars. These pollutions are extremely dangerous to our health. They can damage the lungs, cause cancer, and damage the brain. Apart from environmental problems, relying too much on cars also creates social problems such as traffic jams, road accidents, and noise pollution. The jeeps that proudly drive through the Hutongs in Beijing as if they are in a race often annoy me, and to make it worse, these drivers seldom respect cyclists. Of course, we cannot forget the convenience that cars bring us when we need to travel far, but I often find it faster to cycle from one place to another within the city of Beijing, especially with the growing traffic jams. Since people travel further and more frequently than before, cars will certainly be important in the future. At the same time, however, let us work hard to make sure that this invention brings us a more convenient lifestyle rather than trouble and disease. Let us make good use of cars. What do we know about the author? The author thinks that the invention of cars leads to many problems. On the day of a big event, many people came to Big Bend Mountain to watch. John Henry and the salesman stood side by side. Even early in the day, the sun was burning hot. The competition began. John Henry kissed his hammer and started working. At first, the steam-powered drill worked two times faster than he did. Then, he started working with a hammer in each hand. He worked faster and faster. In the mountain, the heat and dust were so thick that most men would have had trouble breathing. The crowd shouted as clouds of dust came from inside the mountain. The salesman was afraid when he heard what sounded like the mountain breaking. However, it was only the sound of John Henry at work. Polly Ann and her son cheered when the machine was pulled from the _ of the mountain. It had broken down. Polly Ann urged John Henry to come out. But he kept working, faster and faster. He dug deep into the darkness, hitting the steel so hard that his body began to fail him. He became weak, and his heart burst. John Henry fell to the ground. There was a terrible silence. Polly Ann did not move because she knew what had happened. John Henry's blood spilled over the ground. But he still held one of the hammers. "I beat them," he said. His wife cried out, "Don't go, John Henry.""Bring me a cool drink of water,"he said. Then he took his last breath. His friends carried his body from the mountain. They buried him near the house where he was born. Crowds went there after they heard about John Henry's death. Soon, the steam drill and other machines replaced the steel-drivers. Many laborers left their families to look for work. They took the only jobs they could find. As they worked, some sang about John Henry. What happened to John Henry when he fell to the ground? He had heart trouble and was dying. Several weeks ago, more than 70 American students discussed with American First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House about health problems. The students asked lots of questions that day and Mrs Obama answered them one by one patiently. Then Mrs Obama explained the importance of making healthy choices . _ She told the students that she didn't always feel good about the choices her family was making. Some years ago, when she was working and living with her family in Chicago, Mrs Obama realized she had to make changes in her family's lifestyle. "We were eating out too much, buying a lot of things, and drinking a lot of sugary drinks," she said. So Mrs Obama started talking to her kids about eating healthily and exercising more. Soon they were cooking more, eating fewer desserts, and spending less time watching TV. Mrs Obama realized that making little changes can have a big effect . Mrs Obama said that young people should take care of their own health and their own futures. "Exercise isn't always about sports. It's just about moving," she said. From the passage we know _ . Mrs Obama cares for children's health very much A field is tilled and soil is filled with nutrients after years of stones being destroyed On a hot day, it can be hard to know what to do to feel good. Playing in water is one way to feel cooler. Taking a cool bath or a shower can feel really good on a hot day. It is also important for us to drink water. If you feel thirsty, you should drink water immediately. On hot days, you can lose about 16 glasses of water in one day, so many doctors advise that you should try to drink at least that much every day. Mixing a little fruit juice into your water is a fun way to help you drink plenty of water. The food we eat also makes a difference in how we feel in the heat. Cold food, such as ice cream and drinks with some ice, can cool down our bodies. However, eating spicy food makes our bodies even warmer. The clothes we wear can help us feel cooler as well. Light-coloured, light-weight clothes feel cooler in the sun than dark, heavy clothing. Loose clothes are more comfortable in the heat than tight ones. Even though it is not healthy to run around during the hottest time of the day, that doesn't mean a hot day is not fun! You can read stories in your room. You can also paint or draw without moving your body too much. These are just some of many cool things to do on a hot day. How much water do we need in one hot day? At least 16 glasses of water.
Question: Wanted: an English tutor Do you like kids? Are you outgoing ? Do you have three years' experience as an English teacher? Do you have free time on Saturday and Sunday? We need a woman teacher for our daughter. She is twelve and she is not good at English. For the job, you will. Teach from 3:00pm to 6:00 pm. Teach our daughter English. Tell her stories in English. You will work at our house. We live in Beihai Road, Garden District. The pay is Y=30 each hour. If you want to know more information , please call Mrs Yang at 82569876. If you are the tutor, you must teach the kid for _ on Saturday. A. a day B. two hours C. the whole afternoon D. three hours Answer: D Question: A student is working on a science project display for the school science fair. To best communicate why her conclusions are valid, what should be included on the display? A. a list of authoritative sources that supports her conclusion B. instructions for viewers to repeat her procedures C. clearly illustrated diagrams of the scientific principles involved D. a complete write-up of her experimental method and data collected Answer: D Question: When you travel in Hong Kong,you must be careful of the traffic rules,because the traffic keeps to the left and it's different from that of the interior of China.Before crossing the street,you must look to the right and then to the left.If the traffic lights are red,the traffic must stop,people can go across the zebra line.If the traffic lights turn green,the traffic can go,and people mustn't cross the road. In the morning and in the evening,when people go to or come from work,the streets are very busy.The traffic is the most dangerous. When you go somewhere by bus in Hong Kong,you have to be careful,too.Always remember the traffic keeps to the left.Have a look first,or you may go the wrong way.In Hong Kong,there are a lot of big buses with two floors.You'd better sit on the second floor.From there you can watch the city very well.How interesting! In Hong Kong the traffic moves _ . A. on the right B. on the left C. in the middle D. in the park Answer: B Question: As Paige watched the other kids playing football in her local park she longed to join in. But at nearly nine stone (1stone equals 6.35 kilograms), the 11-year-old was too big to enjoy her favorite sport, she was well on her way to being another overweight member of her family. Mandy, her mum was 17th 10 lb and Anne, her grandma 15th 10 lb. Mandy, 39, and Anne, 67, both have a sweet tooth and share a love of all things stodgy. Recent figures show that two-thirds of kids will be dangerously fat by 2050, and overweight kids often become obese adults and live shorter lives as they are at higher risk of everything from heart disease to cancer and type-2 diabetes. Mandy says she knew things had to change for her and her family. Mandy's mum Anne had an even greater motivation for wanting to slim down. Last autumn Paige went along to the Slimming World to keep her mum and grand ma company. In the first week on the Slimming World eating plan, Mandy lost a whopping 9.5lb. Mandy asked Paige to join in. They believed the Free2Go plan is balanced and nutritious and doesn't deprive Paige of anything. Supporting and encouraging each other the whole time, Anne, Mandy and Paige all whittled away their waistlines. Mandy says: "My back problems have cleared up." Anne has also noticed a real difference in her health. She says: "I feel like I've got my old energy back." Paige is almost as delighted with her new wardrobe as she is about her foot balling skills. Mandy adds: "I'm just so proud of Paige. I felt awful because I knew her weight problems were a result of my bad eating habits. But when I see her now it's like she's a different person." This passage mainly tells about_. A. how to lose more weight B. the harm of being too fat C. the reason of being too fat D. slimming down of the family Answer: D Question: Children today spend less time outdoors than ever before and it may be harmful not only to their physical health, but also to their cognitive development. A year-long study, recently published in the Sciences, found that elementary school children who were exposed to more green space within or directly outside their school showed improved learning and memory. The findings reinforce that of a recent six-year study on 905 Massachusetts public elementary schools, which found that students in schools that had more "greenness" in their surroundings reported higher scores on standardized testing in English and math. "There is an expanding body of scientific evidence linking the human experience in the natural world to better physical and mental health and improved cognitive abilities," journalist Richard Louv, co-founder of the Children & Nature Network, said in an email to The Huffington Post. "An increasing number of homeschoolers, nature preschools, independent primary and secondary schools, and forward-thinking public schools are incorporating nature experience into learning." The new study was conducted on more than 2,500 children in second, third and fourth grade at 36 primary schools in Barcelona, Spain. Researchers found that the students who attended schools with more green space showed a 5 percent improvement in the short-term memory that's critical for reasoning, learning and comprehension. But their inattentiveness decreased slightly. Spending time outside could have a number of benefits for children beyond improved memory and attention. Another recent study found that adventurous outdoor play such as climbing, rough and tumble play, and exploring alone improves children's physical health while also help them develop creativity and social skills greatly. Some schools are starting to take notice, creating more space for children to enjoy being in nature, including community gardens, outdoor playgrounds and small parks. In which column of a newspaper can you see this article? A. Entertainment. B. Travel. C. Parenting. D. Education. Answer: D
If you watch British television on Friday March 15, you might be surprised to see celebrities wearing funny red noses and joking around. But don't worry, they're not mad, it's all part of a biennial fund-raising event called Red Nose Day. Organized by the charity Comic Relief, founded in 1985 by two British comedians, the aim of the event is to raise money to fight poverty and injustice in the UK and Africa. Celebrities and public figures support the event by making appearances on comic TV shows broadcast by the BBC. This year, for example, UK Prime Minister David Cameron appeared in a music video by One Direction, which the band produced for the event. But Britons don't just raise money for charitable causes on one day a year, they do it all year round. One way of doing so is by shopping in charity shops. These small, inconspicuous shops sell clothes, books and household goods just like any other shop. But there's one big difference--it's all secondhand. There are nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK, according to the Charity Retail Association. Their business model is simple: Anybody who has things they don't want anymore can donate them to a charity shop, where they are checked for damage, cleaned and priced. Most items go back on sale at a small part of their original price and the money that is made by selling them is used for a charitable cause. The idea of buying used clothes may sound off-putting, but for shoppers who have less spending money, such as the elderly or those in low-paying jobs, it has been a welcome option for years. Now, "thrifting"--shopping at charity shops-- is also becoming popular with young people looking for alternative fashion. "I love shopping at thrift stores. You can find very unique clothes for a very cheap price. It doesn't bother me that other people may have worn them, I simply wash them before I wear them," said Anne Marie, a 19-year-old Internet user from the US, in a comment on a Yahoo forum. So next time you spot a charity shop, why not go inside? Who knows, you might find a lovely dress for just a few pounds. Even better, you can enjoy wearing it in the knowledge that your money helped a good cause. What do we learn from the passage about Comic Relief? A. It was founded in 1985 by two British comedians in Africa. B. It organizes the Red Nose Day fund-raising event. C. It runs nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK. D. It is financially supported by the UK government. Answer: B I had arrived at the airport to catch an early flight home.It had been a very busy three days for me on an interstate trip with lots of meetings,business to do and new customers to meet.Then came the announcement that the flight had been delayed due to a technical problem.I could see a group of technicians and ground staff rushing about,obviously trying hard to fix the problem.I watched and listened as many of the passengers sitting near me shared their frustration about the inconvenience. As I sat waiting,I reflected on my last meeting for the day.It was not a business meeting but rather a very enjoyable and brief lunch with an old business associate and friend I had not seen for over 12 years,and who I had worked with for nearly 15 years before we lost in touch.I had been given his phone number by a customer I had visited on the first day of my trip,so I called him out of the blue and made a time for us to meet. Our lunch was spent recollecting times gone by and as well filling each other in on what had happened in our lives over the last 12 years.Our conversation was frequently interrupted with statements such as 'remember when we did...','whatever happened to...' and of course the one we all liked to hear...'you know you haven't changed one bit,except for a few more grey hairs.' We both laughed and smiled as we recalled the good times and the great experiences we had shared over the 15 years we had worked together. Each event we discussed caused another recollection and everything we talked about centered on the good times.Almost at the same time,right at the end of our time together,we both said how much we both enjoyed it and that we must do it again.We agreed to catch up when I was next in town,then said our goodbyes and I was off to the airport. So with this extra time on my hands as I waited for my flight,it was great to revisit and replay in my mind all that we had talked about over lunch.I realized at that moment just how important it is to have regular reminders of the good times in your life and to be able to take the time to recall the past,for so much of what we have done in our past,shapes us and makes us who and what we are today and beyond. At the end of my busy trip with the focus on getting all the business done,I was indeed fortunate enough to have had the chance to take a short break and reflect on the good things that had happened in my life over 12 years ago.It was somewhat like looking at an old photo album that you have found stored away in a cupboard in your house.There before your eyes are lots of wonderful memories in print that take you back to that time and place,and most importantly to those people who are in the photos.It also made me realize that when you get caught up doing what has to be done in the moment,it is easy to forget the people you have met in your life who have made a positive effect on and enriched you,often in only the smallest of ways. My flight home was finally called nearly three hours later and yes as you would have expected many of the passengers cheered when the announcement was made.I smiled as I boarded the plane and realized that I was not at all upset about the delay,as I had been able to spend much of my time reflecting on the good times from days gone by and now eagerly look forward to many more opportunities to recall the past. The detail that their conversation was frequently interrupted is mentioned in order to show _ . A. they were eager to make the conversation go smoothly B. they had been very good and close friends C. they were both interested in each other's present life D. they had a good time recollecting their old times Answer: D (part of Yanglan's speech in Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic games) Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good afternoon! Before I introduce our cultural programs, I want to tell you one thing first about 2008. You're going to have a great time in Beijing. Many people are fascinated by China's sport legends in history. For example, back to Song Dynasty, about the 11th century, people started to play a game called Cuju, which is regarded as the origin of ancient football. The game was very popular and women were also participating. Now, you will understand why our women football team is so good today. With a concept inspired by the famed Silk Road, our Torch Relay will break new ground, traveling from Olympia through some of the oldest civilizations known to man-Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Byzantine, Mesopotamian, Persian, Arabian, Indian and Chinese. Carrying the message "Share the Peace, Share the Olympics," the eternal flame will reach new heights as it crosses the Himalayas over the world's highest summit - Mount Qomolangma, which is known to many of you as Mt. Everest. In China, the flame will pass through Tibet, cross the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, travel the Great Wall and visit Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the 56 ethnic communities who make up our society. On its journey, the flame will be seen by and inspire more human beings than any previous relay. I am afraid I can not present the whole picture of our cultural programs within such a short period of time. Before I end, let me share with you one story. Seven hundred years ago, amazed by his incredible editions of a far away land of great beauty, people asked Marco Polo whether his stories about China were true. He answered: What I have told you was not even half of what I saw. Actually, what we have shown you here today is only a fraction of Beijing that awaits you. Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that Beijing will prove to be a land of wonders to athletes, spectators and the worldwide television audience alike. Come and join us. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you all. Marco Polo 's answer meant that _ A. what he wrote was half better than what he saw. B. he was interested in half of what he had seen. C. he was not able to describe the beauty of the faraway land. D. there were so many true stories that he could only tell part of them. Answer: D My name is Tom. My father, Mr. Read works on a farm, and my mother works in a factory. My father and my mother work six days a week and I am at school from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays we all stay at home. We often go out in a car on Sundays. We often go to the rivers or lakes. Dad likes fishing and I like swimming. Mum sits there and watches us. Dad is very good at fishing. He often catches a lot of fish. Then we take them home for supper. We often have a good time. Sometimes we go to see my uncle. He has a son, Jim. We often play football together. My uncle and Jim like meat very much. My mother cooks meat for them. I often help her. I like cooking meat and eating, too. Tom often goes to _ on Sundays. A. his uncle's B. the rivers or lakes C. school D. the lakes with his father Answer: B Mike went to a small town for his holiday. On March 4th, he arrived there. He rented a bike to travel around the town in the day. He visited some places of interest and had lunch in a restaurant. He had a good time. In the evening he stayed at an old hotel near the train station. Before going to bed, he went to the boss of the hotel and said to the old man, "Excuse me, sir. Will you please wake me up at a quarter to five? I must take the five o'clock train tomorrow morning." "Oh, sorry," the boss said, "I'm sorry I can't. I never get up so early." "Do you have a clock? That can help me," asked Mike. "Yes, here it is." Mike took the clock to his room. But when he looked at the clock, he found it didn't work. So he went to the boss again. "Does it ring on time?" he asked the old man. "Of course! Just shake it when it's time to get up, and it will ring." Mike wanted to get up at _ the next morning. A. 4:15 B. 4:45 C. 5:00 D. 5:15 Answer: B
Question: Hunting any kind of animal will eventually cause that species population numbers to A. go down B. phone number C. atomic number D. egg shell number Answer: A Question: Farm-raised pigs are dirty, smelly animals that get no respect. They're also an environmental hazard. Their manure contains phosphorus ,which, when it rains, runs off into lakes and rivers, consuming oxygen, killing fish, stimulating algae overgrowth and emitting greenhouse gases. Doing away with the pig is not an option. Pigs provide more dietary protein, more cheaply, to more people than any other animal. Northern Europe still maintains the highest pig-to-human ratio in the world (2-1 in Denmark), but East Asia is catching up. During the 1990s, pork production doubled in Vietnam and grew by 70 percent in China--along densely populated coastlines, pig density exceeds 100 animals per square kilometer. The resulting pollution is "threatening fragile coastal marine habitats including mangroves ,coral reefs and sea grasses ,"according to a report released in February by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. As it turns out, there is a solution to the pig problem, but it requires a change of mind-set among environmentalists and the public. Two Canadian scientists have created a pig whose manure doesn't contain very much phosphorus at all. If this variety of pig were adopted widely, It could greatly reduce a major source of pollution. But the Enviropig, as they call it, is the product of genetic modification--which is anathema to many Westerners. The Enviropig is one of many new technologies that are putting environmentalists and organic-food supporters in _ : should they remain categorically opposed to genetically modified (GM)foods even at the expense of the environment? Elsewhere, trees grown for paper could be made amenable to much more efficient processing, reducing both energy usage and toxic chemical bleach in waste water from paper mills. The most significant GM applications will be ones that help lessen the problem of agriculture , which accounts for 38percent of the world's landmass and is crowding out natural ecosystems and species habitats. Chances are, farmers will continue to grow their polluting organic pork, their allergenic organic soy and their neurotoxin sprayed organic apples. Worse still, they will make sure that no one else gets a choice in the matter of improving the conditions of life on earth--unless, that is, others rise up and demand an alternative. What is the best title of the passage? A. How to Raise Pigs B. Whether to choose the GM Foods C. What's GM Foods D. The Pollution Brought by Pigs Answer: B Question: An old Japanese man kept a sparrow and he really liked it. But one day the bird flew away. He became sad and went out to look for it. At last, he met the bird on a mountain. [:Zxxk.Com] He asked excitedly, "Will you please go home with me, my bird?" Though the bird was also happy to see the old man, it shook its head. "Take me to your home and let me see how you live," the old man said. The bird led the old man to its new home. And he found it lived well with many other birds. So he decided to go back. Before he was leaving, the bird gave him a basket. When he returned home, he told his wife what had happened. She opened the basket and saw a lot of gold. The old woman was very greedy and she wanted to get more baskets. So she set out for the sparrow's home. "Hello, sparrow. I miss you very much," cried the woman falsely . The bird said nothing. It gave her two baskets, a light one and a heavy one. The bird asked her to choose one and she could only open it after she reached home. Of course, she chose the heavy one and took it home with great difficult. However, when she opened the basket, she found it was full of stones! What did the old man do on the mountain? , A. He kept looking for gold. B. He looked for his lost sparrow. C. He wanted to visit a place with many birds. D. He found a basket full of gold. Answer: B Question: Welcome to the Little Rock Zoo! The little Rock Zoo is open every day of the week, all year round, EXCEPT Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year`s Day. Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the last admission is at 4:00 pm. Admission price: Adults: $10 Children( 12 and under) : $8 ( only children 12 months of age are admitted free.) Cafe: Currently open every day from 9:30 am -4:00 pm Opening hours may change according to the weather and special hours. Zoo Train: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday :9:00 am--4:00 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday , : 9:30 am--4:00 pm Run every half an hour How long is the Little Rock Zoo open a day? A. 7 hours B. 8 hours C. 9 hours D. 10 hours Answer: B Question: A scientist on a field trip discovered a new organism. She examined its cells under a microscope and observed several different structures, including a nucleus, a cell wall, and some chloroplasts. This organism would correctly be classified in which of the following kingdoms? A. Animalia B. Monera C. Plantae D. Fungi Answer: C
The personal computer has overtaken the family dog as man's best friend.according to a study. Researchers found that just 6 per cent of us believe that" most people rely more on their dog than they do on their PC",while 67 per cent think the opposite to be true. Even 38 per cent of dog owners admitted to relying more on their PC than on their dog, although 36 per cent disagreed. And 71 per cent of 18 to 24-year-old dog owners said they relied more on their computer. Paul Allen,editor of Computeractive magazine said:"These days you can even you're your PC for fl walk,provided you have a laptop or tablet." "It's only a matter of time until the first PC that fetches your slippers." Researchers questioned 2,000 British adults to find out the change modern technology has brought to their home life. They found that male dog owners are almost twice as likely as female owners to rely on their computer than a _ companion. Mr.Allen said:"With broadband bringing them global news and newspaper sales falling,the family dog even misses out on the pleasure of taking the paper to his owner." But it's not all bad news for obedient dogs. "The family PC has given dog owners access to a wealth of resources and information that can help with the long-term care that a dog needs,"Mr.Allen said. Who are most likely to rely on computers? Answer: People in their early twenties. Hydrogen gas and oxygen gas combine to form water. Which would be a more concise way of expressing what happens in this chemical reaction? Answer: write a chemical equation In Europe, many people make friends between their countries through town twinning. Town or city twinning means two towns in different countries agree and decide to become "twins" with a sister-city relationship. The people find pen friends in the twin town. They exchange newspapers and stamps. The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town. Officials visit the twin town for celebrations. Ordinary people travel to the twin town, too, but not very often if it is far away. Sometimes, schools even exchange their classes for two or three weeks! For example, German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain, staying with British families. A few months later, their British friends come to study in Germany. Many British towns are so pleased with the results of the twinning that they set out to find more than one twin town! Tonbridge, a small town in Kent, for example, has twin towns in both Germany and France. Richmond near London has relationships with Germany, France and even a town in a Balkan country! Town twinning can help make friends. It helps students improve their language skill, and also helps people to understand the differences between nations. Twin towns develop _ . Answer: between different countries I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to sit above the top of it. Mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be a most wonderful thing in the world. Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. "But the desk," she said again, "is for Elizabeth." I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed in action. But as a young girl. I wanted to have heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter. They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was "too emotional ". But she lived "on the surface ". As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me. My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace - it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn't be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not. But the present of her desk told me, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside - a photo of my father and a one-paper letter, folded and refolded many times. It was my letter. "In any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words." What did Mother do with her daughter's letter asking for forgiveness? Answer: She read the letter again and again till she died. Mr. Green is quiet and doesn't like talking with people .He likes reading newspapers and using the Internet.He hardly ever exercises. Sometimes he watches soccer or basketball games on TV. He likes coffee very much and drinks it three times a day . Mr. Green is a bank clerk . It's a busy but boring job. He works with people and money every day .So he always feels tired after work. He likes to get enough rest and goes to bed early after dinner.Usually he goes to bed at 8:30 in the evening and get up at 6:30 in the morning. Mr. Green is very happy with that .But Mrs. Green isn't ,because Mr. Green always talks in his sleep. One morning , Mr. Green sat at table and had breakfast. Mrs. Green asked him, "Why do you always talk in your sleep?" Mr. Green said, "Because I have few chances to talk in the day time." The next morning after their children all went to school, Mrs. Green asked Mr. Green angrily , Why did you scold me in your sleep last night ? "Because I don't have the courage to do it when I'm awake ." Mr. Green works in a _ . Answer: bank
There are only 24 hours in a day,but people can use the time wisely. In other words,effective time management is important if you want to succeed. Knowing the importance of daily matters is the first step towards good time management. Write down the things that you want to do and organize them according to their level of importance. The important thing should be done first. If there are too many things that have to be done in one day, then you have to give up doing something that is less important on your list. Besides this,you need to spend a specific amount of time doing all the activities you have written down and make sure you finish them on time. People often slow down in their work even though they know that time will never wait for them. Make sure you keep to your plan and finish the tasks one by one. Do not try to do too many things at once. Also,you can group similar activities together and do them one by one. For example, you can group all the tasks you need to do in the office together and do them while you're in office. Do all the tasks that have to be done in one place first, and then move to the next place to do the other tasks. "The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you're the pilot, "said Michael Althsuler. Your future is in your hands,so remember to invest your time wisely from today on. Which of the following things should be done first? Answer: The most important things Vitamins are complex chemical substances found in many foods. The human body needs them for health and growth. The body makes some vitamins, but usually in amounts too small to meet its needs. Other vitamins are not made in the body. These must be supplied. No one knows exactly how all vitamins work. Doctors do know that vitamins have very special uses. One vitamin therefore cannot take the place of another. The steady absence of one vitamin in an otherwise complete diet causes a deficiency disease. Rickets, scurvy, and pellagra are examples of deficiency diseases. It is best to obtain vitamins by eating the foods in which they occur. There are also pills that contain a single vitamin or a combination of vitamins people should consult their doctors before they take any vitamin pills. Scientists have discovered about 25 vitamins and their different forms that are very important to human beings and other forms of life. Experts believe that there are many more vitamins to be discovered. There are two basic groups of vitamins. One group of vitamins dissolves in fat and is therefore called the "fat-soluble" group. Vitamins A, D, E and K are in this group. The other group is known as "water-soluble" vitamins. These vitamins, understandably, dissolve in water. Among this group are Vitamin C and the B group of vitamins. Vitamin A aids the building and growth of body cells. This vitamin is therefore vital for the growth of children and for good development of babies before birth. Vitamin A is also important for good vision at night. Vitamin B1 is also called thiamine. This vitamin prevents and cures disease. Vitamin B2, called riboflavin, is needed for growth, healthy skin, and for the eyes. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, prevents and cures scurvy. Vitamin D is a group of 10 vitamins that prevents rickets. Scientist believe that Vitamin D3 forms in the skin when the body is exposed to sunlight. Because of this, it is called the "sunshine vitamin". A lack of Vitamin D may lead to bone damage; too much may cause kidney disease. All of the functions of Vitamin E, also called tocopherol, are not known. It is necessary for reproduction in animals. Vitamin K is necessary for making the blood clot. The more that is learned about vitamins, the more it is realized how these chemical substances play a part in all aspects of human activity. Which of the following ways is the best to obtain vitamins needed? Answer: Eating the foods that contain vitamins. Residence Inn Milford Within 15 minutes from historic Yale University and New Haven, the Residence Inn Milford offers great amenities and first-class service for business or leisure travel. Our all-suites hotel near New Haven is 1 hour from Bradley International Airport and 10 minutes from a Metro North train station that can get you to NYC in under an hour and a half. At our Milford, CT hotel, enjoy spacious studio, suites that are 50 percent larger than traditional hotel rooms. Our suites offer hot breakfast buffet and a nightly social hour (Monday - Wednesday) , on-site exercise room and outdoor swimming pool. Price $ 119 per night Pet Policy Pets allowed Check in time 300 pm Marriott Detroit Southfield Newly renovated , the Marriott Detroit Southfield Hotel is one of Detroit's most desirable hotel destinations. With excellent public areas, enhanced meeting spaces and carefully redesigned guest rooms, the Marriott Detroit Southfield Hotel caters to the needs of business, leisure and group guests travelling to the Detroit area. This suburban Detroit hotel has a prime location that allows for easy access to the Detroit Zoo, Henry Ford Museum, Comerica Park, Ford Field and many of the other local activities in the area. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Price $ 75 per night Check in time 400 pm Comfort Suites Kodak 100 percent smoke free and pet free hotel conveniently located at the main gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains off Interstate 40 at exit 407, close to all the fun and excitement in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Knoxville, including Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, Smokies Park, Sevierville Events Center, Tanger Outlet Mall, Uinversity of Tennessee and more. Guests enjoy waking up in our well-appointed guest suites featuring contemporary furnishings and LCD flat screen televisions, starting their day with our free breakfast, and relaxing in our indoor pool and exercise room. Price $55 per night Check in time 300 pm The Swinton Hotel Located in the very heart of the centre of London, the Swinton Hotel is one of the leading Kings Cross hotels offering free breakfast. It is a friendly and relaxed hotel. With a reputation as one of the top cheap hotels in London and a location which allows easy access to all tourist attractions, shopping areas and transport connections, you have come to the right place if you are looking for brilliant Kings Cross Hotels. Whatever reason you are looking for cheap hotels in London and whether you are visiting on business, as a tourist or to enjoy the vast varieties of entertainment and nightlife, we will be more than happy to provide you with a safe and comfortable environment. The Swinton Hotel is situated in an ideal location for those travelling to or from London by rail. Being located within walking distance of many popular tourist attractions, you are unlikely to find many cheap hotels in London situated in a better location. Price $45 per night Check in time 3 00 pm Which of the following is true according to the four advertisements? Answer: You may bring pets into Residence Inn Milford. Which of the following represents the velocity of a moving object? Answer: 40 m/s north Bobby Moresco grew up in New York's Hell's Kitchen, a poor working-class neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side. But Hell's Kitchen lies right next door to Broadway, and the bright lights attracted Bobby from the time he was a teen. Being stage-struck was hardly what a street kid could admit to his partners. Fearing their making fun of him, he told no one, not even his girlfriend, when he started taking acting lessons at age 17. If you were a kid from the neighborhood, you became a cop, construction worker, longshoreman or criminal. Not an actor. Moresco struggled to make that long walk a few blocks east. He studied acting, turned out for all the cattle calls -- and during the decade of the 1970s made a total of $2,000. "I wasn't a good actor, but I had a driving need to do something different with my life," he says. He moved to Hollywood, where he drove a cab and worked as a waiter. " My father said, 'Stop this craziness and get a job; you have a wife and daughter.' "But Moresco kept working at his chosen career. Then in 1983 his younger brother Thomas was murdered in a killing. Moresco moved back to his old neighborhood and started writing as a way to explore the pain of Hell's Kitchen. Half-Deserted Streets, based on his brother's killing, opened at a small Off-Broadway theater in 1988. A Hollywood producer saw it and asked him to work on a screenplay. His reputation grew, and he got enough assignments to move back to Hollywood. By 2003, he was again out of work and out of cash when he got a call from Paul Haggis, a director who had befriended him. Haggis wanted help writing a film about the country after September 11. The two worked on the writing Crash, but every studio in town turned it down. They kept trying. Studio executives, however, thought no one wanted to see hard lives in modern America. Crash slipped into the theaters in May 2005, and quietly became both a hit and a critical success. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three -- Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Paul Haggis and the kid from Hell's Kitchen. At age 54, Bobby Moresco became an overnight success. "If you have something you want to do in life, don't think about the problems," he says, "think about other ways to get it done." Which of the following sentences is NOT true? Answer: Moresco grew up in New York's Hell's Kitchen which is a few blocks east of Broadway.
Question: Alice is a busy girl. Now she is relaxing .She is watching the Friday night weather report on television .She likes sunny weather just like today. She wants to know what the weather will be like tomorrow. She's going to have a picnic .This is what the reporter is saying, "Good evening and welcome to evening weather report. We are going to have a very different weather across the country..."Alice is sad .She doesn't like raining. What day is it tomorrow? _ . A. Friday B. Saturday C. Sunday D. Monday Answer: B. Saturday Question: If you're like most kids, you've probably made more than a few paper airplanes in your day. But how many kids can say their paper airplanes have been built life-size and then flown? At least one: 12-year-old Arturo Veldenegro of Tucson, Arizona, who won the Pima Air& Space Museum's first annual Great Paper Airplane Project Fly-Off in March 2012. " The purpose of the competition is to inspire and draw kids' interest in science and flight," says Tim Vimmerstedt, director of the museum. About 150 kids entered the competition. The young designers learned about how airplanes fly and then set to work designing their own planes. Arturo designed and built his airplane. When hen was finished, he took his plane to the flight area and let it fly, outdistancing the other competitors in all age groups. At last, Arturo's airplane flew the farthest---more than 75 feet! As the winner, Arturo got to meet with a team of engineers, which took his design and made a bigger one. The new paper airplane might have been the largest one ever built! Arturo named his large paper airplane Arturo's Desert Eagle. Later a helicopter tried to lift the paper airplane over the Arizona desert, but it was unsuccessful. Engineers worked for eight hours to repair it for a second try. This time, the helicopter managed to raise it to 2700 feet and then set the plane free. Arturo watched as his plane flew through the sky at speeds of up to 98 miles per hour for 10 seconds before falling to pieces. "I felt happy but sad," Arturo says, " It flew really well, but it was sad to see it destroyed." But that wasn't the end of Arturo's Desert Eagle. The Pima Air & Space Museum collected the pieces of the broken plane and put them on show to inspire other young engineers to reach for the sky. What do we know about the paper airplane Arturo built? A. It flew the highest B. It flew for 20 minutes C. It flew more than 75 feet D. it took him eight hours to build Answer: C. It flew more than 75 feet Question: A Chinese couple tried to name their baby "@", saying the character best represents their love for the child, according to an official trying to standardize the national language. The unusual name stands out especially in Mandarin, which has no alphabet and instead uses tens of thousands of multistroke characters to represent words. "The whole world uses it to write emails, and translated into Chinese it means 'love him'," the father explained, according to the deputy chief of the State Language Commission Li Yuming. While the @ symbol is familiar to Chinese email users, they often use the English word "at" to sound it out. With a drawnout "t", this sounds something like "ai ta", or "love him", to Mandarin speakers. Li says the name is an extreme example of people's increasingly adventurous approach to Mandarin, as commercialization and the Internet break down conventions . Another couple tried to give their child a name that in English sounds like "King Osrina". Li did not say if officials accepted the "@" name. But earlier this year the government announced a ban on names using Arabic numerals and foreign languages. Sixty million Chinese face the problem that their names use ancient characters so uncommon that computers cannot recognize them _ , said Li, according to a report on the government website. One of them is the former Premier Zhu Rongji, whose name has a rare "rong" character that gives newspaper editors headaches. The passage is mainly about _ . A. how Chinese parents name their babies B. the importance of standardizing Chinese characters C. a ban on names using Arabic numerals and foreign languages D. the problems caused by uncommon characters used in Chinese names Answer: D. the problems caused by uncommon characters used in Chinese names Question: Years ago, as we know, zoos kept animals in cages. Cages made it easy for visitors to see the animals, but a small cage is not a good place for an animal to live in. Today animals live in open areas. There are usually plants and a little lake around, like the animals' habitats. Visitors usually stay in the bus to see the animals outside. Zoos help to protect all kinds of animals. They protect animals in the zoo as well as animals in the wild. How do they do this? Zoos tell people how animals live in the wild and how to help protect their environment. The number of many kinds of plants and animals is becoming smaller and smaller. Mammoths, which are related with Asia elephants, are now extinct(.Scientists say that 74 different kinds of living things are disappearing a day! Zoos are working together to help animals-our friends. A mammoth is a kind of _ that has gone extinct. A. plant B. bird C. animal D. tree Answer: C. animal Question: My name is Mary Green. I live in a new house with my parents. There is a beautiful and a small room for me. I like it very much. Now let me tell you something about my new house. My new house is on a busy street. There is a big, new and clean park across from my house. I can see the flowers in it from my room. We often take a walk in the park after dinner every evening. There is a big supermarket near my house. It is between a hospital and a cinema. We can buy fruits, vegetables and food in the supermarket. They are good but cheap. My school is near my house. So I always go to school on foot. I like my new house. Do you like it? Where is the cinema? A. It is across from my house. B. It's between a bank and a supermarket. C. It's beside a park. D. It's beside a supermarket. Answer: D. It's beside a supermarket.
When he stopped his car at a traffic light in Basra, Bassam Rady noticed the motorbike with two riders on it passed by him slowly. Suddenly the bike turned round and Mr. Rady, feeling dangerous, tried to drive off. Before he could, a man on the back of the bike took out a gun from his jacket and fired. The bullet went through the windscreen and just missed him. As he sped away another shot was fired, but missed the car. Mr. Rady was an interpreter for British army in Iraq. As such, his life is in danger from the militia that once controlled the Iraqi city and is now returning. More than a year ago Iraqi soldiers, backed by US, brought peace and stability to Basra by driving militants over the Iranian border in an operation called Charge of the Knights. According to local estimates, however, about half have returned. Although they have not become as active as before, the militants are trying to shoot Iraqi citizens who worked with British. Most in danger are translators such as Mr. Rady. The 31-year-old father worked with soldiers on dangerous missions but was refused resettlement in Britain at the end of his employment. He worked with nine translators. Seven of them have been killed. "I'm like a cancer patient -- now that the militia is back, my family is just waiting for me to die," Mr. Rady said. "I see reports in the media that Basra is safe but it's not true. I know these militia people. I went to school with some of them. I didn't see them for a year but now they are around again. They have told me, 'Your day will come soon'." He takes security precautions and never follows a routine. This means that he cannot work because that would give the militants a better chance of success. Militiamen belonging to the alMahdi Army took control of Basra between 2004 and 2007 with other Shia fighters. They enforced strict Islamic rules at the same time as running criminal rackets. British army was unable or unwilling to fight back and eventually went back to their base at the airport. We can draw the conclusion that Mr.Rady's work in Iraq is very_. Answer: It is a beautiful spring morning. There isn't a cloud, and the sun is warm but not too hot. So Mr. Green is surprised when he sees an old man at the bus stop with a big strong black umbrella in his hand. Mr. Green says to him, "Do you think we are going to have rain today?" "No," says the old man,"I don't think so." "Then are you carrying the umbrella to keep the sun off you?" "No, the sun is not very hot in spring." Mr. Green looks at the big umbrella again, then the man says, "I am an old man, and my legs are not very strong. So I really need a walking stick . When I carry a walking stick, people will say, "Look at that poor man. " And I don't like that. When I carry an umbrella in fine weather, people only say,"Look at that foolish man. " What color is the old man's umbrella? Answer: A survey said the average Asian dad spent one minute a day with his children.I was shocked. I mean, a whole minute? Every day? Get real. Once a week maybe. The fact is, many Asian males are terrible at kid--related things. In fact, I am one of them. Child--rearing doesn't come naturally to guys. My mother knew the names of our teachers, best friends and crushes. My dad was only vaguely aware there were short people sharing the apartment. My mother bought healthy fresh food at the market every day. My dad would only go shopping when there was nothing in the fridge except a jar of capers and a bay leaf.Then he' d buy beer. My mother always knew the right questions to ask our teachers. My dad would ask my English teacher if she could get us a discount on school fees.My mother served kid food to kids. My dad added chili sauce to everything, including our baby food. The truth is, mothers have superpowers. My son fell off a wall once and hurt himself all over. I demanded someone bring me a computer so I could google what to do. My wife ignored me and did some sort of chanting phrase such as "Mummy kiss it better," and cured l7 separate injuries in less than 15 seconds. Yes, mothers are incredible people, but they are not always right. Yet honesty forces me to record the fact that mothers only know best 99.99 percent of the time.Here are some famous _ The mother of Bill Gates: " If you' re going to drop out of college and hang out with your nerdy friends, don' t come running to me when you find yourself penniless." The mother of Albert Einstein: "When you grow up, you' ll find that sitting around thinking about the nature of time and space won' t pay the grocery bills." The mother of George W.Bush: "You'll never be like your dad, who became President of the United States and started his own war." The tone for the writer to write the passage is _ . Answer: The dollar is becoming weaker and weaker. What effects will it have? Look at the recordhigh price of oil. Even if the same amount of oil is being pumped out of the ground,since it is traded in dollars and the dollar has weakened,the price of oil has increased to make up for the lost value of the dollar,creating a sort of vicious cycle . Oilproducing countries don't want to keep all the dollars they are getting for their oil,since it's declining in value,so they exchange their dollars for euros or other currencies. That pushes more dollars back out into currency markets,which in turn pushes down the dollar's value. One expert told ABC News that Russia used to have 90 percent of its financial reserves in dollars. It now has 45 percent in dollars,45 percent in euros and 10 percent in British pounds. In the US itself,the news is mixed. It's good,because it makes what we produce here cheaper to sell in foreign markets,and that in turn spurs exports of our products around the world. That translates into more manufacturing and more jobs. But a weak dollar is bad,because it leads to inflation in this country. Imports from foreign countries will become more expensive,and in particular,oil will be more expensive. That puts pressure on businesses to increase prices for anything that uses oil or products that come from overseas. One benefit for American shoppers is that China has largely pegged its currency to ours,so that keeps the price of Chinesemade goods low and therefore,keeps a check on inflation. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? Answer: She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart.She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence.Outside, it was pouring so heavily. We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day.I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in."Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "No, honey.We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain." " We'll get wet totally if we do," Mom said. "No, we won't, Mom.That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tore at her Mom's arm. "This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?" "Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!" The entire crowd stopped dead silent.I dare say you couldn't hear anything but the rain.We all stood silently. No one came or left in. the next few minutes,Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly.Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of _ in a young child's lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith."Honey, you are absolutely right.Let's run through the rain.If get wet, well maybe we just need washing," Mom said.Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case.They got soaked.But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.And yes, I did.I ran.I got wet.I needed washing. You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one can ever take away your precious memories.So don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories. The best title for the passage might be _ . Answer:
Question: When Taylor Swift first came to the attention of the public,she was a 17yearold newcomer who loved singing to her guitar.She seemed far more enthusiastic than skillful. Four years later,Swift became a multiaward winner.This month,she was crowned "Woman of the Year" by Billboard magazine,the youngest singersongwriter ever to receive the honor."Aged only 21,Taylor has already made a maior impact on music and has been an unbelievable role model for hopeful artists and young women everywhere," said Bill Werde,Billboard's director. _ Unlike many pop singers,especially those who do not write their own material,Swift has the power of turning her ideas into lyrics that will set people thinking."Hidden beneath Taylor Swift's notagirl,notyetawoman sweetness is a very skillful songwriting technique," wrote Leah Greenblatt in an American magazine. Songwriting,as Swift explains,is to cope with issues."I tend to write about things that really impact me most." There certainly seems to be something true and honest running through every one of the 14 songs on her album,Speak Now,about "the lessons and confusion and heartbreak and all the different things that go along with being 18,19 and 20." "For the audience too young to have experienced real passion or heartbreak,Swift's songs are like a potential road map,promising things will work out OK," commented Dorian ynskey in a British newspaper. Now Swift is getting ready to go further and has so far written about 10 songs for her 2012 album,which is about feelings of growing up and becoming an adult."They're sad,if I'm being honest.""They're about my heartbreaks and my moving on.But more importantly,they are about achieving contentment.You're not always going to be perfectly happy as you grow up." Taylor Swift's 2012 album mainly records _ . A. dream and reality B. heartbreak and despair C. pain and growth D. problems and society Answer: C Question: Impossible cases are not forever. While it is impossible for one person, it is possible for another. In a word, everything is possible. Someone says, "Success belongs to those who can look at the complex challenges offered by the world as inspiration." So your challenges are golden opportunities for success. How can there be miracles if there are no obstacles? How will you chase the storm if there is no storm? You need challenges to reveal your ability. Success doesn't come out' of nothing; success comes from the problems you face. Those who refuse to give in come out smiling. Robert X. Perez says, "The seeds of success spring from failure's ashes. "Failure is not defeat; it is the pointer to do better than what you just did. You have to know that you are in a constant study of life. What you face is for your training. Samuel Aidoo says, "Each failure is simply another chapter in the story of our lives. To fail is to understand what not to do. Remember it and don't give up until your goal is achieved." What do you do when you face difficulty? Yeah, life is difficult, but you do not give up. Have a positive and calm outlook on your circumstances and make the best of them. You may learn something new. You can develop mental toughness. Mental toughness means to be able to see the long-term gains rather than be put off by short-term pains. Once you have this toughness, you have the winning edge . The only things in life you ever really regret are the chances you didn't take. You will regret when you see the consequences of not seizing the opportunities when they arose. Take chances every day! According to the author, success often comes to people who _ . A. have good opportunities B. face failure C. don't fear difficulties D. have a lot of luck Answer: C Question: Forty years ago, Finland was a small country with mediocre public schools. Today, Finland is still small but no one calls Finland's public schools mediocre any more. In 2000, the Finns surprised the world when their 15-year-olds scored at the top of a closely watched international exam called the PISA. Finland has stayed near the top ever since, while the U.S. scores around the middle. Pasi Sahlberg, an official with Finland's Ministry of Education and Culture, is in Seattle this week to share the story of Finland's success, and what states like Washington can learn from it. Sahlberg's message, although he is too polite to put it so bluntly : Stop testing so much, trust teachers more; give less homework; shorten the school day. On Tuesday, in a room filled with teachers, principals, professors, school-board members and policy makers, Sahlberg joked about the Finns' reputation for being a quiet, humble people. "When Finland hit the top of the PISA," he said, "the biggest disbelievers were Finns." More seriously, Finland never set out to create the world's top school system. Instead, he said, the country decided in the 1970s that it wanted to ensure that a student's success didn't depend on family background. "Finland relied on cooperation among teachers and schools, rather than on competition. Rather than judging teachers and schools based on test scores," he said, "Finland puts trust in its teachers and principals. Teachers develop the curriculum in Finland, and design their own tests. There are no national tests, except one at the end of high school." That's just the start. Along with a shorter school day, Finnish students don't even start school until they are 7 years old. Many primary schools have a policy against giving homework. "But Finland,"he said,"succeeded in part by adopting ideas from the U.S. and other countries. And those countries, "he said, "can learn from Finland, too." What might be the author's purpose of writing the passage? A. To introduce a Finnish official. B. To compare the education systems of Finland and the US. C. To share the story of Finland's success in education. D. To ask the US to improve its education. Answer: C Question: There was once a young man called Paul in a village in the USA. Paul was very lazy because his father was a rich farmer and he didn't have to work. Mr Smith, a neighbour of his, was a blacksmith . He used to work in his shop all day. Paul spent hours and hours watching how the blacksmith worked every day. "Young man, why don't you try your hand to make a shoe tack , even it is only to pass the time?" said the blacksmith one day, " Maybe it will be useful to you some day." Finally, the lazy boy began to have a try. After practicing some times, he becameskilledand could make very nice tacks. Years later, Paul's father died and he lost all the things because of a war . He had to move to another country and live by himself. It happened that there were many shoemakers paying high prices to buy tacks for the shoes, because in that part of the country there was a great need of tacks for soldiers' shoes. Paul went to talk with them. He told them that he would make the tacks if they could help him find a workshop in the village. The shoemakers agreed. Then Paul made a lot of money by making tacks. "How funny it is!" he said to himself, "Even by making shoe tacks, one can become rich." What did Paul do after his father died because of the war? A. He travelled to another country. B. He moved to another country. C. He learned to make shoes. D. He started a workshop. Answer: B Question: I don't think a day goes by when I don't think of my father. He died twenty-one years ago when I was twenty-six. He was a good man , but I hardly saw him around home, for he ran a big company. I secretly wished something could bring him closer to me. It wasn't until he became seriously ill that we really got to know each other and had a place in each other's lives. After his near death and many operations, I was trained as his nurse to take care of him. Although the job seemed boring and tiring in certain people's eyes, I liked it. Taking care of him seemed to reduce the pain of his absence from my younger life. I enjoyed his company and attention and, though through a sad situation, I was finally getting my fill . Now I am a dad myself, but certainly not a _ as my father. Although I work away from my home, I always have my meals with my family. Father's Day is coming I still have the pencil holder made from a decorated tin sitting on my desk. It's a gift from my only son. Each year, the gift is something different and each year, I couldn't care less about the gift itself. You see, the gift I enjoy is the pleasure of my son's company and knowing that we have a place in each other's lives. At heart , all men know their fathers are important. Want a great Father's Day? Tell your dad you love him and give your kid a hug today-before Father's Day actually arrives. By looking after his father, the writer got a chance to _ . A. get close to his father B. practice his nursing skills C. show people that he loved his father D. reduce the pain that he brought to his father Answer: A
The Luck of the Irish Look at a map of Britain, and the island on the left is Ireland. It's a small but beautiful country with a long tradition of folk music. Up until 10 years ago just about the only thing that Ireland was famous for was its specialty black beer. Now Ireland is famous around the world for its music with names like "Kenya","U2" ,"Van Morrison"and more recently "the Corers". "Boyzone",one of the world's top boy bands ,is from Ireland too.What's more,Boyzone member shane has twin sisters,Adele and Heavy,who are members of "B Witched" The "Boyzone"story is interesting because they were created in 1993 by Dublin nightclub owner John Reynolds.They advertised in newspapers to find members for the group and 300wannabe pop stars applied! Ronan,who was just 17 when he dropped out of school to make his bid for stardom,and shane,who had been working as trained mechanic in his father's garage when he left to join Boyzone,were both lucky enough to be chosen. The other members are shoe-shop attendant stephen lately,former mechanic Mike Graham and one-time clothes store assistant Keith Dully. Many people expect bands that have been created by the music industry to produce boring music which doesn't become popular. Even the boys themselves knew they the would not easily achieve international pop music success. Boyzone quickly proved that they were more than just pretty faces and have sold millions of records around the world.At the moment ,they are not big stars in America,but they say that will change,when they begin a tour of the United States. Ronan will shortly also start recording as a solo artist. That does not mean the band will spilt yet,but we can expect Boyzone to split sometime in the next 18 months or so.Ronan has also recently become involved as one of the managers of new Irish boy band "West Life" whose song "Swear It Again"has recently been Number 1 in the British charts. Ireland is famous for _ now. Answer: popular music Some people succeed in unbelievable ways. Roussel was orphaned at the age of eight and went to live with his grandfather. He built on the music he had learned from his mother, entertaining himself by reading through the family music collection and playing his favorite songs on the piano. Three years later, Roussel's grandfather died, and his aunt adopted him. Her husband arranged for young Albert to take regular piano lessons. Summer vacations at a Belgian seaside resort added a second love to his life -- the sea. He studied to be a naval cadet , but still made time to study music. In the French Navy, while he served on a warship based at Cherbourg, he and two friends found the time to play the music of Beethoven and other composes . Roussel also began composing. At the Church of the Trinity in Cherbourg on Christmas Day 1892, he had his first performance as a composer. That success encouraged Roussel to write a wedding march, and one of his fellow offices offered to show it to a well-known conductor , Edouard Colonne. When Roussel's friend returned with the manuscript , he reported that Colonne had advised Roussel to give up his naval career and devote his life to music. Not long afterwards, at the age of 25, Roussel did just that. He applied characters that he had developed in the navy to his composing and became a major force in twentieth century French music. As for Eduoard Colonne's inspiring advice that Roussel devote his life to music, Roussel's navy friend later admitted that he had made it up and that he had never even shown Roussel's manuscript to the conductor. We can infer from the article that _ . Answer: If Roussel hadn't joined the navy, he might not have achieved so much. "Keep an eye on Esther. I'll be back in a second," Joy Warren said to her three-year-old son Stephen, who was sitting in the back of the Buick. She didn't like leaving the children alone in the car, but the baby was sleeping soundly. And it would only be a moment. She had hardly walked 40 yards when she saw the car moving. It headed straight towards the river. Unable to swim, Joy shouted, "My babies are in that car!" Daniel Whitehead, a 17-year-old student, was walking by the river when the Buick crashed into the water just yards ahead .Without thinking, Daniel jumped in. Though a competitive swimmer, he was shocked by the icy chill. Two minutes earlier, Skip Womack had pulled to a halt as the Buick ran in front of him. Now seeing it hit the water and hearing Joy's cries, Skip got out of his truck and jumped into the water. He had only one thought: If I don't get them out, they'll drown. Daniel reached the car and grabbed a door handle. But the water was only four inches beneath the window, and the door wouldn't open. With one powerful punch, Daniel and Skip broke a window. Daniel reached inside and lifted Stephen out. He placed him on his back and set out for shore. At the same time, Skip squeezed himself through the window .He managed to free Esther from beneath her seat belt. After he got out of the car with the baby, he held her over the water and swam toward the shore. All this took place just seconds before the Buick disappeared beneath the water. Later, driving home, Skip thought of his wife and children--how close he'd come to leaving them behind. He thought of the miracle he'd lived through, and how two children were still alive because he and Daniel happened to be in the right place at the right time. Why did Joy leave her children in the car? Answer: She didn't like waking up her baby. It was one of the happiest times of my life. I was 29 and had just received my bachelor's degree, graduating with honors despite working two jobs and being a wife and mother. My parents and five - year - old son were in the audience when I walked onto the stage at prefix = st1 /AshlandUniversityto get my diploma. I was so excited and proud to be starting a teaching career and contributing more to my family's well - being. But when I got home that evening, there was a note from my husband written on the back of an envelope. It basically said he'd come to get his clothes and wouldn't be back. We'd been having trouble, but the finality of that note still came as a shock. He had emptied our bank account. We were horribly in debt. I had quit my previous jobs in expectation of interviewing for a teaching position. I was embarrassed, scared, and angry and felt I had failed. But I had my son, and I was about to bring a new life into the world, so despite my deep sadness, I had to go on. The next morning, I woke up, put my feet on the floor, took a deep breath, fixed breakfast, and basically did everything I always did. I used my routine to keep me moving. One small step after one small step was the way I bounced back. And in the seven years since, I've continued moving forward. I got a job as a kindergarten teacher, earned a master' s degree in education. I certainly would never have chosen to put them through this, but I'm glad it happened to me when looking back. It helped me find my voice and myself a lot sooner. It helped me grow independent, confident, and strong--things I' m hopefully developing gradually now in my child. The author did everything as usual because _ . Answer: she wanted to use her routine to move forward Peter wondered why he didn't have many friends. The reason was that he was always taking, never giving. One day Peter told Bill, "I'd like to give a party on Saturday. I'd like you to come and bring Martha, too. " "Thanks, Peter. We'd be happy to come. ""Perhaps you'd like to bring your violin. You and Martha sing well together. I'm sure everyone will want you to sing for us. "That was how Peter began to plan his party. Next he asked another friend, Betty, to bring a cake. "You make the best cake in the world, Betty, and I like to eat your cake better than have one from the bakery . "Peter invited a few other friends to come to his party. He didn't forget to ask for something from each of them. He even asked Jim Jackson and Mary Jackson to let him give the party at their house! They agreed. The party was a big success. However, as the guests were leaving, they said "Thank you! "to Bill and Martha for the music, Betty for the cake, the Jacksons for the use of the house and to others for their hard work. To Peter they just said, "Thanks for the invitation. " Peter _ to the party. Answer: only invited some friends
GEOGRAPHICNews Video Photogaphy The Magazine Environment Travel Adventure Television Main Stories Controlling the Mekong The 5000km long Mekong River provides China with fresh when it flows and electricity when it's dammed. Dolphin Intelligence 300 of these social animals have been studied for over 30 years by Dr. Denise Herzing.Find out what she discovered about dolphin communication and what dolphins say. A Day In New York It was once a city that people scared. Now tourists are visiting New York each year. Join Robert Jones as he explores just what the Big Apple has to offer and what interesting activities can be done in a day. Photography The Magic of Night Markets All around the world, street markets come to life at night.While people can shop for T-shirts and toys, the real attraction is the different kinds of food that somehow become even more delicious after dark. Visions of Earth Look through visions of the world as seen through photographers' eyes. Amazing Amazon Incredible images of the wildlife of the Amazon rainforest. Most Read This Week 1.Top Danger for Lions-Hunting 2.A Day in New York 3.Photo of the Day Best of May 4.Making the Picture You Want 5.Photos That Take You to Mexico 6.The Week's Best Space Picture Special Offer. Order Today! Print and Electronic Delivery. Just $25 a year for 12 copies.Orders outside the USA must add 20% From which page can a reader get some useful advice on photography? Your Shot Look at this.It's a blue bag.It is my bag.What's in it? Look,this is my English book.It's blue,too.My Chinese book is also in my bag.It is yellow.This is my pencil box.It's big and nice.I like English and Chinese.My bag is my good friend. My pencil box is _ . big and nice Terrorists in the foreign country of Ruritania kidnapped the United States ambassador to that country. They threatened to kill her unless the President of the United States secured the release of an identified person who was a citizen of Ruritania and was held in a prison of the state of Aurora in the United States pursuant to a valid conviction by that state. The President responded by entering into an agreement with Ruritania which provided that Ruritania would secure the release of the United States ambassador on a specified date in return for action by the President that would secure the release of the identified person held in the Aurora prison. The President then ordered the governor of Aurora to release the prisoner in question. The governor refused. No federal statutes are applicable. Which of the following is the strongest constitutional argument for the authority of the President to take action in these circumstances requiring the governor of Aurora to release the Aurora prisoner? The power of the President to negotiate with foreign nations impliedly authorizes the President to make executive agreements with them which prevail over state law. Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall was built, beginning in 122 AD, to keep Roman Britain safe from attacks from the Picts. The wall, starting from the North Sea to the Irish Sea (from the Tyne to the Solway), is about 73 miles long, 10 feet wide, and 15 feet high. In addition to the wall, the Romans built a system of small forts housing up to 60 men every Roman mile along its whole length, with e towers very 1/3 Roman mile. 16 larger forts holding from 500 to 1000 soldiers were built into the wall, with large gates on the north face. Israeli West Bank barrier The Israeli West Bank barrier is a barrier under construction by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier's total length will be nearly 700 kilometers. The barrier is built mainly in the West Bank. The Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was the physical boundary between West Germany and East Germany. The Berlin Wall was built in the dead of night in 1961 and for 28 years kept East Germans from escaping to the West. Its destruction (in 1989) was celebrated around the world. Conwy's Town Walls Conwy's Town Walls are an ancient defensive project around the town of Conwy in North Wales. The walls were built between 1283 and 1287. They are 1.3 kilometers long and include 21 towers and three gate houses. The project was completed by large quantities of workers and cost around PS15,000. Today the walls form part of the UNESCO world heritage site . The Israeli West Bank barrier _ . is a barrier being built by the Israeli state For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He didn't do much better in sports. Although he played for the school's golf team, he lost the only important match of the season. Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates...everyone knew it. Sparky never asked a classmate to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being refused. However, one thing was important to Sparky - drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he sent some cartoons to the editors of the Yearbook. Although the cartoons were turned down, Sparky was so confident about his ability that he decided to become an artist. After completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork, and the subject for a cartoon was suggested. Sparky spent a great deal of time on it. Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He had been rejected once again. Another loss for the loser. So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. He described his childhood - a little boy loser and underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky, the boy who had little success in school and whose work was rejected again and again was Charles Schulz. He created the Peanuts comic strip and little cartoon character - Charlie Brown. Sparky never asked a classmate to go out because he _ . didn't want to be refused
Scientists have long understood the key role that oceans play in regulating the Earth's climate. Oceans cover 70 percent of the globe and store a thousand times more heat than the atmosphere does. What's newer is the understanding of how this key component of our climate system responds to global warming. A brake on global warming -- for now One of oceans'most important climate functions is absorbing heat and carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the gases that cause global warming. Acting as a heat sponge , oceans have absorbed huge amounts of heat and CO2in the last forty years. Fujita explains that "oceans are saving us from faster climate change -- they are a big flywheel that delays rapid overheating of the Earth, putting a brake on the climate system." "That's the good news," he adds. "The bad news is that oceans only slow the atmospheric warming. Once oceans come to balance with a greenhouse gas warmed earth, the extreme heat will remain in the atmosphere and things will get much hotter." But where and how oceans release this accumulated heat is uncertain. And as oceans store heat, fragile underwater ecosystems are struggling. The most recent scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also notes with concern that oceans are acidifying because of increased absorption of atmospheric CO2, and thus causing a threat for shell-forming species. Sharp increases in carbon dioxide levels will cause further acidification of oceans. Currents distributing heat Another important role oceans play is that of distributor. Oceans deliver heat and life-sustaining nutrients around the globe. Just as blood vessels bring oxygen and nutrients to cells in the human body, oceans' currents carry oxygen, nutrients and heat throughout the Earth. Oceans distribute 25 percent to 50 percent of the energy the planet receives from the sun. For example, the Gulf Stream carries heat across the Atlantic. This warm current gives northwestern Europe a milder climate than it would normally have so far north. A change to oceans' circulation patterns could throw Europe into a colder period, even as the rest of world experiences warmer temperatures. Which of the following is NOT the result of oceans absorbing heat and carbon dioxide? Answer: Long long ago, there was a little girl living in a small poor house on a hill. When she played in her little garden, she could see a beautiful house high on the other hill. This house had golden windows. They were so nice that the little girl dreamed all day, "How _ it would be to grow up and live in a house with golden windows!" When she was old enough to go outside her garden, she asked her mother if she could go for a walk outside the gate. Her mother agreed, telling her to keep close to the house and not to go too far. The day was beautiful and the little girl walked until she got to the gate of the house with golden windows. As she looked at the house with golden windows, she was so disappointed . All the windows were common and very dirty. So sad that she didn't go any further and turned, heart broken. As she went back, she was surprised to see a little house with golden windows as the sun shone on her own house. She realized that she had been living in the "house with golden windows" all the time. Everything she dreamed was right there under her nose! What's the best title for the passage? Answer: Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner. Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies' two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris. Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military's Medal by the French government. In 1918, Irene became her mother's assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later. Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity . Irene Joliot Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956. Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederic Joliot? Answer: Hello! I`m Tony Green . My telephone number is five five seven four one zero two ,and my school ID card number is two six five nine .This is my English book . It's blue. I like it very much . My first name is _ Answer: The smartphone has become the centerpiece of many students' digital lives. Yes, it can be a distraction(,), but it is also an incredible tool that can transform classroom learning and late-night studying. Professors and students are starting to explore what the smartphone can contribute to learning-and there is a whole host of apps to help that process along. There are also plenty of apps to help students with the less academic parts of college life. To download any of these apps, search the iTunes App Store or Android Market. iOS apps are built for Apple's mobile platform and can run on the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Skype Cost: Free Platform: Android, BlackBerry, iOS More and more smartphones now ship with front-facing cameras that make them great video chat tools. There are several competitors here ---- including Apple's FaceTime ----but Skype is still the best cross-platform tool for keeping in touch with faraway friends and family. Users on either end can be on a computer, smartphone. Grades 2 Cost: Free Platform: iOS This app is a sophisticated tool for calculating grades. Students can use it to figure out what grade they'll need on a test to achieve their target grade and also keeps track of overall GPA, weighted by each class's credit count. Students can also enter due dates for assignments as reminders. The app is free and supported by ads, but users can pay $1 inside the app to turn them off. Snoozerr Recordings Cost: 99 cents Platform: iOS This is a great tool for logging long lecture classes or smaller study sessions . It records audio and pairs that with time-stamped pictures that the student takes of presentations--- say, equations on a blackboard----or of his or her own notes. When the student wants to review, he or she can use the pictures as a visual guide to what the instructor was saying and replay that section. TED Cost: Free Platform: iOS This app is great for the student in everyone. It compiles video from hundreds of presentations at technology, entertainment and design----a conference that features short speeches focused on new ways of thinking. Presenters often speak about technology, social good or education and challenge societal norms. It's a great way to spend an hour or so hearing from some of the world's leading minds for free. All of the videos are also available at www.ted.com. AroundMe Cost: Free Platform: Android and iOS This app uses a smartphone's GPS to find nearby locations by category such as banks, gas stations, bars, coffee shops, restaurants and supermarkets---- all the college staples . In which section of a newspaper could you find this article? Answer:
A blackberry bush needing to photosynthesize would have difficulty Answer: at night The increase in global trade means that international companies cannot afford to make costly advertising mistakes if they want to be competitive.Understanding the language and culture of target markets in foreign countries is one of the keys to successful international marketing.Too many companies,however,have jumped into foreign markets with embarrassing results.Translation mistakes are at the heart of many _ in international advertising. General Motors,the US auto manufacturer, got a costly lesson when it introduced its Chevrolet Nova to the Puerto Rican market. "Nova"is Latin for "new (star)"and means "star" in many languages,but in spoken Spanish it can sound like "no va", meaning "it doesn't go".Few people wanted to buy a car with that cursed meaning. When GM changed the name to Caribe,sales picked up dramatically. Marketing blunders have also been made by food and beverage companies. One American food company's friendly "Jolly Green Giant" (for advertising vegetables) became something quite different when it was translated into Arabic as "Intimidating Green ogre ". When translated into German,Pepsi's popular slogan,"Come Alive with Pepsi" came out implying "Come Alive from the Grave".No wonder customers in prefix = st1 /Germanydidn't rush out to buy Pepsi. Even a company with an excellent international track record like Kentucky Fried Chicken is not immune to the perils of faulty translation.Many sales were lost when the catch phrase "finger licking food" became "eat with your fingers off" in Chinese translation. A manufacturer of one laundry detergent also made an expensive mistake in the Middle East. Its advertisements showed a picture of a pile of dirty clothes on the left, a box of the company's detergent in the middle, and clean clothes on the right.Unfortunately,the message was incorrectly interpreted because most people looked at it from right to left, the way Arabic is read. Having awakened to the special nature of foreign advertising,companies are becoming much more conscientious in their translation and more sensitive to cultural distinctions.The best way to prevent errors is to hire professional translators who understand the target language and its idiomatic usage, or to use a technique called "back translation" to reduce the possibility of blunders. The process uses one person to translate a message into the target language and another to translate it back. Effective translators aim to capture the overall message of an advertisement because a word-for-word duplication of the original rarely conveys the intended meaning and often causes misunderstandings. What is the best title for this article? Answer: Cultural Importance in Advertising. Whenever there's a terrible storm, there are many sad stories. Many people lost their houses, their cars and their pets. But sometimes these stories have happy endings, too. A family in New Jersey, US, had a cat named Vivian. She was very smart. She could even draw with her wet paws on the floor. They all loved her very much. When hurricane Sandy hit America in October, they moved to a safer place 13km away from home. Unluckily, Vivian was missing . All the nine family members were worried about her. They put up posters to find her. They looked for her everywhere they thought she could stay, but they didn't find it. The family thought Vivian was gone forever. But six months later, Vivian showed up at their house, according to Yahoo News. They considered her return as a _ . No one can be sure where Vivian was for all that time. Many animals are good at finding their way home. People usually say that dogs and cats find their way home through using their sense of smell . But that doesn't explain how Vivian found her way back. Hurricane Sandy blew away the normal smell of home. "I wish she could talk," said her owner. The cat was missing for _ . Answer: 6 months Juvenile diabetes is a disease caused by the body's inability to create insulin. The body's white blood cells attack the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. This type of disease is known as Answer: an autoimmune disease. condensation is a stage in what cycle process? Answer: h2o
Eating leafy vegetables is important for human health. This is because leafy vegetables are a good source of which of the following? Answer: If you live in the United States, you can't have a full-time job until you are 16 years old. At 14 or 15, you work part-time after school or on weekends, and during summer vacation you can work 40 hours each week. Does all that mean that if you are younger than 14, you can't make your own money? Of course not! Kids from 10-13 years of age can make money by doing lots of things. Valerie, 11, told us that she made money by cleaning up other people's yards. Lena, 13, makes money by knitting dog sweaters and selling them to her neighbors. Reisa said she had started taking art classes and showing her works to people. People ask her to draw pictures for them and they pay her for them. Jasmine, 13, writes articles for different magazines! Kids can learn lots of things from making money. By working to make your own money, you are learning the skills you will need in life. These skills can include things like how to get along with others, how to use technology and how to use your time wisely. Some people think that asking for money is a lot easier than making it; however, if you can make your own money, you don't have to depend on anyone else. The five dollars that you make will probably make you feel a lot better than the twenty dollars you ask for. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Doctors say anger can be an extremely damaging emotion, unless you learn how to deal with it. They warn that anger can lead to heart disease, stomach problems, headaches, emotional problems and possibly cancer. Anger is a normal emotion that we all feel from time to time. Some people express anger openly in a calm reasonable way. Others burst with anger, and scream and yell. But other people keep their anger inside. They can not or will not express it. This is called repressing anger. For years many doctors thought that repressing anger was more dangerous to a person's health than expressing it. They said that when a person is angry, the brain releases the same hormones .They speed the heart rate, raise blood pressure, or sugar into the blood, etc.In general the person feels excited and ready to act. Some doctors say that both repressing and expressing anger can be dangerous. They believe that those who express anger _ may be more likely to develop heart disease, and they believe that those who keep their anger inside may face a greater danger of high blood pressure. Doctors say the solution is learning how to deal with anger. They say the first step is to admit that you are angry and to recognize the real cause of the anger, then decide if the cause is serious enough to get angry about. If it is, they say, "Do not express your anger while angry. Wait until your anger has cooled down and you are able to express yourself calmly and reasonably." Doctors say that a good way to deal with anger is to find humor in the situation that has made you angry. They said that laughter is much healthier than anger. Expressing anger ferociously _ repressing it according to some scientists. Answer: In which of the following situations is Defendant's claim of intoxication most likely to result in his being found not guilty? Answer: A mother has lost parts of both of her legs after she saved the lives of her two children by lying on top of them as a deadly tornado swept through their home. Stephanie Decker, 36, lost one leg above the knee and the other above the ankle, yet her son and daughter escaped without a single scratch after the tornado destroyed their Henryville, Indiana home. Henryville was nearly entirely destroyed by a series of tornadoes that hit the South and Midwest, killing 39 and leaving thousands homeless. But while the Decker family lost their dream home to the severe weather, they are celebrating their safety. Mrs. Decker is now in a stable condition; her husband said, "What I told her was, 'you are alive and you get to see your kids grow up.' " Joe Decker told the reporters. Mr. Decker said that he had sent a text message to his wife from his workplace to tell her a tornado was heading for their three-story home. She rushed their eight-year-old son Dominic and five-year-old daughter Reese into the basement, where she tried her best to protect them from the storm. Mrs. Decker typed out what had happened by using an iPad in the hospital. She saw part of the house collapse on her and pulled her daughter out of the way. She doesn't remember anything after that. The home, which was partly built by Mr. Decker and his wife's father, is now completely destroyed, with a bathtub 200 feet away in a filed, the Courier Journal reported. The house took about nine mouths to build and four seconds to fall, Mr. Decker added. CEO Carl J. Tyler praised the Deckers who lost everything and said that the company has set up a trust fund to help pay their medical bills and the losses they suffered. He added, "They are some of the hardest working, giving people you could ever want to meet." What can we infer from the passage? Answer:
Question: Just three days after hitting the screen across China, the Chinese animation film "Monkey King: Hero is Back" aroused enthusiasm among audience and ticket sales have exceeded 100 million yuan ($16.11 million).Web celebrities and many fans even posted topics about the film on China's Twitter-like Weibo, at which heated discussion are sparked. "Monkey King: Hero is Back" is based on the household legend of the Monkey King, but tells a not-so familiar story. However, it's still a Chinese style heroic legend and an exciting adventure against evil and darkness in troubled times, according to Lu Wei, the producer. "Monkey King is China's super hero. It is so popular among Chinese audience because they long for and cherish our own superhero," said Tian Xiaopeng, the director. Some media also put on a lot of comments from foreigners. "He's never dead, he's just fallen asleep. We all need a hero to look up to, to give us hope and courage when it is needed. We grew up listening to his tales, his great adventures and heroic deeds. What makes a true hero is not just helping people when one has the power, but having the courage to stand up against the evil even without power. And this is what the film is about. When the hero loses his power and armor, when he is nothing more than an ordinary monkey, what would he do to protect the one he loves? This is also about a group of Chinese dream chasers trying to keep the beacon of hope lit even though being in the most unfavorable situations" from Tumblr. "Though the film was injected with a little bit of Hollywood, its and creative story has attracted several Chinese cinema aficionados." from Yibada. One netizen posted after watching the film: "The film sets a new high-bar for the domestic animation film, when I walked out of the theater, I was crying." According to the director's opinion, the film is so popular among Chinese audience because _ . A. Chinese audience long for and cherish his own superhero B. the film is based on the household legend of the Monkey King C. the Chinese need a hero to look up to, to give them hope and courage D. the film was injected with a little bit of Hollywood Answer: A Question: In late February, US President Obama appointed Gary Locke (Luo Jiahui) as the US secretary of commerce. The appointment has caused an excitement in China. The reasons are simple. First, the US and China are two of the world's biggest economies. In recent years they have enjoyed close trade relations. Now, with the global economic crisis, the Chinese are anxious to know who will be filling such an important management role in America's trade efforts. Then, there's an even more obvious reason: the 59yearold Gary Locke is a thirdgeneration ChineseAmerican. He served two terms, between 1997 and 2005, as governor of the state of Washington. Along with Locke, Steven Chu (Zhu Diwen), the 1997 Nobel Prizewinning physicist was named secretary of energy. The two men are the most wellknown ChineseAmericans among Chinese people. Both will be dealing closely with China. Many Chinese are wondering whether the men's family and cultural backgrounds will affect US policies toward China. Among the most asked questions are: "will they be 'nicer' to China?" and "does their appointment mean that Obama will prioritize China relations?" They represent many firsts and unusual honours for the 3.6 million ChineseAmericans. People in the motherland are naturally proud of the achievements of these people who share their blood, skin color1 and family names. Both Chu and Locke have had experience working with the Chinese. This will probably help improve communication and understanding in the two countries' relations. However, some experts say that it may not be realistic to expect Chu and Locke to be more "Chinafriendly" than others in the Obama administration. They are, after all, American officials serving the American people. Especially on matters of national interest, they will most likely not hesitate to play the hard line and put pressure on China. From the passage, we can infer that _ . A. ChineseAmericans no longer care about the cultural background B. Chu and Locke will bring changes to the Obama administration C. some experts think Locke and Chu will probably act in US interests D. some experts think Locke and Chu will probably adopt the hard line towards China Answer: C Question: After her husband had gone to work, Mrs Richards send her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any housework that morning. In the evening she would go to a fancy dress party with her husband. She wanted to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was really splendid. After putting it on, She went downstairs to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear. Just as Mrs Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, she quickly hid in the small store-room under the stair. She heard the front door opened and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly the door of the store-room was opened and in came a man. Mrs Richards realized it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, saying "It's only me. "but it was too late, the man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs Richards walked towards him, he fled, losing the door heavily behind him. The man _ and that made him cry out and run away. A. thought he must have met a ghost B. recognized Mrs Richards C. found out Mrs Richards was walking towards him D. thought that Mrs Richards must have recognized him Answer: A Question: On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley saved me. The previous afternoon, I played with my six-year-old peers in Heather Peters' backyard. I was enjoying my cake, when Heather asked me where my sleeping bag was. Only then did I know this party was a sleepover. The word "sleep-over" to a six-year-old bed-wetter is like what "cancer" means to an adult. But what if I told them I was a bed-wetter? At least with cancer, people gather at your bedside instead of running from it. I thought of a way to escape. I would explain that I needed my mother's permission to spend the nights. But as I called my Mom, Heather stood beside me to listen. She granted permission! Then I would be sleeping in the same living room as the other girls. I didn't bring my own nightdress, so Mrs. Peters offered me Heather's nightdress. As the other girls drifted into their sweet dreams, I tried to stay awake. "Do I need to go again? I'll stay up to go one more time...". Of course, I finally fell asleep. The next morning, I was the first to wake up. I was warm! I lay in panic for what seemed like hours before the other girls started to wake up. I did the only thing I could do--I pretended that the bed-wetting didn't happen. I got up, took off Heather's nightdress and changed into my clothes like the other girls. Mrs. Peters walked into the room, and before she could say anything, she stepped right onto the pile of my wet nightdress. My heart stopped as I watched her face burn red. "WHO DID THIS?" She screamed, with a look so scary. Should I answer? And that was when it happened--Mr. Peters came in and grabbed his wife, "Elvis Presley died!" The news of the King's death overtook Mrs. Peters, and I was narrowly excused. Then, we left Peters' together but without the other girls knowing what had happened. Mrs. Peters got angry because _ . A. she found the nightdress wet B. Elvis Presley died that morning C. her husband grabbed her D. not all the girls behaved themselves Answer: A Question: Eric and Doris King Turner are packing their bags for New Zealand. They're busy deciding what to pack and what to leave behind in Britain and are making plans to extend their new home in Nelson. Doris is looking forward to getting the garden into shape and Eric has his heart set on a spot of fly fishing. The difference is that Eric is 102, Doris is 87. Eric thinks he's Britain's oldest _ In January next year Eric King Turner and his wife of 12 years will wave goodbye to their neighbors, and set sail from Southampton on the voyage of a lifetime. The ocean liner Saga Rose will take six weeks to get to Auckland and the couple are expecting a red-carpet welcome from family. Doris was born in New Zealand but gave up her homeland when the couple met and married in the late 1990s. But New Zealand is close to both their hearts and the attraction of family and friends, and the good fishing helped to persuade them to move. Doris, who has five children and nine grandchildren, supported her husband's application to settle in New Zealand. The paperwork took five months. Eric says, "We not only had to produce a marriage certificate but we had to produce evidence that we were in a long and stable relationship!" He also said he was not asked about his age but had to show that he could support himself financially in New Zealand. "I like New Zealand. The way of life is very much the same as it is here but it is not so crowded." His wife has always been "a little bit homesick" but has never complained. Now the couple are in the middle of the task of sorting out possessions and selling their flat. What makes the couple's move to New Zealand special? A. Their age. B. The red carpet. C. The ocean liner Saga Rose. D. Their marriage certificate. Answer: A
Lost & Found Lost: Found: Schoolbag My school ID card Is this your schoolbag? Its number is 2007712 It's black and white. My name is Mary Brown. My name is Tony Green Please call 6956385 Phone: 2360731 Cindy, Your red notebook is in the lost and found box. Mike Cindy's _ is in the lost and found box. Answer: People say teenagers are no good. They make too much noise in shopping malls; they drive recklessly up and down America's main streets; they carry chips on their shoulders as big as the Sears Tower. And at least some of the time those things are true. But we shouldn't forget that there are hard moments in the life of a teenager too. I watched such a moment not long ago at a woman's funeral. I didn't expect the event to affect me. Through much of the ceremony, in fact, I remained unmoved. The teenage grandson stepped forward. With his very first deep breath, every heart in that church was achingly reminded of something we had all forgotten. Softly he began: "I want to share a few values that Nana taught me. She never failed to see light in any situation. When our family dog would truly attack her, what would Nana say? 'oh, what beautiful barking that dog has!' That was Nana. " "She was a strong woman who often lived in the shadow of my grandpa, who was a successful businessman in this city. But she was the one behind the scenes who provided the strength and support for my grandpa's career," he said, with a voice now trembling, "That was Nana's way." Through a low sob, he continued, "Whenever she did anything worth recognition, you'd have to hear about it from a different source, because she was never one to show off." Finally, in a voice breaking free of sorrow, he looked up and said, "Nana taught me courage. She put up an incredible fight to the end, when she died peacefully, which is how she lived her life. That was Nana's way, and I hope I can carry on in the same manner." There are no hearts as sensitive as those of teenagers, because everything is happening to them for the first time. The trouble with teenagers is that they haven't learned to be controlled. When that boy rose to speak about the woman who surely had been his truest and closest friend, his honest voice dragged each of us out into the open where we could no longer hide in the calm ceremony. He exposed us to the truth about this very real woman who believed in a boy who probably tried the patience of many adults. He reminded us that his grandmother was more than another dot on the chart of life and death. All over again we felt those powerful losses crossing our own hearts, and we knew that when you say good-bye to something happy, something young in yourself. And that something never really returns, and the pain never really goes away. What words can best describe grandmother's quality? Answer: Infectious diseases are caused by Answer: People all over the world today are beginning to hear and learn more and more about the problem of pollution.Pollution is caused either by man's release of completely new artificial substances into the environment,or by releasing greatly increased amounts of a natural substance,such as oil from oil tankers into the sea. The whole industrial process which makes many of the goods and machines we need and use in our daily lives,is bound to create a number of waste products which upset the environmental balance,or the ecological balance as is also known.Many of these waste products can be prevented or disposed of.But while more and more new and complex goods are produced,there will be new,dangerous waste to be disposed of,for example,the waste products from nuclear power stations.Many people,therefore,see pollution as only part of a larger and more complex problem,that is,the whole process of industrial production and consumption of goods.Others again see the problem mainly in connection with agriculture,where new methods are helping farmers grow more and more on their land to feed our ever-increasing population.However,the land itself is gradually becoming worn out as it is being used,in some cases,too heavily,and artificial fertilizers can not restore the balance. Whatever its underlying reasons are,there is no doubt that much of the pollution caused could be controlled if only companies,individuals and governments would make more efforts.In the home there is an obvious need to control litter and waste.Food comes wrapped up three or four times in packages that all have to be disposed of;drinks are increasingly sold in bottles or tins which can not be reused.This not only causes a litter problem,but also is a great waste of resources,in terms of glass,metals and paper.Advertising has helped this process by persuading many of us not only to buy things we neither want nor need,but also to throw away much of what we do buy.Pollution and waste combine to be a problem everyone can help to solve by cutting out unnecessary buying,excessive consumption and careless disposal of the products we use in our daily lives. The main cause of pollution is . Answer: Are you able to send a letter with pictures and sounds to someone somewhere in the world without a stamp on it? Using a computer you can send e-mails quickly and easily. The post is much slower than e-mail. E-mail can send its message to the other side of the world in seconds. E-mail is easy to use and it saves time and money. The differences in time in different parts of the world do not matter when sending e-mail. It's twenty-four-hour service that you can send e-mail at any time of the day or night. No one has to be there to get e-mail. It does not matter if your friends are in beds when you send e-mail to them, or you are seeing a movie at the movie theater when they send e-mail back. We can use a _ to send e-mail. Answer:
The young boy was sitting on the ground in the refugee camp playing with an empty tin.Other children were standing around watching him with envious eyes. Envy? Of an empty tin? This tin was indeed no worthless piece of trash--it was a splendid truck,complete with wheels and grille and floor.The vehicle even had remote control,a frayed piece of string from the"engine"to the hand of the owner. The tin had lost all its original markings.But its first load had probably been sardines .Later the tin had been left with other rubbish behind the refugee camp clinic,and the boy had found it on one of his daily expeditions into the"big world". For thousands of refugee children,a tin 1ike this rates high on their list of wants.It can be used for many purposes,as jewellery,as a toy,for drinking or as a medicine box. Many refugee children would consider it the happiest day of their lives if they received a handful of marbles as a present. They dream of gifts which children in developed countries take for granted.Maybe a book to read.or a pencil and an exercise book of their very own. Their imagination can create toys,but it cannot create books.Someone else must provide them.A more costly and valuable gift they cannot imagine. How do you think the youn eel when he gets something to read? Dear Florence, We arrived in India last week, and the voyage was the worst experience of my entire life. I'm lucky to be alive! The first part of the journey was terrible, because the ship hit bad weather almost as soon as we left Liverpool. But much, much worse was to come. Later, we were involved in a collision with another boat and we had to abandon ship! We had been at sea for about two weeks and we were in the Mediterranean. There is now a canal between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea called the Suez Canal, which opened last year. Our boat stopped at Port Said, the Egyptian port at the entrance to the canal. I remember looking through the porthole of my cabin and wishing that I could go ashore and visit this fascinating place, but mummy had ordered that I was to stay in the cabin because I was feeling ill. "you must stay here for at least another two days." I remember her saying. How wrong she would turn out to be! The ship left the port and headed towards the canal . I was alone in the cabin and I watched the port disappear into the distance. Suddenly there was a loud bang, followed by the most awful crunching sound, and the ship shook and turned slightly on its side. There was an for a moment, then people started shouting. Mummy came running into the cabin and told me that we had collided with another boat. She took my hand and we ran along the deck towards the lifeboats. There was a lot of shouting and people were running everywhere, but the crew were all acting calmly, helping people into the lifeboats and telling people not to panic. Well, clearly we survived, as did all the passengers and crew of the ship. The other boat wasn't so lucky. It sank and several lives were lost. I will write about the rest of the journey soon. Please give my love to Aunt Claire and Uncle Eric. Your loving cousin, Jane 57.Why was the journey to India such a bad experience for the author? Many of the people who appear most often and most gloriously in history books are great conquerors and generals and soldiers, whereas the people who really helped civilization forward are often never mentioned at all. We do not know who first set a broken leg, or launched a seaworthy boat, or calculated the length of the year; but we know all about the killers and destroyers. People think a great deal of them, so much so that on all the highest pillars in the great cities of the world you will find the figure of a conqueror or a general or a soldier. And I think most people believe that the greatest countries are those that have beaten in battle the greatest number of other countries and ruled over them as conquerors. It is just possible they are, but they are not the most civilized. Animals fight; so do savages; hence to be good at fighting is to be good in the way in which an animal or a savage is good, but it is not to be civilized. Even being good at getting other people to fight for you and telling them how to do it most efficiently--this, after all, is what conquerors and generals have done--is not being civilized. People fight to settle quarrels. Fighting means killing, and civilized people ought to be able to find some way of setting their disputes other than by seeing which side can kill off the greater number of the other side, and then saying that that side which has killed most has won. And not only has it won, but because it has won, it had been in the right. For that is what going to war means; it means saying that might is right. As it is indicated in the passage, the figure of a conqueror or a general or a soldier is put on the highest pillars in the great cities of the world mainly because _ . As a nation we are becoming more aware of the food we and our children are eating.The recent campaign to improve school dinners by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has helped raise awareness of our fast food lifestyles.While we may be trying to eat more healthily,it seems we still have some bad habits. Healthy eaters or just trendy? Are there certain things that you do and don't eat and why?With so many food programmes and books telling you what you should and shouldn't eat to be healthy,it's hard to make choices. Some people are vegetarians for moral reasons,some don't like the taste of meat and there are one or two people who do it because it's trendy.Likewise,it can be trendy to follow the latest celebrity's diet because it's what the famous are doing. Eating out People are eating out more often now,not just on special occasions as in the past.The choice of restaurants has also _ .Italian,Chinese and Indian restaurants have been around for years but have now been joined by Mongolian,Japanese,Mexican and so on.Bars and pubs are still popular for food and often promote English cuisine made with local produce. "We enjoy eating out a couple of times every month whether with friends or just as a couple.We like trying new things so we go to different restaurants." said Craig,25,County Durham. *Eating on the go From chocolate bars to sandwiches more people are eating on the go--on the street,in cars or on buses and trains.While our parents and grandparents may frown at this behaviour,considering it to be bad manners,people eat on the go because they are rushing from one place to another.And in the home the number of people sitting down at a dining table for their evening meal is on the decrease as meal times become more informal. "If I'm running late for work I don't think twice about eating toast in the car or on the bus but I know my mum wouldn't approve," said Stacey,24. People find it difficult to decide what to eat to keep healthy because _ . When it comes to film, people usually favor good over evil, focus on the main characters and ignore the supporting characters. But when it comes to the Minions , these conventions go right out of the window. Originally comedic background characters in the Despicable Me series, these yellow pill-shaped screwballs have totally stolen the show. This summer the characters appeared in their own self-titled movie in theaters abroad, having the second biggest opening weekend of all time for an animated film, according to USA Today. Recently, McDonald's has been including Minion toys with kids' meals in some regions, causing loyal fans to go to the restaurant to collect them all. Related video games, clothing, toys and other merchandise are sweeping the world. The movie's huge popularity even surprised its writers. "We never knew the Minions were going to be so popular. It just became a force of nature," the film's co-writer, Cinco Paul, told the Los Angeles Times. So, what makes the banana-loving Minions a big hit? For many, the most attractive is obviously their cuteness. Their simple, graphic nature can easily transcend cultures and age groups. "Even children can draw them", Los Angeles Times reporter, Rebecca Keegan, wrote. But there's more than just cuteness. US entertainment website, HitFix, explains that their way of communicating makes the creatures infectious as well. They largely speak in nonsense words. But it seems everyone can understand them through their exaggerated movements and expressions. They desire nothing more than to serve their most despicable master, Felonious Gru. And this evil characteristic strikes a chord with humans. "Perhaps we love Minions because they remind us of ourselves," Huffington Post associate Web editor, Sara Boboltz, wrote. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
The old man walked with a cane slowly into the restaurant. His poor jacket, patched trousers, and worn-out shoes made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes that shone like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips held in a steady smile. He walked toward a table by the window. A young waitress watched him and ran over to him, saying, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair." Without a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Supporting him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she pushed the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss." "You are welcome, Sir." She replied. "My name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment. If you need anything, just wave at me!" After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and lemon tea, Mary brought him the change, helping him up from his chair and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!" He nodded a thank you and said softly with a smile, "You are very kind!" When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under his plate she found a business card and a note written on the napkin , under which was a $100 bill. The note on the napkin read, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine though those who meet you." The man she had served was the owner of the restaurant. This was the first time that she, or any of his workers, had seen him in person. The words the man left on the napkin showed that _ . A. Mary's kind service would bring in more money for her B. respecting others means respecting oneself C. serving others is a respectable job D. Mary would get a rise as a result of her kindness Answer: B. respecting others means respecting oneself Valentine's Day is on February 14th every year. On this day, people send valentines to their loved ones, Valentine's Day is a special time to tell how much you care about a person. Many people send candy in hearted shaped("")boxes to people they love. Flowers are also presents that people send on Valentine's Day. Valentine cards with words are often used by many people. Can you guess who gets the greatest number of Valentine cards in the United States each year? Is it mother or father, sister or brother? Is it uncle or aunt? Is it the special friend? No, it isn't! Mothers get a lot of cards, but school teachers get the most each year. Do you know who sends the most? Children do. Children send five times as many on February 14th as adults do. Teachers get the most Valentines because _ . A. they send the most B. students have too much money C. so many students love their teachers D. the valentines are only made for them Answer: C. so many students love their teachers The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Dong loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough covered with ugly yellowish marks. realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work, I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home , we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice . He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in out rubbish bin . Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the 'living thing 'was and why it was there. I don't know who was more embarrassed by the whole thing Doug or me. Why did the woman's attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful? A. The canned orange had gone bad. B. She didn't use the right kind of flour. C. The cookbook was hard to understand. D. She did not follow the directions closely. Answer: D. She did not follow the directions closely. In the water cycle, water moving from oceans to clouds involves which change in the water? A. It changes from a solid to a gas. B. It turns from saltwater to freshwater. C. Its crystal size becomes smaller. D. Its chemical energy increases. Answer: B. It turns from saltwater to freshwater. Once a boy came to ask a fisherman how to become cleverer, because his mother always called him foolish boy. "That's easy," answered the fisherman, " I know one way to make you become cleverer." "Really?" "Of course. It is said a fish head is good for brain . If you eat one, you'll become cleverer indeed. Pay only three pounds for one fish head." The boy paid him three pounds and the fisherman cut off a fish head and handed it to him. A raw fish head is no good-not even for a hungry boy to eat but the boy ate it up in two gulps . "Do you feel anything?" asked the fisherman. "Not in my head," said the boy. The boy lay on the ground and thought, " One whole fish costs only two pounds. I had paid him three pounds for the fish head, why couldn't I have the whole fish for the soup , a head of fish and one pound left over!" He jumped up and shouted at the fisherman. "You thief! You are fooling me!" The fisherman laughed, saying, " The fish head works now, you see." The boy paid three pounds. He could have _ . A. a whole fish and a fish head B. a whole fish and one pound back C. a fish head and one pound back D. a whole fish, a fish head and one pound back Answer: B. a whole fish and one pound back
Do you want to have a lot of close friends? In order to make it happen, you must do a lot of things right. You will learn tips on how to build a solid friendship. You should be extra respectful when you are at others' homes. For example, you must not make unpleasant comments about them. Once when I was at the house of a friend as a high school senior, I told him he had feet that looked funny while he had his socks off in his bedroom. He rebutted ,"If you're going to make fun of my feet, you can leave.'' You must _ For example, if you say you will do something for or with your friend, you must follow up on it. You must respect people other than your friends.This includes respecting your friends' family members and being polite to others in general. It is helpful to be supportive. You should try to provide help when your friends need it. You should understand them. Even if you do not agree with some of the things they do, you should show an understanding of why they do them and offer advice while avoiding telling them they are at fault for their problems. You must be caring. You must put care into the things you do for them and show concern for their troubles. Having a good attitude is a must. You must avoid being combative as well as being sad or mad too often. Take these tips to build solid friendships! The purpose of the passage is to _ . Answer: The way people hold to the belief that a fun-filled,pain-free life equals happiness actually reduces their chances of ever attaining real happiness.If fun and pleasure are equal to happiness then pain must be equal to unhappiness.But in fact,the opposite is true:more often than not things that lead to happiness involve some pain. As a result,many people avoid the very attempts that are the source of true happiness.They fear the pain inevitably brought by such things as marriage, raising children, professional achievement,religious commitment,self improvement. Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying.If he is honest he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment.For commitment is in fact quite painful.The single life is filled with fun,adventure,excitement.Marriage has such moments,but they are not its most distinguishing features. Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night's sleep or a three-day vacation.I don't know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.But couples who decide not to have children never know the joys of watching a child grow up or of playing with a grandchild. Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations.It liberates time:now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness.It liberates money:buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless.And it liberates us from envy:we now understand that all those who are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all. What is the author trying to tell us? Answer: Zhoukoudian is a small village situated about 50 kilometers to the southwest of Beijing. In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered some prehistoric human bones there which changed people's view of China's history. They came from an unknown species of man and were the first evidence of human life in China thousands of years ago. The remains were three teeth! In 1929, a complete skull was also discovered. Eventually, archaeologists found almost 200 items, including six skulls and more than 150 teeth. These discoveries proved the existence of a human species who lived in the area between 700,000 and 200,000 years ago. Four sites where Beijing Man and his relatives lived were discovered on the northern face of Longgushan. They lived in the caves in the area. However, the life span of Beijing Man was short. About 70% of the people probably died before the age of 14. Fewer than 5% lived to the age of 50. Ashes were found alongside the fossils which showed they had used fire for cooking food and also for light, warmth, and protection against wild animals. This is the earliest evidence of the use of fire anywhere in the world. They also made tools of bones and stones. Unfortunately, when Japan invaded China in 1937, excavations at the Beijing Man Site stopped and most of the fossils disappeared, including a Beijing Man skull. After the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, the work started again. Zhoukoudian was listed as a World Heritage Site in December 1987. It has not only given us important information about prehistoric Asian societies, but also provided amazing evidence about the process of evolution. Today, parts of the caves have been badly affected by rain. Some areas are almost completely covered in weeds, causing serious damage. Pollution from the nearby factories has also led to the problem. This is a very serious matter and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is trying to raise public awareness of protecting it. Archaeologists _ . Answer: You might notice something new in the next few years as you watch Disney programs: Starting in 2015, there won't be any candy, sugary cereal or fast-food commercials aimed at kids. The Walt Disney Company has become the first major media company to ban ads for junk food on its TV channels, radio stations and websites. It hopes this will stop kids from making poor food choices. First Lady Michelle Obama called it a "game changer" that is sure to send a message to the rest of the children's entertainment industry. "Just a few years ago, if you had told me or any other mom or dad in America that our kids wouldn't see a single ad for junk food while they watched their favorite cartoons on a major TV network, we wouldn't have believed you," said the First Lady, who heads a campaign to help stop child obesity. The ban would apply to Disney-owned ABC stations as well as Radio Disney and Disney-owned websites aimed at families with young children. In addition, Disney plans to make changes to its kids' menus at theme parks and resorts . Fast-food options will be replaced with healthier choices, such as smoothies , apples, vegetables and yogurt. In addition to candy bars and fast-food meals, other foods that don't meet Disney's nutritional standards will be banned from the company's kid-targeted media. Any cereal with 10 grams or more of sugar per serving will be _ . There will be no ads for full meals of more than 600 calories. Juices with high levels of sugar and foods with too much salt will also be pulled. Leslie Goodman, Disney's senior vice-president of Corporate Citizenship, said a company that wants to advertise will need to show that it offers a range of healthy options. Disney isn't the only one pushing away unhealthy foods. Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg suggested a ban on drinks over 16 ounces sold in movie theaters, restaurants and convenience stores in the Big Apple. He says large, sugary drinks are partly to blame for obesity. What will the Walt Disney Company do from 2015? Answer: What do you think of celebrating Christmas Day in China? Christmas Day is very popular in China, especially for young people. Should Chinese people celebrate Christmas Day? 60% people think that we should not take Christmas so seriously, 10% think everyone should celebrate Christmas. Some people think celebrating Christmas Day can help them understand western culture better. Some people think it is a great holiday to have a good time with their families and friends. During Christmas Day, they can meet friends, go shopping, watch movies and go to different parties. But I have different ideas. Most of us celebrate Christmas just because we see many people around us do it. China has its own holidays, such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Day, so we don't have to celebrate holidays from other countries. Some people spend a lot of money celebrating Christmas Day. People buy lots of gifts for their friends and families, but this is not the best way to show their love. The writer thinks some people celebrate Christmas Day by _ . Answer:
I like watching TV very much, for I think it has many advantages . First of all, watching TV is a good rest(;). After a day of hard work, we need a good rest. Watching TV can make our mind and body not tired any more because of the pleasant music and TV plays. Besides , watching TV is entertaining . There are many kinds of entertainment, such as sports activities, singing and dancing, plays and films all over the world at every time. It's not possible for us to go to every place to enjoy all the activities within a short time. We need at least over ten hours to fly from New York to Paris, a week by train from Beijing to Moscow and an hour to drive from Queens District to Manhattan District.)But within just one second, TV can bring us from an NBA game in New York to a fashion show in Paris by changing the channels . Most importantly, watching TV is educational. Our children can learn every kind of subjects through the educational programs and the special reports on TV, and it's easy for them to learn Chinese from a Chinese teacher in Beijing and to learn Russian lessons from a Russian teacher in Moscow. At the same time, a teacher can teach quite a lot of students without a large classroom. Which of the following is TRUE according to( )the text? A. The writer likes watching TV more than others. B. There are different kinds of programs on TV in China and Russia. C. There are many kinds of entertainment programs on TV. D. It's not easy to drive from Manhattan to Queens District. Answer: D. It's not easy to drive from Manhattan to Queens District. The light is swaying .The building is shaking. A woman with a baby in her arms is trying to open the door, but fails. Finding no way, she rushes into her bedroom and there they _ the earthquake. In a factory building, as the workshop floor swings under the terrible shaking, workers run for safety. Some hide under the machines and survive, but others who try to run outside are killed by the falling ceilings. These scenes, played by actors and actresses, are from a film of science education Making a split second decisionshown in 1998 on China Central TV to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Tangshan Earthquake on July 28. By studying actual cases in the earthquake areas and scientific experiments, experts found that building remain untouched for the first 12 seconds of an earthquake. In this short time, one has the best chance of surviving an earthquake by staying near the inside walls, in bedrooms and under beds, experts concluded in the film. "Earthquake seems to catch the lives of those who run,"said many survivors in the earthquake areas, describing how their friends were killed on the doorways or along the stair steps as they tried to get out of the building. Their advice was proved in the film,"Take a hiding-place where you are rather than run, unless you are sure you can reach a safe open place in ten seconds." What does the writer mainly talk about in the passage? A. China Central TV Station made a wonderful film. B. In an earthquake many people died miserly . C. The experts did some important experiment. D. To run or not to run in an earthquake, which is the right way. Answer: D. To run or not to run in an earthquake, which is the right way. What do you think of British people and American people? You might think that there are no differences between the people in the two countries. After all they speak the same language, don't they? But if you ask a British or an American person, the differences are quite great. What do British people think Americans are like? The British think Americans are very strange. They make a lot of noise and they laugh too loudly. They are rich, and they only think about money. But the British do say that Americans are kind, friendly people. They are happy to help you if you are in trouble. What do Americans think of the British? Well, they think the British are cold and very unfriendly. They are not interested in success or in making lots of money. They think Britain is the best country in the world. They look down upon other countries. But Americans say that the British are quite good workers. They are brave and honest. And in time of trouble they face difficulties happily. You can see that these ideas can cause misunderstanding between the British and Americans. But when American and British people become friends, they usually find things are not as bad as they expected. ,: The American and British people usually get along quite well _ . A. when misunderstanding is caused between them B. once they become friends C. after they fight D. when they help each other Answer: B. once they become friends Hello! My name is Becky Sharp. I'm eleven years old. I've got one brother--his name's Jonson and he's fourteen. I haven't got any sisters. I live with my mum , dad and grandma in a small house in Chesterfield,in the north of England. There are lots of things to do here. My friends and I go to the cinema on Saturdays. Do you like games? I like football. My favorite team is Manchester United. I sometimes play football with my brother. I'm good at it but he isn't very good. I've got seven pets--a tortoise and six goldfish. I want a dog or a cat,but my mother doesn't like them. The girl's mother doesn't like _ . A. the tortoise or the goldfish B. the tortoise or the dog C. a dog or a cat D. the goldfish or the cat Answer: C. a dog or a cat This is my room. What's this? It's a blue pen. What's that? It's a ruler. And it is blue, too. What's this in English? It's a quilt. It's red. It's my quilt. And this is my jacket. What color is it? It's black and white. What's that on the wall? It's a map. ,. _ are blue. A. The pen and the ruler B. The quilt and the jacket C. The ruler and the map D. The quilt and the map Answer: A. The pen and the ruler
As nanny , cook, cleaner, shopper, driver, and gardener, she has one of the most demanding jobs in Britain today. And paying someone else to do the chores which take the average housewife 71 hours a week would cost EUR349. At over EUR18,000 a year that's more than the earnings of 70 percent of the population, including train drivers, firemen, prison officers, and social worker. Looking after a baby less than a year old takes a housewife into a even higher pay league. According to a stud, she earns EUR457 a week - at nearly EUR24,000 a year, the same as teachers, engineers, and chemists. Researchers put a price on each chore, then tried to find out how long the average person takes doing them. They found housewives spend an average 70.7 hours a week on housework - with looking after the children (17.9hours) and cooking and cleaning (12.9 hours each) the most time-consuming . A wife with a part-time job still works and average of 59 hours a week at home. Those in full-time employment put in longer hours at home than in the workplace. The good news is that these hours sharply as children get older. While the average mother with child under one puts in 90 hours weekly, the figure drops to 80 hours from one to four and to 66 hours from five to ten. Mother-of-four Karen Williams from London said, "Paying the housewives may not be practical, but the government should recognize the value of housework, perhaps through the tax. Running a house takes a lot of time and most husbands don't understand this. For example, my husband only puts a shelf up now and again. He never cleans the kitchen - that's the real test." We lean from the text that looking after children _ . takes more time than doing any other housework New Annotated Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle Price: PS28.00 Publication Date: 30/11/2006 Publisher's description: Collect Doyle's fifty-six classic short stories, arranged in the order in which they appeared in late-nineteenth-and-early-twentieth-century book editions, in a set complemented by four novels, editor biographies of Doyle, Holmes, and Watson as well as literary and cultural details about Victorian society. Breaking Ground by Daniel Libeskind Price: PS16.00 Publication Date:11/10/2006 Brief description: This is a book about the adventure life that can offer each of us if we seize it, and about the powerful forces of tragedy, memory and hope. For Daniel Libeskind, life's adventure has been through architecture, which he has found has the power to reshape human experience. Although often relating to the past, his buildings are about the future. This biology of one man's journey brings together history, personal experience, our physical environment and a fresh international vision. In the Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegelman Price: PS16.00 Publication Date:02/09/2006 Brief description: On 11th September 2001, Art Spiegelman raced to the world Trade Center, not knowing if his daughter Nadja was alive or dead. Once she was found safe---in her school at the foot of the burning towers---he returned home, to mediate on the trauma , and to work on a comic strip . In the Shadow of No Towers is New Yorker Art Spiegelman's extraordinary account of "the hijacking on 9.11 and the following hijacking of those events" by America. Light on Snow by Anita Shreve Price: PS14.00 Publication Date:07/10/2006 Publisher's description: This is the 11th novel by Anita Shreve, the critically accepted bestseller. A moving story of love and courage and tragedy and of the ways in which the human heart always seeks to heal itself. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv Price: PS20.99 Publication Date:11/08/2006 Brief description: Camping in the garden, riding bikes through the woods, climbing trees, picking wildflowers, running through piles of autumn leaves... these are the things childhood memories are made of. But for a whole generation of today's children the pleasures of a free-range childhood are missing, and their indoor habits contribute to obesity, attention disorder and childhood depression. This book shows how our children have become increasingly distanced from nature, why this matters and how we can make a difference. Richard Louv is chairman of the Children and Nature Network and co-chair of the National Forum on Children and Nature. He is the author of seven other books and has written for newspapers and magazines including the New York Times and the Washington Post. If one wants to know something about Victorian society, he or she may read _ . New Annotated Sherlock Holmes Today is Sunday. It is sunny. Kate and her friends go to the beach. There are lots of people here now. Some are playing volleyball. Others are swimming in the sea. Look at this group of people singing and taking a sunbath on the beach. After swimming for some time, Kate feels very tired. So she has a rest at the swimming club on the beach. Where are Kate's best friends? Susan is learning to swim in the water. Gina is helping her to learn swimming. Susan is clever. I think she can swim soon. ,. Kate has a rest because she feels _ . tired An absolute description of the threat hanging over the world's mammals, reptiles, amphibians(, , ) and other life forms has been published by the well-known scientific journal, Nature. A special analysis carried out by the journal indicates that an astonishing 41% of all amphibians on the planet now face extinction while 26% of mammal species and 13% of birds are similarly threatened. Many species are already critically endangered and lose to extinction, including the Sumatran elephant, Amur leopard and mountain gorilla. But also in danger of vanishing for the wild, it now appears, are animals that are currently rated as merely being endangered. In each case, the finger of blame points directly at human activites The continuing spread of agriculture is destroying million of hectares of wild habitats every year, leaving animals without homes, while the introduction of newly-come species, often helped by humans, is also damaging native populations. At the same time, pollution and overfishing are destroying ocean ecosystems. "Habitat destruction, pollution or overfishing either skill off wild creatures and plants or leaves them badly weakened," said Derek Tittensor, an ocean ecologist at the World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge. "The trouble is that in coming decades, the additional threat of worsening climate change will become more and more common and could then kill off these survivors." The problem, according to Nature, is worsened because of the huge gaps in scientists knowledge about the planet's biodiversity. Evaluations of the total number of species of animals and plants alive vary from 2 million to 50 million. In addition, evaluations of current rates of species' disappearances vary from 500 to 36, 000 a year. "That is the real problem we face," added Tittensor. "The scale of uncertainty is huge." In the end, however, the data indicate that the world is heading cruelty towards a mass extinction-which is defined as one involving a loss of 75% of species or more. This could arrive in less than a hundred years or could take a thousand, depending on extinction rates. What does "This" in the last sentence refer to _ ? mass extinction Owen tested a physical property of a mineral. He rubbed a mineral sample on a piece of white tile. The mineral left a red mark on the tile. Which of the following physical properties of the mineral was Owen most likely testing? streak
Question: Back in the early 1900s, American physician Byron Robinson wrote a book proposing an interesting theory: humans actually have two brains --- one in our heads and the other in our stomachs, and the two "communicate" all the time. Interestingly, in Chinese culture, thoughts are also related to the belly in phrases and idioms like fugao (, a draft), manfu jinglun (, a bellyful of ideas), and yiduzi weiqu (, a bellyful of complaints). This may sound a little ridiculous at first. But try to think of a time when you were extremely nervous. Chances are that you also felt uncomfortable in your stomach, didn't you? This is probably why people use the idiom "butterflies in one's stomach" to refer to being nervous. Now scientists from Canada and the US have found that our guts , if not as bright as our actual brains, are much more than just where we digest the food we eat. They also affect our emotions and even behavior, all thanks to the bacteria in them, reported Scientific American. In the study, scientists fed timid mice stomach bacteria from mice that were more active and daring. After eating the bacteria, the timid mice grew more energetic and fearless. Sure enough, when _ mice got the bacteria from timid ones, they became more anxious. The mice's behavior also changed when scientists disturbed the bacteria in their guts by changing their diets and feeding them antibiotics . "If something goes wrong in the gut, that change is reflected in the brain," Emeran Mayer, a professor at University of California, Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post. The brain-and-gut connection also works in the opposite way. Scientists studied children with autism --- a mental illness that makes people unable to socialize with others --- and found that they also have a lot of stomach problems. They have fewer types of stomach bacteria and lower totals of a few key bacteria than healthy children. This research raises the possibility that scientists could treat patients with brain problems simply by feeding them the right food, which would be much more efficient than providing psychological therapy . According to CBC News, you can get "good" bacteria that lift your spirits from food like yogurt while "bad" bacteria are usually in high fat and high sugar foods. According to the article, _ . A. people with mental illnesses are more likely to have stomach problems B. the use of antibiotics can turn timid mice into daring ones C. timid mice have fewer types of stomach bacteria than daring mice D. people must consider changing their diets when they feel anxious Answer: A Question: Today,we are told,children don't spend enough time in the fresh air.Many of them are addicted to a screen either on a computer or a TV--they seem to be living in a virtual world.They have lost touch with nature. But now 400 organizations in the UK,from playgroups to the National Health Service,are encouraging children to have some"wild time".They want kids to swap at least 30 minutes of watching TV or playing computer games for time playing outside.Activities such as building dens, climbing trees, rummaging for conkers and playing hide and seek are just some of the things kids can do. Even if they live in a city,they can go on adventures in the garden or the park. Children often need a helping hand from mum and dad.They need to be shown what to do and where to go.Andy Simpson from National Health Service says,"We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids' development,independence and creativity,by giving wild time a go". So despite the complicated world that young people grow up in now,it seems that going back to basics and experiencing"nature's playground"is what modern children need.David Bond from Project Wild Thing says,"We need to make more space for wild time in children's daily routine,freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted". This might sound a bit old fashioned to you or maybe,like me,it's made you think about sticking on your boots,getting outdoors and reliving your childhood.There's no age limit on enjoying yourself! What is the best title of the text? A. Wild time for children B. Benefits of wild time C. More space for children D. Adventures of children Answer: A Question: The "Occupy Wall Street" movement gained more support on Wednesday as unions and students joined in. With the protests developing from a group of young people's camping out near the New York Stock Exchange on September 17 to large-scale movements across the country and around the world, people can't help asking: What has led to "Occupy Wall Street?" Three years after the severe economic crisis, the U.S. economy now is stuck again. Protesters are not satisfied with the present economic situation since unemployment rate is above 9 percent and economic growth has slowed. The housing market is still struggling for a recovery three years after the bubble burst. People are losing their houses even after they have paid a large amount of mortgage . It is getting difficult for young people to find jobs. People feared that a similar crisis like the one in 2008 may be already on its way. It is Wall Street that possessed the most riches. It is Wall Street greed that, at least partly, led to the financial crisis in 2008. It was Wall Street's "fat cats" who take taxpayers' aid money as their own big bonus . With the growing economic crisis around the world, people realize that Wall Street is responsible for it. So they try to target people who created the crisis. The majority of the protesters are young people under 30. Many of them are unemployed. Some are students with mountains of loans . Some are hard-working people about to lose their houses even if they have paid a large amount of mortgage. They are complaining that the hard-working middle class is getting poor, yet Wall Street stays wealthy. William Cohan, author ofMoney and Power: How Goldman Sachs Came to Rule the world, wrote recently that Wall Street not only learned nothing from the 2008 crisis, they are also trying to kill all reforms that might "break this dangerous cycle in which bankers get very rich while the rest of working people suffer from their mistakes." . What is the main idea of the passage? A. The cause of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. B. The demand of the protesters of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. C. The popularity of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. D. The development of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. Answer: A Question: Winter is dangerous because it's so difficult to know what is going to happen and accidents take place so easily. Fog can be waiting to meet you over the top of a hill. Ice might be hiding under the melting snow, waiting ahead to send you off the road. The car coming to you may suddenly slip across the road. Rule Number One for driving on icy roads is to drive smoothly . Sudden movements can make a car very difficult to control. So every time you either start or stop your car, increase or reduce your speed, you must be as gentle and slow as possible. Suppose you are driving with a full cup of hot coffee on the seat next to you. Drive so that you wouldn't spill it. Rule Number Two is to pay attention to what might happen. The more ice there is, the further down the road you have to look. Test how long it takes to gently stop your car. Remember that you may be driving more quickly than you think. Generally, allow twice of your usual stopping distance when the road is wet, three times this distance on snow, and even more on ice. Try to stay in control of your car at all times and you will not get into trouble. According to the passage, the writer thinks that _ . A. people should not drive in the snow B. drivers should think more about problems in winter driving C. people drive too fast in winter D. winter drivers should stop their cars less Answer: B Question: An old man was fishing on the bank of a river. A child came to see him fishing. The old man was really good at fishing and it didn't take long for him to catch a full basket of fish. The old man saw that the child was very cute, and he wanted to give her a whole basket of fish. But the child shook her head. The old man was surprised and asked, "Why don't you want the fish?" The child replied, "I want the fishing rod in your hands." The old man asked, "Why do you want the rod?" "It doesn't take long to eat all the fish in a basket. But if I have the fishing rod, I can go fishing by myself and I won't be afraid of not having any more fish to eat." I think you will certainly say that the child is very smart. Wrong! If she doesn't know how to fish, she cannot have fish to eat, even though she has the fishing rod. It's useless to only have a fishing rod. Fishing skills are the most important, not the fishing rod. Too many people think that if they have a "fishing rod" in their life, they will no longer fear the wind and rain. They are just like the child, who thought that if sh e had a fishing rod, she would have fish to eat. What is the best title for the article? A. The Fishing Rod B. The Fishing Man C. The Fishing Girl D. The fishing Experience Answer: A
Children and teenagers who spend lots of time in front of screens---especially TVs---are easier to get more weight as they grow, according to a new study. The findings agree with the research suggesting all that inactive sitting and always watching advertisements may lead to poor eating habits. Researchers used results from a long-term study of children who took part in the surveys every two years. Children were between ages 9 and 16 when the study started. Out of 4,300 girls in the study, 17 percent were overweight or obese . Twenty-four percent of the 3,500 boys were also above a healthy weight. The surveys included questions about their height and weight as well as how much time they spent watching TV and DVDs and playing computer and video games. From one survey to the next, each one-hour increase in children's daily TV watching was in connection with an increase of about 0.1 points on a body mass index (BMI) , which measures weight in connection with height. There's an increase of about half a pound in weight per extra hour of TV. "The weight of the evidence is so strong that television watching is connected with unhealthy changes in weight among youth," says Jennifer Falbe, who led the study while at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. "It's important for parents to know that all the obesity-causing screens really should be limited in their children's lives." Falbe says. "When children watch TV, there are many food advertisements on TV that might lead them to eat a cookie or drink a soft drink." What's more, she says, "they can get into a hibernating state on the sofa, even if children are sitting down while playing a computer game." According to the study, one extra hour screen time will cause children about _ poundfatter. Answer: Below is a selection from a popular science book. If blood is red, why are veins blue? Actually, veins are not blue at all. They are more of a clear, yellowish colour. Although blood looks red when it's outside the body, when it's sitting in a vein near the surface of the skin, it's more of a dark reddish purple colour. At the right depth, these blood-filled veins reflect less red light than the surrounding skin, making them look blue by comparison. Which works harder, your heart or your brain? This question depends on whether you're busy thinking or busy exercising. Your heart works up to three times harder during exercise, and shifts enough blood over a lifetime to fill a supertanker. But, in the long run, your brain probably tips it, because even when you're sitting still your brain is using twice as much energy as your heart, and it takes four to five times as much blood to feed it. Do old people shrink as they age? Yes and no. Many people do get shorter as they age. But, when they do, it isn't because they're shrinking all over. They simply lose height as their spine becomes shorter and more curved due to disuse and the effects of gravity . Many (but not all) men and women do lose height as they get older. Men lose an average of 3-4 cm in height as they age, while women may lose 5 cm or more. If you live to be 200 years old, would you keep shrinking till you were, like 60 cm tall, like a little boy again?No, because old people don't really shrink!It is not that they are growing backwards--their legs, arms and backbones getting shorter. When they do get shorter, it's because the spine has shortened a little. Or, more often, become more bent and curved. Why does spinning make you dizzy ? Because your brain gets confused between what you're seeing and what you're feeling. The brain senses that you're spinning using special gravity and motion sensing organs in your inner ear, which work together with your eyes to keep your vision and balance stable. But when you suddenly stop spinning , the system goes out of control, and your brain thinks you're moving while you're not! Where do feelings and emotions come from? Mostly from an ancient part of the brain called the limbic system. All mammals have this brain area--from mice to dogs, cats, and humans. So all mammals feel basic emotions like fear, pain and pleasure. But since human feelings also involve other newer bits of the brain, we feel more complex emotions than any other animal on the planet. Which of the following statements about our brain is TRUE? Answer: The modern Olympic Games happened in the year 1896. The Games are held every four years. There are two main sets of Games. The Winter Olympics are held two years before the Summer Games. Many countries want to host the Olympic Games for it's a great honor to be chosen. The Olympic Games are organized and controlled by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It sets the general program, chooses the city where the games are to be held, and determines the standards of what is an amateur athlete. Besides, each participating country has a National Olympic Committee that is responsible for arranging the participation of the nation's athletes in the games. Why many countries compete for the host of the Olympics? Answer: Do you have imagination? Do you like to solve problems? Can you? If so, you could be the next great inventor. "But I'm just a kid",you might be! Don't worry about a little thing like age. For example, one famous inventor-- Benjamin Franklin--got his start when he was only 12. At that young age, he created paddles for his hands to help him swim faster. Finally his creation led to what we know is called flippers! So you don't have to be adult to be an inventor. One thing you do need, though, is something that kids have plenty of: curiosity and imagination. Kids are known for looking at things in new and unique ways. So what should you do if you have what is a great idea for an invention? Talk to a friend or family member about it. Get input from others about your idea. Then ask them to help you create a working model--called a prototype of your idea. Once you have a prototype, you can test it. Sometimes your idea turns out to be not as great as you thought. At other times, though, you realize it is a good idea and your prototype can help you figure out how to make it even better. If your idea is really a good one, an adult can help you contact companies that might be interested in it. You will also want an adult's help to get a patent for your idea, so that it is protected and can't be stolen by someone else. If you need some inspiration, consider these kids and their inventions: Jeanie Low invented the Kiddie Stool when she was just 11. It's a folding stool that fits under the kitchen sink. Kids can unfold it and use it to reach the sink all by themselves. At the age of 15, Louis Braille invented the system named after him that allows the blind to read. Chelsea Lanmon received a patent when she was just 8 for the "pocket diaper ",a new type of diaper that includes a pocket for holding baby wipes and powder. Kids are most likely to be inventors probably because they. Answer: Many television programmes are very realistic. One who watches TV often feels that whatever happened in the film could well happen to him. With only a little imagination, every man in the street becomes a thief, a spy or a murderer. Jane had been watching a spy film at her friend's house. In it, a young girl had been followed and murdered. She felt a little frightened, walking to the station. She took a train back to the centre of the city. There were a lot of people traveling with her, so she felt much safer. A man sitting opposite her, reading a newspaper, glanced at her. She thought nothing of it until she saw him staring at her. Remember the film and feeling very uncomfortable, she got off the train and went to the bus stop. When he got on the same bus as she did, she found that he was following her. As long as she had been with other people she wasn't frightened. But when she got off the bus, the streets were almost empty. She walked as quickly as she could. She could hear footsteps following her but she didn't dare to look around. After what seemed to have been hours, she was unable to find them, because she was so frightened. The footsteps stopped behind her. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Instead of feeling hands round her neck, however, she heard a pleasant voice. "I apologize if I frightened you. I'm your new neighbour. I thought I recognized you in the train, but I wasn't sure." Jane felt frightened, walking to the station, because _ . Answer:
Question: During 1976 a series of arsons, one of which damaged the Humongous Store, occurred in the City of Swelter. In early 1977 Swelter's City Council adopted this resolution: The City will pay $10,000 for the arrest and conviction of anyone guilty of any of the 1976 arsons committed here. The foregoing was telecast by the city's sole television station once daily for one week. Subsequently, Humongous, by a written memorandum to Gimlet, a private detective, proposed to pay Gimlet $200 "for each day's work you actually perform in investigating our fire." Thereafter, in August 1977, the Swelter City Council by resolution repealed its reward offer and caused this resolution to be broadcast once daily for a week over two local radio stations, the local television station having meanwhile ceased operations. In September 1977, a Humongous employee voluntarily confessed to Gimlet to having committed all of the 1976 arsons. Humongous's president thereupon paid Gimlet at the proposed daily rate for his investigation and suggested that Gimlet also claim the city's reward, of which Gimlet had been previously unaware. Gimlet immediately made the claim. In December 1977, as a result of Gimlet's investigation, the Humongous employee was convicted of burning the store. The city, which has no immunity to suit, has since refused to pay Gimlet anything, although he swears that he never heard of the city's repealer before claiming its reward"With respect to duration, the city's reward offer was terminable A. by lapse of time, on December 31 of the year in which it was made. B. not by lapse of time, but only by effective revocation. C. not by revocation, but only by lapse of a reasonable time. D. either by lapse of a reasonable time or earlier by effective revocatio Answer: D Question: For several weeks Mater, a wealthy, unemployed widow, and Nirvana Motors, Inc., negotiated unsuccessfully over the purchase price of a new Mark XX Rolls-Royce sedan, which, as Nirvana knew, Mater wanted her son Dilbert to have as a wedding gift. On April 27, Nirvana sent Mater a signed, dated memo saying, "If we can arrive at the same price within the next week, do we have a deal?" Mater wrote "Yes" and her signature at the bottom of this memo and delivered it back to Nirvana on April 29. On May 1, Mater wrote Nirvana a signed letter offering to buy "one new Mark XX Rolls-Royce sedan, with all available equipment, for $180,000 cash on delivery not later than June 1." By coincidence, Nirvana wrote Mater a signed letter on May 1 offering to sell her "one new Mark XX Rolls-Royce sedan, with all available equipment, for $180,000 cash on delivery not later than June 1." These letters crossed in the mails and were respectively received and read by Mater and Nirvana on May 2. For this question only, assume the following facts. On May 4, Mater and Nirvana Motors both signed a single document evidencing a contract for the sale by Nirvana to Mater, "as a wedding gift for Mater's son Dilbert," a new Mark XX Rolls-Royce sedan, under the same terms as previously stated in their correspondence. On May 5, Mater handed Dilbert a carbon copy of this document. In reliance on the prospective gift, Dilbert on May 20 sold his nearly new Cheetah (an expensive sports car) to a dealer at a "bargain" price of $50,000 and immediately informed Mater and Nirvana that he had done so. On May 25, however, Mater and Nirvana Motors by mutual agreement rescinded in a signed writing "any and all agreements heretofore made between the undersigned parties for the sale-and-purchase of a new Mark XX Rolls-Royce sedan." Later that day, Nirvana sold for $190,000 cash to another buyer the only new Mark XX Rolls-Royce that it had in stock or could readily obtain elsewhere. On June 1, Dilbert tendered $180,000 in cash to Nirvana Motors and demanded delivery to him "within a reasonable time" of a new Mark XX RollsRoyce sedan with all available equipment. Nirvana rejected the tender and denied any obligation. If Dilbert sues Nirvana for breach of contract, which of the following will the court probably decide? A. Dilbert wins, because his rights as an assignee for value of the May 4 MaterNirvana contract cannot be cut off by agreement between the original parties. B. Dilbert wins, because his rights as a third-party intended beneficiary became vested by his prejudicial reliance in selling his Cheetah on May 20. C. Nirvana wins, because Dilbert, if an intended beneficiary at all of the MaterNirvana contract, was only a donee beneficiary. D. Nirvana wins, because it reasonably and prejudicially relied on its contract of mutual rescission with Mater by selling the only readily available new Mark XX Rolls-Royce sedan to another buyer. Answer: B Question: The doctor examined Nuala's leg. Nuala tried not to cry, but it was a challenge. Her leg really hurt. "How did you hurt yourself?" asked the doctor. "I jumped off a swing ," said Nuala. "Is it broken?" "It sure is," said the doctor, holding out the X ray. "See right here?" Two hours later, Nuala left the hospital on crutches . Her leg was in a cast . "What will I tell Ms. Chang?" she asked her mother in the car. Ms. Chang was Nuala's dance teacher. The spring dance performance was only two weeks away. Nuala's cast would be on for at least six weeks! "She's going to be so mad at me!" cried Nuala. But Ms. Chang wasn't mad. She said, "We'll think of something." Nuala was unwilling to go on stage with her crutches. "I look stupid," she complained. "I can't dance with these." "Have you ever heard the expression 'The show must go on'?"said Ms. Chang. Together, they went through the show. They thought of how Nuala could move to the music. They thought of ways for her to dance on crutches. The night of the performance, Ms. Chang almost had to push Nuala on the stage. Nuala's cast looked big and clumsy , but she went out and danced. In the end, the audience went wild clapping. Lots of roses were thrown to Nuala's feet! The show did go on! Nuala didn't want to dance on the stage because _ . A. her leg hurt badly B. her classmates laughed at her C. she didn't practise dancing well D. she thought she would look stupid Answer: D Question: Dear Susan, Today is Wednesday. I'm very happy because I have a history class in the morning. Our history teacher, Mr. Meng, always tells us some history stories. I think they're quite interesting. But my good friend, Chen Kun, doesn't like Wednesday. He doesn't like history. He thinks it's difficult. He can't understand our history teacher. He loves Chinese because he can read his favourite novels in this class. Lin Xiao's favourite day is Thursday. She likes music. She can sing and dance in the class. She loves the music teacher, Miss Zhang, because her class is quite relaxing . She thinks Miss Zhang is very beautiful. Yours, Jane Lin Xiao can _ . A. draw and sing B. sing and dance C. draw and dance D. dance and swim Answer: B Question: Different people have different colors of skin. Some have black skin, some have yellow skin and some have white skin. There is a woman in Alaska. Her skin is orange. It is almost the color of orange juice. How did her skin become orange? She ate lots of tomatoes, carrots and squash . She ate too many orange things. That's why her skin turned orange. The woman doesn't want her skin to be orange, so she goes to see the doctor. The doctor says, " Stop eating orange things, Eat some green things." The woman did so, and her skin isn't orange any more. This story is mainly about _ . A. a woman in Alaska B. tomatoes and carrots C. a doctor D. different people with different colors of skin Answer: A
Sometimes people come into your life and you know at once that they were sure to be there. They serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help find out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: your classmate, neighbor, teacher, long-lost friend or even a real stranger. But you know that every moment they will affect your life in some serious way. Sometimes things happen to you. At the time they may seem terrible, painful and unfair. But later you realize that without getting over those difficulties you would have never realized your further ability and strength. Everything happens for a reason and nothing happens by chance or with good or bad luck. The people you meet affect your life, and the successes and failure you experience, create who you are. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most _ and important ones. Enjoy every day even every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and really listen. You should set your sights high, hold your head up, tell yourself you are a great one and believe in yourself. You can make your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it. ,A, B, C, D. The people we meet _ . A. all know where to find us B. serve us on no purpose C. won't become our neighbor D. will change us in some way Answer: D Jimmy loved watching television. He would wake up and watch Cartoons on Cartoon Network. His favorite cartoon was Scooby Doo. After his mom picked him up at the bus stop, he would go home and watch the Flintstones. One day, his mom told him he was not allowed to watch cartoons after school. He was very sad. She told him he had to go outside to play. He walked into the backyard. Fido was running around. He started to chase him. He picked up a ball and threw it. Fido ran after it and brought it back. Jimmy laughed. He chased after Fido and scratched his back. Maybe being outside wasn't so bad after all! He played with Fido for another hour until his mom called him inside. It was dinner time. Dinner was fried chicken and mashed potatoes-his favorite. He was happy his mom made him go outside. He would go outside every day after school now! What is the boy's name? A. Mom B. Flintstones C. Scooby Doo D. Jimmy Answer: D During the seasons of fine weather, kids can play outside, happy and active. But when winter comes around, it is wet, windy and cold. Since they can't go outside to play, kids get restless and miserable. Fun activities for kids are pretty much necessary at that time of year, and they need to be kept entertained. One way to do this is to have an indoor treasure hunt, where children can look for clues and then get to the treasure. Treasure doesn't even need to be much, because just the activity is fun enough. Art activities are always fun, and if you start off with some paper in different colors they can draws shapes on the back, cut them out and stick them on the white paper to make all sorts of things. Cardboard boxes, stuck together and then painted, can be made into buildings or robots. You can keep all boxes in a bag in the loft. Then you have something you can draw on when the weather is bad and the children need to play indoors. Dressing up is another fun indoor activity. Why not read a book to them and then ask them to act it for you? That can keep them busy and develop their imagination. When you encourage children to use their imagination, you are giving them confidence in themselves, in their own creative abilities; by suggesting they put on a play you are encouraging them to work together and develop teamwork skills. The best way to help your kids have fun when it is rainy outside is to let them come up with some ideas. When you feel that they are old enough, let them write their ideas on a piece of paper and you can pick an idea that you find practical. That way, every day can be fun! Kids are most likely to be unhappy in winter because _ . A. it is very cold and windy B. they lead a miserable life C. they like spring very much D. they can't enjoy themselves outside Answer: D Teaching Boys: Developing classroom practices that work Amanda Keddie and Martin Mills Bridges the gap between theory and practice to offer a practical and sustainable framework for teaching boys in classrooms of all levels. Sales points Teaching boys remains one of the most concerned issues in education today. Many books have been published analysing why boys perform less well than girls, and why some boys struggle at school. But they don't show teachers what will work: this book does. The authors offer a research-based framework for classroom strategies that work with boys--and don't disadvantage girls. Description Boys' education continues to be a focus of public anxiety among teachers. Concern about boys' general educational under-achievement and the impact this under-achievement has on the boys themselves, as well as on the broader society, continues to fuel disagreement and debate on the best approach to take in response. Teaching Boys provides a framework for developing practical and sustainable ways to improve boys' education. The book indicates how what teachers do in the classroom can enable boys' academic and social outcomes. With detailed case studies, Keddie & Mills outline a range of practical classroom strategies that will assist teachers to meet the challenge of teaching boys, without neglecting the girls in the process. About the Authors Amanda Keddie is a researcher at the University of Queensland. Her research interests and teaching areas focus on classroom teaching, curriculum and educational sociology. Martin Mills is Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Queensland. He has written several books, and is co-author of Teachers and Schooling Making a Difference (Allen & Unwin, 2010). What problem is NOT mentioned in the passage? A. Boys' general educational under-achievement and its impact. B. Teachers' anxiety to teach boys. C. Lack of practical strategies for teaching boys. D. Public opinions on classroom teaching. Answer: D Around every Lunar New Year holiday, China becomes a country on the move. The holiday crush this year is estimated to be even heavier than before. Government officials suggest that Chinese people will take to the air, roads and railways 3.62 billion times over a 40-day period around the nation's most important holiday this year as people push their way home for family gatherings or to satisfy their new-found passion for travel. Getting tickets to all those would-be travelers is a _ challenge that tries your patience annually. And the pressure for the railway system is always the greatest. Railways are the transport of choice for low-cost long-distance travel, and that's where the ticketing system regularly falls down. Much of the criticism has focused on the railway's online purchasing system, which has been unable to keep pace with the huge demand and also failed to stop scalpers from easily getting many of the hard-to-find tickets. Railway officials believed that online sales were the fairest way to get tickets for travelers, and told reporters that the public need to be patient. While by now the railway service is far from satisfying, efforts are being made to provide online identity checks that would reduce the ticket scalping problems, and the situation is expected to get better in a few years. Meanwhile, for those traveling by car, good news is that the country's extremely expensive highway tolls will be removed for the period of the official holiday. Which of the following can best describe the author's attitude to the railway service? A. Optimistic. B. Doubtful. C. Satisfied. D. Worried. Answer: A
Sometimes in the next century, the familiar early-newspaper on the front porch will disappear. And instead of reading your newspaper, it will read to you. You'll get up and turn on the computer newspaper just like switching on the TV. An electronic voice will distribute stories about the latest events, guided by a program that selects the type of news you want. You'll even get to choose the kind of voice you want to hear. Want more information on the brief story? A simple touch makes the entire text appear. Save it in your own personal computer if you like. These are among the predictions from communication experts working on the newspaper of the future. Pictured as part of broader home based media and entertainment systems, computer newspapers would unite print and broadcast reporting, offering news and analysis with video images of news events. Most of the technology is available now, but convincing more people that they don't need paper to read a newspaper is the next step. But resistance to computer newspapers may be stronger from within journalism. Since it is such a cultural change, it may be that the present generation of journalists and publishers will have to die off before the next generation realize that the newspaper industry is no longer a newspaper industry. Technology is making the end of traditional newspapers unavoidable. Despite technological advances, it could take decades to replace news-print with computer screens. It might take 30 to 40 years to complete the changeover because people need to buy computers and because newspapers have established financial interests in the paper industry. The reason why journalists are not eager to accept computer newspapers is that _ . The students were having their chemistry class. Miss Li was telling the children what water was like. After that, she asked her students, "What's water?" No one spoke for a few minutes.Miss Li asked again,"Why don't you answer my question?Didn't I tell you what water is like?" Just then a boy put up his hand and said,"Miss Li,you told us that water has no color and no smell.But where to find such kind of water?The water in the river behind my house is always black and it has a bad smell."Most of the children agreed With him. "I'm sorry,children."said the teacher,"Our water is getting dirtier and dirtier.That's a problem". Miss Li was telling the children what _ was like. Many areas of Massachusetts have small deep ponds called kettle ponds. Which of the following best explains the formation of these ponds? Can you understand the following words? "Long time no see." "Good good study, day day up." "I like your smile, but unlike you put your shoes on my face." Yes, we call these examples Chinglish, like "people mountain, people sea". Chinglish usually means English vocabulary with Chinese grammar on street signs or products. However, many English speaking tourists love them. Tom has been living in Beijing for years. "I think many Chinese people dislike Chinglish. But I love it. It's quite interesting. I think if the translations of English in China are all perfect, something will be lost from Chinese culture." However, Chinglish will probably become a part of history in future. Beijing has made a plan to correct Chinglish within five years. "It is so funny to see Chinglish on the signs. And they are a kind of trouble for communication between the Chinese and foreigners," a Beijinger said. However, some people in China like Chinglish. They think that English has "borrowed" a lot from other languages such as German, French and Spanish in the past, and now as Chinese's turn. What does "people mountain, people sea" mean? DEAR AMY: We recently had to put our cat down. It came _ . We had no idea that he had health problems, and we woke up early one morning to the cat crying out painfully. We immediately rushed him to the vet's where the vet said that at best treatment might lengthen his life by two to three months. We did not want to see him suffer, so we chose to kill the cat in a painless way. I am having a rough time! I cry when I am alone. I cry when I see pet commercials on television. I put away everything that reminds me of the cat. But the last sight of seeing the cat in pain plays over and over in my head. My kids seem alright with what has happened, but why am I struggling? It has only been one week since his passing, so I hope things will get better. Do you have any suggestions? Yours, Sad DEAR SAD: There is no loss quite like the loss of a pet; these animals keep us company through important life passages and are beloved witnesses to our human lives. I understand your instinct to put away all of your cat's things, but it may help you now to memorialize your pet by using these things. Each family member can write down favorite things about him or memories of him; read their memories aloud and put the papers inside his bowl. The idea is to replace those painful last memories with much more lively memories taking place over the most of the animal's life. Time will then do its job, which is to affect your feelings. And then, when you're ready, I hope you will adopt another animal and give it the opportunity to[:Z-X-X-K]share your life. Yours, Amy The author cried when seeing pet commercials on television because _ .
A student completes several tasks while making breakfast. During which task does the student make a solution? Imagination and fantasy can play an important role in achieving the things we fear. Children know this very well. Fred Epstein, in his book I Make It to Five, tells a story he heard from one of his friends about Tom, a four-year-old boy with a cancer in his back bone. He came through several operations and a lot of pain by mastering his imagination. Tom loved to pretend, and he particularly loved to play superheroes. Dr. Epstein explained that it was actually a brilliant way for his young mind to handle the terrifying and painful life he led. The day before his third trip to the operating room, Tom was terribly afraid. "Maybe I could go as Superman," he whispered to his mom. Hearing this, the mother hesitated for a while. She has avoided buying the expensive costume , but finally she agreed. The next day Tom appeared as the powerful Superman, showing off through the hospital halls and coolly waving his hand to the people greeting him along the way. And Tom, with the strength of his fantasy, successfully made it through the operation. The power of imagination need not be reserved for children only. We all have the power to use our fantasies to attempt things we never thought possible, to go through those things that seem impossible, and to achieve what we never believed we could. Just as Dr. Epstein puts it, "If you can dream it, you can do it." It doesn't mean that you should dress as a superhero for your next job interview. But, next time you are tested in a way that seems impossible, imagine what it would take to overcome it. Become the person you need to become to win over your challenge and do it in your mind first. So, let your imagination run wild, and dare to dream. What can be inferred about Tom's mother? The 16 operations W.Mitchell received after the motorcycle accident burned more than 65% of his body at age 46 left him unable to pick up a fork,dial a telephone or go to the bathroom without help.But Mitchell never believed he was defeated."I am in charge of my own spaoeship," he said."It's my up,my down.I could choose to see this situation as a setback or afstarting point." Mitchell bought himself a home in Colorado,a plane and a bar.Later he teamed upwith two friends and co-founded a wood burning stove company that grew to be the second largest private employer in his state.Six months later he was piloting the plane.Then four years after the motorcycle accident,the plane Mitchell was piloting crashed back onto the runway during takeoff, permanently paralyzing(...)him from the waist down. Still determined,Mitchell worked day and night to regain as much independence as possible.He was elected Mayor of Crested Butte,Colorado, to save the town from mineral mining that would ruin its beauty and environment. Despite his shocking looks and physical challenges, Mitchell began white water rafting ,fell in love and married, earned a master's degree in public administration and continued flying,environmental activism and public speaking. Mitchell's unshakable positive mental attitude has earned him appearances on the "Today Show''and "Good Moming America" as well as feature articles in Parade, Time, The New York Times and other publications. Mitchell has done all these things and more afar two horrible accidents left his face beyond recognition,his hands flngerless and his legs thin:and motionless in a wheelchair.Then what can't we healthy guys achieve? What has earned Mitchell appearances in many famous publications? The trouble started when Mrs. Cady lost control of her car on a mountain road. The car fell down thirty feet from the road into the water. It rolled over once and landed right side up in the rushing water. All three people, Mrs. Cady, and her two daughters, were wearing their seatbelts. Luckily, nobody was hurt; however, they couldn't leave the car. The rescue started almost at once. Another driver told the police about the trouble. The police called rescue workers and a truck to pull the car out. The driver of the truck, Paul, arrived first. Immediatedly he took a rope from his truck and began to walk through the rushing water to the car. Then he got caught in the ropes. He went under the water. Mrs. Cady saw him and pulled as hard as she could and brought him to the car door. Next the other rescue workers arrived. They put on special suits to keep warm. They brought safety ropes, life jackets, and warm blankets . First they pulled the people out of the back window onto the top of the car. Then they swam with each person to the shore . They saved Paul, Mrs. Cady, and the little girls. Who brought Paul to the car door? Having friends may well keep you healthier and help you deal with stress better. Some studies show that people with close friends have a greater ability to fight disease than people who are alone. Place friendship in the first place. Find the time to be with friends even if it means letting the lawn go unmowed or the dishes unwashed for a while. When you can't get together, use the phone to keep in touch. Open up to close friends. Keeping a deep friendship requires a level of "heartfelt" intimacy .Don't be afraid to express your inner fears and disappointments. Listen to your friends when they have problems,but offer advice only when it's wanted. Help raise friends' selfesteem when they are sad about a job loss, or other such events. Have different friends for different activities, such as going to the movies,singing in a choir,and joining in a bowling league. Don't wait for a friend to ask for helps. When a friend has the flu,offer to go to the store or drive his or her children to their afterschool activities. Never take a friendship for granted. Like a good marriage,friendship needs care and patience. Become a joiner. Find a group that matches your interests. Talk to strangers. Conversations started in museums, laundry rooms,or bookstores can lead to firm friendship. _ in an adulteducation course. A classroom is an ideal place to meet others with similar interests. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?
Alice, 35 years old I like shopping, but shopping with young children is not a good thing. I have to look after them while I'm shopping. I go shopping with my husband only when I want to buy something for him. When I look at a cheap dress, he always says, "It's nice on you." But when I have an expensive one in my hands, he always says, "I don't think it fits you well." So I often go shopping with my friends. It's fun. Maria, 26 years old I like shopping very much, but I never go shopping on weekends. There are too many people in shops. I don't like shopping with other people. It usually takes me much time to buy things because I never buy the first thing I see. I always look around other shops to find the same thing cheaper. I'm good at finding cheap things. I don't like buying food in small shops or street markets. I think food in the supermarkets is fresh and cheap. It usually takes Maria _ to buy things. Answer: a lot of time A man heard that a certain government wanted a clerk, so wrote and asked for the position. But while he was waiting for an answer, a friend of his introduced him to the head of the department, who gave him the job. Several months later, while the man was working in the department, he got a letter that had been sent to him from the place he used to live in. This letter said, "Dear sir, We are sorry to have to tell you that we cannot offer work in this department because we do not think that you would be able to do the work successfully. Your faithfully." The man laughed, but when he looked at the letter more carefully, he saw that he had signed it himself. What do you think of the man? Answer: He was too careless. Over the years, the desert rat has evolved traits that help it live with low supplies of water, what is this an example of? Answer: Acquired characteristics Chinese police arrested around 8,500 suspects in more than 4,500 environment-related criminal cases in 2014, as the country waged war against pollution, the leader of the Chinese environment authorities, Chen said. Environmental authorities handed more than 2,000 cases of suspected environmental law violations to the police, more than double the figure for the past 10 years combined. Close to 3,400 companies and 3,700 construction sites were also found to have violated environment laws and more than 3,100 workshops were closed following air quality inspections by Ministry of Environmental Protection ( MEP) officials and drones , Chen said. The announcement came as a result of long lasting heavy smog in Beijing and the neighboring Tianjin and Hebei province for the better part of a week. The next step is to further optimize the country's industry, and energy structure and cut back one missions of air pollutants, Chen said. Authorities will go on cutting back on outdated factories this year, shut down l,000 small coal mines, improve the quality of coal on the market, guarantee stable supply of natural gas, and promote the use of clean energy and energy-saving buildings. Chen said efforts will also be made to improve the evaluation of governments' carrying out of air pollution control measures, deepen regional cooperation, step up technological research and sharpen laws and regulations in the field, to make polluters nay the "unaffordable price". Chen said environmental authorities would "bring new tools introduced in the law into full play, conduct more secret inspections and seek heavier punishment for companies guilty of illegal emissions and those which deliberately change pollution data. " Government officials who overlook their duties or abuse their power will be examined in line with law, he said. What can we infer from what Chen said? Answer: Polluters will be more severely inspected and punished. Every day, young people across the globe are doing their part to keep the Earth healthy and green. These are just a few kid heroes for the planet. Manatee Minder When she was in second grade, Stephanie Cohen read about a baby manatee hit by a boat off the coast of Florida. Marine biologists saved the manatee. But caring for the sea creature was costly. Stephanie took up a collection and raised $ 27 in one day. Now 18, Stephanie still raises money to help these " gentle giants". She sells manatee decorations, candles and cards on her website kmad. Org. Color Us Green! At Clarendon Elementary School, in Secaucus, New Jersey, the students know what to do with old, used and broken crayons .Recycle them ! They collect the crayons and send them to Crazy Crayons, where they are made into different shapes and sizes. In the past eight years, new Jersey students have recycled nearly nine tons of crayons. Goodbye, Paper Bags! When Adrienne Boukis, 15, was in sixth grade, in Walnut Creek, California, she noticed that many of her classmates carried paper lunch bags. To help kids cut down on waste, she invented a reusable lunch bag, which is partially made from recycled plastic bottles. She sells the bags at greengearbag. Com and some of the _ go to charity that is in need of money. He' s Skiiing to Save the Earth Parker Liautaud, 15, wanted to raise awareness about the effects of climate change on the polar regions. He set out to become one of the youngest people ever to ski to the North Pole. Parker feels he met his goal to inspire others. "All young people have the power to make a change."he said in an interview. According to the passage, Grazy Crayons _ . Answer: recycles old, used and broken crayons.
Anna loved the beach and went as often as she could. She liked the birds and the waves. Jason did not like the beach. He did not like how warm the sand was. He didn't like the salt in the water. Jason wanted to stay home. Jason went to the beach with his mother and father and met Anna. She had a red kite that Jason liked very much. Anna was having trouble getting the kite in the air and was sad. Jason went over to help her and together they got the kite into the air and watched it go higher and higher. Anna let Jason fly the kite for a little bit. After that Jason was hungry. Anna showed him that she had brought a green Picnic basket from her house. Inside the picnic basket there were cakes and sandwiches and salad and some fruit. Jason had brought lemonade in a blue bottle and shared it with Anna. It was the most fun Jason had at the beach. Why did Jason not like the beach? Answer: These days haze is around us here and there. In fact,everyone has the power to change their living habits to help reduce it. Many local governments call on their people to take action to make the air cleaner. Transport is one of the biggest contributors to haze. When,where,how,why and what you drive all affect air quality. When one drives to work for one year,he uses as much energy as a bus rider uses in 10 years. So walk or ride your bicycle to work or school whenever possible. If it is necessary,you can use public transport instead of your car. Each person using public transport for a year instead of a car can save nearly a tonne of pollutants,including CO2,from going into the atmosphere. Carpooling is another way to reduce carbon emissions .Carpooling is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car. It immediately reduces your car's emissions by half. What you do inside your living space can have a big effect on the air quality outside it. You can do a lot of things inside and around your home that will help you pollute less and save some money. A large amount of our energy supply comes from burning coal,another contributor to haze. By cutting down your electricity use,you are cutting down on haze. So you may try to reduce your use of electricity by turning off lights,using your air conditioner wisely during the summer months,or updating some of your electrical appliances to low-energy models. For example,you can use energy-saving lamps that require less energy and last 10 times longer than common bulbs. Which does the writer think should play an important rode in reducing haze? Answer: It's easy to see how to help some people, but what about those whose needs are not so clear? This story may have happened not long ago--- but it was a lesson which has stayed with me and helped me ever since. It was Thanksgiving and I was volunteering with my parents at a shelter for the needy. We served hot food to whoever came in. Most of our dinners looked like they had been having hard times; their clothes were worn out and dirty. Then, a man came in, who looked anything but needy. He was well dressed. I wondered what he was doing there and my jaw dropped in amazement when he joined the line for food. The closer he came to my service station , the more I muttered . What was this man doing? Surely he wasn't going to take food which was meant for those who were really in need! Then my mother quietly took me to one side. She said, "You have thought that the needs of the people who come here must be purely physical, hunger, etc. And this gentleman doesn't seem to have any of those problems. But what if his needs are emotional ? What if he needs comfort, friends, or just to be among other human beings? Her words hit me like a ton of bricks! I felt like I should apologize to the man--- but I didn't. About a week later the shelter received a large donation from an source. I can't help but wonder if it came from that man. Now, whenever I meet someone I remember my mother's lesson and try to send kindness their way, no matter how they look. Needs aren't always seen. But kindness always makes a difference. The author's mother mainly wanted to tell the author that we _ . Answer: More than 2 million US teenagers have suffered a serious bout of depression in the past year, according to a federal government survey released on Tuesday. On average, 8.5 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 described having had a major depressive _ in the previous year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported. But there were "striking differences" by sex, with 12.7 percent of girls and 4.6 percent of boys affected. Depression is the leading cause of suicide, which in turn is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds in the United States. "The data Combined 2004 to 2006 data showed that rates of past year major depressive experience among youths aged 12 to 17 generally increased with increasing age," the researchers wrote. Researchers at SAMHSA and RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, prepared the report using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. More than 67,700 youths aged 12 to 17 answered questions about mood and depression. They were also asked to rate how depression affected them using the Sheehan Disability Scale , which measures impact on family, friends, chores at home, work and school. Researchers defined a major depressive episode as two weeks or longer of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms such as problems with sleep, energy, concentration or self-image. Nearly half of the teenagers who had major depression said it severely damaged their ability to function in at least one of the areas on the disability scale. "Fortunately, depression responds very well to early intervention and treatment," SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline said in a statement. What can be implied, but is not stated directly? Answer: What is the name of the product formed from the reaction shown below? 4Fe(III) + 3O_{2} -> 2Fe_{2}O_{3} Answer:
An out-of-body experience? It's just your brain playing tricks on you. Some report feeling as if they are floating above their own bodies, while others find themselves drawn towards a blinding light. But out-of-body experiences are nothing more than a trick of the mind, scientists claim. They say that common spooky scenarios, such as floating above a hospital bed or walking towards the light at the end of a tunnel, can be explained by the brain trying to make sense of the process of death. Scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge reviewed studies into changes in the brain that cause certain strong feelings associated with near-death experiences. Researcher Caroline Watt said one common vision -- that of people seeing a bright light which seems to be drawing them into the afterlife -- is probably produced by the death of the cells we use to process the light picked up by our eyes and turn it into pictures. "It is simply your brain trying to make sense of the unusual experiences you are having," Dr Watt said. Feelings of being out of the body can also be explained by the brain's behavior, the journal Trends in Cognitive Science reports. "If you put on a virtual reality headset showing an image of yourself three feet in front, you can trick your brain into thinking that is you over there, and get the sense you are outside your body," Dr Watt added. The scientific evidence suggests that all aspects of the near-death experience have a biological basis. In another example, the hormone noradrenalin, which is released when we suffer from stress and injuries, could be behind the feelings of love and peace that many experience when they seem to be approaching death. However, other scientists say we should not be so quick to dismiss (stop considering) people's accounts (descriptions). Sam Parnia, of the University of Southampton, stressed that being able to trace something back to the brain does not mean it is not real. Dr Parnia, who is close to completing a three-year study of hospital patients' recollections of their near-death experiences, said, "Every experience, whether near-death or otherwise -- such as depression, happiness and love -- is mediated by the brain." This passage is probably taken from _ . Answer: a popular science magazine There are many different ways to travel to Paris from London. One of the quickest and most popular ways is by train. From Waterloo Railway station, you can travel all the way to Paris. The journey takes about three hours. The train, called the Eurostar, is very modern, and the seats are comfortable. You can also travel to France by ship. First, you go to Dover, on the coast , by bus from London. The bus stops at the Ferry Terminal Seven in Dover. You can buy your tickets there. People who travel by car can drive on to the ferry , too. Another way to travel to Paris is by plane. There are several airports with international flights to Paris and other cities in France. You can travel to London Airport by bus or underground. Some people even go by taxi but this is a very expensive way to travel! Traveling from London to Paris by taxi is _ . Answer: expensive During the week days, they are luckily busy office people; but on weekends, they are just a brood of stay-home animals. A recent survey shows that office workers in China prefer quiet and easy ways to spend their weekends. In the survey, conducted by job seeking and offering website Zhaopin.com, 32.8 percent of the 6,000 respondents choose to stay home at weekends and have a good rest, the Beijing Morning Post reported. Twenty percent use their days-off to do housework. And only 19.3 percent are willing to have fun during the break time from work. Their first choice of fun is shopping. Other choices, though practiced by few, include meeting friends, accompanying the children, trips to the suburbs, and lessons for more skills. When they. go shopping, 54.5 percent of the white-collars actually shop in supermarkets, while 27.9. percent attend other stores, especially when discounts are offered. These activities don't seem to cost much, as 60 percent spend average less than 200 yuan (US$26) during weekends, and 30 percent no more than 500 yuan. When asked whom they would spend the weekends with, about 40 percent mention their partners, and 30 percent prefer a weekend all by themselves. Less than 20 percent hang out with friends. Only 5.8 percent would kill the time with their colleagues. This is because we tend to avoid too many personal contacts with our co-workers when we don't have to work with them, according to some experts. How many of the office workers who are the respondents do the housework at weekends? Answer: 1,200. Dear Mr. Barton, I'm writing in the name of the residents' association to inform you of our feelings regarding your behaviour . We've really had just about enough of you.Although we have tried to speak to you civilly on several occasions,you have always responded with a stream of verbal abuse . Ever since you moved in three months ago,you have shown very little consideration for the other residents of the building,despite numerous complaints.For the past six weekends in a row, you have held extremely noisy parties,which have not finished until the early hours of the morning.It's just not on! As you are aware,most of the people here are old people or have very young children,and the noise keeps them awake all night.You don't have to be so noisy,do you? Last weekend the situation _ further when two of your acquaintances were involved in a fight on the first floor landing.The disturbance was so bad that the police had to be called.What's more,your mates left the stairs in a terrible state--they even broke two windows on their way out! We feel that this type of bad behaviour is unbearable. We strongly recommended that you arrange payment for this damage to the windows,soon.If you don't and you carry on being a nuisance ,we will kick you out! Legal steps will be taken if necessary. Yours sincerely What is the main purpose of the writer? Answer: To inform Mr. Barton of the noise he made. In times of economic crisis. Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won't necessarily represent. an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same. We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses, By 1932. when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929 But this doesn't mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone. Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households, Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes. After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities, A 1940 book. The Unemployed Man and His Family, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job "with tireless search for work."He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do. The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale . For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold. Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment. Today's economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably ruined. So it's only when the economy is healthy again that we'll begin to see just how many broken families have been created. In addition to job losses. What stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce? Answer: Falling housing prices
Some British and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. You should not be upset if your English friends don't invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you! Dinner parties usually start between 7 p. m. and 8 p. m. and end at about 11 p. m. Ask your host what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a gift. Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks. Do you want to be extrapolite? Say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember--it's not polite to ask how much things cost. In many families, the husband sits at one end of the table and the wife sits at the other side. They eat with their guests. You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert, followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it. Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short"Thank you"letter. British and American people like to say"Thank you, thank you, thank you"all the time! In which order will you eat or drink the following things at a meal? Answer: Soup, meat with vegetables, dessert and coffee. What do college teachers think of high school English teachers'English teaching? And how should we see it? Let's read the following. A teacher from a community college addressed a sympathetic audience. Heads nodded in agreement when he said, "High school English teachers are not doing their jobs." He described how weak his students were--all high school graduates who can use language only at a Grade 9 level. My topic is not standards nor its decline . What the speaker was really saying is that he is no longer young; he has been teaching for sixteen years, and is able to think and speak like a mature adult. My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following is natural. It is also human nature to look for the reasons for our dissatisfaction. Before English became a school subject in the late nineteenth century, it was difficult to find the target of the blame for language deficiencies . But since then, English teachers have been under constant attack. The complainers think they have hit upon an original idea. As their own command of the language improves, they notice that young people do not have this same ability. Unaware that their own ability has developed through the years, they assume the new generation of young people must be hopeless in this respect. To the eyes and ears of sensitive adults, the language of the young always seems inadequate. Since this concern about the decline and fall of the English language is not seen as a generational phenomenon but rather as something new and peculiar to today's young people, it naturally follows that today's English teachers cannot be doing their jobs. In the author's opinion, the speaker _ . Answer: had exaggerated the language problems of the students Nearly everyone agrees that money doesn't buy as much as it used to, no matter when you want to spend it. This is certainly true of the paper money that passes so quickly through one's hands. But what about coins that seem to do very little except stay in purses and pockets? Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valuable the longer it is held, especially if it is put away where it won't get scratched or worn. Why is this? One reason is that coins, being more durable, fall more readily into a category for collectors. Naturally, the rarer gold pieces must become more valuable as the price of this metal goes up. But, curiously, one of the rarest coins in the world is not made of gold, but of the relatively cheaper silver. In 1840, the United States mint struck 19570 silver dollars. That is what its records show. Today only six of this original number remain and these are unlikely ever to reach the auction market. So what happened to some 19564 large silver coins, not the easiest sort of things to lose? One of the more romantic theories is that they were part of the payment to Napoleon for the American land then known as Louisiana. But they never reached France. Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship transporting them was sunk, either by a storm or by pirates. The probable answer to the mystery is that they were melted down -- since the silver value was greater than the actual value of the coin. What really happened to the rest will probably always remain a mystery. What is known is that whoever can come up with one will find himself instantly rich. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: money does not buy as much as it did before Bill Clinton took office on January 20, 1993 and became the 42nd U.S.president .He is the first U.S.president who was born after World War II .He is also one of the youngest of all U. S. presidents. Clinton was born in a poor family in 1946.Three months before he was born, his father, William Blats, died.When he was small, his mother remarried Norger Clinton, so the boy's family name was changed. In the summer of 1963, Clinton was asked to visit the city of Washington.During his visit, he met President Kennedy in the White House.At that time, he wanted to become a president, and then, he was! Clinton's father died _ . Answer: before Clinton was born Marry me! During the "Idol" finale, season 5 singer Ace Young proposed live to season 3 runner up Diana DeGarrno. She was genuinely surprised in one sense but the two have bonded closely since they met on Broadway during a production of"Hair." The first true"ldol' couple (though others have dated) have already set a wedding date on June l of 2013, Ten years and still relevant. Season one winner Kelly Clarkson has survived a decade in the brutal music business with her dignity intact and enough chart-topping songs to generate a greatest hits album at the tender age of 30. Her career is as strong as ever. She sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl. Her song "Stronger" was a No. I hit. She was a mentor on an ABC summer series"Duets." She became engaged to Reba McEntire's stepson in November. All in all, life is good for Clarkson and we as"Idol" fans couldn't be more proud. Keep calm and Carrie on! Season four victor Carrie Underwood has now sold more albums than any other "Idol" with about 14 million to date. Her current album "Blown Away" has generated two top two hits in 2012: "Good Girl" and the title track. That makes 15 consecutive top 2 hits on the Billboard country chart over seven years dating back to "Jesus, Take the Wheel." She hosted the CMAs for a fifth year with Brad Paisley. Last month, she landed a role as lead in a remake of"The Sound of Music." She toured to sold-out crowds again, hitting Gwinnett Arena earlier this month, where she thankecl "Idol" for getting her to where she's at, something, she certainly no longer needs to do but still does. Class act, that lady. Where can we probably read the news? Answer: In entertainment section
You may know the English letters A, B and C. But do you know there are people called ABC? You may like eating bananas. But do you know there are people called "banana persons"? If you don't know, I will tell you. They are Chinese people like you and me, but they aren't in China. Why do people call them that? ABC means America -born Chinese. An ABC is a Chinese, but was born in the United States. Sometimes, people also call them "banana persons". A banana is yellow outside and white inside. So when a person is a banana, he or she is white (American) inside and yellow (Chinese) outside. They are born in America and they live in America for a long time. Even their nationalities are Americans. So they think like Americans and do things like Americans. But they still have Chinese blood. Their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were from China. They all have black eyes and black hair. So they look like us, Chinese people. For example, we all know the famous scientist C.N. Yang . He is an ABC and he is a "banana person". We like him, although his nationality isn't Chinese. What color are their eyes and hair? Answer: Their eyes and hair are black. While many young people may resist getting a "real job" or becoming independent, these are the things that make you happy and give you purpose. Some people underestimate the satisfaction of working, thinking they'll be miserable. The 20-somethings that do work are happier than those who don' t or are underemployed. If you invest in your career early,you'll have longer to build it up. 70% of wage growth happens in the first 10 years, so you need to get the best job you can get and negotiate your salary. No one can be sure that people who will wait until their 30s to get going are expecting to experience later to catch up with those of their ages. Many 20-somethings don't know what they want to do, so they hang around the house or in. low-level jobs waiting for the spirit to move them. Not making a choice is a choice. These 20-somethings think they are keeping their options open, but they are actually closing doors. Resumes start to look thin, their peers begin surpassing them and they may get stuck in underemployment. It will take about 10,000 hours(or about five years)to really master their jobs. If you're wondering why colleagues seem so smart and confident, it's partly because they've been doing it longer. Young people should learn as much as they can in their first jobs and remember it will take some time to really get good. The 20-something brain is still developing, which is in charge of critical emotion with reason. This, _ less on-the-job experience, means 20-somethings are more sensitive to surprise and criticism. They are more likely to take feedback personally. Step back and get some perspective. You're not going to be fired because your boss is angry. Hear the criticism and learn from it. The brain doesn't fully mature until your mid-20s, particularly the parts that plan for the future and manage emotions. That doesn't mean you should sit around and wait for it to develop. In. fact, what you learn and experience in your 20s becomes hardwired into your brain and this is the best chance you have to change your brain and change how you think and react. What people do in their 20s determines who they'll be as adults. What is the best title of the passage? Answer: How You Spend Your 20s Will Define You. Books, which give instructions on how to do things, are very popular in the USA today. A lot of books like these begin with titles that start with the words "how to". Many "how to" books give advice on careers. They tell you how to choose a career and how to succeed in it. If you would like to become very rich, you can buy a book How to Make a Million. If you never make any money, you need a book called How to Live on Nothing. One of the most popular kinds of books is one that helps you with personal problems. If you are unhappy with your life, you can read How to love Every Minute of Your life. If you are tired of books on happiness, you may prefer a book called How to Make Yourself Sad.. Many of these books help people use their free time better. Some people want books which will give them useful information about sports, hobbies and travels. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements in their homes. They like books which give step-by-step instructions on how to repair things like electrical writing, or how to decorate a house or make it larger. Why have "how to" books become so popular ? Maybe because life has become so popular. Maybe because life has become so complex. Today people have far more free time to use , more choices to make, and more problems to solve. "How to" books help people deal with modern life. ,. When one wants to change his job, he probably needs to read _ . Answer: How to Choose A Career People say, you can not change the environment, but can change their own; you can not change the facts, but can change attitudes; you can not change the past, but can be changed now; you can not control other people, but can be masters of our own; you can not do everything well, but can be conscientious in everything; you can not about the weather, but you can change the mood; you can not choose looks, but it can show a smile. Indeed, one key to the success lies in his (her) mind. The difference between successful people and the losers are: winners will be setbacks and difficulties due to personal ability, experience, imperfect, to emphasize the inherent, they are willing to continuously improve and develop the right direction; and the losers will blame on the opportunity, and the environment injustice, emphasizing external and uncontrollable factors that created the position of their life, they always complain, wait and give up! In many cases, is a _ person who is looked down upon his own. Person's appearance, his family, and so a priori condition that can not be changed, but at least inner state, the spirit of the will is entirely their own control. Mentality, the final decision of life high. There is no absolute bad thing, only the mentality of the absolute poor people. If even the state of mind will not adjust, how they deal with things more complicated than the mentality of it! No matter what the situation, a person's attitude is very important. Passion put to work, and numbness sluggish to work completely different. Emerson said: "A move toward their goals is always people who gave him the whole world to give way." On the contrary, failure is not because we do not have the strength, but because we are susceptible to all around us, used to go along with the lack of assertive, attitude unstable, easily frustrated reason. As long as we believe that the strength of mind, change their attitude and courage to face a number of disappointments in life, do not despair, brave go on. I believe the power of mind, mind you're in the height of the final decision. Which best describes the writer's tone in the passage? Answer: Encouraged A men went into a shop to buy a parrot.There were three parrots in the shop.One was $1000; another one, $2000; and the third one, $3000. The man asked the owner, "Is this brid really $1000?That's so expensive for this kind of parrot."The owner said, "Because I have trained him and he can talk." Then the man asked him, "How about this one?What can he do that makes him so expensive?" The owner said, "Well, he can not only talk but also do some amusing actions,like dancing and so on.That"s why he's so expensive?" Then the man asked, "How about the third one? What can he do that makes him so expensive" The owner of the shop said, "I don't know.Usually,I have never heard him talk, nor dance, nor say, nor sing, nothing at all! But the other two call him The Boss . What is the owner of the shop like? Answer: He has a sense of humour.
Mark Eklund was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minn. He was neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful. Mark liked talking. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving: "Thank you for correcting me, sister!" One day in class, I asked pupils to list the names of the other students on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that student. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my father met me at the airport. "Mark was killed in the war," he said." The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend." I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. As I stood there, Mark's father said, "We want to show you something. They found this on Mark when he was killed." He took a wallet out of his pocket. Opening the billfold , he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it." That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. What did the author ask the students to write on the paper? A. Mistakes each student had made. B. Things each student liked doing. C. The habits of each student. D. The strong point of each student Answer: D Jess really felt very happy.When he arrived at his seat in the classroom that morning,he found an invitation on his desk.It was from several of his classmates asking him to join them on a camping trip.This was the first time he was asked to join in an out-of-school activity.Why were they asking him now? Nobody seemed to like him.In fact,he had been so lonely that he drowned his feeling with food.As a result,he had put on a lot of weight,and this gave the kids something more to make fun of him. Cindy,who was standing near Jess when he read the invitation,went out quickly to tell the others that the trick had worked.Everyone was pleased that Jess thought that was true.But there was no camping trip.The whole thing was made up. At first,Cindy thought it was fun.But later,when Jess told her that he was going to buy a sleeping bag with his savings ,Cindy had a second idea.She knew that Jess's family had little money,and she hated to see him spend his savings on something he would never use.Cindy also hated to tell Jess the truth.Her close friends would be angry with her.What could she do now? If Jess really bought a sleeping bag, _ . A. everyone else would also buy one B. it would be the best in the class C. Cindy would pay for it D. he would have it for no use Answer: D Life in Britain today Food British people like good food, and more than half of them go to a restaurant every month. Fast food is also very popular---30% of all adults have a burger every three months, but 46% have fish and chips! Sports British people don't do a lot of sport. Only 17% of people go swimming every week. 9% go cycling and 8% play golf. Only 6% people play football (but 32% go to watch it). Cinema and TV Films are very popular in Britain, and about 60% of people between 15 and 24 go to the cinema every month. At home, men watch TV for about three hours every day--half an hour more than women. Holidays British people love going on holidays. Most of these holidays aren't in the UK---27% are in Spain, 10% are in the U.S, and 9% are in France. Maybe this is because the weather in Britain is terrible! Their favourite country for a holiday is _ . A. the USA B. France C. Britain D. Spain Answer: D Look at the two posters about Sunshine Theatre and Moonlight Theatre: Welcome to Sunshine Party! Time: 1:30 p.m. -8:30p.m. , June 1st Happy Children's Day Place: Sunshine Theatre Activities: Singing, dancing, a magic show and a fashion show Welcome to Moonlight Party! Happy Children's D ay Time: 2:30 p.m. -10:30p.m. , June 1st Place: Moonlight Theatre Activities: 3 cartoon films and a fashion show Both the two theatres will celebrate _ . A. Children's Day B. Teachers' Day C. Christmas Day D. Spring Festival Answer: A "Choo, Choo!" Here comes the Chunnel train. Get aboard if you want to learn more about this underground transportation system. This is an unusual form of transportation, because it is a tunnel that trains travel through and not an actual form of transportation. The Chunnel is actually the English nickname for the Channel Tunnel. In French, it is called le tunnel sous la Manche. It is a rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Straits of Dover. It connects Cheriton in Kent, England with Sangatte in northern France. It is the second longest rail tunnel in the world. Did you know that the British and the French had a race whi1e they were building the Chunnel? The race was to see who could get to the middle of the tunnel first. The British won by a little bit. It took 15,000 workers over seven years to dig the tunnel. The tunnel was finished in 1994. The completed Chunnel cost about $ 21 billion. But it all paid off, because it became very popular, very quick. Millions of people use it. Now it is getting even more popular. There are three complete tunnels in the Chunnel. The two outside ones are the passenger trains. The small inner one is a guidance train. The guidance train is not used for transportation. Each track is exactly parallel to each other. There are four different train systems in the Chunnel. The Eurostar is a high speed passenger service that connects London, Paris, Brussels, and Lille. The Eurotunnel shuttle is a rail ferry service. These shuttles carry cars. These are railcars that allow drivers to drive their vehicles on and off. There are also two Eurotunnel goods service trains. Now you know more about the Chunnel. Everybody off, this is the last stop. The text can most probably be _ . A. found in a textbook B. read in a magazine C. broadcast on a train D. heard in a railway station Answer: C
Washington----A screaming intruder made it onto the front lawn of the White House Sunday while President Obama was at home before being caught by Secret Service officers. Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren recognized the man as 40-year-old Brian Lee Patterson, whose last known address was in Albuquerque, N.M. Patterson has been caught trying to get onto the White House grounds at least three times before Zahren said. The bearded man, wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt that read "God Bless America" jumped the fence outside the White House and ran across the north lawn while repeatedly crying, "I am a victim of terrorism!" Members of the Secret Service emergency response team, including one holding a barking dog, ran after Patterson with their guns and surrounded him near the row of cameras set up for television stand-ups. "I have intelligence information for the president," he said, waving his arms in the air. "I'm not afraid of you." Patterson screamed at the officers who were ordering him to lie ground with guns drawn. Patterson finally kneeled on the ground and was taken into custody shortly before 4 p.m. He cut his hand jumping the fence and was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment and was to appear in court Monday, Zahren said. Zahren said Patterson was charged with unlawful entry for the last time he jumped the fence, in February. He faces the same charge for Sunday's incident and also a contempt of court charge for disobeying the judge's orders to stay away from the White House. The best title for this piece of news is _ . Answer: Man caught after jumping White House fence Many school districts are placing dispensers of hand sanitizer in classrooms and computer labs. Which of the following is the most likely purpose of this practice? Answer: limit diseases spread by contact Carrying a passenger on a bicycle is an offence punishable by law. Everyone knows that but still some of us do it. I had done it many times before until something happened to teach me never to do it again. It was not the police. Rather it was an unforgettable, and unpleasant, experience. It happened one evening when my friend Segaran and I wanted to go and visit another friend who lived some distance away. I had a bicycle. Segaran did not. So, as usual, he sat side-saddle on the horizontal bar of the bicycle while I pedalled. We had done it many times before, so it should not be any problem. Near my friend's house, we got onto a gravel path made slippery by the recent rain. Still we managed to move along, thoroughly enjoying the rough ride. As we passed by a stream, I made the mistake of going too near the bank. The rain had softened the soil and it could not hold our combined weight. One moment we were going along merrily, the next we were tumbling head over heels into the stream. Splash! Splash! Splash! We plunged into the river bicycle first, followed by Segaran, then me. Normally the stream is only a few centimetres deep with clear water. When we fell in, it was a metre deep with smelly black water. The water prevented us from getting badly injured but we also had to pay the price of swallowing some of it. It tasted horrible. Segaran got the worst of it for being sandwiched between the bicycle and me. Our pride was far more hurt. We walked all the way home. I had to push the bicycle because its front wheel was bent out of shape. From that moment I promised never to carry anyone on a bicycle again. The author felt hurt mainly because _ . Answer: he failed in a thing he had thought was easy Once there was a huge apple tree.A little boy loved to come and play around it every day.He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by---the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad."Come and play with me, " the tree asked the boy."I'm no longer a kid.I wouldn't play around the tree any more." the boy replied."I want toys.I need money to buy them." "Sorry, I don't have money.But you can pick all my apples and sell them.So, you will have money." The boy picked all the apples on the tree and left happily.The boy never came back after he picked the apples. One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited, "Come and play with me, " the tree said."I don't have time to play.I have to work for my family.We need a house for shelter.Can you help? " "Sorry, I don't have a house.But you can cut off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the branches off the tree and left happily.The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then.The tree was again lonely and sad. One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was pleased."Come and play with me! " the tree said."I am sad and getting old.I want to go sailing to relax myself.Can you give me a boat? " "Use my trunk to build your boat.You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat.He went sailing and never showed up for a long time. Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years."Sorry, my boy.But I don't have anything for you any more.The only thing left is my dying root, " the tree said with tears 1 "Good! Old tree root is the best place to lean on and rest.Come and sit down with me and rest." The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears 2 The boy came back to the apple tree _ . Answer: when he was in times of difficulty A recent survey showed that only 9 percent of teens in the United States smoke cigarettes.That's down from 23 percent in 2000.While this is good news for the US's overall health, tobacco use is still a problem. Cigarettes can cause many diseases, such as cancer ,lung cliscases and heart problems.Although they know about the health problems, teenagers still smoke.So the _ of the US Anti-smoking Organization is working to end teenage smoking.Their latest activity uses social media to remind teenagers of the dangers of smoking.And the activity also encourages teens to learn the facts and become the generation that ends smoking. However, anti-smoking campaigns may have a new problem to worry about.According to a 2013 report, the use of electronic cigarettes is on the rise.American high school students who reported having used an electronic cigarette rose from 4.7 percent in 2011 to 10 percent in 2012.The increased use of e-cigarettes by teens is deeply troubling.It may become lifelong addictied .Besides, we still don't yet understand the long-term effects of e-cigarettes. ,. (2,10) What is the aim of the campaign of the US Anti-smoking Organization? Answer: To make an effort to end teenage smoking
This week, I ask my students about fashion. I show each student seven things and ask their opinions about each thing. Some of their answers are interesting! Here's what the students in Class 8 like: Jodie Smith likes the key ring. Her friend Jordan says he can' t stand the scarf." It' s for old people!" he says. William Jones loves the wallet,and his classmate Gina Taylor loves the watch. Ann Rice doesn't like the watch,but she really likes the hair clip! Jerry Green likes the sunglasses. And the coolest thing is the belt ! Everyone loves it! Gina Taylor loves _ and Ann really likes _ . A the wallet;the watch B the watch;the hair clip C the hair clip;the sunglasses D the watch;the sunglasses Answer: B As we all know, the ocean moves. But waves breaking on the beach make the ocean fun. When you stand on the shore and look at the waves, it seems like the water is moving towards you. But the water is not really moving forward. The moving you see is wave energy. And wave energy comes from the wind. Let's think about how this works. As wave energy passes through the water, the energy makes particles of water move up and down. Just give you an example of a wave passing under a basketball. We put a basketball on the sea. When the wind blows, a wave comes from behind the basketball. The basketball moves up to the top with the wave. Then the wave continues and leaves the basketball behind. The basketball looks lower, but it doesn't move forward. That's because the wave energy just moves the water which is under the basketball. So why can you see a wave knock you down on the shore?When a wave moves toward the shore, the bottom of the wave slows down because _ meets the ocean floor. But the top, which is called crest , keeps moving. The different action causes the wave to fall over or break onto the shore. If a wave is very large, it carries a lot of energy when it hits the land. As time goes by, waves can break up and carry away the rocks and other things on the shore. Shorelines are changing all the time because of wave action. _ is really moving forward when you look at the wave. A Water B The basketball C Water and wave energy D Wave energy Answer: D The greatest amount of diversity can be found among which type of organism? A plants B animals C bacteria D fungi Answer: C On February 21, a student observes that the Moon cannot be seen in the clear night sky. On what date will the student not be able to see the Moon again in the clear night sky? A February 28 B March 7 C March 14 D March 21 Answer: D Young men often give flowers to young women when they are in love. This tradition may have come from prefix = st1 /Turkey. In the 1700s inTurkey, it was quite popular for people in love to send each other baskets full of strange things. The baskets were delivered secretly to the person who was receiving it. Usually, an old woman who sold flowers or fruit on the street left the basket beside the person's door. These baskets included a variety of "gifts": flowers, stones, feathers, wax, and even charcoal. Each thing in the basket had a special meaning. By figuring out the secret message contained in each item, the person who received the basket began to understand little by little the true feeling of the person who sent it. This idea of sending gifts of love with secret meanings quickly spread toGermany,France, andEngland. However, as time passed, only flowers remained popular. An innocent bunch of flowers told young ladies about the feeling in the hearts of young men. Each different flower held a different meaning. For example, the flowers from an orange tree meant, "You are beautiful and pure." Pink carnations meant, "My love for you is strong and great." Yellow roses, on the other hand, meant, "I saw you with someone else." Many flower dictionaries were made to help young people in love understand the meaning of the flowers they received. Not all of the dictionaries agreed, however, on the meaning of each flower, so a person had to be careful about the flowers they chose to send. By the 1880s, using flowers to send messages had fallen out of fashion, and the more direct way of sending love letters began. Today, flowers are still considered a lovely gift, but the meaning for each kind of flower has been lost. What did the items in the basket explain to the receiver? A The receiver's appearance. B The sender's emotions. C The feeling of the receiver. D The love between them. Answer: B
In my city, people have breakfast around seven. We drink warm tea or milk in the morning. Many people have some bread, eggs or hamburgers. Around noon it is the lunchtime. Many people take their food to schools or their work-places. Some people like going to a restaurantor having fast food in a McDonald's. But I think these foods are unhealthy. We can have some meat with some vegetables or rice. Healthy fish slowly replaces beef and pork. It's healthy to drink one glass of water or juice after lunch. At six or seven in the evening, it's time for dinner. At this time, families usually get together*to have dinner at home. We often have warm food. Sometimes we go to restaurants to eat. What time do people usually have dinner? A four B five C seven D eight Answer: C Welcome to the Little Rock Zoo! The little Rock Zoo is open every day of the week, all year round, EXCEPT Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year`s Day. Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the last admission is at 4:00 pm. Admission price: Adults: $10 Children( 12 and under) : $8 ( only children 12 months of age are admitted free.) Cafe: Currently open every day from 9:30 am -4:00 pm Opening hours may change according to the weather and special hours. Zoo Train: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday :9:00 am--4:00 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday , : 9:30 am--4:00 pm Run every half an hour One should enter the Little Rock Zoo before _ . A 4:00 pm B 4:30 pm C 5:00 pm D 5:30 pm Answer: A Despite the fact that it has never been seen almost everyone is familiar with the legendary unicorn . Descriptions of unicorns have been found dating from ancient times. The great philosopher Aristotle theorized that there were two types of unicorn--- the so-called Indian Ass and the Oryx, a kind of antelope. Unicorns are often used in the logo of a noble family, town council or university as their special sign. Even Scotland is represented by a unicorn. According to the legend, anyone attempting to catch a unicorn had to be extremely careful as it was very fierce and dangerous. A clever trick suggested by unicorn-trappers, in order to catch this amazing animal without being hurt by its horn, was for the hunter to stand in front of a tree and then to move quickly behind it as the unicorn dashed angrily. Hopefully, the creature could then be caught when its horn was stuck in the tree. When hollowed out and used as a drinking-cup, the unicorn's horn was said to have the power to offer protection against person. It was believed that nobody could be harmed-by drinking the contents of a unicorn's horn. Right up until the French Revolution in 1789, the French court was said to have used cups made of "unicorn" horn in order to protect the king. In addition, the horn was said to have medicinal value, so much so that it could be sold for more than ten times the price of the same weight of gold. What, then, was "unicorn" horn? We know at times the rhino was confused with this legendary creature. A drinking-cup supposedly made of "unicorn" horn was discovered to be made of the horn of a rhino. To catch a unicorn, the unicorn-trappers had to try all of the following EXCEPT _ . A attracting the unicorn to attack B making use of the tree as a defense C hiding quickly behind the unicorn D having the unicorn horn stuck in the tree Answer: C People in the United States honor their parents with two special days:Mother's Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father's Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child care. These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother's Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery .On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father's Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories. Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is "the thought that counts". Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays. Which do you think is right about "carnation"? A It has only two kinds of colors. B It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother's Day or Father's Day. C It's a kind of flower showing love and best wishes. D People can wear carnations only on the second Sunday in May. Answer: C When I was young, I thought that boys and grown men shouldn't cry. The tears were signs of being weak. A man isn't supposed to be like that. This was even strengthened in my young mind with the popular song, Boys Don't Cry, in the early 1980s. But just last June, I discovered that courage wasn't all about trying to keep all the pain inside. Courage wasn't all about trying to hide the tears. It was the opposite -- the tears reinforced the heart's courage. And I saw this in my father. My 18-year-old sister eloped and with it, I saw how vulnerable my father's heart was. We were used to seeing him as a strong figure and an iron-willed father. For three days after my sister eloped, he wouldn't talk. He would just sit quietly outside our house in the dark. On the fourth night, I sat beside him and asked him to tell me what he felt about everything. It has been years since I have laid my hand on my father's shoulder as we have drifted farther while I am growing up. That night, I sensed my father trying to control his pain and I wanted him to be able to let it out. We all cried over what had happened except him. The simple touch and my words "Dad, it's not your fault" broke my father's dam. In the darkness, he began to cry. I felt his shoulders shaking as he whispered, "Where did I go wrong? All I ever wanted was for my children to grow up right. Why couldn't your sister wait? How can she go away with such a boy?" I understood then why he preferred to be in the dark. By being there, he hoped to spare his family's feelings. His tears, though we didn't see them before that night, were there all the same. I saw his courage that night when my father cried with my hand on his shoulder, and understood his pain. What would be the best title for the passage? A The day father cried. B My great father. C Never lose heart. D Boys don't cry. Answer: A
There are two kinds of physical activity which require special training. The first demands exact careful movements of the muscles. This kind of activity must be strictly controlled because even a slight movement in the wrong direction will lead a mistake. To type quickly, for example, a person needs training; the slightest movement of a finger in the wrong direction may cause a spelling mistake. A dancer who has to dance on the point of her shoes or turn around on one foot must be trained for a long period of time before she can sense her own center and balance herself. You may have seen a girl walking on a rope across an empty space, which, too, requires a lot of practice. The second kind of physical activity needs greater strength or extra effort. Most of us get tired if we try to run half a mile without stopping, but a specially-trained person can do this without much effort. Three years ago, some scientists carried out experiments, which produced meaningful and unexpected results. They wanted to find out whether a certain amount of physical exercise would injure those suffering from heart problems. They selected some male patients and trained them in continuous bicycle riding. They were surprised to find that the harmful effect of given amount of physical effort was actually less on the hearts of these trained patients than on those of the patients who were not similarly trained. This is important because it shows that regular physical exercise enables us to make better use of the oxygen we breathe in and that this training, in fact, reduces the amount of work our hearts do. Many tasks which are hard for untrained people are not hard at all for trained people. The first kind of physical activity must be strictly controlled because _ . A a mistake in the wrong direction is dangerous to the fingers B a wrong movement in a direction will cause no mistakes C a movement in the wrong direction will cause a mistake D a slight movement of a finger will lead to a mistake Answer: C. a movement in the wrong direction will cause a mistake One of the most popular items in the school newspaper is the advice column. No one knows who writes it. The students think their teacher does, but it might be a student using a false name. The students enjoy thinking up problems for the advice column. Here are some of them and their answers. Ask the Wise Owl Q: I'm always late for school. I try not to be, but I can't help it. Please advise me what to do. Tommy. A: You are probably late for school because you don't really like school. My advice to you is to try and enjoy school more, then you won't be late so often. Q: I find it difficult to make friends. What do you think I should do? Sara. A: I can't advise you until I know more about you. Your problem may be that you are shy. On the other hand, it may be the opposite. You may be too bold . Write and tell me more about yourself. Q: I'm always at the bottom(,) of the class. What do you advise me to do? Molly. A: I advise you to concentrate on improving your grades in one subject to start with. If you can do this, you should move a little way up from the bottom. Next, try to improve your grades in another subject, and so on. If you concentrate on one subject at a time, by the end of the year you should be quite a long way up from the bottom in all your classes. What does Molly want to do? A To stay at the bottom of her classes. B To make more friends. C To concentrate on one subject at a time. D To improve her grades. Answer: D. To improve her grades. Most cellphone companies design models especially for kids. But parents are usually the ones buying the phones. According to a July 2012 study, 56% of parents of children aged 8 to 12 have given their children a cellphone. The number goes up with age. The study just proves what many people already guessed: many kids, if not most, have their own cellphones. According to a recent survey, 12 is the magic number. It is the most common age for kids to get their first cellphone. But 13% of children aged 6 to 10 already have one. People who are for kids' using cellphones, including many parents, notice that cellphones help kids keep in touch with their friends and families. They believe that cellphones are an important tool in a dangerous situation. Kids can reach their parents at all times. And some people say having a cellphone helps teach kids to be responsible. Some cellphones designed for kids can be set to only work when parents approve . What's the harm in that? But other people are worried about the health and safety effects of kids' cellphones. They believe that kids with cellphones will spend less time playing outside with friends, and that sending text messages or making phone calls while doing homework makes it difficult for kids to concentrate. They say that kids are spending too much time texting instead of talking to each other. "Our brains developed to communicate face to face," says Gary Small, a teacher at the UCLA School of Medicine, in California. "A lot of this is lost with texting." Another worry is cyber bullying , which is on the rise as more kids use e-mail and text messages to communicate. And some experts are worried about possible health risks. They worry that energy waves produced by cellphones could be harmful to young people. To be safe, parents should not let them talk long on the phone. By mentioning the results of a recent study, the author wants to show that _ . A not all cellphones meet kids' needs B not all parents buy their kids cellphones C kids who are old enough should have cellphones D many kids have their own cellphones Answer: D. many kids have their own cellphones Old Computers Make for Unhappy Workers --- Survey LONDON (Reuters) ----- Dealing with the dissatisfaction of aging and unreliable office computers leads to workers' unhappiness and more sick leave, a survey showed on Wednesday. A survey carried out by caro4free.net of over 2,700 European office workers from the UK, France and Germany found that workplace dissatisfaction increased greatly with the age of the computer equipment. "We do know that job satisfaction is falling in Britain and most advanced nations," said Stephen White, a researcher from the Work Foundation. "The actual reasons for _ are the subject of very heated discussion. It's certainly one interesting theory that technology may be the cause of this in some way," White added. A quarter of these using outdated computers in Britain said they were "quite" or "very dissatisfied" with their everyday job compared to the percent of those who had enjoyed an advantage from up-to-date technology. The survey also said that among workers dealing with outdated equipment, there was a 35 percent greater probability they would take six or more days of sick leave per year compared with the average worker. In France, where more workers use old computers, the probability jumped to 55 percent. Results also showed that women in the three countries were more likely to be using outdated equipment. In the UK, where more workers have up-to-date computers than in the other countries surveyed, the number of women using old equipment doubled that of men. White pointed out that there were two sides to this problem, saying that continuously having to deal with new technology and equipment can also be a source of worry. "Old and faulty equipment is a major cause of office dissatisfaction. There is no question about it; but you also have to say that the frequent change of equipment is also, or could be, a main cause of dissatisfaction." According to White, why were the women surveyed more likely to use old computers? A Most office workers use old computers. B They do some of their work with computers. C Dealing with new equipment can cause anxiety. D They are easier to be satisfied with new technology. Answer: C. Dealing with new equipment can cause anxiety. I came across an old country guide the other day. It listed all the tradesmen in each village in my part of the country and it was impressive to see the great variety of services which were available on one's own doorstep in the late Victorian countryside. Nowadays a superficial traveler in ruralprefix = st1 /Englandmight conclude that the village tradesmen still flourishing were either selling frozen food to the residents or selling old things to visitors. Nevertheless. This would really be a false impression. There has been smaller village commerce ,but its vigor is still remarkable. Our local grocer's shop, for example, is actually expanding in spite of the competition from supermarkets in the nearest town. Women prefer to go there and exchange the local news while purchasing, instead of purchasing up at a supermarket. And the shop owner knows well that personal service has a substantial cash value. His prices may be a bit higher than those in the town, but he will deliver anything at any time. His assistants think nothing of bicycling down the village street in their lunch hour to take a piece of cheese to an aged woman who sent her order by word of mouth with a friend who happened to be passing. The wealthier customers telephone their shopping lists and the goods are on their doorsteps within an hour. I also find it satisfactory because a village shop offers one of the few ways in which a modest individualist can still get along in the world without attaching himself to the big groups of industry or commerce. Most of the village shopkeepers I know, are individualists in their ways. For example, our shoemaker stares with a cold look at the pairs of cheap, mass-produced shoes taken to him for repair. Has it come to this, he seems to be saying, that he, a craftsman , work upon them. And he makes beautiful shoes for those who can afford such luxury . The writer appreciates the village shop because_. A this is a rare case of small enterprise which is still booming B private enterprise should survive in a competitive world C he welcomes personal competition with collectivized business D he likes the idea of achieving business success in a special way Answer: D. he likes the idea of achieving business success in a special way
Computer technology has become a major part of people's lives. This technology has its own special words. One example is the word mouse. A computer mouse is not a small animal that lives in buildings and open fields. It is a small device that you move around on a flat surface in front of a computer. The mouse moves the pointer on the computer screen. Computer expert Douglas Engelbart developed the idea for the mouse in the early 1960s. The first computer mouse was a carved block of wood with two metal wheels. It was called a mouse because it had a tail at one end. The tail was the wire that connected it to the computer. Using a computer takes some training. People who are experts are sometimes called hakers. A hacker is usually a person who writes software programs in a special computer language. But the word hacker is also used to describe a person who tries to steal information from computer systems. Another well-known computer word is Google. It is the name of a popular "search engine" for the Internet. People use the search engine to find information about almost any subject on the Internet. The people who started the company named it Google because in maths, google is an extremely large number. It is the number one followed by 100 zeros. When you "Google" a subject, you can get a large amount of information about it . Some people like to google their friends or themselves to see how many times their names appears on the Internet. If you Google someone, you might find that person's name on a blog. A blog is the shortened name for a Web log. A blog is a personal Web page. It may contain stories, comments, pictures and links to other Web sites. Some people add information to their blogs every day. People who have blogs are called bloggers. Blogs are not the same as spam. Spam is unwanted sales messages sent to your electronic mailbox. The name is based on a funny joke many years ago on a British television show, " Monty Python's Flying Circus". Some friends are at an eating place that only serves a processed meat product from the United States called SPAM. Every time the friends try to speak, another group of people starts singing the word SPAM very loudly. This interferes with the friends' discussion---just as unwanted sales messages interfere with communication over the Internet. What do we know about hackers? A. They are not computer experts. B. They don't write software programs. C. They sometimes try to steal information. D. They are always bloggers. Answer: C. They sometimes try to steal information. One day Mr. and Mrs. Black were driving to a party . Mr. Black drove the car very fast. "Please don't drive so fast." Mrs Black asked his husband to drive more slowly ."If you drive so fast , maybe we'll have some trouble.""Oh , no , Don't be worried , my dear . "said Mr. Black with a smile ."You know I'm good at driving . You won't be in danger . And there is little time . If I don't drive fast , we'll be late for the party." A few minutes later , his wife , Mrs. Black , said to him,"If you don't slow down ,We'll be in hospital." Just at this moment a car came out of a side road and crossed in front of their car . Mr. Black stopped their car quickly . It nearly hit that car: "Oh , dear , I'm sorry for that . You are right , my dear,"said Mr Black . "I'll never drive fast later . Now let me drive slowly . "Then car drove very slowly to the party . Of course they were very late for the party. At last Mr. Black drove their car _ to the party A. faster B. slow C. very slowly D. happily Answer: C. very slowly The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family members would come to stay with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to keep away from the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began. The following are some countries' birthday traditions: Canada---Putting butter on the nose. In Atlantic Canada, the birthday child's nose is put butter on for good luck. China---Noodles for lunch. The birthday child pays respect to his / her parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life. England---Money cakes. Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, you will be rich. Ireland---Birthday bump . The birthday child is lifted upside down and " bumped" on the floor for good luck. Italy---Pulling ears. The child's ears are pulled as many times as how old he / she is turning. Japan---New clothes. The birthday child wears new clothes to mark the occasion. New Zealand---Birthday claps. After the candles are hit, the happy birthday song is sung loudly and often out of tune and then the birthday person receives a clap for each year he / she has been alive and then one for good luck. The United States---Cake, candles and the birthday song. A cake is made, and candles are put on top based on how old the person is. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. In New Zealand, an eight-year-old birthday child receives eight claps in all. B. In Ireland, bumping the birthday child means good luck to him/her. C. In England, coins are the only things that can be made into a birthday cake. D. In Italy, the birthday child's ears are pulled when he/she is lifted upside down. Answer: B. In Ireland, bumping the birthday child means good luck to him/her. Have you seen Avatar? It's a popular 3D movie, and you may have to wear a special pair of glasses - 3D glasses, to see it. The 3D glasses make the images from the movie look as if they are coming straight at you. 3D movies are really exciting to watch. More and more 3D movies are coming to theaters. Some say that 3D TV sets will come into our homes in the near future. 3D technology can make TV and movies more exciting. However, people with eye problems may get headaches if they spend too much time watching 3D movies. Why? When we look at an object, each eye sees it at a different angle . Our eyes send the two images to our brain, and the brain puts them together. 3D technology uses two film projectors . One projects left-eye-image and the other projects a right-eye-image. 3D glasses allow us to see a different image in each eye. So, when we are watching a 3D movie, our brain can't put together the images sent to our eyes. The brain needs to work harder at "reading" the images. That makes it easier for people with eye problems to get dizzy or have headaches. Dr John Hagan, an eye doctor in Kansas City, said if your eyes can't focus on the same object at once, you will have trouble watching 3D movies. What is Avatar? A. It's a kind of 3D projector. B. It's a kind of 3D TV set. C. It's a movie. D. It's an animal. Answer: C. It's a movie. Many ESL (English as a Second Language) students in the United States enroll in academic preparation programs and are in their late teens or early twenties. This is often a time when students are looking back on childhood in a different way. Their childhood memories and their viewpoint on those memories can be very useful for the production of wonderfully creative writing. For this project, the students began in class by closing their eyes and trying to return to their childhood years in order to bring early memories to their mind. After imagining for a few minutes, they began to tell each other what they remembered about those years and tried to describe a particular incident that stood out in their memories. That evening they wrote in their journals about the incident, embellishing the story as much as possible. The next day, they read the story to a different partner and got feedback . The partner's job was to: ask more questions to bring back the writer's memory; help the writer make sure that past tense verbs were used correctly, focusing on the difference between those things that were still true and needed present tense and those things that belonged specifically to the past. Two days later, students made necessary changes or additions and turned in a typed copy of their story. I then made my own comments about their work and asked them to revise their work. The third draft produced some very good work. What did the author ask his students to write about? A. What they saw around them. B. Their predictions for the future. C. Their childhood memories. D. Their opinions of the United States. Answer: C. Their childhood memories.
Question: As most people know, in the past few years, sandstorms have swept across many cities and areas of North China, polluting the air and disturbing daily lives of human beings. People look dirty and suffer many kinds of illnesses, such as breath difficulty. The sandstorm is such a serious problem that it has not only _ the industrial and agricultural development of our country but also caused a lot of trouble to the living conditions of the Chinese people. It is expected that effective measures should be taken as soon as possible through our joint efforts to limit its occurrence. So what should we do with the frightening sandstorms? Some experts put forward practical suggestions as follows: For one thing, more funs ought to be put into tree planting and forest protection so as to keep more water resources within the surface of the earth. For another, governments of all countries should make laws on environmental protection.For example, banning the use of throw-away chopsticks and punishing illegal tree cutting. Scientists should also study and find ways to cut down the degree of its destruction and to improve the whole environment. How people look forward to sunny days with little breeze touching their faces now and forever! Nevertheless, I am fully confident that the golden days can come back so long as everyone tried his best to protect natural environment from today on. How many ways do some experts put forward to fight against sandstorm? A. 5 B. 4 C. 3 D. 2 Answer: C Question: Robert walked into a store that had a checkcashing service and tried to cash a $550 check which was payable to him. The attendant on duty refused to cash the check because Robert did not have two forms of identification, which the store's policies required. Robert, who had no money except for the check and who needed cash to pay for food and a place to sleep, became agitated. He put his hand into his pocket and growled, "Give me the money or I'll start shooting." The attendant, who knew Robert as a neighborhood character, did not believe that he was violent or had a gun. However, because the attendant felt sorry for Robert, he handed over the cash. Robert left the check on the counter and departed. The attendant picked up the check and found that Robert had failed to endorse it. If Robert is guilty of any crime, he is most likely guilty of A. robbery. B. attempted robbery. C. theft by false pretenses. D. larceny by trick. Answer: B Question: My father was born on a farm in Tipperary, Ireland. He was the fourth child out of eight children. My father was the oldest boy so the majority of the responsibility fell upon his shoulders to complete the farm work. He attended school until the fourth grade; his father pulled him out of school to work on the farm permanently , though he hated it. Though supposed to _ the farm, my father had other plans. At sixteen he left home for England. He left without telling his parents anything. He eventually became very homesick and missed his mother greatly. He came back to Ireland and worked on the farm until he was eighteen. He got tired of the farm and left home for England again. He worked as a construction worker for five years, and then a part-time actor. But he couldn't get a decent job because he was Irish. Many times he would walk into an interview and read a sign saying, "The Irish need not apply." He was twenty years old with no family and limited friends in a foreign country that didn't want him. Once he was able to work again my father decided to save money to move to Australia. He lived in a house with a fellow Irishman, a Swede, an Englishman, and an Austrian for five years becoming a successful salesman. He bought a beach house for himself in Sydney. He then traveled through Europe visiting his family in Ireland. In 1975 my father came to America as an illegal immigrant . My father with a friend of his drove across the country to Los Angeles with the dream of becoming Hollywood stars. My father lived in his car for the first few months in Los Angeles, and worked as a used car salesman. After two years of living in Los Angeles, he became documented. He met my mother and started a family. My parents have kept the family in Los Angeles, and just three years ago my father became a U.S. citizen. Which of the following can show the track of the father's struggle? A. Australia--Europe--America. B. England--Australia--America. C. Ireland--America--England. D. Australia--Sweden--England. Answer: B Question: How many things can you see in the night sky? A lot! On a clear night you might see the Moon, some planets, and thousands of sparkling stars. You can see even more with a telescope. You might see stars where before you only saw dark space. You might see that many stars look larger than others. You might see that some stars that look white are really red or blue. With bigger and bigger telescope you can see more and more objects in the sky. And you can see those objects in more and more detail. But scientists believe there are some things in the sky that we will never see. We won't see them with the biggest telescope in the world, on the clearest night of the year. That's because they're invisible. They're the mysterious dead stars called black holes. You might find it hard to imagine that stars die. After all, our Sun is a star. Year after year we see it up in the sky, burning brightly, giving us heat and light. The Sun certainly doesn't seem to be getting old or weak. But stars do burn out and die after billions of years. As a star's gases burn, they give off light and heat. But when the gas runs out, the star stops burning and begins to die. As the star cools, the outer layers of the star pull in toward the center. The star squashes into a smaller and smaller ball. If the star was very small, the star ends up as a cold, dark ball called a black dwarf. If the star was very big, it keeps squashing inward until it's packed together tighter than anything in the universe. Imagine if the Earth were crushed until it was the size of a tiny marble . That's how tightly this dead star, a black hole, is packed. What pulls the star in towards its center with such power? It's the same force that pulls you down when you jump - the force called gravity. A black hole is so tightly packed that its gravity sucks in everything - even light. The light from a black hole can never come back to your eyes. That's why you see nothing but blackness. So the next time you stare up at the night sky, remember: there's more in the sky than meets the eyes! Scattered in the silent darkness are black holes - the great mystery of space. Why can't you see light when you look at a black hole? A. Most black holes are so far away. B. Because the gravity of a black hole is so strong that it sucks the light inward. C. Because as the star's gases burn, it stops giving off heat and light. D. Because as a star cools, its outer layers pull in toward its center. Answer: B Question: In the world, soccer (or football) is the most popular sport. This is because many countries have wonderful teams for the World Cup. The World Cup is held every four years. To remember the 2002 FIFA World Cup, children from different countries and more than 60 children from different Japanese schools came together and spent three weeks drawing a big picture called"Dream World Cup"in Japan. The children drew animals, flowers and people playing soccer under bright blue sky. They wished each football team good luck by drawing the flags of all countries that would take part in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. The picture was put up in a park near a playground in Yokohama. Are you a football fan? The World Cup makes more and more people interested in football. Teenagers like playing and watching football. Many of them love some football stars so much that they get pictures of their favorite players such as, Figo, Oven and Pauleta. And they put the pictures up on the walls of their rooms. That is the way to show their love for the World Cup. ,. From the passage, in the picture children drew many things except _ . A. some football stars B. people playing football C. a sunny sky D. flowers Answer: D
What will people die of 100 years from now? If you think that is a simple question, you have not been paying attention to the revolution that is taking place in bio-technology . With the help of new medicine, the human body will last a very long time. Death will come mainly from accidents, murder and war. Today's leading killers, such as heart diseases, cancer, and aging itself, will become distant memory. In discussion of technological changes, the Internet gets most of the attention these days. But the change in medicine can be the real technological event of our times. How long can humans live? Human brains were known to decide the final death. Cells are the basic units of all living things, and until recently, scientists were sure that the life of cells could not go much beyond 120 years because the basic materials of cells, such as those of brain cells, would not last forever. But the upper limits will be broken by new medicine. Sometime between 2050 and 2100, medicine will have advanced to the point at which every 10 years or so, people will be able to take medicine to repair their organs . The medicine, made up of the basic building materials of life, will build new brain cells, heart cells, and so on---in much the same way our bodies make new skin cells to take the place of old ones. It is exciting to imagine that the advance in technology may be changing the most basic conditional human existence, but many technical problems still must be cleared up on the way to this wonderful future. Humans may live longer in the future because _ . A. heart disease will be far away from us B. human brains can decide the final death C. the basic materials of cells will last forever D. human organs can be repaired by new medicine Answer: D. human organs can be repaired by new medicine One Tuesday evening in the beginning of the fall 1996 semester at Shippensburg University, sirens sounded. These sirens were not in celebration; they were a cry to the university that something was wrong. A house, only one block away, was on fire. Nine of the university's students lived there. From the minute the word got out that help was needed, it seemed like everyone showed up. The victims of the fire were offered endless invitations for housing for the night. The very next day, everyone to do their part in helping them. Flyers were posted with items that were immediately needed, just to get these students through this next couple of days. Boxes for donations and money jars were placed in every residence hall . As a residence director,I went before the students in my hall to ask them to do what they could. I knew that college students don't have much, but I asked them to do their best: "Every little bit will help." I really didn't think they could do much. I was proved wrong. At the hall council meeting the night after the fire, my residents decided to have a wing competition, where each wing of the building would team up to see who could bring In the most donations. I announced that the wing who won would receive a free pizza party. Thursday evening we announced over the PA system that we were beginning the wing competition. Within minutes, the place exploded. The single large box that I had placed in the lobby was over-flowing. We quickly grabbed more boxes, and we watched in amazement as they, too, filled to the brim. Members of the resident assistant staff and I began to count the items. I was astonished by what I saw, and I was inspired by these kids. When we came to the final tally , the winners turned to me and announced that they would like to donate their winnings as well. They wanted the victims of the fire to have their pizza party. Tears welled up in my eyes. I had watched these students jump to action, work tirelessly and donate all that they could. And then, as if that were not enough, they handed over their reward's was touched and so very proud of them. How did the residence director feel when he saw the brimful boxes? A. Terrible. B. Funny. C. Surprised. D. Serious Answer: C. Surprised. If you travel in the city of Kunming, you can't miss the Kingdom of Little People. It opened in the summer of 2009 in the mountains in Kunming. There are tiny animals, little beautiful cottages and small furniture in the park. The big attraction of the park is the performances by little people. Many little people work in the park. Twice a day, they perform for visitors. They sing, dance and give a magic show. People who want to work in the park should be between eighteen and forty years old from any part of the country. And they should be under 130 cm in height. The creator of the park is a rich businessman. He wants the park to be like a fairyland. And he wants to do something good for _ in China. This theme park has brought together people of unusual stature . They enjoy being part of the community and impressing tourists with (......) their courage and skills. Are you interested in this fairyland? How about having a visit in the Kingdom of Little People? Who may get a job in the Kingdom of Little People? A. A 17-year-old boy with a height of 135 cm. B. A 19-year-old boy with a height of 125 cm. C. A 40-year-old man with a height of 135 cm. D. A 41-year-old man with a height of 129 cm. Answer: B. A 19-year-old boy with a height of 125 cm. People have strange ideas about food. For example, the tomato is a kind of very delicious vegetable. It is one of useful plants that can be prepared in many ways. It has rich nutrition and vitamin in it. But in the 18thcentury, Americans never ate tomatoes. They grew them in their gardens because tomato plants are so pretty. But they thought the vegetable was poisonous . They called tomatoes "poison apples." President Thomas Jefferson, however, knew that tomatoes were good to eat. He was a learned man. He had been to Paris, where he learned to love the taste of tomatoes. He grew many kinds of tomatoes in his garden. The President taught his cook a way for a cream of tomato soup. This beautiful pink soup was served at the President's party. The guests thought the soup tasted really good. They never thought their president would serve his honored guests poison apples. Jefferson never spoke to his honored guests about the fact. From the passage we know all the honored guests invited by Jefferson were _ . A. people from other countries B. from France C. men only D. people of his own country Answer: D. people of his own country Captain James Cook was a great explorer. Before he started exploring, maps of the Pacific Ocean were almost empty. He visited hundreds of islands across the Pacific Ocean and put them in the correct places on the map. He made maps of the coastlines of Australia and New Zealand. James Cook was born in England in 1728. His parents were poor farm workers. When James was 18, he found a job on a coastal ship. He worked on the ship until he was 27 years old, and then he joined the navy. He fought in Canada in a war against France, and he mapped some of the eastern coasts of Canada. In 1768, King George made him Captain of a ship and sent him to the Pacific. He was gone for nearly three years. When he returned, he was regarded as a national hero. He started his third journey in 1776. On this trip he visited Hawaii. He was the first European to set foot on this beautiful island. Then he mapped the western coast of North America. After that he returned to Hawaii. Unluckily, there was some trouble between the Hawaiians and the white men and they started fighting. In the end, Captain was killed in a fight against the local. He started exploring when _ . A. he worked on a coastal ship B. he was 18 years old C. he was sent to the Pacific D. he served in the navy Answer: D. he served in the navy
There are seabirds as well as land-birds. The most ordinary seabird is the seagull. It has a white body, a white head and a yellow beak. There is a very, very spot of red at the very end of the beak, underneath. All gulls have very strong wings so that they can fly far out to sea. If a gull flies out too far, so that it is too tired to fly back to the shore , it does not get frightened, for it can sit and rest upon the waves . A seagull's wings do not get wet because all its feathers have a kind of oil over them, so that when the water gets on to the feathers, it just runs off again. Gulls can even sleep upon the waves. Sailors know a lot about seagulls and they never kill them. When the gulls fly a long way out to sea, sailors say that it means fine weather is coming. When the gulls stay near the shore, sailors say they there will be much wind and rain, and perhaps a storm, for the gulls know more about the weather than sailors do. The seagull is a kind of _ . A fish B land-bird C seabird D animal Answer: C. seabird A person wants a room that is artificially brightened to go back to darkness, so they A pull a cart B dump a can C flick a window D adjust a switch Answer: D. adjust a switch The wolves are very hungry. They go out to look for food. There are many sheep ( ) near the hill( ). There are also a few sheepdogs with them. The wolves think of an idea. They speak to the sheepdogs," You are like us and we are brothers. But we have a very different life. We do what we like, and you must work for man. They make you look after their sheep. They eat meat and give you the bones . If you listen to us and give us the sheep, we can eat them together. All of us will be happy,right?"The dogs are happy and do like this. The wolves ask the dogs to go to their house. The sheepdogs go to the wolves' home. But the wolves eat them and then eat the sheep. What do you think of the wolves? A Shy. B Lazy. C Kind. D Sly . Answer: D. Sly . It would be pleasant to believe that all young girls in the past got married for romantic reasons; but the fact is that many of them regarded marriage as their only chance to gain independence from their parents, to have a provider, or to be assured of a good place in society. A couple of generations ago, an old maid of twenty-five did not have much to look forward to, she was more or less fated to remain with her parents or to live in some relative's home where she would help with the chores and the children. Not so any more. In the first place, women remain young much longer than they used to, and an unmarried woman of twenty-eight or thirty does not feel that her life is over. Besides, since she is probably working and supporting herself, she is free to marry only when and if she chooses. As a result, today's women tend to marry later in life. They have fewer children-or none at all--if they prefer to devote themselves to their profession. The result is a decline in the birthrate. The new role that women have developed for themselves has changed family life. Children are raised differently; they spend more time with adults who are not their parents: baby sitters, day-care center personnel, relatives, or neighbors. Whether they gain or lose in the process is a hotly debated question. Some child experts believe that young children must spend all their time with their mother if they are to grow sound in body and mind. Others think that children get more from a mother who spends with them "quality time" (a time of fun and relaxation set aside for them) rather than hours of forced and unhappy baby sitting. And many child psychologists point out that children kept in day-care centers every day are brighter than those raised at home. No matter what it is, one thing about child-raising to be certain of is that the longer the child is with the mother, the better. The change in women's attitude towards marriage results in all of the following EXCEPT _ . A more and more women quit (leave) jobs to take care of their children at home B women today tend to marry later than they did C women have less time to raise children D more and more families remain childless Answer: A. more and more women quit (leave) jobs to take care of their children at home Long naps increase the bodies A shoe size B physical state C tan lines D hair color Answer: B. physical state
Don't drive your kids to school. Let them ride a bike to school. In England 8.3 million children travel to school every day. It is reported that only a small number of pupils cycle to school (under 2%), although one in three children would actually like to. Experts say that to stay healthy, children need at least one hour of moderate exercise every day. But only six out of ten boys and four out of ten girls get that. One of the reasons is that parents have developed a habit of driving their children to school when they could just walk or ride a bike to school. Teachers often say that children who walk or ride a bike to school are more ready to listen to their classes, ask and answer questions in class than those driven by car, and the school journey is a good chance for children to learn about road safety and other life skills. Also, for many children, riding a bike is more fun than going to school by car. Most parents know the benefits . Then what's stopping them from letting their kids ride a bike? Safety is the number one worry for them. But actually riding a bike is not as dangerous as parents think it is. When you decide to buy a bike, you should be aware that a bike that is too big or too small is dangerous. Don't try to get a bike that your child will "grow into". Get the right size in good working order. Generally, 20-inch wheels are on bikes for 5-8 year olds; 24-inch wheels are for 9-11 year olds; 26-inch wheels are suitable for those over 11, and some older children should even take bikes with 28-inch wheels, but the main thing is that the bike fits your child. Which of the following benefits of cycling to school is NOT mentioned in the passage? Answer: It will make children feel freer A mole can avoid being detected by hawks, owls and other predators by Answer: traveling beneath soil My daughter Eyen is ten years old. She is in Grade Three in a primary school. She is a cute girl though she has some interesting ideas sometimes. One day she asks me, "Mum, what is your favourite subject?" I think for a while and answer, "It is difficult to tell. I love singing, so music is my favorite. And I am good at English. My history teacher also says I am excellent. Well, I can say I don't like science. But science is important for us, you know. So you must do well in it. What is your favourite subject, Eyen? Tell me something about your subjects, dear." "I like Chinese. It is easy. I like English because my English teacher likes me very much. I can't stand Maths. It is serious and sad." "Do you mean your Maths teacher is serious and sad?" "No, it is Maths, not the Maths teacher." "Why do you think so?" "Because Maths has so many problems ! Isn't it sad all day?" The mother doesn't like _ though it is important. Answer: science Growing up, I knew I was different. My father had left and he never came back. As I later discovered, the abandonment triggered my anxiety attacks. I feared being alone, unwanted, unpopular, and unloved. My first attack came in a ninth-grade class: The teacher asked me to walk in front of the class, but I couldn't do it- I was soaked in sweat, shaking. My symptoms began every morning from the moment when I stepped inside the school building. Throughout my childhood, I was no stranger to the doctor's office. My mother tried everything she could in hope of a breakthrough. There were times I thought suicide could be the only way to make the pain stop. By age 16, I had shut down socially. Most of my peers were going to parties, playing sports, and dating. But I was a prisoner in my own home. Then one Sunday morning, my wake-up call came from a magazine article. Freddie Prinze, Jr. was on the cover. The article detailed the pain of losing his father at a young age. I felt as though I were reading my own life story. The only difference? He was now a success. That article inspired me to explore a new treatment option for myself. I wanted to turn my life around as well. So I hit the library and the Internet, and I began to realize how my negative thoughts controlled my physical well-being. Immediately, I made a plan to take charge of my life. Shortly after following the items I had listed, I was able to stop seeing a therapist. I never returned to high school, but I did go to college. After graduation, I pursued a career in television news. My relationships have changed for the better, too. I've made new friends and reconnected with many from my past The anxiety isn't completely gone, but whenever it returns, I know the feeling will pass, and know I have the power to change my life, only if I will give myself a chance. The writer wrote this story to tell us _ . Answer: we can change our lives if we give ourselves a chance Imagine that you are sitting in a park and suddenly remember that you need to send an urgent email. You have your laptop computer with you and you connect it to a wireless access point and access the Internet. Then you send your email. This wouldn't have been possible if there were no wireless Internet for laptops. Wireless Internet has come into our life in so many ways that we don't even realize what a necessary part it has become of our day-to-day lives. How do we connect to a wireless Internet service for laptop computers? There are two ways to do this. They are Wi-Fi connection and Bluetooth connection. Wireless networking is very easy. You just switch on the Wi-Fi button that has been provided in the laptop for Wi-Fi scanning. Once that is done, the computer will connect to the Internet. An interesting fact about Wi-Fi networking is that you can create a network between similar wireless equipment. Consider a situation where you and your friend both have Wi-Fi laptops, and there is some data you want to exchange. Traditional networking architecture demands that you have a wireless router . But the beauty of Wi-Fi networking technology is that you can set up a network between you and your friend's laptop, and share all the data you want. Broadband Internet connection is typically preferred by any user as it provides better speed for Internet surfing. Up until the invention of 3G mobile phones, Internet speed on mobile phones was very slow. 3G has the promise of changing the entire face of broadband technology. Just imagine browsing at speeds of more that 2MB per second. To give you a measure of the speed, 3G enables you to watch high quality live videos on the Internet. It is amazing to see how technology changes and the rate at which it changes. There may come a time when you may be able to browse using mobile wireless Internet for laptops anywhere in the world. One main advantage of 3G mobile phones mentioned in the passage is _ . Answer: their high Internet speed
Experts do not really know when people began keeping fish as pets. But they say that people have been interested in fish for thousands of years. Some say the ancient Sumerians were the first civilization to keep fish in ponds more than four thousand years ago. The Chinese kept and studied carp and goldfish more than one thousand years ago. The ancient Romans kept eels as pets. And the Greek philosopher Aristotle made what is believed to be the first known study of sea life, including sharks and dolphins. Keeping fish at home in small water tanks called _ is extremely popular today. And everyone seems to enjoy visiting huge public aquariums that have opened around the world. By the middle of the eighteen hundreds, science had shown that plants, fish and other sea creatures could survive together under water. So it was no longer necessary to change the water in a tank for the fish to live there. This led to the building of the first public aquariums. The first aquariums opened in London, England in 1853. in the next fifteen years, other aquariums opened in Europe and the United States. By 1928, there were about forty-five public aquariums. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been recognized as the first aquarium in the United States and it shows visitors the underwater life in the bay. The Georgia Aquarium opening in 2005 says it is the largest in the world. It has more than one hundred thousand sea animals in thirty million liters of water including two whale sharks---the world's largest fish. Another aquarium re-opened in 2005 in Camden, New Jersey. The Adventure Aquarium first opened in 1992. It spent about fifty million dollars expanding its building and improving its exhibits. Aquariums provide the public with many chances to experience life under the sea. They can be found in most areas of the world. People might even want to start an aquarium at home and join the millions of people around the world who keep fish as pets. The passage is written mainly _ . A. to tell people the importance of keeping fish as pets B. to explain why people want to visit aquariums C. to let people know the development of the aquariums D. to describe different aquariums Answer: C I sometimes feel left out with my friends at the party.What can I do? --Susan Alice: Speak to your best friend before you arrive and ask her to make sure you don't get left out of the group.That way, she'll know to include you in all the fun.Make the effort to speak to some other people at the party.You might even make a new friend or two. Sometimes I think parties get boring and I want to go home! --Jenny Alice: Even a great party will drag if you're not enjoying yourself.Making the effort to dance and have a chat with your friends will beat the boredom! You don't have to stay to the very end of the party. Our school is having a Christmas dance party but I'm really shy.Shall I go or not? --Emma Alice: Part of you would like to go to the party, so give it a try.Let good friends know how you feel and make sure you'll have people to dance with when the evening comes.Practice some fun dances so you'll feel comfortable on the dance floor. Whenever I go to a party, my dad comes to pick me up at 8 pm.I always have to leave earlier than the rest of my friends and I get really angry with my dad. --Anny Alice: Talk with your dad and let him know how you feel.It feels hard to have different rules from your friends but don't worry too much--your friends are probably picked up soon after you anyway. Where can you probably find the text? A. In a notice B. In a guidebook. C. In a famous novel. D. In a popular magazine. Answer: D Skin--diving ( ) is a new sport today . This sport can take you to a wonderful world . It's like to visit the moon . When you're under the water, it's easy for you to climb big rocks ( ) because you're not heavy. Here, under the water , everything is blue and green . During the day , there's enough light . And you can see a lot of fish swimming around you. You can catch them with your hands. To catch fish is of the most interesting parts of this sport . When you have tanks ( ) of air on your back , you can stay in deep water for a long time . But you must be careful when you dive in deep water . With a tank of air on your back, you can _ . A. not move any more B. stay under water for a long time C. catch fish very easily D. can only stay in deep water Answer: B The brown tree snake is a nonnative species found on the South Pacific island of Guam. The brown tree snake population in Guam is so large that it negatively affects the humans there. Which statement best explains why the brown tree snake has flourished in Guam? A. There are many animals for food. B. There are no natural snake predators. C. The climate is ideal for snake reproduction. D. The vegetation provides good habitat for hunting. Answer: B Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title , says she has became a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Gaines. Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: "Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism " "In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me." She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure inprefix = st1 /Athens. "Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really eared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me." Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks afterAthens. "In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records. However, RadcIiffe has not ruled out m the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times. "I don't think that -- although _ ," said. RadcLiffe. "That changes from person to person." Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in theUnited States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2O02 and again 12 months later. Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kdnmetre race three years ago. Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later In Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 m the 2003Londonevent. According to the text, Redcliffc bas won _ Londonmarathon title(s). A. four B. three C. two D. one [C] Answer: C
Question: Six Americans are working on a new highway. But this highway won't have any traffic.It's an "ice highway" to the South Pole. The team has just finished a second year of work on the 1,020-mile highway. "The road is the greatest single footprint of activity we've seen in the Antarctic ," said Alan Hemmings, an Australian environmentalist. The highway will provide a new way for supplies to be trekked (, ) across the earth on tractor-pulled sleds . This method will use a lot less fuel than an aircraft, the current way that scientists and supplies reach the Amundsen-Scott Base, a U.S. research station in the South Pole. The highway will also allow for equipment that is too big for planes to carry to be brought to Antarctica.Even with these benefits, there is one disadvantage--a round trip on the road will be 30 days, compared to a few hours by plane. Making this 20-foot-wide road isn't easy, and it takes a lot of time. The crew has been working on the road for two summers, when it's warmer and easier to work with the ice. It probably won't be completed until 2006. Crevasses , or cracks, in the land often make the construction difficult. Crevasses are kind of like pot holes that form when surface ice is stretched.This can be very dangerous, especially when the crevasses are hidden under a layer of snow and can't be seen. "Last year it took us three months to go three miles across a crevasse field, full of dangerous, hidden crevasses," said the project's manager, John Wright. Each year, more crevasses appear and they have to be filled with snow and ice so the road is safe for travel. The road will also be lined with green flags so travelers know where the safe surface is. When it is finished, the highway will not be used for _ . A. giving supplies to the research station in the South Pole B. taking scientists to the South Pole C. taking travelers to a tour of Antarctic D. bringing huge equipment to Antarctic Answer: C Question: The Best Shopping In Sydney Sydney is one of the world's biggest cities and has something for everyone when it comes to shopping. You will find excellent Australian products alongside the best that the world has to offer. At the bottom of Sydney Tower, you can shop in 160 of Sydney's favorite stores including 16 jewelry stores and many gift and fashion shops. It's all at Westfield Centerpoint. Tel: 9231-9300 SOVEREIGN HILL This prize-winning living museum is where Australia's history comes alive! Visit daily or stay for the night and experience life of the Fold Rush days. A wonderful nightly sound and light show, Blood on the Southern Cross, tells the story of the famous Eureka Uprising. Enjoy shopping along with real life character and entertainment. 4-star hotel and breakfast. Tel: 5331-1944 ANCHORAGE RESTAURANT Come and enjoy our delicious Cantonese seafood right on the water's edge in the historic fishing port of Williamstown with views of the city center across Port Phillip Bay. Open 7 days a week. Lunch: Sunday to Friday11:00am--2:00pm Dinner: Monday to Saturday 5:00am--10:30pm Tel: 9397-6270 or 9397-7799 COOK'S COTTAGE Built by James and Grace Cook, parents of Captain James Cook, Cook's Cottage stands proud in the Fitzroy Gradens as a reminder of life in the eighteenth century, and as a celebration and commemoration of the life and travels of Captain James Cook. Open 9:00am--5:00pm daily, and until 5:30 pm during the summer. Information: 9419-4677 If you want to buy the best products in Australia, you may call _ . A. 9397-6270 B. 9231-9300 C. 5331-1944 D. 94194677 Answer: B Question: As we all know, children are our future, and it's up to us to arm them with the tools to succeed. Sadly, today's children are sometimes being armed with more dangerous tools like weapons, drugs and gangs in the USA. Once a relatively peaceful environment, many schoolyards of today are becoming unsafe for both students and teachers. Home schools are available to give you choices. Home schooling provides top-quality education, flexibility and freedom to create your own schedule. At Sunny Home School we believe the choice should be yours. Thanks to modern technology, home schooling information is becoming readily available across the nation. A recent study by the ITBS (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills) and TAP (Tests of Achievement and Proficiency) shows us that students of home schools do particularly well when compared with the nationwide average. In every subject at every grade level, students of home schooling scored obviously higher than those in public and private schools. If you're new to home schooling, you may be asking yourself, "Will home schools really work for my children?" Fact: A nationwide study using a random selection of 1,516 families found students of home schooling to be scoring, on average, at or above the 80thpercentile (80) in all areas, on standardized achievement test. (Note: The national average on standardized achievement test is the 50thpercentile.) Collectively, the staff at Sunny Home School brings 65 years of experience in home schooling curriculum. We've placed students in the top 2% of the nation in math and many are successfully moving on to college. One study found that of the home schooled students, 94% said home education prepared them to be independent persons. For more home schooling information, call us today toll free at (1800)542-8668. In which section of the newspaper can we the passage? A. Finance B. Science C. Advertisement D. Sport Answer: C Question: It's what people who don't know each other talk about on elevators. And not about the weather at all. Chatting about the weather with strangers is about emotional comfort (,). When someone says "Beautiful day today, isn't it?" as you settle into that narrow elevator space, or at the bus stop, or waiting in line at the supermarket, the conversation is about feelings. The person is speaking to feel more comfortable with you and offering you a chance to feel more comfortable with him or her. Being in close proximity with strangers creates interpersonal tension. We can't help it. Tension automatically seeks resolution. What will you do? Do you notice the person now only a short distance away, or pretend not to notice? Avoidance is one strategy: never make eye contact and act as if nobody is there, even when your feelings tell you. In a supermarket checkout line you might leaf through a magazine. On elevators, we often avoid others by looking up at the floor numbers. The other strategy is to break the tension by noticing the other person. It starts with eye contact. Then we have a choice: smile, nod, make a remark or strike up a conversation. If we choose to talk, the most non-controversial subject to talk about is the weather. A remark about the weather evokes agreement and feelings of sympathy. "What a nice day!" shares a tiny sliver of happiness. "I wonder if this rain will ever end." shares the bad feelings with each other. Both ends of the mini-conversation feel a tiny bit more connected by experiencing this emotion of liking or disliking the weather at the same moment. When we chat about the weather with a stranger, we actually intend to _ . A. draw his or her attention to us B. feel comfortable with each other C. remind him or her of the changeable weather D. know more about him or her Answer: B Question: Virginia is set to begin enforcing the toughest drunken-driving punishment, one that will require thousands of first-time offenders--whether they were highly drunk or slightly over the limit - to install in their cars blood-alcohol testing devices that can lock the ignition. The devices work like this-A driver must blow into a blood alcohol device linked to the car's ignition. If the result is higher than the legal limit, the car will not start. The device also requires random "rolling retests" once the driver is on the road. Virginia's current law requires only repeat drunken-driving offenders or those with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher to have an ignition interlock device in their car. The new law, which takes effect in July, will roughly increase the number of people required to use ignition interlock devices four times, and offenders will have to pay about $ 480 for a typical six-month installation. The measure has caused a debate between groups battling drunken driving and those representing offenders. Such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Washington Regional Alcohol Program say that Virginia's 274 alcohol-related road deaths and more than 5,500 injuries in 2010 remained unacceptably high despite years of cracking down on drunken driving. Ignition interlock devices, they say, reduce repeat offenses. But some public defenders and lawyers argue that the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders at the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08, and that the court system will be burdened by more cases going to trial and lower-income drivers will be affected by the fees. Del. Sal R. laquinto, who sponsored the bill, had a simple reply for concerns about the costs of the interlock devices: "How much does a life cost?" "Blowing into a tube for six months, you will remember that, " Iaquinto said, " and you are not likely to offend again. " Who are required to install the blood-alcohol devices according to the current law? A. The repeat drunken-driving offenders. B. The first time drunken-driving offenders. C. Drivers whose blood alcohol level is below 0.15. D. The drivers who are not able to pay offence fees. Answer: A
In American schools there is something called Homecoming Day.Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year, except for graduation.Students plan it for many weeks in advance. Several days before Homecoming,students begin to decorate the school.There are signs to wish luck to the team and many other signs to welcome back the graduates from other years.Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after they graduate. The members of school clubs sell delicious foods and fruits,such as apples and sandwiches.Some clubs even help to welcome visitors. During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago.Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school. Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over,the band comes onto the field and plays school songs.Another important moment is when the Homecoming Queen appears.All the students vote a most popular student Homecoming Queen or King.It is a great honor to be chosen as the Homecoming Queen or King. Homecoming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football wins the game.Even if the team loses,the students still enjoy Homecoming.Some stay at the school to dance,and others go to a party.For everyone it is a day to remember for a long,long time. Students start to plan Homecoming Answer: many weeks before the day Freund, a U.S. west-coast manufacturer, gave Wrench, a hardware retailer who was relocating to the east coast, the following "letter of introduction" to Tuff, an east-coast hardware wholesaler. hardware wholesaler. This will introduce you to my good friend and former customer, Wrench, who will be seeking to arrange the purchase of hardware inventory from you on credit. If you will let him have the goods, I will make good any loss up to $25,000 in the event of his default. /Signed/ Freund Wrench presented the letter to Tuff, who then sold and delivered $20,000 worth of hardware to Wrench on credit. Tuff promptly notified Freund of this sale. Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement concerning the arrangement between Freund and Tuff? Answer: Freund's promise is enforceable by Tuff whether or not Tuff gave Freund seasonable notice of the extension of credit to Wrench. We all need to exercise.Doctors say it is good for us.It makes our heart and body strong.It also gives you more energy .And you will feel better about yourself.It's good to exercise twice a week.Twenty minutes each time is enough. There are many ways to exercise.You can walk,run,play sports or swim.Many people go to special places to exercise.They are called "fitness centers ".These places have a lot of equipments .People can do different sports there.Some people buy equipments for their homes.But it is very expensive. Exercising can be fun.Friends can exercise together at a fitness center,or they can play sports together.How do you exercise? How often do you exercise? It's good to exercise _ . Answer: twice a week The moon is always illustrated in movies and drawings as being very rough and bumpy due to craters, but there are many areas that are Answer: smooth Everyone needs friends. Friends bring us happiness and hope in our lives. But the ability to make friends changes from person to person. To some people, making friends is easy, and to others it's very difficult. Making friends is a skill, and the first thing is to know how to get along with others. If you have trouble in making friends, maybe I can tell you how to do it. Realize your own good points. You have skills and talents that others will like. Believe that you are a good person and have something nice to share with others. Be humorous. Learn to laugh at yourself and your weakness. Remember to smile to others. Respect others. Everyone has his own idea. Learn how to listen to others' ideas without trying to make them accept yours. Be kind. If you are kind to others, they will usually be kind to you. There are hundreds of little things you can do to show kindness. Open the door for someone. Wave to a friend and so on. Don't complain. Learn to accept what you can't change, and work hard to change what you can. No one is willing to hear your complaining all the time. Never give up. Even if you are faced with some closed-minded people, never give up. And try to find someone who will understand you. Which of the following shows a sense of humour? Answer: Laughing at ourselves and our weakness.
Beach volleyball is one of those sports that can be an exciting game to play and watch, or, can just be about some friends getting together to have a great time. It's really easy, and all you need is sand, a net and a group of people, of any age or fitness level, who want to have fun. Beach volleyball can be played with as few as two people on each team, making a total of four people. However, if you are less skilled and experienced in the game, it will be easier to play with a larger team. The more players you have, the less ground each person will be responsible for covering and the more time they will have to recover in between shots. If you only have a few players, each of you will get quite a workout running for the ball after each volley. If you are looking for that relaxing, fun, low-key experience, choose larger teams. Beach volleyball is similar to regular volleyball in its rules. However, even experienced volleyball players do not realize how much more difficult it is to run and jump on sand. Since it is harder to move quickly on sand than a hard ground, play will be much slower than regular volleyball on a playground. When a player trains for beach volleyball, he will focus on building lower body strength as well as upper body. While he needs to be able to hit the ball with a great deal of power and accuracy , strengthening his legs is extremely important. Whether you are in it for the competition, or just to have a great time with your friends, beach volleyball can be very exciting and fun. You may even start out with friends and fall in love with the sport. What does the writer think of beach volleyball? It is a very exciting and interesting sport. Do you like playing football? If you do, you may want to join the school football team. Read on and see how to join the school football team. The first step is to know the information about the team. You can ask these questions. Then you can find more information. How many students are there in the football team? How many new players do they need? How often do they play football? The second step is to practice. Practice football with your friends or your family. Only good players can join the school football team. So you need to practice your skill. The third step is to study hard. If you don't do well in your study, your teachers and parents won't let you join the football team. The last step is to _ . Have a good rest and you can be the best player. Which step is about studying hard? The third step. Architects say they will soon be able to print a whole house by simply using a 3D printer. The technology is still ly new, but it's already being used in the medical world and in industry to bring down the cost of precision parts. Now designers in the Netherlands are planning to create a complete building. If it all goes to plan, you will see the first house to be made from 3D printing before long. It's been named the Landscape House. Following its success across different industries, Dutch architect Ruijssenaars believes printing technology has come far enough to create the first full size building. He said, "With 3D printing, you can actually directly print the shape that you want without first having to make the mould. It is not only an interesting technique, because you have actually density of printing that you can later see in the product, but it's also economically (better) because you save time and energy." To create his design with traditional construction methods, builders would have to pour concrete into specially constructed moulds and these would have to be removed once the concrete had set. The house will occupy about 1.115 square meters and if it stays within the projected budget, it is predicted to cost between 5 and 6 million US dollars. The house will occupy about will employ is the creation of Enrico Dini. He said, "My personal approach in 3D printing of building construction is: using 3D printing as our start basis of making free form cages and from then move on with the traditional construction technique." This is Dini's printer. It's big, measuring 5 meters by 3 meters. But his company D-Shape is planning to produce a new giant 3D printer, which can construct the Landscape House. Ground rock, or sand is put into the printer and then hardened by a binding agent .The 3D printer will print pillars that would go up straight. The project is expected to be completed sometime in 2014. The best title for the passage would be _ . 3D printer is to be made in the near future Which example describes a learned behavior in a dog? sitting on command True real friends double your happiness and half your burdens. Basically how you would like a true real friend to be,you should be like this to your true friends. Trust and forgiveness are some ingredients of a true friend. True friendships are hard to come by. And what's more,life is short. So treasure these friends if you have already had them. If you don't continue to search,because once you have them,life becomes so much easier to live,no matter what happens. I have been through pretty rough patches and I dare say,without my friends I would not have made it. Friendships need lots of energy and patience to maintain them. Not to mention time too. When your friend needs you,sometimes when things are not going too well on your side,it is often so easy to turn a deaf ear to their pleas. It is especially during these times,that you must find the strength in you to help your friend. And it is during these times that your friendship will be forged and made stronger. And you must always be happy for their successes,even when things are not going too well on your side. It might be hard to do for some people but it is something that you need to learn. Think about all the sacrifices your friend has made for you and all the times when he or she was happy for you despite his or her own troubles. Remember,true _ friends _ are _ the _ next _ best _ thing _ to _ family. They will always be your pillar of support no matter what happens. Always. Which of the following belongs to a true friend's behavior? Your friend is very happy for your getting a first prize in a match though he failed in it.
People usually have to cany passports to travel from one country to another. But should animals? Groups around the word are working to create parks that cross country borders. They hope that the parks will help die environment and bring peace and cooperation to neighboring countries. "People draw lines on a map and call them countries," said Steve Thompson of the National Parks Conservation Association. "But animals don' t understand international borders. " When animals are kept in small areas,they can spread diseases more easily. They can also hurt the environment by eating too many plants and other animals. Allowing animals to cross borders would help improve these conditions,experts say. But that's just one reason why people to create international parks. People have named the parks "peace parks" because these people believe the parks can help countries learn to work together. The parks create a link between communities and a common desire to learn more about one another. According to Steve Thompson, the parks can "help nations resolve international conflict or even war. " Today there are dozens of peace parks on five continents, The parks play an important role in southern Africa. The Kgalagadi Trausfrontier Park is in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa and Botswana. The countries work together to manage the land and the animals that live there. Other countries ,such as Zimbabwe and Lesotho, are also forming parks. The parks will let animals wander over larger parts of southern Africa, much as they did centuries ago, and it really helps expand elephant and lion populations, which are now damaged by, confinement in smaller parks. The parks can also help countries attracting tourists and creating jobs. But many issues still remain, such as illegal killing of animals, pollution, and population pressure on the land. Peace parks play many important roles except that A they can make the neighbor countries get on well with each other B they can help to improve the environment C they attract tourists and create jobs for the countries D they can increase the output of the crops Answer: D. they can increase the output of the crops Maurice Sendak's children's book, Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year. The book's main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper. Before long, Max's room magically becomes a forest, and he sails away to a land where monsters(,) live. Max isn't scared, though, and becomes king of the wild things, but after a while, he begins feeling homesick. Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom. Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis, an education professor, said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. "This allows children to shape the story themselves," she said. The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children, but experts say those words help improve children's reading skills and challenge them. Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. "The book talks about what all children go through, like 'I was naughty but my mommy still loves me'," Davis said. The book also encourages children to face their fears. "I think it's really good to show that Max makes friends with the monsters," Davis said. "Kids can find out monsters aren't always the thing under the bed that's going to scare them. I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience." Since the book has been successful throughout the years, a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it. Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children. "You don't want bad dreams over a book that's extremely wonderful," Davis said. What's the author's purpose in writing the passage? A To advise parents to help children to improve their reading skills. B To comment on a famous children's book. C To encourage children to face their fear and become more imaginative. D To introduce a movie based on a children's book. Answer: B. To comment on a famous children's book. BEIJING -- China's efforts to develop an aircraft carrier program will not change the defensive nature of its defense policy, said a signed commentary published in Friday's PLA Daily newspaper, the voice of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). After China officially confirmed that it is planning an aircraft carrier program by announcing a refitting project of an imported aircraft carrier for the purposes of scientific research and training, some voices overseas expressed concern that China's possession of an aircraft carrier could upset the regional and global strategic balance. At present, China is only making use of an old aircraft carrier platform for scientific research, experiments and training, and it still will take a long time before the country actually has an operational carrier, said the commentary signed by Peng Guangqian. Even when China has a carrier, it will stick to the defensive nature of its defense policy, the commentary said, adding that China has plenty of reasons and legitimacy to have an aircraft carrier. China is currently the only country without an operational aircraft carrier among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Other countries, including Spain, Italy, India, Brazil and Thailand also have carriers. This situation does not _ China's international status, the commentary said. Another article said a carrier will help promote Chinese citizens' awareness of maritime affairs, increase the capability to safeguard the country's maritime interests as well as the capability to participate in international maritime joint operations, such as salvage, counterterrorism and piracy crackdowns, it said. We know from the passage that _ . A neither India nor Thailand has an aircraft carrier. B it will not be long before China actually has an operational carrier C the aircraft carrier will only be used to safeguard China's maritime interests D Now China is only using an old aircraft carrier platform for scientific research, experiments and training Answer: D. Now China is only using an old aircraft carrier platform for scientific research, experiments and training Anna was excited about starting her first day in the new school. However, when she first walked past the students in the school, her excitement turned to fear, and then to loneliness over the next few days. "Why didn't anyone say 'hi' to me or invite me to his or her lunch table? Is it because of my clothes or my hair?" she wondered. Almost every day during the first week, Anna stayed alone, thinking that there must have been something wrong with her or that nobody saw her at all! What caused Anna's problem? The reason was that nobody knew her. Most people don't like talking with strangers . So it's your job to volunteer to make contact with people who you want to know. The easiest way to catch their attention is to notice them first. Make eye contact with them and smile at them. When you smile at them, you are doing your best to show your kindness to them, and they are sure to understand that you are saying, "Hey, how's everything going?" In this way, you are taking the first step towards the road to friendship. When Anna realized this, she started talking to her classmates. Guess what happened? It really worked. She had made two friends by the end of the month. In fact, saying "hi" or making friends with strangers is not hard. And the joy it brings you is really great. So try to open your heart to strangers! According to the writer, what is the easiest way to catch others' attention? A Noticing them first B Talking to them C Doing something for them. D Making yourself cool. Answer: A. Noticing them first There are various ways in which individual economic units can interact with one another. Three basic ways may be described as the market system, the administered system, and the traditional system. In a market system individual economic units are free to interact among each other in the marketplace. It is possible to buy commodities from other economic units or sell commodities to them. In a market, transactions may take place via barter or money exchange. In a barter economy, _ goods such as automobiles, shoes, and pizzas are traded against each other. Obviously, finding somebody who wants to trade my old car in exchange for a sailboat may not always be an easy task. Hence, the introduction of money as a medium of exchange eases transactions considerably. In the modern market economy, goods and services are bought or sold for money. An alternative to the market system is administrative control by some agency over all transactions. This agency will issue commands as to how much of each good and service should be produced, exchanged, and consumed by each economic unit. Central planning may be one way of administering such an economy. The central plan, drawn up by the government, shows the amounts of each commodity produced by the various firms and allocated to different households for consumption. This is an example of complete planning of production, consumption, and exchange for the whole economy. In a traditional society, production and consumption patterns are governed by tradition; every person's place within the economic system is fixed by parentage, religion, and custom. Transactions take place on the basis of tradition, too. People belonging to a certain group or caste may have an obligation to care for other persons, provide them with food and shelter, care for their health, and provide for their education. Clearly, in a system where every decision is made on the basis of tradition alone, progress may be difficult to achieve. An inactive society may result. According to the passage, a barter economy can generate _ . A rapid speed of transactions B misunderstandings C inflation D difficulties for the traders Answer: D. difficulties for the traders
Pedro Rossi is happy--he is very,very happy! He won $500,000! He won the lottery ! Pedro is happy for only a few days. Then he remembers his lottery ticket! He throws it in the garbage _ ! Pedro runs to the garbage can and looks in it. The garbage can is not over there at all! "The garbage is gone,"his wife says. "The garbage truck comes in the morning." The garbage truck takes the garbage can to the garbage dump ! Pedro runs to the dump. He looks for it for two days. But he can't find it. Pedro lives in town in Brazil. Pedro tells the people in the town,"Look for my lottery ticket at the dump. If you find it,I can give you half the money." Everyday hundreds of people go to the dump to look for the ticket. Five days later,a man finds it. Pedro gives the man $250,000. Pedro won $500,000 in the lottery. Now he won only 250,000. But he is not sad. "Before,one man was happy,"Pedro says. "Now two men are happy!" Pedro looks for his lottery for _ days. Answer: When a plant is water the liquid goes from the soil area to where it is needed using what system? Answer: English people like to say "Thank you" when others help them or say something kind to them. In fact, people all around the world do so. It's a very good habit. You should say "thank you" when someone passes you the salt on the table or opens the door for you, or say you have done your homework well. "Thank you" is used not only between friends but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. "Excuse me" is another useful short expression. When you hear someone say so behind you, you know he or she wants to walk past you without touching you. It's not polite to interrupt others when they are talking. So if you want to speak to one of them, say "Excuse me" first. You should also do so when you want to make any noises that may trouble others or you have to leave early at a party. Let's all learn to say "Thank you" and "Excuse me". It's really important to get into the good habit. If you want to walk past someone without touching him, you'd better say " _ " first. Answer: Six days before the 63rd birthday of New China, our country received a great gift. The country's first aircraft carrier , Liaoning, has made China become the l0th country in the world to have an aircraft camer. An aircraft carrier is a kind of ship that planes can fly from and land on--like an airport on the sea. It stands for a country's military strength . It plays an important role in modern wars. In August last year, the air craft carrier began its trial run at Dalian Port in Liaoning. The carrier was at first called the Varyag. It was built in the former Soviet Union. However, the Soviets failed to finish the ship. China bought the Varyag in 1998. Now after 10 trial runs, the aircraft carrier, renamed Liaoning, is in active service. Liaoning is about 300 meters long and 70 meters wide. It can take 30 planes and hold 2,000 soldiers. According to Xinhua News, Liaoning will be used for scientific research and military training. The aircraft carrier will help protect our country and promote world peace. The BBC said that Liaoning coming into service " marks China as a rising power". ,. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a use of Liaoning? Answer: Some areas of the world are experiencing more desert-like conditions. This change most favors survival of species with the ability to do which of the following? Answer:
The greatest sales woman in the world today doesn't mind if you call her a girl. That's because Markita Andrews made more than $80,000 by selling cookies when she was 13 years old. Andrews and her mother shared a dream of traveling around the world. Once while reading a magazine ad, Andrews found that the person who sold the most cookies could win a free trip for two around the world. She decided to give it a try. To make her dream come true, Andrews went door to door every day after school and repeated, "Hi, I have a dream. I'm earning a trip around the world for my mom and me by selling cookies. " Then she asked," Would you like to buy one or two dozen boxes of cookies?" Andrews kept asking for a whole year, no matter how heavily it was raining or snowing outside. Her hard work _ She sold 42,000 boxes of cookies that year and she won her trip around the world. Andrews is no smarter than thousands of other people. The key to her success is that she has found the secret of selling: Ask, Ask, Ask! Many people fail before they even begin because they fail to ask for what they want. It takes courage to ask for what you want. And , as Andrews has discovered, the more you ask, the easier ( and more fun) it gets. ,. How old was Andrews when she made more than $80,000? Answer: She was 13 years old then. The Lionfish Invasion! Lionfish are popular saltwater aquarium fish all over the world, especially in the United States. Nowadays, they also live in Atlantic waters off the East Coast of the United States. These lionfish are what scientists call an invasive species or an "alien invader." Local divers off the coast of North Carolina were not expecting to see what they found one day in August 2002--the beautiful lionfish, common to the warm waters of the western Pacific, but unknown of the Carolina coast. They provided the first solid evidence that lionfish were in the Atlantic. A year later, scientists documented 19 lionfish sightings at eight locations along the North Carolina continental shelf. Then, lionfish were observed off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and even as far north as Long Island, New York! Between 2000 and 2003, lionfish sightings were reported at 16 different shipwrecks and natural hard bottom locations. During a summer 2004 research expedition, NOAA(The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) scientists collected 155 lionfish at 19 different locations off the North Carolina coast alone. The jump in numbers and distributions over such a short time strongly indicates that the lionfish is reproducing in the Atlantic Ocean. If this is true, it's the first time that a western Pacific fish has populated the U.S. Atlantic coast. These lionfish were likely released on purpose when people no longer wanted them! The swift and warm Gulf Stream, which transported the floating lionfish eggs from Florida northward, helped the lionfish's Atlantic journey. In Florida waters and along the continental shelf near the Gulf Stream the temperatures are very similar to the lionfish's native waters. However, from north Florida upward, the waters along the coastline are too cold in the winter for lionfish to survive. Scientists expect them to survive the winter only at water depths greater than 120ft because this is where the Gulf Stream has influence all year long. Very importantly, the types of predators and competitors present in the Atlantic are very different from the native range of the lionfish. Generally, the lionfish have not been found to endanger marine ecosystems because they were not likely to survive long. How does the author support the reproducing of lionfish in the Atlantic in Para.3? Answer: By providing figures. Join in the holiday fun at the powerhouse this month linked to our new exhibition,evolution Revolution:Chinese dress 17000s to now.DON'T FORGET our other special event,the Club Med Circus School which is part of the Circus !150years of circus in Australia exhibition experience! Chinese Folk Dancing:Colorful Chinese dance and musical performances by The Chinese Folk Dancing School of Sydney.Dances include:The Golden stick dance and the Chinese drum dance.A feature will be the Qin Dynasty Emperor's court dance.Also included is a show of face painting for Beijing Opera performances. Sunday 29June and Wednesday 2July in the Turbine Hall,at 11:30am 1:30pm. Chinese Youth League:A traditional performing arts group featuring performance highlights such as the Red scarf and Spring flower dances,and a musician playing Er Hu. Sunday 6to Tuesday 8July in the Turbine Hall,11:30am to 1:30pm. Kids Activity:Make a Paper Horse:Young children make a paper horse cut-out.(The horse is a frequent theme in Chinese painting,indicating a kind of advancement.) Suitable for ages8-12years. Saturday 28June to Tuesday 8July in the Turbine Hall,12:00pm to 1:00pm. Club Med Circus School:Learn circus skills,including the trapeze,trampolining and magic.Note only for children over 5.There are 40places available in each 1hour session and these must be booked at the front desk,level 4,on the day. Tuesday 1to Saturday 5July at 11:30am 1:00pm. Enjoy unlimited free visits and many other benefits by becoming a Family member of the Powerhouse. Our family membership cover two adults and all children under the age of 16years at the one address. Members receive Powerline,our monthly magazine,discounts in the shops and the restaurants,as well as free admission to the Museum.All this for as little as$50,000a year!Call (02)9217 0600for more details. When can you watch the Chinese drum dance? Answer: On July 2 My daughter and I collected the empty cans and bottles in our home this morning.We had 6 full garbage bags later so I knew we would be spending a bit more of time at the recycling center.When we got there,a man and his kids were also doing the morning recycling and were using two of the four machines to recycle their plastic and cans.Luckily,we were able to use the 2 remaining machines. Of course,there were others that came,but when they saw the two families with garbage bags full of recycled things,they quickly left.However,one woman came in with just 5 cans and looked as if she was in a hurry.So I stopped what I was doing and let her in to recycle her cans.Of course,she was grateful,and it felt good to let her go ahead of me.But that was not the whole story. My daughter and I continued to work through the bags,but the plastic recycling machine stopped working because it was full.My daughter was left with nothing to do.The other family was still using the other two plastic recycling machines,but it seemed that they were almost done.I just told my daughter we would have to wait until they were done.But the man of the other family came through with another act of kindness.He offered to let us go ahead of him.I was really surprised,because we had more than 5 bottles,but he didn't seem to mind.I happily accepted _ It was great to give and then to get an act of kindness in turn.It was small,I didn't expect it,but it surely brightened up my day. Why did the writer let the woman recycle her cans first? Answer: Because the woman seemed to be in a hurry. The class in America is almost the same as that in China. But something is different. In America, if the teacher asks you a question but you don't understand, you should put up your hand and ask the teacher to repeat it. If you don't know the answer, it is all right to tell the teacher you don't know. Then he or she knows what you need to learn. You mustn't be _ on a test day. If you're badly ill, call and let the teacher know you will not be there for the test. If your teacher allows make-up tests , you should take the test in one or two days after you go back to school. Be on time! It is impolite to be late. If you come late, be sure to do it quietly. Take your books out of your bag after you go into the classroom. Then go to your seat and sit down quietly. In the US, you needn't knock at the door before you come into the classroom. If you have to leave during the class, do it quietly, too. There is no need to ask the teacher's agreement. In America, if you don't know the answer to the question in class, you should _ . Answer: tell your teacher you don't know
Question: Hello, I'm Kate. This is a photo of my aunt's family. The woman in the photo is my aunt, Jane. She is a teacher and she is very kind . These are my cousins Jim and Jack. They are seven and they are twins . Look! That lovely baby is my aunt's little daughter, Rose. She is only one. I love them very much. Jim and Jack are _ . A. eleven B. brother and sister C. twins D. mother and son Answer: C. twins Question: Elderly women who eat foods higher in potassium are less likely to have strokes and die than women who eat less potassium-rich foods, according to new research in the American Heart Association. "Previous studies have shown that potassium consumption may lower blood pressure. But whether potassium intake could prevent stroke or death wasn't clear," said Smoller, professor of the department of population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. Researchers studied 90,137 women, aged from 50 to 79 for an average 11 years. They looked at how much potassium the women consumed, as well as if they had strokes, including ischemic strokes , or died during the study period. Women in the study were stroke-free at the start and their average dietary potassium intake was 2,611 mg/day. Results of this study are based on potassium from food, not supplements. The researchers found: Women who ate the most potassium were 12 percent less likely to suffer stroke in general and 16 percent less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke than women who ate the least. Women who ate the most potassium were 10 percent less likely to die than those who ate the least. Among women who did not have high blood pressure, those who ate the most potassium had a 27 percent lower ischemic stroke risk and 21 perc ent reduced risk for all stroke types, compared to women who ate the least potassium in their daily diets. Among women with high blood pressure, those who ate the most potassium had a lower risk of death, but potassium intake did not lower their stroke risk. "Our findings suggest that women need to eat more p otassium-rich foods. You won't find high potassium in junk food. Some foods rich in potassium include white and sweet potatoes, bananas and white beans." The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that women eat at least 4,700 mg of potassium daily. "Only 2.8 percent of women in our study met or went beyond this level. The World Health Organization's daily potassium recommendation for women is lower, at 3,510 mg or more. Still, only 16.6 percent of women we studied met or went beyond that," said Smoller. While increasing potassium intake is probably a good idea for most elderly women, there are some people who have too much potassium in their blood, which can be dangerous to the heart. "People should check with their doctor about how much potassium they should eat," she said. The study was observational and included only elderly women. Researchers also did not take sodium intake into consideration, so the potential importance of a balance between sodium and potassium is not among the findings. Researchers said more studies are needed to determine whether potassium has the same effects on men and younger people. The author's purpose for writing this passage is to _ . A. present a report on a new research B. show the importance of a good life style C. give information about a chemical element D. encourage elderly women to take potassium Answer: A. present a report on a new research Question: When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter ,and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him. Years later Paul was back in the area, and he went to the smelter office. He asked if they had any plans or if they would let him try to bring the trees back. The answer from that big industry was "No". Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. Unfortunately, his teachers said there weren't any birds or squirrels to spread the seeds. It would be a waste of his life to try to do it. Everyone knew that, he was told. Even if he was knowledgeable as he had expected, he wouldn't get his idea accepted. Paul later got married and had some kids. But his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. As Samuel Johnson wrote, "It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Attainable good is often ignored by minds busied in wide ranges." Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting. And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against _ . Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he was already doing. Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow he made to himself as a child. When Paul was a boy, _ . A. he had decided never to leave his hometown B. the economy of Utah depended wholly on the copper smelter C. no laws were made to protect the environment against pollution D. he had determined to stop the copper smelter polluting the area Answer: C. no laws were made to protect the environment against pollution Question: Whether I'm looking for a good chat with some old Mends or a quiet place to meet a colleague, the pub will be the place I always choose. I could, of course, go to a bar. But a pub, I always find, is far more comfortable and has a more relaxed atmosphere. Many people in the UK also have a favorite pub at the end of the road where they live or nearby to where they work. I can almost always guarantee that I'll bump into someone I know at my "local", as we British call our nearest pub. In fact, many people from the UK say that the pub is a cornerstone of British life. Coming together over a drink, usually of beer, is generally considered the best way to catch up with friends. For those who are a little reserved , as the British sometimes are, it's the best way to open up and get chatting. However, this habit is slowly changing among some British people. According to a survey completed in August by UK trade magazine The Publican, eating, rather than drinking, has become the main source of income for our 52,000 pubs. The gastropub , with its greater emphasis on food, is primarily responsible. All over the country, this more expensive type of pub has been springing up, providing a place for more formal meetings with business partners. Wine is often drunk instead of the traditional beer. But not everyone's happy. Many people hate the fact that some local pubs are closing because new gastropubs are proving more profitable. "Beer sales are sinking and many pubs are struggling to survive," Rob Haward, of the British Beer and Pub Association, told UK newspaper The Daily Mail. For my part, I'm going to do all I can to keep the local British pub alive. It will be the first place I visit when I go back home. . The article is mainly about _ . A. the British pub losing popularity B. the author's love of pubs C. how the British socialize D. the local British pub Answer: D. the local British pub Question: Max was a little dog that loved to ride the train. Every day when the sun came up Max would run down to the stop and wait until the train stopped and jump on. He thought this was the best time of his life. He always wore a blue collar and a red piece of fabric. Except for on the weekends he would wear a green collar. Sometimes when Max would run next to the train, he would get a splash of mud on his fur. His friend, Bob, didn't like it when Max came home dirty. If Max came home with mud on his fur, Bob would make him sleep outside for the night, but if Max came home clean he would sleep in the house. Max didn't mind sleeping outside, because he could hear the train's whistle and he would dream all night about the train. The funny thing about Max was that he didn't like going for a drive with Bob in a car, on a bike or in a boat. The only way you get Max to go somewhere was on a train. Max must have been a train driver in a past life. What was the dog's name? A. Max B. Bob C. Driver D. Dog Answer: A. Max
If you do not use your arms or your legs for some time, they will become weak; when you start using them again, they will slowly become stronger again.Everybody knows that .yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way.When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong.If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault.But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame, and few of us know that it is just his own fault.Have you ever noticed that some people can't read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write so they have to remember things; they cannot write them down in a little notebook.They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memories are being exercised the whole time.So if you want to have a good memory, learn from these people:Practise remembering. Which of the following is NOT true? A Your memory works in the same way as your arms or legs. B Your memory, like your arms or legs,becomes weak if you don't give it enough chance for practice. C Don't learn how to read and write if you want to have a better memory. D A good memory comes from more practice. Answer: C In the United States, every year, Thanks-giving Day is on the fourth Thursday in November. Because Canada is on the north of the United States, and is colder, the harvest comes earlier in the year. In Canada, people have Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October. The harvest brings a lot of food to the people. On Thanksgiving Day people in Canada and America like to have a big meal with their friends and family just like Chinese people do at Mid-autumn festival. Many Canadians and Americans put flowers, vegetables and fruits around their homes to say "Thank you" for the harvest. At a Thanksgiving Day dinner, many Canadians and Americans will eat turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. These are food like the food of many years ago. They are saying "Thank you" for the harvest that comes every year. In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is _ . A on the fourth Thursday in November B on the second Monday in October C on the second Thursday in November D on the fourth Monday in October Answer: B It was Mother's Day. A man stopped his car at a flower shop to order some flowers. He wanted the shopper to send the flowers to his mother, who lived two hundred miles away. As he got out of his car, he found a young girl sitting on the road crying. He asked her what was wrong and she replied,"I want to buy a red rose for my mother, but I only have seventy-five cents. A rose costs two dollars." The man smiled and said, "Come into the shop with me, and I'll buy you a rose.' He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers. As they were leaving, he offered to drive the girl home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother." She brought him to a cemetery , where she placed the rose on the grave. The man was moved. He returned to the flower shop, picked up the flowers he ordered, and drove two hundred miles to his mother's house. Today is the day for your mother. Send a flower to your kind and beautiful mother. We can learn from the passage that _ . A the girl loved flowers very much B the girl loved her mother very much C the shopkeeper sent the flowers to the man's mother D the man drove to his mother's house to look after her Answer: B In most parts of the world, as far back as anyone can remember , there has been a puppet tradition. Although some of us think of puppets as children's entertainment, they were----and oftenstill are used to tell serious stories to adult audiences. Even in these days of special effects, the puppettheatre still has a special place in many cultures. The best known puppet characters in Britain are Punch and Judy, glove puppets with woodenheads. In summer, one basic play of about half an hour is performed on beaches all around Britain .Mr. Punch, who has an enormous nose and wears a curved hat, gets into trouble and has argumentswith his wife, Judy. A policeman , a crocodile, and a hangman, and all of them run after Mr. Punch .He ,of course, _ manages to survive to fight another day . In Belgium wooden puppets first appeared in the 1820s in cities like liege . The liege puppetsare in fact string puppets without strings!They have a single rod attached to their heads, whichmeans the puppeteers aren't able to raise the arms and legs, but can move the body up and down and the head from side to side. Many of the stories used to be historical or religious but it is Tchantches,a comic character wit patched trousers and a big black hat, who is the best loved character today. LikeMr. Punch, he is a simple man who is also greedy, quarrelsome and lazy. He makes fun of everyone, but is often warm--hearted and tender. The biggest difference between puppets in Britain and puppets in Belgium is their _ . A performing time B operating ways C producing material D decorating characters Answer: B Where have all the boys gone?You may be able to find them in the gym, at work or hanging out, but there's where boys are underrepresented, and the problem seems to be getting worse. These days, at high school graduation ceremonies, there are a lot more girls than boys. In fact, every year, 10 percent more girls graduate from high school than boys. "I think that there's a tendency to focus on boys as problems at this point, rather than recognize that boys have problems," says Joanne Max, PhD. Experts say the problems start in grade school, where there's often an emphasis on sports instead of reading, for example. "I think that with boys there's some idea that it's not masculine to read," says Rob Jenkins, an English professor. There's also a shortage of male teachers as role models. "I think boys need role models, so if you're a boy and you don't have a dad in your home and then you have one male teacher and it's your athletic coach then I don't think you have a message that education is very important," says Carol Carter, another expert. In addition, classrooms often have too little activity and too much passive listening, which is not conducive to boys' learning. Experts say parents can fight back in many ways. Read to your sons early and often; show by your actions that you value their education. Ask them about their schoolwork, offer help, drop by their classroom and finally, appeal to their competitive spirit: challenge them to do better and help them understand that their future depends on it. According to the passage,boys have the problem that they think _ . A reading is more important than sports B it is shameful for boys to read C boys should not work as a teacher D boys lack the gift for reading Answer: B
Tom is a young man. He has a very big dog and he has a very small car, too. He likes playing tennis. Today he plays tennis for two hours at the club and then he wants to go home by car. His dog comes after him, but it does not jump into the same car. It jumps into the next car. "Come here, foolish dog!" Tom shouts at it, but the dog still stays in the next car. Tom puts his key into the lock of the car, but the key does not turn . Then he looks at the car again. It is not his car! He is in the wrong car! And the dog is in the right car! When Tom puts his key into the lock of the car, the key _ . doesn't turn Macao, also called Macau, is on the western side of the Pearl River entrance, at the head of which is the Chinese port of Guangdong and it stands opposite Hong Kong which is on the eastern side of the entrance. It is made of a small narrow peninsula sticking out from Guangdong province. The total area of Macao is about 21.45 square kilometers, and it is made up of three parts: Macao Peninsula, Dingbat Isle and Lehman Isle. Between Macao Peninsula and Dingbat Isle there are two bridges which join the two parts together, and there is also a highway between the Dingbat and Lehman Isles. Therefore, two bridges and one highway make the three parts of Macao into an integrated region . Macao faces to the vast sea and its back is the Pearl River Delta. The two big cities, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and the two special economic zones Hula and Shenzhen are its neighbors. All of this offers much advantage for its economic development. Macao has a population of about 450, 000. This is very large against the size of the area. The average population density reaches 20, 000 per square kilometer. It is one of the densest population regions in the world. The majority of its people are Chinese, who make up 96% of the whole population. Which is the advantage for Macao's economic development? All of the above. 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. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Pend Liyuan is willing to fight against AIDS and become an ambassador of WHO. Many people rely on a cup of coffee or two to wake them up in the morning or refresh them during the working day, but now a chemist has come up with a speedy alternative to drinking coffee. U.S. biochemist Ben Yu has created 'Sprayable Energy', which claims to be the world's first caffeine - based topical energy spray. He said tired workers can spray a 'shot' of caffeine onto their skin without experiencing a strong noise, taking in unnecessary calories or being stuck with a nasty aftertaste like they might get from drinking energy drinks or coffee. The tasteless caffeine spray is absorbed through the skin and spread through the body over a number of hours to deliver a caffeine hit that lasts longer than drinking a cup of coffee. The only active ingredient in the spray is caffeine, which is very similar to nicotine in structure. Each spray 'Sprayable Energy' contains around a quarter of the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee, but apparently has the same effect as a full cup. The website said: "The reason for this is our product isn't entirely metabolized by the liver before entering your system and becoming available to your body." Sprayable Energy's website recommends that users apply the spray in places where they normally spritz perfume, such as wrists, the neck or behind the ears, but warns users not to exceed 20 times a day. It claims that after spraying the product on the skin, users will feel awake and focus without being over-excited, which is common with coffee and energy drinks. Which of the body may not be suitable to apply "Sprayable Energy"? Mouth. I came across quite a few language problems while on holiday with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her "pants were dirty". They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, "pants" means underpants, not trousers as it does back home. Katie -- From America When I asked for the "restroom" in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and "rest". It took me years to get through to someone that I only wanted the toilet! Tom -- From America Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire company and tried to explain that the lock on the boot was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for "boot" was "trunk". In the end we went to a _ and just solved the problem. Mary -- From Britain Last summer, I went to stay with a friend on the west coast. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn't find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor. David -- From Britain David went out to find a phone box to _ . phone his friend for help
Which type of rock would most likely contain a fossil? sedimentary rock Phys ed (physical education) is making a comeback as a part of the school core curriculum ,but with a difference. While group sports are still part of the curriculum, the new way is to teach skills that are useful beyond gym class. Instead of learning how to climb a rope, children are taught to lift weights, balance their diets and build physical endurance . In this way,kids are given the tools and skills and experiences so they can lead a physically active life for the rest of their life. Considering that 15 percent of American children aged 6 to 18 are overweight, supporters say more money and thought must be put into phys ed curriculum. In many cases, that may mean not just replacing the old gym-class model with fitness programs but also starting up phys ed programs because school boards often "put P.E. on the chopping block , cutting it entirely or decreasing its teachers or the days it is offered," says Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, the executive director of Action for Health Kids. The difference in phys ed programs is partly due to the lack of a national standard. "Physical education needs to be part of the core curriculum," she added. The wisdom of the new approach has some scientific support. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have showed how effective the fit-for-life model of gym class can be. They observed how 50 overweight children lost more weight when they cycled and skied cross-country than when they played sports. The researchers also found that teaching sports like football resulted in less overall movement, partly because some reluctant students were able to sit on the bench. Another problem with simply teaching group sports in gym class is that only a small percentage of students continue playing them after graduating from high school. The new method teaches skills that translate to adulthood. What does Alicia Moag-Stahlberg mean by saying "some school boards put P. E. on the chopping block"? Schools do not pay enough attention to P. E.. 3D printers are certainly the superstar today---they are being put to all kinds of uses, including creating model cars for movies. However, none of these ideas are as crazy as the one suggested by Anjan Contractor, who believes that they will be the key to ending world hunger . If you think that sounds a little crazy, you are not the only one, but after hearing scientists, the idea seems to become true. According to scientists, food will become _ expensive and possibly, even out of reach, for billions of people in the future. It means billions of people won't have enough food. This is where 3D printers may save the day. Anjan, an engineer says that the only way to support the large population will be to provide every kitchen with a 3D printer and print out meals. More importantly, it would be to make the basic food from things that we now do not think can be eaten. Anjan thinks that we could easily get the meat protein from insects . Similarly, the vegetable nutrition could be made from greens like grass. Would you want to try 3D printed food? Anjan thinks that we can get the meat protein from _ in the future. insects The Regional Director of the National Heritage Conservation Commission Kagosi Mwamulowe said the Barotse Plains is unique and it deserves to be on the list of the World Heritage Sites. Mr. Mwamulowe said the Barotse Plains deserves to be included on the World Heritage List because it has a rich cultural heritage which includes the burial sites of former kings. The Director said he hoped that the landscape would be declared as a heritage site next year in June. He also said it was important to protect Zambia's unique culture for education and entertainment. Chief Natural Heritage Officer Muyumbwa Ndiyoi said there will be a lot of benefits when the Barotse Landscape is declared a World Heritage Site because it will attract many tourists and business investments will increase. Mr. Ndiyoi said the site will also benefit young people as knowledge will be passed down from generation to generation. He was reacting to a question from Nalolo District Labour Officer Jason Ngoma who wanted to know how the people of Western Province will benefit once the Barotse Landscape is declared a World Heritage Site. And University of Zambia Lecturer Charles Namate said there is a need for the site to be included on the World Heritage List because 50 years after its independence Zambia only has one heritage site, which is the Victoria Falls. Lecturer Namate said the Barotse Landscape was facing a lot of environmental degradation , and that's why there is a need to recognize the value of its landscape and the memories of dead kings. The National Heritage Conservation Commission together with the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs are in Western Province to hold meetings with Heads of Government Departments. The Commission also held closed-door meetings with the Litunga Lubosi Imwiko II of the Barotse Royal Establishment. What can we infer from the text? The Barotse Landscape issue is still being discussed. Having a teenager at home can be a real headache. Many teenagers smoke, drink and even fight. They often do something dangerous. Earlier studies have shown that teenagers are more likely to make _ decisions than people from any other age group, including children and adults. Is it that teenagers are too young to tell right from wrong? Not really. So what's the reason? According to Laurence, a teacher from a US university, the reason is that teenagers care a lot about how their peers view them--that is "peer influence". As children enter their teenage years, they spend more time with their friends and classmates, and also they care more about what they think of them. This makes teenagers make decisions without thinking about the costs. In a test, a group of teenagers were asked to play a video driving game. When they played with their friends watching around them, they took more chances and drove more carelessly because that would increase their possibility of winning. But when they played alone, they drove more safely. Why do peers have such a big influence on teens' behavior? As Laurence sees it, a teenager's brain is like a car with a good accelerator but a weak brake . The "accelerator" is fully developed by teenage years while the "brake" is still not fully developed. When teenagers are watched by their peers, they usually push hard on the accelerator. With their weak brake, it is likely that they are going to end up in an accident. But the good news is that a violent teenager doesn't necessarily become a violent adult. About two-thirds to three-quarters of violent youth grow out of it. "They get more self-controlled." How does Laurence explain the influence of peer pressure on teens' behavior? By comparing it with how a car works.
Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the oldest one is the Great Pyramid of Giza. There are three large pyramids at Giza, outside the modern capital of Egypt, Cairo. The largest and most famous one is called the Great Pyramid. The workers built it as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu . It took more than twenty years to build the Great Pyramid. When it was built, the pyramid was about 146.5 metres high. Over the years it has lost about eight metres off its top. The pyramid is made of large stone blocks -- 2,300,000 of them! Each of these blocks weighs over 2,000 kilograms. The ancient Egyptians did not have any modern machines. How did they build the pyramid? The pyramid shows that the ancient people were _ and had great skills. People once thought that the Egyptians made slaves do all the work on the Great Pyramid. But in fact, they used farmers. What is the writer's purpose in writing this passage? Answer: To give information about the Great Pyramid. An Australian inventor has designed and built an environmentally friendly ferry that uses solar and wind power to transport people around Sydney Harbor. Robert Dane and his Solar Sailor were given the top prize at the Australian Design Awards recently. The Solar Sailor has been in use for six months. It uses four sources of energy for its power -- solar, wind, battery power with stored solar energy and a fuel generator in store all controlled by computers. The ferry can travel up to 7.5 knots on just wind and solar power. It's solar wings and fiberglass solar panels which not only take in sunlight and store it in batteries, but also act as sails. "We angle our solar panels to the sun in two planes , which increases the amount of energy we get from the sun by 40 percent," Dane says. "And also we can use that same structure to do another job, which is also the sail, and so these wing sails actually push the ferry forward just like a soft sail does." Computers check the sun and wind and angle the solar wings to take in the most sunlight. If there isn't much wind or it is a cloudy day, energy stored in the batteries runs the electric motor for up to five hours. "If the batteries are too low, then the computer turns the generator on so the boat is always able to meet a commercial schedule, or get from point A to point B no matter what," Dan explains. Dane got his idea for the Solar Sailor from a book on insects. He was amazed how insects use their wings to collect solar energy to warm themselves. "When I read that, I realized there was a good example in nature for what we were going to do, which was to use a solar wing to collect solar energy and also to sail," he says. We can learn from the passage _ . Answer: the ferry is good for the environment Hello! My name is Lisa, and I am a lioness. I live on the open grasslands of Africa with my family. Lions living in a group are called a pride. My father is strong and powerful. He and his cousin are the leaders of our pride. The other members are my mother, her sisters, and their children. The area where a pride lives is big! We roar to tell each other where we are and to warn strangers to stay away. Meet my new baby brother. His name is Leon. See the spots on his fur? We lions are born spotted or striped . As we grow older, the spots gradually disappear. Lionesses usually spend their entire lives with their birth pride, but Leon will leave when he is about three years old. He'll run around with a male friend or relative for a few years until they take over a pride of their own. But for now, we have lots of fun together. We often play and fight for hours, which can help us practice skills that we will need for hunting. ) We lions keep ourselves very clean. Just like a house cat, I clean my fur (with my tongue. We clean for each other, too, to show we're friends. Lions like to sleep for most of the day. We hunt in the cool evening. Female lions hunt more often than male lions. We work together as a team. At the right moment, we attack and kill our prey. Then we share it. Male lions usually eat first. Females eat next. Baby lions are the last to eat. The smallest one gets the least food. Since we are full, it's time to go to find a nice place for a sleep. Bye! Lisa in this passage is the name of _ . Answer: a female lion Glasgow Fireworks 25th July 2012 Location: Glasgow Green Tickets: This event is free, and no ticket is required Events:Celebrate Bonfire Night , with Glasgow's famous and splendid musical fireworks show. The night is not just about fireworks though; there will be pre-show music and fun with Clyde 1's Romeo and Knoxy, amusements and food and drink booths. Enough to make sure that everyone is entertained! The timetable: 5:30 pm amusements (ends 9:30pm) 6:30 pm Pre-show music and fun with Clyde 1's Romeo and Knoxy 7:30 pm Fireworks show begins Notice: * Entry is free, and it is usually very busy. Make sure you get there early for a good view (unless you're 7 feet tall). * You should enter Glasgow Green from the west end of the park. There is no other public entry. * If you're driving, please be concerned about road closing time. All roads to Glasgow Green will be closed to vehicles between 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm. * Join our mailing list to stay up to date with all the latest information on www. Glasgow Green. com. Should it be put off or called off, we will keep you informed as soon as possible! For Your Safety * Do not bring fireworks, sparklers, alcohol or pets to the Glasgow Green Fireworks. * Follow the directions of staff and police. * Dress properly - We live in Glasgow and there is always a good chance we will get rubbish weather! Which of the following isn't mentioned in the text? Answer: Movies. What is so different about Moisture Surge? These hydrating formulas rapidly make thirsty skin smooth and soft. Oil-free and fit for all skin types, they help: Quickly increase skin's moisture level with hydrating relief in a high-speed delivery system; Restore skin's moisture balance; Make up dry lines. Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief Rapid, long-lasting hydration in a refreshing oil-free gel . Fast-absorbing formula locks in moisture all day and helps skin better resist dry despite great shifts in humidity. Use whenever, wherever needed, under or over makeup, or as a 5-minute moisture mask . Moisture Surge Face Water Thirsty Skin Relief Refreshing facial water. Great for use anytime, anywhere, under or over makeup. Moisture Surge Extra Refreshing Eye GEL* Cool and comfortable eye gel. Doctor-tested. Use whenever needed, under or over makeup. Moisture Surge Facial Sheet Mask* Refreshing, pre-moistened full-face sheet mask. Apply 1-2 times a week for a quick moisturizing. To use: unfold and apply to clean skin. Rest for 10 minutes, and then remove the mask. Moisture Surge Refreshing Eye Mask* Refreshing pre-moistened eye pads . Apply 1-2 times a week to reduce under-eye puffiness and skin with quick hydration. To use: remove pads from packets and separate. Apply to clean under-eye skin. Rest for 10 minutes, and then remove pads. Moisture Sheer Tint 15* Refreshing, wash of color that hydrates and makes skin bright with special materials and SPF 15 sunscreen. Three skin-friendly shades wear beautifully alone or under makeup. WARNING: keep out of eyes. Stop use if any pain occurs. Keep out of reach of children. Please pay attention to: *stands for "Not available in all countries. " Which of the following products can NOT be used over makeup? Answer: Moisture Sheer Tint SPF15.
Question: Experiments aboard the spaceship Columbia have disproved a theory on the human nervous system which won an Austrian professor a Nobel prize 79 years ago. West German astronaut Ulf Merbold disproved the theory during tests aboard the spaceship yesterday. His discovery is connected with the workings of the inner ear, the body's balance mechanism . In l914 Professor Robert Barany won the Nobel prize for Physiology and Medicine when he announced that temperature differences affected the inner ear and caused the eyes to blink . His theory was accepted by scientists. But Merbold carried out tests to find if the theory was correct and shocked himself and space officials when he proved it wrong. According to Barany's theory the eyes would blink when cold air was blown into one ear and hot air blown into the other. But if this theory was correct such a movement would be impossible in zero gravity . Both Merbold's eyes continually blinked when the test was carried out. Barany's theory was proved incorrect in space by the effects of _ . A. having no weight B. having no air C. the pull of gravity D. hot and cold air streams Answer: A Question: A Southampton University team found that people who were vegetarians by 30 had recorded five IQ points higher on average at the age of 10. Researchers said it could explain why people with a higher IQ were healthier as a vegetarian diet was connected to lower heart disease and obesity rates. The study of 8,179 people was reported in theBritishMedicalJournal. Twenty years after the IQ tests were carried out in 1970, 366 of the participants said they were vegetarians -- although more than 100 reported eating either fish or chicken. Men who were vegetarians had an IQ score of 106, compared with 101 for non-vegetarians; while female vegetarians averaged 104, compared with 99 for non-vegetarians. There was no difference in the IQ scores, between strict vegetarians and those who said they were vegetarians but reported eating fish or chicken. Researchers said the findings were partly related to better education and higher class, but it remained statistically significant after adjusting for these factors. Vegetarians were more likely to be female, to be of higher social class and to have higher academic or vocational qualifications than non-vegetarians. However, these differences were not reflected in their annual income, which was similar to that of non-vegetarians. Lead researcher Catharine Gale said, "The findings that children with greater intelligence are more likely to report being vegetarians as adults, together with the evidence on the potential benefits of a vegetarian diet on heart health, may help to explain why a higher IQ in childhood or adolescence is linked with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease in adult life. But Dr Frankie Phillips of the British Dietetic Association said," _ Do people become vegetarians because they have a very high IQ or is it just that they are clever enough to be more aware of health issues?" What' s the best title for the text? A. Get more IQ points! B. Be a vegetarian, please! C. Vegetarian diet cuts heart risk D. A high IQ is linked to being a vegetarian Answer: D Question: Jean is a young girl who comes from a rich and famous family. She goes to a good university and has almost everything that money can buy. The problem is that Jean's family are so busy that they can hardly find time to be with her. Jean is quite lonely . So she 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. Last year Jean made a very special friend on QQ. His name was David and he lived in San Francisco. David was full of stories and jokes. He and Jean had the same interest in rock music and modern dance. So it always took them hours to talk happily on QQ and sometimes they even forgot their time. Of course, they wanted to know more about each other. David sent a picture of himself. He was a tall, good-looking young man with big, happy smile. As time went by, they became good friends and often sent cards and small things to each other. When Jean's father told her that he was going on a business trip to San Francisco, she asked him to let her go with him. She wanted to give David a surprise for his birthday. She would take him the latest DVD of a rock singer. But when she knocked on David's door in San Francisco, she found that her special friend was a 70-year-old man named Jim! How disappointed Jean was! What's the main idea of the passage? A. Don't go to meet those you get to know on QQ. B. People don't use their real names on QQ so often. C. Don't believe those you get to know on QQ easily. D. Don't spend much time on QQ. Answer: C Question: A man was selling medicine at a fair .At first he sold bottles of a cure for colds for just a dollar a bottle. Many people wanted to buy it and the man's young assistant moved quickly through the crowd collecting money and handing out bottles of the cure. Then,when he had a big crowd, the man held up a very small bottle. "And now,ladies and gentlemen,he shouted,"Here is the medicine you have been waiting for.The cure for old age.Drink just one bottle of this and you will live forever. "And,ladies and gentlemen,the man continued,"I'm not going to charge(............)you a hundred dollars a bottle for this wonderful medicine.I'm not going to charge you fifty dollars a bottle.I'm not going to charge you twenty-five dollars a bottle.Now,ladies and gentlemen,I'm going to charge you just ten dollars a bottle. Think,my friends,for ten dollars you can live forever. Most of the people in the crowd did not believe this. One person shouted,"If it can make you live forever,why don't you drink it?Then another person cried,"Yes, you look as if you're at least sixty years old. "Thank you,sir,thank you,the man answered,"I'm so glad you said that. My real age is three hundred and twenty-nine. The crowd laughed at this but there were still some people who wanted to believe the man .One of them spoke to the man's assistant as she passed by,"Is that true?he asked."Is he three hundred and twenty-nine? "Don't ask me,the assistant said,"I've only worked for him for a hundred and fifty years. How much did the man charge for the cure for old age? A. one dollar a bottle B. twenty-five dollars a bottle C. fifty dollars a bottle D. ten dollars a bottle Answer: D Question: John is six years old. He can read and write well. But he can't tell the time. His mother, Mrs Brown teaches him many times, but he still can't tell. He would say "breakfast time" "lunchtime" and "teatime" instead of saying eight o'clock, twelve o'clock and four o'clock in the afternoon. His mother doesn't know how to help him One day, John's aunt, Mary, comes to see his mother. His mother tells her about that. His aunt says, "Let me help you. I think I can help him." When John comes home after school, Mary begins to teach him. "Can you _ , John?" she asks. "Yes. One, two, three, four..." John says. "That's fine. Now I put the long hand on twelve and the short hand on one-that is one o'clock If I put the short hand on two, what is the time?" "Two o'clock " "Good. And on three?" "Three o'clock. " Then it is four o'clock in the afternoon, and John's aunt asks him, "What time is it now, John?" "Teatime, Aunt, and I am very hungry ," John looks at the clock and answers. The long hand is on twelve, and the short hand is on five. What's the time? A. It's twelve o'clock. B. It's five o'clock. C. It's four o'clock D. It's seven o'clock. Answer: B
Question: Jennifer's Hurricane Experience I have evacuated lots of times in my life. To make sure everything is safe, my family have to move a lot of things. I usually help my mom and my brothers help my dad. Mom and I take all of the special keepsakes to low safe places. Another thing we have to do is to take our sailboat out into deep water and anchor it really well. When it's time to anchor the sailboat, Scott, my father's brother, comes over. I just need to wait in the car with my mom and brothers before we evacuate. John's Hurricane Experience My family evacuated for hurricane Opal in 1995. We left two days early because we were going to my dad's 35thHigh School Reunion . There was a lot of traffic getting out of town. But we didn't get into trouble as we had arrived at the school. During hurricane Georges, I slept. But there was a lot of lightning, thunder and rain at that night. The next morning, there were a lot of branches, twigs and leaves everywhere. Catherine's Hurricane Experience This year, we experienced two hurricanes, Earl and Georges. We did the same thing in both hurricanes. We would always be watching the news. There was a lot of rain ... a whole lot of rain. The hurricane never really got close enough to do very much damage. I have never evacuated, and I don't think that I ever will. Ryan's Hurricane Experience I am a police officer on an island in the Texas Gulf Coast. I was directly affected by the violent weather throughout the hurricane season. Our department was ordered to stay on the island while all the other citizens were evacuating. I didn't feel at all prepared for the situation. So I went to the grocery store and purchased some food. I thought a survival kit would have helped ease some of the tension in my mind. When Catherine's family heard hurricanes were coming, they _ . A. purchased some food B. paid attention to the hurricanes news C. took special keepsakes to low safe places D. moved out of the place where they lived Answer: B Question: It's hard not to feel cheated and over-charged when you receive unexpected roaming charges while traveling abroad--whether they come from making phone calls or checking e-mails. Jeff Gardner received an $ 11,000 bill from Verizon after spending four days in Jamaica. Before the trip, Mr. Gardner, who runs a fly-fishing business in Grayling, Michigan, said he called Verizon to find out what it would cost to use his cellphone for calls and his wireless card to check e-mails while in Jamaica. He said he was told that calls would be about $ 2 a minute and that there would be no extra charges for data as he was on an unlimited plan. _ . "I don't mind paying a fair amount for fair service, but $11,000 for four days is ridiculous," said Mr. Gardner, who used his phone carefully and economically on the trip. He also tried to check and send e-mails using his wireless card, but quickly gave up after the e-mails didn't go through. Still, his Verizon bill said more than 500,000 kilobytes of data was delivered while he was in Jamaica, an amount Mr. Gardner said is 100 times what he normally uses in a month. As travelers increasingly use smart phones abroad in the same way they do at home--to check e-mails, update Facebook and Twitter and pull up online maps--many are facing costly roaming fees, which providers charge when customers use their phones outside their service area. In fact, roaming charges have gotten so out of hand that the Federal Communications Commission has proposed a plan that would require wireless companies to send their customers a voice or text message when they are approaching their plan's limit, when they have reached that limit and when they are starting to result in roaming fees. What should wireless companies do according to the Federal Communications Commission? A. Make customers know when they're outside their service area. B. Get customers informed when they're near the limit of their plan. C. Stop serving customers when they've reached their plan's limit. D. Limit some services to reduce the amount of roaming charges abroad. Answer: B Question: Which of the following is most likely to lead to error in an experiment? A. bias B. repeated trials C. peer review D. use of a control Answer: A Question: Rohan executed and delivered a promissory note and a mortgage securing the note to Acme Mortgage Company, which was named as payee in the note and as mortgagee in the mortgage. The note included a statement that the indebtedness evidenced by the note was "subject to the terms of a contract between the maker and the payee of the note executed on the same day" and that the note was "secured by a mortgage of even date." The mortgage was promptly and properly recorded. Subsequently, Acme sold the Rohan note and mortgage to XYZ Bank and delivered to XYZ Bank a written assignment of the Rohan note and mortgage. The assignment was promptly and properly recorded. Acme retained possession of both the note and the mortgage in order to act as collecting agent. Later, being short of funds, Acme sold the note and mortgage to Peterson at a substantial discount. Acme executed a written assignment of the note and mortgage to Peterson and delivered to him the note, the mortgage, and the assignment. Peterson paid value for the assignment without actual knowledge of the prior assignment to XYZ Bank and promptly and properly recorded his assignment. The principal of the note was not then due, and there had been no default in payment of either interest or principal. If the issue of ownership of the Rohan note and mortgage is subsequently raised in an appropriate action by XYZ Bank to foreclose, the court should hold that A. Peterson owns both the note and the mortgage. B. XYZ Bank owns both the note and the mortgage. C. Peterson owns the note and XYZ Bank owns the mortgage. D. XYZ Bank owns the note and Peterson owns the mortgag Answer: B Question: John works in a market. It's near a secondary school. Every day, students come to buy things there. In the morning , John gets up at six and then has breakfast. He goes to work by bike. He gets to the shop at about six thirty. The market opens at seven. They sell things like food and drinks. They have school things, too. So there are often many people in their market from morning to evening. John has supper there. At seven in the evening the market is closed. They sell _ in the market. A. food and drinks B. school things C. sports things D. A and B Answer: D
I once was walking in the woods with my friends. The day was very nice, there were a lot of trees. The walk was part of a week long trip I took with Boy Scouts. This day was day number three of our trip. There was four of us walking. We were walking down a path when all of the sudden we came across a bear. This scared us. Bears can be dangerous. A few seconds later we saw another bear, there was not only one. This bear was a baby bear. A leader told us that a bear with a baby can be much more dangerous. We had to remember what to do when you come across a bear. The leader told us not to walk towards the bear. You also can not make any quick motions. The leader said we needed to start talking to make noise and to start to walk away from the bears. After a little bit of time we were away from the bears and we were safe. What made these bears more dangerous? A. The bear was with the baby. B. There was no bears in the story C. The bears were hiding in the trees D. There were four bears Answer: A. The bear was with the baby. Most of us long for relationships in which we are loved and accepted. Our hearts' desire is to give and receive love in relationships that make us feel that even if others disagree with what we do or say, they still love us, accept us, and appreciate what we give to the world. While it would be wonderful to have these types of relationships with all people, we know that's hard to do. However, we can have such relationships with some others, but only when we first have them with ourselves--and, strangely, this is often the hardest relationship of all. Do you love yourself? You may think you do, but do you really? There's only one way to find out-- by taking a close look at what you think, say, and do. You may not like some of what you find, but if you are serious about really loving yourself, you can use this insight to do some positive inner work. Here're three ways for gaining greater personal insight for deeper love: Listen Closely to Your Thoughts Your thoughts will determine your actions. One thing helping you to listen to your thoughts is keeping a journal. It is not necessary for you to write in it every day, but it helps to record various insights you gain as you go about your life. Instead of using a big notebook, you might use a small notepad that you can keep in your pocket for easy access to record your thoughts as they occur to you. Whichever method you choose, what's most important is that you write your thoughts down. It will help you know what's in your heart. Be Honest with Yourself To do this, you should pay attention to your actions. Actions speak louder than words, and they always tell the truth. If you say you love your job, but your actions say otherwise, which do you think is more reliable? On the other hand, if you say you're not good at a certain job, but your actions say otherwise, that's also important. What do you do with this insight? You can use it to make more positive choices in your life. By being honest with yourself, you will act according to truth instead of just what you tell yourself. Take Quiet Time to Listen to Your Inner Voice This is similar to the first point, but it takes a step further-- beyond the natural mind to the heart that cannot be seen. You may want to use your quiet time to think deeply. However you use this time, the key is to shut out all of the noise around you by focusing deep within yourself. Breathing deeply during quiet time will also help you focus. I know it's hard to find quiet time during a particularly busy day, but it's so important-- even if it's just 10 minutes a day and you have to hide somewhere to get it. Quiet time can really make a difference in your life. Despite what your mind may be telling you, you can have love with no limits. The key is to unconditionally love yourself first. .It can be learned from the passage that if we want to have love without limits, we must first of all_. A. be honest with ourselves anytime B. give our love to others generously C. love ourselves unconditionally D. take quiet time and think deeply Answer: C. love ourselves unconditionally raccoons eat what? A. debris B. people C. fire D. dirt Answer: A. debris In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell second-hand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments and household goods, sometimes even in clothes. The furniture may often be " _ ", and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salerooms, where one piece might well be sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long-dead hands which polished that wood, of those now-closed eyes which once looked at these pieces with love. The books, too, may be antique and very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well.Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town's main trsde. There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called "junk shops", where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death. Although the British do not worship their ancestors, they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down; they are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted. According to the passage, the British people _ . A. do not respect old things because they are not fashionable B. like to build new houses simply because it is fashionable to do so C. like to buy new things because they are fashionable D. do not like to buy things simply because they are fashionable Answer: D. do not like to buy things simply because they are fashionable Mirrors reflect light because for light to travel through the material of which the mirror is made makes it A. difficult B. loud C. easy D. long Answer: A. difficult
Question: Of all the things our wisdom tells us will make life entirely happy, the greatest is the possession of friendship. One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. On the first Sunday in August, it's time to recognize your friends and their contribution to your life. The first Sunday in August was fixed as National Friendship Day by the U.S. Congress in 1935, and remains a tradition observed in many countries and cultures. In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship. Apparently, there are several friendship holidays, all of which fall on fixed dates. National Friendship Day is on the first Sunday in August Women's Friendship Day is on the third Sunday in September International Friendship Month is February Old Friends, New Friends Week is the third week of May People show their appreciation for friendship in various ways. Some expressions may be practical ones, such as flowers, particularly the pink friendship roses, cookies, chocolates, souvenirs from their vacations, a tape of favorite songs, farewell dinners, and welcome balloons. Recipe for Friendship 2 cups of patience, 1 heart full of love, 2 handfuls of generosity, 2 cups of loyalty, 1 cup of understanding, A dash of laughter. Mix them all well. Spray generously over a lifetime and serve everyone you meet. Friendship helps to bring peace and positivity to the globe, another great reason to celebrate! Although our friends certainly deserve thanks on more than just one day of the year, what better day to honor them than Friendship Day!! Which of the holidays happens first in a year? A. National Friendship Day. B. Women's Friendship Day. C. International Friendship Month. D. Old Friends, New Friends Week. Answer: C Question: The Ice Hotel Are you going into skiing? Is winter your favorite time of year? If you like snow and ice, maybe you should stay at Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada. But, you can only check in at this hotel during the winter. Why ? Because this hotel is built every December. It has 32 rooms and 80 people can stay there each night. The hotel even has a movie theatre, art gallery, and church. Of course, all of these parts of the hotel are made of ice. In fact, all the furniture, art, lights, and even plates and drinking glasses are made out of ice. Because this hotel is so unusual, it is becoming very popular. People from all over the world come to the Ice Hotel to look at the fantastic ice art, drink and eat from designed ice dishes and experience the unique atmosphere . Some couples have even got married in the hotel's ice church. But all these guests keep their winter coats on! Because of all the ice, the temperature inside the hotel is always between - 2oC and - 5oC. Surprisingly, sleeping is not a problem in the freezing cold hotel rooms. Every guest gets a special cold-weather sleeping bag and some fur blankets. These keep the room cozy and warm until morning. What is the main idea of this reading? A. How the Ice Hotel is built B. What makes the Ice Hotel special C. Why the Ice Hotel is made of ice D. The services of the Ice Hotel Answer: B Question: A frog is born in a small river.When he is young,the river is his home.He doesn't know his parents,but he has hundreds of brothers and sisters.He swims about and plays with them all the time.At that time,he doesn't look like his parents.He has no legs and he has a big tail .So he looks like a fish. Later,his tail gets shorter and shorter.And he has four legs and a very short tail.He looks like his parents now. Then, he's going to eat a lot of bad insects . Where is a frog born? A. On a farm. B. On the land. C. In the river. D. In the sea. Answer: C Question: It gives me great pleasure today to say a few words in praise of a man we will all miss very much. To be honest, I can't imagine we will do without him when he's gone. Bill Masters almost single-handed built up our sales force in the Houston area and developed the market position that we enjoy today. In only six years, he has brought the firm from a very low fifth position in the area sales to the point where we now outsell all but one of our competitors. Not only have we got 37 per cent of the market under Bill's leadership; we are increasing our share with each passing month. As you know, the company has moved Bill to northern California to work his sales magic in one of this company's most competitive areas. But we know that if anyone can do it, Bill Masters can, and I know you all join me in wishing him the best of luck in his new work. How long did Masters worked there? A. 37 years B. less than 5 years C. about six years D. since he began to work Answer: C Question: There was once a magical lightning wand that contained special powers. When held by a human, it is believed to have given the human special powers that would allow them to take over the skies and the sea. Because of its dangerous power, a king named Ogthar wanted to hide the wand on a planet where no one could find it. Before Ogthar went out to hide his wand, he had to tie his shoelaces. Instead of tying them with his hands, he waved the wand to make it do it for him. Instead of tying his shoes, the wind and sky blew the shoes right off of Ogthar. Ogthar cried and cried because he no longer had shoes. After 17 days of crying, Ogthar saw that his life was not terrible without shoes, because he still had a magical wand. Ogthar then forgot about his shoes and instead made a magical land called "Wind and Sky Land" for children to gather and play in the fun wind and seas. Ogthar forgot about his shoes after a couple of years and even went on to go to school and get smarter. Ogthar is now a fireman and is glad that he never hid the wand. He now can never die and whenever he thinks of his shoes, he says to himself "Stop it!" How did Ogthar lose his shoes? A. He tried to make the wand do it for him, but they blew them off his feet instead. B. He never found his mom to do it for him. C. He blew his nose too hard and died. D. He tried to go to school too early. Answer: A
(2014 ) I came to study in the United States a year ago. Yet I did not know the real American society until I was injured in a car accident because after the accident I had to see a doctor and go to court. After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my injury, I'd have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer. Now that he had helped me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him. But every day I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time. The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215. My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770. Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance company the date I was leaving America. Knowing that, they played for time... and I left without getting a cent. Both the doctor and the lawyer in this passage are very _ . Answer: I can still remember the day I met my best friend Judy. She had just moved into the neighborhood and her grandmother brought her down to meet me. I hid behind my mother and she hid behind her grandmother,scared to look at each other. Soon we lost the shyness and started playing with each other. In the 7th grade ,I first lost touch with her. She was going through family problems and I _ her to be with the cooler people. None of my new friends liked her as much as I did because they knew she had problems. However, every summer we would always sit at each other's house, watch soap operas and talk about all the boys we like. It was last year when I noticed the problem. I guess I was too doveted in high school to realizeshe needed someone there. Anyway ,she made a new best friend and so did I. Then I didn't know why, but she started cutting herself! She then was diagnosed with clinical depression .At first, I was very upset, but we still stayed in touch. I wanted to be there with new her best friend basically deserted her and people were calling her crazy. Yesterday she came to me and said,"I never knew what a best friend was until you, the only person, would stop me cutting. I appreciate your help so much, and you didn't even know you were helping me." We both cried. And I guess a kind of lesson from my life so far is never to give up on your friends. Even if they aren't as cool as others, or people think they are crazy, they need someone there. If you desert them, you will only be guilty yourself. According to Judy's words, we can learn that _ . Answer: Jeremiah noticed a plant had many missing leaves and large holes in other leaves. Why do missing leaves hurt the plant? Answer: When you are feeling unhappy or forget how great you are, these are six ways to make you feel good about yourself. Look in the mirror and say to yourself,"I am a special person and there's no one in the world like me. I can do anything!" It may not sound so good, but it really works! Do something nice for someone. Helping others always makes you feel good. Smile! Be friendly to people you meet. Look for the good things in your friends and family. Learn something new! Have you always wanted to decorate your own room or learn how to swim? Go for it! New challenges are fun and give you a sense of accomplishment when you have finished. Read and start a diary, Turn off the TV and let your imagination fly! Write you're your thoughts, dreams or anything you want! Writing always helps to express your feelings. Stay with your family. We all need our family time. Talk with your Mum or Dad or maybe even your cousin. According to the passage, when you are helping others, you will _ . Answer: Some American high schools are for students with special interests, like science or the arts. New York City even has a program for those interested in the food service industry, called Food and Finance High School. New York also has what are called international high schools, or internationals, for immigrant students. They must be new learners of English who have been in the United States less than four years. The first school opened in nineteen eighty-five. The city will begin the new term next month with ten. New York works with a nonprofit organization, the Internationals Network for Public Schools. Support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has helped the network expand. The network says the graduation rate was seventy percent last year in the four New York schools open long enough to have graduating classes. That, compared with twenty-three percent for English language learners in all of the city schools. Over all, New York officials recently reported that the city's four-year graduation rate, reached fifty-two percent last year. At the same time, they reported that the city's dropout rate fell below fifteen percent. The Internationals Network says its schools have an average dropout rate of just five percent. Claire Sylvan is the executive director of the group. She says students drop out mainly because their families need them to work or because parents arrange marriages for girls. The Internationals Network mainly helps find teachers and trains them in the teaching method of the internationals. Claire Sylvan says the teaching approach is to have students use their different strengths to help each other. They work in small groups, but she says they are not grouped by ability. She says the students discuss issues, then produce a product like a paper, a play, a poster or a report. They learn English as they work. The international high school in New York is _ Answer:
If a duck lays seven eggs and last year they laid zero eggs, this year they are Answer: A green tree frog lives in a forest. How does the frog's green color help it to survive? Answer: The quickest way to make friends with others is to smile . When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy to smile at first, but you can practice it in front of a mirror . When you look at yourself in the mirror, think about the difference between a smiling face and a sad or an angry face. Most people will stay away from a sad or an angry face. The easiest way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him or her. For example, you can _ someone's great answer to a teacher's question, a great prize, a nice shirt, etc. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking with that person? Also, ask your new friends questions about themselves. For example, who are their favorite singers and what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. According to the passage, we can learn that _ . Answer: We know the famous ones--the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells --but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper ? Shouldn' t we know who they are? Joan Mclean thinks so. In fact, Mclean, a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range, feels so strongly about this matter that she' s developed a course on the topic. In addition to learning "who" invented "what" , however, Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the "why" and "how" questions. According to Mclean, "When students learn the answers to these questions, they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try. " Her students agree. One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean's statement. "If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper' s invention," said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major. "I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rain storm into something so constructive. " Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer. So, just what is the story behind the windshield wiper? Well, Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City. The day was cold and stormy, but Anderson still wanted to see the sights, so she jumped aboard a streetcar. Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield, she found herself wondering why there couldn' t be a built - in device for cleaning the window. Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham, Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions. One of her ideas, a lever on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside, became the first windshield wiper. Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations. It' s hard to imagine driving without Garrett A. Morgan' s traffic light. It' s equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J. Blodgett' s innovation that makes glass invisible. Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses? Professor Joan McLean' s course aims to _ . Answer: I was thirteen when my father got hurt.Looking back over the years, I sometimes wonder what I could have done differently that day.Spit twice over my shoulder when I saw the single magpie , maybe.But that's the thing about superstitions .You don't know how much power they have until you break them. We lived in a dark shabby house in Bucks.Wood blocks laid over dirt on the floor.That part of England was full of cherry trees.Chalky soil. The rice had caught in the bottom of the pot that morning at breakfast and all I could smell was burned rice.Even now when I think of that day I have the taste of burned rice in my mouth. "I'm going to cut down the old cherry tree," my father announced. "You've been saying that for years," said my mother lightly touching the end of her nose.Her nose ran all year long.Her arms rested on the table, a cup of tea placed between her hands, steam rising into the air."You'll never get round to it." My stomach, balled into a tight little knot relaxed itself. "Millie's going to cry if you cut it down," said my younger brother, Simon, his eyes bright as a fox."Silly Millie, silly Millie." "Hold your noise," said my father patting Simon on the head."And put back that butter.That's a week's ration you've got on your plate." "The war's over," said Simon in a low voice."We haven't had rationing for ages." Simon was right.Even sugar had come off points.However, we still occasionally received food parcels from distant cousins in Canada. My father glared at him and then went on. "Pigs.Burt says he'll come and help me take the tree down if he can have some of the wood." "No," I said springing to my feet."You can't do it.That's my tree.Always has been.Always will be.I won't let you." Tom, took a piece of toast, watching my reaction.My older brother, he knew what the tree meant to me. "Now then, Millie," said my father softening his face."That tree's wild.It's in the way." From the passage, we can infer that _ . Answer:
Most parents hope that their children can be happy and successful. But do you know the most powerful way to encourage them to be so? The answer is to allow them to make their own decisions. Different people have different ideas about children's decision making. Unfortunately , most parents make decisions for their children--what they wear, what they eat and what movies they watch. In fact, it's not good for children's growing. Children should be allowed to make decisions when they are very young. But this doesn't mean they are allowed to do everything. For example, you shouldn't take your children into a convenience store and tell them they can have anything they want. They would be overwhelmed by the choices. But you can give them a choice among snacks. When children get older, expand the number of choices you give them. For example, allow them to decide the activities they want to take part in or when they decide to go to bed. The next step is to get your children to think before they act. Ask themselves several important questions. First, why do I want to do this? Second, what are my choices? Third, what are the results of the actions? After the three questions, they are sure to have right decisions. Parents should _ when their kids are older according to the passage. A take their kids to the store B do everything for their kids C take their kids to take part in activities D give them more chances to make decisions Answer: D Welcome to the National Museum of Mathematics(MoMath).it is in New York City.It is America's first math museum.It's also a fun place for both children and their parents. Open the door ,you will open a new world of numbers,shapes and colours,and you will find math is interesting.You can take part in many games and activities.They help you better understand math." We want to give people fun ways to learn math,"MoMath founder Glen Whitney said."Here you can try riding a tricycle with square wheels .You can hop from one point to another and join lines to get pictures." The museum is at 11 East 26th Street in Manhattan and is open from 1 0:00 a.m.to 5:00 P.m.,seven days a week,364 days a year(It is closed on Thanksgiving Day).MoMath closes early on the first Wednesday of every month,at 2:30 p.m.The ticket prices are$1 5 per adult and$9 per child,student,or the old people. MoMath also has a traveling museum-Math Midway.It runs around the country to schools and community centres .So you still can enjoy the fun of math even you live far from New York City. What is the passage about? A A math museum. B A science museum. C A history museum. D A space museum. Answer: A Kerry was playing with his toy airplane in the backyard after school one day when he saw something moving in the corner of the yard. He put down his toy and went over to look. He found a small frog, about two inches cross, jumping across the grass. Carefully, Kerry followed the frog as it jumped across the grass. He didn't know where the frog had come from or where it was going, but he knew that frogs needed water. He wanted to help the frog. He ran inside and got a plastic pail that he used to use at the beach for sand. He filled it up with water and brought it to the backyard. It took him some time to find the frog again. It seemed to be moving slower than it had before. He waited for it to pause, then scooped it up with his bare hands and dropped it into the water. He watched the frog swim around for a bit, and then carried the pail around to the front of the house. It was a short way to a nearby creek running through his neighborhood. Kerry walked slowly, trying not to spill the water. The pail seemed to grow heavier and heavier as he walked. Finally, he reached the creek. He set the pail down next to the water and tipped it over until the frog was swimming in the stream. What did Kerry normally use the pail to carry? A grass B water C frogs D sand Answer: D Jim is a basketball fan. He is very good at playing basketball. Jack is his favorite basketball player. Jim is in the school basketball team. Every Friday afternoon, he plays basketball with other members after class. In the team, Jim's best friend is Mike. He is also good at playing basketball. Jim's sister Mary loves swimming. Every Saturday she has a swimming lesson with ten other girls and boys. Their mothers and fathers come to watch them because the children are only one or two years old! When Mary began to have swimming classes, she was only six months old. Now she is two years old and she can swim well. Many people are afraid of water, but the children in Mary's class aren't! They always have a good time in water. Mary has her swimming lessons every _ . A Monday B Friday C Saturday D Sunday Answer: C Does being one of the younger students mean you have more of an excuse to make mistakes? The Taiwanese pop duo Sweety, both 18 years old, will never do _ . Starting to sing at age 14,Esther Lau and Joanne Tseng were among the youngest performers in their company.Over the years, they have learnt to be strict with themselves. "No one forces us,but we have to work very hard to get to the top," they said."The early bird gets the worm." Recently,they have brought their new CD, "Sweet Talk" to Beijing.Their songs are as sweet as their honey looks. Although their voices go together well,they have different personalities.Esther is outgoing,while Joanne looks shy. They also have different ways to set life goals."I have to make short-term goals and realize them one by one," said Esther. But Joanne said she sets longer goals."I like to keep one final goal in my heart and work hard to reach it," she says. Esther studies English at a college.She hopes to be a teacher someday. Joanne says she has got a business mind from her father.Perhaps she'll be a boss someday! Joanne's father is good at _ .Ks5u A singing B dancing C business D sports Answer: C
Beloved teacher Michael Landsberry, a former Marine, died a hero at Sparks Middle School in Nevada on Monday in another tragic campus shooting. The 45-year-old was killed while trying to talk to the unidentified 12-year-old gunman, who later killed himself. "He was telling him to stop and put the gun down," student Jose Cazares told Today on Tuesday. "Then the kid, he yelled out, 'No!' Like, he was yelling at him, and he shot him. The teacher was calm, he was holding out his hand like, 'Put the gun in my hand.' " Students, parents and fellow teachers are calling Landsberry's actions heroic. Tom Robinson, vice chief with the Reno Police Department, also praised him, saying, "In my estimation, he is a hero. We do know he was trying to intervene (,)." Landsberry, who went by the nickname Batman, and coached sports teams at the middle school and neighboring high school, was remembered fondly on social media by many students. "It's just so sad knowing he left because he protected his students," one of the posts said, followed by another that read, "The sad part is this week it's his and his wife's anniversary and his daughter graduates from the military tomorrow." CNN reports that two students who were wounded by the shooter - who used a Ruger 9 mm semi-automatic handgun - are currently in stable condition in hospital. Authorities will not be releasing the identity of the shooter out of respect for his parents, but schoolmate Amaya Newton was shocked by his actions, calling the gunman "a really nice kid," adding, "He would make you smile when you were having a bad day." "Everybody wants to know why the shooter opened fire," Sparks vice chief Tom Miller said at a news conference. "That's the big question. The answer is we don't know right now, but we are trying to determine why." What happened after the incident? Answer: It is now February 7, 2035. The search engine TalkTalk will be open to the public next week and this service will soon be something beyond your imagination. For the first time you can not only talk to the search engine, but you can discuss with it what you are looking for. For example, if you want to know more about the oil price, TalkTalk asks if you want to know the current oil price, the development of the oil price, or news related to the oil price. You say that you want to read news about it and TalkTalk then directs you to your source, or lets you have the latest news related to the oil price in order from the most respectable sources. Compared with other search services that use a certain algorithm to provide data from a search, the artificial intelligence behind TalkTalk is said to easily spot if a certain source is aiming to cheat the searcher. TalkTalk also judges and stores every given reply and discussion, to learn how to give correct answers. TalkTalk is also set to answer questions directly where there is a definite answer. How well this will work in the long run is yet to be seen, but thousands of people have tested TalkTalk and the quality is really good. The first talking search engine saw the light of day more than 30 years ago and was called Speegle. It could read the results from a written search on the Internet, and was mostly for blind people. So far, TalkTalk cannot read the information from a certain source to you by phone, if it is not freely available. There are currently talks to find an arrangement for this, but it would most likely be difficult because of copyright . TalkTalk is available over the Internet and also by phone, even though it only speaks English. There are no plans to add other languages in the near future, most likely because it will cost a lot of money. When you are tired of asking TalkTalk all your questions, just ask, "Where is TalkTalk?" and you will get an answer that will make you leave it with a smile on your lips. In which part of a future newspaper can you read the text? Answer: Simon is a student in a middle school. He is very strong. He goes to No.6 Middle School on a bus. He's good at English. But he's often late for his English classes. His father is a doctor. He's big and tall. He works in a big hospital. His mother is a nurse. She's slim and pretty. They are in the same hospital. They all work hard. He loves his father and mother very much. His father and mother both go to work by bike. We can see bikes here and there. And China is a "country of bikes". Why do we say China is a "country of bikes"? Answer: For a student, reading ability is very important in our study. How to read faster and understand better? Here is some advice for you. 1. Find Your Purpose for Reading Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons---pleasure or knowledge. Being clear about your reading purpose not only helps you to stay away from books that you don't need to read. It also reminds you why reading the. book is important to you when you are reading it. You can easily keep reading and finish the book faster. 2. Read Only What You Are Interested in Whether you're reading fiction or nonfiction, it's important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may share books they love, but those books might not be the ones you enjoy. 3. Give up Books That You Don't Enjoy You may have chosen books that agree with your purpose. You may have chosen books that you are interested in. But when you are reading them, there may still be some books that you won't enjoy reading, Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up. Remember reading shouldn't be a chore. 4. Give Yourself a Deadline to Finish Each Book Before you read each book, ask yourself when you need to finish this book by. What I find interesting is that I read books that I borrow from libraries faster than the books I bought. The reason is the books I bought don't have a due date! I don't need to return those books, When you don't set a _ to finish your book. There isn't a sense of urgency . And when something isn't urgent, you will like to put it off. The writer reads books borrowed from the library faster than the books he bought because _ . Answer: Jack was born in a poor family. His father had a small boat and went fishing in the morning and sold the fish in the market in the afternoon. Then he bought some food for his family. When winter came, they were often hungry. One morning the hungry man fell into the river and nobody found him. Jack's mother left her three-year-old son without saying goodbye. His aunt had to look after him. Twenty years passed. Jack became a tall, strong man. He worked on a farm. He worked hard and wanted to get more money to marry . He often went to see his aunt with some nice presents. The woman was very happy. But one day she died in a traffic accident . The young man was very sad. After he buried her, he decided to buy a beautiful tombstone for her. He went to the town and came into a shop, but all the tombstones were too expensive. He asked, "Do you sell an old tombstone, sir?" "Yes, we do, sir," answered the shopkeeper. "Is it as expensive as the new one?" "No, it is much cheaper," said the man. "But another name was engraved on it." "It doesn't matter," said the man. "My aunt could not read." As _ , the family were hungry. Answer:
Question: Street maps are examples of two dimensional models. Which information cannot be determined using a basic map? A. distance from place to place B. directions such as north and south C. names of highways and roads D. elevations such as distance above sea level Answer: D Question: The condor screamed in pain as its wing was singed by the A. ice B. water C. electricity D. campfire Answer: D Question: Many science fiction stories tell about explorers arriving in a new world. The explorers then use some kind of high-tech device to test for breathable air or signs of life. But here on Earth, science fiction is becoming reality through a new sampling technology called environmental DNA, or e-DNA for short. Scientists can use it to identify rare or invasive species, study bio-diversity or estimate fish populations with just a little air or water. Ryan Kelly is an ecologist at the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington in Seattle. He works in a laboratory there with other researchers. They study the genetic material released by living creatures. "Essentially we can take a sample of soil or air -- and in our case -- water, and we can sequence(to arrange the order of genes)the DNA out of it and tell you what is there." Ryan Kelly says he and his research team are studying water samples collected from Puget Sound. He says the cost of gene sequencing has "been reduced greatly in recent years." That makes DNA testing more widely available. Environmental DNA can be used in two ways. One is to identify the creatures that live in a certain place. The other is to confirm the presence or lack of a specific creature. Caren Goldberg heads the new e-DNA lab at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. She is one of the first biologists in the northwestern United States to take the technology from the testing phase to actually using it. "It is extremely useful for species that are really hard to find. I have spent many hours looking for species that I was pretty sure were there -- looking under rocks, looking in water, doing all kinds of surveys." Caren Goldberg sees e-DNA as a way to get answers more efficiently, safely and with less destruction compared to traditional survey techniques. Until recently, scientists depended on diving deep, netting or using an electric current to temporarily catch fish. "We're absolutely at this point where proof-of-concept has been established. I don't think everyone necessarily is ready for it yet, but I think the majority of people are." This newer way to identify what lives in the environment is becoming popular around the world. Animal experts in Vietnam are using the e-DNA to find the last, wild Yangtze giant softshell turtles. One researcher on the Caribbean island of Trinidad is using the sampling technology to find endangered golden tree-frogs. And in Madagascar, it is being used to identify amphibian diseases. Ms. Goldberg has used e-DNA testing to confirm the local extinction, disappearance, of a leopard frog in the American state of Idaho. She has also been asked to document the spread of the New Zealand mud-snail in the state of Washington. The creature has been found in lakes and other waterways across the state. Now, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management wants Caren Goldberg to look for the Columbia spotted frog in two other western states. The rare amphibian is a candidate for the federal government's threatened species list. Scientists working with the technology say they do not expect robots to replace field biologists anytime soon. But the old-fashioned field work could soon be more targeted. A related research goal is to show how long environmental DNA can last and how far it can travel in different environments. What has made E-DNA magic is that with E-DNA _ . A. you are likely to find information about a species with a little air, water, or soil B. some kind of high-tech device can be used to test for breathable air or signs of life C. you are able to get answers more efficiently, safely though with more damage D. the cost of gene sequencing has been reduced greatly in recent years. Answer: A Question: When I was young, I liked to play jokes on people I knew, especially on my parents and friends. One day my mother was cooking in the kitchen and my younger brother was playing near the window. I ran to my mother and said,\| " My brother has fallen from the open window!" She was very worried about my brother and then I said, "Don't worry. I'm just joking. " And my mother shouted at me, " If you do it again, I'll punish you. " One day I went swimming with my friends in the sea. I wanted to play a joke on my friends. In the beginning, I went swimming alone, and I called to my friends, " Help me!" All my friends came to help me, only to find out that I was joking. But the next time I wasn't joking. I swam in deep water and I was so careless that I was almost drowned . I tried my best to call my friends for help, but this time nobody came to saved my life. They took me to _ . From then on, I haven't joked on anyone. I think this is the best lesson in my life. What did the writer like to do when he was young? A. To fight with his friends. B. To play with his brother. C. To play jokes on others. D. To put others into trouble. Answer: C Question: Today, the paintings by Vincent van Gogh are world-famous and worth many millions of dollars but while he was alive, Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting. He was a lonely, unhappy man who suffered from mental illness, and he died at the early age of 37. Vincent van Gogh was born in Holland in 1853. His first connection with paintings came in 1869, when he got a job in the Goupil Gallery. He worked for this art dealer in London and Paris for four years before he became a teacher in England for a short time. He moved back to France in 1877 and soon began to paint. Vincent van Gogh was influenced by the famous artists that he met in Paris, where he returned to live in 1886. He did not stay long in the French capital. He was attracted by the vivid color1s of the countryside and, in 1888, he moved to Aries, a small town in the south of France. There, he painted his most famous paintings, using strong brush strokes and bright color1s. Vincent van Gogh mainly painted landscapes, but he also produced portraits of local people, such as the doctor and the postman. It was around this time that Vincent van Gogh began to show signs of mental illness. In 1889, following an argument with another artist, he cut off his own ear. For a time, he lived in a mental hospital in Saint Remy. In 1890, Vincent van Gogh moved to a town called Auvers. For two months, he painted feverishly . Then, one day, he went into the fields with a revolver and shot himself. He died from his wounds the next day. Which of the following is TRUE about Vincent van Gogh? A. He never painted people. B. He liked to paint using bright color1s. C. He began painting in his early childhood. D. He was quite rich because his paintings were valuable. Answer: B
"Hi Dave,how are you today?Just thought I'd let you know what I'm doing,"they would read.Or "Sorry you're going.I've had a good time and that would probably have had something to do with you,so thanks." In some ways,the relaxed attitude was shocking,says Melville.But it was a sign of how students' understanding of their role has changed. "They have a more independent view of the university,and they feel free to comment,"said Melville. A committee,led by Melville,was set up earlier this year to explore the change in students' attitudes towards teachers. "This is something being driven by young people,"said Melville. "They live surrounded by different kinds of electronic resources.They use social networking tools and things like Wikipedia.The first group of these students is now at university." Students don't regard teaching staff in the same way as previous students did. "Because Web2.0, Google,Wikipedia are all about being able to change things yourself,students expect to be able to do this as well,"said Melville. There have been other changes in the student--teacher relationship.If students choose to study through a social networking group,they are in control.They don't always make staff welcome,and they are free to decide which staff members they allow in. "Almost everybody who gets into using these kinds of technologies,it appears,becomes much shallower in their research,"said Melville. What's the text mainly about? Answer: The change in university students' attitudes to teachers. La Gomera is the only place in the world which has a whistle language. We do not know how and why it began because we do not know the complete history of the island. But we can certainly imagine the reasons for the beginning of the whistle language. There are many deep valleys on the island. A person on one side of a valley can not easily shout to a person on the other side. But he can whistle and be heard. Some of the best whistlers can be heard from four miles away and the record is seven miles. The people who live on the island usually have good teeth, and this helps them to whistle well. They must also have good ears so that they can hear other whistlers. We can understand why the whistle language continues. It is very useful on the island, and quite easy to learn. When somebody is hurt or ill, the whistle language takes the place of telephone. If the sick person is quite far away from the town, people pass the message from one to another. A boy guarding cattle on a hillside whistles to a man fishing from his boat. The last one is able to describe the trouble fully and exactly to the doctor in town. People help one another in the same way when a car breaks down or a cow is lost. The whistle language is hundreds of years old, and probably it will continue to live on for hundreds of years more. Radio and TV often kill the special ways of speaking in different parts of a country. But on La Gomera you are nobody if you cannot whistle. Perhaps soon after TV arrives on the island, people there will be whistling the news and other facts and opinions. If a person on La Gomera is ill, _ . Answer: the whistle language will help pass the message to the doctor A close friend of mine lives with six hundred wild animals on the Greek Island of Kyklos.Ever since he left school (where I first knew him),he has travelled all over the world collecting animals for his very own zoo.He hoped to collect at least two examples of every sort of animal on his island before the Great Flood. But the flood that my friend was afraid of was a flood not of water, but of people. I expect you have heard of my friend: he writes books about his travels,and about the wild and wonderful animals that he collects. The money from the books helps to pay for all the food that these animals eat. My friend told me that when he was out looking for water last week,(there is not enough water on the island,though there is plenty all round it,)he found oil.He needs money for his travels,and for his zoo,and a little oil would buy enough water for a lifetime;but he knows that if he tells anybody else about it,it will be the end of his zoo, and his life's work. So,if I know my friend,he will not tell anybody (but you and me)about what he found--because oil and water do not mix. Since he left school _ . Answer: he has travelled all over the world collecting animals A week ago, I had the great pleasure of reading an e-book, When Money Talks, Listen! by Rich Ezzo. It took only about an hour to read. When I first received a copy, I thought it was a Get Rich Quick type of publication. Nothing is wrong with Get Rich Quick, but my mind just doesn't run after dreams of wealth. I think that if God ever wants me to be rich, he knows where to find my purse. When I began reading When Money Talks, Listen!, I was overjoyed to find that Rich Ezzo isn't money hungry either. He, too, is hungry for more important than money. Since I love this e-book so much, why wait a week to write the review? Simple. I wanted to see if the effect it had on me was a keeper. After reading the last word of the e-book, I totally agreed with the subtitle which promised to forever change the way we thought about money. I had so many thoughts running around my mind that I had to install a stoplight to stop some while others made their way into the picture, then I yielded them as a few ones arrived in town. I had a mental traffic jam, which only goes to show how slow the traffic usually is. It has been a week and the effect is the same. I truly do look at money differently and have even done a few things differently this week. This is an e-book you 'll want to read, I promise. I often recommend books to my daughter, and this is one that I didn't just "suggest"----I left it open at the bottom of the compute and told each one ,"Read it, you'll love it ". I would never point someone in a direction I wouldn't go myself. I strongly advise you to visit the author's website, Myster Money, and to download the e-book. You won't regret it. The author wrote this passage to _ . Answer: strongly recommend an e-book Market analysts in the United States have recently been quoted as saying that the biggest threat to the luxury industry in the US is the tech industry. This is according to an article by fellow journalist Ashley Lutz. Her suggestion is sound. The main idea of her article is that products from Tiffany & Co. find their biggest competition not from other luxury brands but from companies like Apple. Lutz points out that luxury products are often only for "show," while the attraction behind tech products is functionality. You find few people in the United States today willing to purchase luxury goods at full price. It didn't use to be that way. Luxury goods used to be actually _ . That meant you needed to travel to the right store to purchase them, and you didn't even have the option of getting a deal. Today, no one wants to pay full price for luxury goods. People have the unfortunate belief that fakes somehow are equal to originals, and if you can't get a deal on eBay, Amazon, or in an outlet store, purchasing a luxury product probably isn't worth it. Luxury brands struggle to remain high-end images despite the reality that the American consumer is motivated much more by discounts than they are by brand names or image. Yet people stand in line to pay full price for a new product from Apple and crowds gather to hear about a new smart phone. While electronics are updating every day, people are purchasing technology at full prices much more than they are purchasing luxury goods. What are high-tech makers doing right that luxury makers are pitifully failing at? Carefully looking at the situation, it would appear as if the Internet didn't hurt the luxury industry, expectation from the consumers did. What people want these days more than anything is stuff that does something. They want cars that drive, shoes that are comfortable, games that are fun to play, screens that are beautiful to look at, tools that are useful, and entertainment that is entertaining. Little of that fits into what the luxury industry has typically offered with its status, image, and fine materials. The sad reality is that luxury products aren't that luxury any more. What do people pay most attention to nowadays? Answer: The function of products.
It is April 10. It is Tuesday. Cindy gets up at 6:30 in the morning. She is in her blue skirt. She really likes that skirt. Then she goes into the kitchen. She loves eggs and apples in the morning. Cindy's mother is a teacher at her school. Cindy is in the second grade , and her mother teaches the fourth grade. Cindy is excited about going to school today because her class has a test . Cindy loves school and she likes to get good grades . Cindy eats her breakfast and then she and her mother go to school. Cindy goes to her classroom and her history teacher, Ms. Brown is there. It is fun to be in Ms. Brown's class. She is a great teacher. Now Cindy's classmates are all in the classroom, and they start the test. Cindy remembers everything, so she can do everything right. After the test, Cindy and her classmates play for a long time. Then they eat lunch. After lunch, they watch a funny movie . Then they draw pictures. It is really a great day! What do the children do after the test? Answer: When Marco Polo travelled to Hangzhou, China 700 hundred years ago, never had he thought he'd be creating a job of social media ambassador in the 21st century in China. On May 20, one lucky foreigner would be selected to become the modern-day Marco Polo, getting a free 15-day trip to the scenic city of Hangzhou in China, and rewarded $55,000 in the next year for working part-time to promote the city to the global audience. Five finalists from Australia, Romania, U.S., Switzerland and France were in the final race. They came from a pool of 700 applicants from around the world, carefully selected by the Hangzhou Tourism Commission on their familiarity with China, social media presence and adventurous spirit. Located about 100 miles southwest to Shanghai, Hangzhou is home to 844 million population and among China's richest cities as measures by per-capita GDP. Traditionally, Hangzhou is known for its charming West Lake, a UNESCO world heritage site with traditional Chinese stories and tales, and the Grand Canal, which travels from Hangzhou to Beijing and was a key route of transportation in ancient China. The city's mild climate and charming environment drew 97 million tourists last year, contributing to 6.5% of the city's GDP. The lucky winner would start an all-expense-paid trip to Hangzhou, which, in addition to visits to tourist sites and tastings of delicious food, also would include a four-day ride along the Grand Canal and three evenings spent at a local resident's home. "It is in fact a part-time job. How you work that out efficiently is your problem," Liam Bates, perhaps the strongest competitor because of his fluent Chinese, said. "We will see how hard it is to meet these numbers." Liam Bates was most likely to get the job mainly due to his _ . Answer: An astronaut's work may sound exciting, but living in space isn't as fun as you think. The website www.space.com lists the disadvantages of living in space. Here are some of them. When astronauts work outside the station during spacewalks, they have to wear special gloves. The gloves are very tight. They can hurt the astronauts' fingernails and even make them fall off. In space, you don't have many choices in what you eat. It's hard to get fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not OK to eat bread because it leaves crumbs . Crumbs could fly around everywhere. In space, it is impossible to have a good shower because water can fly all over the ship and break the machines. Astronauts have to use a special water-shooting gun and a washcloth. Astronauts lose their bone strength quickly during their stay in space. So far, there is no way to solve this problem. They do exercise while they're in space to try to keep their bones strong as long as possible. Perhaps the hardest part of life in space is the feeling of loneliness. Astronauts sometimes have to spend weeks and even months away from Earth. They miss their friends and families. How do the astronauts keep their bones strong in space? Answer: Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth's surface. Earthquakes happen along "fault lines" in the earth's crust. Earthquakes can be felt over large areas although they usually last less than one minute. Earthquakes cannot be predicted ---- although scientists are working on it! Most of the time, you will notice an earthquake by the gentle shaking of the ground. You may notice hanging plants swaying or objects wobbling on shelves. Sometimes you may hear a low rumbling noise or feel a sharp jolt. A survivor of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco said the sensation was like riding a bicycle down a long flight of stairs. The intensity of an earthquake can be measured. One measurement is called the Richter scale. Earthquakes below 4.0 on the Richter scale usually do not cause damage, and earthquakes below 2.0 usually can't be felt. Earthquakes over 5.0 on the scale can cause damage. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake is considered strong and a magnitude 7.0 is a major earthquake. The Wenchuan Earthquake, which hit Sichuan Province in 2008, was magnitude 7.8. Earthquakes are sometimes called temblors, quakes, shakers or seismic activity. The most important thing to remember during an earthquake is to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. So remember to DROP to the floor and get under something for COVER and HOLD ON during the shaking. Which statement about earthquakes is Not correct? Answer: Hobbs was an orphan . He worked in a factory and every day he got a little money. Hard work made him thin and weak. He wanted to borrow a lot of money to learn to paint pictures, but he did not think he could pay off the debts. One day a lawyer said to him, "One thousand dollars, and here is the money." As Hobbs took the package of notes, he was very dumbfounded. He didn't know where the money came from and how to spend it. He said to himself, "I could go to find a hotel and live like a rich man for a few days; or I give up my work in the factory and do what I'd like to do: painting pictures. I could do that for a few weeks, but what would I do after that? I should have lost my place in the factory and have no money to live on. If it were a little less money, I would buy a new coat, or a radio, or give a dinner to my friends. If it were more, I could give up the work and pay for painting pictures. But it's too much for one and too little for the other." "Here is the reading of your uncle's will ," said the lawyer, "telling what is to be done with this money after his death. I must ask you to remember one point. Your uncle has said you must bring me a paper showing exactly what you did with his money, as soon as you have spent it." "Yes, I see. I'll do that," said the young man. Hobbs wanted to borrow money to _ . Answer:
America's greatest technological achievement, the Hoover Dam, now has a companion piece, a bridge held up by the longest arch in the Western Hemisphere . The Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which opened this month and connects the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada, crosses the vast chasm 890 feet above the Colorado River that is controlled by the dam. The striking 1,900-foot-long structure will improve traffic in the region and help protect the dam from being destroyed. It is the seventh highest bridge in the world, behind four in China, one in Papua New Guinea and one in the US state of Colorado. "The Hoover Dam is the greatest civil engineering achievement in America's history," said the bridge project manager Dave Zanatell. "Our goal was not to outdo or outshine it. Our goal was to, in a respectful way, do something that would be great for our generation and that would stand besides Hoover Dam in a respectful and quality way that would become a part of Hoover's legacy ." Just as the Hoover Dam was built in the heart of the Great Depression and was seen as an example of the nation's can-do spirit, some hope this project can also provide some _ . The bridge is surprising: at 1,050 feet, its support arch holds up a roadway that lies on 300-foot-long concrete pillars , some of the tallest in the world. It contains 16 million pounds of steel. The idea of the bridge came into being in the 1960s because the top of the Hoover Dam has been a narrow two-lane road that is the fastest route from Arizona to Las Vegas and then the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Access to the dam from each direction is a dangerously winding route, but massive trucks and passenger vehicles shared it for decades. During the day, when thousands of tourists travel to the dam from Las Vegas three times as many accidents as on a normal road will happen. The bridge has a sidewalk on the side facing the dam. The wall on both sides is 54 inches high, so walkers can take photos there. Which of the following is true of the Hoover Dam? In a trial between Jones and Smith, an issue arose about Smith's ownership of a horse that had caused damage to Jones's crops.Jones seeks to introduce into evidence a photograph of his cornfield in order to depict the nature and extent of the damage done. The judge should rule the photograph Most of the guests who come on our trips have never been to Egypt before .We want to make everyone comfortable and at ease, but we do always get the same questions in advance of trip. So here I will give you some travel tips. What should I wear? If you're lucky enough to visit Egypt between November and February, pack a sweater. You'll need it----the desert gets rather cold at night. During the day, the temperature will be agreeable and comfortable. Any other time, pack as if you're going to Phoenix of Vegas in August. For the ladies, bathing suits are normal if there's a pool where you are going, but leave the string bikini at home -it is a Muslim country, after all. Last, if you are planning on visiting any mosques or certain parts of upper Egypt, ladies will need to plan on bringing something that comes at least to the elbow , and no shorts for men or women in those areas. What special things do I need to pack? One of my favorite things in the world to bring to Egypt is an Evian Mister, a sprayer with a fine mist of Evian water. You may be able to find it in your local drug store. Spray a little on your face or head , and your body temperature will feel like it's dropped 10 or 15 degrees. Other items include your camera, sun block and extra batteries. How do I communicate with home? Internet cafes are plentiful everywhere, especially in Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria. If you have international calling on you phone, you should be able to use it-AT&T and Sprint both work internationally for sure, but make sure you have the international coverage. A satellite phone is best if you are certain to need coverage in the middle of the country, like while sailing up the Nile , but for most people these days a cell phone is fine. What medical preparation do I need? In a word: none! The one thing you may come down with in Egypt is politely called "Pharoah 's Revenge. " The thing that gets rid of pharoah's Revenge is a regionally produced medicine, and is available at every drugstore for $1 a box . DON'T drink local water. DO drink bottled water, avoid the skins of fresh vegetables, and you'll be fine. The purpose of this passage is to_. In most parts of the world, many students help their schools make less pollution.They join environment clubs.In an environment club, people work together to make our environment clean. Here are some things students often do. No-garbage lunches.How many lunch bags do you throw away after lunch? Environment clubs ask students to bring their lunches in bags that can be used again.Every week they will choose the classes that make the least garbage and report them to the whole school. No-car day.On a no-car day, nobody comes to school in a car including the students and the teachers.Cars give pollution to us, so remember: Walk, jump, bike, or run! Use your legs! It's lots of fun! Turn off the water! Do you know that some toilets can waste twenty to forty cubic meters of water an hour? In a year, that would fill in a small river. In the environment clubs, students mend those broken toilets. We love our environment.Let's work together to make it better. On a no-car day, _ will take a car to school. Three months ago, Mariza Castro leftprefix = st1 /Honduras. Today, she is in theUnited Statesand she has a job. Castro works behind the counter at McDoald's. Speed is an important part of her work life. Fast - food counter workers are expected to serve customers in less than a minute. At McDonald's they say, "Work fast or you don't last." Are McDonald's workers lucky to have their jobs? Or are they being _ ? The answer depends on who you talk to. McDoald's does many good things. For example, no other company hires more young people than McDonald's. More than half of its workers are under 20 years old. McDonald's also has a good record of hiring minority workers. Thirteen percent of its workers are black. This is better than any otherUScompany. But the burger house has its critics as well. The pay bothered Edward Rodriguez. He worked for nearly a year at a Los Angeles McDonald's. During that time he got only one 10 - cent raise. "I used to joke that working for McDonald's is the closest thing to slave labour in theUStoday," he days. Today, most McDonald's pay about $ 5.00 an hour. They hire new workers constantly. The restaurant has no other choice because 70 percent of its workers quit or are fired every year. But McDonald's also gets its share of praise. Its best workers move up quickly. Just talk to 17 - year - old Ameer Abdur - Razaaq of Harlem, New York City. "They call me 'Young Crew Chief' around my block," he says. "When else can I go at my age and be in charge of this many people?" He sees the job as the first step in his career. However, most McDoald's crew members never make it to manager because the job pressure is so intense, and the rewards so few. As one worker put it, "They expect a lot and they don't pay you much." Edward Rodriguez said working at McDonald's is like slave labour because he thought_.
A dog might be man's best friend, but my dogs are more like my kids! I think everyone should experience the unconditional love of a dog, but owning one is not for the nervousness. It's work--especially when it comes to the job of cleaning up their waste. When you clean up after your dogs, your neighbors will love you for keeping those smelly landmines out of their yards. But there are even bigger benefits. You'll not only be doing your part to keep bacteria out of your yard and neighborhood, you're also keeping harmful microorganisms away from the drinking water supply. There are more than 77 million pet dogs in the United States and their waste is found in backyards, neighborhood parks, and the green areas that frequently line small waterways. When you don't clean up after your dog, heavy rain can carry bacteria from the waste into drains. Dog waste left in parks and other such places can be swept directly into nearby streams. This affects the quality of the water in our streams. These small channels often empty directly into our local drinking water supply or the water where we boat or fish. Dog waste contains harmful microorganisms like roundworms that can be passed onto humans. This is why dog waste should not be used as fertilizer around your home. And it won't fertilize your yard either if you leave it behind like other types of fertilizer. Dogs don't eat the same kinds of natural material that cattle, horses or even elephants eat. The waste from those animals is actually beneficial for your yard and garden. You should always pick up after your dog and throw the waste into the trash can. Some smaller cities might prefer the waste to be washed down the toilet, but in cities where there are many dogs, it's best to send the waste to the landfill. When you properly deal with your dog's waste, you'll be doing your part to keep harmful bacteria out of your yards, your neighborhoods and your drinking water. What is the main purpose of this passage? He's an old cobbler with a shop in the Marais, a historic area in Paris. When I took him my shoes, he at first told me, "I haven't time. Take them to the other fellow on the main street. He'll fix them for you right away." But I had my eyes on his shop for a long time. Just looking at his bench loaded with tools and pieces of leather, I knew he was a skilled craftsman . "No." I replied, "The other fellow can't do it well." "The other fellow" was one of those shopkeepers who fix shoes and make keys -- without knowing much about mending shoes or making keys. They work carelessly, and when they have finished sewing back a sandal strap , you might as well just throw away the pair. My man saw I wouldn't give in, and he smiled. He wiped hands on his blue apron , looked at my shoes, had me write my name on one shoe with a piece of chalk and said, "Come back in a week." I was about to leave when he took a pair of soft leather boots off a shelf. "See what I can do?" he said with pride. "Only three of us in Paris can do this kind of work." When I got back out into the street, the world seemed brand-new to me. He was something out of an ancient legend, this old craftsman with his way of speaking familiarly, his very strange dusty felt hat, his funny accent and his pride in his craft. These are times when nothing is important but the bottom line, when you can do things any old way as long as it "pays", when, in short, people look on work as a path to ever-increasing consumption rather than a way to realize their abilities. In such a period it is a rare comfort to find a cobbler who gets his greatest satisfaction from pride in a job well done. The sentence "He was something out of an ancient legend" implies that _ . There are four seasons in a year.They are spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring is a beautiful season. It is from March to May. In spring, the trees turn green, and the flowers _ . Everything loooks new. Summer is a happy season. It is from June to August. In summer, we can swim and eat a lot of ice cream. Of course, we have a long holiday,summer holiday! At that time, we can join the summer camp. That's great! Autumn is a colourful season. It lasts from September to November. In autumn, the leaves on the trees turn yellow. Sometimes they are yellow or red. The colors are beautiful. Winter is a cold season. It's from December to February. In winter, it begins to snow in most places of China. Snow is white, and everything looks white. The children like playing with snow. Winter is from _ in China. When I was a boy my father told me that he could do anything he wanted to.Dad said that he wanted to be the first to develop color prints in our city, and so he did. When I was 16,dad looked closely at the violin I played and said that he wanted to make one.He read about violinmaking,and then became a violinmaker at the age of 43.He bought the tools and materials,opened a small store and set Mom up as the shopkeeper,while he worked at a local company.He retired from the company 17 years later and continued to make violins and other instruments. Dad often guessed why the Stradivarius violins sounded so beautiful.Some experts told him that it was the special varnish that gave the instruments their beautiful sound.Dad argued that chemists could analyze the varnish--if that was the answer. One of Dad's friends asked him which kind of wood was used to make violins.When dad explained that the top was made of spruce ,his friend said that he had all old piece of spruce which dad might be interested in. He worked for the next 12 months making a violin from the wood that his friend had given him.It proved to be an excellent violin and it would become Dad's masterpiece.He believed that the secret of the Stradivarius sound was in the wood itself. Later, the instrument was stolen. _ But he kept the music shop until he was 80 years old,selling guitars and violins. The violin has been missing for more than 25 years.Somewhere a musician is playing a late-20th-century violin with an excellent tone.The owner today may never understand why this Ordinary-looking violin sounds so much like Stradivarius. What did the writer's father think about Stradivarius violins? According to an old story, a farmer once found that a bag of corn had been stolen from his house. He went to the judge and told him about his loss. The judge ordered all the people of the farm to come before him. He took a number of sticks of equal length and gave one stick to each man. He then said, "Come before me again tomorrow. I shall then know which of you is the thief because the stick given to the thief will be one inch longer than the others." The thief was afraid of being found out, and so he cut an inch off his stick. The next day the thief's stick was found to be one inch shorter than any of the others. In this way the thief was found out, and was at once taken away to prison. Since the thief cut the stick short, _ .
Enough "meaningless drivel". That's the message from a group of members of the UK government who have been examining how social media firms like LinkedIn gather and use social media data. The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee's report, released last week, has blamed firms for making people sign up to long incomprehensible legal contracts and calls for an international standard or kitemark to identify sites that have clear terms and conditions. "The term and conditions statement that we all carelessly agree to is meaningless drivel to anyone," says Andrew Miller, the chair of the committee. Instead, he says, firms should provide a plain-English version of their terms. The simplified version would be checked by a third party and awarded a kitemark if it is an accurate reflection of the original. It is not yet clear who would administer the scheme, but the UK government is looking at introducing it on a voluntary basis. "we need to think through how we make that work in practice," says Miller. Would we pay any more attention to a kitemark? "I think if you went and did the survey, people would like to think they would," says Nigel Shadbolt at the University of Southampton, UK, who studies open data. "We do know people worry a lot about the inappropriate use of their information." But what would happen in practice is another matter, he says. Other organisations such as banks ask customers to sign long contracts they may not read or understand, but Miller believes social media requires special attention because it is so new. "We still don't know how significant the long-term impact is going to be of unwise things that kids put on social media that come back and bite them in 20 years' time," he says. Shadbolt, who gave evidence to the committee, says the problem is that we don't know how companies will use our data because their business models and uses of data are still evolving. Large collections of personal information have become valuable only recently, he says. The shock and anger when a social media firm does something with data that people don't expect, even if users have apparently permission, show that the current situation isn't working. If properly administered, a kitemark on terms and conditions could help people know what exactly they are signing up to. Although they would still have to actually read them. It can be inferred from the passage that Nigel Shadbolt doubts whether _ . A. social media firms would conduct a survey on the kitemark scheme B. people would pay as much attention to a kitemark as they think C. a kitemark scheme would be workable on a nationwide scale D. the kitemark would help companies develop their business models Answer: B The possibility that pleasant smells might reduce pain has recently been suggested by new research. In a scientific study, doctors asked 20 men and 20 women to keep their hands in very hot water for as long as possible while breathing in different smells. As people believe that strong smells can affect the senses, volunteers were asked not to eat or drink for eight hours before the experiment began. During the experiment, volunteers were asked to take in pleasant smells such as vanilla , and unpleasant smells such as durians . The volunteers kept their hands in the water until it became too hot for them. When they could not bear the pain any more, they took their hands out of the water. Scientists are interested in whether the senses or smell is related to pain and whether men and women have the same senses. Now, the study has proved that for women, pleasant smells reduce pain. For men, there is no change. Dr Finkelstein has been studying smells since 1999. He says that scientists already have data from 40 volunteers. He adds that this year, scientists will test another 60 volunteers and will be in a better position to explain the results. One explanation is that women's sense of smell developed long ago, and is linked to recognizing the smell of babies. Scientists used to believe that mothers recognized their children by sight only. Now, they have started to believe that the sense of smell also helps, but why pleasant smells do not reduce pain in men is a question still to be answered by scientists. From the passage we learn that _ . A. the reason why women are sensitive to smells is clear B. the experiment for the sense of smell has come to an end C. unpleasant smells affect men's senses more than women's D. scientists have not totally explained the result of the study Answer: D A portion of the earth, and other planets is a layer which is composed of A. large limestone bunkers B. thick stone piles C. mostly solid clay D. silicate rocky shell Answer: D The dodo was a ground nesting , flightless bird. An adult dodo could grow to a height of about a meter and weigh between 45-50 pounds. The natural habitat of this kind of bird lay in the forest of Mauritius. Seed and fruits that were found in the forest were the main food of the dodo birds. As they could easily get the food they required in the forest, they didn't need to fly. As time went by, they finally lost the ability to fly. It turned out to be a major disadvantage for dodos, as they were left with no ability to protect themselves against human beings' attacks in their natural habitat, which drove this kind of bird to extinction . The extinction of the dodo started in 1505, when Portuguese sailors set their foot on the Island of Mauritius. Before this, the dodo didn't face any danger. People began to hunt them. It was not long before animals, like cats, pigs and monkeys, were also introduced to the island by humans. When ships arrived, the rats on these ships came onto the land. Though these animals were not able to attack huge dodos, it was easy for them to attack dodos' nests on the ground. These animals continued to feed on dodo eggs. The dodo became a relatively rare bird in Mauritius at the beginning of the 17thcentury, and became extinct in the end. The last reported sighting of a dodo was in 1681. Why did the dodo lose its ability to fly? A. Because it liked walking on the ground. B. Because it had no enemies in the forest. C. Because it was too big to fly. D. Because it didn't need to fly to look for food. Answer: D I still remember the day when my mom said, "Let's get you some new clothes." You can imagine that to any little girl that would mean the world, but to me it meant the universe, because we were not very rich. After she said that, all I could think about was what kinds of clothes I would choose. To my surprise, my mom allowed me to pick out three dresses: a pink one, a blue one and a yellow one. The yellow one was my favorite. I had a best friend named Seema, whose family was even poorer than ours. We played and studied together, and spent the best days of our childhood laughing at the silly stories we made up. I was excited to show her my three beautiful new dresses. She loved them all and was happy for me, but tearfully explained to me that her father could only afford to buy her clothes for her birthday. I felt sorry, and then did something that surprised even myself: I asked her to pick out one of my dresses for herself. To my disappointment, she picked up my favorite--the yellow one. Please remember, I was only seven years. My heart almost popped out of my chest. But as she held it against her body, and I saw how brightly she smiled, I stopped feeling any hurt. I told her it looked lovely on her. I'll always remember Seema's smile, and how at that moment nothing mattered more. When you value your friendships, nothing else matters! We're still best friends today. Why did the new clothes mean the universe to the author? A. She loved dressing up more than anything else. B. She thought they would make her more beautiful. C. Her family was poor, and new clothes were very rare. D. Her mother only bought her new clothes for her birthday. Answer: C
Herta Muller, the Romanian-born German writer, has won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature.The award was announced in Stockholm on Thursday. Ms.Muller, 56, immigrated to Germany from Romania in 1987.She is the first German writer to win the Nobel in literature since Gunter Grass in 1999 and the 13th winner writing in German since the prize was first given in 1901.She is the 12th woman to win the literature prize.But unlike previous winners like Doris Lessing and V.S.Naipaul, Ms.Muller is ly unknown outside of literary circles in Germany. "I am very surprised and still cannot believe it," Ms.Muller said in a statement delivered by her publisher in Germany."I can't say anything more at the moment." She has written some 20 books, but just 5 have been translated into English, including the novels "The Land of Green Plums" and "The Appointment." At the news conference on Thursday at the German Publishers & Booksellers Association in Berlin, where she lives, Ms.Muller, wearing all black and sitting on a leopard-print chair, appeared nervous with all the cameras flashing on her. When asked what it meant that her name would now be mentioned in the same breath as German greats like Thomas Mann and Heinrich Boll, Ms.Muller remained philosophical."I am now nothing better and I'm nothing worse," she said, adding: "My inner thing is writing.That's what I can hold on to." Earlier in the day, at a news conference in Stockholm, Peter England, secretary of the Swedish Academy, said Ms.Muller was honored for her "very, very distinct special language" and because "she has really a story to tell about cruelty and repression in a village much like the one Muller grew up in." The awards ceremony is planned for Dec.10 in Stockholm.As the winner, Ms.Muller will receive about $1.4 million. What's the best title of the passage? Answer: The Man of Many Secrets -- Harry Houdini -- was one of the greatest American entertainers in the theater this century. He was a man famous for his escapes -- from prison cells, from wooden boxes floating in rivers, from locked tanks full of water. He appeared in theaters all over Europe and America. Crowds came to see the great Houdini and his "magic" tricks. Of course, his secret was not magic, or supernatural powers. It was simply strength. He had the ability to move his toes as well as he moved his fingers. He could move his body into almost any position he wanted. Houdini started working in the entertainment world when he was 17, in 1891. He and his brother Theo performed card tricks in club in New York. They called themselves the Houdini Brothers. When Harry married in 1894, he and his wife Bess worked together as magician and assistant. But for a long time they were not very successful. Then Harry performed his first prison escape, in Chicago in 1898. Harry persuaded a detective to let him try to escape from the prison, and he invited the local newspapermen to watch. It was the publicity that came from this that started Harry Houdini's success. Harry had fingers trained to escape from handcuffs and toes trained to escape ankle chins. But his biggest secret was how he unlocked the prison doors. Every time he went into the prison cell, Bess gave him a kiss for good luck -- and a small skeleton key, which is a key that fits many locks, pass quickly from her mouth to his. Harry used these prison escapes to build his fame. He arranged to escape from the local prison of every town he visited. In the afternoon, the people of the town would read about it in their local newspapers, and in the evening every seat in the local theater would be full. What was the result? World-wild fame, and a name remembered today. It can be inferred from the passage that Houdini became famous _ . Answer: This is likely to be an insulator Answer: When several people look at the same person, it is not unusual for each of them to see different things; when you are alone observing one behavior or a person at two different times, you may see different things. The followings are but some of the factors that lead to these varying perceptions(,): (1) Each person's perceptions of others are formed by his or her own cultural conditioning, education, and personal experiences. (2) Sometimes perceptions differ because of what we choose to observe and how we deal with what've observed. It is not necessarily true that person perception is based on observations of a particular person. Your observations may be totally controlled by what others have told you about this person; or you may focus primarily on the situation or role relationship. Most people do not use the same standard to measure their parents, their friends, and strangers. (3) Sometimes we see only what we want to see or don't see what may be obvious to others because of our own needs, desires, or temporary emotional states. This is a process known as selective perception. Selective perception is obviously more difficult when contradictory information is particularly obvious, but it can be done. We can ignore the _ ----"He's basically a good boy so what I saw was not shoplifting ." We can reduce the importance of the contradictory information ----"All kids get into mischief . Taking a book from a bookstore isn't such a big deal." We can change the meaning of the contradictory information--- "It wasn't shoplifting because he was going to pay for it later."... While observing a particular person, _ . Answer: Which of the following groups of organisms uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen? Answer:
Barry and Jim are twin brothers. But they like different things. Barry likes basketball and soccer. He is in the school basketball club, and he plays soccer every day. He has 9 basketballs in his bookcase. He also likes volleyball. He has 3 white volleyballs and 3 blue volleyballs. He doesn't like tennis. He wants to be a soccer player. Jim doesn't like sports. He likes books. He thinks reading books is interesting. He reads a book every day. He has many books about English. He has a great collection of English books. But he puts these books everywhere in his room. He thinks books are good friends. He wants to be a writer. What club is Barry in? Answer: "In my country, men usually go to restaurants on their own. They always take their shoes off before they go in. Then they usually sit on the floor around a small, low table. In the evening they often sing songs." "You usually take chocolates or flowers. But you always take an odd number of flowers, and you remove the paper before you give them to the hostess. You can also send flowers before you arrive. you don't usually take wine except when you visit very close friends." "We always offer our guests something to drink when they arrive, tea, coffee or perhaps water or soft drinks. We think it is polite to accept a drink even if you're not thirsty. If you visit someone you always stay for a few drinks. When you have had enough to drink, you tap your cup or put your hand over it. If you say no, your host will insist that you have more to drink." "People's private lives are very important so they never ask you personal questions about your family or where you live or your job. They never talk about religion or matters of finance, education or politics, but usually stay with safe subjects like the weather, films, plays, books and restaurants." "It's difficult to know when to leave, but an evening meal usually lasts about three or four hours. When the host serves coffee, this is sometimes a sign that the evening is nearly over, but you can have as much coffee as you want." "If the invitation says eight o'clock then we arrive exactly at eight. With friends we know well, we sometimes arrive about fifteen minutes before." "Obviously it depends on the occasion, but most dinner parties are informal. The men don't usually wear a suit, but they may wear a jacket and tie. Women are usually smart but casual." What should you bring when you are invited to have dinner? Answer: Angry survivors demanded answers on Sunday after a terrible accident at "Love Parade 2010", a music festival in Germany, killed 19 people and left hundreds hurt. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock over Saturday's tragedy in the western city of Duisburg., "This was a very sad day," Merkel said. Witnesses said that people pushed into the narrow tunnel, the only entrance to the Love Parade festival, from both sides until it was dangerously overcrowded. The panic began as festival-goers began to lose consciousness as they were crushed against the walls and each other. The dead included eight foreigners, from Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Bosnia and Spain. More than 340 people were injured. After the panic, a lot of emergency vehicles , including helicopters, could be seen carrying away the injured people. The festival itself, however, went on. Police were afraid that ending the music altogether could cause further unrest among the crowd. "The event was a real mess," Patrick Guenter, a 22-year-old baker, said. "Although the festival was full, they kept letting people in," he added. "It seems the organizers didn't plan the route. And no one knew what was going on." said Taggart Bowen-Gaddy, 20, an American from Philadelphia. Officials said 4,000 police officers and 1,000 security guards provided security for the event, which attracted up to 1.4 million people. "I warned one year ago that Duisburg was not a suitable place for the Love Parade. The city is too small and narrow for such events. It is a pity that..." German police union chief Rainer Wendt said. The chief organizer, Rainer Schaller, said the popular event would never be held again, "out of respect for the victims and their families". How did the German Chancellor Angela Merkel feel about the tragedy? Answer: Failure is probably the most exhausting experience a person ever has. There is nothing more tiring than not succeeding. We experience this tiredness in two ways: as start-up fatigue and performance fatigue. In the former case, we keep putting off a task because it has either too boring or too difficult. And the longer we delay it, the more tired we feel. Such start-up fatigue is very real, even if not actually physical, not something in our muscles and bones. The solution is obvious though perhaps not easy to apply: always handle the most difficult job first. Years ago, I was asked to write 102 essays on the great ideas of some famous authors. Applying my own rule, I determined to write them in alphabetical , never letting myself leave out a tough idea. And I always started the day's work with the difficult task of essay-writing. Experience proved that the rule works. Performance fatigue is more difficult to handle. Though willing to get started, we cannot seem to do the job right. Its difficulties appear so great that, however hard we work, we fail again and again. In such a situation, I work as hard as I can-then let the unconscious take over. When planning Encyclopaedia Britannica (<<>> ), I had to create a table of contents based on the topics of its articles. Nothing like this had ever been done before, and day after dat I kept coming up with solutions, but none of them worked. My fatigue became almost unbearable. One day, mentally exhausted, I wrote down all the reasons why this problem could not be solved. I tried to convince myself that the trouble was with the problem itself, not with me. Relived, I sat back in an easy chair and fell asleep. An hour later, I woke up suddenly with the solution clearly in mind. In the weeks that followed, the solution which had come up in my unconscious mind provided correct at every step. Though I worked as hard as before, I felt no fatigue. Success was now as exciting as failure had been depressing. Human beings, I believe must try to succeed. Success, then, means never feeling tired. What does the author recommend doing to prevent start-up fatigue? Answer: Local businessmen are increasingly facing competition from online retailers. Larry Pollock, owner of Camera Co/Op on South Congress, said he has been dealing with this kind of problem for years, even before the Internet. The struggle began with mail-order catalogues , which are similar to online retailers in that they have few employees to pay, no sales tax fees and no business venue to lease and manage. "Their overhead is lower, but they don't offer a service like we do," Pollock said. Pollock, however, said providing a valuable service to customers does not always guarantee continued sales. "We spend 30 minutes to an hour with somebody and they go home and buy it on line," he said. According to the state comptroller's office, online shopping is developing at a more rapid rate than traditional businesses. In spite of how fair or unfair online shopping may be to the local businessmen, consumers will continue to turn to the Internet for its variety and accessibility, said Mitch Wilson, an online shopper. "You have a larger selection and it's easier to compare prices." Wilson said he built his personal computer and paid a third of the price by shopping on line. "Before the Internet, I would have had to go and buy an assembled computer from somebody like Dell," he said. "Before I started shopping on line I could never find all the pieces I wanted. No single store had everything needed, so shopping on line saved me from having to buy from Dell." Janny Brazeal, a psychology freshman, said online shopping is too impersonal. "'d rather see it in person, touch it, know that I'm getting it," she said. Brazeal also said she would not give out her credit card number or other personal information on line no matter how safe the site claims it is. Mitch Wilson prefers to build his personal compu- ter by shopping on line because _ . Answer:
Eagles eat Answer: We already know the fastest,least expensive way to slow down climate change:use less energy.With a little effort,and not much money,most of us could reduce our energy diets by 25 percent or more--doing the Earth a favor while also helping our wallets. Not long ago,my wife,PJ,and I tried a new diet--not to lose a little weight but to answer an annoying question about climate change.Scientists have reported recently that the world is heating up even faster than predicted only a few years ago,and that the consequences could be severe if we don't keep reducing emission of carbon dioxide(CO2)and other greenhouse gases that are trapping heat in our atmosphere. We decided to try an experiment.For one month we recorded our personal emission of CO2.We wanted to see how much we could cut back,so we went on a strict diet.The average US household produces about 150 pounds of CO2a day by doing common things like turning on air conditioning or driving cars.That's more than twice the European average and almost five times the global average,mostly because Americans drive more and have bigger houses.But how much should we try to reduce? For an answer,I checked with Tim Flannery,author of The Weather Makers:How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth.In his book,he had challenged readers to make deep cuts in personal emission to keep the world from reaching extremely important _ ,such as the melting of the ice sheets in Greenland or West Antarctica."To stay below that point,we need to reduce CO2emission by 80 percent,"he said. Good advice,I thought.I'd opened our bedroom windows to let in the wind.We'd gotten so used to keeping our air-conditioning going around the clock.I'd almost forgotten the windows even opened.We should not let this happen again.It's time for us to change our habits if necessary. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? Answer: It's human nature to lead a sedentary lifestyle and most of us are so involved in our busy schedules that we don't even notice our bad habits. Many worry about the right time or "right age" to start working out. But it's never too late to start exercising and all you need is enough determination. Here're some practical tips to help you get fit. Master your mind--most people argue that they're too tired or old to start exercising. Doing so is much easier than trying to change the busy lifestyle. Change your mindset and be more confident in improving your health. Tell your body to be more active and say, "I can do it." Easy does it--once you have chosen a fitness program, start slowly and increase it in stages. Begin with just a few minutes of gentle exercises and stretches. Go next to some mild activity such as walking, jogging or cycling. About 30 minutes should be devoted to your workout. As your body starts to respond and your muscles get used to the exercises, you can gradually increase the length of your workout. Don't overload your body--there's no quick access to getting fit. It's a common mistake to do too much too soon. If you don't know how to balance your needs and your expectations, you might seriously injure your muscles or just create stress. _ -- always remember to warm up your muscles before exercising. Gentle warm-ups will reduce your risk of injury, aches and pains, and increase blood circulation and flexibility. Cool down--when you finish your routine, you need to cool your muscles and let your heart rate slow gradually. Cooling down will help your body to return to its pre-exercise level. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: Water vapor cooling Answer: Computer programmer David Jones earned PS35,000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank prepared to let him have a check card, he has been told to wait another two years until he is 18. He works for a small firm in Liverpool, where most young people of his age are finding jobs. David's biggest headache is what to do with his money. Though he has high payment, he cannot drive a car, or get credit card . David got his job four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-levels and working for a time in a computer shop. "I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs," he said. "I suppose PS35,000 sounds a lot but I hope it will come to more than that this year." He spends some of his money on records and clothes, and gives his mother PS20 a week as he lives with his parents. But most of his spare time is spent working. "Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school, " he said. "But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway. I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement is a possibility. You never know when the market might disappear." He left school after taking six O-levels because _ . Answer:
It is said that people born on different dates have different characteristics. For example, people who were born between March 21 and April 20 are likely to be active and strong. They like power and enjoy adventures. People who were born between April 21 and May 21 are likely to learn more slowly, but they can remember what they learn well. They love children and usually have many friends. People who were born between May 22 and June 21 are bright and humorous. They like to talk and enjoy wearing fine clothes. People who were born between June 22 and July 22 think deeply. They would rather hide their feelings than express them. People who were born between July 23 and August 22 are interested in many subjects and it is interesting to hear them talk. People who were born between August 23 and September 22 are said to be calm and thoughtful. They like to read and often become successful scientists. If you have free time, you can read about star signs to see if your characteristics match your birth date. The passage mainly talks about _ . Answer: The Internet can provide a wealth of educational resources for small children, if you know where to look. This article will offer some educational websites to small children. You may need to assist your children in navigating the pages until they understand where their favorite activities are. Enchanted Learning Enchanted learning is a great website for children, and I know several teachers who rely on it for materials for their classrooms. Most of the information is free, but for $20.00 per year, you can purchase a membership that allows you to have access to the site without the advertising. The pages here are great. There are colored pages and worksheets for toddlers and school-age children. They focus on learning language, science, animals, geography, astronomy, explorers, music, art and nursery rhymes. Starfall Starfall is another good educational website for small children. Teachers often use this website in classrooms. It emphasizes reading skills for early learners. The website is aimed at first grade level learners, but it has tools that can help all children from pre-K to second grade. The website has reading activities, worksheets to download, and a store where you can purchase educational materials for your children. Sesame Street Workshop Kids love Sesame Street, and it is always educational. This is one of the funniest websites online for children because it is very well animated and has great sound effects. The website has games and stories for small kids, and they can create letters at the post office and mail them to their favorite characters. Sprout Online Sprout has features on its television network, which are just for children. There are games, colored pages, recipes, music, videos, sign language activities and exercise videos for children. There are also online activities based on Sprout television shows. These include Roary the Race Car, the Wiggles, the Mighty Jungle and many others. These are just a few of many educational websites for children. Small children love to use computers, so help them find some websites that contain fun and learning at the same time. Why does the Sesame Street Workshop have more fun than others? Answer: Imperial College London Tanaka Business School 10 New Professors, Readers, Senior Lecturers or Lecturers Imperial College is among the top ten universities of the world, according to the 2008 Times Higher Education. Having doubled its size in the last 4 years and hired world--class scholars during that period, Imperial's Tanaka Business School wishes to make a further 10 academic appointments in its drive to become a leading research--led business school.Only applicants who have published in top international magazines will be considered.Excellent ones from any field of management are welcome, but the school particularly wishes to appoint in the fields of marketing, technology management and healthcare. International salaries will be offered. An application form and further details may be downloaded from www.imperial.ac.uk/tanaka (About Us, job opportunities). An application form, 2 of your best papers should be sent to tbs.applications@imperial.ac.uk. First review of application will be on 2 April 2009. Readers in the 4th line probably refer to _ . Answer: James Blunt is one of the most popular singers in the UK. His first album, Back to Bedlam, and his number one hit, You're Beautiful, brought him fame in 2005. his music is a mix of pop, rock and folk. Blunt comes to China for the first time this month, he will hold two concerts, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai on April 18 and 19 respectively. Blunt, 34, took an unusual path to stardom. His father was a soldier and so was his grandfather. "The only music he heard growing up was Happy Birthday and Silent Night. His father considered all music, even classical, to be unnecessary noise,' reads Blunt's official website. Even though Blunt did not want to join the military, he eventually followed his father's wishes, and served as a soldier in Kosovo on peacekeeping duty. "Like any parents, mine wanted me to have a secure job with a regular wage and career prospects," Blunt said. "And the one job my father knew of, that he'd had experience of himself, was the army, so he could help me in that direction." Blunt eventually became a Captain. One of his final duties in the army before retirement was carrying the coffin at the funeral of the Queen Mother of England in 2002. But Blunt couldn't escape his love for music. So, after leaving the British Army he moved to Los Angeles and worked on his first album. While in LA, Blunt lived with the actress Carrie Fisher, who played the lead female role in the Star Wars movie. He recorded his song, Goodbye My Lover, in his bathroom, where he kept a piano. Blunt took his new album back to England where it was not very successful. But he kept performing and eventually his song, You're Beautiful, became a number one hit. Now Blunt has won numerous awards, sold millions of records and dated super models. But his greatest accomplishment might be that his father now enjoys music! We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: Crossing Texas and Mexico, the Big Bend region is high in biodiversity . It's a place so _ that if something doesn't bite, stick, or sting, it's probably a rock. You know you have arrived in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert when it feels as if you have fallen off the edge of the earth and into the rabbit hole. Nothing is as it appears. Moths are the size of birds. Are those twin pillars of black rock (a landmark known as Mule Ear Peaks) ten miles (16 kilometers) away or fifty (80 kilometers)? Visibility reaches more than a hundred miles on a clear day, and since there are few roads or buildings to use as milestones, distance is difficult to judge. This is a place where water runs uphill, where rainbows have to wait for rain. The line between myth and reality is unclear. Stare long enough at the Chisos Mountains or the Sierra del Carmen, the two mountain ranges, known as sky islands, which lie on the land, and they rise and float above the plain. The vast Chihuahuan Desert is a land of no people. There is always the chance you'll die of thirst. The "You Can Die"possibilities are endless, and keep some visitors -- 350,000 a year to Big Bend National Park, built in 1944 -- from coming back. Those who do return are left to think of the remarkable courage of the brave few who have managed to survive in this terrible environment. Why do the twin pillars of black rock seem ten or fifty miles away? Answer:
The round trip will cost at least $4.800 in all. Some more fees may also need to be spent. I hope you will have a good trip. DAY 1 Leave the USA for China. Your flight will include meals. drinks. and in-flight entertainment for your journey. DAY 2 Arrive and check in at your hotel: Beijing Hotel. You will only need to payY=560 (70% "discounts off) per night for a single room. DAY 3 In the morning we will go by subway to the Olympic Green and see the Bird's Nest. In the afternoon. we will visit the Water Cube. DAY 4 Enjoy a full-day tour to the Forbidden City. the Temple of Heaven and the Confucius Temple. We will begin at Tiananmen Square and then walk to the Forbidden City. In the afternoon. we will visit the Temple of Heaven and the Confucius Temple: DAY 5 We will visit Beijing Zoo and the Summer Palace. First stop: Beijing Zoo. You have a chance to see China's most cherished native animal. panda. After lunch. we will take the bus to the Summer Palace. DAY 6 We will go to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. DAY 7 Take off from Beijing Capital International Airport. How much does a single room at the Beijing Hotel for one night cost without a discount? Y=800. There are some strong-minded people that are able to stop smoking today and be free from the addiction the next day. However, some smokers may have to seek help from medication in order to kick the habit. What medication actually does is to reduce the wish to smoke. Some of the medication must be taken with a doctor's guidance. The five most common medications to stop smoking are Bupropion SR, nicotine gum, nicotine inhalers, nicotine nasal spray and nicotine patches. People can buy nicotine gum and nicotine patches in chemists. However, the other medications require a prescription. Zyban tablets have been found to be highly effective in curing people of smoking addiction. The tablet needs to be taken whole, without crushing it, as crushing can lead to side effects. It can be bought on the prescription of a doctor. Nicotine patches are filled with nicotine and they are applied to the skin. The skin takes in the nicotine and carries it to the blood stream. The amount of nicotine in these patches is quite limited, not enough to lead to addiction. But you shouldn't take them for dinner. In fact, millions of people have benefited from these nicotine patches. Nicotine gum is supposed to be a safer choice. It is used in such a way that it comes into contact with the blood vessels in the mouth and then releases the nicotine. The nicotine should not go through the stomach; otherwise, it may cause certain side effects. These different types of medications have to be taken quite carefully. Do ask your doctor before taking any of these. The best title for this passage is _ . Medication to Cure Smoking Addiction People seem to have a natural need for friends and with good reasons. Friends increase your enjoyment of life and relieve feelings of loneliness. They even can help reduce stress and improve your health. Having good friends is especially helpful when you are going through any kind of hard time such as when you are experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, or depression. When you are with good friends you feel good about yourself, and you are glad to be with them. A fiend is someone who-- l you like, respect, and trust, and who likes, respects and trusts you l doesn't always understand you, but accepts and likes you as you are, even as you grow and change l allows you the space to change, grow, make decisions, and even make mistakes l listens to you and shares with you both the good times and the bad times l respects your need for secrets, so you can tell them anything l lets you freely express your feelings and emotions without judging, teasing, or criticizing you l accepts the limitations you have put on yourself and helps you to remove them A person once said, "Friendship is a continuing source of bonding ,releasing, and creating in yourself and with the other person. There is an emotional bond between the two people." A good friend or supporter may or may not be the same age or the same sex as you, and may not have the same educational, cultural, or religious background, or share interests that are similar to yours. Friendships also have different depths. Some are closer to the heart and some more superficial, but they're all useful and good. Which of the following is NOT true? A friend is someone who doesn't allow you the space to change and make mistakes. My oldest child, Emma, just returned to campus after a long holiday break to finish up her last period of college. These days, friends and family have begun flooding me with one question: What is she going to do after graduation? The job market is, after all, awfully tough. Just this month the Federal Reserve Bank published a study showing that "recent graduates are increasingly working in low-paid jobs or working part-time." The bright spot, according to the study, is for students who majored in STEM-- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- areas in which recent graduates "have tended to do relatively well". But Emma is a student of the humanities at a small college. She's an American Studies major with a focus on the politics and culture of food. For quite a while, I think her field of study is so fashionable right now that I'm not the least bit worried she will find a good job. Yet the more I've thought about it, the more I've decided to be honest. "I'm not sure what Emma is going to do," I now say. "But she's gotten a great education and has really found her interest. -- and I know those things will serve her well over the course of her life." Nowadays, more and more universities and colleges are being measured by the salaries of their recent graduates. In this climate, encouraging your kid to study the humanities, seems, at best, unwise or, at worst, unconcerned with earning a living. But a college is not a vocational school. And promoting STEM subjects should not be society's only answer to helping the next generation grow in a competitive world. From the beginning, we never urged Emma to pick a college or a major with an eye on its expected return on money, as more and more families are doing. To Emma, what really matters will be something that we may not be able to measure for quite a long time: Emma's contribution to the world and how happy she is in it. Why did Emma choose a major in the humanities? Because she is interested in it. Which organisms form the base of all ecosystems? producers
For thousands of years, people have seen things they didn't understand in the sky. The United States Air Force first used the words "Unidentified Flying Object" to describe them. Today everyone uses the term UFO. When people see a UFO, it is usually no more than a weather balloon or an airplane. But the Center for UFO Studies goes on to receive hundreds of reports each year. In 1947 a businessman and pilot, Kenneth Arnold, was flying near Mount Rainier, Washington when he saw nine shiny, round objects flying through the air. He told a newspaper reporter they looked like "pie plates skipping over water." The reporter used the words "flying saucer " in his story and today that is the popular name for UFOs. The Center for UFO Studies lists three kinds of contacts with flying saucers. "Encounters of the first kind" are reports of unknown objects or lights in the sky. People have "Encounters of the second kind" when a UFO leaves burn marks or other signs on the ground. People report "Close encounters of the third kind" when they see aliens in or near a UFO. Why did the newspaper reporter use the words "flying saucer" to describe the UFO that Kenneth Arnold said he saw? Answer: Because Kenneth Arnold described what he has seen looked like a plate flying in the sky. In the last years of the Warring States period, the State of Qin attacked the State of Wei on a large scale repeatedly and occupied large areas of land, for the State of Wei was too weak to defend itself. In 273 B.C., the Qin army launched a more serious attack upon the State of Wei than ever. The king of the State of Wei gathered his officials, and asked with a worried look if anyone could propose a way to defeat the Qin army. After years of chaos caused by the wars, the officials trembled when fighting was mentioned, and no one dared to speak of resistance. At the critical moment when a large enemy force was bearing down upon the border, most of the officials persuaded the king to peace, at the cost of giving away to the State of Qin the large area of land north of the Huanghe River and south of the Taihang Mountain. However Su Dai, a counselor, did not agree. He hurried up to the king and said, "Your Majesty, they don't think about the interests of the country at all. It is just because they are afraid of death that they ask you to sue for peace by betraying the country. Of course you can temporarily satisfy the ambition of Qin, but it will never stop attacking us until our land is totally given away." He added,"Once there was a man whose house was on fire. People told him to put out the fire with water, but he would not listen. Instead, he carried a faggot to put out the fire, only to make the fire fiercer. Isn't it similar to carrying faggots to put out a fire if you agree to sue for peace at the cost of the land of the State of Wei?" Though Su Dai's argument was very convincing, the king accepted the suggestion of those officials and gave away to the State of Qin a large area of the land of the State of Wei. As might be expected, the Qin army attacked the State of Wei in 225 B.C. again, surrounding the capital city Daliang and flooding it by digging open the dykes of the Huanghe River. The State of Wei was finally destroyed. When asked how to defeat the Qin army, most officials _ . Answer: were extremely frightened and decided to give up fighting back When a consumer finds that an item she or he bought is faulty or in some other way does not live up to the manufacturer's claims, the first step is to present the warranty, or any other records which might help at the store of purchase. In most cases, this action will produce results. However, if it does not, there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction. A simple and common method used by many consumers is to complain directly to the store manager. In general, the "higher up" his or her complaint, the faster he or she can expect it to be settled. In such a case, it is usually settled in the consumer's favor, assuming he or she has a just claim. Consumers should complain in person whenever possible, but if they cannot get to the place of purchase, it is acceptable to phone or write the complaint in a letter. Complaining is usually most effective when it is done politely but firmly, and especially when the consumer can demonstrate what is wrong with the item in question. If this cannot be done, the consumer will succeed best by presenting specific information as to what is wrong, rather than by making general statements. For example, "The left speaker does not work at all and the sound coming out of the right one is unclear" is better than "This stereo does not work". The store manager may advise the consumer to write to the manufacturer. If so, the consumer should do this, stating the complaint as politely and firmly as possible. If a polite complaint does not achieve the desired result, the consumer can go to a step further. She or he can threaten to take the seller to court or report the seller to a private or public organization responsible for protecting consumer's rights. How can a consumer make his or her complaint more effective, according to the passage? Answer: Explain exactly what is wrong with the item. My mother got divorced when I was 5 and was left to raise me and my two younger brothers. She didn't have a formal education, so she had to work two full-time jobs to make ends meet. One day several years later, I was determined to help. I told the manager of the Don Carlos Motel in Nana Point that I was 15, so I could get a work permit to work as a maid. Since then, I've started to work alongside some of America's top leaders, written books, and achieved financial independence. It took a lot of hard work and sacrifices. But what if I was 15 years old today? Would I be able to accomplish the same things in this new, highly competitive world with so many global challenges? It seems hard work and sacrifices aren't enough anymore. Today, you need to be extremely adaptable. To progress in your career, it's not enough to know one thing well. As my friend Sean Harvey, product manager at Google put it when we were speaking to students, "Today, companies aren't hiring people for a specific position but rather people who are smart and flexible. The way you prove that is by showing you can do multiple things well." People need to take more risks to succeed now than ever. The combination of unemployment and slow wage growth means that we are not only at greater financial risk, but we have to take more risks to succeed. Luckily, the new Internet world of all-the-time connectedness means that anyone with a hot idea, product or service can create a business out of almost nothing. And success can be quick and big. But that success demands more "out of the box" thinking. And what about our kids? It makes me think a lot about the future that my 3-years-old daughter faces. But no matter what the future brings, I think the best message I'll give her is to believe in herself. Life won't get any easier, but the opportunities will come -- as they always have -- to those who work hard, adapt as they need to, and trust their abilities. We can infer that the author had _ . Answer: a difficult childhood The old saying that practice makes perfect seems to make no sense when it comes to schoolwork. Many educators today are looking for evidence to support the case for homework, but are coming up empty-handed. Mary Jane Cera is the academic administrator for the Kino School, and she maintains a no-homework policy across all grades. The purpose of the policy is to make sure learning remains a joy, not a thing that discourages social time and creative activity. At the Kino school, Cera says children often choose to take their favorite parts of school home. "A lot of what we see kids doing is practicing music with their friends, and taking experiments home to show their parents," she says. Surveys of Kino graduates suggest that the early control they are given over their education continues to serve them well into college. "One of the reasons that we continue to assign much homework is our obsession with tests, although we can agree on the importance of kids doing better on tests through proper homework to some degree,"says author Alfie Kohn. In his book The Homework Myth, Kohn points out that no study has ever found a relation between homework and academic achievement and that if kids have no choice in the matter of homework, they're not really exercising judgment, and are instead losing their sense of self-control. However, many supporters of homework argue that life is filled with things we don't like to do, and that homework teaches self-discipline, time management and other non-academic life skills. Wherever the homework debate goes next, it's worth taking a moment to examine if we're doing the right thing about our children's education. The good news is -- it's never too late to start. According to the surveys, what influences students further study most? Answer: Freedom in choosing homework.
Memory is the ability to keep track of things that have happened in the past. Memory really is learning. One needs memory to ride a bicycle. A dog needs to remember if it is to come when called. Memory is said to be stored in the brain as a "memory trace ." What makes up this trace is not known. Some scientists believe that certain chemical substances may carry certain memories. For example, one substance, when given to rats, causes them to fear the dark. Other research into memory has to do with how the brain works. Psychologists use three means to find out how a person remembers. For example, give a person a grocery list. Let the person memorize the list, then put it away. The most natural way to find out how much a person remembers of the grocery list is to ask what he or she remembers. This is called the method of recall. Another method is called recognition. Give the person another grocery list. Ask him or her to choose items on the first list from the items that are on only the second list. Often a person will be able to recognize things that he or she cannot recall. A third method of finding how much a person remembers is called relearning. Here the person is asked to read over the first list. The person will probably learn the list the second time faster than he did the first time. The difference in the time it takes to relearn the list is thought of as a measure of how much a person has remembered. One way of remembering something is to repeat it many times. Interest is very important. Boring lists of facts are much more difficult to remember than something that we understand and are interested in. Motivation, or wanting to do something, is also important. Motivation is linked with reward. For example, a hungry animal quickly learns how to do something if that action gets the animal food. In humans, wanting to learn is often motivation. The praise of a teacher or the knowledge that an answer is correct is rewarding. A good way to train an animal to do something quickly is to _ . Answer: reward it with food Cleverness is a gift while kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy---they're given after all. Choice can be hard. I got the idea to start Amazon 16 years ago. I came across the fact that the Internet usage was growing at 2300 percent per year. I'd never seen or heard of anything that grew that fast, and the idea of building an online bookstore with millions of titles was very exciting to me, I had just turned 30 years old , and I'd been married for a year, I told my wife MacKenzie that I wanted to quit my job and go to do this crazy thing that probably wouldn't work since most start-ups don't , and I wasn't sure what to expect, MacKenzie told me I should go for it. As a young boy, I'd been a garage inventor, I'd always wanted to be an inventor, and she wanted me to follow my passion. I was working at a financial firm in New York City with a bunch of very smart people, and I had a brilliant boss that I much admired. I went to my boss and told him I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet. He took me on a long walk in Central Park, listened carefully to me, and finally said, "That sounds like a really good idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn't already have a good job." That logic made some sense to me, and he convinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision. Seen in that light, it really was a difficult choice, but ultimately, I decided I had to give it a shot. I didn't think I'd regret trying and failing. _ After much consideration, I took the less safe path to follow my passion, and I'm proud of that choice, For all of us, in the end, we are our choice. What inspired the author with the idea of building an online bookstore? Answer: The greatly increasing usage of the Internet. Giant pandas are now extremely rare. Their number is less than 1,000 in the wild. The hunting of pandas has been banned for many years, so this is not the problem. Destruction of its habitat, when areas are cleared for growing crops, is one of the main reasons for panda's decline . Another reason is that the bamboo on which they mainly feed, is dying back. The pandas find it difficult to move to new feeding areas. As the bamboo disappears, the pandas simply starve to death. Bamboo is a poor source of food, and pandas have to eat up 45kg of it every day, a process that takes them up to 16 hours. The process goes on day and night, with the pandas in a constant cycle of eating for eight hours and sleeping for four. They can eat other foods, but will rather starve than change their diet when bamboo is scarce. Giant pandas are very good climbers, and use this skill to escape from the enemy. The giant panda lives alone for most of its life, only coming together with another of its species for long enough to mate. A newborn panda baby is born hairless and blind, is about 15cm long and weighs only 100g. The baby will stay with its mother for about 18 months, until it is able to set up its own territory Chinese and American scientists are studying giant pandas and their habits in order to put in place a major conservation programme. Zoos around the world are taking part in panda breeding programmes. There is still hope that with human's help, the giant panda can survive in the wild. According to the text, a panda _ . Answer: spends two thirds of its time eating I have lived and worked in Slovakia for about three years. And I have talked to many people who had been working overseas for quite a long time. Here are some of the things that I have found helpful to anyone preparing to live or work abroad. Hopefully these tips will help. Research: Knowing about the geography and history of the place will help a lot. You don't have to be an expert but just know the basics. If you're going to be living there it is worth the effort. Find someone you trust at home: Find a friend or you really trust at home to handle things that you might have to deal with when you're abroad. My parents were great at helping me with many things. They have been great at helping me to move to Slovakia and come back to the United States. Live simply: Learning to live on a small amount of money is a skill. It takes time. Living abroad can be expensive, so being able to live simply will help with costs. The other thing is that having lots of things to carry around is annoying. Try to experience the culture: Be open-minded and try your best to really experience the culture. Learn the language, hang out with the natives and try to have fun. You may not like everything but making an effort will help you make new friends and make life more enjoyable. Learning the language can be a challenge but most local people will see it as a sign of respect if you try, not only that it is just a cool way to impress your friends when they come to visit. In a foreign country, living simply can help us _ . Answer: cut living costs No one doubts that students should study languages, maths and science in high school, but some may be against the idea that they should study art and music as well. To them, these subjects are useless for students' future and are not worth the time and effort. In my opinion, however, it is necessary for middle school students to study art and music. Art and music are a valuable culture legacy , which bring us pleasure and enjoyment. Have you ever been deeply moved by Beethoven's famous Fifth Symphony? Have you ever been shocked by the colorful starry night produced by Vincent van Gogh in his paint? Have you ever longed for the moving love between the Butterfly Lovers when you hear this well-known Chinese melody ? Art and music are not only images and sounds, but something beyond them. They are the products of passion and human wisdom. Art and music help make students more creative. Artists and musicians are considered the most creative people in the world. It is because art and music sharpen their senses and provide a different perspective for them to see the world. Many great scientists benefited from art and music. Einstein, the greatest physicist in the 20th century, as well as an excellent violin player, is a good example. Enjoying art and music is also a good way to relax ourselves. Middle school students, who typically carry heavy burdens of study, will definitely benefit from it. In a word, art and music should absolutely be included in the middle school courses, for they can bring students pleasure,creativity and relaxation. The example of Einstein is used to _ . Answer: encourage students to study art and music
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon. My friend Bobby Lewis was taking his two little boys to play golf. He walked up to the young man at the ticket counter and said,''How much is it to get in?" The young man answered,''$3.00 for you , $3.00 for any kid who is older than six. We let them in free if they are six or younger. How old are they?" Bobby said,''Sam's three and Henry's seven, so I think I should pay $6.00." The man at the ticket counter said, "Hey, you are too honest. You can save yourself three dollars if you tell me that _ is six. I don't know the differences." Bobby said, "Yes, that may be true, but the kids know the difference." When ethics are more important than ever before, make sure you set a good example for everyone you work and live with. What did Bobby Lewis and his sons want to do? A. To do some shopping. B. To go fishing. C. To play golf. D. To go for a walk. Answer: C. To play golf. "I will never marry," the future Elizabeth I declared at the age of eight, and, to the terror of her people, the Great Queen kept her word. For four centuries, historians have guessed why Elizabeth never married.In her own day, her decision to remain single was considered absurd and dangerous.A queen needed a husband to make political decisions for her and to organise and lead her military campaigns.More important, she needed male heirs to avoid a civil war after her death. There was no shortage of suitors for the Queen, both English courtiers and foreign princes, and it was confidently expected for the best part of 30 years that Elizabeth would eventually marry one of them.Indeed, although she insisted that she preferred the single state, she kept these suitors in a state of permanent expectation.This was a deliberate policy on the Queen's part, since by keeping foreign princes in hope, sometimes for a decade, she kept them friendly when they might otherwise have made war on her kingdom. There were, indeed, good political reasons for her avoiding marriage.The disastrous union of her sister Mary I to Philip II of Spain had had an unwelcome foreign influence upon English politics.The English were generally prejudiced against the Queen taking a foreign husband, particularly a Catholic one.Yet if she married an English, jealousy might lead to the separation of the court. There were other, deeper reasons for Elizabeth's unwillingness to marry, chief of which, I believe, was her fear of losing her autonomy as Queen. In the 16th century, a queen was regarded as holding supreme dominion over the state, while a husband was thought to hold supreme dominion over his wife.Elizabeth knew that marriage and motherhood would bring some harm to her power. She once pointed out that marriage seemed too uncertain a state for her. She had seen several unions in her immediate family break down, including that of her own parents. Some writers, based on very fragile evidence, have argued that Elizabeth was frightened or incapable of the sex act, but it is more likely that she feared childbirth. Two of her stepmothers, her grandmother and several acquaintances had died in childbed. Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, had had her mother, Anne Boleyn, killed; her stepmother Catherine Howard later suffered the same fate. When Elizabeth was 14 she was all but attracted by Admiral Thomas Seymour, who also went to the prison within a year. Witnessing these terrible events at an early age, it has been argued, may have put Elizabeth off marriage. Elizabeth had to decide her priorities. Marriage or being single? Elizabeth was far too intelligent.The choice she made was courageous and revolutionary, and, in the long run, the right one for England. Which of the following implications is right according to the passage? A. Queen Elizabeth was not a Catholic. B. Some foreign princes made war on Britain. C. Catherine Howard was killed by Anne Boleyn. D. Admiral Thomas Seymour was killed by Henry VIII. Answer: A. Queen Elizabeth was not a Catholic. Thanksgiving Day Almost every culture in the world has held celebrations of thanks for a plentiful harvest. The American Thanksgiving holiday began as a festival of thanksgiving in the early days of the American colonies almost four hundred years ago. In 1620, a boat filled with more than one hundred people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in the New World. Their first winter in the New World was difficult. They had arrived too late to grow any crops, and without fresh food, half the _ died from disease. The following spring Indians taught then how to grow corn, a new food for the colonists. They showed them other crops to grow in the unfamiliar soil and how to hunt and fish. In the autumn of 1621, many crops of corn, beans and pumpkins were harvested. The colonists and much to be thankful for, so a festival was planned. They invited the local Indian chief and 90 Indians. The Indians brought deer to roast with the turkeys and other wild game offered by the colonists. To this first Thanksgiving, the Indians had even brought popcorn. In following years, many of the original colonists celebrated the autumn harvest with a festival of thanks. Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, a different date every year. The Thanksgiving is a time for tradition and sharing. Even if they live far away, family members gather for a reunion at the house of an older relative. All give thanks together for the good things that they have. Thanksgiving is a time for _ . A. tradition B. sharing C. reunion D. A, B and C Answer: D. A, B and C Peter is a student. He usually goes to school on a bus. This morning, He takes a taxi with his father because he may be late for school. His mother gives him a banana when they go out. On the way, he eats the banana and then throw the banana skin out of the taxi. At that time, an old man passes there. The old man just steps on the skin and then _ . His father and he get off the car. They find the old man lying near the taxi. The banana skin is near him. The old man looks at them and says, "Teach your child to throw the banana skin to the right place!""I am sorry," says his father."Sorry, I won't do that." Peter says. Where does Peter throw the banana skin? A. Out of the taxi B. In the taxi C. At home D. At school Answer: A. Out of the taxi It was another rainy day, it had stopped raining but the ground was still wet, with this remarkable smell of freshness, I was in the car with my friend, and ahead of us was a pitiful-looking old man, with a walking stick in his hand as it seemed he was having a hard time standing up or barely doing any effort. I have always had a weakness for old people; they break my heart, especially the ones begging on the streets, or selling flowers, I feel sad for them, having to be on the streets instead of being taken care of by their families or the government. There was a car in front of us before we reach next to him. I had prepared money in my hand to give it to him, and I was looking at the car in front of us when the driver took a bill of money and threw it off the window--he threw it in the face of the old man and it fell on the ground, in a wet spot. The old man looked at the bill with a sad look, knowing it would take him an enormous effort to pick it up and he was hardly standing up, so I opened the car door, ran to him as he was bending to pick it up, took it, wiped it with my jeans since it was almost wet, gave it to him and gave him the money I had prepared for him. The look on his face when he saw me doing that was the most rewarding look anyone has ever given me. He was shocked, and started thanking me for what I did and asking God to bless me, but I couldn't hear a word of what he was saying, I couldn't look him in the eye, how can someone so sweet like him with a kind and gentle look be left on the streets? Helping him out surely made his day, but what he didn't know is that he affected me in a way he could never imagine--I still think about him very often, and I just hope everyone will look at old people the way I do. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the old man? A. He was often seen selling flowers on the streets. B. He refused to accept the bill given to him by the driver. C. He wished that all the people could learn from the author. D. He had no idea how great an effect he had on the author. Answer: D. He had no idea how great an effect he had on the author.
Friends are very important in our everyday life. Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Certainly, sometimes we need to be alone. We don't always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend. No two people are just the same. Friends sometimes don't get on well. That doesn't mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will make it up and become friends again. Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very sad. We miss them very much but we can call them or write to them. We can also make new friends. It is encouraging to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. There's more good news for people who have friends. They live longer than people who don't. Why? Friends can make us feel happy. Being happy helps you stay well. If someone cares about you, you will take better care of yourself. If we can't see our friends for a long time, we _ . Answer: If a leg is moving then the bones inside the skin are 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. What's the main idea of the passage? Answer: I entered St Thoma's Hospital as a medical student at the age of 18 and spent five years there . I was an unsatisfactory student , for my heart , as you might have guessed , was not in it . I wanted , I had always wanted to be a writer , and in the evening , after my high tea , I wrote and read . Before long , I wrote a novel , called " Liza of Lambeth", which I sent to a publisher and was accepted . It appeared during my last year at the hospital and had something of a success . It was of course an accident , but naturally I did not know that . I felt I could afford to give up medicine and make writing my profession ; so, three days after I graduated from the school of medicine , I set out forprefix = st1 /Spainto write another book. Looking back now , and knowing as I do the terrible difficulties of making a living by writing , I realize I was taking a fearful risk . It never even occurred to me . The next ten years were very hard , and I earned an average of PS100 a year . Then I had a bit of luck . The manager of the Court Theatre put on a play that failed ; the next play he arranged to put on was not ready , and he was at his wits' end.He read a play of mine and , though he did not much like it , he thought it might just run for the six weeks till the play he had in mind to follow it with could be produced . It ran for fifteen months . Within a short while I had four plays running in Londonat the same time . Nothing of the kind had ever happened before . I was the talk of the town . One of the students atSt Thomas's Hospital asked the eminent surgeon with whom I had worked whether he remembered me . " Yes, I remember him quite well , " he said . " One of our failures , I'm afraid ." The author became the talk of the town . The reason was that _ . Answer: WASHINGTON--Considering the serious warnings lately about Internet viruses, users may be encouraged to unplug their machines just to keep them safe. In reality, common sense and a few basic tips can keep Internet surfers secure. Antivirus software is a must, and it should be updated at least once a week to recognize newly released viruses. People with broadband Internet connections should also have a firewall. These protect the computer from attacks by hackers. Then it is time to think about computer habits. Unlike old viruses, which spread only through shared diskettes, the Internet brings viruses straight to the email-box. If email with attachment comes from an unknown sender, or unexpectedly from a known sender, it should not be opened. On receipt of an unexpected attachment from a friend, experts suggest a telephone call to make sure of the mail's source before opening. Which of the following is suggested by computer experts? _ . Answer:
Bill, Frank and Dave were three brothers. Every year they sent their mother expensive gifts on her birthday,. They liked to show her how rich they were. The eldest brother. Bill, had a lot of money and he wanted his mother to have the most expensive gifts, but he didn't know what to buy. So he put an ad in the newspaper. "Wanted-the greatest gift for my mother." About a week before his mother's birthday a man came to his office. He brought a big bird. "This bird." the man said, "can speak ten languages and sing some pop songs." "Really? I'd like to listen to it," Bill said. The man made the bird talk in French and tell a joke in Japanese. Then the bird sang a beautiful song. Bill was very happy and paid nine thousand dollars for the bird. The next day Bill sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card. The day after his mother's birthday he called his mother. "Well, mother" he asked, "What do you think of the bird?" "Oh, it's very delicious, dear." said his mother. Who is the eldest brother? The bed should be reserved as a place for sleep, but people tend to read an iPad a lot in bed before they go to sleep. Charles Czeisler, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and his colleagues got a small group of people for an experiment. For five days in a row, the people read either a paper book or an iPad for four hours before sleep. Their sleep patterns were monitored all night. Before and after each trial period, the people took hourly blood tests to paint a day-long picture of just how much melatonin was in their blood at any given time. When subjects read on the iPad as compared to the paper books, they reported feeling less sleepy at night and less active the following morning. People also took longer to fall asleep on the iPad nights, and the blood tests showed that their melatonin secretion was delayed by an hour and a half. The researchers conclude in today's journal article that given the rise of e-readers and the increasingly widespread use of e-things among children and adolescents, more research into the long-term consequences of these devices on health and safety is urgently needed. Czeisler and colleagues go on, in the research paper, to note:"Reading an iPad in bed may increase cancer risk." However, software has been developed that can reduce some of the blue light from the screens of phones and computers according to time of day, and there are also glasses that are made to filter short wavelengths. While they seem like a logical solution for the nighttime tech users, it needs more research. The special software recently developed can _ . Indoor Plants As with any house guests,indoor plants require a certain amount of basic,regular attention if they are going to feel at home. The first consideration when purchasing plants is to make reasonably sure that they are suitable for the condition in which they are going to be housed. A general rule for most plans being brought indoors for the first time is to ensure that they have reasonable temperature of not less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit,a position out of cold air,safe from pets and not exposed to strong sunlight. Plants love company. When plants are growing together,they create an atmosphere of damp around themselves which is far more beneficial than hot dry conditions. A group of plants will also present a more pleasing picture and provide an opportunity for a creative arrangement. There is no secret to this. Just rely on your natural feeling for harmony. Watering and feeding plants are probably the two areas of care that are the least well understood,but,again,if you follow a few simple rules,your plants should do well. Cold Slightly warm water is therefore the answer. It is usually better to pour water on to the soil on the surface of the pot rather than put the water into the pot holder at the bottom. Avoid giving small amount of water at regular intervals- it is much better to wet the soil right through the pot in one go and then to allow it to dry noticeably before giving it a further watering. The majority of indoor plants will be in active growth from March until October,and during this time,the established ones will benefit from regular feeding. This may mean feeding with a weak liquid fertilizer at each watering or at intervals of a week or ten days with fertilizer at a standard strength. It is important,however,to ensure that plants are not fed when growth is inactive,when the soil in the pot is dry,or too soon after the plants has been potted up. What is the best time to feed the plants? Most schools forbid chewing gum, but in a few years they might consider changing that rule. Why? Scientists are finding evidence that gum chewing may be good for your health. It may even help improve your test scores. This exciting research is just beginning. And in the meantime, companies are also experimenting with adding vitamins, minerals, medicines, and other substances that could give gum the power to cure headaches and fight everything from serious diseases to bad breath. Other researchers are finding that gum might work better than a pill to deliver medicines and other substances into the bloodstream. That's because the lining of our cheeks can absorb certain substances more quickly than our stomachs and intestines can. That discovery could help other researchers develop medicine-containing gums that fight colds, ease headaches, battle nervousness, and more. Scientists might even create antimicrobial gums that cure bad breath. Those projects may take years, but gum scientists have already had at least one recent success: They've created a gum that could help us stay awake. Researchers have produced a gum called Stay Alert. Each stick has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. It can take an hour for the caffeine in coffee to have its full effect, but the caffeine in Stay Alert _ in just a few minutes. The gum is easy to transport and it's stable in cold and hot climates. Unlike a pill, it doesn't require water to swallow. Those qualities make it easy for soldiers to use. For now, Stay Alert is available only to the military . The manufacturer may one day offer it for sale to the public. People who work at night, such as truck drivers and medical personnel who ride in ambulances, might benefit from a product like Stay Alert. The passage mainly talks about _ . Garden building is considered an important part of Chinese culture. Some people say that if you have never walked through a Chinese garden, you cannot say that you have really visited China. Traditional Chinese gardens are located in North China in such places as Beihai Park, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City. In larger imperial gardens, the main buildings are connected by an imaginary line in the middle of the garden on the north-south axis . Other features of imperial gardens are colored-paintings, man-made hills and lakes. Most private gardens are found in the south, especially in cities south of the Yangtze River. Private gardens were mostly built at one side or at the back of the houses. Around the beautiful scene are small open areas with beautiful shaped-doors through which visitors can enjoy the sights. _ are open on all sides and are often near the water so that the whole scene can be enjoyed. Suzhou, known as the home of gardens, displays the most and the best Chinese traditional private gardens. Different parts of it are examples of the garden style of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.[ The landscape garden contains a number of pleasant natural scenes and some fairy tales. The ancient Chinese used to call the garden landscape "Jing" , which means "scene" in English. Good examples include the ten West Lake Scenes in Hangzhou, the twenty-four slim West Lake in Yangzhou and the eight Daming Lake Scenes in Jinan. The passage tells mainly about _ .
The Future of Technology William, a businessman, arrives in a foreign airport. He doesn't show his passport. Instead, a machine in the wall reads the computer chip in his arm. This contains information about him: his name, age, and I.D number. He exits the airport, and a car door opens when it "sees" him. The car takes him to his hotel. His room "knows" he has entered the building and it "reads" his body. He is cold, so the room becomes warmer. William then watches a business presentation on a video wall. When he takes a bath, the presentation "follows him and continues on the bathroom wall. Finally, the room plays music to help him sleep. It turns off the music when it "sees" him sleeping. William doesn't exist, and none of this is real. But it might be soon. "In five to ten years, computing and communications are going to be free and everywhere, in your walls, in your car, on your body,' says Victor Zue, leader of Project Oxygen. Project Oxygen has one big idea: to create better relationships between machines and people. The dream is that computer will learn to understand what people want. So, what changes will there be at work? Firstly, the building will know where everyone is, all the time. You want to talk to someone? Type the person's name on the nearest computer. It will show you a map of the building and exactly where this person is. You then call this person, who picks up the nearest telephone, also shown on the computer. If he or she is busy with a client or in a meeting, the computer will tell you. Is all this really possible? Visit the Siebel Center, Illinois and see for yourself: computers in the doors and walls, cameras everywhere, the technology of the future, but here today. The computer chip in William's arm contains his information except _ . Answer: Science is a dominant theme in our culture. Since it touches almost every aspect of our life, educated people need at least some idea of its structure and operation. They should also have an understanding of the subculture in which scientists live and the kinds of people they are. An understanding of general characteristics of science as well as specific scientific concepts is easier to obtain if one knows something about the things that excite and frustrate the scientist. This book is written for the intelligent student or lay person whose knowledge of science is superficial; for the person who has been presented with science as a musty storehouse of dried facts; for the person who sees the chief objective of science as the production of small devices; and for the person who views the scientists as some sort of magician. The book can be used to supplement a course in any science, to accompany any course that attempts to give an understanding of the modern world, or independently of any course, simply to provide a better understanding of science. We hope this book will lead readers to a broader perspective on scientific attitudes and a more realistic view of what science is, who scientists are, and what they do. It will give them an awareness and understanding of the relationship between science and our culture and an appreciation of the roles science may play in our culture. In addition, readers may learn to appreciate the relationship between scientific views and some of the values and philosophies that are widespread in our culture. We have tried to present in this book an accurate and up-to-date picture of the scientific community and the people who populate it. That population has in recent years come to consist of more and more women. This increasing role of women in the scientific subculture is not an unique incident but, rather, part of the trend evident in all parts of society as more women enter traditionally male-dominated fields and make significant contributions. In discussing these changes and contribution, however, we are faced with a language that is somewhat sexist, one that uses male nouns or pronouns in referring to unspecified individuals. To balance this built-in bias , we have adopted the policy of using plural nouns and pronouns whenever possible and , when absolutely necessary, alternating him and her. This policy is far from being ideal, but it is at least an acknowledgement of the inadequacy of our language in treating half of the human race equally. We have also tried to make the book entertaining as well as informative. Our approach is usually informal. We feel, as many other scientists do, that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously. As the reader may observe, we see science as a delightful pastime rather than as a grim and dreary way to earn a living. The book mentioned in this passage is written for readers who _ . Answer: What orbits the earth 13 times per year? Answer: This year, the World Mental Health Day on Oct 10 was marked by the theme: "Depression: A Global Crisis". According to the World Federation for Mental Health and the WHO, depression has moved beyond the medical domain to become a social problem. Statistics from the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center show that of the 287,000 people who commit suicide in China every year, 70 percent are victims of depression. "This equates to one depression victim taking their life every three minutes," cited CCTV recently. According to the Beijing-based Capital Medical University, the number of depression patients has been on the rise in the past years and now accounts for 5 to 10 percent of the population, more than the global average of 5 percent. Wang Shaoli, vice-president of Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, a medical center specializing in mental health, said that what makes depression so widespread is that everybody can get it. "No one is immune to depression," said Wang. "It has become a social problem because depression kills one's social capabilities, such as communication, and leads to a negative social mentality." According to Wang, depression can be treated with medicine and early psychological consultation. The real problem is the lack of awareness surrounding the issue. "People with mental health illnesses are discriminated against," said Wang. "So they are reluctant to go to hospital and often keep the pain to themselves, which only makes matters worse." Only one in 10 depression victims are properly treated in China, according to the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center. "When people get depressed, it becomes part of their thoughts, making them negative, even desperate," said Wang. "And the ideas are difficult to change." That's why Wang suggests early intervention. "Normally it takes about nine months to treat depression," said Wang. "But in most cases, patients drop treatment half way when they feel some progress." People with mental illnesses are unwilling to go to hospital because _ . Answer: I was asked in an email about learning idioms in a foreign language. Maybe I am different from most people,but I do not bother with them. To me they are kind of dessert of language learning. They come at the end of a meal. Once you have filled up with the key words and phrases that are used in a variety of situations,then you can add a few idioms. And by that time, you will be able to pick them up naturally anyway. I find that many learners have trouble with idioms,as if repeating some very colloquial expressions is going to upgrade how they sound in a language. In fact, it is the opposite. Idioms are difficult to use correctly. Yes,occasionally you hear idioms and do not understand. But,in my experience,there are always situations where you do not understand. It is best to focus on the most important words,what they mean and how they are used. Certainly,it is best for a nonnative speaker to stick to standard speech. Some teachers even try to teach the "real language".Then you hear nonnative speakers saying things like "I goanna", "You wane" etc. You will learn all the idioms you need just by exposing yourself to the language. In general,you can save any phrase that you find interesting,and if that includes idioms,go to it. But I would not make any special effort to go after idioms. I,in fact,avoid them. If I come across something in Russian that strikes me as a particularly idiomatic use of words,I just leave it aside; do not even bother trying to learn it. If it keeps on appearing,then I will learn it. In the writer's opinion,when one learns a new language,one should learn its idioms _ . Answer:
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 is Melanie's attitude towards cooking at home? Positive. It is a Sunday morning. There are many children in the beautiful park. They are having a good time. Some are playing games under a big tree. Some are singing and dancing. Some boys and girls are running up the small hill. Others are boating on the lake. Where is Dick ? He is sitting by the lake. What's he doing? He is drawing. Look ! What is Jane doing? She is on the grass. She is running after a nice butterfly. She wants to get it. What is Dick doing ? _ . He's drawing Fake a book, leave a book. Public bookshelves are appearing across Germany on street corners, city squares and suburban supermarkets. In these free-for-all libraries, people can grab whatever they want to read, and leave behind anything they want for others. There's no need to register, no due date, and you can take or give as many as you want. "This project is aimed at everyone who likes to read regardless of age or education. It is open for everybody," Michael Aubermann, one of the organizers of the free book exchange in the city of Cologne, told The Associated Press. "We installed our other outdoor shelves last year and it's been working really well," said Aubermann, a 44-year-old who works in IT management. The public hook shelves, which are usually financed by donations and cared for by local \ volunteer groups, have appeared independently of each other in many cities across Germany including Berlin, Hannover and Bonn, and also in suburbs and villages. Each shelf holds around 200 books and it lakes about six weeks for a complete turnover, with all the old titles replaced by new ones, he said. While most of the shelves have so far been put up in upscale neighborhoods, Aubermann and the 20 volunteers who help look after the project are planning to put up future shelves in poor neighborhoods, where residents often don't have as much access to literature. So far, the Cologne book group has had few problems .Though a used-book seller once emptied every volume on a shelf to sell at a market. Another time the shelves were filled with material from a religious group. Even commercial book stores and online book retailers seem to support the idea of free book exchanges. Who are allowed to read the books? All the people For Chinese students nowadays, no matter what kind of schools they are going to universities, high schools and even primary schools, they have to face and tackle the problem of learning English. All examinations they want to pass require them to first pass English. English has become the most popular course in tutorial classes and even in the self-study classroom. When nearly all students' attention is focused on English, looking at the situation of our mother language, even Chinese _ get confused about its use. Not only have many new words and phrases which are very popular on the Internet started to fill in every corner of the society, common use of Chinese is full of mistakes and misunderstandings are all around. Chinese has the most speakers of any world language and also one of the oldest in history. Around the world, many countries have started enthusiastically learning Chinese and Chinese has become one of the most important foreign languages in some foreign countries. Besides, there are 282 Confucius Institutions around 88 countries and regions in the world that are teaching Chinese, while more than 260 institutions from 50 countries and regions applied to establish Confucius Institutions. The number of people learning Chinese is about 50 million outside China. For those foreigners that are so crazy about Chinese language, what kind of attitude should the Chinese have? Frankly speaking, learning English itself shouldn't have been criticized too much, and we need to learn English to communicate with the world to show our culture and society. ,. Chinese is/has _ around the world. the most speakers If a creature is looking for things but is using something other than its eyes or nose, then it is likely echolocating
Why do some people _ when they drink alcohol? This effect is a common reaction to alcohol among East Asians. It affects about 36 percent of Japanese, Chinese and Koreans. For many, even a small amount of alcohol can cause unpleasant effects. Most commonly, their face, neck and sometimes their whole body turn red. People might also feel uncomfortable and sick to their stomach. They might experience a burning sensation, increased heart rate, shortness of breath and headaches. The cause is a genetic difference that they are born with called an ALDH2 deficiency . It prevents their bodies from treating alcohol the way other people do. But the effects might be more serious than just a red face. Researchers warn of a link between this condition and an increased risk of cancer of the esophagus from drinking alcohol. The more alcohol people with this deficiency drink, the greater their risk is. In Japan and South Korea, for example, many people have the deficiency but still drink heavily. Researchers found that these drinkers develop a form of esophageal cancer six to ten times more often than those without the deficiency. Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. It can be treated when found early, but once it grows the chances of survival drop sharply. The researchers estimate that at least five hundred forty million people have the deficiency, about eight percent of the world's population. Philip Brooks is a researcher at the National Institute in the United States. He says it is important to educate people about the link between the alcohol flushing effect and esophageal cancer. He says doctors should ask East Asian patients about their experiences with facial flushing after drinking alcohol. Those with a history of it should be advised to limit their alcohol use. They should also be warned that cigarette smoking works with the alcohol in a way that further increases the risk of esophageal cancer. We can infer from the passage that _ . the ALDH2 deficiency may be passed on from generation to generation A story tells that a senior villager led some other villagers carrying salt day and night to a town in order to trade rice as food the winter.One night they camped in a wilderness with a starry sky above.The senior villager,obeying the tradition passed down from forefathers,took out three blocks of salt and threw them into the campfire,probably to predict the changes of weather in the mountains. All eagerly waited for the old man's"weather report":if the salt in the fire produced crackling sound,they would have good weather in store;if no sound was produced,it then meant the good weather would soon end and a storm would come at any moment. The senior villager looked serious.The salt in the campfire made no sound at all.Convinced by this bad sign,he urged the whole team to set out immediately after daybreak.A young man in the group,however,insisted that they should not start in such a hurry,considering it superstitious to"forecast weather by using salt. It was not until the next afternoon that the young man caught up on the wisdom of the old man when the weather suddenly changed,with cold winds blowing and a snowstorm raging.In fact,the method used by the clan head could be well explained by modem science:whether or not salt produces sound in campfire depends on air humidity .That is to say,when a storm approaches,due to high humidity,the dampened salt blocks will not produce any sound in fire. The senior villager predicted the changes of the weather _ while camping in a wilderness that night. by burning salt in fire Dear editor, Mary is my friend and she is a very good-hearted girl. She's always the first to help out others. But her habits make me mad sometimes and she just won't change her ways. For most situations, that's just fine with me, as I know it's what make her who she is. However, sometimes it's just so hard for me to bear her behavior. She has recently got a cellphone, but she often borrows mine to make calls. My phone has a chain with it. She always tries to open it like her own phone. I usually open it for her, but not always, as sometimes I'm driving my car, so she needs to get it out of my purse and open it herself. This weekend we were at a party in a faraway village. She borrowed my cellphone. As it was cold outside, I let her take it outside without opening it. Now it's broken because she didn't open it properly. I wouldn't be so mad, but over the weekend she also borrowed my car and never offered to pay for the gas, which made me very angry. She should have offered to pay for the gas. As I have mentioned, she's the type to help out others when and where she can. Perhaps because of that, she thinks others should also do the same for her. Sometimes I just think she is very childish. I don't want to hurt her, but I do want to let her know that not everyone can accept that. What should I do to let her know that? Yours, Lily What happened at the weekend party? Lily's cellphone was broken. Some people do not like anything to be out of place; they are never late for work; they return their books to the library on time; they remember people's birthdays; and they pay their bills as soon as they arrive. Mr. Dodds is such a person . Mr. Dodds works in a bank, and lives on his own. The only family he has is in the next town :his sister lives there with her husband, and her son, Mark, Mr. Dodds does not see his sister, or her family, from one year to the next, but he sends them Christmas cards, and he has not forgotten one of Mark's seventeen birthdays. Last week Mr. Dodds had quite a surprise. He drove home from the bank at the usual time, driving neither too slowly nor too fast. He parked his car where he always parked it, out of the way of other cars, and he went inside to make his evening meal. Straight away, there was a knock at the door. Mr Dodds opened the door to find a policeman standing on the door-step . "What have I done wrong ?" Mr. Dodds asked himself . "Have I driven on the wrong side of the road? Has there been some trouble at the bank? Have I forgotten to pay an important bill?" "Hello, Uncle ," said the policeman," My name is Mark." From the passage we know that his sister _ . lives in the next town with her husband and son I work in a nursing home and my job is to take care of the elderly. This year, a very sweet old lady that I cared for,Alice, had gone through a difficult time .She got _ and so she had been in the hospital twice .In November I was finally able to get her back to her"home". Alice had thought her daughter was coming to visit her on Christmas day and that they were going to have the whole family together like the old days. When she finally realized that that happy moment was not going to happen,she was very sad.Knowing that her daughter was coming after Christmas was not enough to make her feel happy,I hated the idea of her being alone on the holiday! On Christmas Eve,I gave her a surprise by asking if she could like to go to a candlelight service at church that night Instead of taking her to my church,I took her to her old neighborhood church where all her friends were. We got there early and I got her a seat where her friends could see her as they came in.Then soon some of her friends came to the church and they rushed over to greet her and sit with her. The candlelight service was beautiful and Alice got a lot of love from her old and new friends there. The truth of the story is that I am the one who got the best gift: the smile on Alice's face What was the best gift that the author got on Christmas Eve? Alice's happiness
Education in the United States is compulsory for children up to about the age of sixteen.Most young people stay in school longer than that. Most graduate from high school at the age of 17 or 18. Almost half of these high school graduates continue their education at a college or university.Education for most young people in this country is free up to the time they graduate from high school.There are private schools, but most parents send their children to public schools, where students do not pay tuition . When young people go to college, however,they must pay tuition at a public university or a private university.University costs are going up a lot:private universities have become very expensive because the government does not help them. Who pays? The parents of children in college may have to pay more,or often the students may have to find jobs.These students have to worry about assignments and grades and also about their jobs.If they work too much at their jobs they may be absent from class or miss assignments or make too many errors on tests.They may even fail their courses and have to leave the university. For many students, the problem of getting an education is not just a problem of homework and exams.They also have to make money to pay for tuition.And professors don't teach them how to do that! The private university students have to pay more money for tuition because _ . A no companies support the private universities B the government does not support the private universities C the teaching quality of the private universities are better D they have some troubles in passing the exams Answer: B. the government does not support the private universities There once was a very honest shopkeeper whose business was to provide goods to the local people. He would open his shop at 8:00 a.m. after having his breakfast and at 1:00 p.m. he would go for lunch. In the evening at 8:30 p.m. he closed his shop to complete his daily routine. However, to get time for lunch was really difficult because he didn't have anybody to help him at that time. Therefore, it was his daily practice that whichever customer was shopping at 1:00 p.m. would be asked to oversee the shop until the shopkeeper returned from lunch. One day, a group of four thieves planned to steal from his shop while he was gone for lunch. One of the thieves went at 1:00 p.m. to be the customer that would be asked to oversee the shop. The thief, pretending to be a customer, went in at 1:00 p.m. and started buying several items. As planned, the shopkeeper asked the thief to sit on his chair for thirty minutes until he returned from lunch. Then, the other three thieves quickly came and told the pretend customer to help, but something had changed within him and he knew deeply in his heart that if he was given responsibility for the shop, he should not perform any dishonest acts during that time. His friends did not agree. As the now honest man tried to stop them, they resisted and a fight started. And at the same time the shopkeeper returned and asked why there was a fighting. The now honest man explained the entire plan. The shopkeeper had been searching for an honest man who could take ownership of the shop and run it. The shopkeeper felt that he had found the right man. Why did the thief go to the shop at 1:00 p.m.? A Because he thought he would be asked to keep the shop. B Because the shopkeeper invited him to lunch then. C Because the shop was closed at that time. D Because he want to buy cheap things then. Answer: A. Because he thought he would be asked to keep the shop. There is a big tree in front of my house. A black bird lives in the tree. Every day I take some food to the tree. The bird sees me and comes down. The food is in my hand. The bird comes to my hand and eats it. After that it goes back to the tree. I give some food to the bird every day. And so the bird knows me. I like the bird and the bird likes me. We are good friends. What's in the tree? A A big black bird. B A black bird. C An old black bird. D A big old black bird. Answer: B. A black bird. Once there was a granddaddy named Tom who hadn't seen his daughter Rachel in many years. Rachel had a daughter of her own named Melissa, but she and Tom had had a fight before Melissa was born. Because of that, Tom had never met Melissa. Tom's wife Marge had died many years before, so he lived alone. He liked living alone, but he missed Rachel. Tom spent most of his time working in his garden. He liked to plant pumpkins, peppers, and tomatoes. He hated peas and broccoli, so he never planted them. He liked zucchini and spinach, but he didn't have any of those plants to plant. One day Tom got a call on his phone. He picked it up and asked who it was. The voice on the other end of the line said, "It's me, Rachel." Tom was so surprised he almost dropped the phone. He said, "Rachel, is it really you? I can't believe it." Rachel said that she had been thinking about Tom and she wanted to make up for their fight. Tom was so happy. They were going to meet the next weekend. Even before he hung up, Tom could imagine himself hugging his daughter. He sat down and thought about everything he wanted to say to her. Why did Tom live alone? A Because he liked it. B Because Rachel told him to. C Because his wife Marge had died many years before. D Because he wanted time to work in his garden. Answer: C. Because his wife Marge had died many years before. Here is your best chance to travel around the UK in 2012: More than 200 B&Bs(bed & breakfast)across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are selected to offer you amazing services for your stay at their lowest prices! Don't miss it. Just collect the vouchers in ourB&B Dailyprinted from 01/04/2012 to 07/04/2012 and book the stays for your travel following the terms and conditions below: * The offer includes a room for the night and a breakfast the next morning. * The offer is of two kinds: PS20 per room, valid during stay period of 02/04/2012--31/05/2012 and then again 01/09/2012--31/10/2012;PS35 per room, per night, valid during stay period of 01/06/2012--31/08/2012. * The offer is valid for a basic twin or double room only. * The stay must be booked directly with the chosen B&Bs before 28/04/2012. * Each voucher can only be used by the holder to book one room for one night. * If voucher holders book either the PS20 or PS35 per room per night, any additional services such as lunch, evening meal or activities may require an extra charge. But these are not required in order to take up the offer. Please check directly with your chosen B&Bs to see what extra services are available. * Vouchers must be presented on arrival. If no vouchers are presented, the B&Bs may reserve the right to charge at full price for every night of stay. * Vouchers may not be used together with any other offer. * The voucher holders must pay for the stay in full at the time of booking. Additional PS10 may be paid to confirm the booking and will be returned on arrival. * The B&Bs reserve the right to refuse voucher holders' bookings for people under the age of 18. How much should be paid for a two-night stay in October 2012 at a chosen B&B? A PS70 B PS40 C PS35 D PS30 Answer: B. PS40
Heroes of Our Time A good heart Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa among great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine--but Coach John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty to share his fortune with others. He built a new hospital in his old hometown in the Congo. A friend has said of this goodhearted man: " Mutombo believes that God has given him this chance to do great things." Success and kindness After her daughter was born, Julie Aigner-Clark searched for ways to share her love of music and art with her child. So she borrowed some equipment, and began filming children's videos in her own house. The Baby Einstein Company was born, and in just five years her business grew to more than $20 million in sales. And she is using her success to help others--producing child safety videos with John Walsh of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie says of her new program: " I believe it's the most important thing that I have ever done. I believe that children have the right to live in a world that is safe." Bravery and courage A few weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlen subway station with his two little girls when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the man into the space between the rails, and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he's not a hero. He says: " We have got to show each other some love." What did the Baby Einstein Company do at its beginning? Answer: . Sell children's music and artwork I am sure we've all come across inspiring quotes that made us nod in agreement or made us think, "Wow, that's good quote".But we end up going back to procrastinating on whatever it was we were procrastinating on.So are these inspirational quotes even worth reading? Well, that depends. Quotes, books, articles, audio programs... all of these things are just tools and they're only effective when you use them.I don't know about you but most quotes I read don't do anything for me.However, every now and then, I will come across one that will positively affect me in some way such as reminding me to be grateful, getting me to work out extra hard at the gym without being pressed by my wife, or never give up when things get tough. From my experience, reading quotes is more effective when you're actually trying to motivate yourself rather than just reading them for the sake of reading them.The second you feel the urge to take action, you'd better immediately get up off your chair and take action. These quotes aren't for everyone.If you have read tons of them and have never been motivated or had a positive change in the way you look at life or how you treat others, or these quotes don't help you to insist on doing something when you feel like giving up on it, then it's probably not worth your time reading more of them.If you have done something a bunch of times and it's not giving you the results you want, don't keep doing it.Try something else. Now if you've found some value in reading these quotes in the past, continue to make them more effective by letting them guide your life. I'll end this text with one of my favorite quotes, which reminds me to constantly examine my habits."We are what we repeatedly do.Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."---- Aristotle What does the author's wife expect him to do? Answer: To exercise at the gym I started teaching English abroad when I was 22, soon after I graduated from university. I'm 35 now and have been doing it ever since. If you want to travel the world, there're a few ways to earn money while you do so. You can pick fruit, pull pints or teach English. The third one has definitely suited me best. I've taught in Russia, Argentina, Spain and Slovakia and stayed an average of two years in each country. Our flat is in the Sanlitun area, not far from the main football stadium, and I work at various schools in the city. The demand for the English language teachers is _ .Basically, if a Chinese person wants a job in an international company, then English is a must. In Beijing there aren't enough teachers to go round. Both the Chinese government and the business world are investing heavily in getting people to speak English. In China there's no shortage of work, though the pay can be different. If you teach English as a second language at an international school, you can earn 22,000 yuan a month, about PS2,200 or PS1,500. If you're short of cash, you can always do a bit of extra private tuition, which pays really well - about PS30 an hour. It's a bit shock the first time you find yourself in a foreign country but the training can help. And people often ask how it's possible to teach English in a country where you don't speak the local language, but there's no such thing. In China, for example, everyone knows words like "dollar" or "I love you". The best thing about Beijing is that you aren't going to be lonely. There's a huge expat community here, mostly based in Sanlitun and growing all the time. I don't know my way around Dublin or London very well, but I can tell you Beijing is the restaurant capital of the world. The author came to teach English in Beijing because _ . Answer: Beijing was just a stop of his travelling around the world Among the many things that Brisbane , Australia, does really well, the care for kids is the best one. Here is a list of places that will be suitable for your kids. Swimming pools Simple way for happiness: mix kids with water. Of course, this is a choice for the hot summer months. Parks Free outdoor fun: it's suitable for kids of all ages. It's a place for parents to let kids run wild. The Children's Art Centre The Children's Art Centre has been very popular. Kids' favorite here is some exhibitions specially designed for children. But we must pay some money. South Bank Parklands South Bank Parklands has everything you need to keep kids amused. Take them for a swim at the man-made beach. On weekends, go through the arts market or go to a cheap movie. South Bank Parklands often gives free performances too. Roma Street Parkland Close to bus transport, this parkland is easily accessible . It's ideal for kids of all ages. Younger kids can take a trip on the Jelly Bean Express, a 1.3 km trackless train ride around the parkland. Free entry and open every day. What do kids love best in the Children's Art Centre? Answer: Some exhibitions. I saw a friend one day that I hadn't seen for quite a while. I greeted him with a hug and a big smile. He kissed me on the cheek in a very gentle way. Somehow this friendly kiss really made my day . I thought about his gentle kiss and appreciated the love. It's just a nice gift. Yesterday, I was on the telephone with my brother, and we spoke about our dad. He told me that one day, my dad was real sad. My brother had kissed his small child in front of my dad. Then with a tear in his eye, my daddy said to him, "I wished I had more often kissed you all." My brother told him that it wasn't too late, and that he could start that day. Now my dad greets each of us with a kiss and we know what he's trying to say. One day, sitting with my 82-year-old dad, I noticed that he seemed to be a little bit in upset. The words he shared with me indicated that he was in a spiritual trouble, so I got up, kissed him on the cheek and hugged him from behind. I said Dad, 'you are good.' And he agreed that he was blessed ( ). He has a wonderful family given by God. As I looked into his eyes, I noticed that they began to be filled with tears of love and joy. That evening I grabbed my mom one day when my mom was busy in her usual way, I stopped her for a while, kissed her on the cheek and said "Mom thank you for everything, " and she said "Oh, it's okay". She seemed to pull me back towards her as I pulled away. Thank you for that show of love is what she seemed to say. They are some people that I wish I would have kissed more, like my grandma in heaven that I can not hug anymore. So show your love, for gentle moments won't come once they have gone When a friend kissed the writer that day , how did the writer feel? Answer: Happy
Question: What is more astonishing than a 60-ton whale on a flatbed truck being driven down the street? Answer: A 60-ton whale on a flatbed truck exploding and raining blubber ( fat of whales) all over the sidewalk. That's what happened in Taiwan recently, when a dead sperm whale being shipped to the Halobios Research Center for an autopsy developed an extremely bad case of gas and blew up before it reached its destination. The whale was found alive on a prefix = st1 /Taiwanbeach last weekend, and died shortly after it was discovered. Since the 56-foot whale was the largest whale ever beached onTaiwan's shores, scientists wanted to study it and perform an autopsy for educational purpose. Obviously, too much time passed between when the animal died and the time it was set to be moved to the autopsy location, because it had already started to go bad. When things rot, they give off gases as a by-product. In the whale's case, the gases were trapped in its belly. The pressure inside the rotting creature grew so much that it popped like an over-filled balloon. Unfortunately, it was on a truck in the middle of the city of Taiwanat the time--- cars and shops lining the street were covered with whale bits and juices, much to their owners' discouragement. According to the news reports, traffic was tied up for hours while officials tried to clean up the streets. Newspaper editors worldwide were probably smiling to themselves, since they had a ready-made headline--- several reports about the incident were titled " There She Blows!" after the famous line from the book Moby Dick. The purpose of the question at the beginning of this news report is to _ . A. explain the reason B. sell newspapers C. attract readers D. give an immediate answer Answer: C. attract readers If you knew a bottle of water had been recycled from urine , would you drink it? Astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) may soon do so. NASA said it would use a high-tech machine to recycle wastewater at the ISS. The machine will recycle everything from sweat , the water for washing hands, shower water, water used for brushing teeth, and even urine, to make drinking water. It will save NASA millions of dollars each year. At present, each ISS astronaut uses about 4.4 liters of water every day. It costs about $24 million a year to transport water up to ISS. NASA says that a liter of water costs about $11,000. The machine will be sent to the ISS in October 2008. NASA hopes it will recycle about 93% of all water used on the station. Will the water be clean? Scientists say the wastewater will go through a very complicated process . For example, different chemicals will be put in the wastewater; the water will be heated to 130degCto get rid of bacteria . The recycled water is thousands of times better than the water from a city tap, scientists say. Which of the following sentences is true, according to the passage? A. The recycled water is much better than that from a city tap. B. The high-tech machine will recycle all the water used on the station. C. At present, each ISS astronaut uses more water than the people living on the earth. D. The high-tech machine can only recycle urine to make water at present Answer: A. The recycled water is much better than that from a city tap. One of the candidates TIME's editors are choosing as the Person of the Year 2012 is a beautiful, little, dark-haired girl from remote, rural Pakistan who simply wanted to go to school. On October 9, 2012, 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in Pakistan.She survived the attack and was sent by helicopter to have a bullet removed from her head in a hospital 6,000 miles away in Birmingham, England. Malala has now become the most famous teenager on earth, a symbol of women's rights and has even been nominated for next year's Nobel Peace Prize. However, Malala is no shallow, empty-headed, media-created idol -she is a real flesh-and-blood young woman who has already challenged the fearsome Taliban militants .Reportedly, she wants to return to Pakistan, where her life would be in constant danger.Such courage would be rare for such a young girl. Malala began writing an anonymous blog for BBC when she was only 11 years old, criticizing the Taliban for their activities in her hometown and advocating for women's education in Pakistan. "I have a new dream," she once said."I must be a politician to save this country.There are so many crises in our country.I want to remove these crises." How many little girls have uttered something so mature, selfless and elegant as that She also possesses extraordinary courage ?years ago, militants had been threatening her life.In response to these threats, Malala calmly responded: "I think of it often and imagine the scene clearly.Even if they come to kill me, I will tell them what they are trying to do is wrong. Education is our basic right." What does Malala call for in her country? A. Peace for all people. B. Research into crises. C. Women's right to education. D. Equality of men and women. Answer: C. Women's right to education. It is the preferred choice of millions of health-conscious Britons. But eating organic food could make you fat, experts have warned. A studyhas shown that people tend to believe that organic foods contain fewer calories, so buy and eat more. But people who decide to "go organic" could soon find themselves piling on the pounds. The warning comes from American researchers who studied whether the sight of an organic label was enough to influence a person's choice. For example, if people believe organic foods, produced without using pesticides and artificial fertilizers , have fewer calories, they may end up eating far too much and spending less time on sports activities and put on weight. Cornell University researchers said: " Some people mistakenly think that these foods are more nutritious , just because they carry an organic label." "The growing popularity of organic foods has led to some concern, as these foods may not necessarily be healthier than non-organic ones, but still may lead consumers to nutritional mis-judgments. If people feel a food to be more nutritious, they tend to let their guard down when it comes to counting calories---in the end leading them to overeat." Although a small number of differences in nutrient content were found to exist between organically-produced crops and traditionally-produced ones, these are of little health importance. It shows that there is no proof to support the choice of organically over traditionally-produced foods because of nutritional advantage. When Britons think they have had enough nutrition in organic foods, they will _ . A. eat less and do more sports to keep fit B. do more sports to reduce the calories C. eat less because the foods are expensive D. eat more and do less exercise Answer: D. eat more and do less exercise AAAGH! The Generation 90s is coming! Wearing earphones, using complex Net language and constantly text messaging friends, the Gen-90s following the Gen-80s begin to make their world debut . Each generation or age group has its own symbols and lifestyle. Read on and judge for yourselves if you fit the Gen-90s group. Earphones These little devices seem to grow on the heads of the Gen-90s. They might lead to MP3, MP4 or MP101 players, giving these young people a plugged-in, cool and perhaps self-addicted look, of course, life is not always music to the ears. Martian language They have created their own code-like online language. It's a mixture of English, Japanese and Chinese that perhaps only Martians can understand. This is an imaginative generation, though they need to be careful to keep it out of their term papers. Self-Portrait Saying "cheese" to their own digital cameras is usual for this generation. A little bit of narcissism never hurts anyone. It helps them reflect a little on their own lives. But be aware of the risks of posting private photos online. Text-messaging They can type their mobile phones as fast as they can speak. This is a generation that respects efficiency . However, oral communication is important and will never go out of style. According to the text, the writer will choose _ as a good example to the Gen-90. A. Li Hua likes music and always wearing ipod B. Zhang Chao is not only an imaginative boy but do everything efficiently. C. Lily is a shy girl and she doesn't like making friends. D. Fangfang likes being taken photos and often posting them on line. Answer: B. Zhang Chao is not only an imaginative boy but do everything efficiently.
Native American sand paintings are a very beautiful and popular art form for collectors today. But traditionally, the paintings are created to heal a person during a ceremony. The type of image and ceremony used is determined by the disease which the person is suffering from. The sand painting may contain an image of the Holy People. The tribe medicine man may ask the Holy People to help him paint the image and therefore help heal the person in need. When the medicine man finishes painting, he checks its accuracy. The order and the symmetry of the painting symbolize the harmony which a patient wishes to achieve in his or her life. The accuracy of a sand painting is believed to determine its healing effects. In some cases, more than one sand painting might be used in a healing ceremony. During the ceremony, the person who needs healing will sit on the Native American sand painting. The sand painting serves as an entrance for the spirits and through the painting, the person can absorb the healing energies from these spirits. The sand paintings were not originally meant to be sold or hung on the wall. Once the ceremony is completed, the sand painting must be destroyed, thus allowing the sand to return to the Earth. This is necessary because the sand painting is now seen as poisonous, having absorbed the illness, and must be destroyed. The entire ceremony, from the painting to the destroying is usually completed within a 12-hour period. The medicine man never wrote down how to perform the healing ceremony, but it was passed down from generation to generation. The Pueblo tribe was the first tribe to create Native American sand paintings, but the art soon spread to many other tribes. Today, it is the Navajos who are the most active in creating Native American sand paintings. It is believed that it was a medicine man named Fred Stevens who was the first person to create a Native American sand painting for sale in the 1950s. A trader, Rex Bollin, recommended Fred to sell sand paintings since they were so beautiful. After working out how to make the sand stick to the canvas , Fred began selling his sand paintings. Why would people destroy the sand paintings after the healing ceremony? One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet view of the wonderful works.. A young couple viewing the paintings ahead of me chatted nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided she was doing all the talking. I admired his patience for tolerating her constant words. Disturbed by their noise, I moved on. I _ them several times as I moved through the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her constant talking, I moved away quickly. I was standing at the counter of the museum gift store doing some shopping when the couple approached the exit. Before they left, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He turned it into a long cane and then tapped his way into the coatroom to get his wife's jacket. "He's a brave man," the clerk at the counter said, "Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn't change. So, as before, he and his wife come in whenever there's a new art show." "But what does he get out of the art?" I asked, "He can't see." "Can't see! You're wrong. He sees a lot. More than you or I do," the clerk said, "His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head." I learned something about patience, courage and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without sight and the courage of a husband who would not allow blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away arm in arm. At first the author's attitude towards the wife of the couple was _ . Signs in many stores and restaurants warn that microwaves are in use. What is the main reason for this warning? Cleaner Wanted Here is a job in Lanzarote for anyone suitable. Mrs. Smith is looking for a person to clean her home three times a week. If you want this job, you can email her at kerry@movistar.ner. Salesperson Wanted A position has opened for a part-time shop assistant. The assistant is needed to work for about three hours every morning, six days a week in a fashion jewellery shop. You need to be able to speak at least one language (English or German) and Spanish. Please email janer@the-tdgroup.com. Chef Wanted The Cutty Sark is seeking a new chef. The applicant must have experience and be able to start working immediately. A full-time chef is required to work about 37.6-45 hours per week. If you are interested , please come to see Mark or Rebecca at the Cutty Sark pub or call 650316301. A School Student Needed Montana Villas and Polls in Playa Blanca is seeking a school student to show rooms to their customers in summer. Any applicant must be fluent in both English and Spanish. The minimum age of the student is sixteen, and the work days are from Monday to Saturday. This is to run through July and August, and the first couple of weeks in September. To apply for this position, email info@mvplanzarote.com. Part-time Person Needed Tots To Travel is looking for a part-time salesperson. The applicant needs to be confident in sales and more importantly, he or she must have the ability to work with computers. Please contact us via email at penny@totstofrance.co.uk. A person who wants to apply for a chef position is asked to _ . Which object will most likely be attracted to a magnet?
Miss Green is very fat. She weighs 100 kg and she is getting heavier and heavier every day. So one day she goes to see the doctor. The doctor says,"You need a diet, Miss Green, and I have a good one here." He gives her a small book and says, "Read this carefully and eat the things on Page 11 every day. Then come back and see me in two weeks' time." Miss Green comes back again two weeks later. She isn't thinner. She is fatter instead. The doctor is surprised and says, "Are you eating the things on Page 11 of the small book?" "Yes, doctor." she answers. The next day the doctor visits Miss Green during her dinner. She is surprised to see the doctor. "Miss Green," he says, "why are you eating potatoes and bread? They aren't on your diet." "But, doctor," Miss Green answers, "I ate my diet at lunchtime. This is my dinner." Why doesn't Miss Green get thinner? A She only eats her diet at lunchtime. B She only eats her diet at dinner. C She eats too little. D She doesn't have her breakfast. Answer: A Which two activities are carried out by all species of living things? A make food and eliminate waste B hibernate and take in nutrients C grow and reproduce D migrate and seek shelter Answer: C How many things can you see in the night sky? A lot! On a clear night you can see the moon, some planets, and thousands of sparking stars. You can see even more with a telescope. You might see that many stars look larger than others. You might see that some stars that look white are really red or blue. With bigger and bigger telescopes you can see more and more objects in the sky. And you can see those objects in more and more detail. But scientists believe there are some things in the sky that we will never see. We won't see them with the biggest telescope in the world, on the clearest night of the year.That's because they're _ . They're the mysterious dead stars called black holes. You might find it hard to imagine that stars die. After all, our sun is a star. Year after year we see it up in the sky, burning brightly and giving us heat and light. The Sun certainly doesn't seem to be getting old or weak. But stars do burn out and die after billions of years. As a star's gases burn, they give off light and heat. But when the gases run out, the star stops burning and begins to die. So next time you look up at the night sky, remember: there's more in the sky than we can see! On a clear night we might see things except _ . A the moon B some planets C sparkling stars D the sun Answer: D Many cells have a nucleus that contains chromosomes. These chromosomes carry genes that are composed of A hormones B DNA molecules C minerals and water D undigested food molecules Answer: B One day three Frenchmen who did not know English very well were talking about the English language. The first Frenchman said, 'I heard someone shout 'look out' ,I put my head out of a window and a basin of water fell on me. It seems that 'look out' may mean 'don't look out!' The second one followed, ' I was once on a ship and heard the captain shout, 'All hands on the deck ' I put my hands on the deck and someone trod on them.' The third one told his friends his experience too, 'One early morning I called on my English friend and the maid said, 'He is not up yet, come back in half an hour.' When I went again for him, she said, 'He's not down yet.'I said, 'If he's not up and he is not down, where is he then? What a strange language it is!' Where was the third Frenchman's English friend then? A He was at a party. B He was at work. C He was in his bedroom. D He was in the bathroom. Answer: C

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