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Question: Many people think that the BBC news programs are better than those on other channels because the BBC is not a commercial company. It pays for its programs from the television license money which everyone must pay if they have a television. The BBC, which is often known as "Auntie", is the biggest news collecting operation in the world. It has the world's largest network of foreign correspondents (;). Ten percent of the BBC's annual budget is spent on news collecting, reporting and presenting. More than 1,700 people work for the BBC news service. The BBC produces more than 214 hours of news and current affairs programs for radio and television each week. Each television news program costs about PS78,000 per hour and each radio news program costs approximately PS4,800 per hour. In the UK, about 19 million people -- almost 35% of the total population, watch the BBC television news progams every day. Developments in technology are improving news collection and presentation every year. The BBC now uses special cameras in the TV news studios to film the news presenters, and captions-- the words and sentences at the bottom of the screen, are now produced automatically by computer. What's the best title for the passage? A. The BBC News Service B. The BBC Is Not Commercial C. Developments in Technology Are Improving News Collection D. The Biggest Operation in The World Answer: A. The BBC News Service Question: Cosmo Books Ltd., 14, Woodman Road, Hertford Estate, Two Bridges, Rickmansworth, West Sussex. Middx. 25thFebruary Dear sir, Just over six months ago, I saw an advertisement in the Morning Mail for a set of the complete works of William Shakespeare. Your company, Cosmo books Ltd., offered this set ( eight books of plays and two books of poetry) at what was claimed to be a 'remarkable' price: fifteen pounds and fifty pence, including postage and packing. I had wanted a set of Shakespeare's plays and poems for some time, and these books, in red imitation leather, looked particularly attractive; so I sent for them. Two weeks later, the books arrived, together with a set of the complete works of Charles Dickens which I had not ordered. So I returned the Dickens books to you, with a cheque for fifteen pounds and fifty pence for the works of Shakespeare. Two more weeks passed. Then there arrived on my door step a second set of the works of Shakespeare, the same set of novels by Dickens and a six book set of the plays of Moliere, in French. Since I do not read French, these were of no use to me at all. However, I could not afford to post all these books back to you, so I wrote to you at the end of August of last year, instructing you to come and collect all the books that I did not want, and asking you not to send any other books until further notice. You did not reply to that letter. Instead you sent me a bill for forty two pounds , and a set of the plays of Schiller, in German. Since then, a new set of books has arrived every two weeks, the works of Goethe, the poems of Milton, the plays of Strindberg; I hardly know what I have. The books are still all in their boxes, in the garage, and my car has to stand in the rain outside. I have no room for any more books, and even if I read from now until the Last Judgement, I should not finish reading all the books that you have sent me. Please send no more books, send no more bills, send no more angry letters demanding payment. Just send one large lorry and take all the books away, leaving me only with the one set of the complete works of Shakespeare for which I have paid. Yours faithfully, SIMON WALKER The advertisement that Mr. Walker saw in the Morning Mail was for _ A. unlimited number of Cosmo Books. B. a set of 10 books of the works of Shakespeare. C. a book containing all the plays and poems of Shakespeare. D. fifteen pounds and fifty pence. Answer: B. a set of 10 books of the works of Shakespeare. Question: A team of researchers from Oxford University has demonstrated a self-driving car that is different from such cars being tested by Audi, Ford, etc. It' s much cheaper because it's based on off-the-shelf technology and controlled by an ordinary iPad. Instead of using GPS to understand the location, the car learns routes when a person is driving, and then asks after it's got it down, if the driver would like the computer to take over. As time passes, it's becoming very clear that people believe computers would be better drivers than humans. This has been proven by extensive research that indicates that computers are able to react more quickly to driving conditions, make smarter decisions, don't take risks, and don't make mistakes in concentration. They don't drink either, of course, which means accidents due to drunk driving could be reduced dramatically if the computer could take over when someone needs to get home from the bar. And the team says drivers don't need their cars to know everything about every road, condition or possible danger. Instead, they just need to know how to get from one point to another, and to do a good job of it when asked. To that end, the researchers have added cameras, lasers, a central computer to process information and a regular iPad. In practice, the car would learn how to get to and from places that the driver frequents, such as their work place, the local pub or grocery store. Once it has it down, the computer asks the driver if they' d like a rest. If so, they simply tap the iPad, and the car takes over. It' s very simple and doesn't require nearly the same number of devices as those being tested by other car companies. The researchers say people might be able to get the total price of the system below a hundred dollars. And of course, the iPad can be lifted out and carried away for other purposes when not being used as a driver assistant. The car tested by Oxford University are different from others in that they _ . A. use available low-cost technology B. depend on GPS to understand the location C. can choose the places for their owners to visit D. can develop a good relationship with their owners Answer: A. use available low-cost technology Question: Each Indian tribe had a different language. Many Indians never learned any languages except their own. Do you know how Indians from different tribes talked to each other? They had two ways to talk without sound. One way was by sign language; another way by signals. Sign language is a way of talking by using signs. Indians used sign language when they met strangers. In this way, they could find out whether the stranger was a friend or an enemy. In Indian sign language, signs were made with the hands. One sign meant "man". Another meant "horse". To tell the time of day when something happened, an Indian pointed to the sky. He showed where the sun had been at the time. Indians usually used signals when they wanted to send messages to someone far away. To make signals, an Indian might use a pony. He might use a blanket. Or he might use smoke, a mirror or fire arrows. To signal that he had seen many animals, an Indian rode his pony in a large circle. Sometimes the Indian gave a signal like this and then went away to hide. This meant that there was danger. The blanket signal was visible from far away. An Indian held the corners of a blanket in his hands. Then he began to swing the blanket from side to side in front of him. An Indian could send many different signals with his blanket. He could also send many signals with a mirror. He usually used the mirror to warn someone of danger. Of course, mirrors could be used only when the sun was shining. At night, Indians used fire arrows for signaling. Now you can see that Indians didn't need to learn each other's language. They could talk to one another by using signals or sign language. Blanket signals _ . A. could be seen far away B. could be seen at night C. were used only for warning D. were considered the best way of sending messages Answer: A. could be seen far away Question: Standing on a plastic tote will A. vaporize it B. deform it C. levitate it D. melt it Answer: B. deform it
Now let us look at how we read. When we read a printed text, our eyes move across a page in short, jerky movement. We recognize words usually when our eyes are still when they fixate. Each time they fixate, we see a group of words. This is known as the recognition span or the visual span. The length of time of which the eyes stop ---the duration of the fixation ----varies considerably from person to person. It also varies within any one person according to his purpose in reading and his familiarity with the text. Furthermore, it can be affected by such factors as lighting and tiredness. Unfortunately, in the past, many reading improvement courses have concentrated too much on how our eyes move across the printed page. As a result of this misleading emphasis on the purely visual aspects of reading, numerous exercises have been devised to train the eyes to see more words at one fixation. For instance, in some exercises, words are flashed on to a screen for, say, a tenth or a twentieth of a second. One of the exercises has required students to fix their eyes on some central point, taking in the words on either side. Such word patterns are often constructed in the shape of rather steep pyramids so the reader takes in more and more words at each successive fixation. All these exercises are very clever, _ Reading requires the ability to understand the relationship between words. Consequently , for these reasons, many experts have now begun to question the usefulness of eye training, especially since any approach which trains a person to read isolated words and phrases would seem unlikely to help him in reading a continuous text. The author may believe that reading _ . requires a reader to take in more words at each fixation Bars are very important in providing a place where people can meet and make friends. People who enjoy a drink in a local bar are happier and have more friends. They are more likely to be engaged in conversations in small community pubs, and social skills improve after a drink. Professor Robin Dunbar of Oxford University said, "Friendship and communities are probably the two most important factors influencing our health and well-being. Making and maintaining friendships is something that has to be done in the real world. The digital world is simply no substitute(n.). Given the increasing tendency for our social life to be on the Internet rather than in real life, having relaxed, accessible places where people can meet old friends and make new ones becomes even more necessary." Tim Page, chief executive of CAMRA, said, "Bars offer a social environment to enjoy a drink with friends in a responsible community setting. The role of community bars in ensuring well-being cannot be overstated. For that reason, we all need to do what we can to ensure that everyone has a 'local' near to where they live or work." Bars have long been part of British society and have played a key role in British social life since the 16thcentury. Bars came to represent the heart and soul of a community, providing both a place of entertainment and an engine for community bonding. In a world before the arrival of the motor car, the bar provided a venue in which people could get friendships and a sense of community. But the closing decades of the 20th century witnessed major changes in both the style of bars (for example, themed bars) and their numbers. As of 2015, the number of bars declines sharply, with bars continuing to close at an average rate of 29 a week. What can we infer about bars nowadays?[:Zxxk.Com] Some bars have a hard time surviving. Lamu was a 12-year-old Tibetan girl. She wanted to go to Beijing to watch the 2008 Olympics. Only one month ago, Lamu still thought it would be difficult. In the past Tibet had no railroad . If Lamu took a bus, it would take her a long time to reach Beijing. And a plane ticket would cost lots of money. However, things changed for Lamu. She was able to buy a ticket to the world's highest railroad. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway had been completed! The 1,142-kilometer railroad runs on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau . Lamu could reach Beijing by train in 48 hours! About 550 kilometers of the railroad are constructed on the frozen earth . When the frozen earth warms in summer, it can move the track. But Chinese scientists have built a special structure to solve the problem. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been designed with the wild animals in the designers' minds. It also has special underpasses for animals like Tibetan antelopes to go through. "The new railroad greatly helps Tibet's tourism,"said Liu Yueqin, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences . As more tourists take trains to Tibet, there are more money for Tibetans. With the money, more kids can go to school. The railroad also makes things less expensive in Tibet. Now one can buy a TV set for about 1,500 yuan. It used to be much higher than that price. When there was no railroad, it had been difficult to send things in and out of Tibet. With the new railroad, shopping can be more convenient and faster. The special underpasses are _ to go through. for animals Mrs. Smith is Jim's mother. She loves her family very much. She often buys food, fruit and clothes for Jim and his father. Now many clothes are on sale at good prices. Mrs. Smith comes to the store and she wants to buy some clothes. It has sweaters in all colors for Y=15 each and sports shoes for only Y=28. Mrs. Smith likes the red sweater and she buys one for herself. She buys a pair of sports shoes for her son. The T-shirts in the store are just Y=18! She buys a white one for Mr. Smith. And that's not all. The socks, in all colors, are Y=2 each. She buys five pairs. Mrs. Smith buys _ for Mr. Smith. a T-shirt Hannah was so sad! If she had one wish, it would be that she was well enough to go outside and play. The storm last night had brought a lot of snow, she could see it through the window. The snow caused everything to twinkle and shine, like it was colored with a marker made of glitter. What a way to start Christmas break, with the flu making her stuck on the sofa under a blanket. Hannah's brother was getting ready to go outside and enjoy the snow. He put on his jacket and put her hat on his head. He had to wiggle his gloves out of his pocket, but he was nice and warm. From the sofa, Hannah watched her brother play in the snow with his friends and throw snowballs. Her brother tossed a stone at the pond and it broke through the ice with a splash. Why was Hannah sad? She couldn't play outside.
Each country has many kind people who volunteer to take care of others. For example, some high school and university students in the US often spend many hours as volunteers in hospital or old people's homes. They read books for the people or they just visit them and play games with them or listen to their problems. Other young volunteers go and work in the homes of the sick people. They clean up their houses or do the shopping. For boys who don't have fathers there is an organization called "Big Brothers". University students and other people take these boys to play baseball games and help them get to know things that boys usually learn from their fathers. Each city has a lot of clubs where boys and girls can go to play games or take part in other activities. Some of these clubs show movies or have short trips to the mountains, the beaches or the museums. Most of these clubs use a lot of high school and university students as volunteers because they can understand the problems of these boys and girls more easily. Volunteers believe that some of the happiest people in the world are those who help to bring happiness to others. What do volunteers believe ? A. The happiest people in the world are those who join some clubs. B. Bringing happiness to others make them the happiest people in the world. C. The happiest people in the world are those who make themselves happy. D. The happiest people in the world are those who are young and healthy. Answer: B. Bringing happiness to others make them the happiest people in the world. On Sundays my father always wore that dull gray apron - the one with the race cars all over it. The ritual began after breakfast when Dad always announced: "Go ahead everyone. I'll take care of the dishes!" With that my mother disappeared into the folds of the Sunday paper. Off came the suit coat he had worn to church that morning. Up went the shirtsleeves. On went that apron. For the next hour Dad did the dishes, singing ballads like "I Had a Hat When I Came In" and "Who Put the Chow in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder?" I suppose it was strange for a boy's father to wear an apron - even one with race cars - but I never thought much of it until the day that Dad broke with tradition. It was the last Sunday in August. My father seemed in an expansive mood as we walked home from church together. "Tommy," he said letting my name roll off his tongue. My mind raced ahead of his words: The birds and the bees? A new bike? A part-time job? "There comes a time in every boy's life when he must take on responsibilities." This was important. I might even get to back the car out of the driveway. "Responsibilities?" I asked. "Yes. It's time you took a greater role in the household." Power tools? Boss my baby brother? "Starting today, I want you to do the dishes on Sunday morning so your mother and I can work the crossword puzzle together." "The dishes!?" "Anything wrong with taking over the dishes, son?" I started to say something about a man's job or woman's work, but I knew immediately that my protests would fall on deaf ears. I didn't taste a bit of breakfast that morning. Dad seemed in a jovial mood as he described an exceptional Yankee game seen through the eyes of Mel Allen on the radio last night. "Mickey Mantle drove the ball right over the center field wall," he said. "Just a straight line climb in right out of the stadium." He looked out the window as if trying to pick the ball out of the cloud formations. I tried to imagine Mickey Mantle wearing an apron. Suddenly, everything grew quiet. My sister began to clear the table. My brother was scraping the last of the egg from his plate. And then that ancient family ritual that had filled so many Sunday mornings came to an end. My father announced: "Let's go read the paper, Hon." "Aren't you doing the dishes?" my mother asked in puzzlement. "Your oldest son has generously offered to fill the position." My brother and sister stopped cold. So this was what my life had come to. A dark angel sat on my left shoulder and reminded me that I could hit a baseball farther than anyone in my class. I could bench-press my weight. I knew three declensions in Latin, the language of Caesar. Ask me to run through a rainstorm. Command me to ride the roller coaster - backward. These things I would do. But I could never do those dishes. There was nothing left but to refuse. People often say there is a special chemistry between a father and a son. He came back into the kitchen just as I was about to storm out. He had loosened his tie and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt - ready to relax. In his right hand was the old apron. "I want you to have this, Tommy. It'll keep your clothes from getting wet." And before I could mount a protest, he had put the thing on me. "Thanks, Son. Your mother and I appreciate this." With that he disappeared into the Sunday paper. I looked down at the plastic. It had seen better days. I could see my dad reaching for the dishes. The dark angel flew off. Soon I was singing about Mrs. Murphy's chowder. The words came out of nowhere. And out of nowhere I knew the kind of man I wanted to be. What did the author think of washing dishes at first? A. It's natural for a man to wash dishes . B. Washing dishes was women's work.. C. Parents should wash dishes. D. Children should help their parents wash dishes. Answer: B. Washing dishes was women's work.. In recent years, a growing body of research has shown that our appetite and food intake are influenced by a large number of factors besides our biological need for energy, including our eating environment and our perception of the food in front of us. Studies have shown. for instance. that eating in front of the TV (or a similar distraction) can increase both hunger and the amount of food consumed. Even simple visual cues( ). like plate size and lighting, have been shown to affect portion size and consumption. A new study suggested that our shot-term memory also may play a role in appetite. Several hours after a meal, people's hunger levels were predicted not by how much they'd eaten but rather by how much food they'd seen in front of them --- in other words, how much they remembered eating. This difference suggests the memory of our previous meal may have a bigger influence on our appetite than the actual size of the meal. says Jeffrey M . Brunstrom , a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Bristol. "Hunger isn't. controlled solely by the physical characteristics of a recent meal. We have identified an independent role for memory for that meal." Brunstrom says. "This shows that the relationship between hunger and food intake is more complex than we thought." These findings echo earlier research that suggests our perception of food can sometimes trick our body's response to the food itself. In a 2011 study, for instance, people who drank the same 380-calorie milkshake on two separate occasions produced different levels of hunger-related hormones, depending on whether the shake's label said it contained 620 0r 140 calories. Moreover, the participants reported feeling more full when they thought they'd consumed a higher-calorie shake. What does this means for our eating habits? Although it hardly seems practical to trick ourselves in to eating less, the new findings do highlight the benefits of focusing on our food avoiding TV and multitasking while eating. The so-called mindful-eating strategies can fight distractions and help us control our appetite, Brunstrom says. What do we learn from the 2011 study? A. Food labels may mislead consumers in their purchases. B. Food labels may influence our body's response to food. C. Hunger levels depend on one's consumption of calories. D. People tend to take in a lot more calories than necessary. Answer: B. Food labels may influence our body's response to food. Smiling girls have their luck. It fits Huang Ruijia well. The 15-year-old student comes from Chengdu Experimental Foreign Language School. On March 22, 2014,she won third place(junior category)at the 12th China Daily "21st Century Lenovo Cup" National High School English Speaking Competition, which was held in Beijing. During the competition, many contestants kept a serious face. But Huang was smiling all the time. Her good manners also won her the Best Style prize at the contest. "Smiling shows confidence, which is an important quality for speakers," said Meng Qingtao, associate research fellow at the National Institute of Education Sciences, and one of the judges . "Huang's smile brought judges closer to her, and also cured her stress." Huang only became a smiling girl two years ago. At the time she was busy preparing for a speaking competition. One day, when she was practicing in front of the mirror, she was shocked by what she saw. "I saw a poker face reciting a cold speech," said Huang. "Who would like to listen to a speaker like that?" Since then Huang decided to face everything with a smile. It has worked in speaking competitions and in many other situations in her life, such as building friendships. Once Huang and her friend had a fight and were mad at each other. After three days, Huang said she wanted to talk but didn't know how to start. She then decided to give a smile, the friend smiled back and gave her a hug in return. "This is the power of smiling," said Huang. "You can make a difference in your life simply by smiling." Huang Ruijia thinks smiling is also helpful when _ . A. studying B. walking C. making friends D. fighting Answer: C. making friends What do cells break down to produce energy? A. food B. water C. chlorophyll D. carbon dioxide Answer: A. food
Colours often have different meanings in different cultures. In the U.S., people have found the following to be true. Black Black is the colour of power. It is also popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. White White is the symbol of purity. White is thought to be a summer colour. However, white shows dirt and is more difficult to keep clean than other colours. Red This is the most exciting colour. Red furniture should look very good since it will attract a lot of attention. Red cars are the thieves' favourite. Red is often used in restaurants because it is an appetite _ . This means it can make people eat more. Blue Blue is the colour of the sky and the ocean. Peaceful blue is often used in bedrooms. Studies show that weightlifters are able to lift heavier weights in blue gyms. Green Green represents nature. _ Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients. Yellow Sunny yellow is a cheerful colour, yet people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies cry more. Which colour is a summer colour? A. Blue. B. White. C. Green. D. Red. Answer: B. White. When traveling abroad, it is wise to carry your money in traveler's checks because checks are protected against loss or theft. If your checks are lost or stolen, the issuing authority will refund your money. Not only are they safe, they are also convenient. They are available in different currencies and they can be cashed at most banks throughout the world. Most shops, hotels and restaurants also accept them. Traveler's checks are very easy to use. When you collect them, you sign each check once. The cashier enters the amount in your passport. When you cash, you sign each check again. The cashier will usually ask to see your passport again too. To get traveler's checks you usually go to your bank. They can be paid in cash or in other ways. Large amounts, however, must be ordered in advance. For the safety and convenience of traveler's checks, you are charged two commissions(,): an insurance commission when you buy them and an encashment commission when you cash them. It is suitable to make a note of the serial numbers of your checks. Keep this separate from your traveler's checks.(191) People like to carry their money in traveler's checks when traveling abroad, because _ A. they cannot be lost or stolen B. they can be used anywhere C. they are safe and handy D. they can save travelers plenty of money Answer: C. they are safe and handy One of the Queen's closest relatives and oldest friends was allowed to give a deep description into the family life of the Royals. Although there have been hundreds of other books declaring to offer a quick look behind the Palace doors, this is the first written by someone who is closely related to the Royal Family and has shared their lives--not only throughout the Queen's reign but also through that of her father, King George VI. The Final Curtsey was written by her Majesty's cousin and childhood playmate the Honorable Margaret Rhodes. It tells in details the story of Mrs. Rhodes's relationship with the Royal family over eight decades. The book, with delightfully informal and never-before-seen pictures, has been written with the full knowledge of the Queen, who has read and approved parts of it. Born in 1925, the Honorable Margaret Rhodes has led an extraordinary life. She was the childhood playmate of her cousin, the Queen; a wartime M16 spy; and she was a lady-in- waiting to her aunt, the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, from 1991 until the latter's death in 2002. At the Queen's 80thbirthday in April 2006, Margaret gave an interview to the BBC which she proved that, in her own opinion and despite several false reports, the Queen would not abdicate . In this charming autobiography ,she told how she was offered a house to live in the Royal farm in Windsor Great Park unexpectedly. One day when she and the Queen were out riding outside, she suddenly returned and said, "Could you bear to live in the suburb?" "I think it should be OK." Therefore Mrs. Rhodes is now still living there. When Mrs. Rhodes was offered to live in the Royal farm, she was _ . A. unhappy B. surprised C. sad D. disappointed Answer: B. surprised Somepeople think only school children do not agree with their parents, however, it is not true. Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages. if it's hard for you to communicate with your parents, don't worry about it. Here is some advice for you to _ the generation gap .Don't argue with your parents. Don't get to your parents when you are angry.Your parents probably won't consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. And you can't express yourself well if you are angry. Go to someplace to cool off . Make sure you understand why you are unhappy. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you don't think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter. Try to reach a compromise . Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael's mother didn't agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to a compromise. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days. Of course, your parents might refuse to compromise on something . In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect to them. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong. Talk about your values. The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Tell your parents what you care about, and why. Understanding your values mighthelp them see your purposes in life. A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person .It is worth having a try! If the values of your parents are different from those of yours, you'd better _ A. argue with them B. keep away from them C. argue with them all time D. tell your parents what you care about Answer: D. tell your parents what you care about A growing number of college students are applying to take entry tests for medical and dental schools among increasing graduate unemployment in Korea. "I've decided to apply for the test to enter a medical college to become a doctor, changing from my original plan to prepare for a lawyer qualification exam in order to get a more stable job in the future," said a 24-year-old college graduate, Lee, who majored in business administration during his undergraduate schooling. The new medical and dental school system is getting popularity, attracting an increasing number of students every year since its appearance in 2004, as it is open to all college graduates regardless of their previous majors. The Education Development introduced the new medical and dental education system, in which college students with bachelor's degrees are allowed to study medicine or dentistry by taking the Medical Education Test (MET) and Dental Education Test (DET). Ten medical schools and six dental colleges that have used the new system have received 4,377 applications for the entrance exams. Applicants are getting younger compared with those in their 20s representing 76.9 percent of the total. The tests might be easier for students with biology and chemistry majors, but graduates from other majors are also applying for the tests. Under the existing medical and dental education system, students should take a two-year premedical course followed by a four-year medical course. Students graduating under the new medical or dental education system are given master's degrees, while those graduates who studied under the previous system have bachelor's degrees. Students in the old system may spend _ years at college to get bachelor's degrees. A. two B. four C. six D. seven Answer: C. six
Question: With the popularity ofHarry Potter novels, the number of children applying to boarding schools has risen, many of them hoping to find their own version of Hogwarts. However, others have interpreted this trend as a reaction to longer working hours and the break up of more marriages. The boarding schools of fiction are presented as one long midnight feast with pillow fights making firm friendships. However, some people say the reality is children having more homesickness and a lack of individual attention. Modern boarding schools have done much to get rid of the image of the mass dormitories with 40 or more beds in one room, some going as far as providing private rooms with bathrooms. Similarly, they make great announcements for their academic advantage, particularly in light of the increase in exams, homework and university entrance requirements facing children wishing to succeed in the modern world. Alongside these more conventional schools, two types of boarding schools have also become more popular recently. Sports academies and stage schools seek to cater for children with particular interests and talents, while so-called troubled-teens have been able to turn to a range of religious or wilderness schools to solve their problematic behavior. Boarding schools allow children a safe space in which to accomplish greater control and independence over their daily lives. Teachers and staff can look after and support but they are unlikely to be over-protective. This can be a great preparation for university or for working away from home in later life as it provides an intermediate step between childhood and full independence. However, parents are a child's most natural support and best role models to learn from. If they are separated from them for long periods of time, this may damage their relationship and leave the child feeling anxious or alone. Schools are unlikely to be able to copy the detailed knowledge of each individual child that a parent has and therefore cannot be as effective in supporting the child. To sum up, boarding schools have both their advantages and disadvantages, so it is up to you to decide whether to send your children to boarding schools or not. What kind of schools may be the most suitable for the so-called troubled-teens? A. sports academies B. Wilderness schools C. Conventional schools D. Stage schools Answer: B. Wilderness schools Question: Many people travel to different places in the world by air. Usually it takes a long time, perhaps half a day, for passengers to stay in the plan. So airlines offer passengers food. But it is common that they feel bad about food taste. Do you agree? To solve this problem, airlines try hard to improve their food. They would like to do so because they don't want to lose customers. However, according to scientific research, part of the reason why plane food tastes bad is that at high altitude we can not taste things as well as we do on the ground. Also scientists have found that our noses become very dry even before a plane takes off. As the plane moves up, the change in air pressure reduces one third of the sensibility of our taste buds . So our taste buds become senseless. The sad face, however, is that our noses don't know it. All of these help explain why food on the plane tastes so bad. They also help explain why airlines choose to offer passengers salty and spicy food. Without doing so, the food would be tasteless. Now there are many researches on this. According to one of them, some volunteers are asked to lie with their feet higher than their heads for weeks. And scientists write down their feelings about food taste. Though scientists try their best, it is not as easy as they thought. Because they can't deal with the special environment successfully, such as the change in air pressure, making food taste good is still hard for them. Why do scientists feel it hard to made food on the plane taste good? A. The volunteers don't know about food taste. B. The volunteers don't understand them. C. They can't find enough volunteers. D. They can't deal with the special environment successfully. Answer: D. They can't deal with the special environment successfully. Question: Guide dogs are a big help to blind people. A guide dog helps its owner cross the street and do many other things. But it is not easy to become a guide dog. Here's what a dog must do to get the job: 1. When the dog is very young, trainers watch the dog to make sure it is friendly and quiet. 2. For one year, the dog goes to live with a testing family. The family teaches the dog some simple words, like "Sit!" and "Stay!" 3. Then the dog goes to school, where trainers teach the dog to lead a person. The dog must learn to _ cars and other dangers in the street or in the neighborhood. 4. The trainers take the dog into town to practice going into stores and banks. 5. If the dog has done well at school, it is ready to meet his blind owner. Now they will work as a team. You would probably find this passage in _ . A. a book about families B. a book of stories C. a book about working animals D. a book of cartoons Answer: C. a book about working animals Question: On December 26, a ten-year-old British schoolgirl, Tilly Smith, felt that something was wrong while she was on the beach with her family. Her mind kept going back to the geography lesson Mr. Kearney gave just two weeks before she flew to Thailand with her family. "The water was swelling and kept coming in," said Tilly's mother. "There was froth on it like you get on the top of a beer." The Smiths were celebrating Christmas at Maikhao Beach in southern Thailand. Deadly tsunami waves were already on their way. There had been an earthquake not far away earlier that morning. The beach was getting smaller and smaller. Tilly's parents felt strange but they didn't know what was happening. Then Tilly said she'd just studied this at school. She told her parents that a tsunami was coming. In the end she screamed at everyone to get off the beach. Tilly's parents even didn't know what a tsunami was. Seeing their daughter so frightened, they thought that something serious must have been happening. Her parents soon took her and her seven-year-old sister back to the hotel. Many other tourists also left the beach with them. The family stayed on the third floor of their hotel. Fortunately, the hotel wasn't destroyed during the tsunami. Tilly's mother said that if they had stayed on the beach, they wouldn't have survived. After the disaster, the Smiths met people from nearby resorts who had lost their whole families. More than 100 people were saved because of Tilly's warning. Which is the best title for the passage? A. Knowledge Is Power B. A Ten-year-old Heroine C. Tilly Smith in the Tsunami D. The Danger of Tsunamis Answer: B. A Ten-year-old Heroine Question: Packaging is an important form of advertising. A package can sometimes motivate someone to buy a product. For example, a small child might ask for a breakfast food that comes in a box with a picture of a TV character. The child is more interested in the picture than in the breakfast food. Pictures for children to color or cut out, games printed on a package, or small gifts inside a box also motivate many children to buy products--or to ask their parents for them. Some packages suggest that . Food products sold in reusable containers are examples of this. Although a similar product in a plain container might cost less, people often prefer to buy the product in a reusable glass or dish, because they believe the container is free. However, the cost of the container is added to the cost of the product. The size of a package also motivates a buyer. Maybe the package has "Economy Size" or "Family Size" printed on it. This suggests that the large size has the most products for the least money. But that is not always true. A buyer has to know how the product is sold and the price of the basic unit. The information on the package should provide some answers. But the important thing for any buyer to remember is that a package is often an advertisement. The words and pictures do not tell the whole story. Only the product inside can do that. What suggestion does the author give in the passage? A. The best choice for a buyer is to get a product in a plain package. B. A buyer should get what he needs most. C. Do not buy the product which is sold in a glass or dish. D. A buyer should know that the quality of a container has little to do with the quality of the product. Answer: D. A buyer should know that the quality of a container has little to do with the quality of the product.
More and more people are trying to learn English than any other language in the world. English is the world language of politics and international business. It becomes the international language of science, medicine, sports, travel and so on. In most schools in Asia, English is taught as the main foreign language. School children in China and Japan begin to learn English at an early age. English is the official language of more than seventy-five countries including Britain, Canada, the United States and Australia. Many different languages are spoken in some countries. However, English is often used as an official language to help people communicate with each other. India is a good example. English is the common language in this country, but at least twenty-four languages are spoken there. Do you know the history of English? Old English took many words from the French language. Most English words came from French, especially those words used for describing the law and the government, such as "damage"," prison "and " marriage". Then, English became what language experts called Middle English. The history of English continues as Middle English, and then it becomes Modern English, and it is spoken today. ,. What can we learn from the passage? A Students in Japan begin to learn English when they are young. B English is the official language of all the countries in the world. C English is used as an official language in many countries but not in India. D Some words in English are only used for describing those people in prison and in marriage. Answer: A. Students in Japan begin to learn English when they are young. Dear Tim, Today is Saturday. It's 7:00 in the evening in Beijing. I'm writing to tell you something about my life. My father is watching CCTV news. That's his favorite show. My brother is playing computer games. My dog Dick is taking the hat to me. He wants me to put it on and go out for a walk with him. What a clever dog! Outside, I can hear cars and buses coming and going quickly. Also there are some boys playing ball games. It's really a noisy but happy evening. Do you think so? What are your family doing? I know the time here is thirteen hours ahead of the time in New York. Please write to me soon. Best wishes! Yours, Daniel Daniel's father is _ . A watching news B listening to the news C watching movies D listening to some music Answer: A. watching news Rabbit Shiny and tortoise Smily were neighbours. One day they were reading a story about their great grandfathers: Shiny's and Smily's great grandfathers decided to have a race. While Shiny's great grandfather went to sleep during the race, Smily's great grandfather won the race by slowly walking towards the finish line. Smily said, "If your great grandfather didn't go to sleep, my great granddad might never win. So his win was not a real win." The next day there was a notice in the jungle newspaper. It said that there would be a race and the winner would win many prizes. The race started from the bear's house. From there, the runners had to cross the river. But most of the animals could not both run fast and swim fast. So they didn't know what to do. Shiny and Smily made a plan. Shiny ran, while smily was sitting on his back. He and other animals, like the deer, reached the river side at the same time. But they saw the swift water and stood there because they were worried. None of them liked the idea of crossing the river. Smily quickly got into the water and Shiny sat on his back. Smily started swimming. Soon they reached the other side of the river. Shiny got down from Smily's back and Smily climbed on Shiny's back again. Shiny ran fast. They reached the finish line first. "Both of them are the winners." The president of the jungle said, "Shiny and Smily helped each other during the race and they won. So let's give them a big hand." Shiny's great grandfather didn't win because he _ . A ran too slowly B broke his leg C fell asleep during the race D didn't find the finish line Answer: C. fell asleep during the race American researchers say drinking tea may help strengthen the body's defense system against infection. Doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, did the study. The team studied a chemical found in black, green, oolong and pekoe tea. This chemical is an amino acid called L-theanine. The scientists say it may increase the strength of gamma delta T cells. That's the letter T, not the drink. Gamma delta T cells are part of the body's defense. First, the researchers mixed some of these cells with antigens found in the amino acid . Antigens help the body react to infection. Then the scientists added some bacteria. Within twenty-four hours, the cells produced a lot of interferon, a substance that fights infection. Cells not mixed with the antigens did not produce interferon. In the second part of the study, eleven people drank five to six cups of black tea every day. Ten other people drank the same amount of instant coffee. That is dried coffee mixed with hot water. Two weeks later, and again two weeks after that, the researchers tested the blood of all twenty-one people. They also looked at what happened when they added bacteria to the blood cells. They found that the tea drinkers produced five times more interferon after they started drinking tea. The coffee drinkers did not produce interferon. Doctor Jack Bukowski led the study. He says the antigens added to the gamma delta T cells were responsible for the increased reaction to the bacteria. He says that the study also showed that the cells were able to remember the bacteria and fight them again the next time. Earlier research already has found that tea can help prevent heart disease and cancer. Doctor Bukowski says the new study must be repeated by more people. "If the findings prove to be true," he says, "then tea drinking might also help protect against bacterial infections." He says the amino acid L-theanine could be removed from the tea and used as a drug to strengthen the body's defenses. We may know from the text that _ can be found in different kinds of tea. A L-theanine B Gamma delta T cells C interferon D bacteria Answer: A. L-theanine Our Community 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 got into gear 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 overflowing. We quickly grabbed more boxes, and we watched 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. I was touched and so very proud of them. The wing competition was held _ . A several days after the fire B the night after the fire C a week after the fire D two days after the fire Answer: D. two days after the fire
Can you imagine exchanging the pleasure of city life for a quiet life in the countryside? Many people want to move from the country to the city because they think that life in the city is more exciting and better than that in countryside, especially young people who like new, modern things. People like popular things and feel that they can only find the latest styles in the city. However, it is possible to enjoy the higher quality of country life and still enjoy some of the advantages of living in the city. Nowadays, traveling is fast and easy, and information can be found on the Internet, so many people are able to do their work in home offices. Because they have e-mail and personal computers, they don't have to be in big cities to manage their businesses. It is not important where they actually work because the results of their work can be sent everywhere with e-mails. Therefore, there is no need to put up with all of the disadvantages of the city. Now they can escape busy city life to enjoy the quiet country life and still be able to have successful jobs. Other people are interested in technological things and high-tech jobs and think they can only find them in big cities. If they want to find a job, especially a good position in a company, they think that they have to live in a city. For these jobs, they are willing to put up with many of the disadvantages of city life, such as crime, heavy traffic, and pollution. What is the author's attitude towards city life? Answer: He shows no opinion. "Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?" says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing. Taobao, China's largest online shopping site, is becoming an important part of Wang Lin's life. She spends a lot of money on Taobao. Many Chinese internet users like Wang Lin find the happiness of online shopping. Most online shoppers are students or young workers. More women shop on line than men. Clothing and home-use things are the most popular on line. It was reported that Chinese people spent more than 250 billion yuan on line shopping last year, 80% in Taobao. Taobao means "looking for good" in Chinese. People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from toys to DVD players. You may worry about the security of online shopping, Wang Lin said, "It's very safe. If you don't get the things from the sellers or are not satisfied with them, the shop owner will not get the money. You can also get your money back if you don't want them. Taobao is _ . Answer: an online shopping site My name is Sally Miller. I am a student in No. 3 Middle School. Look! This is a ruler. It's yellow. It's not my ruler. Who lost it? "Anna, is this your ruler?" I ask my friend. "No, it isn't. My ruler is white. And it's in my pencil box now," Anna answers. "Excuse me, Jack. Is this your ruler?" "No, it isn't. My ruler is black." Jack answers. "You can ask your cousin Jenny. She can't find her ruler." "Hi, Jenny! Is this your ruler?" I ask. "Yes, it's mine. Thank you very much," Jenny says. She is very happy to find her ruler. Anna is Sally's _ . Answer: friend What should my thermometer read if I want to make sure my home-made popsicles are done? Answer: 0 degrees C. To develop one's taste in English,the most effective way is to read English books extensively. However, one may be at a loss to choose the appropriate books,especially as a beginner.I would like to share some of my experience. My first English novel was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice,recommended by many English teachers and professors as an ideal book for English learners. But I had great difficulty in understanding the novel,let alone enjoying it. It's not the vocabulary that troubled me,but rather the way Austen constructs sentences,and her way of thinking,which seemed too remote to me at that time. My fading enthusiasm was much recovered after reading Hemingway's novel Farewell to Arms. I particularly liked his brief and lively style. So my first suggestion is,as a beginner, you'd better choose contemporary novels instead of classical ones. However,reading novels is not the only way to improve your English. English essays can at once inform you,entertain you, and improve your taste in English. The best example is Bertrand Russell's work. Its language is plain, yet you cannot help feeling the elegance and the unique sense of humor. His simple language enables his philosophy within the reach of ordinary people. Here comes my second suggestion--essays are _ . Never follow other's opinions blindly,however famous or influential the person might be. As a saying goes,one man's meat is another man's poison. With that in mind,we are sure to find out our favorite writers through reading and develop our fine taste in English. What made the author's first English novel hard to understand? Answer: Sentences and Austen's thinking pattern.
Different people like doing different things;different people have different hobbies. My brother is fond of collecting stamps. He has a very good collection and he is proud of it. His stamps can tell you about different people and different countries. My brother often says that his hobby is popular with people of all ages. Collecting stamps is easy and interesting. It is great fun. You begin to learn many interesting facts about history and famous people when you start to collect stamps. At first people collect every kind of stamp. But soon they begin to make special collections. Sometimes they specialize in stamps of one subject only,for example,birds,animals,flowers or sports. Birds or sports,are your theme .This kind of collecting is called thematic. My brother's collection is thematic. His theme is fish. My best friend,Alice,is a collector too. She is fond of collecting badges .Her collection is also thematic. Her theme is sports. She keeps her badges on the wall. When you come into her room you can see _ all there. My grandfather collected coins when he was a boy. Some people collect dolls. My uncle does. When he travels he always brings home dolls from different countries. Some people collect pictures,cups,toys,toy soldiers,books,pencils and many other things. But collecting things is not the only hobby people have. Some people are fond of travelling or gardening. Very many boys and girls are fond of sport and that is their hobby. My aunt's hobby is taking pictures and my mother is fond of music. If you have one,what is your hobby? Which of the following is the best title for the text? A Interesting hobbies B Wearing badges C Collecting stamps D Enjoying music Answer: A I was in the park with my elder sister, Cathy, on Friday. My sister left her jacket on a chair while we talked to some friends. When we went back to the chair, a girl in a red T-shirt was sitting there. She had some money in her hand. When she saw us, she stood up and walked away. I asked my sister, "Did you have any money in your jacket?" She said, "Yes, Anna, I did." I said, "Look in your jacket quickly." Cathy looked in her jacket, but her money was not there. "That girl stole it!" I said, and we both ran after her. We caught her quickly. My sister was very angry and she said, "Give me the money." The girl gave the money to Cathy and ran away. We both ran after her, but we lost her. Then we went home. But before we could tell our parents, my mother said to Cathy, "You left your money at home. It's on the table in the sitting room. You must be more careful with money." So the girl in the red T-shirt was not a thief! She probably thought we were thieves! We felt terrible. Please telephone us if you know this girl! We are very sorry for our mistake. We would like to say sorry to her and give the money back to her. Our number is 512667. My name is Anna. Cathy thought the money in the girl's hand was _ A from her jacket B the girl's own money C from their home D from the chair Answer: A Many people say that they are working too many hours. They don't have enough time to relax or to stay with their family. Work hours are different from one country to another. In France, people spend about 1,646 hours a year at work. In Japan, however, people work about 2,159 hours a year. Why do people work so many hours? Some people work extra hours because they want to make more money. However, many companies don't pay overtime. Their workers don't get more pay for more work. Some people think it's their duty to work more hours. Some are afraid of losing their jobs if they don't work more hours. Many people say that their vacations are too short. In France, people get five weeks of paid vacation a year. In Germany, they get four to six weeks, and in the United States, two weeks. One study shows fewer than half of workers used all their vacation days. In Great Britain, there is a saying, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." If that is true, there must be a lot of dull people in the world. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A No companies offer vacations to their workers. B Many people say they have enough time to relax. C Not all companies pay their workers for more work. D More than half of workers use all their vacation days. Answer: C In the opinion of many people, the twoparent family is the correct way to raise children. Traditionally, this has been as the most natural way, but singleparent families have had to face prejudices against their lifestyle. However, the singleparent family is the fastest growing type of family. In the United States, a national survey showed that at least 50% of children will be members of a singleparent family. So we think it is important to throw prejudices away and to see the advantages of singleparent families. When compared to twoparent families, singleparent families are usually at a disadvantage in some ways. They are often in short of money, and children receive less attention. What's more, single parents can find themselves under too much pressure of both work and home. Despite these disadvantages, it is possible for singleparent families to look for support from friends, schools, communities or other organizations. They need to remember that nobody can do it alone. Surprisingly, singleparent families also have some advantages over twoparent families. Single parents have greater flexibility in spending time with children, because they don't have to consider the needs of a husband or wife. So they can develop closer relationships with their children. Another advantage comes from the fact that single parents often work together with their children to solve problems, which makes children feel more needed and valued. It's important to remember that singleparent families have, until now suffered prejudices from some people. They think that it's easier for the children in singleparent families to drop out of school in teens, and to be jobless in their early twenties. But, with the support from friends, schools and communities, singleparent families become more accepted by society, and this situation is certain to improve. In the future we will probably see these prejudices disappear. Which of the following may be the best title for this passage? A Advantages and Disadvantages B Changing Views on Singleparent Families C Best Lifestyle for Children D Comparing Two Types of Family Answer: B Apparently your mom had it right when she threatened to wash your mouth out with soap if you talked dirty. Lying really does create a desire to clean the "dirty" body part, according to a study by University of Michigan. "The references to 'dirty hands' or 'dirty mouths' in everyday language suggest that people think about abstract issues of moral purity in terms of more experiences with physical purity," said Spike W.S. Lee, a U-M doctoral candidate, who conducted the study with Norbert Schwarz, a psychologist at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR), the Ross School of Business, and the U-M psychology department. For the study, Lee and Schwarz asked 87 students to play the role of lawyers competing with a colleague, "Chris", for a promotion. Each was asked to imagine they found an important document that Chris had lost, and that returning the document would help his career and hurt their own career. Each participant was instructed to leave Chris a message by either voice mail or email, telling him who they were and either lying that they could not find his document or telling the truth that they had found the document. Next, participants rated the desirability of several products as part of a supposed marketing survey and reported how much they were willing to pay for each product. The products included mouthwash and hand sanitizer . Study participants who lied on the phone, leaving an untrue and mean voicemail, felt a stronger desire for mouthwash and were willing to pay more for it than those who lied on e-mail. And conversely, those who lied on e-mail, typing the same mean message, felt a stronger desire for hand sanitizer and were willing to pay more for _ . Saying nice and morally correct things, on the other hand, made it less appealing to clean the body part involved in conveying the message. In scientific terms, the findings showed that the embodiment of moral purity is specific to the modality involved in the moral misbehavior. Verbal lying increased participants' assessment of mouthwash while lying on e-mail, using their hands, increased the assessment of hand sanitizer's value. "This study shows how 'concrete' the symbolic links are between abstract and concrete domains of life," Schwarz said. "Not only do people want to clean after a dirty deed, they want to clean the specific body part involved." According to the text, Chris _ . A is an imaginary character B is a famous careless lawyer C is a college student D is a mouthwash and hand sanitizer seller Answer: A
Which best describes two organ systems working together to help maintain homeostasis? Answer: Long ago, there was a time when parents told children to read slowly and loudly to understand everything they read. While, a lot of things have changed. Now, learning experts and teachers ask students to read faster and understand important points. Here are a few tips for students who have every little time, but a lot to learn. Making a time table Your timetable should have separate time for eating, playing games, exercise, reading the newspaper and studying You should not only make a timetable, but also do according to it. Taking notes Taking notes is an important part of learning . You need to take lecture notes and notes from your textbooks. Read the notes before going to bed. This helps you memorize the lessons clearly prefix = st1 /Reading techniques You need to read fast and learn more things. Here are some advice on fast reading. Take a quick look them cover to cover to find out the important units. Take a quick look over the units, and find the important points. Bedaubed the speed of reading, and pass your eyes through the top of the letters and not through the center. Don't go back to read a word or a sentence. How to increase memory Try to understand completely what you read or hear. Repeat what you hear or read in your mid. A single word can help you remember a whole idea. How to increase concentration Mental concentration is important to memory and better learning. You should separate a specific place and a specific time of the day for reading. Sit straight. It increases your concentration. Good conditions for learning A silent location that you don't use for sleeping, eating or entertainment purpose is the best place for reading. Taking exercise daily is good for students. It increases concentration. What kind of information can we get from the passage? Answer: Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. So, I really doubted whether there was any love between my parents. Every day they were working hard to pay for my high school. They didn't act in the romantic ways that I read in books and saw on TV, and they certainly didn't send flowers to each other on Valentine's Day . One day, my mother was sewing a quilt . I asked her if there was any love between her and my dad. She stopped and raised her head in surprise. Then she went on with her work without saying anything. I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her feelings. But after a few minutes she said, "Look at this thread . Sometimes it appears, but most of the time it disappears in the quilt. If life is a quilt, then love is the thread. It can hardly be seen anywhere or at any time, but it's really there, and makes the quilt long-lasting." I listened carefully but I didn't understand her until the next spring. My mother suddenly got seriously ill and had to stay in hospital for about a month. Every morning and evening after she returned from the hospital, my father helped her walk slowly along our country road. _ All of this made the most beautiful picture in the world. Reading their eyes, I knew they love each other deeply. From this experience, I realized that love is just a thread in the quilt of our lives. Love is inside, making life strong and warm. Why didn't the writer's mother answer his question immediately? Answer: It was at least tow months before Christmas, when nine-year-old Almie Rose told her father and me that she wanted a new bike. Her Barbi bike was just too old, and it needed repairing as well. As Christmas came nearer, her dream for a bike seemed to disappear, so we thought, for she didn't mention it again. We were busy buying some beautiful storybooks, a doll house, a holiday dress and toys. Then much to our surprise, on December 24, she said she really wanted a bike more than anything else. Now we didn't know what to do. It was just toot late. We were busy with Christmas dinner and packing children's presents, parents' presents, a brother's present and friends' presents till midnight.So there was no time to take to buy the "right bike" for our little girl. Thinking that we were parents who would make their children unhappy, we felt guilty and sad. Suddenly my husband came up with an idea. "What if I make a little bike out of clay and write a note that she could trade in the model bike for a real one?" So he spent the next five hours carefully working with the clay to make a small bike. On Christmas morning, we were so excited for Almie Rose to open the little box with the beautiful red and white clay bike and the note. She opened and read the note loudly. She looked at me and Ron and said, "So does this mean I can trade in this bike for a real one?" Smiling, I said, "Yes." Almie Rose had tears in her eyes when she replied, "I would never trade in this beautiful bike that Daddy made me. I prefer to keep it rather than get a real bike." At that moment, we would have moved the God to buy her every bike on the Earth. Rose's parents didn't buy her a bike because she _ . Answer: Sickness has the potential to Answer:
She looked at the man walking along the sidewalk next to the nice houses. He didn't live in any of those houses. She had seen this man several times before. He looked like a criminal. She knav not to judge a book by its cover, but this man was no good She drove by him. He looked at her car as she drove by. She continued driving. She watched him in her rear view mirror. She got to the corner and stopped. She continued to watch him walking in her direction. Suddenly, he turned left up a driveway. A red SUV was parked in the driveway right next to the sidewalk. She saw him walk up to the driver's door and put his hand on the handle. He relumed to the sidewalk and continued walking in her direction. "What was that all about. " she wondered. Then she realized that he had tested the door to see if it was locked. He is a criminal, she thought That's what he does. He just walks through our neighborhoods looking for cars to break into. She called the police. She described the man. The officer said he knew who the man was. Residents called two or three times a week to report him walking by. But the police couldn't arrest him for walking around. They had to catch him with stolen goods. "But he was testing that SUV door to see if it was unlocked," she said. "I'm sony," said the officer. "That's not against the law. If you see him actually steal something, give us a call." Why couldn't the police arrest the man? A. Because the police knew that the man was a resident of this area. B. Because the police knew that the SUV belonged to the man. C. Because the police knew that just walking around isn't against the law. D. Because the police knew that it was not the man but the woman who broke the law. Answer: C As I was leaving to meet Lynne, my roommate told me that I'd better take some money. But I didn't listen to him. I thought that Lynne would pay because she had invited me. I arrived at the restaurant exactly on time. I'd been told that Americans expect you to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table in the corner of restaurant and a waitress came and took our order. The dinner was a great success. I talked a lot about Saudi Arabia and Lynne told me all about herself. After two hours, the waitress finally came and asked if we wanted one check or two. Lynne said two. We went to the cashier and Lynne paid her check. I was embarrassed when the cashier gave me my bill. I had no money to pay for my meal. Then I had an idea. I pretended to look for something in my pockets and said, "Oh! I forgot my wallet! Can I call my roommate, please?" The cashier showed me where the phone was and I quickly called my roommate. In a few minutes, he arrived with some money, but he couldn't hide how he felt. He laughed all the way home. Now, I think it's funny too, but at that time I was terribly embarrassed. I thought that an invitation to have dinner in the United States meant the same thing as that in China. I guess you have to understand that your customs are only your customs. When you visit a foreign country, you have to learn about their customs, too. The roommate laughed all the way home because _ . A. the writer was embarrassed when he couldn't pay his check B. the writer hadn't told Lynne the truth C. the writer listened to him when he left the house. D. the dinner wasn't a great success Answer: A Midas was a powerful king, both rich and greedy. Once he did a great favor for Bacchus, the god of wine. Bacchus offered Midas his choice of a reward. Midas answered at once. He asked that whatever he touched be turned into gold. Bacchus agreed, though he was sorry that Midas had not made a wiser choice. Midas was eager to put his newly gained power to the test. He pulled a branch from a tree. The branch became gold in his hand. He picked up a stone; it turned to gold. He touched the grass, it, too, turned to gold. Midas was overjoyed. Returning home, he ordered his servants to prepare a magnificent meal. But when he picked up some bread, it turned to gold. He lifted a glass of wine to his lips. But before he could taste it, it turned to gold. Midas wished to free himself of his power. He hated the gift he had so recently hoped for. He raised his arms and begged and prayed for Bacchus to take away his deadly gift. Bacchus showed pity. "Go," he said. "to the River Pactolus. There dip yourself in. Wash away your greed and its punishment. "Midas did so. Hardly had he touched the waters, before the gold-making powers passed into them. The river sands changed into gold. And they remain golden to this day. What is the moral of this story? A. There is more to life than riches. B. Gold is more important than food. C. You can't trust your friends. D. You must make a wiser choice. Answer: A He met her at a party. She was so outstanding that many guys were chasing after her, while he was so ordinary. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised but due to being polite, she promised. They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, and she felt uncomfortable, too. Suddenly he asked the waiter, "Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee." Everybody stared at him. It was so strange! His face turned red but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, "Why do you have this hobby?" He replied, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, my hometown, and my parents who are still living there." While saying that tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. Then she also started to speak, speaking about her faraway hometown, her childhood, and her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their love. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who met all her demands. He had tolerance, kind-hearted, warm and careful. Thanks to his salty coffee! They married. And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that was the way he liked it. After 40 years, he passed away and left her a letter which said, "My dearest, please forgive my whole life's lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some sugar, but said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead. I didn't like the salty coffee then, what a strange bad taste! But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life, for it was prepared by you." The man was nervous at the coffee shop, because _ . A. everybody stared at him at that time B. many guys chased after the woman C. he didn't feel himself a match for the woman D. he had the strange habit of drinking salty coffee Answer: C I'm a boy. My name is Tom White. I am ten years old. I am in Class 2, Grade 1. I'm in No. 1 Middle School. My teacher is Mr. Wu. I have a good friend at school He is Jim Green. Jim is his first name and Green is his last name. He is ten, too. But he is in Class 1, Grade 1. His teacher is Miss Wang. , . Tom and Jim are in _ A. Grade 1 B. Grade 2 C. Grade 3 D. Grade 1 and Grade 2 Answer: A
Dix is on trial for killing Vetter. The prosecutor calls Winn to testify that after being shot, Vetter said, "Dix did it." Before the testimony is given, Dix's lawyer asks for a hearing on whether Vetter believed his death was imminent when he made the statement. Before permitting evidence of the dying declaration, the judge should hear evidence on the issue from Answer: Jack and James were good friends .One day,they were walking through the desert .During the journey they had a big fight,and Jack hit james in the face.James felt hurt,but he didn't say anything.Instead( ),he wrote in the sand:Today my best friend hit me in the face. They kept on walking until they found an oasis .They decided to get some water there .Suddenly James had trouble in the water,he fell into the mire and was in danger.Jack saved him at once.When he felt Ok,he wrote on a stone:Today my best friend saved my life. "After I hurt you ,you wrote in the sand, and now you wrote on the stone.Why?"asked Jack."When someone hurts us,we should write it down in the sand so that the wind of forgiveness can blow it away.But when someone does anything good for us,we must write it down on the stone,so no wind can blow it away." Since then ,the two friends have never fought with each other again. Hatred can bring you nothing but unhappiness .If you don't forgive others,you are making trouble for yourself.Keep a peaceful heart all the time and remember to be always thankful to those who ahve helped you! Which of the statements is not TRUE according to the passage. Answer: Driving a car at a high speed along a highway seems to be fun. You need only to follow the bright traffic signs beside the highways and it will take you to where you wish. But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job. A taxi driver has to have not only skills but also a good knowledge of the city of London, from the smaller road to the most popular bar around. He has to be at service of all kinds of passengers at all times. A certain London taxi driver told of his job as follows. During the night it is quite usual for him to stop two or three times for some refreshments . He said, "I never drink when I'm working --- I would lose my license." He usually goes home between 2 and 3 o'clock in the night. There are times he has to stay longer and try to make more runs. He said, "That's the worst thing about working for yourself. If you don't make any money, no one is going to give it to you." London taxi drivers not only "take" but also "give". Every summer hundreds of children from London will go for a day at the sea --- by taxi! Their rides are paid by the taxi drivers, and these all go to the "London Taxi for _ ". At the sea, they are met by the mayor , and a lunch party is also held in honor of the taxi drivers and the children. After a happy day running around the sea beaches and visiting the markets, the children go home again --- by taxi, and free of charge , of course! What is the passage about? Answer: China is a country on the move--especially around its Lunar New Year holiday. This year, the holiday crush promises to be even heavier than before. Government officials estimate 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 annually tries patience. And it is the railway system that routinely is most unable to cope. Railways are the transport of choice for low-cost long-distance travel, and that's where the ticketing system routinely 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 ending up with many of the hard-to-find tickets. While insisting that online sales were the fairest way to get tickets for travelers, railway officials told reporters that the public need to be patient. Efforts were being made to provide online identity checks that would reduce the ticket scalping problems. While officials had little good news for rail passengers, they did manage to bring a few smiles to those traveling by car as the country's extremely expensive highway tolls will be free of charge for the period of the official holiday. We can learn from the text that _ around the New Year holiday. Answer: A typical Chinese Internet user is a young male who prefers instant messaging to e-mail,seldom makes online purchases but favors news,music and games sites.According to a study,about two-thirds of survey participants use the Internet for news--often entertainment-related--or for online games.About half download music and movies. They also tend to prefer instant messaging to e-mail,and they are depending on the Internet more frequently than before to communicate with others who have the same professions,hobbies and political interests.Online purchases still remain unpopular in China.Three-quarters of users surveyed have never bought anything over the Internet,and only 10 percent make purchases even once a month.Among those who do buy online,most pay for entertainment while others buy phone cards,or computer hardware or software. "Many people don't trust the quality of goods bought online," Guo said Wednesday."If they buy it in a store and don't like it,they can easily bring it back.'' The survey was done in five major cities:Beijin9,Shanghai,Guangzhou.Chengdu and Changsha.Results do not necessarily project countrywide because Internet use in rural areas is lower than in cities.Guo describes the typical netizen in the five cities surveyed as young,male,richer and more highly educated.Males make up two-thirds of the Internet community,and more than 80 percent of users are under 24.Among people ages 25 to 29,60 percent to 80 percent go online. China has more than 100 million people online,second in the world to the United States. A typical Chinese Internet user will be the one who_. Answer:
MADRID (Reuters)--Spain' s parliament voiced its support on Wednesday for the rights of great apes to life and freedom. Parliament's environmental committee approved resolution urging Spain to carry out the Great Ape Project (GAP), designed by scientists and philosophers who say our closest genetic s deserve rights limited to humans. "This is a historic day in the struggle for animal rights and in defense of our evolutionary comrades, which will doubtless go down in the history of humanity," said Pedro Poza, Spanish director of the Great Ape Project. The new resolution has cross-party support and it is thought they will become law within a year, making Spain the first nation to extend legal rights to apes. Under the new law, potential experiments on apes in Spain will be forbidden. "We have no knowledge of great apes being used in experiments in Spain, but there is currently no law preventing that from happening," Poza said. Keeping apes for circuses, television commercials or filming will also be forbidden.Housing apes in Spanish zoos, of which there are currently 315, will remain legal, but supporters of _ have said the conditions in which most of them live will need to improve vastly. Philosophers Peter Singer and Paola Cavalieri founded the Great Ape Project in 1993, arguing that "non-human hominids " should enjoy the rights to life and freedom and not to be mistreated. What is Poza's attitude towards the resolutions? A He doubts their truth. B He strongly supports them. C He thinks them unnecessary. D He pays little attention to them. Answer: B. He strongly supports them. Bullied kids face a high risk of mental health problems as teens and as young adults. Indeed, kids troubled by bullying may be worse off than those who had suffered physical abuse or neglect, as the study found. Until recently, most studies of child victims focused not on bullying but on maltreatment , Dieter Wolke says. Maltreatment includes physical or emotional abuse, neglect or other behaviors that can harm a child. Wolke's team wanted to better understand bullying's long-term effects compared to those due to maltreatment. They focused on 4,026 children in the United Kingdom and 1,420 more in the United States. Information about bullying and maltreatment was collected for American children to age 13. They collected the same information for British youth up to age 16. The researchers also gathered data on each individiial's mental health as a young adult. Among the Americans, 36 percent of bullied kids had mental problems later. Those problems included anxiety, which is a state of excessive worry. They also included depression. That is a feeling of hopelessness that can last a long time. Among kids who had been maltreated by adults, 17 percent later suffered mental health problems. That was less than half the rate seen in people who had been bullied as school kids. In the U.K. group, the difference was less dramatic. Roughly 25 percent of the bullied kids reported mental health problems later, compared with about 17 percent who had been maltreated. But however you look at it, the findings are disturbing. And that's why Wolke says schools,health services and other agencies must work together to end bullying. Studies like this are important, says C.orinna Jenkins Tucker. They bring attention to the lasting impacts of bullying. Tucker does, however, question the value of comparing bullying to other types of abuse. Such an approach can make it seem like one type of bad experience is worse than the other, she says. In fact, both types have short-term and long-term effects on health. She'd like to see researchers study the big picture. They should try to understand how all ofthese negative experiences together shape children--and sometimes harm them. The passage is most probably taken from_. A a news section B a science section C a culture section D an entertainment section Answer: B. a science section DEARAUNTYf My husband's niece is 13 and what I would call "a handful". She wants to stay with us for while, and her mother and grandmother have told me what a great influence I would be on her. Her visit ,no doubt, would bring about a long list of demands' and she'd want to bring a friend too. I don t feel comfortable hosting her, but I don 3r know how to tell my husband's family members without hurting their feelings. -Reluctant Aunt Dear Reluctant, Let's get you out of this mess. Your husband's family is making a request that borders on a demand and sugarcoating it with self-serving flattery * Put your foot down, and tell the truth. Say you don't feel equipped or comfortable hosting the little darling, and regretfully decline .Under no circumstances should you take part in any discussion that attempts to change your mind through flattery. DEAR AUNTY have two stepdaughters, 21 and 24. On holidays, the older one always buys me gift but adds her sister's name on the card. I feel insincere thanking the younger daughter -Vd rather get no gift than be a part of this pretence. Is it tacky to ask the 24-year-old to stop giving her sister credit while it isn t deserved? Will the younger one ever learn to be thoughtful? -Mindful Mum Dear Mindful, Lighten up! Your older stepdaughter is a considerate and generous sister who covers for and protects her younger sister. Good for her! The girls' relationship is between them. As for your role, you can't punish anyone into being thoughtful. You can, however, model thoughtful behavior. Spend some time with her, and get to know her better. AUNTY suggested that Reluctant Aunt _ A kindly host the guest B discuss with her husband C politely turn down the request D try to meet all the demands Answer: C. politely turn down the request Hi, I'm Li Ping. I am 15 years old. I am pretty healthy. I like doing all kinds of sports, such as football, basketball, running and swimming. Every morning, I get up early and do exercise. I play basketball on Wednesdays and Saturdays with my friends every week. I do my homework every day. I like watching TV, but I can't watch it every day on school nights. I only watch it on Saturday evening. I am neither fat nor thin. My eating habits are very good. I try to eat a little meat and lots of vegetables and fruit. And I never eat junk food. Do you know me? I'm Zhao Hui, a 14-year-old student. I am a little fat. I like eating meat. I eat meat three or four times a week. I especially like eating junk food. I want to eat it every day, but my parents don't allow me to eat it every day. I only eat it once or twice a week. I don't like exercise at all. Sometimes, I swim with my friends because I like it. I know exercise is good for my health. From now on, I have to exercise every day. Li Ping likes eating lots of food except _ . A junk food B meat C vegetables D fruit Answer: A. junk food For about a decade, I knew that I needed to improve my handwriting, but I always put it off. "My typing skills are good, my communication skills are good, and all my other abilities are adequate for the job I do and the life I live. Why would I need to improve my handwriting in such a modern world?" I thought. I was sort of hit by the fact that my handwriting needed improving quite suddenly in the form of a note from my boss. Obviously one of the notes I had posted on the office message board had been misunderstood because of my handwriting. My boss demanded that I learn to write in a neat way, something I couldn't ignore any longer. I tried a lot of different methods to improve my handwriting. Nowadays, there are more resources than before. You don't even have to go to the store and can buy handwriting training materials online. I tried out a lot of these, and my handwriting did improve somewhat. Now I make sure I form every letter correctly. This is inconvenient and time-consuming, but it is better than having my comments misread. People come up to me and tell me how nice my handwriting is. I have never thought of that, but this is exactly what has happened. It really is a pleasure, but it isn't enough. In the long run, I actually have to go to a handwriting coach to improve my handwriting. It seems like I have years and years of bad habits that I have to break, and this isn't something I could handle on my own. I need someone to teach me how to write clearly from the ground up. ks5u What does the writer think of his handwriting at present? A Better. B Perfect. C Worse. D Unacceptable. Answer: A. Better.
COURSE: History 101 "Instruction to American History" INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jane Klammer OFFICE: 305 Marshall Hall OFFICE HOURS: 11:15 -12:30 M, W, F, (Monday Wednesday Friday) CLASS: 363 Marshall Hall 3:35 -5:00 T, Th (Tuesday Thursday) 10:00-11:00 M, W, F, other times by appointment TELEPHONE: 255---4786 TEXTBOOK: Green, Robert P. ,The American Tradition; Charles E. A History of the United States, Merrill Publishing Co. Columbus, Ohio 1984 which is available (that can be obtained) at the College Bookstore. COURSE REQUIREMENT: (something needed) mid-term exam: October 10 20% of the final grade final exam: December 10 40% of the final grade Term paper due: December 15 40% of the final grade Attendance is not required, but you are responsible for all the information given in the class lectures. In the lectures I will talk about the chapters in the textbook and other material that I choose to supplement the course. The exams will cover all the information. Therefore, I advise you to come to the classroom as much as possible. If you have to miss a class, be sure to get the class notes from another student. Your homework assignments are listed on the next page. You are supposed to read the chapter about which I will be lecturing before you come to class. This is to make sure that you understand as much as possible while taking notes in my lectures. Be prepared when you come to class. If there are any changes in the assigned homework, I will announce in class. The term paper is 40% of your final grade. It should not exceed15 pages. (Anyone thinking of majoring in history may write 25 pages). Before the mid-term exam you will choose the topic for your paper. Have a good term! If a student can't see professor Klammer during the office hours, he _ . Answer: makes an appointment with her At a hospital in Illinois, doctors and patients dress up as clowns and put on little plays to make each other laugh.A hospital in prefix = st1 /New Yorkputs funny books in its library for patients. Can laughter make sick people feel better? Yes, say scientists.Laughter is no laughing matter.Scientists think laughter can help sick people feel less pain and get better more quickly.This new idea is being taught to students in medical school. Doctors have known for a long time that stress and loneliness, lack of friends and family can harm sick people.Now they are learning that laughter can help put people on the road to recovery. Scientists have discovered that laughter gives the body a healthy form of exercise.Also, laughter sets free a chemical in the body that speeds healing. Some doctors are using this new research to make their patients feel like having a million dollars.At a California hospital, people who have cancer tell each other funny stories and perform with a famous actor who has had cancer surgery . Laughter can be good medicine. Some hospitals are trying to make patients laugh because _ . Answer: it makes patients feel better Have you read The Ugly Little Boy? Well, here is the plot. A Neanderthal child is brought to the present day as a result of time travel experiments. Edith Fellowes, a children's nurse is asked to take care of him. She is at first driven back by his appearance, but soon begins to consider him as her own child, learns to love him and realizes that he is far cleverer than she at first thought. She names him Timmie and tries to make sure that he has the best possible childhood. She becomes angry when the newspapers refer to him as an "ape-boy". Edith's love for Timmie brings her into conflict with her employer, in whose eyes Timmie is more of an experimental animal than a human being. In the end, her employer thinks that his organization has finished all the experiments with Timmie. He wants to move on to the next project, which is to send Timmie to his own time. Miss Fellowes fights the decision, knowing that now he could not survive as he has got used to modern living habits and speech. She decides to take the boy out of the time travel machine, but when that plan fails, she returns to the ancient past with Timmie. Edith Fellowes goes back to the past with Timmie, cares for him and shares his fate. There is a conflict between Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon. But when Edith shows up, things start to change. Both groups regard her as a goddess because of her different appearance and worship her. Timmie grows up to be her assistant. Because of them, the Neanderthals in the book do not become extinct but co-exist with the Cro-Magnons. What is implied in the passage? Answer: Edith's appearance prevents Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon from having a conflict. Here is some information about some of the wonders of the world. I am sure you will be interested in them. The Pyramids of Egypt There are about eighty pyramids known today. The most well-known was for Pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the "Great Pyramid". It's also the largest one. Workers used about 2.3 million blocks of stone to build it. (A)20. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon The garden sat on a hill. It was a large and wonderful structure . Many parts of the garden were high up on large columns . There were many big and green trees with lovely flowers. Although there are many different ideas about the garden, we are not sure whether this wonder ever existed ! The Lighthouse of Alexandria The Lighthouse of Alexandria was designed about 2,000 years ago. It was in Egypt, too. (B) It was one of the ancient wonders of the world, about 135 metres high. It was once the highest building in the world. Although it doesn't exist now, many people come to see its relic every year. Which is NOT true? Answer: Scientists can prove that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon has ever existed. I had been a step-mother for six years, and with my husband,I had watched his young children growing into teenagers. Although they lived mostly with their mother, they spent a lot of time with us. Over the years, we all learned to become more comfortable with each other. However, I continued to feel somewhat like an outsider. When the children moved to a town five hours away, my husband was understandably destroyed. In order to keep in touch with the kids, we set up an e-mail and chat-line service. Ironically , this technology can make us feel out of touch and more in need of real human contact. If a computer message came addressed to "Dad", I'd feel forgotten. If my name appeared along with his, it would brighten my day. _ not just over the telephone wires. Late one evening, as my husband was snoozing , I was catching up on my e-mail, an "instant message" appeared on the screen. It was Margo, my oldest stepdaughter, also up late in front of her computer. We sent several messages back and forth, exchanging the latest news. When we "chatted" like that, she wouldn't necessarily know if it was me or her dad unless she asked. That night she didn't ask and I didn't tell her it was me either. After hearing the latest volleyball scores and the details about a coming dance at her school, I said that it was late and I should go to sleep. Her return message read, "Okay, talk to you later! Love you!" At this, a wave of sadness ran through me and I realized that she must have thought she was writing to her father the whole time. She and I would never have openly exchange such words of love. Feeling guilty for not telling her the truth, yet not wanting to embarrass her, I simply replied, "Love you too! Have a good sleep!" I thought again of their family circle and I felt again the sharp ache of emptiness and "otherness". Then, just as my fingers reached for the keys to return the screen to black, Margo's final message appeared. It read, "Tell Dad good night for me too." With tear-filled eyes, I turned the machine off. By saying "Yet always there was some distance to be crossed," the writer infers that _ . Answer: the relationship between them was not so close
When asked to point out one or two things that are most important to themselves, many put friends ahead of homes, jobs, clothes and cars. A true friendship carries a long history of experience that determines who we are and keeps us connected. It is a treasure we should protect. Unfortunately, the better friends you are, the more probably you'll have disagreements. And the result can be what you don't want--an end to the relationship. The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended. First, don't let your pride get in your way. Most of us can forgive each other when differences are brought out in the open. Second, apologize when you're wrong -- even if you've been wronged. Over the course of a friendship, even the best people make mistakes. Sometimes, it may be best if the _ takes the lead and apologizes. When you apologize, give your friend a chance to admit that he has been wrong. Third, see things from your friend's point of view. And finally, accept that friendships change as our needs and lifestyle change. Making friends can sometimes seem easy. The hard part is keeping the connections strong during the natural ups and downs that have an effect on all relationships. My suggestion: consider friendship as an honor and a gift, and worth the effort to treasure and nurture . What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Which best explains how most soils are alike? Answer: 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 this passage, which is WRONG? Answer: Monday: Here I am, in the middle of nowhere. This camping trip idea is not getting off to a very good start. It's raining and the tent leaks . The hiking seemed to take forever, and I still can't understand how it could all have been up hill! How did I ever let my brother persuade me into doing this? When we get home--if we ever get home--he's going to have to do something great to get back on my good side. Maybe he should sponsor a shopping spree at the mall! Tuesday: Things are looking up. The sun came out today, so we were able to leave the tents and dry out. We're camped at the edge of a small lake that I couldn't see before because of the rain and fog. The mountains are all around us, and the forest is absolutely beautiful. We spent most of the day dragging out everything out of our backpacks or tents and putting it where the sun could dry it out. Later in the afternoon we tried to catch the fish for dinner, but the fish were smarter than we were. At night we built a fire and sang songs happily. Wednesday: We hiked to the far side of the lake and climbed to the top of a small peak. From there we could see how high the other mountains were and how far the forest spread around us. On the way up we passed through a snowfield! Thursday: I caught my first fish! We followed the stream that fed the lake. After about two miles, we came to a section that Carol said looked "fishy". She had a pack rod , which can be carried in a backpack. I asked to cast it, and I caught a fish on my first try. Carol caught a few more. But they were just too pretty to eat for lunch, so we put them back in the stream. Friday: I can't believe we are going home already. It will be nice to get a hot shower, sleep in a real bed, and eat junk food, but the trip has been wonderful. We're already talking about another camping adventure next year where we canoe down a river. It's hard to believe, but I think this city girl has a little country blood in her veins. It can be inferred that Carol had a pack rod with her because _ . Answer: One kind of female butterfly mates only once in its life -- and then closes its wings to avoid _ " when pursued by persistent and unwanted males, a Japanese researcher said. Observations of the Small Copper Butterfly, a colourful orange and black butterfly, showed that some females closed their wings when males flew by, but only when they were males of their own species, said Jun-Ya Ide, an associate professor at Kurume Institute of Technology in Fukuoka, western Japan. "When we looked into why, the males were courting the females. They do this very stubbornly, so the females sometimes try to get away -- or prefer to stay unobserved," he added. Ide and his colleagues brought a model of a male butterfly near the females to test their reactions and found that young females that had yet to mate kept their wings open, but those that had already mated closed them. Not only can the persistent attentions of unwanted suitors harm the delicate females, fleeing from them -- with the male often in pursuit -- uses up strength and can even shorten their lives, he added. "Closing their wings makes them less visible, helping them avoid communication with their own species. We figured they were trying to avoid harassment by males," Ide said. Why some some females closed their wings when males flew by? Answer:
Question: Joseph Francis Charles Rock (1884-1962) was an Austrian-American explorer, botanist, and anthropologist . For more than 25 years, he travelled extensively through Tibet and Yunnan, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces in China before finally leaving in 1949. In 1924, Harvard sent Joseph Francis Rock on a treasure hunt through China's southwestern provinces--the Wild West of their day. But gold and silver weren't his task: Rock, a distinguished botanist, sought only to fill his bags with all the seeds, saplings, and shrubs he could find. During his three-year expedition, he collected 20,000 specimens for the Arnold Arboretum . Botany, though, was just one of Rock's strengths. As an ethnologist , he took hundreds of photographs of the Naxi, a tribe in Yunnan province, recording their now-lost way of life for both Harvard and National Geographic, and took notes for an eventual 500-page dictionary of their language. His hand-drawn map of his travels through China's "Cho-Ni" territory, in the Harvard Map Collection, includes more than a thousand rivers, towns, and mountains indicated in both English and Chinese, and was so well made that the U.S. government used it to plan aerial missions in World War II. Scientist, linguist, cartographer, photographer, writer--Rock was not a wallflower in any sense. Arrogant and self-possessed, he would walk into a village or warlord's place "as if he owned the place," said Lisa Pearson, the Arboretum's head librarian. In declaring his successful return under the headline "Seeking Strange Flowers, in the Far Reaches of the World," the Boston Evening Transcript ran a large photo of the daring explorer wearing in a woolly coat and fox-skin hat. "In discussing his heroism including hair-raising escapes from death either from mountain slides, snow slides and robber armies, he waves the idea away as if it is of no importance." The Arboretum and Rock parted ways after 1927, mainly because his trip cost Harvard a fortune--about $900,000 in today's dollars. Fortunately, many of his specimens, many of his amazing photos, and his great stories remain. What caused Rock to stop work for The Arboretum? A. The vast expense. B. The dangerous journey. C. The challenging tasks. D. The unknown world. Answer: A Question: Canadian scientists have found a method to help aging people get less forgetful by improving their cognitive abilities through well-designed training.Everyone experiences some degree of memory loss and cognitive decline as they get older.The decline usually becomes noticeable after 50,when people may find it slightly more difficult to focus on tasks,organize everyday jobs and remember how to do things in the right order. A team of psychologists in Toronto created a strategy of cognitive training to help people preserve these abilities."Our primary emphasis was on improving the use of general strategic abilities because they are particularly weak to the aging process,"Dr.Donald Stuss,director of the study,said in a press release.The team examined 49 healthy older adults with normal cognitive decline.All of the participants were between the ages of 71 and 87.Over the course of 12 weeks,psychologists taught them methods to improve their strategic abilities.Afterwards,researchers saw a 15 to 40 percent improvement in the memories of all participants."Over a period of six months their improvement not only maintained,but increased,"said Dr.Gordon Winocur,coordinator of the study.The 12-week course was broken up into three four-week sections,focusing on a different skill involved in strategic abilities:memory,goal management and psychosocial function. The memory training emphasized how to preserve and recover information, while goal management focused on methods to lower the chance of memory slips.Psychosocial training was aimed at increasing the participants' confidence in their mental abilities. "We wanted to develop a cognitive training program that would produce improvement over a ly short period of time,so participants could benefit more on that while they're still functional and slow down the rate of decline,"said Winocur."If we can work with people in the early stages of cognitive decline,then we can slow down the rate of this decline and help them maintain a higher level of function for a longer period of time." How many strategic abilities do the psychologists mainly focus on? _ . A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five. Answer: B Question: Electricity, like clean water, is a resource that's often taken for granted. But last summer, when blackouts struck much of the northeastern US, Ontario and Rome, consumers on two continents were given a painful reminder of just how easily broken electricity supplies can be. The massive disorder stranded commuters, stopped freezers, shut down businesses and refocused attention on where most of the planet's power comes from:oil-and-gas-fired generators and nuclear plants, These sources not only pollute the environment but also make many consumers feel unacceptable health risks. Companies are trying to offer an alternative, clean energy from renewable resources that's plentiful and portable. Lifton's Medis Technologies, as well as companies like Hydrogenics and Nanosys, is tapping into fuel cells and dolor panels to give people power whenever and wherever they want it, free from dependence on local grids . The search for alternative energy is nothing new, but the current trend of innovators is focusing on the goal of making clean and sustainable power a mainstream commodity. For example, the fuel cell, which produces electricity from the chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, has been around for about 150 years, though its commercial development did not begin until the 1960s and then only as part of NASA spacecraft. Today this technology is coming down to Earth in places like Tokyo; in nine European cities, from Stockholm to Porto, each operating three hydrogen-fuel-cell buses; and in Iceland, which is trying to create the first fuel free hydrogen economy by 2030. When hydrogen and oxygen molecules combine, the reaction produces heat and water. Fuel cells use this reaction to generate electricity. With the cell phone and gadget market in mind, Medis has developed a fuel cell with cheap components that produces little heat and effortlessly reduces waste water without turning to energy consuming pumps. What can we know about the fuel cell? A. Its commercial use began in the 1960s. B. Today it's being used in almost every corner of the world. C. It has been in widespread used for about 150 years. D. It supplies electricity to make the combination of oxygen and hydrogen possible. Answer: A Question: A new report shows what life might be like in 100 years from now. It describes skyscrapers that are much taller than today's buildings, underwater "bubble" cities and holidays in space. The report is from a company. It asked experts on space and architecture, as well as city planners, to give their ideas on the life in 2116. They said the way we live, work and play will be totally different to how we do these things today. The experts used the Internet as an example. They said that 25 years ago, people could not imagine how the Internet and smartphones would change our lives. The Internet has completely changed the way we communicate, learn and do daily things. The experts said the changes in the next century would be even more unbelievable. Researchers questioned 2,000 adults about the prediction they thought were most likely to happen in the future. They predicted that in the future, few people will go to an office but will work from home and have work meetings online. People will have highly developed 3-D printers that will let you download a design for furniture or a food recipe and then "print" the sofa, table or pizza at home. There will also be less need for visits to the doctor. We will all have a home health instrument that will tell us what the problem is and give us treatment. We will also be going into space for holidays and to get resources that we have used up on Earth. A prediction that is missing is whether people will still need to study English. ,A, B, C, D,. According to the passage, the missing prediction is . A. how people will work B. where people will get resources C. what people will have at home to treat illness D. whether people will still need to learn English Answer: D Question: During the 15 days from New Year's Eve to Lantern Festival , Beijing was affected by haze .Do you know what the haze is ? Today I will introduce it to you . Haze is air pollution in which is mixed up with dust, smoke and other dry particles (,),and it covers our blue sky ,so we can't see sunny days. It often happens in winter and spring. The haze brings much trouble to people's lives. On the road many traffic accidents happened because people can not see clearly. The haze is _ to our health. People also have to go to see the doctor because of the poisonous air caused by the haze. As students, we must tell our friends and family members to go to work or school with the public traffic, such as the bus and the underground and BRT .Also we should plant more trees and develop green and energy to reduce the haze. According to me, I will go to school by bike or on foot, and I won't throw the waste anywhere . It may take about 20 years to solve the problems caused by the haze .I believe the environment will get better and better and haze weather will vanish completely with the help of new technology. How long does it take to solve the problems caused by haze. A. about 20 years B. about 20 days C. about 20 months D. about 20 weeks. Answer: A
Chicago On a Budget How to have fun in Chicago without spending a lot of money? Sightseeing * The Art Institute of Chicago has a fine collection of photos and paintings. The ticket is $10.00,but go on Tuesdays and you'll get in free . * The Sears Tower is the world's third tallest building. By going to the 103rd floor, you can get a great view of the whole city! All for only $8.50. * There are free concerts in Grant Park in summer. They are held Wednesday through Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. * Attend the taping of a TV show for free. The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Jenny Jones Show both offer tourists free tickets. For The Oprah Winfrey Show you'll have to book tickets at least a month before. Places to stay You can get a hotel for $100 to $ 300 a day. However, you can get a room in the dormitory at Roosevelt University for $215 for a whole week! But you have to stay for 30 days to get this great rate . You may go to _ if you like to get a great view of the whole city. A. the Art Institute B. the Sears Tower C. Roosevelt University D. Grant Park Answer: B Hundreds of people did not get their train tickets through the online train ticketing service after paying the money. The China Railway Customer Service Center said that it would try to solve the problem and return the money in 15 working days. The service center said changes would be made to the online booking system which limited each purchase which is finished in 30 minutes. Many people said that they failed to book tickets because of the time limit in purchase. People who paid without getting their tickets have formed groups on QQ. As many as 400 people had joined the QQ group by Thursday and the group continues to grow. The ticket buyers said their money had been returned through online banks but they didn't get confirmation from the online booking system. They are afraid that they will not be able to get refunds because they don't have the order number given to those who have succeeded in booking. People also said they were unable to inquire through the booking hotline 12306, because it is almost always busy. The China Railway Customer Service Center Website suggested that the online banks didn't return the payment information to the online booking system because of network problems. The online railway booking service was made by the Ministry of Railways on Dec. 21, in order that people can easily buy train tickets during the Spring Festival. What happened to the train tickets buyers after paying the money? A. They didn't join the QQ group. B. They didn't search the Internet. C. They didn't find the order number. D. They didn't get their tickets. Answer: D When raising children, the small things make big differences in development . Because children are people, not machines, different children need different things, and buying band name clothing and having the perfect haircut or the biggest collection of expensive toys are not the kind of attention that they need. These kinds of things will make children feel rejected and teach them that material things and appearance are more important than love. Children need the attention from their parents. The areas of their lives and the abilities that get the most attention will develop the most. If the majority of parental attention is given to the way they stand or to finishing tasks, these areas will become more developed. When parents focus on finding faults, children will eventually take in all of that criticism. These methods often lead to unmotivated children with low self-esteem . Children need attention to be given to the details of their lives. They need encouragement from their parents. Statements like,"It makes me happy when you play nicely with your brother" will make a child feel good . Identify the specific talent, how it is used, and your reaction to it. Train the young minds to search for their talents with the same kind of attention to the details that may have previously been devoted to fault-finding. It also helps to identify personal qualities to praise rather than external ones based on appearance. Focusing on the details when children do good things is important. They need to know exactly what they did was good and how it made you feel .Parents often spend too much time looking for faults. When parents focus on good things, it results in motivated children with high self-esteem. _ ) are also. By saying "If the devil is in the details, perhaps the saints are also", the author means _ . A. if the parents can find bad things about their children they can probably find good things too B. focusing on details has nothing to do with children's growing up C. details of children are like those of devils and saints. D. details are no longer details when there are saints Answer: A Researchers found that compared with teens who spent much of their free time in front of TV sets, those who were physically active often had higher self-respect, better grades and were less likely to have risky behavior like taking drugs, smoking, or drinking.The findings, based on a national survey of nearly 12,000 middle and high school students, were published in a journal. "Across the board, children who engaged in any kind of activity were belier off than kids who watched a lot of TV," said study co author professor Penny Gordon Larsen of the University of North Carolina. Other studies have linked certain content of television programs, such as violence and sex, to children's behavior.But beyond this issue, Gordon-Larsen said that kids who spend hours watching TV "miss opportunities" to develop skills, learn teamwork and have other experiences that their more active peers benefit from. That doesn't mean, however, that kids have to be on the football team. The study found that some activities like skating and skateboarding----which adults sometimes frown upon----were also related to better self respect and less risk taking. That skaters were better behaved than TV watchers might come as a surprise to some adults who consider these teens to be bad, according to Gordon-Larsen.Skateboarding is forbidden in many public areas, and some communities oppose building skating parks.But if kids who like to skate have nowhere to do it, "it's a shame," said Gordon-Larsen. Not only should parents encourage their kids to engage iii the physical activities they enjoy, she said, but schools and communities should also do more to create opportunities for children to be active. If your kid is a football player, he is more likely to _ A. get into the habit of smoking or drinking B. develop teamwork spirit C. have risky behaviors D. fail in the schoolwork Answer: B Many people like traveling during their vacation. They go to mountains, seaside, or forests. Some people like history so they like to visit old castles , museums and monuments (, ). In many foreign countries, the travel agent can help you plan your holiday. You can tell the travel agent what kind of holiday you like, how much money you want to spend, and the travel agent will give you a lot of information about where to go, how to get there, where to stay, and what kind of activities you can do there. One of the holidays is called "package holiday". That is, you just pay the money, and the travel agent will plan everything for you, the ticket for the train or plane, the hotel, the activities, etc. Package holiday is A. cheap B. expensive C. boring D. easy Answer: D
The story happened during the Second World War. An old man lived in a small town of Germany. He had three sons and they all worked in the same factory where he had worked. After the war had begun, his sons were all made to join the army one after another and they all died in the fights. The old man was very sad. He didn't have enough food and was often hungry. And nobody helped him and he didn't know how to go on living. It was a very cold winter night. The old man couldn't go to sleep. He had been hungry for two days and it was so cold in his room that ice could be seen. He had to get up and began to run in the room until he lay down on the floor. The next morning he had to beg from door to door. He had been to a lot of cities and knew a lot. Once he came to a village, but the villagers were all poor and couldn't give him anything. He was too hungry to go to another village. He thought hard and found a way. He came to a police station and called out, "Hitler is a foolish pig!" Out came an old policeman at once. He took the old man into a room, gave him some bread and a cup of tea. Then he said, "Don't say so in our village, sir!" "I'm sorry, sir," said the old man. "I don't know it's Hitler's hometown." "No, no, sir," the policeman said in a hurry. "It's pigs' hometown!" The old man was sad because _ . A his three sons had to join the army B his three sons lost their lives during the war C he lived in the small town alone D he had neither food nor clothes Answer: B. his three sons lost their lives during the war 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. People often feels _ if they have no good friends. A happy B sad C lonely D unpopular Answer: C. lonely On the first day of school I brought my camera to school. I gave the students a piece of 8 x11 cardboard , and asked them to write their names on both sides. As they finished, I asked them to get into groups of three to four students and took photographs of them holding their name cards. After school, I developed the film and printed two sets of photos. That evening, I started to match the names with the faces. I kept one set of pictures at home for about a week so that I could review their names each night. On the second day of school, I put up the other set of photos as a bulletin board , with a title such as "Presenting Room 108, ..." The kids loved it! After I had learned all of their names I brought the second set back to school and stuck them onto an 8 x11 sheet of paper. I placed it in the classroom for other teachers. The cardboard name cards that were made on the first day were collected and put on a shelf. From time to time, they were given back to the students and placed on their desks so that guests or supply teachers could identify all of the students. I've been doing this with my grade 7 students for the last nine years and they liked it. It's fun to bring the photos out again at the end of the school year to see how much they have all changed in ten months. The passage mainly tells us _ . A a method of identifying students B a method of decorating classrooms C the development of photography D the importance of cardboard name cards Answer: A. a method of identifying students Here's an interview to a pilot about his life. (R="Reporter;" P= Pilot) R: How much time do pilots actually spend flying a plane? P: It varies (WES'J) from about 20 minutes on some domestic flights to as much as 18 hours on international flights. It all depends on if the flight is a short- or long-haul flight. R: Do pilots take breaks during flights or do they fly the whole time? P: Yes, we take breaks during long-haul flights. Airlines assign three or four pilots to long flights. We take turns flying the plane. R: If pilots are traveling all the time, how do they deal with jet lag ? P: Jet lag is annoying for almost all pilots. I try to go to sleep as I would at home. R: How important is it to know the weight and size of the plane you are flying? P: It is very important. We weigh almost everything put into the airplane and make estimates according to the number of people on each flight. R: Do pilots eat the airplane food? P: Yes, we eat business class food! Airplane food changes every season and is very delicious if you don't hate eating lobster every day! The pilots on the same plane are supposed to make different meal choices so that if one of the dishes causes food _ , only one of them will be sick. That way, at least one pilot will always be well enough to fly the plane! In order to know the weight of the airplane, the pilots must know _ . A the weight of everything put into the plane B the number of people on the plane C the weight of the things and people on the plane D the importance of the weight Answer: C. the weight of the things and people on the plane like many other fruit,Cherries are packed with antioxidants that may help to prevent cancer and heart disease,as well as slow the aging process.Perhaps you've heare about the controversy between the FD(Food and Drug Administration)and the cherry industry and wondered what it was all about.Are cherries not as healthy to eat as you thought they were?Should you stop eating cherries?The answer is no. The controversy is over certain health claims made by the cherry industry and those who sell products made from cherries,such as pills,capsules and juice,not the health benefits of cherries themselves. While many scientific studies have demonstrated the health benefits of cherries, the FDA says that makers of products containing cherries cannot claim that their products prevent, treat or cure a specific disease such as cancer. For the general population, however, the bottom line is that there is no reason not to eat cherries. There are two types of cherry: sweet and sour . Sweet cherries are often sold fresh in grocery stores. Sour cherries are canned and used in pies, and dried to be made into fruit snacks and juice. Like most other fruit,cherries are fat-free, low in calories and high in certain minerals and vitamins. They can be eaten raw, cooked or juiced; if you want year-round cherry enjoyment, they are also easy to can and enjoy at your convience. Most scientific research has centered on the health benefits of sour cherries. Sour cherries are among the top fruit as far as antioxidant levels go. According to one study, eating 20 sour cherries a day could provide the same pain relief that aspirin does. Researchers in Texas recently discovered that sour cherries contain high levels of melatonin , something produced by the body that is thought to help slow the aging process as. well as control sleep. Cherries may lower blood sugar levels and help to significantly reduce pain due to muscle damage. Where can we most probably read this passage? A In a life magazine. B In a science report. C In a short story. D On an entertainment website. Answer: A. In a life magazine.
A well-known poem by Tang dynasty poet Du Mu tells of a scene in early April: "Rains fall heavily as Qingming comes, and passersby with lowered spirits go." This scene takes place on Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival. It began in the Zhou dynasty, over 2, 500 years ago. Chinese people celebrate it to remember and honor their ancestors . This year, it falls on April 4. Tomb Sweeping Day became a public holiday in the Chinese mainland in 2008. People have one day off for that day. On this day. families bring flowers, food and wine to the grave sites of their ancestors. They place cakes, fruits in front of the grave and some may bum joss paper as money for the dead. After that, they sweep the tombs and cherish the memories of their dead family members. Tomb Sweeping Day gives us a chance to show respect to our ancestors and family members who have passed away and show that we miss them. This tradition shows that family values are an important part of Chinese culture. Tomb Sweeping Day is also the beginning of the time for gardening and outdoor activities in China. Families often get together for outings or to fly kites at this time. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? Answer: People in the world celebrate Tomb Sweeping Day. A small, white envelope has peeked through the branches of our Christmas tree for the past 10 years. It has no name, no identification, no inscription . My husband Mike hated Christmas. He hated the overspending and the crazy running around at the last minute for the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. So one year I searched for something special to give Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin was 12 and was on the school wrestling team. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team of poor kids. They were dressed in ragged sneakers, and presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their golden uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without helmets . Their team obviously could not afford them. We beat them hands down . Mike shook his head sadly. "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. Mike loved kids and enjoyed coaching football and baseball. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a sports store and bought a load of wrestling headgear and shoes. I sent them anonymously to the poor team. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. Mike's smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. In the years that followed, I sent a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, and a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas. The white envelope became the highlight of Christmas. Mike died last year, but on Christmas Eve I still placed an envelope on the tree. The next morning it was joined by three more. Each of our three children had placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us. By Nancy W. Gavin Why did Mike hate Christmas? Answer: He felt the Christmas spirit was lost in commercialized gift buying. October 15th2008 is the first Global Handwashing Day, whose goal is to create a culture of hand washing with soap. Activities are planned in more than twenty countries to get millions of people in the developing world to wash their hands with soap. 150,000 bars of soap were given to schools in prefix = st1 /Ethiopia, where the Education Ministry asked 1,000,000 schoolchildren to wash their hands for _ . Experts say people around the world wash their hands but very few use soap at critical moments such as after using the toilet, after cleaning a baby and before touching food. The organizers say all soaps are equally effective at removing disease-causing germs . They say the correct way to wash is to wet your hands with a small amount of water and cover them with soap. Rub it into all areas, including under the fingernails. Rub for at least 20 seconds. Then, wash your hands well under running water. Finally, dry your hands with a clean cloth or wave them in the air. They say soap is important because it increases the time that people spend washing. Soap also helps to break up the grease and dirt that hold most of the germs. And it usually leaves a pleasant smell, which encourages people to wash again. They say washing with soap before eating and after using the toilet could save more lives than any vaccine or medicine. It could help reduce cases of diarrhea by almost half. And it could reduce deaths from pneumonia and other breathing infections by one-fourth. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of child deaths, killing more than 1,500,000 children a year. Pneumonia is the leading cause, killing about 2,000,000 children under five each year. Hand washing can also prevent the spread of other diseases. When people get germs on their hands, they can infect themselves by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Then they can infect others. Why is it necessary for people to wash their hands with soap? Answer: To remove disease-causing germs Complete silence is found only in laboratories called anechoic rooms. The walls and ceilings, made of blocks of special sound-sucking materials, are more than three feet thick, while floor coverings are six-foot layers of feathers or cotton wool. Silence here can be as painful to the ears as the din(continuous loud noise) of a steelworks or a rocket blast-off, yet scientists get used to this and stay in these silent rooms for hours at a time, using microphones and electronic equipment to test the various materials being developed to make the world a less noisy place. Architects have used scientific discoveries to solve noise problem in a number of ways. Walls are hollowed (having empty space inside) and then filled with sound-sucking materials similar to cotton wool. Extra-thick carpets cover the floors, and thick woolen curtains cover the windows. Air conditioning and heating channels are made less noisy by having the air passing through hundreds of tiny holes in baffles made of sheets of soundsucking materials. Unfortunately, these techniques and others often work too well in some buildings. Noise-proof rooms become almost anechoic and people living in them are disturbed by the lack of sound. One way of handling this problem is to use what they call "sound perfume"--artificial (similarly produced, made by man) noise is piped to rooms through small loudspeakers. The writer implies that _ . Answer: performing experiments in anechoic rooms can be a frightening experience I am a boy from the USA. Now I go to school in China. I have Chinese food now, I like it. I usually have porridge and milk for breakfast at home with my parents. Sometimes I have some small cakes, too. But I don't have lunch at home. I have it at school with my classmates . I usually have meat or fish, rice and vegetables for lunch. After lunch I have some fruit. I get home at half past four in the afternoon. So I have supper with my parents again. Sometimes we go out for supper. My mother often cooks supper. Sometimes my sister does it. We usually have rice, fish, meat, vegetables and fruit juice for supper. We sometimes have noodles and dumplings. After supper, I often have some fruit. I like apples very much. ,. How many people are there in the boy's family? Answer: Four
Recently, I took part in the first strategic planning meeting at school. I didn't know what strategic planning meant when I was invited. So I set about trying to find out what it was. Later, I learnt it meant setting short and long term goals . The meeting took place in Ms Gallup's room on Tuesday after school. I really didn't know what to expect. I was very nervous ,but I felt very lucky to have been included. I really wanted to do the best I could. The desks in the room were laid out into two circles so that the upper school and lower school could be divided. There were fifteen students in the room. We were directed to discuss how to _ the school, what we'd like to be taught, and what we thought could be improved upon. I felt this was a very important responsibility as I was representing the fourth grade. So I tried to do the best I could. There were a lot of suggestions on how to improve our school. One student felt that the uniform sweater policy was really important and another student felt that building a paintable field would help improve the school greatly. I suggested that we should have Chinese classes because China is the most highly populated place on Earth with a growing industrial power. We should learn how to communicate with the Chinese . We discussed a lot and sometimes the discussion became heated, but they were interesting. I think it is amazing that the teacher asked the students about their opinions and gave us a voice. It is exciting if they adopt any of our suggestions. The writer suggests that the school should _ . have Chinese classes to help students learn Chinese. For many girls, having long beautiful hair is something to beproud of. Rachel Barrett, 15, recently cut her long hair and lookedlike a boy. But she was also proud of herself. She donated herhair to a charity and raised a lot of money.Barrett is a middle school student in Britain. On Nov. 16 at her school's talent contest, Barrett had her hair cut off in front of around 300 students. The hair would be used to make wigs for children with cancer. She has raised several thousand pounds and the money will help people with breast cancer . Barrett got the idea when she visited her friend's mom with cancer. "All of her hair had fallen out, and it really made me want to do something," Barrett said. When she found out that the charity Little Princess Trust could make wigs for children with cancer, she decided to donate her own hair, even though she loved it. "I saw how sad it was for my friend's mom to lose her hair. So if my hair can go to help a young child with cancer then it's worth it," she said. Cath Stanton, a teacher, felt proud of the girl. "She's always been very well groomed , so for her to cut all her hair off really moves us," she said. "She has done a moving job." Many students were moved by her courage and donated money. Which of the following is NOT true according to this passage? Little Princess Trust was the name of a middle school. The United States of America is the most culturally diverse country in the world in terms of culture religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation. As a combination of various races and cultures, America is home to all. The culture here is so unique that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage as they are to be American. What is now the US was initially inhabited by native people until the land was settled by various European groups and African slaves. Since the 20th century, the country has become a heaven for people from all over the globe . The arrival of immigrants has shifted populations from rural areas into cities because immigrants tend to settle in urban areas. At present, 81 percent of the inhabitants in the US live in cities. Cultural and ethnic diversity adds a unique flavor to cities that is expressed through distinct neighborhoods, restaurants, places of worship, museums, nightlife and multicultural learning environments. Unique musical forms, such as jazz, rock and roll, Chicano music, and the blues, grow in the US by mixing a variety of culturally distinct musical traditions to create a new form. At the executive level, the country is headed by a mixedrace president; two posts on the Supreme Court are held by members of the country's two largest minorities.There is also diversity in state and local governments. Without its rich mixture of races and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom, America acts as a stage where different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but develop well. What's the best title for this passage? The effects of culture and diversity on America. Whether a rainstorm, snow, or hail, humanity can find a way to escape it by creating a protected space We have to accept the truth: Sometimes, we just want to shout out loud. For example, we all have days like this: our dog has made a mess on the floor we just cleaned, or our friend called to tell us he or she couldn't come at the last minute when we had cooked dinner for him or her. We may be really angry but we tried to bear things like those. According to ancient Chinese wisdom, we should shout in a loud voice instead of keeping silent. In fact, it's good for our health. "Chinese people have passed on the practice from ancient times to now as a part of traditional medicine," said Mrs. Li, a 60-year-old woman from Hangzhou. "My parents taught me to do this. It's a part of our folk culture. " Mrs. Li is a member of a group of people who love shouting. Each morning, she and some of her friends climb to the top of a hill and let out loud shouts before starting their daily exercise. They believe that shouting is good exercise for their lungs and it brings them a lot of fun. "Sometimes I shout out and other shout back," said Mrs. Gu, another shouting lover. "It makes you happy. You laugh and then you feel very comfortable. " Dr. Peter Calafiura, an American doctor, agrees that shouting can have a positive influence on people's health. So, next time you start your morning run, why not try to shout out first? It will make you healthier. Where does Mrs. Li shout every day? On a hill.
Question: When I was young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the shiny box on the wall. But I was too little to reach it, I could only listen to my mother talk on it. I discovered that inside the wonderful box lived an amazing person whose name was Information Please. There was nothing she did not know. One day my mother went out. I accidentally hurt my finger when I was playing with a hammer. I walked around the house sucking my hurting finger, finally seeing the telephone. Quickly I dragged a chair over and climbed up. "Information Please," I spoke into the receiver. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear, "Information." "I hurt my finger..." I cried into the phone. "Isn't your mother home?" came the question. "Nobody's home but me." I sobbed. "Are you bleeding?" the voice asked. "No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts." "Can you open your icebox?" she asked. I said I could. "Then take a little piece of ice and hold it to your finger." Said the voice. After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math. She told me her name was Sally. Then there was the time my pet canary died. I called "Information Please" and told Sally the sad story. "Why is it that birds sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a pile of feathers?" She listened, then said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better. One day when I called "Information Please" again, a different voice answered "Information." I asked for Sally. "Are you a friend?" she said. "Yes." I answered "I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "She died five days ago." Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute. Did you say your name was Paul?" "Yes!" "Well, Sally left a message for you. The note said, "Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean." I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant. What did Sally really mean by her message? A. She was sure that she could sing in other worlds. B. She didn't want Paul to be sad about her death. C. Singing helped Paul to face death more easily. D. There was no need for Paul to call her anymore. Answer: B. She didn't want Paul to be sad about her death. Question: I was hurrying to our basketball game one morning when Hillary Barnes,the most popular girl,in school,stopped me."Are you the twin who won the art competition?"she asked. "No,that's Christine.I'm Katie."I said. We were not identical twins;we looked quite different.She could defeat Snow White in a beauty contest!Compared to Christine,I felt like one of Cinderella's stepsisters. One Saturday Christine gave me a painting lesson because I was always attempting to be artistic too.But I knocked over the vase of flowers,spilling water onto Christine's painting.Instead of becoming angry,though,she turned the whole mess into a dreamy masterpiece .You could look at it five different ways and see five different things.With this brilliant creation,she won First Prize in the art competition.I really envied her,but I knew it wasn't her fault and I was the one with wild,unmanageable hair and no talent. Joining Christine's basketball team was my latest effort to be like her. On the way to the gym,I'd made up my mind to give my best performance in that day's game.I made preparations with great enthusiasm."Christine,here!"I tossed her a ball.But it was too high,she leapt for it,it slipped through her fingers and crashed into the tape recorder that was used to play the national anthem before each game. I muttered apologies as I picked up the broken pieces of the recorder.Coach looked at the mess and asked,"How are we going to play the song now?" Christine suggested,"Let Katie sing it!She's always singing at home." Coach asked."Would you?"I found myself nodding. Coach announced the national anthem and everyone stood.Standing before a microphone,I looked up to the flag.The notes seemed to flow from deep inside me,and my voice was steady and clear.When I finished,the gym was silent Then it was filled with applause.As the game started.teammates patted my back and gave me the"thumbs up"sign.Laura Jamison said."You should try out for the school musical!"I Nodded and said that I might. The next morning Hillary Barnes stopped me in the hallway and asked,"Are you the twin who sings?" "Yes,that's me,"I answered,grining as I walked to class. The authur uses"Snow White"and"Cinderella's stepsisters"to show A. how dissimilar the twins were in appearanee B. why Christine could win the art competition C. who was the most popular girl at school D. what the twins characters were like Answer: A. how dissimilar the twins were in appearanee Question: In the Netherlands,cycling isn't seen as eccrfriendly exercise; it's part of everyday life, as it's people's top choice to school and work. There are more bicycles than residents in the Netherlands. In cities like Amsterdam and The Hague, up to 70 percent of all journeys are made by bike. So how did cycling become such a popular means of transportation in the European country? In the 1970s, the Dutch government began to improve its cycling infrastructure due to both a social movement demanding safer cycling condition for children and the oil crisis in the Middle East, when oil producing countries stopped their exports to Western Europe. To make cycling safer and more appealing, the Dutch have built the widest cycling net- work in the world. The country has over 40,000 kilometers of bicycle lanes and paths,which are clearly marked. They have smooth surfaces,separate signs and lights for those on two wheels. The lanes are wide enough to allow side-by-side cycling and passing. In many cities the bike lanes are completely segregated from motorized traffic. And in many traffic situations cyclists are given priority over drivers. Sometimes, where space is limited and both must share, you can see signs showing an image of a cyclist with a car behind accompanied by the words "Bike Street:Cars are guests". As young people aren't allowed to drive alone until they are 18,cycling offers Dutch teen- agers an alternative form of freedom. The government also makes cycling training lessons a compulsory part of the Dutch school curriculum . Bike parking facilities are ubiquitous in the country. Cyclists are accommodated in the way motorists are elsewhere. Take Groningen, a city in the northeastern part of the Netherlands,for example. The city's central train station has underground parking for 10,000 bikes. We can conclude that in the Netherlands cycling is _ . A. regarded as eco-friendly exercise B. thought of as part of people's life C. looked on as a way to lose weight D. considered as a way to entertain Answer: B. thought of as part of people's life Question: Henry: I find the Internet is very good for shopping. I use more and more for buying books and CDs, and I even bought some clothes over the Internet. The other thing I can do is to book travels over the Internet. I booked a cheap flight once. It was very easy, and it was really good. David: I use the Internet for games. I play chess with people all around the world. Last night I had a game with someone from Japan. I also download games from the Internet, so I can have any game I want. Peter: I use the Internet for anything I need to help me with my schoolwork. I use the online dictionaries, encyclopedias and magazines. It's great because I can download pictures or articles and use them to help my homework. It's very easy to use and it's free, so I like it. Tony: Well, the main thing I use the Internet for is to e-mail. I usually write to my customers by e-mail, and my customers answer me by e-mail, too. We probably send and receive four or five hundred e-mails a month. But of course, I also use e-mails to keep in touch with friends and family. My daughter is in Australia and we send e-mails to each other every day. From the passage we know that_. A. Peter is a teacher B. Tony is a businessman C. David is an engineer D. Henry is a bookseller Answer: B. Tony is a businessman Question: Celia was shocked. She had always been in good shape during high school, but now, in her first year of college, she was suddenly ten pounds heavier. "My friends and I often had pizza or ice cream when we studied late at night," she said, "and I was always drinking Coke to stay awake." Celia's experience is common. Many students enter college and find it so different that they cannot deal with changes properly. They're away from their parents and in a new stressful environment. Pressures together with freedom to sleep and eat however they please cause many students to experience the "Freshman 15": gaining weight suddenly in their freshman year of college. Most students do not realize that the "Freshman 15" can cause some serious health problems. Of course, college-age adults are still developing bone mass, so gaining some weight is normal. Sudden weight gain, however, puts too much strain on the heart and lungs, resulting in little energy and some difficulty thinking and remembering. In later life, it can lead to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and possibly cancer. The solution to the "Freshman 15" is simple--pay attention to developing good habits! In general: * Eat normal-sized meals at regular times. Eat slowly and enjoy it, so you don't need to go back for more. * Keep only healthy snacks in your room--and don't snack too often! * Control drinking and smoking. Alcohol has a lot of calories, and smoking too much makes exercise difficult. * Exercise regularly! Even just 30 minutes a day--such as walking quickly to class from your dorm--will make a big difference! What do many students think of their freshman year of college? A. They find it quite different. B. They find it not quite difficult. C. They find it very free. D. They find it simple. Answer: A. They find it quite different.
Question: Mr and Mrs Green married thirty years ago and they have lived in the same house since then. Mr Green goes to work at eight every morning from Monday to Friday and Mrs Green does the housework everyday. Both of them enjoy their work very much. There are quite a lot of houses in their street, and most of their neighbors are kind and friendly. One day, the old lady in the house opposite them died and, after a few weeks, a young man and a young woman came to live in it. Mrs Green watched them for a few days from her window. One day when her husband came back from work, she said to him, "Bill, the man in that house opposite us always kisses his wife when he leaves in the morning and kisses her again when he comes home in the evening. Why don't you do that, too?" Mr Green thought for a while and answered, " Well, I don't know her very well yet." From then on, Mrs Green never mentioned it again. After they got married, Mr and Mrs Green _ . A. have never kissed each other B. have moved from one place to another C. have stayed in the same house for 30 years D. have had no c Answer: C. have stayed in the same house for 30 years Question: Alsten Chase has written a book about Yellowstone National Park. He is worried about the damage the fires can do to the park. He is also concerned about the park rules. These rules say that nature should decide what happens to the park. Alsten also writes that the elk herd has grown too big. The elks walk on the riverbanks. They eat the new grass and roots of baby trees. The beavers need the trees to build dams. The dams raise the water levels. Higher water levels put more water into the soil. Moist soil helps plants grow faster. The plants offer homes and food to other animals. Chase thinks that the park rules would work only in a park with natural settings. He believes that Yellowstone has had an artificial setting for a long time. The native people left. The wolves were taken away and other animals were removed.The areas of land were fenced off and other animals added.He thinks the park rules that let herds grow too big and the fires burn are hurting the nature of the park. The park manager thinks the rules are good and that the park will be fine. Chase thinks the way the people run the park should be changed. In Chase's opinion, too many elks in the park will _ . A. cause great fires B. break the balance of nature C. destroy the dams D. do no damage at all Answer: B. break the balance of nature Question: Dear Carol, I wear braces and I know I look just terrible in them. Is there anything I can do to improve my appearance until they come off? Connie N. Philadelphia, PA Dear Connie, Start by thinking about how good you are going to look when your braces come off. If you are negative about your appearance, people will pick that up right away about you. In the meantime there are several things that you can do to lift your spirits: Change your hairstyle. Be sure to get a good cut so that the shape of your hair will be flattering to your face and also good for your type of hair (fine, thick, straight, curly, etc.) Choose a hairstyle that draws attention away from your face. Hair pulled back into a pony-tail or into a ball on top or slightly off-center can be attractive and practical for this purpose. Keep skin clean. If you choose to wear makeup , it should look natural. Blusher and lip gloss in light tones of peach or pink are best. Be well-groomed . Neatness really _ . People see a total look about you before they ever become aware of your braces. And first impressions are lasting ones! Why did Connie write to Carol? A. Because she really cared about her clothes. B. Because she cared much about her appearance. C. Because her teeth were not good. D. Because she didn't know how to make up. Answer: B. Because she cared much about her appearance. Question: Have you ever thought about what determines the way we are when we grow up? Remember the TV programSeven Up? It started following the lives of a group of children in 1973. We first meet them as wide-eyed seven-year-olds and catch up with them at seven-year intervals: nervous 14-year-olds, serious 21-year-olds and then grown-ups. Some of the stories are inspiring, others sad, but what is interesting in almost all the cases is the way in which the children's early hopes and dreams are shown in their future lives. For example, at seven, Tony is a lively child who says he wants to become a sportsman or a taxi driver. When he grows up, he goes on to do both. How about Niki? She says, "I would like to find out about the moon." And she goes on to become a space scientist. As a child, soft-spoken Bruce says he wants to help "poor children" and ends up teaching in India. But if the lives of all the children had followed this pattern, the program would be far less interesting than it actually was. It was the children whose childhood did not prepare them for what was to come that made the program so interesting. Where did their ideas come from about what they wanted to do when they grew up? Are children _ by what their parents do, by what they see on television or by what their teachers say? How great is the effect of a single important event? Many film directors, including Steven Spielberg, say that an early visit to the cinema was the turning point in their lives. Dr. Margaret McAllister, who has done a lot of research in this area, thinks that the major factors are parents, friends and their wider society. Spielberg's story is meant to show that _ . A. going to a movie at an early age helps a child learn about society B. a single childhood event may decide what one does as a grown-up C. parents and friends can help a child grow up properly D. films have more influence on a child than teachers do Answer: B. a single childhood event may decide what one does as a grown-up Question: One day, a raven happened to fly past a lake. Looking at the lake, he saw the most beautiful animal he had ever seen. It was a swan and its feathers were as white as snow. The swan was playing with other birds happily, talking and dancing. And it seemed that the other birds all liked to stay with _ When he looked at his own feathers, they were as black as coal. The raven was very angry with the swan. "How can the swan have such wonderful feathers?" said the raven. What should he do with his feathers? He thought it over and over. Then, the raven decided that he also wanted to have white feathers like the swan's. From that day on, the raven began to live like the swan. He moved his home from the woods to the lake. He also started to eat water plants like the swan. He tried his best to talk and dance with the other birds. The most important was that each day, the raven would wash his feathers, hoping that they would turn white. Even he went to the nearby rivers and ponds to wash his feathers because he thought the water in the lakes was not enough for him to wash them. But no matter how hard he washed his feathers, they remained black. As he ate only water plants, he soon grew thinner and thinner. Not many days later, the raven died. Why did the raven want to live like the swan? A. He wanted to make friends with the swan B. He wanted to see the swan's white feathers C. He wanted to eat water plants D. He wanted to become a swan Answer: D. He wanted to become a swan
Americans love peanut butter. The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter before he or she graduates high school. But there is a controversy over a new peanut butter. It is called STEEM Peanut Butter. This peanut butter adds a new ingredient: caffeine . Coffee is a popular morning drink because it has caffeine and gives people energy in the morning. Even small amounts of caffeine can be dangerous to children. United States Senator Charles Schumer says."Peanut butter, one of the snacks most closely connected with children, might have to be stored in the medicine cupboard rather than in the kitchen cupboard. This will shock the Food and Drug Administration." Schumer wants the U.S. FDA to investigate. He observed that earlier the FDA prevented plans for a caffeinated chewing gum. STEEM, the manufacturer, said, "We are selling the caffeinated peanut butter all over the world. The product provides caffeine in an easily digestible way. Caffeinated foods have been sold in U.S. stores for well over a decade and are in no way a new idea. Customers tell us they want to eat the caffeinated peanut butter so they don't have to drink as much coffee or energy drinks. The peanut butter is not intended for children." "Peanut butter has been a favorite of children for generations," Schumer continued: "Parents across the country have to worry about a scene in which their child might unknowingly bite into a peanut butter that contains more caffeine than two cups of coffee." The American Academy of Pediatrics says caffeine in small amounts can help the physical performance of adults. But the academy urges parents not to allow children to take even small amounts of caffeine owing to caffeine's possible negative effects on a child's heart and brain development. We can guess from the text that the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration is to _ . Answer: guarantee the safety of foods and drugs This boy is Peter Brown . His first name is Peter . His last name is Brown . He is in No.3 Middle School . His school ID card number is 279-4856 . His English teacher is Miss White . Miss White is a good teacher . Jack is his good friend at school . They are in the same school and the same grade . Mrs. Green is Jack's mother . She is an English teacher , too . She is in this school , too . But Peter does not know it . Peter's last name is _ . Answer: Brown Living things are classified as producers or consumers according to Answer: how they obtain food Extinction of a species is most likely to occur as a result of Answer: environmental changes "Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out of the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby' s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was imperfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother's arms, she sighed , knowing that his life was to be unfortunate. He cried to his mum "A boy, a big boy... called me a freak ." He grew up, handsome. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. "But you might communicate with other young people," his mother blamed him, but felt a kindness in her heart. Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, "You' re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it' s a secret." The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared. Later he married and became a lawyer. One day, he asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her." "I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet." The years kept their secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother' s casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to show the mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," his father whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?" Why did Mother gasp when she saw her newborn baby? Answer: Because her son was born imperfect.
prefix = st1 /11 Windrift Circle Methuen, MA 978 - 555 - 4539 JOB OBJECTIVE Seek special education, primary school, or middle school math teaching position. EDUCATION Rivier College, Nashua,NH Bachelor of Arts in Education - May, 2006 Major: Elementary Education Have successfully completed PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II. Meet highly qualified testing requirements for Massachusetts and New Hampshire. TEACHING EXPERIENCE November, 2005 - January, 2006 Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst,NH Student Teacher * Developed and completed student - centered lessons in all subject areas for various groups of fifth grade special and regular education students. Adapted lessons to meet student's needs by reviewing their backgrounds and learning needs through IEPs. Communicated with parents on a regular basis via newsletters, daily or weekly progress reports, phone calls, and email, resulting in increased parental participation at home. August, 2005 - November, 2005 Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, Nashua,NH Student Teacher Taught reading and writing through Language Experience Approach methods. Introduced a Writer's Workshop appropriate for first grade students to help them to develop their writing skills. Developed learning stations in reading and science, enabling students to be more independent learners. Spring, 2005 Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst,NH Designed and taught a unit on Insects and Spiders, based on New Hampshire Standards to 23 self -contained, third and fourth grade students with disabilities. Fall, 2004 Amherst Street Elementary School, Nashua,NH Taught a class of 24 third grade students with a wide range of abilities. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE After-School Aid, Amherst School District, Amherst,NH(2004 - 2005) Summer Camp advisor, YMCA, Nashua,NH(Summers, 2002 and 2003) Big Brother / Big Sister Volunteer, Nashua,NH(2002 - 2005) Which of the following is NOT included in the ways Linda used to communicate with the students' parents? Answer: My friend's grandfather came to America from a farm in Thailand. After arriving in New York, he went into a cafeteria in Manhattan to get something to eat.He sat down at a table and waited for someone to take his order . Of course nobody did. Finally, a woman with a plate full of food sat down opposite him and told him how a cafeteria worked. "Start out at the end," she said, "Just go along the line and choose what you want. At the other end they'll tell you how much you have to pay." "I soon learned how everything works in America." the grandfather told my friend. "Life is like a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want only if you are willing to pay the money. You can even get success, but you'll never get _ if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it by yourself." Which is the best title of the text? Answer: Englishmen speak British English and Americans speak American English. A student is learning to speak British English. He often asks himself, "Can Americans understand me when I speak British English?" Learners often ask "What's the difference between British English and American English?"Certainly there are some differences between British and American English. The Englishmen say "Have you a pen?" While Americans say "Do you have a pen?" The pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans often sound "r" in words like "bird" and "hurt". The British speakers don't sound the "r" in these words. There are differences in spelling. For example, "colour" and "neighbour" are British while "color" and "neighbor" are American. These differences in grammar, pronunciation and spelling are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language. When Englishmen and Americans are talking with each other, they don't need an interpreter . Maybe some day they need, but not now. At the end of the passage the writer wants to tell us _ . Answer: If you are sitting, please stand up. Move your legs. Touch your toes if you can. Do anything but sit. New research shows that if you cut down on the time you spend sitting, you might live longer. Sitting less than three hours a day might extend your life by two years. Cutting television time to less than two hours a day can add one point four years to life. The human body is designed to move. The fact is just the opposite. Modern lifestyles and office jobs rarely give us the chance to move around. We sit while we're eating; we sit in the car; we sit while we are watching TV. And most of us sit for many hours at work. Sitting is something we do all the time. On average, Americans sit for four and a half to five hours a day. But that does not make sitting good for us. Though you may exercise often, that does not mean you can sit for the rest of your waking hours. We can't throw away physical activity. _ is extremely important. Even if you exercise for 30 minutes a day, what goes on in the other 23 and a half hours a day is also very important. Changes are coming to some offices, especially in the design of desks. A "standing desk" lets people stand while they work. Another new design is called the "treadmill desk". It is an exercise machine that lets you walk slowly in one place. Even some U.S. schools begin to experiment with desks that are part bicycle to keep children moving. Many companies may not buy a standing desk for everybody. However, they may get five standing desks or a treadmill desk for their employees and put them in a certain place where people can go for an hour a day to answer their emails or talk on the phone. Experts suggest some other activities: take a walk at lunchtime; walk to the offices and talk directly instead of emailing colleagues. All these activities may help you live longer. Why should people stand up according to the new research? Answer: Dear Jane, I have to go to work now. I prepare these things for you. Your schoolbag is on the desk. Your pen ,books,keys and your school card are in your schoolbag. Your clothes and hat are on the dresser . The shoes are under the bed. Don't _ your breakfast . It's in the microwave oven . Love you. Mom _ leaves the note. Answer:
Robert Altman's films were different from the usual methods of Hollywood movie storytelling. In the 1940s, he started his film career directing industrial movies in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Later, he moved to Hollywood, California, to make television shows. His first major film, MASH, was released in 1970. It tells about a group of American medical workers in an army hospital in Korea during the Korean War in the 1950s. The movie was a great success. It questioned the rules of the military in a way that was sharply funny and clever. Robert Altman continued to make movies with strong political and social points. His next major movie, Nashville, came out in 1975. This movie provides a complex (not simple) look at changes in the country music industry. Robert Altman's movies have a very special style. Often, his actors speak so naturally that it is hard to believe they are performing. Altman liked his actors to be free to make up their own lines. Altman wanted to copy the way people talked and acted in real life. And he was willing to fight with movie studio businessmen to make sure that he had total creative control over his work. Even as an old man, Robert Altman continued to make movies. Many of his 33 films were nominated for Academy Awards, including The Player and Gosford Park. Robert Altman died in November in Los Angeles, California. He was 81 years old. The best title for this passage should be _ . Answer: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is a children's book. As the story opens,eight-year-old farm girl Fern Arable stops her father from killing a baby pig who is weaker than his brothers and sisters.The little pig,Wilbur,becomes one of the main characters in the story.Later he will be treated as a friend by Charlotte,a wise and loving spider living on the same farm.Wilbur slowly realizes that the farmer will kill him for his meat in a few months ,and Charlotte decides to help him out.She tries many things to keep Wilbur alive.She writes words in her web describing how wonderful Wilbur is and this makes the farm famous. White creates a sort of modern animal fable ,in which animals can speak both with each other and with Fern.Also there are many great characters in this book. The society of animals has many lessons to teach children and adults:friendship,sacrifice ,hope,determination,love,duty,fairness,respect,and many more. Part of this novel's success is the fact that the author makes a heroine out of a spider,a creature that many people probably dislike.Unlike a lovely little pig or other creatures,a spider is a creature greatly different from humans.White's Charlotte is a truly wonderful character.He tells the story of Charlotte and her friends in a special way.This is a book that no one could ever dislike.It has much to offer to children as well as to older teens and adult readers. What is the purpose of the writer in writing this passage? Answer: A mouse looked through a hole in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was astonished to discover that it was a mouse trap! Running to the farmyard,the mouse shouted,warning everyone,"There is a mouse trap in the house,there is a mouse trap in the house."The chicken,with her head high,glared at the mouse and said,"Shut up.Little Ugly.This is a great concern to you,but it has nothing to do with me:I can't be troubled by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him."There is a mouse trap in the house.""I am so sorry,Mr Mouse,"said the pig sympathetically,"but there is nothing I can do about it but pray;you are always in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow,who said,"A mouse trap,am I in great danger,huh?" Now the mouse had to face the farmer's mouse trap alone. That very night a sound was heard through the house,like that of a mouse trap catching its prey.The farmer'wife rushed to see what was caught.In the darkness,she did not see it was a big poisonous snake whose tail the trap had caught.The snake bit the farmer's wife.The farmer rushed her to the hospital.She returned home with a fever.It is said that drinking fresh chicken soup will help treat fever,so the farmer took his sharp knife to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.His wife's sickness continued,so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.To feed them,the farmer killed the pig.The farmer's wife did not get well,in fact,she died,and so many people came for her funeral.The farmer had the cow killed to provide for all of them to eat. So next time when someone is facing a problem,don't say that it has nothing to do with you. What can we learn from the story? Answer: The dark chocolate is one of the favourite food choices by many. The taste is simply irresistible , the smell is inviting and the feel of every bite is surely what you are longing for. Apart from the taste, you simply cannot resist it because it has a lot of benefits when it comes to your health. Our health is our priority when it comes to the choice of our foods. If you worry that the chocolate is bad for your health, then here is a list of the effects of dark chocolate to health especially when taken with the right amount every day. First of all , it contains a component called falconoid which acts as an antioxidant . The antioxidants fight the common signs of aging. The antioxidants are also good for the heart. Studies have shown that people who ate foods rich in antioxidants have low risk of heart diseases. In addition to the anti-aging and healthy heart benefits, the dark chocolate can also lower blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol to as high as 10%. Lowering of blood pressure in patients of high blood level is good because it will lower the risks of stroke and certain health crisis. Low levels of blood cholesterol are also good for the heart and take away the risk of blood vessels which may harden for too much cholesterol in them. Lastly, do you know the feeling of being overjoyed after jogging? This feeling is like extreme happiness. Dark chocolates will give you the feeling of pleasure and happiness. If you are feeling that the world has turned against you, then a chocolate can be a mood lifter. It can help fight depression. Usually when we feel so bad, we would crave to eat more food. If you are looking for something to eat during your bad moments, try to take a bite from a dark chocolate and feel good somehow after it. These are commonly the effects of chocolates to health. It can benefit you especially if taken in moderate amounts. Approximately, 100 grams of chocolate or less a day is already enough according to studies. If you have taken too much, try to lessen on your other meals for the day. It is all about nutrition and taking the right amount of food in order to get the health benefits that it can provide for you. What do we consider most important when choosing our foods? Answer: Earlier this month, the Obama Administration called for increased protection of the world's most southern continent, Antarctica.Scientists say climate change and human activity have increasingly led to the melting of massive pieces of Antarctic ice.The disappearance of ice will not only affect wildlife in the area such as seals and penguins.The melting will also cause oceans and seas around the world to rise. This represents a major threat, especially to coastal areas.For example, the ancient city of Venice, Italy has long been threatened by rising sea levels.The situation is made worse by the fact that its ancient buildings, built on a body of water called a lagoon , are slowly sinking.When the city was founded about 1,600 years ago, the level of the Adriatic Sea was almost two meters lower than it is today. Rising sea levels are not the only threat.The salty water is also destroying Venice's famous buildings and artworks.The Italian government is trying to fix the problem with the construction of a seven-billion-dollar system of moving flood barriers. Climate change is also leading to the melting of ice in other areas, such as Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania.It is the highest point in Africa, measuring almost 6,000 meters.The mountain supports five vegetation zones and many kinds of animals. The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly.This will have a bad effect on the mountain's ecosystems and on Tanzania's travel industry.Also, a valuable record of thousands of years of weather history will also be lost if the ice melts.Scientists study pieces of glacier to understand weather patterns from thousands of years ago. In the United States, the icy masses in Glacier National Park in Montana may soon completely disappear because of climate change.In 1850, there were an estimated 150 glaciers in the more than 400,000 hectare park. There are 26 glaciers remaining today.Scientists estimate that the glaciers will be gone by 2030.Warming temperatures are also threatening the many kinds of plants and animals that live in this mountain ecosystem. What could be the best title for the passage? Answer:
The debate over children from other European countries in prefix = st1 /Britain's school was refried after the country's leading teachers told The Observer that rising numbers of foreign pupils are putting some of schools near the breaking point. Members of the National Association of Head Teachers will this week tell the government that the problem is starting to change the culture of some schools. Some heads said the situation was out of control. Though head teachers think the new pupils have great ability and they should be welcomed into schools, they are worried that they don't have enough money to deal with the situation. "There is a feeling among some of our members that this is out of control and no one knows the final solution," said Mick Brookes, general secretary of the NAHT. Brookes who will give evidence this week to the government added, "some schools just don't know how many immigrant children they will have to admit." He said that while schools could take in one or two foreign pupils, some were struggling with the sudden large increase in the number of children overseas. Clarissa Williams, head of Tolworth Girls School in Kingston upon Thames, south London, said she received &1,300 a year from the government to cover the costs of teaching English to foreign pupils but was having to spend &30,000 of her own budget to keep pace. On Tuesday, the association will tell the House of Lords that education budgets have not kept pace with the increase in the number of pupils for whom English is a second language, or not spoken at all, who have entered Britain since the European Union expanded According to the passage, the main reason for the debate is_. A. Foreign pupils bring their cultures into Britain B. Teachers work harder than before while getting paid less C. The number of foreign pupils has increased too fast D. The government doesn't listen to the head teachers Answer: C A woman was at the cinema, and she was enjoying the film very much. But there was a man in the next seat, and he began looking on the floor under him. The woman was angry and whispered, "What are you doing there? What are you looking for?" "A piece of hard chocolate ,"the man whispered to her, "I dropped it on the floor." "A piece of chocolate?" the woman said angrily, "It's dirty now! Take this and be quiet, please! I'm listening to the film!" She gave the man a big piece of chocolate."But," the man said, "my teeth are in the piece on the floor!" The man sat _ the woman. A. behind B. in front of C. next to D. far from Answer: C Alexis Pilkington was a popular 17-year-old and a well-liked athlete who had already won a soccer scholarship to college. But none of that stopped Alexis from becoming the target of online bullying . Alexis began to receive hundreds of online unpleasant comments via the latest social networking site called www.formspring.com. In March 2010, Alexis committed suicide and although all agreed that the online bother was not the single factor that led to Alexis' death, everyone did agree that it was a contributory factor. Unfortunately, Alexis' story is not unique. A 2010 study conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Center showed that cyberbullying victims were almost twice as likely to have attempted suicide compared to youth who had not experienced cyberbullying. Suicide is obviously the extreme and no one can minimize the tragedy of it. However, there are other damages that occur as a result of aggressive bullying. It can damage self-esteem and lead to feelings of worthlessness, and also increase social isolation and make victims become withdrawn, depressed, anxious, and insecure. So what causes girls to be so unkind towards each other? A term known as relational aggression may best describe the cause of girl-on-girl bullying. It starts with a clique usually led by a girl with a high level of social status and popularity. In order not to lose her position, she will control girls within the clique and take action if she feels threatened. At the leader's directive the girls within the clique will spread rumors and lies and annoy other girls continuously. The bullying starts at school but will quickly go to cyberbullying due to anonymity . Girls will easily do so in the anonymity of the Internet. Ultimately the cause will be summarized as the insecurity and jealousy of one girl and the twisted loyalty of members within her clique. Underneath the confident exterior of a female bully lie desperate insecurities. The example of Alexis Pilkington is given to show _ . A. popular youth are not easy to become the target of bullying B. cyberbullying is quite common among teenagers C. today's youth don't like to study any more D. suicide is a serious problem among youth Answer: B An organism that can survive without the help of other cells is A. Brewer's yeast B. air C. sand D. sugar Answer: A Henry is a naughty boy in Bayern, Germany. He has big eyes and a small mouth. One day, Henry is playing in front of a house. A woman comes up. She has small eyes. And she asks Henry, "Little boy, is your mother at home?" "Yes, she is." answers the boy. And Henry goes on playing happily. Then the woman goes over to ring the bell. The bell rings and rings, but no one comes to open the door. The woman gets angry and calls out to him, " You tell me your mother is at home, don't you?" "Yes," the boy answers. "My mother is at home, but this isn't my home." Then the woman stares at Henry. The boy says, "You have big eyes, too!" In the story the woman doesn't find Henry's mother because _ . A. she doesn't know Henry's mother B. Henry is not at home. C. Henry doesn't have a mother D. she goes to the wrong house Answer: D
In many countries today, laws protect wildlife. In India, the need for such protection was realized centuries ago. About 300 B.C. an Indian writer described forest that were somewhat like national parks today. The killing of game beasts was carefully supervised . Some animals were fully protected.Within the forest, nobody was allowed to cut timber(wood for building), burn wood for charcoal , or catch animals for their furs. Animals that became dangerous to human visitors were caught or killed outside the park so that other animals would not become uneasy. The need for wildlife protection is greater now than ever before. About a thousand species of animals are in danger of _ , and the rate of extinction was about one species every fifty years from A.D. 1 to 1800, but now it is about one species every year. Everywhere, men are trying to solve the problem of protecting wildlife caring for the rapid growth of the world's population. In forest of ancient India _ . Answer: the killing of game beasts was strictly limited It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and Maggie and I were returning from our walk through the woods.We were only a couple of blocks from home when I spotted a cell phone and a credit card sitting on the road.We took them home.We always find amazing things on the street and she looks upon them as a movable feast-a chicken wing here or a barbecue rib there. I found another cell phone a few years back, too, and called a number in its phone book.I explained the situation to the guy who answered.He said it was his sister's and that he'd come to pick it up, which he did. And that was that.No verbal thank-you, no written thank-you, no "here's a box of chocolates" thank-you. I didn't have time to call anyone on my latest found cell phone.I was pouring myself coffee when it started to shake and dance across the kitchen counter. "Who's this?" someone asked when I picked up. "Who's this?" I countered ."Sarah?" She was surprised at my knowing her name until she realized her name was on the credit card."Could you send them to me?" she asked. She lives in Arlington, which is 2 miles from my house. "Hmm, no, "I replied, adding that I thought she could come to get them, and that if I wasn't at home, they would be in my mailbox. A day later, when I was out for a run, someone got them back.There wasn't even a piece of paper put in the mailbox with "Thanks" on it.In this age of e-mail and cell phone, there's really no excuse.Years ago, I found something more precious than a $100 bill on the street:a driver's license.I saw that its owner lived a couple of blocks from me, so I called him up.He asked whether I could slip the license through his front door. "I guess I could, "I replied. And that was that. How many experiences are mentioned by the writer to return things to the losers? Answer: 3 I don't like talking openly about my feelings. That's probably why I am writing this, because it seems an easier way of telling you how thankful I am to you. When I first got ill two years ago and had to be taken to hospital, you were the first person I called to tell, maybe because I knew Mum wasn't going to answer her phone, but probably because you are the first person I call in an emergency. As one illness turned into another and I was stuck in hospital for weeks, feeling sorry for myself, you were still at my beside trying to talk to me to cheer me up. The illness hit my kidney and we then realized that I was going to need a transport sooner or later. You put yourself forward to be tested as soon as possible and it turned out you were a perfect match. Then last year, in March, we both went down for the operation. I woke a few hours afterwards and felt better. It wasn't until the following day that we got to see each other again. We hugged silently and asked one another how we were. But I never said the words I should have--- thank you. To this day, I still haven't said those words to you for my kidney. In the month after the operation, when we were both at home recovering, I made you lunch, went for walks with you. It's my way of saying that I care for you a great deal and that I am truly thankful for what you did for me. I want you to know that my silence towards you and the times you tried to talk to me and got nothing weren't because of you. Maybe one day when you will read this, I hope you know that in my own silent way, I am for ever thankful. The writer called his father when he was ill _ . Answer: because he could get help from his father at once Which unit of measurement can be used to describe the length of a desk? Answer: centimeters This year's Newsweek list of the top 100 high schools shows that today those with fewer students are rising. Ten years ago, when the first Newsweek Top School List based on college-level test participation was published, only three of the top 100 schools had graduating classes smaller than 100 students. This year there are 22. Fifty years ago, they were the latest thing in educational reform: big, modern high schools outside the cities with thousands of students. Big schools meant economic efficiency, a greater choice of courses, and better football teams. But only years later did we understand that it involved the difficulty of strengthening personal connections between teachers and students. SAT scores began dropping; on average, 30% of students did not complete high school in four years, a figure that rose to 50% in poor city neighborhoods. High schools for a variety of reasons seemed to have made little progress. Size isn't everything, but it does matter, and the past decade has seen a noticeable trend toward smaller schools. This has been partly due to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has invested $1.8 billion in American high schools, helping to open about 1,000 small schools -- most of them with about 400 kids, each with an average enrollment of only 150 students per grade. About 500 more are on the drawing board. Districts all over the country are taking notice, along with mayors in cities like New York, Chicago and San Diego. And most noticeable of all, there is the phenomenon of large urban and suburban high schools that have split up into smaller units of a few hundred. Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, California, is one of those ranking No.423 -- among the top 2% in the country. In 2003, Hillsdale remade itself into three "houses". 300 students arriving ninth graders are randomly assigned to one of the houses, where they will keep the same four core subject teachers for two years before moving on to another for 11th and 12th grades. Teachers meet with students in groups of 25, five mornings a week, for open-ended discussions of everything from homework problems to bad Saturday-night dates. The advisers also meet with students privately and stay in touch with parents. Along with the new structure came the percentage of freshmen taking biology jumped from 17 to 95."It was rough for some. But by senior year, two-thirds have moved up to physics," says Jeff Gilbert. "Our kids are coming to school in part because they know there are adults here who know them and care for them." But not all schools show advances after downsizing, and it remains to be seen whether smaller schools will be a cure-all solution. Ranking schools is always controversial. Over the years this system has been criticized for its simplicity -- list of top U.S. high schools was made merely according to the proportion of students taking college-level exams. This year a group of 38 superintendents from five states wrote to ask that their schools should be excluded from the calculation. "It is impossible to know which high schools are 'the best' in the nation," their letter read. "Determining whether different schools do or don't offer a high quality of education requires a look at many different measures, including students' overall academic accomplishments, their later performance in college, and taking into consideration the unique needs of their communities." What attitude does the author have towards the present trend in high school education? Answer: Objective.
Ralph was an alligator that loved to splash around in the water. Ralph had three brothers, named Henry, Larry, and Thomas. But none of Ralph's three brothers liked to play in the water. They were very mean brothers, but the meanest of them all was Henry. Henry would always chase Ralph around the lake and try to beat him up when he was splashing around. Then on his birthday, Ralph thought of a great idea. His idea was to stop Henry from beating him by using a trick. He would trick Henry into thinking one side of the lake was scary. Ralph dressed up in a spooky costume and waited for Henry to swim over to the side of the lake. Then when Henry came over, Ralph started making spooky sounds and scared Henry back to the other side of the lake. Henry was so scared he never came to the other side of the lake again and Ralph was free to splash around in peace. What great idea did Ralph come up with on his birthday? Answer: Masses of floating ice are so large that they dwarfs your ship, making you question whether your ship still can be spotted among such floating mountains. They are so improbable looking that you simply look in wonder. It seems that nothing that large could be natural-- and then it strikes you that something so large could only be natural. Now, people realize that as climate change is raising global temperatures, more icebergs are being born. Antarctica creates far more of them than Greenland, the source of bergs in Arctic waters. Antarctica's are also much larger, sometimes reaching the size of small countries. Recent data show the average atmospheric temperature has increased about 4.5degF in the western Antarctic Peninsula since the 1940s, making the region, among the fastest warming on earth. This jump has been shown in the recent breaking of major ice shelves along the Antarctic Peninsula. As a result, thousands of new icebergs have broken off, from ice shelves into the Southern Ocean at an accelerated rate. Even as more icebergs are being created, scientists are learning that these beauties are far from inactive masses of ice. In fact, they strikingly alter their environments biologically, chemically, and physically, making them islands of life in the open sea. Observers at sea had long remarked that they attract seals, and seabirds, and divers had noticed that fish are more numerous near them than in the surrounding sea. Now scientists are learning just what the attraction is all about. Depending on their size, location, and the season, icebergs can be nurturers or destroyers. During their existence--typically years from breaking off from an Antarctic or Greenlandic glacier to their gradual melting as they float into lower altitudes, they support animals on, around, even inside their splendid ice castle. They fertilize the ocean with nutrients, increasing sea creature production. Grounded bergs can shelter areas of the seafloor, protecting bottom-living creatures from free-floating icebergs. However, large bergs can also trap sea ice, preventing its annual breakup and thus stopping phytoplankton from getting life-giving sunlight, breaking the food chain at its first link. ... Icebergs will continue to astonish and attract visitors to the polar regions with their size and extraordinary beauty. But now these frozen masses are taking on a new dimension of wonder as we uncover their vital role in the environment of polar seas. No longer can we look at icebergs as mere passive beauties. They are active agents of change, each one an icy oasis with a wake of life as it floats on its unstoppable oceanic journey to melting. From the passage we can conclude that icebergs can _ . Answer: The world lost one of the most respected leaders. Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, passed away on Dec. 5, 2013. The whole world felt sorry about the death of Mandela, a great man of history. Mandela is mostly remembered for his efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. Mandela was born in 1918. In South Africa, there are both black and white people. But at that time, Black people couldn't live or travel where they wanted. They didn't have the right to vote, either. Mandela didn't think that was right. He organized many activities against it, but he was sent to prison for 27 years. Under international pressure, the government set Mandela free in 1990. Great changes in the law began to end apartheid. At that time, Mandela chose to forgive his enemies. He shook hands with the people who wanted him dead. He also encouraged black people to forgive the whites. Because of his forgiveness, Mandela is remembered as a moral model by the whole world. In1993,Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize. A year later, he became the first black president of South Africa. Both black people and white people voted. Apartheid ended. In 1999, Mandela left office at the highest point of his power. Mandela was sent to prison for 27 years because he _ . Answer: These days picture news is very popular with young people. Here are some chosen from the Internet by Jack. Read on to find out which one you like best. SPRING is coming, together with butterflies ! On March 31,the Natural History Museum in London, UK, had a butterfly show. Children came over and played with these beautiful creatures. They also got to know how butterflies grow up. Colorful butterflies flew freely at the show. They sometimes landed on visitors. Look! A large blue butterfly sits on the nose of the girl. Earlier in April 2014, Sanlian Taofen Bookstore became the first 24-hour bookstore in Beijing. It hopes to encourage more people to read books. "We welcome everyone who loves to read books at any time." The general manager of the store told China Youth Daily. Although many people can now buy books online, many readers still like the feeling in bookstores. They can touch the books and smell the print. This year, many children in the UK will have a new language to study: Chinese. Starting in 2014, students aged 7-11 in the UK need to study one of seven foreign languages. They can choose from French, German, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek and Chinese. The British government is offering to train a group of Chinese-language teachers. They will teach Chinese to more than 3,000 primary school students. China and the UK work together in many fields. So it's important that the future generation can speak Chinese. What could children get from visiting the butterfly show? Answer: 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. . If your kids want to watch performances for free, you can take them to _ . Answer:
Dear Tim, Today is Saturday.It's 7:00 in the evening here.I'm writing to tell you something about my life.My father is watching CCTV news.That's his favorite program.My brother is playing computer games.My dog Dick is taking a hat to me.He wants me to put it on and go out for a walk with him.What a clever dog!My little sister is practicing playing the piano.It sounds beautiful today.Outside,I can hear cars and buses coming and going quickly .Also there are some boys playing ball games. It's really a noisy but happy evening.Do you think so? What are your family doing?I know the time here is thirteen hours ahead of that in New York.Are you getting up? Please write to me soon.Best wishes! Yours, Denial What does the writer think of the piano-playing skill of his little sister? Answer: The GRAMMY Museum is a musically fascinating journey of music in downtown Los Angeles. Turn up the beat over four floors of modern exhibits, interactive experiences and interesting films that will give you a one-of-a-kind experience. They want to engage you, educate you, and inspire you -- just like music does! There are over 30,000 square feet of interactive, traveling and permanent exhibits. This includes over two dozen exhibits along that explore the greatest of the GRAMMY music! Your whole family will find something they love -- rock, classical, hip hop to country... The Crossroads exhibition invites you to explore nearly 160 kinds of music! Open them up on the interactive table in front of you to show photos, songs and stories that describe the influence that music has on the world, as well as the music itself. Journey down the Songwriters Hall of Fame. How many of these songs do you know? How many songwriters have you heard of? You can also try writing a song with some songwriters in the songwriting kiosks ! Have you wondered how a song gets from someone's head to your radio? The third floor shows the art of recording. The museum always has a host of programs and events throughout the year, so make sure you keep up to date -- you won't want to miss out! HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Adults: $ 12.95 Children: $ 10.95 (6-17 yrs) Free: under 5 years old WHEN CAN WE GO? Mon-Fri: 11:30 am - 7:30 pm Weekends: 10:00 am - 7:30 pm Sometimes shut for private events, so check before you go. What can you learn through the Crossroads exhibition? Answer: A farmer was put in prison . One day, he got a letter from his wife. "I am worried about our farm," she wrote. "It's time to plant potatoes, but I can't do all the digging by myself." The farmer thought over and then had an idea. He wrote to his wife, "Don't dig the fields. This is where my gold is. Don't plant potatoes until I come home." A few days later, the farmer got another letter from his wife. It said, "Two days ago, about ten prison guards came to our fields. It looked as if they were looking for something. They have dug our field." The farmer wrote to his wife at once. "Now you can plant our potatoes," he wrote. Why did the farmer ask his wife to plant potatoes at once? Because _ . Answer: It is pretty much a one-way street. While it may be common for university researchers to try their luck in the commercial world, there is very little traffic in the opposite direction. Pay has always been the biggest deterrent, as people with families often feel they cannot afford the drop in salary when moving to a university job. For some industrial scientists, however, the attractions of academia outweigh any financial considerations. Helen Lee took a 70% cut in salary when she moved from a senior post in Abbott Laboratories to a medical department at the University of Cambridge. Her main reason for returning to academia mid-career was to take advantage of the greater freedom to choose research questions. Some areas of inquiry have few prospects of a commercial return, and Lee's is one of them. The impact of a salary cut is probably less severe for a scientist in the early stages of a career. Guy Grant, now a research associate at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Informatics at the University of Cambridge, spent two years working for a pharmaceutical company before returning to university as a post-doctoral researcher. He took a 30% salary cut but felt it worthwhile for the greater intellectual opportunities. Higher up the ladder, where a pay cut is usually more significant, the demand for scientists with a wealth of experience in industry is forcing universities to make the transition to academia more attractive, according to Lee. Industrial scientists tend to receive training that academics do not, such as how to build a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets and negotiate contracts. They are also well placed to bring something extra to the teaching side of an academic role that will help students get a job when they graduate, says Lee, perhaps experience in manufacturing practice or product development. "Only a small number of undergraduates will continue in an academic career. So someone leaving university who already has the skills needed to work in an industrial lab has far more potential in the job market than someone who has spent all their time on a narrow research project." What contribution can industrial scientists make when they come to teach in a university? Answer: Computers are very important to modern life.Many people think that in the future computers will be used in lots of everyday life.It is thought that we won't have to go shopping because we will be able to get most things which are sold in shops on the Internet.There will be no more books because we will be able to get all texts from computers.The Internet will be used to play games, see films and buy food.Most telephone calls will be made by computers, too. Some people are glad about those new ways of shopping and communicating .Others do not think that computers will replace our old ways. Some people think that one day we will not read books made of paper. Instead, we will buy and read books using computers, which will keep many different books in them at the same time.We won't need to turn lots of pages and paper will be saved.Computerized books will be used more and more. While many people say it is a pleasure to go into shops and look at things you want to buy.It is also unlikely that many people will want to read large texts on our computers. Because paper books will perhaps be more friendly.Maybe computers won't change these two habits. There will be no more books because _ . Answer:
Mr. Frank shot well and once he had come in fourth in a competition. Then he went to a big city on business. There he joined the local rifle club. The club had a very good team, which used to take part in a lot of important shooting competitions. One of these took place while Frank was with them. But one of the members of the club's team suddenly fell ill just before the match. The captain had heard of Mr. Frank. He therefore invited Mr. Frank to take the sick man's place. Mr. Frank felt greatly happy to be asked to shoot for such a good team, but he also felt very nervous, because he was afraid of making a fool of himself. In fact, he was so nervous that he could not keep his hands from trembling while he was shooting, with the result that he did very badly in the competition. When he took his score card to his captain, he said:" After seeing my score, I want to go outside and shoot myself. " The captain looked at the card for a few seconds and then said, "Well, you'd better take two bullets with you if you want to do that. " Mr. Frank once _ in a competition. A joined the fourth team B took the fourth place C was the fourth to start shooting D shot with the other three Answer: B. took the fourth place Learning a foreign language is difficult for many learners. The following tips may help you learn a foreign language quickly. Reading aloud When you start learning a foreign language, you should read aloud. Reading aloud instead of reading lowly only to yourself helps you in remembering. It helps with pronunciation, too. Building your vocabulary You'll have to make a few word lists, you have to memorize and review them regularly. You may review the word lists at least once a day for two weeks. Learning grammar Learning the grammar of a foreign language is a dry and boring task. But it can speed your language learning. Don't jump to learn tenses , it's better to be done after you've learned some of the language. The most important thing is that you shouldn't worry about the mistakes you'll make when you start. If you do like this, you'll learn the language better. Watching TV and movies This is a wonderful way to learn a foreign language quickly. You can watch TV shows in the language you are learning. They'll help you a great deal with the vocabulary as well as catching what others say and also your pronunciation. ,,(5) Which of the following is important in building one's vocabulary of a foreign language? A Writing the words again and again. B Listening to tapes in the language. C Reviewing words from time to time D Reading more articles in the language. Answer: C. Reviewing words from time to time One of the secrets of successful people is that they have good habits. The good habits help them to be successful. What are good habits? How can you get into good habits? Here is some advice for you. First, everyone has his merits . You should always look for the good points in people and learn from them. Second, you should try to learn new things and new skills every day. Reading a few pages of a book or a newspaper every day also helps you. Third, start the day the right way. When you get up in the morning, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you must keep your good habits today. I think the last one is the most important. No matter what good habits you decide to have, you should try to keep them. Then you can live a successful and happy life. ,. Which of the following is TRUE? A Everyone has merits. B Starting the day the right way is not important. C You can learn everything from newspapers. D Everyone can be successful if he or she has good habits. Answer: A. Everyone has merits. Notting hill is a small town west of London. Here lives shy William, a divorced man, who owns a little travel-book store. It was a Wednesday, when the poor shop keeper happened to meet Anna Scott ,a movie star who walked into his shop. They ran across each other in the street again. And they found themselves falling in love. But how could a poor man keep the love of a famous star? Their lives and their worlds were so different. Six months later, Anna was in London again for her new film. She came to William's thought ... Length :110 minutes Director:David Duning Cast:Julia Roberts(actress), Hugh Grant(actor) According to the passage, who most probably plays the role of Anna in the film ? A Julia Roberts. B Hugh Grant. C David Duning. D Not mentioned. Answer: A. Julia Roberts. When the US started the war in Iraq a year ago, Spain was a firm supporter. But on April 18, the Spanish government started to remove its troops, becoming the first country in the US-led coalition to bring its soldiers home. The person behind this surprise move is the new Spanish prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. A few months ago, he was hardly known outside his small hometown in northern Spain. Even a week before last month's general election, Zapatero was still considered an outsider for the top job. But just three days before the vote, a series of bomb attacks on three train stations in Madrid killed 191 people and injured some 1,900. It was Spain's worst ever terrorist attack and it changed everything -- even making Zapatero prime minister. From the beginning, the 43-year-old former lawyer, knew the weaknesses of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and his hand-picked successor, Mariano Rajoy. About 90 per cent of the Spanish people were against the war in Iraq and were unhappy that Aznar had taken them into it. So Zapatero promised: "If this party wins the election and the UN still can't take charge in Iraq, the new government will pull its 1,400 troops out of Iraq." Despite focusing on this and other Aznar mistakes, Zapatero's chances of victory were still thin until the Madrid bombings. At first, the government blamed ETA, a separatist terror group from the Basque region of northern Spain. But later evidence suggested the attack was carried out by al-Qaida members angry at Spain's presence in Iraq. The people were upset, and they showed this by voting for Zapatero. Many accused the government of covering up information about the bombings and only blaming ETA so it wouldn't lose to an anti-war vote. In a move that was as shocking to the world as his election victory, Zapatero chose to carry out his promise the day after he took office. And its effect could be long-lasting. As the situation in Iraq worsens, several countries are considering their positions. The US is worried that other coalition members might follow Spain's lead and also bring their soldiers home. Why did the Spanish government try to hide the truth from the public at first? A They feared the terrorists would escape. B They were not quite sure who on earth made the attacks. C They were worried that they would lose the coming election. D They attempted to get rid of all ETA members. Answer: C. They were worried that they would lose the coming election.
Recently a research was carried out in London,Birmingham and Leeds among teachers from different schools about student behavior management. The majority of teachers said that behavior management is the biggest challenge they face in teaching.They are against the idea of a "one size fits all" approach to behavior management and believe that how they deal with behavior depends on their analysis of what is driving the behavior.Many teachers make the analysis in three steps.First,observe what the student is doing;then look into what drives the behavior and finally identify what is the real problem to deal with,e.g.attention seeking or being unable to follow the lessons etc..However,many teachers felt it sometimes difficult as schools did not always effectively communicate the necessary information about the students for them to do it. The behaviors are generally divided into low,mid and high level.Teachers felt low and high level behavior was easy to analyze and deal with because low level behavior was seen as the least serious of a problem;and there is clear structure in place for dealing with high level behavior. However,there is no clear structure and effective ways to address midlevel behavior,which may cause a sense of failure in some teachers. Teachers also felt that the laws to protect pupils have resulted in a sense of teachers having fewer rights to manage behavior.In case they deal with or be seen to deal with behavior wrongly or improperly,the results could be very serious:damage the child or teacher,especially their career. What does the passage mainly talk about? Answer: Teachers' difficulties in managing student behavior. Sports account for a growing amount of income made on the sales of commercial time by television companies. Many television companies have used sports to attract viewers from particular sections of the general public, and then they have sold audiences to advertisers. An attraction of sport programs for the major U. S. media companies is that events are often held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons--the slowest time periods of the week for general television viewing. Sport events are the most popular weekend programs, especially among male viewers who may not watch much television at other times during the week. This means the television networks are able to sell advertising time at relatively high prices during what normally would be dead time for programming. Media corporations also use sports to attract commercial sponsors that might take their advertising dollars elsewhere if television stations did not report certain sports. The people in the advertising departments of major corporations realize that sports attract made viewers. They also realize that most business travelers are men and that many men make family decisions on the purchases of computers, cars and life insurance. Golf and tennis are special cases for television programming. These sports attract few viewers, and the ratings are unusually low. However, the audience for these sports is attractive to certain advertisers. It is made up of people from the highest income groups in the United States, to certain advertisers. It is made up of people from the highest income groups in the United States, including many lawyers and business managers. This is why television reporting of golf and tennis is sponsored by companies selling high-priced cars, business and personal computer, and holiday trips. This is also why the networks continue to carry these programs regardless of low ratings. Advertisers are willing to pay high fees to reach high-income consumers and those managers who make decisions to buy thousands of "company cars" and computer, with such viewers, these programs don't need high ratings to stay on the air. In many families, men make decision on _ Answer: expensive purchases On a cool summer night in Wyoming, Dean Biggins waits patiently in his truck. Suddenly, Biggins, a wildlife biologist, spots a pair of eyes in the distance. Baggins can't believe his luck: He's just caught sight of a black-footed ferret --one of the world's rarest animals. Just over a century ago, hundreds of thousands of black-footed ferrets lived on the grasslands in North America known as the prairie. But the animals died off as prairie dog disappeared. Black-footed ferret depend on prairie dogs for both food and shelter. After a ferret has eaten a prairie dog, it moves into the animal's burrow . When cattlemen started setting up ranches on the prairie in the early 1900s, they thought prairie dogs, which eat grass, might compete with their cattle and sheep for food. To make sure that didn't happen, they killed off billions of prairie dogs. As prairie dog populations dropped, black-footed ferrets disappeared. By 1979, researchers couldn't find any ferrets and declared the species extinct. Then, two years later, a small group was discovered. Although scientists were excited about the discovery, it soon became clear that the ferrets were in danger. A disease called sylvatic plague was killing the ferrets. Soon, just 18 ferrets remained. "To help the species survive, the researchers put all the ferrets in cages in 1986 and began raising them," says Randy Matchett, a wildlife biologist. To help the black-footed ferrets learn survival skills, wildlife biologists put them through a process called preconditioning. Researchers build a fence around old prairie dog burrows and put the ferrets in them when they are a couple of months old. While the animals get used to their new home, researchers feed them live prairie dogs so they can practice hunting. "Now about 1,000 black-footed ferrets are back in the wild. Despite their amazing comeback, black-footed ferrets aren't out of the woods yet," says Matchett. Sylvatic plague is still a threat, and ranchers still don't want too many prairie dogs on their land. "We have come a long way, and we've learned a lot," says Matchett. "I think if we keep working, we'll be able to help this species recover." What's Matchett's attitude towards the future of black-footed ferrets? Answer: Hopeful. Penguins can taste only sour and salty food, scientists have discovered. A genetic study suggests the flightless birds lost three of the five basic tastes long ago in evolution. Taste is critical for survival in most animals, but may not matter in the penguin, which swallows fish whole, say researchers in China and the US. Many other birds are unable to taste sweet things, but they do have receptors for detecting bitter and umami (or meaty) flavours. The discovery was made when researchers decoding penguin genomes found some of the taste genes were missing. A closer look at the DNA of penguins revealed that all species lack functioning genes for the receptors of sweet, umami, and bitter tastes. "Based on genetic data, penguins are believed to have sour and salty tastes, but have lost sweet, umami, and bitter tastes," lead researcher Prof Jianzhi Zhang, of the University of Michigan, US, and Wuhan University, China, told the reporter. The umami taste gives food the strong, savoury flavour associated with meat. Lacking this sense is surprising for a carnivorous animal, but does not matter that much in the penguin, which swallows fish without chewing. "Their behaviour of swallowing food whole, and their tongue structure and function, suggest that penguins need no taste perception," said Prof Zhang. "Although it is unclear whether these traits are a cause or a consequence of their major taste loss." The findings, published in Current Biology journal, were a puzzle, he added. One clue comes from the bird's evolution on the frozen ice sheets of Antarctica. Sending signals from sweet, umami, and bitter (but not sour or salty) taste receptors to the brain does not work at very low temperatures. This may have led to the penguin gradually losing its sense of taste, say the researchers. Intriguingly , the sweet taste is missing in almost all birds. The hummingbird, which feeds on sweet nectar, is an exception. What was the discovery made by the researchers when decoding penguin genomes? Answer: Some of the taste genes were missing. After spending three days in a wheelchair, I was ready to quit. Not only did I have to battle cracked and uneven pavements, I had to deal with the bad attitude of pedestrians and a cold rain. But I didn't give up because of people like Tiffany Payne. Payne, who has been using a wheelchair for 18 years, laughed at me, "Imagine trying to get around town in the winter," she said. I could see her point: You're battling to get to a doctor's appointment, but no one has shoveled after a big snowfall. Your choices: Move out and risk getting stuck, or reschedule the appointment. Those of us fortunate enough to get around on our own two legs don't give a second thought to the person in a wheelchair next to us at a crosswalk. That would require us to look down. So I decided to try using a wheelchair to get a sample of what their lives are like. It wasn't long before I saw that people who use wheelchairs are forced to deal with a lot of trouble. During my experiment, I was ignored by store staff while shopping and bumped into by inattentive walkers without so much as an apology. Some people even gave me angry looks as if I were the one at fault. Once in a store, a woman bumped into me trying to get to the new iPad. She didn't say, "Excuse me." When salespeople did offer assistance, they talked to people who were with me, instead of me. I wanted to yell, "Hey, I'm down here!" Some salespeople talked to me as though I were a child or acted like they didn't want to be bothered with me. People who use wheelchairs want to be treated like everyone else. They also comprehend, so you don't have to speak to them in a childlike, sing-song voice. It's not very appealing, especially when the person is an adult. And most importantly, remember they have feelings that can be hurt just like yours. Spending three days in a wheelchair made me look differently at those who have to use one. I hope you do the same. During his three days in a wheelchair, the author met all of the following difficulties EXCEPT _ . Answer: terrible medical service
" To seek happiness is to look for it" was once said by the famous French author Jules Renard. Look for it? Sure...but don't spend a lifetime trying, especially if it's well within your reach but you're just too blind to see it. Discover the three keys to happiness that you have already understood, but that you are just too afraid to find it. 1. Accepting Yourself The idea of happiness is difficult to understand if you are not at peace with yourself. Learn to accept yourself as you are. Your next step will be to improve your attitude for tomorrow, for the next day, for the day after that, and so forth. By beginning to accept reality, you will come to the final point of true happiness. Only when you are at peace with yourself, will you finally be able to admit that you are, in fact, a happy person. 2. Forgiving Others Forgiving others is a true show of humanity which also allows us to feel more at ease. When you learn to forgive, you also learn to keep a firm hold on your life. To forgive is to open the doors of personal satisfaction. Yet you simply open your mind to answer, " Do I really want to allow my anger to grow and eat me from inside out?" 3. Helping Your Neighbors When a friend seems to be suffering from a state of depression , it's quite easy to help him or her out of the trouble. The best attitude to have in this situation is to make him or her understand that he or she is not alone. If you come to save a friend in need, you'll feel a lot more at peace with yourself. You will feel high--spirited by knowing that someone is looking at life on the brighter side thanks to your kind words. ,. The best title for the passage is " _ " Answer: There are many fun, free activities that you can do as a family. All that is required is a bit of imagination and some time set aside for fun. And the best part is that these are the kind of memories a child will remember for a lifetime. Family game night Find out any of the games that are already around the house. Kids often get computer games for Christmas or birthdays, and would love to have a chance to play with their family. Or, make up some games of your own. " _ " is a fun game to play that will challenge a child to use his/her imagination. Divide the family into teams and let each team come up with words that the other has to act out. _ Pick some time for the family to sit down and come up with their own masterpiece. It doesn't need to be just a drawing -- take some old magazines sitting around the house, let the kids cut out pictures and paste them into their own montage. Or, use items from nature. Let them use leaves, pine cones, twigs and whatever else they can find to create something from their imaginations. Family Picnic Taking the family for a picnic is a great way for some fun that doesn't cost any money. If the weather is nice, take them to a park or playground and let the kids have a day of playing. Or, if it is the middle of winter and a foot of snow is on the ground, set up a picnic in the living room. Family Field Trip A family field trip doesn't have to cost a dime. Ask a nearby farm if it would be alright to bring your kids out for a tour and to see some of the animals. Or take them to a park and make a scavenger hunt where they need to find certain items from nature. Ask a local business if you could bring the family for a tour to see how things work -- you might be surprised at the number of people who would be thrilled to share what they do with others, and it could be an interesting lesson for the kids. What is the best title to be put in the blank of part two? _ Answer: Iggy Azalea doesn't look like a rapper . On May 17, she attended the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, US, with pink hair and a blue coat. She looked like a model, but won big as a rapper. The 24-year-old Australian beat out big names like Nicki Minaj and Drake to win the award for Top Rap Artist. It's a great achievement in many people's eyes, but Azalea knew what she wanted from the beginning. At 15 she dropped out of high school because she was only interested in art class. She worked as a house cleaner to save money for her dream the following year. Before her 16th birthday, Azalea left her home, a tiny town in Australia, for the US, making up her mind to become a rapper. Moving from Miami to Houston to Atlanta, she started rapping in the Southern-style accent of her surroundings and her single "Ignorant Art" came out in 2011. From then on, she has never looked back. However, her style has caused lots of discussions. She might be one of the most polarizing artists. She raps with a southern American accent, even though she speaks with an Australian one. Many people comment that she overuses black culture in her music. Her supporters are against it. Female American rapper MC Lyte defended Azalea in an interview, saying she should not be judged because of where she's from. "Hip hop is universal, no color1 lines." MC Lyte said. Azalea herself is proud of her music. "I really want to be focused on what I'm doing," she said in an interview."That's really dangerous when you're trying to figure out ways to entertain people and make them happy. I don't want to be a part of that." After leaving for America, Azalea _ . Answer: It was getting late. There was no noise in the forest. We could only hear the birds singing. And then, a bear--a big brown bear--came into the forest. The bear stopped under a tall tree. He was very hungry. He looked up into the tree. There in the nut tree was his supper--a supper of nice nuts. But the nuts were high up in the tree. The hungry bear could not reach them. But he knew how to get his supper. He climbed up the tree. Up and up he climbed. He climbed onto a big branch of the tree. He sat there and then shook the branch again and again. At last the branch broke. The brown bear fell down with the branch and nuts. The bear sat up and looked around. With his big paws he picked up the nuts and ate them up. The bear was _ . Answer: As a published author with a degree in English, 33-year-old Tom Williams has achieved more than many people will in a lifetime. What makes those achievements more impressive is that he's dyslexic. At school Tom, who has worked as a literary agent and now has a full-time job with a digital publishing company, would often find keeping up in lessons so tiring that he would fall asleep. "I found it quite frustrating that everybody else had neat handwriting and could spell and I just couldn't do what they could," says Tom, who has written a respected biography of crime writer Raymond Chandler. It wasn't until the age of 17 that he was given a test for dyslexia that showed why he'd struggled for so long. He was always studying for A-levels including English. "My teacher didn't think I'd get the grades I was capable of," he says. "So she pushed for me to be tested and I'm grateful that she did." Until his diagnosis Tom had been ranked somewhere in the middle of his classes at school. He couldn't understand why assignments would come back covered in red ink. However, after Tom's diagnosis, when his condition began to be taken properly into account, he found himself at the top of the class. To study English well, he wrote down new words as he came across them and tried to find somewhere quiet and well lit to read and write. He says people were often surprised that someone with dyslexia wanted to pursue a degree in English. Similarly, when he went to study at University College London, the tutors were initially taken aback at his degree choice. Not everyone understands dyslexia so well. "If teachers aren't trained to recognize signs of dyslexia, they'll think children are less able," he says. To make sure that doesn't happen and to encourage a deeper understanding of the condition among those affected by it, Tom becomes a supporter of the charity Dyslexia Action. We can know from the passage that kids with dyslexia tend to . Answer:
Question: One day, a woman traveled alone in the mountains.When she was walking, she found a precious stone.She was very happy and put the stone into her bag. The next day, the woman met another traveler.The traveler was hungry and the woman opened her bag to s hare her food with him.The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and said, "How beautiful the stone is! Can I have a look?" The woman gave it to the traveler.The traveler looked and looked, and then he asked the woman whether she would like to give it to him.She gave the stone to him without hesitation . The traveler left.He was very happy because he knew he could get lots of money by selling the stone and he could live a rich life.But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman. "I know how precious the stone is," the traveler said. "But I gave it back.I hope that you can give me something even more precious." "Even more precious? What is that?" the woman asked. "Your beautiful mind is more precious than the stone," the man said. What did the woman find when she was walking in the mountains? A. A bag with a precious stone in it. B. A beautiful and valuable stone. C. A beautiful but cheap stone. D. A precious ring. Answer: B. A beautiful and valuable stone. Question: We are all interested in equality, but while some people try to protect the school and examination system in the name of equality, others, still in the name of equality, want only to destroy it. Any society which is interested in equality of opportunity and standards of achievement must regularly test its pupils. The standards may be changed ---- no examination is perfect ---- but to have no external tests or examinations would mean the end of equality and of standards. There are groups of people who oppose this view and who do not believe either in external examinations or in any controls in schools or on teachers. This would mean that everything would depend on luck since every pupil would depend on the efficiency, the ideal and the purpose of each teacher. Without external examinations, employers will look for employees from the highly respected schools and from families known to them ---- a form of favoritism will replace equality. At the moment, the bright child from an ill-respected school can show certificates to prove he or she is suitable for a job, while the lack of a certificate shows the unsuitability of a dull child attending a well - respected school. This defense of excellence and opportunity would disappear if external examinations were taken away, and the bright child from a poor family would be a prisoner of his or her school's fame, unable to compete for employment with the child from the favored school. The opponents of the examination system suggest that examinations are an evil force because they show differences between pupils. According to these people, there must be no special, different, academic class. They have even suggested that there should be no form of difference in sport or any other area: all jobs or posts should be filled by unsystematic selection. The selection would be made by people who themselves are probably selected by some computer. These people are not just against school organization, but are at war with the whole idea of modem competitive society and they are using children in schools for their destructive purposes. There is no reason why we should allow such people to determine the way our schools are organized when it is to the obvious disadvantage of the pupils, of the schools and of our society as a whole. In the writer's opinion, what would happen if external examinations were taken away? A. There would be no more opportunities and no more excellence. B. Children from poor families would not be able to change schools. C. Going to a favored school should be the only way to get a good job. D. Schools for bright children would lose their fame. Answer: A. There would be no more opportunities and no more excellence. Question: The Black family often do housework together at the weekend. Pam often cleans bedrooms. Her father buys _ for the next week. Her mother washes the clothes. John, Pam's brother, helps to cut the grass in the garden. The Blacks often ride bikes to the park nearby. In the park, they can play basketball and football. They always have a good time there. They say they like working and playing together. When all the family members work together, they feel _ . A. happy B. tired C. angry D. sad Answer: A. happy Question: Anyone who reads a book and then goes to see a movie based on that book generally leaves the movie feeling a little disappointed. Why might this be? Both books and movies serve the purpose of entertainment. Both books and movies offer characters and plots. And, both books and movies provide a setting for a story. Books, however, offer a more attractive and complex form of entertainment than movies. Although movies are entertaining to watch, books have advantages over them. First, books, in comparison to movies, can more easily seize the depths of characters and create a complex setting through the use of rich description. Books leave it up to the reader to interpret, imagine, and recreate the story in his or her own mind. However, movies are action packed and provide lots of visual stimuli ; still, it is the movie not the viewer that interprets the characters, plot, and setting. Second, books are not limited to time. A writer can write as much or as little as necessary in order to create and tell a story. Movies, on the other hand, are limited to an hour and a half to two hours of entertaining time before the audience begins to get restless. Last, reading is an _ form of entertainment. Readers can improve their level of reading and vocabulary in a harmless, healthy, and pleasurable way. Movies, on the other hand, are not as complex and entertaining as books, and they leave nothing to interpret. Therefore, the advantages and entertainment value of books outweigh those of a movie. To conclude, books, through interpretation, help the reader develop a sense of relationship to the characters and the story itself, but a movie strictly entertains. Books are a better form of entertainment than movies. We learn from the text that _ . A. movies can easily seize the depths of characters B. books provide more visual stimuli than movies C. books leave readers nothing to interpret and imagine D. movies are usually time limited compared with books Answer: D. movies are usually time limited compared with books Question: I'm Lin Min. My sister Lin Li is a teacher, but she isn't in Beijing with us. She works in a small school in Yushu in Qinghai. She works very hard. Every morning after breakfast, she goes to four of her students' homes and brings them to school. At eight o'clock, the students have the first morning class. After four classes, they have lunch at school. During the lunch time, Lin Li tells some stories to them. The students like listening to her stories. The afternoon classes start at 13:00 and finish at 16:00. After school, Lin Li sends the four students back to their homes. In the evening, she doesn't watch TV or play computer games. She usually checks her students' homework. Then she goes to bed at 22:00. Lin Li wants to do more things for her students. She is a great teacher, isn't she? Why does Lin Li go to some of her students' homes in the morning? A. To visit their parents. B. To tell stories to them. C. To bring them to school. D. To help them with homework. Answer: C. To bring them to school.
Not long ago, the only time you could see a robot was when you were reading a novel or watching a movie such asStar Wars . Today, however, a lot of things in science stories have been science facts. Robots are starting to appear in our everyday lives. These robots have different sizes, shapes, and colors. But they all have the same type of man-made "brain". Leading the robot revolution are industrial robots that work in factories. Industrial robots can do different kinds of jobs that are often boring and sometimes dangerous. Robots are also coming to American homes, though not as quickly as they are entering factories. These robots aren't as friendly and bright as those you saw in Star Wars.But, their makers say, today's home robots "walk", sense objects in their way (and sometimes knock into them), and even carry objects (which they sometimes drop). Well, nobody is perfect. We may laugh at home robot today, but some day they may see and hear better than humans do. We humans can only see certain wavelengths of light, and hear certain sounds. That's because the abilities of our eyes and ears are limited. Robots, however, need not have the same limits as we have. Robot may also be equipped with devices that pick up information humans can't. To understand what their sensing devices pick up is a hard job. Remember, man--made brains handle information, including all kinds of data, as zeroes and ones. Imagine the difficulty in trying to explain to a robot what a football looks like--using only zeroes and ones. According to this passage, present home robots _ . A are better than human in seeing and hearing B are as capable as those in Star Wars C can pick up objects more quickly than humans D sometimes perform wrong actions Answer: D. sometimes perform wrong actions James is going to the baseball field with his friend Tommy. James has to practice because baseball season starts in a week. He wants to be a good player when the season starts. James has been lazy in practicing so he is not very good at baseball right now. He has to make up for it by playing baseball for 5 hours every day for a week. James thinks this is enough practice for him to catch up and be a good player when the season starts. So James and Tommy practice every day. They throw the ball around. They practice batting and they practice fielding. Tommy begins to see that James is getting better every day. He says "I do not believe it, James, but I think you are going to be pretty good when the season starts!" Usually a week is not enough time to get pretty good at baseball but James is practicing so much he is fitting a month of practice into one week. Then James has a setback. His glove rips during practice. He can't keep playing with a broken glove! So Tommy and James go around town collecting bottles to trade in for five cents for each bottle. James misses a day of practicing but they find enough bottles to turn in for thirty dollars. This is enough money for James to buy a new glove! So James buys a new glove and he and Tommy go back to the field and practice some more. By the time the season comes James is one of the best players on his team. what does James do when his glove rips? A he gives up B he borrows his brother's glove C he looks for a way to make money D he gets mad and yells Answer: C. he looks for a way to make money A sixth of undergraduates in Beijing this year have registered at driving school. The students, mostly from majors such as business management or international trade, will finish their driving courses within 20 days or so. Training costs have dropped to 2, 600 yuan for students, according to the Haidian Driving School in Beijing. The price is not really low, but students will accept it, seeing it as an investment in their future. Familiarity with the operation of computers and fluent English are the basic skills graduating students need to find a job. But a driver's permit has become another factor . "In the job market, owning a driver's permit sometimes strengthens a graduating student's competitiveness for a good position, "says Zhou Yang, an undergraduate at the China University of Political Science and Law. Cars will become a necessary part of many people's lives in the coming years, and it is difficult to get a permit of campus because of the pressures on working people's time. "Having a fulltime job after graduation offers limited time to learn to drive. We senior students have plenty of spare time, plenty of opportunity to learn. "Zhou says. Xu Jian, an official at the driving school, said undergraduates were very able and serious, and could grasp in an hour what ordinary people took four hours to learn. In this driving school, middle -aged people, young women and college students are the main customers. To get a driver's permit, a beginner is now required to have at least 86 hours'practice before the final road test. Which of the following can be the best headline for the passage? A Students Pay Less to Learn to Drive Now. B Students Learn to Drive. C It is Better to Learn to Drive at Colleges. D Welcome to the Driving School. Answer: B. Students Learn to Drive. International Students' Orientation Programme What is it? It is a course which will introduce you to the College and to Bingham. It takes place in the week before term starts, from 24th-28thSeptember, but you should plan to arrive in Bingham on the 22ndor 23rdSeptember. Why do we think it is important? We want you to have the best possible start to your studies and you need to find out about all the opportunities that college life offers. It will enable you to get to know the college, its facilities and services. You will also have a chance to meet staff and students. How much will it cost? * International students (non-European Union students) For those students who do not come from European Union (EU) countries, and who are not used to European culture and customs, the progamme is very important and you are strongly advised to attend. Because of this, the cost of the programme, without accommodation, is built into your tuition fees. * EU students EU students are welcome to take part in this programme without accommodation for PS195. Accommodation costs (international and EU students) The cost of accommodation for one week is PS165 If you have booked accommodation for the year ahead (41 weeks) through the college, you do not have to pay extra for accommodation. You can ask us to pre-book accommodation for you one week only in a hotel with other International students. What is included during the programme? Meals: lunch and an evening meal are provided as part of the programme. Please note that breakfast is not available. Information: including such topics as accommodation, health, religious matters, study skills, and other necessary information. Social activities: including a welcome party and a half day trip round Bingham. If a student plans to take the course, he has to arrive in Bingham at least _ days in advance before term starts. A 2 B 4 C 5 D 6 Answer: D. 6 To Make Everybody Happy Peter's uncle lives in the country. Once in summer, Peter goes to stay with him for a few weeks. Whenever they go for a walk or for a drive in the car and pass somebody, his uncle waves to the passer-by. Peter is surprised and says, "Uncle Georage, you seem to know everybody here. Where did you meet them all?" "I don't know all these people." answers his uncle. "Then why do you wave to them?" "Well, Peter ," says his uncle "When I wave to someone who knows me, he is pleased. He goes on his journey with a happier heart. But when I wave to someone who doesn't know me , he is surprised and says to himself, ' Who is that man? Why did he wave to me?' So he has something to think about during the rest of his journey, and that makes his journey seem shorter.So.I.make.everybody.happy. Peter _ when he sees uncle waves to everybody passing by. A always asks his uncle "Who is that man?" B is very happy C is not surprised at all D is very surprised Answer: D. is very surprised
US researchers have found traces of an ancient lake on Mars recently, increasing hopes of discovering evidence that billions of years ago the Red planet hosted life. The lake, which dates back some 3.4 billion years, appears to have covered as much as 80 square miles and was up to 1,500 feet deep, said the team from the University of Colorado. "This is the first clear evidence of shorelines on the surface of Mars," said Boulder's research associate, Gaetano Di Achille, in a study published in the latest edition of Geophysical Research Letters. "The identification of the shorelines and accompanying geological evidence allows us to calculate the size and volume of the lake, which appears to have formed about 3.4 billion years ago."[:] Analysis of the images has shown the water carved out the canyon in which it was found, which then opened out into a valley depositing sediment which formed a delta . "Finding shorelines is a great discovery to us," said assistant professor Brian Hynek, adding it showed the lake existed at a time when Mars was thought to have been cold and dry. Scientists believe the oldest surfaces on Mars formed during the wet and warm era known as the Noachan epoch, about 4.1 billion to 3.7 billion years ago. The newly discovered lake is believed to date from the Hesperian era and postdates the end of the warm and wet period on Mars by 300 million years, according to the study. Scientists believe deltas next to the lake may well hold secrets about past life on Mars as such places on Earth have become the natural deposits of organic carbon and other markers of life. When the lake existed, the weather on Mars was _ . Answer: Shark on the bait !" shouted Andre Harman, pointing to a spot a few yards behind the outboard motors. His voice gave no indication of panic, but the crew suddenly became tense and fixed their eyes on the water. Slowly, smoothly, Andre drew in the bait.The shark followed. No one asked what kind of shark it was. Everything about it, from its color to its shape, tells that it was a great white shark. Andre lifted the bait aboard. Placing himself between the two motors, he dropped his right hand into the water just as the great head reached the first motor. "My goodness Andre!" I said. His hand seized the big nose, moving it away from the tube of the motor, guiding the shark's head up as it rose out of the water. Andre's hand held the nose, touching it gently. No one spoke. No one breathed. The moment seemed endless. In fact, it lasted less than five seconds before Andre pulled his hand back. Still nobody spoke. Then Andre smiled and said: "The first time was an accident. I was just trying to move the shark away from the motor. Sharks are attracted to motors by their electrical signals and have a habit of biting them to see if they are eatable. " Andre has worked with great white sharks for years. "My hand landed on its nose, and it sort of paused, so I kept it there, and when I did let go, the shark bit and bit as if it was searching for whatever it was that had attracted it." Nearly every encounter we had had with the great whites had been totally illogical. The more we learned, the more we realized how little was really known about them in the past years. Back then, it was generally accepted that great whites ate people by choice. Now we know that almost every attack on a human is an accident in which the shark mistakes a human for its normal food. Back then, we thought that once a great white smelt blood, it would lead to death. Now we know that nearly three-quarters of bite victims survive, perhaps because the shark recognizes that is has made a mistake and doesn't return for a second bite. The author said, "My goodness! Andre ! " when _ . Answer: In June, 2007, a group of students from eight high schools in Winnipeg, the capital of Canada's Manitoba province, will begin test-launching a satellite the size of a Rubik's cube. The one-kilogram Win-Cub satellite, named for its home city and its shape, will be put into low orbit. Once in space, it can perform for a few months or up to several years, communicating information that could help find the signs of earthquakes. There are 80 similar satellite projects worldwide, but this is the first high-school based program of its kind in Canada. 30 Manitoba high school students are having a hand in designing and building the satellite, in cooperation with aerospace experts and 10 students from the University of Manitoba, and with support from two other organizations. The Win-Cube project is not something that goes on a piece of paper; it is real-world engineering, allowing high school students to have an opportunity to learn more about the exciting world of engineering through their participation in this challenging program. It is also taken as a wonderful example of the unique partnerships within Manitoba. Designing, building and launching a satellite with high-school participation will bring this world-class educational project into reality and Manitoba closer to space. "These Manitoba high school students deserve congratulations for their enthusiasm, innovation , and a strong love for discovery," said Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjomson. "We want to make science more relevant, interesting and attractive to high school students by showing them how classroom studies can relate to practical experience in the workplace or, in this case, in space," Bjomson added. The Win-Cube program is mainly aimed at inspiring a strong desire for discovery on the part of the students. It also shows Manitoba's devotion to research and innovation and the development of a skilled workforce -- all important drivers of knowledge-based economic growth. 40. The best title for this passage may be _ . Answer: Henry: I find the Internet is very good for shopping. I use more and more for buying books and CDs, and I even bought some clothes over the Internet. The other thing I can do is to book travels over the Internet. I booked a cheap flight once. It was very easy, and it was really good. David: I use the Internet for games. I play chess with people all around the world. Last night I had a game with someone from Japan. I also download games from the Internet, so I can have any game I want. Peter: I use the Internet for anything I need to help me with my schoolwork. I use the online dictionaries, encyclopedias and magazines. It's great because I can download pictures or articles and use them to help my homework. It's very easy to use and it's free, so I like it. Tony: Well, the main thing I use the Internet for is to e-mail. I usually write to my customers by e-mail, and my customers answer me by e-mail, too. We probably send and receive four or five hundred e-mails a month. But of course, I also use e-mails to keep in touch with friends and family. My daughter is in Australia and we send e-mails to each other every day. Peter can use the Internet to _ easily. Answer: What Should I Do? One of the most popular items in the school newspaper advice column . No one know 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 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 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. The Wise Owl. Be the end of the year, where should Molly be in all her classes? Answer:
It seems to be strange that there is a blind spot in the eye. Here is an interesting experiment that can make something _ when one eye is open. Make a card about the size of a postcard and write two English letters "L" and "R" on it. "L" is on the left and "R" on the right. First, hold the card about 80 cm away and you can see both the letters. Then close your right eye and look at the letter "R" only with your left eye. And now, as you move the card slowly towards you, you'll find the letter "L" disappearing. But if you move the card nearer to your face, the letter will be seen again. Now do the same experiment with your left eye closed; you'll find the letter "R" disappearing. Why do the letters disappear? It is because there is a blind spot in the eye. When the image of the letter falls on the blind spot, it won't be seen. That's why one of the letters disappears. This passage mainly tells us _ . Answer: there is a blind spot in the eye At thirteen, I was diagnosed with kind of attention disorder. It made school difficult for me. When everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I could not. In my first literature class, Mrs.Smith asked us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45 minutes. I raised my hand right away and said,"Mrs.Smith, you see, the doctor said I have attention problems. I might not be able to do it." She glanced down at me through her glasses, "you are no different from your classmates, young man." I tried, but I didn't finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it home. In the quietness of my bedroom, the story suddenly all became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Louis Braille. He lived in a time when the blind couldn't get much education. But Louis didn't give up. Instead, he invented a reading system of raised dots , which opened up a whole new world of knowledge to the blind. Wasn't I the "blind" in my class, being made to learn like the "sighted" students? My thoughts spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was no different from others; I just needed a quieter place. If Louis could find his way out of his problems, why should I ever give up? I didn't expect anything when I handed in my paper to Mrs.Smith, so it was quite a surprise when it came back to me the next day- with an"A" on it. At the bottom of the paper were these words:" See what you can do when you keep trying?" What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: One can find his way out of difficulties with efforts. On a snowy winter morning, the brown-haired lady saw a squirrel that was hurt. It only had three legs, and it looked hungry. She put some corn out for the squirrel to eat, but other bully squirrels came, too. The brown-haired lady started giving the little squirrel peanuts to eat. She gave some to the bully squirrels, too, so they would leave the three-legged squirrel alone. The winter snow melted and then it was spring. The grass turned green and the air was warm. Now, when the little squirrel with three legs would come to see the brown-haired lady with the peanuts, it would take the peanuts and dig a little hole and hide the peanuts for later. The squirrel would hold the peanut in its mouth and dig and dig and dig, and then it would put the peanut in the hole and pat it down with its little front paw. Then it would run back over to the brown-haired lady and get some more peanuts to eat. In the spring, what did the squirrel do with the peanuts? Answer: It would take the peanuts and dig a hold and hide them, and then it would come back and get some peanuts to eat. As we all know,it was Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence .He wrote it in two weeks,and after a few changes,it was accepted by the Congress.As a result,he became famous in America's history. Born in Virginia,Thomas Jefferson,a brilliant student at school and almost talented lawyer later,was much interested in politics. Jefferson was elected Governor of Virginia in 1779,and he was sent to France as the Representative of the American Government in 1784.Sixteen years later,at the age of 57,he was elected president after Washington and Adams. Far from a handsome man,he was is tall with long arms and big hands.Jefferson,who was an amusing talker in conversation,but a poor speaker,was generally good-natured. Jefferson was regarded as a defender of freedom Of America.As a president,he protected the right of speech.Interestingly enough,in his eight years as president,:Jefferson never said "No" to a bill !which the Congress had passed.He did a lot in organizing the new University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson died on July the fourth,1826,the fiftieth anniversary of America's independence. Jefferson's greatest contribution in America's history is that _ . Answer: he wrote the Declaration of Independence I prefer Lynne Truss's phraseology: I am a grammar "sticker". And, like Truss - author of Eats, shoots & Leaves - I have a "zero tolerance" approach to grammar mistakes that make people look stupid. Now, Truss and I disagree on what it means to have "zero tolerance". She thinks that people who mix up basic grammar "deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an unmarked grave", while I just think they deserve to be passed over for a job - even if they are otherwise qualified for the position. Everyone who applies for a position at either of my companies, iFixit or Dozuki, takes a compulsory grammar test. If job hopefuls can't distinguish between "to" and "too", their applications go into the bin. Of course, we write for a living. iFixit.com is the world's largest online repair manual , and Dozuki helps companies write their own technical documentation, like paperless work instructions and step-by-step user manuals. So, it makes sense that we've made a strong strike against grammar errors. But grammar is relevant for all companies. Yes, language is constantly changing, but that doesn't make grammar unimportant. Good grammar is credibility, especially on the Internet. And, for better or worse, people judge you if you can't tell the difference between "their" "there" and "they're". Good grammar makes good business sense - and not just when it comes to hiring writers. Writing isn't in the official job description of most people in our office. Still, we give our grammar test to everybody, including our salespeople, our operations staff, and our programmers. Grammar signifies more than just a person's ability to remember high school English. I've found that people who make fewer mistakes on a grammar test also make fewer mistakes when they are doing something completely unrelated to writing - like stocking shelves or labeling parts. It is the same with programmers. Applicants who don't think writing is important are likely to think lots of other things also aren't important. What can we learn from the text? Answer: People who pay attention to writing may pay attention to other things.
The Fifth China International Fair for Investment and Trade is expected to expand the country's economic relations with the international community when it opens on September 9. The four-day fair will be held in the Economic Zone of Xiamen, a coastal city in East China's prefix = st1 /Fujianprovince. Compared with the previous four fairs held annually since 1997, this year's fair will provide more detailed information and better services for the participants, according to Xi Jinping, governor of the Fujian province and director of the organizing committee of the fair. A series of high-level forums will be held on international investment and China's entry into the World Trade Organization. Since 1997,Xiamenhas successfully hosted four sessions of the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, drawing global attention.Xiamenwill redouble its efforts to offer better services for all its guests and friends attending the fair, according to ZhuYayan, the mayor. Altogether 9,141 overseas-funded projects have been negotiated at the past four fairs, with a combined overseas investment of US $ 48.3 billion. Altogether 1,838 projects using foreign investment were negotiated with a total overseas investment of US $ 9,47 billion. The 1,261 contracts signed at the fourth fair registered a combined pledged overseas investment of US $ 5 billion. The total export and import volume reached US $ 786 million. What is the average of the overseas investment on one project in the past four fairs? Spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Web causes a lot of healthy problems to children such as overweight and smoking, US researchers said yesterday. U.S. experts analyzed 173 studies on how media sources influence the physical health of children and adolescents . The studies, mostly carried out in the prefix = st1 /United States, largely focused on television, but some looked at video games, films, music, computer and Internet use. Three quarters of them found that increased media viewing was connected with poor health. The studies offered strong evidence that children who get more media exposure are more likely to become overweight, start smoking and begin earlier sexual activity than those who spend less time in front of a screen, the researchers said. Studies also showed more media exposure is linked to drug and alcohol use and poorer school performance. "We were pretty surprised by the number of studies that showed these negative health results," said one of the researchers in the report. For decades, experts have worried about the effect on young viewers of the violence and sexual content in some TV programs, movies and video games. Another issue is that kids are spending time sitting on a couch watching TV or playing computer games when they could be running around outside. One study found that children who spend more than eight hours watching TV per week at age 3 are more likely to be overweight at 7. And research showed that many USchildren watch far more. Another study showed TV and other media content can have a deep influence on children's attitudes and beliefs, particularly among teens. A US study published in November showed that adolescents who watched more programs with sexual themes had a higher risk of becoming pregnant or causing a pregnancy. Thirteen of 14 studies that evaluated sexual behavior found a connection between media exposure and earlier sexual behavior, the researchers said. How did the experts carry out their research? Football is, I believe, the most popular game in England: one has only to go to one of the important matches to see this. Rich and poor, young and old, one can see them all there, shouting for their teams. One of the most surprising things about football in England is the great knowledge of the game which even the smallest boy seems to have. He can tell you the names of the players in most of the important teams. He has pictures of them and knows the results of large numbers of matches. He will tell you who he thinks will win such a match, and his opinion is usually as good as that of men three or four times of his age. Most schools in England take football seriously -- much more seriously than nearly all European schools, where lessons are all very important and games are left for the children themselves. In England it is believed that education is not only a matter of filling a boy's mind with facts in the classroom; education also means the training of character by means of games, especially team games, where the boy or girl has to learn to work with others for his or her team instead of working for himself or herself alone. _ the school plans games and matches for its students. Football is a good team game. It is good both for the body and the mind. That is why it is every school's game in England. In England, a boy's opinion of a match is often _ . Scientists have discovered a gene that plays a role in violence in men ill-treated in childhood.The discovery could explain why some experience unhappy childhoods and go on to normal lives, while others turn to violence, crime of antisocial deeds. But it will also restart another argument. Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi report in Science today that one common form of a gene in the brain makes men more likely to be violent--but only if they have experienced cruelty or rejection in childhood . The researchers followed up the life histories of 442 boys born in New Zealand in 1972. Of these, 154 had been ill-treated in the first 10 years, 33 of them badly. They had either experienced sexual attack, beatings or rejection by mother or stepparents. Of the 154 children , 55 had a less active variant of a gene called MAOA, and 99 had the more active variant . The 55 boys were more than twice as likely to have been in trouble as the other ill-treated group . They made up 12% of the total, but were responsible for 44% of all crimes from among the 442 boys. Prof Moffitt thought a "violence" gene had not been discovered. Boys with the less active form who were not ill-treated during childhood lived normal lives. "It is very common in the population. One third of us have it." she said, "So the gene doesn't do much of anything, it doesn't cause any trouble in any way, unless we are also ill -treated". The gene might also show the ability to bear mental stress. The army or the police might examine the applicants to see if they have the more active form . But the discovery also raises the argument that people with the less active form of the gene could be social dangers, to be treated with medicine. "This research can easily lead people to fix social problems through medical treatment," said David King of the UK Gene Alert Group. According to the passage, we can infer that_. Dog owners now have a little help understanding their furry friends . A new device called Bow-Lingual "translates" dog barks into English , Korea or Japanese. Bow-Lingual's Japanese inventors spent much time and money analyzing dog barks . They found that dog noises can be broken down into six different emotions : happiness , sadness , frustration , anger , assertion and desire . Part of the Bow-Lingual device hangs on the dog's collar . The other part is a handle-held unit for the owner . When the dogs barks , the unit displays translated phrases . Some people have scoffed at Bow-Lingual. "Who would pay US$ 120 to read a dog's mind?" they ask . But those who have purchased Bow-Lingual praise the device . Pet owner Keiko Egawa , of Japan , says it helps her empathize with her dog , Harry . "Before we go to the park , he always says he wants to play," says Egawa , "and after a walk , he always says he is hungry." Bow -Lingual is not yet available in Chinese . So you'd better keep studying Studio Classroom , or soon your dog may know more English than you do ! Which of the following sentences is TRUE according to the passage ?
Vitamin D heals what? human frame Most people have heard of shakespeare and probably know something of the plays that he wrote. However, not everybody knows much about the life of this remarkable man. Except perhaps that he was born in the market town of stratforduponAvon and that he married a woman called Anne Hathaway,We know nothing of his school life.We do not know,for example,how long it lasted,but we presume that he attended the local grammar school,where the principal subject taught was Latin. Nothing certain is known of what he did between the time he left school and his departure for London.According to a local legend,he was beaten and even put in prison for stealing rabbits and deer from the estate of neighbouring landowner, Sir Thomas Lucy, It is said that because of this he was forced to run away from his native place.A different legend says that he was apprenticed to a Strstford butcher, but did not like the life and for this reason decided to leave Strstford. Whatever caused him to leave the town of his birth, the world could be grateful that he did so.What is certain is that he set his foot on the road to fame when he arrived in London, It is said that at first he was without money or friends there, but that he earned a little by taking care of the horses of the gentleman who attended the plays at the theatre.They stopped and spoke to him.They found his conversations so brilliant that finally he was invited to join their compeny. Why was he forced to leave his native place according to this passage? No one knows for certain Galaxy saw a man and a woman who communicated with the sign language at the train station when she was on the way home one evening. She noticed that the woman asked the mon for the direction. He told her that he did not know. Galaxy decided to help them. She had learned the sign language when she served as a volunteer in the deaf and mute school. Then she showed the woman the direction and left her email address to them in case they needed her help later. She received an email from that man the next day. Kazrim was his name. Galaxy replied his mail sincerely. They both started chatting online soon after and began seeing each other. Although they only communicated with the sign language, it never bothered her. Galaxy was fond of him gradually. Obviously, Kazrim was the same too. He presented Galaxy with a bunch of sunflowers and asked her sincerely, "Are you willing to be my girlfriend?" Galaxy was pleasantly surprised. She requested him to give her some time to persuade her parents. As she had expected, her parents were very angry after they had learned of their love story. Galaxy explained, "Kazrim is an excellent and a very optimistic person. He has a very positive attitude towards life and work. He cares for others always. He is 100% better than the normal. Moreover, the mute is still a human. He should possess a perfect and wonderful love. " Her parents asked to see him, then. The very worried Galaxy took Kazrim home a few days later. When they were on the train, Kazrim told her, ''I'm going to tell your parents I'll be looking after you well with all my life!" Galaxy was deeply moved. As soon as they had entered the house, Galaxy introduced him to her parents. She said, ''This is Kazrim." Just right after her speech, an unbelievable thing happened. Kazrim threw the gift away and held her in his arms tightly. He said, "YOU CAN TALK?" It was the same question that Galaxy wanted to ask, too. The four people were shocked all of a sudden. As a matter of fact, Kazrim always believed that Galaxy was a mute and he still fell in love with her deeply. What did Galaxy expect her parents to do? To accept Kazrim as her boyfriend. Tight-lipped elders used to say, "It's not what you want in this world, but what you get." Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things. You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house, and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living.If we intend to have friends to dinner, we plan the menu, make a shopping list, decide which food to cook first, and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served. Similarly, If you want to find a job, take a sheet of paper, and write a brief account of yourself.In making a blueprint for a job, begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer, you can intelligently plan where to sell your services. This account of yourself is actually a general description of your working life and should include education, experience and references.Such an account is valuable.It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews.While talking to you, your could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner. When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something _ to sell.Then you are ready to look for a job.Get all the possible information about your could-be job.Make inquiries about the details concerning the job and the firm.Keep your eyes and ears open, and use your own judgment.Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the position you wish for, and keep in mind: Obtaining a job is your job now. According to the passage, one must write an account of himself before starting to find a job because _ . it makes him become clearly aware of himself All students need to have good study habits.When you have good study habits,you can learn things quickly.You also remember them easily. Do you like to study in the living-room?This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy.You need to study in a quiet place,like your bedroom.A quiet place will help you only think about one thing,and you will learn better. Before you begin to study,do not forget to clean your desk.A good desk light is important,too. You are feeling tired easily if there is not enough light. . When you have good study habits,you will _ both A and B
Ashlyn Blocker could break her arm and not know it. That's because Ashlyn, 13, can't feel pain. That might sound like a cool superpower. But without pain, everyday activities can be hazardous for Ashlyn. In fact, they could kill her. When Ashlyn was born, no one knew that she couldn't feel pain. But soon there was hints that something was wrong. When Ashlyn's teeth grew in, she almost chewed off part on her tongue. Ashlyn's parents took her to doctor for tests. The doctors discovered that Ashlyn couldn't feel pain, a condition called congenital insensitivity to pain(CIPA). Fewer than 100 people in the United States have it. There is no cure. . "Sometimes it's frustrating," she admits. But Ashlyn doesn't let anything stop her from doing things she wants to do. "I just have to be careful," she says. For years, Ashlyn didn't know anyone else who had CIPA. That made it harder to deal with her condition. "I felt alone," she says. One night she dreamed that there was a camp for kids like her. In 2011, Ashly's mom made the dream come true. She started Camp Painless But Hopeless. The camp is for children who have CIPA. Every November, they and their families spend four days together. The campers get to do daring activities like rock climbing--wearing safety equipment. Someday, Ashlyn wants to be a director at the camp so she can help others who can't feel pain. In fact, Ashlyn is already helping others. Since 2004, she has let scientists study her to learn more about her condition. What they are finding out could one day help people who suffer from the same disease. That makes her feel great. "I believe there is a reason for everything, " she says, "There is a reason for me." We can learn from the passage that Ashlyn _ . Answer: I was at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bambolim, Goa, in the 1980s. On Inspection Day one year, an officer and his team from the Board of Education were coming to see how our school was run. As usual, our teachers asked us to be prepared. At the end of the day, Mrs Sushila Tyaji, our Hindi teacher, walked in and told us that the inspector had come and quietly observed the class from the back door. He had also left an _ remark! That was sad for us. Would we now be punished for having failed our teachers? There were no answers from Mrs Tyaji. Instead, she wrote the Hindi word "dukh" on the blackboard. And then she did something I have never seen a teacher do in my entire school life. She apologized. "I am sorry for having taught you something wrong," she said. "I missed out the dots between the letters 'du' and 'kh'. The inspector told me this in the staffroom. I hope you will not make this mistake in future." That admission had a significant effect on me. If our teacher can say sorry to us when she is wrong, why can't I? The incident helped me get rid of two common vices--ego and dishonesty. Twenty-three years passed. I had to let my teacher know what that lesson meant to me. I recently located Mrs Sushila Tyaji using the Internet and went to meet her with my husband. She smiled when she heard my story of how her small decades-old apology had transformed me for good. "It's tough being a teacher. But every once in a while, when an old student comes along and tells us that we did something right, it makes up for everything else," she said. At the end of Inspection Day, Mrs Tyaji _ . Answer: There's a guy like me in every state and federal prison in America, I guess -- I'm the guy who can get these for you: cigarettes, a bag of cigar, if you want that, a bottle of wine to celebrate yourson or daughter's high school graduation, or almost anything else. . . within reason, that is. It wasn't always that way. I came to Shawshank when I was just twenty, and I am one of the few people in the prison who is willing to admit what he did. I committed murder . I put a large insurance policy on my wife, who was three years older than I was, and then I fixed the brakes of the car her father had given us as a wedding present. It worked out exactly as I had planned, except I hadn't planned on her stopping to pick up the neighbor woman and the woman's son on the way down Castle Hill and into town. The brakes let go and the car crashed through the bushes, gathering speed. Bystanders said it must have been doing fifty or better when it hit the base of the Civil War statue in the town arid burst into flames. I also hadn't planned on getting caught, but I was caught. I got a pass into this place. My state has no death penalty , but I was tried for all three deaths and given three life sentences, to run one after the other. That fixed up any chance of parole I might have, for a long, long time. The judge called what I had done 'an extremely evil crime', and it was, but it is also in the past now. Have I transformed myself, you ask? I don't know what that word means, at least as far as prisons and corrections go. I think it's a politician's word. It may have some other meaning, and it may be that I will have a chance to find out, but that is the future. . . I was young, good-looking, and from the poor side of town. I met a pretty, headstrong girl who lived in one of the fine old houses on Carbine Street. She got pregnant later. Her father was agreeable to the marriage if I would take a job in the company he owned and 'work my way up'. I found out that what he really had in mind was keeping me in his house and under his thumb, like a disagreeable pet that has not quite been housebroken and which may bite. Enough hate eventually piled up to cause me to do what I did. Given a second chance I would not do it again, but I'm not sure whether that means I am transformed. The man committed such an evil crime because _ . Answer: In the near future,we may be using our eyes to operate our smart-phones and tablets,even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja. The Gaze Group has been developing eye-controlled computer technology for nearly 20 years.But those devices have been firstly designed to help those with disabilities,and are very expensive. "After a while,we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market way," says Gaze's Sune Alstrup Johansen."where everybody would have this available." Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company,the Eye Tribe,which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level. The technology works with the help of the computing device toward the user's face. After making sure of the user's eye movements,the technology is then able to easily find where a person's eyes are moving,and then allow the eyes to control a cursor . "Our software can then determine the location of the eyes and know where you're looking on the screen to make sure what you're looking at,"reads an explanation on the Eye Tribe site. There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming world.Recently Xbox released the Kinect device,which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands,legs and voices. But still,most of these devices have been more of a _ than a practical way to use one's hands to control a mobile device.Johansen said a replaceable filter would be a cheap,convenient way for most consumers. And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create such a product for the average user, making the eye-controlled technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for physically disabled users. For more articles on modern science,please CLICK here. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage? Answer: Mrs. Clark moved to the small village when she was twenty-four. And she has lived there for thirty-nine years. She has a poor farm. She works hard on it, but she is often hungry. Her son Henry joined the army eight years ago and then found a job at a post office in London after he left the army. One day, he wrote to his poor mother and asked her to go to the capital. The old woman was very happy when she received the letter. The next morning she started. Because it was the first time, her daughter took her to a small station and bought a ticket for her. A train came and she hurried to get on. Before long, a conductor came up to her and said, 'Ticket, please.' The old woman showed her ticket to the conductor. The man looked at it and said, 'You must take a train to London. But it is a train to Manchester. I am afraid you've taken a wrong train.' 'Is it possible?' Mrs. Clark said angrily, 'I am sure it's your driver's fault . Mrs. Clark is _ years old now. Answer:
What can a moving magnet in a coil of copper wire cause? Answer: Here are two stories from different parts of the world. They seem strange but, believe it or not, they re all true! John Lee was an Englishman who refused to be hanged! In 1884 the police said Lee had killed an old woman who he used to work with. There was nothing to show that Lee had killed the woman. Lee told the police he hadn't done it, but no one believed him and he was going to be hanged. On the day of the hanging, however, the door in the floor, through which Lee's body would fall, did not open. They tried three times but each time the door stayed closed, even though it had worked well the day before. In the end they sent Lee back to prison, where he lived for the next twenty-two years. At all times, John Lee said he hadn't killed the woman, and he believed it was the "hand of God" that had saved him from death by hanging. The police in Venezuela in South America followed a man home one night. He was the thief they wanted to catch. However, half of his house was standing in Venezuela and the other half was standing in Colombia . Venezuela's neighbor. When the police entered the house, the man ran upstairs to his bedroom, which was in Colombia, and called his lawyer . The Venezuelan police were not allowed to enter Colombia so they could not enter the bedroom. They asked the police in Colombia to help. The Colombian police refused to help because the man's crime was not a crime in Colombia. In the end, the Venezuelan police gave up and went back to the police station. Why didn't the Venezuelan police go into the man's bedroom? Answer: American parents usually think that their child should not have more pocket money than the children with whom he regularly connects, even if they are wealthier.But neither are children expected to compare with the richer if a large family, heavy responsibilities, or other conditions make it necessary to give a child less spending money than is customary in the neighborhood. Whatever the pocket money is, its entire use is not controlled by the parents, because a child learns to use money correctly only through dealing with it himself.If a seven-year-old child gets a quarter as a week pocket money and is made to put it all in his _ to save it up, he gets no idea what the real use for the money is.He gets the shiny coins and they soon disappear. The idea of a bank account is too early for so small a child, although he can be made to understand and enjoy saving his coins--not all of them, only a part of what he receives--to buy something he especially wants.By the time he is eight he is old enough to take part in the opening of his own savings account, parents may take him to the bank, open a savings account for him and encourage him to put a certain quantity or any checks he receives as gifts into the bank and watch his bank savings grow as entry by entry is made. He will be saving, earning, and spending suitable quantities all along in order to learn how to manage money and to keep him in a favorable position with his friend.The boy who can't join his fellows in a sweet shop once in a while, because he has to save every cent he gets or earns for some big unknown project his parents have chosen for him, is a sorry child. Why does the writer think the boy is a sorry one if he saves every cent he gets or earns? Answer: Cells were discovered in 1665 by Robert Hooke when he took a piece of cork and looked at it under a microscope. Cork is made up of dead cells but you are still able to see the cells which proved to be interesting to him. He described _ as being made of something, just like a wall is made of bricks. He then called those bricks "cells". Due to the size of cells, it is nearly impossible to see them without the aid of a light microscope, but by using an electron microscope you'd be able to see cells in much greater detail. There's a cell theory which is made up of four basic ideas. First, cells are the building blocks of life. Second, cells are derived from other cells by division. Third, cells contain DNA (the blueprint for life). Fourth, the cell is the functioning unit of life, and the chemical reactions of life take place within cells. There are two types of cells, animal cells and plant cells. Plant cells differ from animal cells in many ways. Plant cells have a large central vacuole , with the nucleus nearer to the side of the cell instead of in the middle like in animal cells. Another big difference is that plant cells can produce and store sugar as starch while animal cells contain glycogen . It's noteworthy to mention that a cell cannot survive without the nucleus which acts as a type of control center; it runs the cells. The nucleus contains DNA, which in turn contains the cell's genes. These genes tell the cell how to grow. DNA contains the genetic blueprint that tells if you have blonde hair and blue eyes. The passage was written mainly to _ . Answer: Mrs. Pence sued Duarte for shooting her husband from ambush. Mrs. Pence offers to testify that, the day before her husband was killed, he described to her a chance meeting with Duarte on the street in which Duarte said, "I'm going to blow your head off one of these days." The witness's testimony concerning her husband's statement is Answer:
Gadgets can be wildly expensive and quickly out-of-date, but Steven Poole is still the first to buy them. Technological innovations are often quite stupid. The idea that you might want to walk down the street holding a mobile phone in front of your face, just to experience the wonders of video calling, is clearly ridiculous. Luckily for the tech companies, however, there are some people who jump at the chance to buy into new gadgets before they are fully ready and cheap enough for the mass-market. They are called early adopters, and their fate is a terrible one. I should know, since I am one myself. Early adopters have a Mecca: it's Tokyo's Akihabara district, also known as "Electric City". There, in 1999, I bought a digital camera, a gizmo that few people in Britain had heard of. Over the next few years I watched in great sadness as digital cameras became more popular, cheaper and more powerful, until better models could be had for a quarter of the price I had paid. Did I feel stupid? What I actually did was this: I splashed out more money last year for a new one, one that let me feel pleasantly ahead of the curve once again. But I know that cannot last, and I'll probably have to buy another in a few years. Thus early adopters are betting on other people eventually feeling the same desires. And it's worse if that future never arrives. Early adopters of the Betamax home-video format in the 1970s could only look on in sadness when their investment was nullified by the success of VHS. All sorts of apparently splendid inventions, such as videogame consoles like the Atari Jaguar have been abandoned to the dustbin of history right after a few early adopters bought in. Those who invested thousands in a Segway motorized scooter on the wave of ridiculous advertising campaigns that accompanied its launch a couple of years ago can join the club. You might think we should just stop being so silly, save our money, and wait to see what really catches on. But the logic of the industry is such that, if everyone did that, no innovation would become popular. Imagine the third person to buy an ordinary telephone soon after Alexander Graham Bell had invented it. Who was he going to call? Maybe he simply bought two phones, one for a special friend. But still, the usefulness and eventual popularity of the device wasn't clear at the time. Nobody dreamed of the possibility of being able to speak to any one of millions of people. And yet if he, and the hundreds and thousands of early adopters after him, had not bought into the idea, the vast communication networks that we all take for granted today would never have been built. The same goes, indeed, for all new technologies. Those guys holding bricks to their ears that we laughed at in the 1980s made the current mobile phone possible. People who bought DVD players when they still cost a fortune, instead of today's cheap one at the local supermarket, made sure that the new format succeeded. Early adopters' desire for desires supported the future financially. And what did they get for their pains? They got a hole in their bank accounts and inferior, unperfected technology. But still, they got it first. And today they are still at work, buying overpriced digital radios, DVD recorders and LCD televisions, and even 3G phones, so that you will be eventually be able to buy better and less expensive ones. So next time you see a gadget-festooned geek and feel tempted to sneer , think for a minute. Without early adopters, there would be no cheap mobile phones or DVD players; there would be no telephone or television either. We are the tragic, unsung foot soldiers of the technology revolution. We're the desire-addicted pioneers, pure in heart, dreaming of a better future. We make expensive mistakes so you don't have to. Really, we are heroes. According to the passage, what's probably the worst result for an early adopter? What he buys doesn't eventually become popular. "Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?" says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing. Taobao, China's largest online shopping site, becomes an important part of Wang Lin's life. She spends lots of money on Taobao. Most online shoppers like Wang are students or young workers, More women shop on line than men. Clothing and home-use products are the most popular on line. It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao. Taobao means"Looking for treasure" in Chinese .People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players. You may question the _ of online shopping. Wang Lin says ,"It's very safe and conveniet . If you don't like the products from the sellers, the seller can't get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the products. What are the most popular online? Clothing and home-use products. Luggage We ask you to keep a medium - sized suitcase per person, but a small holdall can also be taken onto the coach. Seats Requests for particular seats can be made on most coach breaks when booking, but since seats are booked on a first come, first serve basic, early booking is advisable. When bookings are made with us, you will be offered the best seats that are available on the coach at that time. Travel Documents When you have paid your deposit we will send you all the necessary documents, so that you receive them in good time before the coach break leaving date. Certain documents, for example, air or boat tickets, may have to be reserved and your guide will then give them to you during the break. Special Diets If you require a special diet, you must inform us at the time of booking with a copy of the diet. This will be told to the hotels on your coach break. The hotels for certain coach breaks are tourist class and they may not have the equipment to deal with special diets. Any extra costs must be paid by yourself before leaving the hotel. Accommodation On any coach break there are only a limited number of single rooms. When a single room is available, it may be subject to an extra charge and this will be shown on the brochure page. Entertainment Some of our hotels arrange extra entertainment which could include music, dancing, films, etc. The nature and frequency of the entertainment presented is decided by the hotel and therefore not guaranteed and could be withdrawn if there is a lack of demand or insufficient numbers in the hotel. What should you do if you need a special diet? Tell the organizer while booking. At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that "The people were very attentive." John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that "Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . ." A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri's Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered "fire scars" on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree's cambium . Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. "The record fits pretty close," says Guyette. "We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there." Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, "Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes." Others gave different answers. One stated that a "flaming star" had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English. New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations. What can be the best title for the text? New England's dark day. Evidence indicates that the magnetic field of Earth has reversed direction many times throughout history. After a magnetic reversal, which would most likely be affected? the alignment of minerals in newly formed crust
Question: This is a reading room in Kate's school. It is big and very nice. There is a lot of furniture in it. There are twenty desks, eighty chairs and twenty computers. There're some pictures on the wall. They are all of famous people. Some students are in the reading room. They like reading books here. Kate is here too. Her mother is an English teacher at the school and her father is a doctor in the school hospital. They like reading books in the reading room too. Which is right ? A. There are many pictures of flowers on the wall of the room. B. There is no student in the room now. C. Kate isn't in the reading room now. D. Kate's parents like reading books in the reading room. Answer: D Question: Hello,everyone! My name is Emily.I'm 38 years old and live in a small city near New York now.Three years ago.I started to learn Russian.I once had a Russian friend.We used to meet twice a month and have some coffee and a talk together.However, she went to China later, so nobody can help me with my Russian.I hope to find an outgoing Russian girl to help me learn more about Russian culture.I can help you with your English or Spanish.I can also speak a little Chinese.I have many friends in this city and they think I'm friendly.I think we'll be good friends and have much good time. If you like to be my friend, you can email me at emily@163.com.I'm sorry for writing in English but it would take me too long to express myself in Russian. Hope to hear from you soon. Emily Emily is good at _ . A. English and Russian B. Spanish and Chinese C. Chinese and Russian D. English and Spanish Answer: D Question: During the 15 days from New Year's Eve to Lantern Festival , Beijing was affected by haze .Do you know what the haze is ? Today I will introduce it to you . Haze is air pollution in which is mixed up with dust, smoke and other dry particles (,),and it covers our blue sky ,so we can't see sunny days. It often happens in winter and spring. The haze brings much trouble to people's lives. On the road many traffic accidents happened because people can not see clearly. The haze is _ to our health. People also have to go to see the doctor because of the poisonous air caused by the haze. As students, we must tell our friends and family members to go to work or school with the public traffic, such as the bus and the underground and BRT .Also we should plant more trees and develop green and energy to reduce the haze. According to me, I will go to school by bike or on foot, and I won't throw the waste anywhere . It may take about 20 years to solve the problems caused by the haze .I believe the environment will get better and better and haze weather will vanish completely with the help of new technology. What is haze ? A. It is something delicious to eat . B. It is a kind of air pollution. C. It is a girl's name. D. It is a place. Answer: B Question: Li Lu is a fifth-grade student who lived in a small village in Shanxi Province. She lived with her grandparents, because her parents are migrant workers in big cities. During the days when there were no school buses, Li Lu had to ride a bike five kilometers and climb a small mountain to school every day. Her 70-year-old grandfather says he and Li Lu's grandmother always worried about her safety. "There are so many cars on the roads, and we were really _ about her all the time. When it was time for her to come home, we would stare at the alley's entrance until she showed up." But with the start of the new school year, the school's new bus now picks up the students. Eleven-year-old Li Lu pointed at her seat on the bus and said ,"Now I don't ride my bike any more. My grandparents no longer need to worry about me. The bus is spacious and comfortable. Look! This is my seat, with my name tag on the seatback." How far is Li Lu's home from her school? A. Five minutes by bike. B. Over five kilometers. C. Fifty minutes by bus. D. Four kilometers. Answer: B Question: A high school history teacher once told us, "If you make one close friend in school, you will be most fortunate. A true friend is someone who stays with you for life." Experience teaches that he was right. Good friendships are just not easily formed. Why? One reason is that it is easy to move around in our society. Mr. Darrell Sifford, a news reporter for the Washington Daily, has been studying and talking about friendships for a number of years. He reports what one woman thought about the effect of ease of movement on friendship: "I was nine, and we'd just moved from South Carolina to New Jersey, and I didn't know anybody. _ and she said to me, 'Amelia, I know you're feeling bad because you don't have any friends. But you can fix that. Just walk across the street -- I know there's a girl about your age over there -- and knock on the door and ask her to be your friend.'" "As a 9-year-old, I could do that. I knocked on the door and said, 'Hi, my name is Amelia, and I'd like for us to be friends.' And to my surprise, she said that she would like that too--and we became friends." She added that going about it directly always worked when she was a child. But as she left childhood, she found that the simple direct approach was more and more difficult for her to follow. So, as an adult, Amelia longed to have friends but her hands were tied when it came to doing anything about it. The problem, according to her, is that society teaches us in a number of ways that direct action is not an acceptable way of doing things. We need to be less direct so that our feelings will not be hurt if our offer of friendship is refused. Mr. Sifford goes on to describe his own ideas on the subject: "To most of us, friendship is very important, but we need to have clear in our own minds the kinds of friendships we want. Are they to be very close or kept at arm's length? Do we want to share ourselves or do we want to walk on the surface?" "For some people, an ordinary friendship is enough -- and that's all right. But at some point we need to make sure that what we expect from the friendship is the same as what our friends expect from it. If one wants more from the friendship than the other, and if this is not talked about, one is likely eventually to feel that he's not being given enough attention. "The sharing of close secrets, including our fears as well as our dark dreams, is the surest way to deepen friendships. But the process must be gone through slowly and continued only if there are signs of interest and our efforts are answered." What are some of the problems in forming friendships? According to Mr. Sifford, the biggest problem is to expect too much too soon. Deep relationships take time. Another "big difficulty" is to think one "possesses" the other and that he should spend all his time only with you. Similarly, friendships require action from both sides. In short, you must give as much as you take. Finally there is a question of developing friendship. Unless you spend enough time together, talking on the phone, writing letters, doing things together, friendships will gradually fade away. Why is it so difficult to form friendships? Perhaps it is possible, as Mr. Sifford states, that we simply do not stay in one place long enough for a true friendship to develop. However, we all agree that each of us should think carefully about the kind of friendships we want. As in all interpersonal relationships, success depends on the kind of friendship we expect to have, openness to others, and a willingness to experiment. In which of the following cases is it possible for you to develop true friendships? A. You stay in one place for long enough with your friend. B. You spend all your time together with your friend. C. You completely possess your friend's time and attention. D. You give your friend as much as you take from him. Answer: D
Every pet owner loves his pet. There is no argument here. But when we asked our readers whether they would clone (, )their beloved animals, the responses were split almost down the middle. Of the 228 readers who answered it, 108 would clone, 111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion. Clearly, from readers' response, this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and _ . It speaks, as well, to people's widely differing expectations over the developing scientific procedure. Most of the respondents who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original; many felt the process would actually return an exact copy. Those on the other side, however, held little hope a clone could never truly recreate a pet, many simply didn't wish to go against the natural law of life and death. Both sides expressed equal love for their animals. More than a few respondents owned "the best dog/cat in the world". They thought of their pets as their "best friend", "a member of the family,""the light of my life." They told moving stories of pets' heroism, intelligence and selfless devotion. Then the loss is so disturbing---and the cloning so attractive. "People become very close to their animals, and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies," says Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet. "For me, cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away...It's understandable. Death is always painful. It's difficult to deal with. It's hard to accept." But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seemed to be at the heart of this problem. What is the key question at the heart of the problem of cloning pets? Answer: If you think GM food sounds far away from you, you are totally wrong. In fact, you may eat GM food every day. Four of every five people in the world are eating GM food, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. According to Xinhua News Agency, in China, the only GM plants that are grown for sale are cotton and papaya. Also, China buys some GM plants from other countries, such as soybeans and corn. The GM plants are used to make other products. A reporter once said, "In China, more than half of cooking oil is soybean oil. And 90 percent of that oil is made from GM soybeans." So it's possible that we eat GM food every day! Scientists have changed GM plants' DNA in a laboratory. Scientists usually do this to protect plants against bugs and diseases and have more _ . Many people think it's against nature. Also, they worry that eating such food might be bad for their health. Is GM food safe? There's no agreement. Some people say that GM food causes tumors. But there are no long-term safety studies about GM food. If you want to stay away from GM food, you can start by checking the cooking oil in your home. Which of the following is NOT TURE according to the passage? Answer: Recently a professor of philosophy in the United States has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we deal with money in our day to day life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he has asked his students to do is to keep a record of every penny they spend for a week. From the way they spend their money, they can see what they really value in life. The professor says our relation with others often becomes clearly defined when money enters the picture. You might have wonderful friendship with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will know him only when you ask him to lend you some money.If he does,it brings something to the relationship that seems stronger than ever before. Otherwise it can suddenly weaken the relationship if he doesn't. Since money is so important to us, we consider those who are rich to be very important. The professor interviews some rich people in his research for his book. Question: What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about being rich? Answer : The most surprising thing is why people give me so much respect . I am nothing.I don't know much.All I am is rich. People just have an idea of making more and more money, but what is it for? How much money do I need for any given purpose in my life? In his book,the professor uncovered an important need in modern society:to bring back the idea that money is a tool rather than the end.Money plays an important role in the material world,but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life. Which of the following might the author disagree? Answer: Forbes asked a panel of architects and campus designers to nominate their picks for the best-looking campuses in the world. These are their top choices. Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio, US Mike Evans, a principal at Norfolk, Va., design firm Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company, says to be beautiful a campus must have a "signature campus space as a carrier of the campus brand." At Kenyon College, that space is "Middle Path," a 10-foot-wide footpath that serves as the Gothic hilltop campus' central artery. More than just a trail, it's a village green for the tight-knit campus community. Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky, who teaches 17th-century poetry at Kenyon, says the college, both isolated and pastoral, is "a small place to think big thoughts." Oxford University Oxford, England Teaching within Oxford's stone walls dates as far back as the 11th century, and the school is considered a paradigm for all college campuses. With its labyrinth of quads, cloisters, and archways, it evokes elegance and tradition at every turn. "Its monastic roots and the spectacular quality of its buildings make it an architectural wonderland," says David Mayernik, associate professor at Notre Dame's School of Architecture. Princeton University Princeton, N.J., US Princeton's style is pure Collegiate Gothic ; most of it executed in gray stone covered in, yes, ivy. As imposing as these old stone structures are, the campus keeps life on a "human scale" by preserving green spaces and walkability.Sinuous footpaths, archways, plazas - all are designed to inspire spontaneous discussion and learning. Scripps College Claremont, Calif., US The total plan of this women's college, founded in the 1920's, has always called for artistic connection between buildings and landscape. Together, architect Gordon Kaufmann, in collaboration with landscape architect Edward Huntsman-Trout, created a distinctively Southern Californian blend of Mission Revival-inspired architecture and landscape, which is lovely, evocative and intact. An expert in deciduous trees, Trout planted rows of liquid amber trees to give the students "a sense of autumn" come fall. He also peppered the campus with tulip trees, sycamores, almond and orange trees, as well as rare shrubs. Stanford University Palo Alto, Calif., US New additions like the Science and Engineering Quad manage to gracefully blend modern and technological elements with the timeless, elegant aesthetics of the campus' early California Mission Revival architecture. The campus also scores big points for its dramatic entrance via Palm Drive, its romantic Spanish red-tile roofs and myriad patches of green. Tsinghua University Beijing, China Forbe's panel of architects says natural setting plays a big part in assessing a campus' beauty. In that regard, this campus is blessed: Founded in 1925, Tsinghua sits on the former site of the Qing Dynasty's royal gardens. Many of Beijing's most notable historical sites, like the Summer Palace, are close by. The campus is peppered with artificial ponds where stone benches and floating lotus blossoms inspire reflection. Which University has the style of pure Collegiate Gothic? Answer: The weight of an object can change even when the mass stays the same. Which statement correctly identifies a relationship between mass and weight? Answer:
Five Things You Should Know About Adult Asthma About 44 million people in Asia Pacific suffer from asthma. The numbers are on the rise especially in China and India where there is rapid industrialization and urbanization. Dr Mariko Koh, Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory and Asthma Programme at Singapore General Hospital, tells us more about adult asthma: 1. Chronic inflammation of the airways When the airways are inflamed, mucus forms, blocking airflow, causing breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest. 2. Common triggers Exposure to allergens such as mites, cockroaches, pets and pollen can trigger asthma. Tobacco smoke, respiratory infections, exercise and some medications like aspirin and beta blockers are also possible triggers. 3. Effective treatment Asthma can be controlled with medication. The main treatment of asthma is inhaled corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and block of the airways. Reliever medications may be used to treat acute symptoms. Take note: it is not too late to take medication after an asthma attack. 4. Take medication daily To ensure good control over asthma, medication must be taken daily on a long term basis to prevent attacks. Also, go to your doctor for regular checkups. 5. Quality of life Asthma sufferers can lead normal active lives as long as the symptoms are well controlled. Taking medication as directed and avoiding triggers can make a big difference to the quality of life. What can be inferred from the passage? A. There is no possible cure for allergic asthma. B. Asthma is caused by acute inflammation of the airways. C. China and India have the largest number of asthma sufferers in the world. D. Regular checkups and exercise can ensure you a life free from asthma symptoms. Answer: A. There is no possible cure for allergic asthma. We are looking for teachers for our private secondary school in Nigeria. This is a Christian school and we are looking for Christian teachers. Accommodations are provided and salaries can be discussed. Volunteers are welcome to apply but those with teaching qualifications and experience will be first chosen. Subjects: English, French or Art. Those who teach other subjects are also welcome. Applicant 1 Modupe Bvuma I have a master's degree in Managerial Psychology and know a little French. I'm looking for a job either as a teacher or as a personnel manager. I'm a Christian and live in Nigeria, Africa and I'd be glad to be given the opportunity. Applicant 2 Rachel Moore I'm an Australian and have experience in working with children in the local church, although I don't believe in Jesus. I have bachelor's degrees in both Art and Education. I have _ my job with my pupils and now have settled in Nigeria, Africa to look for a job teaching English or French. Applicant 3 Mwanyimi Bushabu I've been in Africa for 5 years as a banker. It is advantageous for me to teach French at your school since it's my mother tongue, I am a Church member and promise I shall keep the Christian standards at your school. Applicant 4 Freddie Matthews I am to graduate from the University of Nottingham, England. I have gained teaching experience by tutoring children in lots of families and will have a teaching qualification. I'm interested in your job. Applicant 5 Adelaide White I am an Egyptian living in San Francisco, the USA. I'm a Christian. I have been a teacher of English and French for 12 years. I am currently an advisor in schools. Besides my master's degree, my post bachelor's degree is in Pupils Personnel Service Credentials. I want to return to my continent. According to the passage, for teachers to work in the mentioned secondary school in Nigeria, _ . A. their salary will be determined by the school. B. the housing issue is left for further discussion. C. their religious belief ought to be confirmed. D. they must have got related qualifications. Answer: C. their religious belief ought to be confirmed. Hello! My name is Mike. I am from America. Now I am with my parents. I like breakfast at home. I have an egg, some bread and porridge for breakfast. I do not like milk. I have no time to go home for lunch. So I have it at school. The lunch in our school is good. I can have different food for lunch. I eat rice, meat and vegetables. Sometimes I have noodles and dumplings. I have dinner at home with my parents. Sometimes we go out to eat with friends. We have chicken, vegetables and fruit. He has _ for lunch. A. rice, meat and vegetables B. noodles and dumplings C. chicken, meat and fruit D. A and B Answer: D. A and B 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." According to the passage, when people are dying, some may have the following feelings except that _ . A. they are floating above their own bodies B. they are walking towards a light C. they are flying in the sky D. they are seeing a bright light Answer: C. they are flying in the sky 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. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage? A. Lionfish got into the Atlantic Ocean in 2002. B. Lionfish will not live long in the new environment. C. Lionfish is a popular aquarium fish in the United States. D. Lionfish has been populating the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Answer: D. Lionfish has been populating the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Question: A toy car rolls at a constant speed down a straight inclined track. When the car reaches the flat surface at the base of the inclined track, the speed of the car decreases. Which statement best explains why the speed of the car decreases when it reaches the flat surface? A. The force of gravity acting on the car increases. B. The force of gravity acting on the car decreases. C. The forces influencing the car are not balanced. D. The forces influencing the car are balanced. Answer: C. The forces influencing the car are not balanced. Question: Global warming is the process of earth's atmosphere heating up. Over the last 100 years, the average temperature of earth's atmosphere has gone up 1 Fahrenheit. The weather has not changed exactly the same way in every area of the planet. But scientists think that the rise in average temperature is already affecting the earth's climate. Many scientists now believe that global warming is caused by cutting down trees, producing more trash, and polluting the environment which are some of the reasons why the temperature has gone up. Many scientists believe that the biggest causes of global warming are new human technologies that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is not new. Certain gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, making it hard for heat energy to go into space. In the past, the climate didn't change much because nature produced just the right amount of greenhouse gases to deal with it. Today, most scientists are pretty sure that the rising temperature can't be blamed on nature. Ever since the industrial revolution in the 1700s, humans have relied on machines for daily life. And many of those machines give off a lot of greenhouse gases. An increase in the release of greenhouse gases from human activities is throwing nature off balance. The climate is a very complicated thing, but many scientists agree that the rising atmospheric temperature has already damaged the environment. Sheets of ice, called glaciers, are melting in Antarctica and other parts of the globe. As glaciers break off and melt into the oceans, they are adding warm water to the oceans and causing the sea level to rise. Over the past 100 years, the sea level has risen 6-8 inches around the world. That means land along the coasts is beginning to disappear under water. Bigger and warmer oceans are also adding to other weather problems caused by pollution in the atmosphere. Some places have received more rain, others have had bigger storms and a few areas in the world have experienced unusual droughts. From the passage we can see that global warming will bring about _ . A. the pollution in the atmosphere B. natural disasters C. population pollution D. the rise of glaciers Answer: B. natural disasters Question: My teacher, Mr. August J. Bachmann, was the most influential teacher I ever had. I had gotten into trouble in his class: Another student had pushed me for fun, and I became angry and began to hit him. Mr. Bachmann stopped the fight, but instead of sending me to the office, he sat me down and asked a simple question: "Penna, why are you wasting your life? Why aren't you going to college?" I didn't know anything about colleges or scholarships. No one had ever considered that a fatherless boy from the poorest neighborhood had a future. That day, instead of rushing off for lunch, he stayed and explained possible education options to me. At the end of our talk, he sent me to see a secretary who had a child at a state college. This was in 1962 at Emerson High School in Union City, New Jersey. Well, 53 years have passed, and what have I done with the knowledge he gave me? I gained a PhD from Fordham University when I was only 29. I taught English and social studies and then moved up the chain of command from teacher to principal. I've sat on the board for Magnet Schools of America and represented that organization at the United Nations. I've won a number of great educational awards. But where would I be if a truly caring teacher had not taken the time out of his lunch period to speak to me? It was without question only his confidence in me that helped me forward. I have repaid his kindness hundreds of times by encouraging misguided youngsters to aim higher. If I have saved any children, it is because of him. If I have been a successful educator, it is because I had a great role model in Mr. Bachmann. What does the writer think of his achievement? A. He is very proud of himself. B. He feels his effort gets paid off at last. C. He owes his achievement to Mr. Bachmann. D. He thinks it an honor to be a successful educator. Answer: C. He owes his achievement to Mr. Bachmann. Question: A team of researchers from Oxford University has demonstrated a self-driving car that is different from such cars being tested by Audi, Ford, etc. It' s much cheaper because it's based on off-the-shelf technology and controlled by an ordinary iPad. Instead of using GPS to understand the location, the car learns routes when a person is driving, and then asks after it's got it down, if the driver would like the computer to take over. As time passes, it's becoming very clear that people believe computers would be better drivers than humans. This has been proven by extensive research that indicates that computers are able to react more quickly to driving conditions, make smarter decisions, don't take risks, and don't make mistakes in concentration. They don't drink either, of course, which means accidents due to drunk driving could be reduced dramatically if the computer could take over when someone needs to get home from the bar. And the team says drivers don't need their cars to know everything about every road, condition or possible danger. Instead, they just need to know how to get from one point to another, and to do a good job of it when asked. To that end, the researchers have added cameras, lasers, a central computer to process information and a regular iPad. In practice, the car would learn how to get to and from places that the driver frequents, such as their work place, the local pub or grocery store. Once it has it down, the computer asks the driver if they' d like a rest. If so, they simply tap the iPad, and the car takes over. It' s very simple and doesn't require nearly the same number of devices as those being tested by other car companies. The researchers say people might be able to get the total price of the system below a hundred dollars. And of course, the iPad can be lifted out and carried away for other purposes when not being used as a driver assistant. What best describes the author's tone in this passage? A. Objective. B. Worried. C. Serious D. Subjective. Answer: A. Objective. Question: Taking shorter hot showers A. will increase water usage B. will aid in preserving the water supply C. will aid in consumption of the water supply D. will overwork the water heater Answer: B. will aid in preserving the water supply
Once I spoke at a high school. After the speech, I was asked to see a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me, and it would mean a great deal to him. I agreed. He was Matthew. When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five, then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal weight lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams. I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain. He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weight with me. When we finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, "You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you." Last summer I got the news that Matthew had passed away and a letter Matthew had written me a few days before: Dear Rick, My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. The doctors tell me that I don't have long to live any more. But I still smile as much as I can. I told you some day I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But I know now I'll never make it. But I know I'm a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me. Your friend, Matthew Why did the boy refuse the author's medal? Answer: He didn't want to be pitied by others. Tigers are among the most admired and most feared animals in the world . When we think of a tiger, we think of danger. We think of the big teeth and large feet of it. We also think of beauty. The tiger is a hunter that hunts alone. In fact , tigers are probably better than any other land mammal at catching large animals without help. Even so, the life of this big-game hunter isn't easy. Finding food can be difficult, especially for a tiger that is old or weak. Most of the animals it tries to attack get away. A tiger sometimes goes weeks without eating. When that happens, it may hunt animals that can be dangerous even for a tiger. When they are in a bad situation, some tigers may even attack humans. But in fact, tigers kill very few people each year. Most tigers run away when they see people. What tigers have done to people can't compare to what people have done to tigers. Over the last 200 years, we have almost killed tigers in the wild . Today, the tiger is one of the most endangered animals on Earth. A tiger may live 20 years or more, if it is not disturbed by humans. Female tigers usually live longer than male tigers, because the males live more dangerously. It isn't easy for people to tell a male from a female unless the female happens to be with her babies.Only females take care of the young. The big difference between males and females is size. Male tigers are much bigger. Tigers are big eaters. In a single year, one tiger must eat about 70 deer or other large animals. That is one reason why tigers hunt alone. If they lived in big groups, they could never find enough animals to feed them all. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: It is people who make tigers endangered I have a friend named Monty Roberts. He has let me use his horse ranch to put on events to raise money for youth at risk programs. Last time I was there he introduced me by saying, "I want to tell you why I let you use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be when he grew up." "That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of owning a horse ranch someday. He put all his heart into the project and wrote about his dream in great detail. He even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of the buildings, stables and the track, and even a detailed floor plan for a 4000-square-foot house on it." "The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later ,he received a large red "F" on his paper with a note, 'See me after class.' The boy went to see the teacher and asked why. The teacher told him there was no way for a young boy like him to do that because owning a horse ranch required much money and resources, and then added 'If you'll rewrite his paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'" "The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what to do. His father said, 'Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it's a very important decision for you.'" "Finally, a week later, the boy turned in the same paper without any change and stated, 'You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.'" "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what. Why did the boy turn in the same paper without any change? Answer: Because he made up his mind to stick to his dream. When you first arrive in Oxford, it may take a little while for you to find your way around. Some of the first things our students do when they arrive include finding a bike (most students in Oxford find cycling is the best way to go around), setting up a bank account, getting their computer and mobile phone working, finding their department, getting to know their college and working out the best places to socialize. One of the major events you will experience shortly after "coming up" to Oxford is matriculation. Matriculation is held at the University's Sheldonian Theatre and is the ceremony at which you are formally admitted to the university. International students are invited to an orientation day at the start of the academic year. Sessions run throughout the day that will give you practical information about living and studying in the UK and introduce you to other graduate students from all over the world who are starting their studies at Oxford at the same time as you, as well as to current Oxford graduate students and staff who will be able to help and advise you. The day covers topics such as studying and learning in the Oxford system, University services, information on living in Britain and cultural differences, as well as addressing practical issues such as employment, immigration and visas, health and safety. You can choose which talks to attend and at the end of the day there is a social hour so you can meet fellow students. Another good thing to experience early is college dining. Most colleges have a tradition of regular formal hall dinners, which consist of three or four courses, and the atmosphere of an evening out in a nice restaurant. On some of these occasions you can invite people around to your college for dinner and _ . In this way, you can get to know people studying your own and other subjects at the same time as visiting many of the historical college grounds and dining halls. Which talk can students attend on the orientation day? Answer: Practical issues like employment, immigration, and health. One might expect that the ever-growing demands of the tourist trade would bring nothing but good for the countries that receive the holiday-makers. Indeed, a rosy picture is painted for the long-term future of the holiday industry. Every month sees the building of a new hotel somewhere, and every month another rock-bound Pacific island is advertised as the 'last paradise on earth'. However, the scale and speed of this growth seem set to destroy the very things tourists want to enjoy. In those countries where there was a rush to make quick money out of sea-side holidays, over-crowded beaches and the concrete jungles of endless hotels have begun to lose their appeal. Those countries with little experience of tourism can suffer most. In recent years, Nepal set out to attract foreign visitors to fund developments in health and education. Its forests, full of wildlife and rare flowers, were offered to tourists as one more untouched paradise. In fact, the nature all too soon felt the effects of thousands of holiday-makers traveling through the forest land. Ancient tacks became major routes for the walkers, with the consequent exploitation of precious trees and plants. Not only can the environment of a country suffer from the sudden growth of tourism. The people as well rapidly feel its effects. Farmland makes way for hotels, roads and airports; the old way of life goes. The one-time farmer is now the servant of some multi-national organization; he is no longer his own master. Once it was his back that bore the pain; now it is his smile that is exploited. No doubt he wonders whether he wasn't happier in his village working his own land. Thankfully, the tourist industry is waking up to the responsibilities it has towards those countries that receive its customers. The protection of wildlife and the creation of national parks go hand in hand with tourist development and in fact obtain financial support from tourist companies. At the same time, tourists are being encouraged to respect not only the countryside they visit but also its people. The way tourism is handled in the next ten years will decide its fate and that of the countries we all want to visit. Their needs and problems are more important than those of the tourist companies. Increased understanding in planning world-wide tourism can preserve the market for these companies. If not, in a few years' time the very things that attract tourists now may well have been destroyed. Which of the following determines the future of tourism? Answer: The management of tourism
Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was not very handsome, and he knew he was not. One day, Lincoln was walking on the road when he was stopped by an ugly man .The man had a gun in his hand. He took aim at Lincoln's nose. Lincoln was very surprised, but he pretended not to be afraid. He asked the man, "What do you want, sir?""I've promised myself," said the man, "if I find a man who is uglier than I, I'll kill him." Then Lincoln looked at the man's face carefully and then said, "Please take aim at me, sir. If I were uglier than you are, I would not want to live." The man looked at Lincoln again, after a minute, he said, "You are right!" And he went away. We can guess that in the end _ . A. Lincoln was killed B. the man killed himself C. Lincoln didn't want to live D. Lincoln saved himself by his wit Answer: D Once again, rumors are spreading. Judgment Day, this time, is set to happen on December 21st, 2012. The date originated from the Mayan calendar, but actually gained popularity through the hit movie, "2012". How will the world end? And how do we know the exact date? There are many theories: A meteoroid from outer space; a solar storm; a shift in the earth's poles; bla bla bla. They all supposedly pointed to the date of December 21st, 2012. Unfortunately, none of it is true. Zhu Jin, director of Beijing Planetarium, said, "For earth itself, the end will be billions of years away from now.And for us humans, there is a very small chance that we may be affected by some astronomical factors.However, we don't have the ability to foresee such events so far.So when someone tells you the world is going to end on an exact date, it must be fake." But the truth hasn't stopped people from believing. In the sci-fi movie "2012", the director imagined the end of the world based on the Mayan calendar. The film earned nearly 770 million US dollars worldwide. Ning Hong, Hebei Province, said. "The movie 2012 did get one thing right. There are arks being made in China, But they're not being built secretly inside the mountains.They are constructed here in the courtyard of a factory." In April, Liu Qiyuan quit his furniture business and devoted himself to developing these huge round balls. He doesn't believe the end is near, but he wants to be prepared just in case. Liu Qiyuan, the "Ark" builder, said, "The concept originated twenty years ago. The Tangshan earthquake had flattened our house, so I wanted to build a shelter that wouldn't fall. Then in 2004, I saw the tsunami in Indonesia that killed so many people.Then I realized it should be something that could withstand the earthquake and float on water." Liu is hoping to use his invention as a life boat on the sea.He's planning to test his product on the water next year. It turns out that rumor, though false, is good for business. Doomsday discounts and products are hot on many online stores. While it's surely attracted attention, many complain that it misleads consumers. Their purpose is to promote products. If they believe the world is going to end, who would buy things? Money would be useless, too. Liu Qiyuan quit his job and built his "ark" because _ . A. he wanted to make preparations for destructive natural disasters B. he was tired of making money from his furniture business C. he was almost killed in Indonesia in 2004 D. he believed that the world was going to end on Dec. 21, 2012 Answer: A Chinese students aren't the only ones who have a sleep loss problem. In Australia, teenagers are also missing out on, on average, one hour's sleep every night during the school week. Organized activities and homework push bedtimes later, the first large-scale Australian study of children's sleeping habits has revealed . Their sleep deprivation is enough to cause "serious drop-offs in school performance, attention and memory", and governments should consider later or flexible school start times, said the study's leader, Tim Olds. ks5u His survey, of more than 4,000 children aged 9 to 18, found those who slept least did not watch more television but spent their time socializing with family or friends or listening to music. "Almost all children get up at 7 or 7:15 -- they have to get to school on time," said Olds. He favors a later start over an earlier finish because he believes organized sports and activities would still consume the latter end of the day. Olds' research also establishes lack of sleep as a cause of weight gain in children, and a possible source of future problems with depression, anxiety and increased susceptibility to illness. It was already known that overweight children sleep less, but Professor Olds found sleep duration was strongly linked to weight across the full range of body sizes. The thinnest children sleep 20 minutes more than the _ . This showed being overweight had no specific effect on sleep patterns, and it was more likely that shorter sleep times stimulate appetite and make kids hungry. The US National Sleep Foundation says teenagers aged 13 to 18 need eight to nine hours' sleep a night. Younger school-aged kids need 9 to 11 hours. On that basis, Professor Olds said, half of Australian children are under-sleeping on weekdays and a quarter on weekends. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Australian students usually take part in activities in the afternoon. B. More students are short of sleep on weekends than on weekdays. C. Being overweight has an effect on the length of the sleeping time. D. The survey suggests that teenagers need 8-9 hours' sleep a night. Answer: A Moles are underground a lot of the time, and since few animals live there, they are unlikely to be A. dirty B. killed by others C. in dirt D. near worms Answer: B When Jason's parents saw him for the first time, they were shocked .This lovely little baby with shining blue eyes and curly hair was born disabled . But soon the young couple accepted this fact: Jason's arms are just half without hands and his legs aren't fully grown either. They even forgot to think of him as disabled. At the age of six, he told his mother he wanted to get down from the prosthetics and play with other kids. This was the last time Jason had worn them. He now has an electric wheelchair , but he never uses it at home or when it is easy for him to move using only his body. Jason learned handwriting and coloring at school, holding the pen between the ends of his arms. He also learned to eat with forks at home. When he was ten, he fell in love with football. He never had a pair of shoes in his life because of the shape of his feet. He only wore socks on the football field. He never won a match, but he refused to give up. His strong arms and body, as well as some fantastic ways made him a respected player on the school team. He went to a famous university after high school. Now Jason still faces many _ in life, but he will make you believe that you can do what he has done. "Never be afraid of any difficulty", Jason often encourages others in his speeches. What is the best title of this passage A. Disabled but still able B. Playing football brings good luck C. Never wear prosthetics even disabled D. Walking hard at school and home Answer: A
Many people especially beginners,often complain that listening to spoken English is too hard for them. But if you don't understand what people are saying,how can you converse with them?It may be difficult,but learning by listening is necessary. It can be done. It is a common fact that different people have different pronunciations of the same word. Stanronunciation is the basis for English study,especially of listening. If your pronunciation is not standard,it is hard for other people to understand you as it is for you to understand them. You may know the words when they are written down. That's important.You should plan to read every time you practise speaking and listening. Select a set of good books with cassettes. Do the exercises, from the simple to the difficult, step by step.As for listening, you have many choices: Watch English-language films, listen to English-language radio and television programs. Try to listen every day,even if only for a few minutes. At first,you may understand few words or perhaps only familiar names such as Clinton. Don't give up. Just listen. On TV,you can guess some of the words from watching what is happening on the screen.Gradually, you will find yourself recognizing some words.Try to pronounce them. Do you sound like the person on TV? Are you speaking standard English? Remember to read and practise speaking. It will help you to listen better. You may find many words that you missed or didn't understand when you were listening. Every day, spend an hour reading English. Talk to English-speaking foreigners whenever possible. Talking face to face is the liveliest textbook.In general, foreigners will speak more slowly with you, use simple words, and use gestures to help you understand them. Beginners often complain that listening to spoken English is too hard,because _ . Answer: all mentioned above Henry Loomis served as director of the Voice of America for seven years starting in 1958.Mr Loomis played an important role in creating the Special English service . Henry Loomis was born in 1919 Tuxedo Park , New York. His father was Alfred Lee Loomis , a rich New York City businessman .In 1940, Henry Loomis dropped out of Harvard University to join the United States Navy .He was able to put to good use his knowledge of radar technology that he had learned about because of his father's work .After graduating at the top in his naval training class, Henry Loomis became a teacher at the Navy's radar training school in Hawaii. By the end of World War Two, Henry Loomis had received many honors for his service, including a Bronze Star and an Air Medal. He left the Navy in 1946 to begin graduate studies. Henry Loomis later moved to Washington, D.C. to begin another part of his career in public service. He held positions in the Department of Defense and other agencies: In 1958, he became director of the Voice of America. During his travels around the world, Mr. Loomis saw that English was becoming an important international language. He believed that it was important to make English easier to understand by listeners of VOA broadcasts whose native language was not English. So Mr. Loomis asked VOA program manager Barry Zorthian to develop a way to broadcast to listeners with a limited knowledge of English: The result of this effort was Special English: The first Voice of America broadcast in Special English took place on October 19th, 1959. Those against his ideas at the time said the Special English method of broadcasting at a slower rate with a limited vocabulary would never work, it was not practical. American embassies demanded that the program be called off. But Mr. Loomis supported the program. Soon, VOA began to receive hundreds of letters from listeners praising the program. Special English programs became some of the most popular on VOA. We are pleased to say that our programs still are. We can know from the passage that Henry Loomis _ . Answer: did well in his naval training class A 13-year-old Shenzhen girl wrote a book about her life in junior school, and you could see the book in bookstores in June, the News Today reported yesterday. The book is A fresh Summer Day. Zhao Yue finished it in three months. Zhao Yue is a Junior One student of a middle school. She started writing this book after she finished her first book. " I think it is important for me to write the life of students. Adults cannot understand the world of us. So if adults read my book, they will know more about students." The girl also said that she wrote most of the book at night, sometimes until the early hours of the next morning. " I went to school as usual during the three months of writing. I felt very good every day even though I slept for only four hours a day," said the girl. A fresh Summer Day is about love between two junior high school students. _ said it was a common problem among young children. When did Zhao Yue write the book mostly? Answer: At night Willam Shakespeare was a writer of plays and poems. Some of his most famous plays are Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth .He wrote thirty-seven plays in all. They are still popular today. He was born in 1564 in England. At school he liked watching plays. He decided to be an actor when he finished school at the age of fourteen. In 1582, he married a farmer's daughter. She was eight years older than he was. Their first child was a daughter .Later they had twins. In1585, Shakespeare left his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. His wife and children stayed behind .No one knows why he left or what he did between 1585 and 1592. At twenty-eight he moved to London and joined a theatre company which opened the Globe Theatre in 1599. He became an actor, and he also wrote plays. He usually acted in his own plays .He earned almost no money from his writing. But he made a lot of money from acting. With the money he bought a large house in his hometown. At the age of forty-nine, Shakespeare retired and went to live in Stratford-upon-Avon. He died at the age of fifty-two. He left his money to his family. He left his genius to the world. You still see his plays in English and in many other languages. He is one of the most famous writers in the world.. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Shakespeare wrote both plays and poems. Twenty years are just a blink in time. But 20 years is also long enough for a man to grow up. It is always painful. For Andre Agassi, maturing in the spotlight of international tennis competition was even harder. On September 3, the American tennis player said a tearful goodbye to his 21-year career after a third-round defeat in the US Open. The 36-year-old tried his best, but was unable to keep up with German Benjamin Becker, _ years his _ "The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what I've found," Agassi said to the fans. "I have found inspiration and you willed me to succeed." It was an emotional speech at the end of a long career. Agassi hated tennis as a teenager as much as he loves it now. His father made him play when he was a child. He got bored, and became a rebel . The strict training that his father pushed upon him got in the way of his wild lifestyle. He grew hair long, wore colourful clothes and spat at a judge. Over the years, he has made bad jokes during news conferences Asked what he would say to his 17-year-old self, Agassi answered, "I would say, I understand you a lot more than I want to be you." The turning point in Agassi's career came in 1992 when he unexpectedly won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon. It was the first time Agassi understood what real champions finally understand: winning is a test of courage and not just power, it's a marathon, not a sprint . And what a marathon Agassi was about to begin. He cut his long hair, got fitter and tightened up emotionally. On the court, he was ranked No. 1 for almost two years. His lowest point came in 1997 when his ranking dropped to No. 141. He didn't quit though. "I knew that I would try to get the most out of myself every day from that day forward. That was my promise," he said. "That never stopped." The score of the match between Agassi and Becket is_. Answer: 0-3
Parents often believe that they have a good relationship with their teenagers.But last summer,Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son:suddenly he seemed to be talking more to his friends than to his parents."The door to his room is always shut,"Joanna noted. Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter."She used to cuddle up with me on the sofa and talk,"said Mark."Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something.Sometimes she wants to be treated like a 1ittle girl and sometimes like a young lady.The problem is figuring out which time is which." Before age 11,children like to tell their parents what's on their minds."In fact,parents are first on the list,"said Michael Riera,author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers."This completely changes during the teen years,"Riera explained."They talk to their friends first,then maybe their teachers,and their parents last." Parents who know what's going on in their teenagers' lives are in the best position to help them.To break down _ ,parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say,and try to find ways to talk and write to them.And they must give their children a mental break,for children also need freedom,though young.Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend,not a manager,with their children is a better way to know them. What troubles Tina and Mark most is that _ . Answer: they can't read their daughter's mind exactly One day, when old Jacob and little Jacoble were walking home, the sun began to go down. Old Jacob was thinking of his house and little Jacoble didn't know what to think. Then he thought of a wonderful idea, and he cried, "Jacob! Do you know what I saw yesterday? I saw a green rabbit. It was flying in the air and it was so big, even bigger than an elephant!" "You saw that with your own eyes?" asked old Jacob. "Of course I did," said Jacoble proudly. "It's a good thing that you really saw that big, flying, green rabbit," said old Jacob, "because that old bridge we are going to walk over is a very strange one. As soon as anyone who hasn't told the truth comes on it, the bridge breaks in two." They continued walking. "Jacob," said Jacoble a little later, "you know that big, green, flying rabbit I saw yesterday ... Well, it wasn't really flying, and ... it wasn't quite as big as an elephant ... but it was very big, about the size of a horse!" "Big as a horse?" asked Jacob as they got closer to the bridge and little Jacoble began not to feel so well. "Jacob," said Jacoble. "That big, green rabbit I saw yesterday, well, I had something in my eye and so I couldn't see that well. It wasn't a very big rabbit but it was green. Yes, that's what it was -- all green!" Old Jacob didn't say a word. He just walked over the bridge. But Jacoble didn't go after him because he was afraid and he knew why he was afraid. He stood at the bridge and said, "Oh, Jacob! You know that rabbit I saw yesterday. It wasn't green. No. It was just a little, brown rabbit." Then he was not afraid of anything any more and he ran happily over the bridge. We know from the text that the story happened _ . Answer: at dusk The card using a built-in voice-recognition chip requires users to give a spoken password that it recognizes. The idea is to prevent thieves from using a stolen card to buy goods online. A model built by engineers in California packs a microphone, a loudspeaker, a battery and a voice-recognition chip into a standard-sized credit card. The card is the length and width of an ordinary credit card but about three times as thick. The company now plans to make it thinner. The voice card is based on an earlier Beep card technology designed to prevent fraud in online deals. The Beep card has no microphone, but has a built-in loudspeaker to utter an audible ID signal by a computer's microphone to an online server . By confirming that signal matches the information in the card, the server can make sure that the user is not simply keying in a credit card number but actually has the card in his hand. The ID code, which only the server knows, changes each time the card is used. This prevents fraudsters recording the beeps, noting the card details and then playing back the audible ID when they key in the details later. But this earlier Beep card technology cannot prevent illegal use of stolen cards. The new voice card can. The new voice card doesn't identify itself by its ID until it has confirmed the real user's spoken password. Thieves will be unable to use the card because even if they knew the password they would have to be able to copy the owner's voice with a high degree of accuracy. The challenge for Beep card has been to develop voice-recognition and audio circuitry . The voice-recognition credit is powered by a mini battery. To extend batter life, the electronics have only to be switched on when the card is being used. Pressing a button on the card's surface allows one to hear a female voice saying, "Say your password." If the voice-recognition software proves that the password is real, it sends its ID, which the server then identifies, allowing the deal to continue. Why is the voice credit an important innovation? Answer: It makes fraud more difficult. An American educational expert, Frederick M. Hess, says that a long summer vacation doesn't make sense in today's world. This summer, 50 million kids will spend much time talking online, watching TV, playing video games and asking older brothers or sisters to take them to the supermarket. They will also be putting their academic futures at risk. During much of the 20th century, many Americans worked in factories that did not need a college degree but still offered a high salary. Also, in the 19th century, there was no air condition. And poor hygiene meant that crowded schools had health risks. Things have changed. For today's students, academic skills are key to future success. Many countries don't give kids an American-style summer vacation. They offer no more than seven consecutive weeks of vacation. Most American school districts offer up to 13 weeks. To compete in global marketplace, Americans must be prepared to go up against international competitors. Summer vacation also causes challenges for today's families. In the 1960s, more than 60% of families had a stay-at-home mum. Now, two-thirds of American children live families where every adult works. For these families, summer vacation can be more burden than break. Someone must watch the kids. But the biggest problem may be how summer vacation hurts academic achievement. Scientist have found that disadvantaged students lose important ground in the summertime. A school year can allow time-limited teachers to conduct richer and more imaginative lessons. Schools would have more time for sports, languages, music and the arts. How many reasons did the writer give to support his/her opinion? Answer: Four. NSE Summer School is suitable for those who are at, or are about to start university. It will begin accepting applications in January 2013. Courses: Accounting and Finance; Economics; Management; Law; International Relations; Government and Society Dates: Session I: 7 July~25 July Session2: 28 July~15 August Rate: Standard Rate: One session: $1,400; Both session: $2,400 Reduced Student Rate: One session: $1,100; Both session: $1,875 The reduced student rate applies to full-time students registered at a university or college anywhere in the world. Accommodation is not included, and fees range from $500~~$1,000 for 20 nights. Applicant requirements: If you have studied in the USA then you do not need any additional English qualifications. Students from other countries will generally not require a visa to study at the Summer School; however, you will enter the USA as a "Student Visitor". You are permitted to change courses before the start of the program and within the first three days of the session. Contact hours and teaching methods: Summer School courses are full-time and normally consist of 48 contact hours over the three-week period, taking the form of 36 hours of lectures and 12 hours of classes. Lectures, attended by all students, take place in either the morning or afternoon supplemented by small one-hour classes, of approximately 15 students. Assessment and examinations: Assessment for Summer School is based upon the results of either two written examinations, or a final written examination and assessment work. Everyone is required to take the examinations and no exception can be made for any reason. Summer School lecture series: Famous economistsTony Giddens and David Held--have agreed to give lectures to Summer School participants in July in 2013. If any questions, please click here to see our Frequently Asked Questions/ Contact Us Page. During the course, _ Answer: all the students must take part in the exams without any excuse
David Nabarro, the UN special envoy , told the reporter the number of Ebola cases was currently increasing rapidly, but greater community awareness would help contain the virus. People were becoming aware that isolating those infected was the best way to prevent transmission, he added. So far, there have been more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola, and at least 4,033 deaths. Most deaths - 4,024 - have occurred in the west African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Cases have also been reported in Nigeria, Senegal, Spain and the US. Mr Nabarro said that the number of new cases was "quite frightening", as the spread of the disease was currently accelerating. At the beginning, many west African communities did not understand that the outbreak was an infectious disease, he said. "I think we've got much better community involvement which leads me to believe that getting it under control within the next three months is a reasonable target," he continued. "By under control I mean... the numbers of new cases each week _ compared with the previous week to the point where there is no new transmission." The Ebola virus is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. Meanwhile, New York's JFK airport began screening passengers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea for the Ebola virus on Saturday, in an attempt to stop the outbreak. Passengers from those countries will have their temperatures taken and have to answer a series of questions. Checks at O'Hare in Chicago, Newark, Washington's Dulles and Atlanta's airport will begin in the coming days. The screening system is being introduced after the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the US died in Texas on Wednesday. According to the UN special envoy, how long will it take to bring Ebola under control? A. a few days from now. B. six weeks. C. about three months. D. the coming week. Answer: C A unique thermo-solar power station Germasolar in southern Spain can work even on cloudy days:energy stored when the sun shines lets it produce electricity even during the night. It is the first solar power station in the world that works 24 hours a day! This is how it works: the panels reflect the sun's rays onto the tower, transmitting energy 1,000 times stronger than that of the sun's rays reaching the earth. Energy is stored in tanks, and then steam is produced before finally turned into electricity. It is the station's capacity to store plenty of energy that makes Gemasolar so different because it allows the plant to transmit power during the night, relying on energy it has gained during the day. Helped by the generous state aid, renewable energies have enjoyed a boom in Spain, the world number two in solar energy and the biggest wind power producer in Europe, ahead of Germany. For the Gemasolar solar product, foreign investors helped too: Torresol Energy is a joint enterprise between the Spanish engineering group Sener, which holds 60 percent, and Abu Dhabi-financed renewable energy firm Masdar. This type of station is expensive, not because of the raw material we use, which is free solar energy, but because of the enormous investment these plants require. The investment cost is over 200 million euros ($ 260 million). But the day when the business has repaid that money to the banks (maybe, in 18 years, someone estimates), this station will become a 1,000-euro note printing machine! For now, the economic crisis has nevertheless cast a shadow over this kind of project: Spain is battling to cut its deficit as it slides into a difficult time and has cancelled aid to new renewable energy projects. What can we learn from the passage? A. Spain is building more energy projects. B. The Spanish government will aid renewable energy projects. C. The Spanish government ignores the development of this project. D. Germasolar will make fortunes in the future. Answer: D People around the world are superstitious about numbers; even those ancient Greeks believed that all numbers and their multiples had some mystical significance. Those numbers between 1 and 13 were in particular to have a powerful influence over the affairs of men. For example, _ . The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others within a certain period. Another belief involving the number three has it that it is unlucky to light three cigarettes from the one match. If this happens, the bad luck that goes with the deed falls upon the person whose cigarette was the last to be lit. The ill-men linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle goes back to at least the 17th century and probably earlier. It was believed that three candles alight at the same time would be sure to bring bad luck; one, two, or four, were permissible, but never just three. Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a bringer of good luck. The ancient astrologers believed that the universe was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that the life of man was divided into seven ages. Seven horseshoes nailed to a house will protect it from all evil. Nine is usually thought of as a lucky number because it is the product of three times three. It was much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing. Another belief was that great changes occurred every 7th and 9th of a man's life. Consequently, the age of 63 (the product of nine and seven) was thought to be a very _ time for him. If he survived his 63rd year he might hope to live to a ripe old age. Thirteen, as we well know, is regarded with great awe and fear. The common belief is that this derives from the fact that there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper. This being the eve of his betrayal, it is not difficult to understand the significance given to the number by the early Christians. In more modern times 13 is an especially unlucky number of a dinner party, for example. Hotels will avoid numbering a floor the 13th; the progression is from 12 to 14, and no room is given the number 13. Many home owners will use 12 1/2 instead of 13 as their house number. Yet oddly enough, to be born on the 13th of the month is not regarded with any fear at all, which just shows how irrational we are in our superstitious beliefs. According to the passage, which of the following groups of numbers will certainly bring good luck to people? A. 3 and 7. B. 7 and 9. C. 3 and 9. D. 3 and 13. Answer: B While Nick was on the bus, reading his newspaper, the man sitting next to him suddenly pushed a large envelope into his hands. "Here, take this!" the man said, stood up and got off the bus before Nick could say a word. Nick sat there, holding the envelope. It felt heavy. There were papers inside, or money perhaps. "I'd better hand it over to the police," he thought. There was a police station close to his office. But, as he got off the bus, a man came to him. He seemed to be waiting for something. "He wants the envelope," Nick thought. Nick began to walk quickly, and the man hurried after him. Nick started to run, and the man began to run, too. But then, just before he got to the police station, Nick managed to lose the man in the crowds. When he entered the police station, the man was no longer in sight. Inside the police station, Nick handed over the envelope to a policeman in charge. The man opened it. The envelope was full of money, false money. "Clearly the man made a mistake," the policeman said. "He thought you were one of the gang !" Nick felt like a hero. He could already see his name in all the papers. He could imagine an interview on television. "However," the policeman went on, "I'm afraid I must ask you to keep quiet about all this. We're trying to catch some very clever thieves, and we don't want them to know that we have some of the money. So you mustn't say a word to anyone -- not even your boss!" As Nick got off the bus, a man came to him because _ . A. he wanted to catch Nick B. he thought Nick was a policeman C. he wanted to give Nick some money D. he thought Nick was one of their gang Answer: D Chinese government has decided to give up the rules of food with no checking .According to the Xinhua News, from September 17th , 2008, Chinese government decided to give up the rules of food with no checking. Many people said yes to it. The officer said that these days, the food safety accident about children milk of Sanlu made the government decide to give it up. In order to keep the food safe and people healthy, Chinese government said that all the food must be checked. The rule of food with no checking made in 1999 was given up from that day. "I think if the companies get the food with no checking, they will never check their food. It gives them the chance of making the food of poor quality," an old man said in the shop. " I hope our government not only gives it up, but also makes some strong rules to manage the companies," a young woman told us. " The important point is our government should send officers to the companies and check their food every time," a shop owner said. A young expert of food safety said, " The department of government should take the food from the shop or supermarket and check, not ask them to send. In that way, we can get the real checking." But in order to keep people's health, the government asks the officers to check all the food before they are sent to the shop or supermarket. That means all the food must be checked before they are sold. Many people _ to check all the food. A. agree with B. disagree C. agreement D. agree Answer: D
If a seed is planted and it develops into a large tomato plant A the seed came from a cucumber B the seed came from something red C the seed came from a tree D the seed came from a bird Answer: B What is time? Is it a thing to be saved or spent or wasted, like money? Or is it something we have no control over, like the weather? Is time the same all over the world? That's an easy question, you say. Wherever you go, a minute is 60 seconds, an hour is 60 minutes, a day is 24 hours, and so forth. Well, maybe. But in America, time is more than that. Americans see time as a valuable resource. Maybe that's why they are fond of the expression, "Time is money." To Americans, punctuality is a way of showing respect for other people's time. Being more than 10 minutes late to an appointment usually calls for an apology, and maybe an explanation. People who are running late often call ahead to let others know of the delay. Of course, the less formal the situation, the less important it is to be exactly on time. At informal get-togethers, for example, people often arrive as much as 30 minutes past the appointed time. But they usually don't try that at work. American lifestyles show how much people respect the time of others. When people plan an event, they often set the time days or weeks in advance. Once the time is fixed, it takes almost an emergency to change it. If people want to come to your house for a friendly visit, they will usually call first to make sure it is suitable. Only very close friends will just "drop by" unannounced. Also, people hesitate to call others late at night for fear they might be in bed. The time may vary, but most folks think twice about calling after 10:00 p.m. Why are the Americans fond of the expression " Time is money."? A Because they can't control time. B Because they is the same all over the world. C Because they consider time as a thing like money. D Because they consider time as a valuable resource. Answer: D What if you could fly like a bird just by thinking happy thoughts? Or you could disappear to a faraway land, never grow old and fight pirates every day? For Peter Pan and his friends, the Lost Boys, these dreams come true. More than 100 years after this playful boy was "born", Peter Pan and his friends are to continue their adventure in a sequel to J.M. Barrie's original novel. "Peter Pan in Scarlet" ,written by British author Geraldine McCaughrean, was published earlier this month. The sequel brings all the original characters back. Peter Pan's friends, the Lost Boys, are now grown up and live in the real world. What's more, at the end of the first book, Peter Pan thinks he has killed his enemy, Captain Hook. But ,new readers discover he is not so dead at all. For those who are unfamiliar with the original story, Peter Pan lives in faraway Neverland with a group of orphans. But they are eager for a real mother and Peter Pan flies to London with a fairy , Tinkerbell, to find one. They visit a young girl, Wendy, who loves to read stories, and bring her and her two brothers back to Neverland to live with them. In Neverland, children never have to grow up, and there are no parents to tell them what to do. Many teenagers dream of a world where they don't have to grow old and take responsibility. But, the author explains such a world is not the paradise when it first appears: adventures can be scary and often dangerous, and, though we all sometimes dream of running away, we all need someone to love and look after us too. The stories of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys reflect that those at their age _ . A are ready to shoulder responsibility B choose adventures in faraway places C long for independence but also need someone to love them D can't wait to grow up Answer: C For Canadians, backpacking Europe is a special ceremony signifying a new life stage. Unlike package tours, backpacking is a struggle, full of discovery and chance connections. It is about focusing on something different from our own lives and losing ourselves in a new world, if only for a moment. Well, that's what backpacking Europe is supposed to do. That's what it used to do before modern communications, social media, and commercial hostelling . Older Canadians would not recognize the Europe that they backpacked in the 1960s, 1970s and even the 1980s. Far from a rough adventure into foreign cultures, the European experience has been _ in part by today's technology. A few years ago, I took my then 60-year-old father on a backpacking trip across part of Europe and Turkey. As he is an experienced traveler and someone who possesses a strong sense of adventure, I decided that we'd travel on a budget, staying in hostel dorms. For him, backpacking through Europe in 1969 was about independence and struggle. But two things surprised him at the end of our journey. First was how technology-based backpacking had become: Young people were so directly connected to home that they were hardly away in any meaningful sense. Second, the lack of connections we made with locals. Instead of making us feel closer to a place, he found commercial hostelling actually made us more alienated . But there was some room for hope. While technology takes our attention away from the beauty and history before us, there were also ways in which it helped us to connect with our surroundings. Websites like Airbnb have made it easier to stay with enthusiastic locals. Couch Surfing helps organize meet-ups between locals and travelers. The online marketplace Dopios offers a chance to meet locals through enjoyable experiences like a personalized city tour. Backpacking can never be the way it was for our parents' generation. But doing a little study of history and culture before leaving, and bravely getting rid of any electronic devices while traveling, will help give young travelers a taste of the glory days. After the recent backpacking trip in Europe, the author's father finds _ . A backpackers connect less with locals than before B young people dislike getting in touch with their family C a hostel is a nice place for travelers to meet each other D backpacking in Europe becomes more difficult than before Answer: A which of these days would lead to a suspension of regular activities? A a very sunny day B a very beautiful day C a very bright day D a day with a blizzard Answer: D
Recently the busiest person on the Internet is absolutely Yuanfang, a fictional figure from the Chinese TV series "Detective Di Renjie". In the TV series, Li was often asked by Di, "How do you see it, Yuanfang?" Then, the dialogues between them help advance the plot. Now, the casual pet phrase is used as many as 2.5 million times by netizens in a single day, according to statistics. In fact, it is not the first popular sentence pattern on the Internet. Many other types of popular network words include those evolved from "the slogans of Vancl " and actor's lines of "The Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan". The explosive spread of the sentence "How do you see it, Yuanfang?" again proved the vast power of the network spread. The appearance of a buzzword on the Internet may be coincidental, but the spread of numerous buzzwords has started a social and cultural phenomenon. It is more noticeable that the spread is not _ but by chance. Usually, everyone has known about it, except the one concerned. The appearance of buzzwords is resulting from the agreement of netizens. If something is new and interesting enough, it will cause public attention. The rise of these buzzwords also benefits from their strong "adhesive force". After analyzing these buzzwords, we find that they have a common character, namely "novel in structure but empty in content". Therefore, any concrete contents can be added in these buzzwords, creating fantastic results. Taking the "Yuanfang-style" as an example, its popularity displayed a social mentality of questioning. Although it seems a little funny to ask "Yuanfang", a fictional character, and some people even find it boring. This way of asking a question reveals a valuable quality-listening. The Internet provides a space for everyone to express their views, but it also causes controversies. What's your opinion, Yuanfang? We can learn from the passage that Yuanfang _ . is a fictional figure currently popular with netizens One morning , Mr. Black is driving in the country and looking for the Sun Hotel. When he sees an old woman on the side of the road, he stops his car and says to the woman, "Excuse me, I want to go to the Sun Hotel, do you know it?" "Yes, "the woman says, "I'll show you the way. "She gets into Mr. Black's car, and they drive about twelve kilometers. When they come to a small house, the old woman says, "stop here. "Mr. Black stops, and looks at house. "But this is not a hotel. "He says to the old woman. "No, "the old woman answers, "This is my house. And I'll show you the way to the hotel. Turn round and go back nine kilometers. Then you'll see the hotel!" What's Mr. Black doing that morning? He is looking for a hotel to live in Dear Nancy, How are you? Now I want to tell something interesting. Last week we had a trip to Mount Tai. On Tuesday we went to Taian by bus, a city at the foot of the mountain. We had a good rest at a hotel. At about one o'clock early the next morning, we began to climb the mountain. It took us about four hours and a half to get to the top. The mountain is covered with trees. I didn't see such a beautiful place before. "Look! The sun is going to rise!" my friend Lim shouted. We all turned to the east and watched. Soon half of the sky because white, and a big, red ball was rising slowly. A few minutes later, the sky became bright . We stayed on the top and had a good time. After lunch we started going down. We got to the tour hotel at about four in the afternoon. Though we were tired, we were very happy. We came back to school the next day. Thank you very much for your last letter and the beautiful postcards. Hope to hear from you soon. Yours Wu Tong When did Wu Tong reach the top of the mountain? At about 5:30 am. A young boy arrives at a barber shop and the barber _ to his customer, "This is the most foolish kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you." The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two cents in the other, then calls the boy over and asks,"Which do you want,son?"The boy takes the cents and leaves. "What did I tell you?"says the barber."That kid never learns!" Later,when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store."Hey, son! May I ask you a question ? Why did you take the cents instead of the dollar bill?" The boy licks his ice cream and answers,"Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over!" The young boy takes the money to _ . buy an ice cream Which of the following keeps the planets in our solar system in orbit around the Sun? gravitational force
Japan is made up of a chain of islands that lie off the coast of Asia. People came to live in Japan from the nearby countries of China and Korea. From these older countries, the Japanese borrowed ideas, inventions and habits. For many years, the Japanese built houses like those in China. They dressed themselves like a Chinese. From China came their way of writing and their habit of drinking tea. In more recent times, the Japanese have borrowed things from our country, the United States. They have a government like ours. They do much work in science, as we do. Baseball is a favorite sport in Japan, just as it is here. Things change when they come to Japan. The Japanese improve on almost everything they borrow. The art of garden making came from Korea and China, but the Japanese gardens are special. Each garden has a waterfall, a pond, and small bridges. There are few flowers in Japanese gardens. But the gardens are green during all the year round because they have many evergreens. Japanese gardens have a different kind of beauty. Choose a statement from the following sentences that is NOT true. Answer: The Japanese invented the habit of drinking tea. Joey felt the very first rain drop hit his hat. "Let's go inside!" he said to his friend Billy. The two ran inside the house as it began to rain more outside. Joey's mother was very happy that they missed the rain and got inside before it made a big mess. Joey and Billy weren't as happy. "What are we going to do in here all day?" asked Billy. "I don't know" said Joey, looking out the window as the rain came down. Harder. And harder. "Oh no! I left my baseball glove outside" said Joey as he watched it begin to fill up with rain. His glove was going to be a mess! Thankfully, Joey's dad pulled up in his car. Seeing the glove on the ground, he picked it up as he ran inside. "Careful sport, you almost lost this" he told his son as he tossed him the wet mitt. But Joey wasn't listening, he was looking past his dad as he walked through the door. The sky was clearing up! Joey ran outside, Billy came after him. "Look at that!" Billy said as he pointed at the sky. A rainbow was appearing, it was so beautiful! The rain wasn't bad after all! What made the boys come inside? Answer: It started to rain Which animal gives birth to live young? Answer: Giraffe Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our school. Now you are students of a middle school. All the things here are new. The life here is a little different. I think you must know what you can do and what you can't do. It can help you study well and live happily. Here are some rules of our school. You have to come to school from Monday to Friday. You will learn some important subjects, such as Chinese, math, English and science. Classes begin at 8:00. You have four classes in the morning. You have lunch in the school dining hall. You can't eat in the classroom. Classes are over at 3:30 in the afternoon and then you can join your favorite clubs to have fun. You can't play balls or run in the classroom and hallways. You mustn't _ these rules. I really hope you will have a happy life here. Thank you. What can you do in the classroom? Answer: Learn English Seedy the watermelon was a very special type of watermelon. He didn't have any seeds. He was green and he had stripes. All of his cousins had seeds, but he didn't have any. He felt very left out. He couldn't thing of why he was different. His mom told him it was because he was a very special watermelon. She also tells him she loves him the way he is. But Seedy didn't think it was a good thing. He wished he could be like everyone else and have seeds. One day, he rolled out to the lawn and looked at all of his new cousins growing in the garden. He rolled around until he found a little baby watermelon that didn't have any seeds either. He sat next to him and talked to him. He told him that he was very special, and was excited for him to be picked off the vine and be his special best friend. He would name him Seedy, Jr. What did Seedy name his best friend? Answer: Seedy, Jr.
Sam woke up early. He wanted to play. Mom said he could not play. It was time for breakfast. Sam loves breakfast. Sam loves breakfast because Sam loves cereal. There is a lot of cereal in the kitchen. There are Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Friendly O's, and Sharkies. Sam loves Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Friendly O's, and Sharkies. His favorite cereal is Friendly-O's. Sam loves Friendly-O's because they look like smiley faces. After Sam finishes breakfast Sam plays with Ralph. Ralph is a dog. Sam loves Ralph. Ralph likes to play. Ralph likes to run. Ralph likes to jump. Sam loves Ralph because Ralph has floppy ears. Sam loves Ralph because he licks him on the face. After Sam plays with Ralph he takes a bath. Sam takes a bath because he has to get ready for school. Sam is happy to go to school. Sam can play with his friends at school. When he is at school he can see Bill, John, and Katy. Bill is Sam's best friend. John is the class cat. Katy is the class bird. Bill lives two houses down from Sam. Sam likes John the cat. He has a fluffy tail. Bill likes John the cat too. When Bill and Sam get to school they pet John. Sam is ready to play at school. School is fun. What is Sam's favorite cereal? Answer: Friendly O's The lion says that he is _ . So he asks all the animals to come and listen to his last wishes. The cat comes to the lion's cave . He stands there and goes in. Then a sheep goes in. Before she comes out, a rabbit goes in to hear the last wishes of the king of animals. But soon the lion looks well again, and goes out of his cave. He sees a fox waiting outside. "Why don't you come in?" asks the lion to the fox. "I beg your pardon," says the fox, "I see many animals go into your cave, but nobody comes out. Before they come out again, I will wait outside." Why does the lion ask the animals to listen to his last wishes? Answer: He wants to eat them. Winnie-the-Pooh By A. A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh has been introduced and reintroduced to generation after generation as a model of a child's best friend. However, not everyone has found Pooh is lovely. This classic has been banned in a variety of countries at one point. So why would anyone ever want to keep children from the joy of Milne's classic? In the case of Russia, Winnie-the-Pooh was banned in 2009 because of alleged Nazi ties. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz By Frank Baum Originally published in the year 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is one of the foundations of the fairytale genre. Who, then, would seek to ban a book that has become so important to the American experience? America is that who. The Detroit Library banned The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1957 for having no value for children. Charlotte's Web By E. B. White White's tale of the relationship between two unexpected creatures, a spider and a pig, has been drawing children in for over half a century. Published in 1952, this classic has been readily available on most library shelves for children to read. However, some people would like to make this book never see the light of day. In one extreme case, a school in England banned Charlotte's Web for fear that the pig Wilbur might be offensive to Muslim students. Fortunately, the Muslim Council of Britain saw the foolishness of this ban, so the book was quickly restored to its right place on the shelves. Where the Wild Things Are By Maurice Sendak Though its first copy was published fifty years ago, this book hasn't always been readily available in libraries and in stores. After its release, Where the Wild Things Are was banned in libraries all across the U.S. for its dark tone and unruly leading characters. Nowadays, you'll find far fewer libraries that still hold this ban. Who are the intended readers of the four books mentioned in the passage? Answer: Children. The oddness of life in space never quite goes away. Here are some examples. First consider something as simple as sleep. Its position presents its own challenges. The main question is whether you want your arms inside or outside the sleeping bag. If you leave your arms out, they float free in zero gravity, often giving a sleeping astronaut the look of a funny balled dancer. "I'm an inside guy," Mike Hopkins says, who returned from a six-month tour on the International Space Station. "I like to be wrapped up." On the station, the ordinary becomes strange. The exercise bike for the American astronauts has no handlebars. It also has no seat. With no gravity, it's just as easy to pedal violently. You can watch a movie while you pedal by floating a microcomputer anywhere you want. But station residents have to be careful about staying in one place too long. Without gravity to help circulate air, the carbon dioxide you exhale has a tendency to form an invisible cloud around you head. You can end up with what astronauts call a carbon-dioxide headache. Leroy Chiao, 54, an American retired astronaut after four flights, describes what happens even before you float out of your seat,"Your inner ear thinks your're falling . Meanwhile your eyes are telling you you're standing straight. That can be annoying--that's why some people feel sick." Within a couple days --truly terrible days for some --astronauts' brains learn to ignore the panicky signals from the inner ear, and space sickness disappears. Space travel can be so delightful but at the same time invisibly dangerous. For instance, astronauts lose bone mass. That's why exercise is considered so vital that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) puts it right on the workday schedule. The focus on fitness is as much about science and the future as it is about keeping any individual astronauts return home, and, more importantly, how to maintain strength and fitness for the two and a half years or more that it would take to make a round-trip to Mars. The astronauts will suffer from a carbon-dioxide headache when _ . Answer: they exercise in one place for a long time Where do dogs come from? Gray wolves are their ancestors. Scientists are pretty consistent about that. And researchers have suggested that dogs' origins can date back to Europe, the Near East, Siberia and South China. Central Asia is the newest and best candidate, according to a large study of dogs from around the world. Laura M. Shannon and Adam R. Boyko at Cornell University, and an international group of other scientists, studied not only purebred dogs, but also street or village dogs. Dr. Shannon analyzed three different kinds of DNA, Dr. Boyko said, the first time this has been done for such a large and diverse group of dogs from 38 countries. And that led them to Central Asia as the place of origin for dogs in much the same way that genetic studies have located the origin of modern humans in East Africa. The analysis, Dr. Boyko said, pointed to Central Asia, as the place where "all the dogs alive today" come from. The data did not allow precise dating of the origin, he said, but showed it occurred at least 15,000 years ago. Greger Larson of Oxford University, who is leading a large international effort to analyze ancient DNA from fossilized bones, said he was impressed by the study. "It's really great to see not just the number of street dogs, but also the geographic breadth and the number of remote locations where the dogs were sampled," he said in an email. He also praised the sampling of different kinds of DNA and the analytic methods. Dr. Larson, who was not involved with the study, said he thought the Central Asia finding required further testing. He said he suspected that the origins of modern dogs were "extremely messy" and that no amount of sampling of living populations will be definitive. He said a combination of studies of modern and ancient DNA is necessary. Greger Larson got a very deep impression of his study because he _ . Answer: found the study based on many different dogs and the sample dogs' remote locations
Mr. Li worked in a post office in Weihai. Last month he retired. His son works in America. Five years ago Mrs. Li went to America to look after their grandson. So Mr. Li decided to see them. Mr. Li was afraid of taking the plane so he decided to go to America by ship. On the first morning on the ship, Mr. Li met an American. The man said to him, "Good morning!" Mr. Li thought the man told him his name. So he said to him, "Li Haitao." On the second morning, Mr. Li met his son's friend on the ship. He told him about the American. After hearing that, his son's friend laughed and said, "He said hello to you in the morning." On the third morning when Mr. Li met the American again, he said, "Good morning!" And the American said to him, "Li Haitao, sir." Mrs. Li stayed in America for _ . A. one month B. five months C. three years D. five years Answer: D. five years Why do men die earlier than women? The latest research makes it known that the reason could be that men's hearts go into rapid decline when they reach middle age. The largest study of the effects of aging on the heart has found that women's _ may be linked to the fact that their hearts do not lose their pumping power with age. "We have found that the power of the male heart falls by 20-25 percent between 18 and 70 years of age," said the head of the study, David Goldspink of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. "Within the heart there are millions of cells that enable it to beat. Between the age of 20 and 70, one-third of those cells die and are not replaced in men," said Goldspink. "This is part of the aging process." What surprises scientists is that the female heart sees very little loss of these cells. A healthy 70-year-old woman's heart could perform almost as well as a 20-year-old one's. "This gender difference might just explain why women live longer than men," said Goldspink. They studied more than 250 healthy men and women between the ages of 18 and 80, focusing on healthy persons to remove the confusing influence of disease. "The team has yet to find why aging takes a greater loss on the male heart," said Goldspink. The good news is that men can improve the health of their heart with regular exercise. Goldspink stressed that women also need regular exercise to prevent their leg muscles becoming smaller and weaker as they age. According to the text, the UK scientists have known that _ . A. women have more cells than men when they are born B. women can replace the cells that enable the heart to beat C. the female heart loses few of the cells with age D. women never lose their pumping power with age Answer: C. the female heart loses few of the cells with age Which human organ system exchanges gases with the environment? A. endocrine B. circulatory C. respiratory D. integumentary Answer: C. respiratory A Korean wave is sweeping across China, with many Chinese women worshipping South Korean actors Kim Soo Hyun and Lee Min Ho as demigods . Chinese netizens have always been divided over South Korean TV dramas, but there is no doubt that programs from the neighboring country are now enjoying a new round of popularity in China. And a big part of the credit for that goes to You Who Came From The Star, the South Korean TV series which is on the air now. Top South Korean actors Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo Hyun recently earned a popularity rating of 24.8 percent in their country, considered strong by Nielsen Korea. You Who Came From The Star and The Heirs have been subjects of hot online discussions throughout Asia. Besides, the book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, read by the hero in You Who Came From The Star was a hard-to-get item on Amazon for a while. The two TV programs have several common elements: a tall, handsome, and rich hero who loves the heroine blindly and always protects her, and an equally handsome man madly in love with the same woman. Both programs portray the purity of love, which is expressed through a kiss or a warm hug. Perhaps that's the secret of their success; perhaps people are still fascinated by Cinderella-type stories. The growing wealth gap is a matter of social concern both in South Korea and China, and the challenges that young people face in their search for a better life might have prompted many ordinary girls to dream of marrying rich, caring men. This is precisely what the popular South Korean TV dramas portray. In fact, South Korean TV dramas are tailored to meet the market's demands. In contrast, Chinese TV screens are flooded by knock-off or poorly made soap operas. There are too many Chinese TV dramas that are either of the stereotyped war theme or just blindly copy foreign programs. The lack of good stories has resulted in loads of TV series on time travel or fights in the harems of Qing Dynastyemperors. These, in short, are the pain of Chinese TV productions. The shooting for South Korean productions generally starts when the scripts are just one-third ready. Many popular productions have their own websites, where scriptwriters post part of the finished scripts, inviting viewers to leave messages, discuss the plot and come up with suggestions for future events. This not only keeps viewers' interest in the TV dramas alive, but also helps scriptwriters and directors make changes to the storylines to suit the audience's demand. Hopefully, the innovation-induced success of South Korean TV programs will prompt Chinese TV drama makers to think up new ideas and abandon their bad practice of copying foreign productions in order to attract more viewers at home, and possibly abroad. According to the passage, the secret to Korean TV dramas' being successful is that _ . A. drama stars must be tall, rich and handsome or beautiful B. scriptwriters should choose the appropriate themes for all viewers C. drama producers have creative ideas to adapt to viewers' interest and demand D. people's concerns such as wealth gap both in Korea and China are taken good care of Answer: C. drama producers have creative ideas to adapt to viewers' interest and demand Which is an example of conduction? A. a space heater turned on B. water boiling on the stove C. sunlight shining through the window D. a metal spoon warming in a pot of hot soup Answer: D. a metal spoon warming in a pot of hot soup
Question: When did you last see a polar bear ? On a trip to a zoo, perhaps? If you had attended a winter activity in New York a few years ago, you would have seen a whole polar bear club. These "Polar Bears" are people who meet frequently in the winter to swim in freezing cold water. That day, the air temperature was 3degC, and the water temperature was a bit higher. The members of the Polar Bears Club at Coney Island, New York are usually about the age of 60. Members must satisfy two requirements. First, they must get along well with everyone else in the group; this is very important because there are so many different kinds of people in the club. Polar Bears must also agree to swim outdoors at least twice a month from November through February. Doctors do not agree about the medical effects of cold-water swimming. Some are worried about the dangers of a condition in which the body's temperature drops so low that finally the heart stops. Other doctors, however, point out that there is more danger of a heart attack during summer swimming because the difference between the air temperature and water temperature is much greater in summer than in winter. The Polar Bears themselves are satisfied with the benefits(or advantages)of cold-water swimming. They say that their favorite form of exercise is very good for the circulatory system because it forces the blood to move fast to keep the body warm. Cold-water swimmers usually turn bright red after a few minutes in the water. A person who turns blue probably has a very poor circulatory system and should not try cold-water swimming. The main benefits(or advantages)of cold-water swimming are probably mental. The Polar Bears love to swim year-round; they find it fun and relaxing. As one 70-old woman says, When I go into the water , I pour my troubles into the ocean and let them float away. According to the passage, some doctors believe it is true that _ . A. you are healthy if cold-water swimming turn your skin color1 blue B. cold-water swimming causes more heart attacks in summer than in winter C. cold-water swimming can make the body temperature dangerously high D. Polar Bears are bears swimming in freezing water Answer: B Question: You've just found your dream job, but it pays less than the one you've working hard at right now. What should you do ? How can you make the right decision ? When you have a difficult decision to make , you may probably think it over and over again for hours, weighting up all the advantages and disadvantages before coming to a decision .Or ,maybe you decide it quickly without thinking carefully .But according to scientific research, there's a better way to do this: Sleep on it . In a resent study , scientists made an experiment . They offered the participants some information about different types of cars .And they asked them to decide hypothetically which one would be the best fit. Some of them were asked to make the decision right away ,while others were asked to choose the next morning. The result of the survey was interesting. The people who had a good night's sleep were energetic the next morning .And they choose the best quality cars. But those who made quick decisions chose cars with bad quality. So ,if someone asks you to make a big decision ,don't rush to give an answer at once .Instead ,take a step back and get a good night's sleep. Chances are that ,in the morning , you'll know exactly what to do . Which makes it hard for you to make a decision? A. You get less money from the dream job. B. You get more money from the dream job. C. You get less money from the job you're doing now. D. You get no money from the job you're doing now . Answer: A Question: A month went by in this manner, but a month was all I could bear. The memory of Marguerite accompanied me wherever I went. I had loved that woman -- still loved her -- too much for her suddenly to mean nothing to me. Whatever feelings I might have for her now, I had to see her again. At once. ... I knew Marguerite. Meeting me so unexpectedly must have thrown her into a state of great confusion. Probably, she had heard of my departure which had set her mind at rest as to the consequences of our sudden parting. But, seeing me back and coming face to face with me, weak as I was, she had sensed that my return had a purpose, and must have wondered what was going to happen. If, when I saw her again, Marguerite had been unhappy; if, in taking my revenge , there had also been some way of helping her then I might well have forgiven her, and would certainly never have dreamed of doing her any harm. But when I saw her again, she was happy, at least on the surface. Another man had ensured her the wealthy life in which I had been unable to keep her. She brought shame both to my pride and my love; she was going to have to pay for what I had suffered. I could not remain cold to what she did now. It followed that the thing that would hurt her most would be exactly for me to show coldness. Coldness, therefore, was the feeling which I now needed to pretend, not only in her presence but in the eyes of others. I tried to put a smile on my face, and I went to call on Prudence with whom Marguerite was staying. ... Prudence saw me to the door, and I returned to my apartment with tears of anger in my eyes and thirst for revenge in my heart and thought only of finding a way to make the poor creature suffer. According to the passage, the hero wanted to _ . A. forgive Marguerite because he found her unhappy B. stop the relationship with Marguerite because he couldn't afford a rich life C. make up the relationship with Marguerite because he still loved her D. give Marguerite sufferings because his pride and his love were hurt Answer: D Question: An endangered deer with vampire-like fangs was spotted for the first time in nearly 60 years, in a remote forest in northeastern Afghanistan. The fanged creature is known as the Kashmir musk deer, and it is native to the Himalayas of northern India, Pakistan's Kashmir region and northern Afghanistan. Only the male deer have fangs, and they use them during mating season to compete for females. A team of researchers scoured Afghanistan's Nuristan province during 2008 and 2009, and recorded five sightings of the animal. This was the first time the species had been spotted since 1948. During the survey, the researchers spotted a single male Kashmir musk deer near the same area three separate times. The researchers also recorded one female and her baby, and saw a second single female that they think may have been the same deer, without her baby. These musk deer are classified as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Musk-deer meat is a local delicacy, but the species is mostly hunted for its scent glands that are more valuable by weight than gold -- some believe the glands have pharmaceutical properties, and they sell for nearly $20,455 per pound ($45,000 per kilogram) on the black market, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Three decades of war have ravaged Nuristan province, and the continued violence and political instability make the black-market trade of scent glands uncontrollable. Furthermore, the species is quickly losing suitable habitat. All of the musk deer were spotted on sheltered rocky outcrops around 9,843 feet (3,000 meters) high. In the summer, they regularly trek along steep slopes that make them almost impossible to approach and keep them ly safe from hunters. However, heavy snowfall in the winter drives the species farther down, to more human-accessible slopes, and hunters come from all over the country to stalk the deer for their valuable scent glands. Due to violence and unrest, nongovernmental organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society have not been able to operate in the Nuristan province since 2010. The WCS maintains contact with locals they have trained to survey and search for the musk deer. Once the situation in Nuristan improves, the WCS intends to return to the area to continue research and to formulate a conservation plan. Which factor does not contribute to the uncontrollable trade in the black market? A. Government control. B. Continued violence. C. Political instability. D. Years of war. Answer: A Question: The term "smog" was first used in London during the early 1900's to describe the combination of smoke and fog. What we typically call " smog" today is a mixture of pollutants but is primarily made up of ground-level ozone . Ozone can be beneficial or harmful depending on where it stays. The ozone staying high above the Earth protects human health and the environment, but ground-level ozone is responsible for the choking, coughing, and painful eyes associated with smog. The ozone in smog also prevents plants growth and can cause widespread damage to crops and forest. Major smog occurrences often are linked to heavy motor vehicle traffic, high temperatures, sunshine, and calm winds. Weather and geography affect the position and severity of smog. Because temperature regulates the length of time it takes for smog to form, smog can form faster and be more severe on a hot and sunny day. When warm air stays near the ground instead of rising and winds are calm, smog may stay trapped over your city for days. As traffic and other sources add more pollutants to the air, the smog gets worse. Smog is often more severe away from the pollution sources because the chemical reactions that cause smog occur in the atmosphere while the reacting chemicals are being moved by the wind. Smog is a visible example of air pollution. You can look into the distance during the day to see how much smog there is in the air. In addition, most cities measure the concentrations of pollutants in the air and report the results to the public. Environmental Protection Agency sets national standards for pollutants. Areas that fail to meet the standards for at least one air pollutant are called "nonattainment areas. " New measures are being taken by local governments across the country to reduce air pollution in nonattainment areas. These include: banning charcoal barbecues and wood burning in stoves or fireplaces when pollution levels are high; developing programs to encourage carpooling and voluntary "ozone actions" ; limiting traffic in overcrowded areas; expanding or improving public transportation systems; requiring employers to contribute to employee public transportation costs; assessing " smog fees" on cars according to the number of miles driven and vehicle emissions produced; and even buying and breaking up older " super-dirty" cars. According to the passage, ground-level ozone can _ . A. damage the environment B. benefit human health C. protect crops and forest D. limit the spread of smog Answer: A
It's Sunday. Children don't go to school on Sundays. But Kate gets up early in the morning. "It's my birthday. I'm eight years old today." she thinks, "Where are Dad and Mum? I want to know what they can give me for my birthday." Her father and mother are not at home. They are going shopping. And now they are talking about what to buy for Kate. ---- Dad: How about the doll? It looks nice. I think Kate would like the doll. ---- Mom: I don't think so. She is not a little girl. I think she likes a new dress. Girls often like new dresses very much. ---Dad: But she has a few new dresses and some new blouses. Oh, I think she must be very happy to have a box of colorful pencils and some picture books. Do you think so? ----- Mom: Yes. Let's go over there and buy them. _ doesn't want to buy the doll. A Kate B Kate's father C Kate's mother D her parents Answer: C. Kate's mother I'm a commercial fisherman in prefix = st1 /Alaska. It was an eye-opener to see the destruction and waste popular in the world's fisheries. TheAlaskafishery is very well managed and we do not see the damage occurring elsewhere. Many local people complain of the many restrictive laws in the fishery, but after reading these articles, I'm in favor of even stricter regulation. The sea is the basis for life on Earth, and we must take care of it. Tom Hagen Craig, Alaska Your report presents an overly hopeless future. Here in New England where I have fished commercially for 45 years, we are beginning a recovery from years of over fishing. Under the newly authorized Magnuson-Stevens Act, fishermen are forming partnerships with scientists for the purpose of developing fishing-gear modifications to reduce by-catch and reduce impacts to fish habitat. Additionally, we are collecting information on fish stock abundance, population, and ecosystems. The New England Regional Fishery Management Council is supporting the formation of harvest districts, which enables fishermen to have changing market conditions. Frank Mirarchi Scituate,Massachusetts You described fishing around the world, but not here in the United States. There is no support for the American fisherman who is working under the harshest regulations on Earth and the strictest restrictions. We are fishing in a fashion that is completely suitable as required in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. TheU.S.keeps importing more fish from countries that have no requirements on gear or on their catch.U.S.fishermen cannot compete with foreign prices, so the fishermen's numbers have been reduced. There are no young people who will take our place. Jeremiah O'Brien MorroBay,California Jeremiah O'Brien does not agree with _ . A the opinion of Tom Hagen's B the opinion of Frank Mirarchi's C Magnuson-Stevens Act D all the ideas in the article mentioned Answer: A. the opinion of Tom Hagen's Australia -a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia.Australia-more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing. Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live.Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments.Australians are a suburban people.The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance.As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products. The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure.The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular. Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modem city located inland.Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy.The representatives of other countries have their embassies here.Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors. Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today. Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology.This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources.Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures and crops. But Australia is changing.The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining.The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too. Australia -- a young and developing nation.Australia -- a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors. We can infer from the passage that the Australian likes outdoor activities for the _ climate. A dull and wet B fine and shiny C gloomy and rainy D wet and cold Answer: B. fine and shiny In the near future,we may be using our eyes to operate our smart-phones and tablets,even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja. The Gaze Group has been developing eye-controlled computer technology for nearly 20 years.But those devices have been firstly designed to help those with disabilities,and are very expensive. "After a while,we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market way," says Gaze's Sune Alstrup Johansen."where everybody would have this available." Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company,the Eye Tribe,which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level. The technology works with the help of the computing device toward the user's face. After making sure of the user's eye movements,the technology is then able to easily find where a person's eyes are moving,and then allow the eyes to control a cursor . "Our software can then determine the location of the eyes and know where you're looking on the screen to make sure what you're looking at,"reads an explanation on the Eye Tribe site. There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming world.Recently Xbox released the Kinect device,which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands,legs and voices. But still,most of these devices have been more of a _ than a practical way to use one's hands to control a mobile device.Johansen said a replaceable filter would be a cheap,convenient way for most consumers. And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create such a product for the average user, making the eye-controlled technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for physically disabled users. For more articles on modern science,please CLICK here. This passage is probably taken from _ . A an experiment report B a science fiction C a school textbook D a science website Answer: D. a science website Genes code for specifically structured A acids. B lipids. C sugars. D proteins. Answer: D. proteins.
Question: Here begins the story of the life of Tim. Tim's father was Frank. Frank's father was Jim. Jim's father was Greg. And Greg's father was Mark. These 5 men had ruled Markton for the last 100 years. For the last 20 years, Tim had been the ruler. When Frank died, Tim became the ruler. In these last 20 years, Tim brought lots of good luck to his people. They had never eaten so well. Most of his people ate 3 meals a day. Recently, Tim had been having trouble with a band of troublemakers led by Horace. Tim chose to do whatever he could to get rid of Horace. So, he got Assassin to get rid of Horace. One night Assassin sneaked into Horace's bedroom and did away with him. With the bad man gone, all the people had a giant party and sang a song about the greatness of their ruler. Who was Jim's father A. Mark B. Tim C. Markton D. Greg Answer: D Question: What's life like on a deserted island? Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona decided to find out. The adventurous senator took a vacation from Capitol Hill and went on a fourday Robinson Crusoe style holiday with his two teenage sons to a remote, deserted island in the North Pacific Ocean. The senator and his sons, 15yearold Tanner and 13yearold Dallin, traveled 5,200 miles from Phoenix, Arizona to the island of Biggarenn. They didn't carry any food or water. The island is part of the Marshall Islands. It offered no basic supplies, so the Flakes had to catch and cook their own food and purify their water. Their diet was made up of coconuts, crabs and fish. They caught the crab and fish themselves and cooked the food over an open fire started with a magnifying glass . The Flakes brought along a lobster trap in the hope of having some delicious treats, but lost it within the first few hours after it was attacked by a shark. They also carried two pumps to remove salt from ocean water. It took them hours each night to pump for just a few gallons of fresh water. One of the most memorable moments of the trip, the father said, was when he and his 15yearold son were almost caught by sharks after spearing a fish in the ocean. Still, it was quite an enjoyable holiday for them. "For a dad it was a wonderful thing. No video games around, no television, no disturbance, no texting," Flake recalled. What can we learn from the text? A. The Flakes could easily find a fire on the island. B. The Flakes caught lobsters for food on the island. C. The Flakes found basic things that they needed on the island. D. The Flakes took much trouble to get drinkable water on the island. Answer: D Question: If prefix = st1 /U.S.software companies don't pay more attention to quality, they could kiss their business good-bye. BothIndiaandBrazilare developing a world-class software industry. Their weapon is quality and one of their jobs is to attract the topU.S.quality specialists whose voices are not listened to in their country. Already, of the world's 12 software houses that have earned the highest rating in the world, seven are in India. That's largely because they have used new methods rejected by American software specialists. For example, for decades, quality specialists, W. Edwards Deming and J. M. Juran had urgedU.S.software companies to change their attitudes to quality. But their quality call mainly fell on deaf ears in the U.S -- but not in Japan. By the 1970s and 1980s,Japanwas grabbing market share with better, cheaper products. They used Deming's and Juran's ideas to bring down the cost of good quality to as little as 5% of total production costs. InU.S.factories, the cost of quality then was 10 times as high: 50%. In software, it still is. Watts S. Humphrey spent 27 years at IBM heading up software production and then quality assurance. But his advice was seldom paid attention to. He retired from IBM in 1986. In 1987, he worked out a system for assessing(evaluating) and improving software quality. It has proved its value time and again. For example, in 1990 the cost of quality at Raytheon Electronics Systems was almost 60% of total software production costs. It fell to 15% in 1996 and has since further dropped to below 10%. Like Deming and Juran, Humphrey seems to be winning more praises overseas than at home. The Indian government and several companies have just founded the Watts Humphrey Software Quality Institute at the Software Technology Park in Chennai,India. Let's hope thatU.S.lead in software will not be eaten up by its quality problems. What country has more highest-rating companies in the world than any other country has? A. India. B. TheUS. C. Brazil. D. Germany. Answer: A Question: A pair of giant pandas from southwest China's Sichuan Province arrived at their new home in Belgium's Pairi Daiza zoo, some 60km southwest of downtown Brussels, at around 15:00 local time (1400GMT) on February 23, 2014. About 2,500 people, many of them excited children waving national flags of China and Belgium as well as panda-decorated flags or wearing costume of Panda greeted the pandas along the road to the zoo. Visitors today can only observe the pandas through a closed-circuit television system in the reception. Officials said they wanted the pandas fully adapted to their new home before making public _ in April. The pandas, Xing Hui, the male and Hao Hao, the female, are both 4 years old and are on lease from a breeding center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The lease term is 15 years, according to officials with the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, the world's largest research base for the species. "It's a good thing for Belgium." Nicole Duflot, a grandmother coming to the zoo with her husband and her grandson told Xinhua, "We can't see the Panda today but it's a great thing for us to come here." The Pandas will be living in a panda hall of 5,300 square meters within the zoo. "I hope Xing Hui and Hao Hao will enhance friendship between Belgium and China." Liao Liqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Belgium, said during an interview with Xinhua. From the passage, we can predict that _ . A. Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will make much money soon B. Xing Hui and Hao Hao will be very well treated in their new home C. Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will serve the Chinese visitors with free admission D. pandas will be best-sellers in Belgium Answer: B Question: It seems school children all over the world complain about their school food.Cherie Blair,the wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair,said that she would prepare a packed lunch for her son if school dinners do not improve. So what do students of your age eat for lunch at school? Japan High schools have canteens,which serve everything from noodles to rice,but not burgers and chips.Other children bring food from home such as cold rice balls,meat or fish,pickles and vegetables. The United States A typical menu from a US school is made up of a hamburger with fried potatoes or roast chicken,lettuce and pickles,fruit and cookies.School lunches must also provide at least one-third of the daily dietary allowances of protein ,vitamin A.vitamin C,iron,calcium,and calories . Australia Meat pies,sausage rolls and hotdogs are all traditional dishes in Australian school shops.But as the nation pays more attention to children's health,healthier foods have started to find their way onto school menus. Many schools have used a traffic light system.The sale of red-labelled foods including pastries,chocolate and soft drinks,is served only twice a week.Healthier green-labelled foods such as sushi,sandwiches,corn and watermelon,however are served every day. In some schools.students have a choice of up to 89 foods to choose from,including popcorn and rice. South Africa Most of South Africa's schools do not serve meals at all.Classes end at 1:30 pm and students get their own lunches.Many students bring food from home,usually sandwiches. Fast food and fried food sell the best among students,which has led to a rise in obesity among children.But as more people began to realize the fact that being too fat may cause different diseases,some schools in towns have led the way towards better nutrition .Now students at these schools are provided with lunches of porridge with vegetables,such as cabbages,onions,beans,carrots and tomatoes. We can infer from the passage that A. a typical menu from a US school is made up of enough nutrition B. most students in South Africa eat their lunches at home C. many schools in Australia have traffic lights outside their schools D. you can have whatever you like in school canteens in Japan Answer: A
A fierce earthquake struck HaitionJanuary 12, 2010, causing a crowded hospital to fall down and countless houses and buildings were destroyed. The earthquake, the worst in the region in more than 200 years, with a magnitude estimated at 7.0, struck just before 5 p.m. about 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, leaving the region nearly in ruins. As night fell in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, fires burned near the shoreline downtown, but otherwise the city fell into darkness. The electricity was out, telephones were not working and relief workers struggled to make their way through blocked streets. In this earthquake, it was not possible for officials to determine how many people had been killed and injured. It was reported that the headquarters of the United Nations mission was seriously damaged and many employees were missing. Part of the national palace had fallen to the ground. A hospital was totally ruined in Petionville, which is home to many diplomats and wealthy Haitians. A New York reporter said that a wall at the front of the Hotel Oloffson had fallen, killing a passer-by. A number of nearby buildings was badly damaged, trapping people. People were screaming, calling for help from every corner. Haiti sits on a large fault between the much larger North American plate to the north and the Caribbean plate to the south. The earthquake on Tuesday happened when what appears to be part of the southern fault zone broke. With many poor people living in tin-roof shacks and with many of the buildings in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in the country of questionable quality, it was expected that the quake caused major damage to buildings and great loss of life. In Haiti, one way to reduce losses in earthquakes is probably to _ . A repair the Southern fault zone B move to the seaside C improve the quality of the buildings D live in tin-roof buildings Answer: C. improve the quality of the buildings A painting by Chinese artist Qi Baishi set a record for modern art andcalligraphy on the mainland when it sold for 425.5 millionyuanat anauction on May 22. The sale was a milestone in the auction of modern and contemporary artworks. The price meant its value had risen more than 2,000 per cent in six years . The work ,Eagle standing on pine tree with four-character coupleti , measures about 2.6 metres by 1 metre . It was the second highest price paid for an artwork on the mainland . A Song dynasty work by Huang Tingjian was sold for 436.8 millionyuanin 2010 . Qi's painting was finished in 1946 when Qi was 86 , and was his largest work . With a starting price of 88 millionyuan, it attracted nearly 50bids in half an hour . Shanghai businessman Liu Yiqian said that the work had belonged to him and had cost less than 20 millionyuanin 2005 . The auction company said the work was brought back to the mainland after being bought from a private owner in San Francisco six years ago . China ranked first in global art sales last year , ahead of the United States and Britain . Four Chinese artists were among the top 10 in worldwide sales : Qi Baishi , Zhang Daqian , Xu Beihong and Fu Baoshi . Qi's works ranked second in sales to Pablo Picasso's last year . Qi was born into a peasant family in Hunan in 1864 . He taught himself to paint and focused on nature including plants , insects , birds and fish . He is mostly well-known for his paintings of shrimps . In 1953 , he was elected president of the Association of Chinese Artists . He died in Beijing in 1957 . Which of the following is TRUE ? A Qi finished the painting when he was young . B The painting was once stolen by an American . C The owner of this painting Liu Yiqian gained a lot of money . D Pablo Picasso's works ranked second in sales to Qi's last year . Answer: C. The owner of this painting Liu Yiqian gained a lot of money . Even if you are naturally shy, these three tricks will help you to quickly build a new social circle in any new city. 1. Take pictures One of the great things about taking pictures at an event or a party is that it gives you an excuse to get in touch with the person later. Everybody loves seeing pictures of themselves, and it's very easy after taking a picture to say "If you'd like I can email it to you". This can be the seed that leads to new connections. 2. Eat alone in public You might feel self-conscious eating by yourself but it has an important benefit: you are much easier to approach when you are alone. People may be afraid of disturbing you or being rude if you talk with someone else. Bring a book or newspaper to read. Plus, having an interesting book with you will give others an excuse tostart a conversation if they've read it. 3. Join a class, sports team, or club Yoga, salsa dancing, volleyball, Toastmasters (a public speaking club), a class for work, etc. Choose a new hobby or continue an old one! These are all great places to meet new people, primarily because you will be made to see the same people over and over again in the class. You will automatically make friends with them if you have a common interest and are made to see each other again. _ will give you an excuse to make friends with the person. A Taking photos B Eating alone in public C Joining a class D Reading an interesting book Answer: A. Taking photos Yesterday I went to the nursing home to visit my grandma. She just got out of the hospital recently where she had some serious operations. I wanted to surprise her after work, so I stopped by for a quick visit. When I got there, she was happy to see me. We hugged, kissed and exchanged greetings. Then I heard a woman crying. It was my grandma's roommate. The curtain was drawn so I could not see her. She started calling out a name that wasn't mine but she was certainly talking to me, begging me to go to her side of the room. I ignored her at first and continued visiting with my grandma. Then she started begging and saying, "Please, come to see me!" So I went to see her. When I drew the curtain back, she looked so old but flashed me the biggest smile! She opened her arms wide for me to hug her so I bent low and gave her a hug. I sat on her bed and talked with her for a few minutes. She kept calling me by the other name but I did not correct her. She told me stories as if I had been there when they happened. Finally I went back to visit with my grandma. Then the woman started crying again, saying, "Please, come back." She finally slept. I stopped by the nurse's station and the nurse told me that the lady suffers from Alzheimer's. I mentioned the name she had called me. The nurse told me it was the lady's daughter's name. Then I understood why she wanted me to go to visit her. We will all get old some day. Some of us will have broken minds like he lady and some of us will have broken bodies like my grandma. As I was leaving I promised I would go back and visit the lady, even after my grandma moves back to her home. Which word can be used to describe the crying woman? A Selfish. B Lonely. C Strong. D Lazy. Answer: B. Lonely. Chinese people call the Spring Festival"Nian". But do you know that Nian was once the name of a monster ? A long time ago, the monster Nian lived in the mountains. It ate animals. But in winter, it could not find food. So it came to villages and ate a lot of people. People were so afraid of Nian that they locked their doors before evening came during the winter. One day, an old man came to a village. He told people there that Nian was afraid of three things----the color red, fire and noise. He told people to play drums and gongs, make big fires and set off fireworks to make Nian go away. On a moonless, cold night, Nian went to the village again. As soon as it opened its big mouth, people made loud noises and made fires. Nian was really afraid and ran away. wherever it went, there was noise and fire. When Nian was tired and could not run anymore, people killed the monster. After that, on the coldest day of winter, people beat drums and gongs, and set off fireworks to celebrate the death of the monster of Nian. They put up red lanterns and have a big dinner without sleeping during the night. In the morning people greet each other happily. So now we have the Spring Festival. The monster Nian ate people in winter because it _ . A wanted to make people afraid B had no food to eat C celebrated the Spring Festival D liked to eat people in a village Answer: B. had no food to eat
One year, a college in the Unites States announced that it would offer a lot of money for the pure white marigold . The high reward attracted so many people, but in the nature, besides golden, the marigold is brown, and it is not easy to get the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people had forgotten the announcement. One normal day after 20 years, the college received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. It turned out to be an old woman of over 70 years old. Some experts in the college doubted it , but in order not to let her down, those seeds finally took root in the earth. The miracle appeared after one year: the field was covered by pure white marigold. Therefore, the old woman who was always unknown to the public became a new _ . The old woman was a flower-lover. When she read the announcement 20 years ago, she got very excited like others. But her right children were totally against her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics couldn't complete what the experts could never do, so her thought was only a day dream. Still, the old woman didn't change her mind and went on working. She planted some of the most common seeds and took good care of them. A year later, when the marigold came out, she chose one faintest from those golden and brown flowers and get the best seed. The next year, she again grew them and chose.... Day after day, year after year, through many seasons, the old woman's husband died, her children flew far and high, a lot of things happened in her life, but only the desire to grow the pure white marigold took root in her heart. Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden she saw a marigold which was not nearly white, but as white as sliver or snow. A problem even experts couldn't deal with was solved by an old woman who didn't understand genetics. Wasn't it a miracle? To take root in the heart, even the most common seed can grow into a miracle! The woman successfully grew the white marigold at last because she _ . Answer: put her heart into flowers How important is your mobile phone, better known to Americans as a cellphone? Jack said, "I use my phone all the time. I'm always on my phone." Ann said, "It's important to me because it's like my life saver." Jenny said, "I need my cellphone. I cannot live without it." So far, no studies have proven beyond question that the radio signals from cellphones cause brain cancer or other health problems. But a new study by government scientists in the United States has some people wondering what to think. The scientists have found that holding a cellphone to your ear for more than fifty minutes increases brain cell activity. Even the scientists themselves are not sure about the meaning of their findings. Dr Nora Volkow led the study. She heads the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health. Dr Volkow says she is not concerned that fifty minutes of cellphone exposure would harm anyone. But she says the research does show the need to study whether there are long-lasting effects of repeated exposure over several years. Her team studied forty-seven healthy volunteers between January and December of 2009. The volunteers had cellphones placed against both ears while the scientists made images of their brain activity. As part of the test, one phone was activated for fifty minutes. The other phone was off. After that, the volunteers were tested with both phones turned off. Dr Volkow says the brain scans showed increased activity in brain cells closest to the activated phone. The scans showed how the brain cells used sugar to produce energy, a normal activity. The activity was seven percent higher in areas of the brain closest to the cellphone antenna . Dr Giuseppe Esposito is a nuclear medicine expert at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington. He says after many years of studies, better kinds of research are still needed to settle questions about cellphone safety. These studies would take years. Which statement would Dr Giuseppe Esposito probably agree with? Answer: There is still a long way to go to find out whether cell phones are safe to use. High-quality customer service is attached great importance to by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done. Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store , but instead will alert their friends, s, co-workers and even strangers. Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers frequently go to their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde Group and Wharton School. "Storytelling hurts retailers and affects customers," said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde Group. "The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement." On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four others, and will no longer visit the specific store. For every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative review. The resulting "snowball effect" can be disastrous to retailers. According to the research, shoppers who bought clothing met with the most problems. Ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers. The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople. During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved parking problems by getting moonlighting local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance completely got rid of the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided the situation in which several customers eyed the same parking space at the same time. Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions. Most importantly, salespeople should be good at dealing with different people and especially should be polite with angry customers. "Retailers who're helpful and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren't so friendly," said Professor Stephen Hoch. "Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help." Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by bringing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. It's impossible for retailers to improve when they have no idea what is wrong. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _ . Answer: voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly What causes a meteoroid to glow as it falls through the atmosphere of Earth? Answer: friction When next year's crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall, they will be joined by a new face: Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost of Yale, who will become Oxford's vice-chancellor -- a position equal to university president in America. Hamilton isn't the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc. have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Yet the talent flow isn't universal. High-level personnel tend to head in only one direction: Outward from America. The chief reason is that American schools don't tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university's budget. "We didn't do any global consideration," says Patricia Hayes, the board's chair. The board finally picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a particularly American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity. Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student numbers. The decline in government support has made fund-raising an increasingly necessary ability among administrators , and has made hiring committees hungry for Americans. In the past few years, well-known schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2011, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen " a major strengthening of Yale's financial position". Of course, fund-raising isn't the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind to promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices. Which of the following would make the best title of the text? Answer: Global Headhunting in Higher Education
Morocco, a North African kingdom, is on the south of the Mediterranean Sea and on the east of the Atlantic Ocean, between Algeria and Western Sahara. Morocco became independent from France in 1956. People in Morocco speak Arabic, which is the official language. Some people speak French and Spanish. 98.7% of the people believe in Islam. The capital city of Morocco is Rabat. Casablanca, in the north of this country, is the largest city. The famous movie Casablanca tells a story which happened in this city. It seldom rains in Morocco. The coastal cities are not cold in winter (around 16degC) and not hot in summer (around 22degC). In the inland areas, winters are colder and summers warmer. High up in the mountains the temperature can be as cold as -17.8degCin winter, and mountain tops are covered with snow most of the year. The population of Morocco is about 31,000,000. Most children in Morocco go to primary school, but only about 39% of them go to secondary school. However, this country has one of the oldest universities in the world, hundreds of years older than Oxford University. It is Al Qarawiyin University in Northern Morocco, which was founded in AD 859. We can learn from the text that _ . A. Morocco is located on the west of the Atlantic B. Morocco was once ruled by France in1955 C. Casablanca, the capital, is the largest city of Morocco D. less than half of the children in Morocco go to primary school Answer: B China's long-awaited rules on school bus safety finally came into force on Tuesday, including a list of ways aimed at reducing the risk of accident. Among the biggest changes is that buses carrying students will be given priority in traffic, while companies and drivers will need licenses to offer school transport services. Officials have spent more than four months making the rules, during which time the country has been shocked by several big crashes because of overcrowded school buses. The latest accident happened on Monday in Yangchun, Guangdong province, in which three kindergarten pupils were killed and 14 others injured. Rules and funding In the new rules, a school bus is considered as a vehicle with more than seven seats that is transporting children receiving the State's nine-year compulsory education (ages 6 to 15) to or from school. This can also be for preschoolers if a parent is unable to take them to or from kindergarten . School buses must also operate in routes marked in the map by governments to ensure safety. Punishment Companies and bus drivers who fail to meet the rules face the punishment. Drivers against the rules will be fined 200 yuan ($32) and vehicles will be taken away from its owner if they have been used as an unlicensed school bus. New safety rules for school buses can _ . A. make the students have a school bus B. make fewer accident C. make the school bus bigger D. punish the parents Answer: B Advertisement A WE NEED DISTRIBUTORS AGED 13 + IN ALL AREAS Would you like the opportunity to earn extra cash close to home? If so we have a vacancy in our team of local distributors which would suit you. Both adults and youngsters aged 13 + are required to deliver your local free paper. FOR MORE INFORMATION TEUNIONE 0196 -675898 Advertisement B PAYROLL CONTROLLER LANCHESTER FISH Must be able to work on own initiative . High degree of computer literacy required. Ability to develop new payroll systems an advantage. Write with full CV and two referees to: Lanchester Fish 15 Collings Lane LA5 8RU Advertisement C THE KINGDOM COUNTRY CLUB requires EXPERIENCED CHEF/COOK Must be motivated and creative with food. EXPERIENCED BAR MANAGER / BAR PERSON required full time. Accommodation available if required as part of the package ( wage negotiable. ) Could possibly suit couple PART -TIME BAR STAFF REQUIRED Tel 0196- 887323 during office hours Advertisement D SELL INJURY INSURANCE Previous experience NOT essential. Local area. Expenses paid. Training provided. Major international company. Excellent career prospects +package. CALL 0196 436211 FOR LOCAL INTERVIEW How can you contact the employer if you want a job with computers? A. By calling 0196-675898. B. By calling 0196-436211. C. By calling 0196-887323. D. By writing to Lanchester Fish 15 Collings Lane LA5 8RU. Answer: D Become a confident speaker. How to improve your English speaking skills and make you able to communicate more easily and effectively? The following tips will help you to become a more confident speaker. Practice where you can and when you can. And practice is good -- whether you speak to someone who is a native English speaker or not. It's important to build up your confidence. If possible, use the simple sentence structure that you know is correct, so that you can concentrate on getting your message across. Try to experiment with the English you know. Apply words and phrases you know to new situations. Native English speakers are likely to correct you if you use the wrong word. They usually don't mind if you use wrong grammar. Try to respond to what people say to you. You can often get clues to what people think by looking at their body language. Respond to them in a natural way. Never translate everything into your own language. It takes you much time and you'll find it difficult to find an English answer right away. You don't know how to do well. The more you want to act well, the more slowly you act. This will make you _ If you forget a word, do what native English speakers do all the time, and say things that 'fill' the conversation. This is better than remaining completely silent. Try using 'um', 'er', if you forget the word. Don't speak too fast! It's important to use a natural rhythm in speaking English, but if you speak too fast it will be difficult for people to understand you. Try to relax when you speak, and you'll find that your mouth does most of the pronunciation work for you. Speak English at a normal speed. Final tips: Try to become less hesitant. Don't be shy to speak -- the more you do it, the more confident you'll become. Remember to be polite -- use "please" and "thank you" if you ask someone to do something for you. How many tips does the author offer in this text? A. 9. B. 10. C. 11. D. 12. Answer: C It was mother's Day, but the young mother was a little unhappy. Because she was 800 miles away from her parents. In the morning she phone her mother to wish her a happy mother's Day, And her mother told her about the beautiful lilacs in the garden. Later that day, when she told her husband about the lilacs. He said. "I know where we can find all that you want. Get the children and come on."So they went, driving down the country roads. There on a small hill, they saw a lot of beautiful purple lilacs .The young woman ran quickly to enjoy the flowers .Carefully, she picked a few here and a few there. On their way home there was a smile on her face .When they were passing a nursing home ,the young woman saw an old granny sitting in a chair .She had no children with her .They stopped the car and the young woman walked to the old woman, put the flowers in her hands , and smiled at her .The old granny thanked her again and again . She smiled happily, too. When the young mother came back to her car , her children asked her ,"Who is that old granny ? Why did you give flowers to her ?""I don't kown her ."Their mother said ,"But it's Mother's Day , and she has no children. I have all of you , and I still have my mother . Just think how much those flowers meant to her ." There were many beautiful purple lilacs _ . A. in the young woman's garden B. in the market C. on a small hill D. in the nursing home Answer: C
Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881.His father was a painter and art teacher who gave his son the first lesson in drawing.He won a prize--"Science and Charity" for his first important painting when he was only fifteen.He studied in several cities in Spain.But there was no one to teach him all that he wanted to know.When he was nineteen,he visited Paris. Paris was then the center of the world for artists.Everything that was new and exciting in the world of paintings seemed to happen there.When he was twenty-three,Picasso moved there to live and lived in France for the rest of his life. When he was over ninety,this great painter still lived his life like a young man.He was still looking for new ideas and new ways to use his artistic materials. When he died in 1973,he was ninety-one years old. ,. Where was he born and where did he visit when he was nineteen? Flow like the river of change Little stream ran down from a high mountain through many villages and forests. Then it reached a desert. "I went through so many difficulties. I should have no problem crossing the desert, "she thought. As she started, she found herself slowly disappearing into the sand. After many tries, she still failed. "Maybe I can't reach the ocean, "she said sadly to herself. At this time, a deep voice said, "If a breeze can cross the desert, so can a river. "It was the voice of the desert. But the little stream answered, "That's because a breeze can fly, but I cannot. " "That's because you can't give up what you are. Let yourself evaporate into the breeze, and it can take you across, "said the desert. "Give up what I am now? No! No! "The little stream could not accept this idea. "The breeze can carry the vapor across the desert and let it leave as rain. The rain will form a river again, "said the desert. "And whether you're a river or vapor, your nature never changes. "Hearing this, the little stream went into the open arms of the breeze. It carried her to the next stage of her life. The course of our lives is like the experience of the little stream. If you want to go through difficulties in your life to head for success, you should also change the way you are. What does the story mainly tell us? My name is Jack. I come from the United States. Now I'm in China with my grandparents. There is a big zoo in our neighborhood. I like to spend time there on weekends. On weekends, I often go to the zoo with my friends. We like different kinds of animals. I like elephants a lot because they are very smart. They can remember very well. Elephants can also draw very well. And elephants can do a lot of things for people. Lucy likes koalas. She thinks they are cute and interesting. Kate likes giraffes. She thinks they are smart and friendly. Bob likes lions. He thinks lions are exciting but scary. We often spend all the day in the zoo and watch the animals. We sometimes take photos of them. They're our good friends. Who does Jack often go to the zoo with? A container with a printed scale on it's side is used to Come to Austria! Soll is a village in the mountains in western Austria. The Post Hotel, opened by a local family, is clean and not expensive. From the hotel you can see the whole village, the forest and the mountains. Temperatures in summer are usually 20degCto 25degCin the daytime, but much cooler at night. Enjoy Thailand! When you visit Bangkok in Thailand, do not miss the early morning river boat trip to the Floating Market just outside the city. There you will find many kinds of fruits and vegetables. There you can pay for them when you sit in your boat. Don't forget your hat and sunglasses: the sun can be strong and it may be as hot as 40degCat noon! Visit Hawaii! Maybe the most beautiful place in Hawaii is Kauai. You can visit its long, sandy beaches in the south and west of the island, and mountains and forests in the north, but be careful: there are many mosquitoes , and don't be surprised if it rains in the center of the land. Daytime temperatures there are usually around 24degCto 26degCby the sea, and only a little cooler in late evening. According to the passage, the hottest place is _ .
Imagine the situation. You are driving along a desert or on a mountain. You have no idea where you are. You passed the last house two hours ago. Then your car breaks down. It is night and it is cold. You have no mobile phone. What do you do? Well, next time take a GPS with you. This invention may be able to help you. It is a device which uses satellites to find the user's position. It can find your position in 20 meters. A GPS can't start your car, but at least you will know where you are. GPS, which means Global Positioning System, is a small radio receiver. It looks like a mobile phone. You can hold it in your hand, or put it in your pocket. It is sometimes put into a watch or a telephone. We also find GPS devices in cars, planes, or boats. Some of these devices have electronic maps, so you know where you are. For example, in a city they can tell you the name of the street. There are three parts to the Global Positioning System. The first part is the receiver. You can hold it in your hand, or have it fixed into your car, plane, etc. The second part is a group of satellites orbiting the earth. The receiver contacts at least four of the satellites and calculates its position. The third part of the system is a network of ground stations. They are all over the world. They control the satellites and make sure they are working well. Some people think that in the future the GPS will be as common as the mobile. They are becoming cheaper and more and more accurate . There are also many new uses for the GPS. Perhaps they will become like watches. Everyone will have one and you will never be lost again. With the help of GPS, people _ . A can't be lost in a new city B can't find their way in different countries C can start the car D can learn about the culture of an unknown place Answer: A. can't be lost in a new city Assistant Professor, Musical Theatre Dance Wichita State University seeks to hire a full-time, 9-month, assistant professor, beginning August, 2016. Applicants are required to have a degree in dance, teaching experience at the professional or college level, ability to direct and ability to teach stage movement. Salary depends on qualifications and experience. For complete information see http://finearts.wichita.edu. Associate/Full Professor in Theatre and Dance The Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of California at San Diego (http://www-theatre.ucsd.edu/) is seeking an experienced theatre artist in lighting design. Significant professional experience is required. A review of applications will start on June 1, 2016. Application deadline: September 1, 2016. Technical Director in Performing and Fine Arts DeSales University's Performing and Fine Arts Department seeks a highly skilled, professional technical director. The position is a 10-month, staff position with the possibility for summer employment with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. BA degree or equivalent professional experience is required; MFA is preferred. Please email materials to john.bell@desales.edu. Screening of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Assistant Director of Media Resources Center Maryland Institute College of Art is seeking an Assistant Director of Media Resources Center in the Academic Affairs Division. Position qualifications include a degree in Art History or related field with knowledge of art and design history, library experience, excellent interpersonal and communication skills and familiarity with Photoshop and scanning. A review of applications will begin immediately. Applicants may email a letter of interest to jobs@mica.edu. Salary differs depending on your experience. Please include desired salary in your letter of interest. Application Interested persons should electronically submit a cover letter highlighting their experience and qualifications, and names of three professional references with phone and email contact information using the Apply Now link above. If you are good at communicating with others, you should apply to _ . A DeSales University B Wichita State University C the University of California D Maryland Institute College of Art Answer: D. Maryland Institute College of Art The first day my new teacher walked into our school in Spanish Harlem, I burst out laughing. Ron Clark was a young white guy from North Carolina who talked with a funny Southern accent . He said he used to be a singing waiter. I thought, who is this guy? He's a complete joke. It was 1999 and I was in the fifth grade at New York City's P.S. 83. _ . I'd always been a troublemaker. I'd get yelled at, and then the teachers would give up on me. I thought that's what would happen with Ron Clark. I was wrong. That first week, I kept mocking him. He pulled me out to the hallway and said I'd better shape up. "Tamara," he said, "you're a smart kid. You can do better." He told me I was a natural leader and that I'd go far in life if I started applying myself. I was mad at first, but then something happened: I began to respect him. There were 29 students in our class, and it didn't take long for us to realize that Ron Clark was no ordinary teacher. He was only 27 and had the most unusual way of teaching. To help us learn the states and capitals, he changed the lyrics of a popular rap hit called "Thong Song" and had us sing and dance with him. When we read the Harry Potter books, he decorated our classroom like Hogwarts. And during the Presidential election, he put campaign posters on the walls and covered the room with 5,000 red, white and blue stars. What did the author's former teachers do when he made mistakes? A Punish him seriously B Pulled him out of the classroom C Make him stay in the principal's office D Make him stand in the hall. Answer: C. Make him stay in the principal's office Text messaging, or simply "texting", which allows people to send and receive messages on mobile phones, becomes very popular today. The advantages of texting are obvious. Texting helps to save money. If you have a few words to greet your families and friends on their birthdays or on some important festivals, sending messages can be cheaper than phone calling. Texting helps to save time. Even if you want to send a message to 100 people, you can do it one second. Texting helps you to "talk" to someone when he is too busy to answer the phone. Texting can also help you to "talk" to someone secretly if you don't want others to hear what you are talking on the phone. These advantages are so amazing that many people are crazy about it. They hold mobile phones in hands all day long, send dozens of messages each day, and even text while driving or walking. However, texting has its disadvantages. Junk messages may come into your mobile phone box now and then. When your phone box gets too full, you can't receive any more messages. You may therefore miss some important information. What's more, if you don't do texting properly, for example texting while driving or walking, it can be dangerous. It can cause injuries and even death. It was reported that about 6,000 people were killed and half a million were injured for this reason each year. In Fort Lee, a small town in New Jersey, USA, three people died because they walked into traffic while texting in 2011. Two researchers at Stony Brook University, New York found that texters are 60% more probably to have an accident than others. When people are texting, they don't notice other people or things around them. To reduce traffic accidents, all drivers of the UN are now not allowed to text while driving. About 32 countries have passed laws _ the use of mobile phones while driving. Texting is a wonderful way of communication. However, only when we use it properly, can we fully enjoy the fun it brings. What did the researchers at Stony Brook University find? A Texting is a good way of communication. B 6,000 people were killed and injured. C Texters are easier to have an accident. D Many people text to greet families and friends. Answer: C. Texters are easier to have an accident. Which change resulted from the heating of the planets as they formed? A Their masses increased. B They lost most of their radioactive isotopes. C Their structures differentiated into distinct layers. D They started to revolve around the Sun. Answer: C. Their structures differentiated into distinct layers.
Question: Read More & Spend Less We have more than 7 million used books for sale, from the earliest board books to the all-time classics. If you like what we have to offer, Tell-a-Friend and we'll give you more reasons to read! Any member of our website who invites friends and family to try our books using the "Tell-a-Friend" program will see a 20% discount when that friend places their first order within 14 days. Start exploring and save big on all your favorites. Here we list some of our books that are heavily discounted. Giraffes Can't Dance By Giles Andreae This book has been pleasing children for over 15 years. Gerald the tall giraffe would love to join in with the other animals at the Jungle Dance, but everyone knows that giraffes can't dance... or can they? 2004, Paperback ISBN:9780439539470 From $0.99 Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids By Rob Elliott With over 700,000 copies sold, this book will have children rolling on the floor with laughter. A great gift idea for any child. 2010, Paperback ISBN: 9780800788032 From $0.89 Love You Forever By Robert Munsch With simple text and pictures,Love You Foreveris a book to be shared--a story about love that children will carry with them throughout their lives. 1995, Hardback ISBN;9780099266891 FromY=1.98 How to Win Friends & Influence People By Dale Carnegie As the most famous confidence-building book ever published , this classic book will turn your relationships around and improve your relationships with everyone in your life. 2013, Paperback ISBN: 9788087888223 From $0.99 The "Tell-a-Friend" program encourages people to _ . A. take pleasure in reading with their friends. B. help a friend form the habit of reading. C. share the website with others D. read more but spend less Answer: C. share the website with others Question: "A messy desk can actually lead people towards clearer thinking", say researchers from Germany. The researchers found in a series of linked studies----using a messy desk and a messy shop front ----that people actually thought more clearly when all around was chaos, as they sought to simplify the tasks at hand. Visual and mental mess forces human beings to focus and think more clearly. Famous thinkers and writers such as Albert Einstein and Roald Dahl have been well-known for their untidy desks. "Messy desks may not be as harmful as they appear to be. As the problem-solving approaches they seem to cause can increase work efficiency or improve employees' creativity in problem-solving," say the authors. "Business and government managers often promote 'clean desk' policies to avoid disorganized offices and messy desks, for the purpose of improving work efficiency and productivity," writes lead researcher Jia Liu from the University of Groningen in a paper published in the Journal of Consumer Research. "This practice is based on the conventional wisdom that a disorganized and messy environment can clutter one's mind and make one's judgments difficult." "However, not all evidence supports this traditional link between a messy environment and a messy mind." The scientists tested people's response in various messy environments----including a messy shop front, a disorganized desk, and even a work environment where a language task "reminded" people of messiness. The authors found in the series of six studies tended towards simplicity in their thinking. "They categorized products in a simpler manner, were willing to pay more for a T-shirt that shows a simple-looking picture, and sought less variety in their choices," said the researchers. The attitude of Jia Liu towards "clean desk" policies was_. A. doubtful B. supportive C. indifferent D. Neutral Answer: A. doubtful Question: Astronomy is the oldest science known to man. Thousands of years ago man looked at the stars and wondered about the heavens. But man was limited by what he could see with his eyes alone. The Greeks studied astronomy over 2,000 years ago. They could see the size, color, and brightness of a star. They could see its place in the sky. They watched the stars move as the seasons changed. But the Greeks had no tools to help themselves study the heavens. Each new tool added to the field of astronomy helped man reach out into space. They did not know that the planet called Saturn had rings around it. Their sight was so limited that they could not see all the planets. In the early 1700s, people thought there were only six planets. Nepture , the last of eight planets to be discovered, was not seen until 1846. Before the spectroscope , man did not know what kind of gases was in the sun or other stars. Without the radio telescope, we didn't know that radio noises came from far out in space. Today, astronomy is a growing science. We had learned more in the last fifty years than in the whole history of astronomy. . When the Greeks watched the stars, they could _ . A. know what the stars were made of B. not see their places in the sky C. help themselves study the heavens D. watch the stars move as the seasons changed Answer: D. watch the stars move as the seasons changed Question: Dormant cane toads emerges from mud to ended their A. long slumber B. day C. life D. meeting Answer: A. long slumber Question: We start forming impressions of people we meet from the moment we set eyes on them. A large part of the first impression that you create comes from your body language. Your body language speaks louder than the words you say. Face The face is the most expressive part of the body. If you are feeling anxious then your facial expression may lead you to appear cold, or unhappy. You can break this _ by trying to smile. Your smile is one of the strongest tools you have in meeting new people. It will help you appear warm, friendly and confident. Eyes Our eyes give clues to our emotions. Making very little eye contact can either show shyness or fear. Looking at others says that you are interested, friendly, and at ease. Hands Your hands are also very expressive. Open gestures tend to make you appear open and honest. By pointing your finger, or moving your hands closer together, you can draw attention to what you are saying. Used properly, hand gestures can make you seem friendly. Making too many gestures can make you appear uncontrolled. Touching your sleeves, face, etc. can make you appear tense, nervous, and sometimes dishonest. Posture Your posture makes a big contribution to your body language and shows your level of self-confidence. By falling away from them or leaning back, you show a lack of interest. When we are feeling low in confidence and want to hide away, keep our heads down. Your posture gives not only signals about your interest in something but also clues showing your status within a group. In summary, our face, eyes, hands and posture express what is going on inside of us. Using good body language can bring up our level of self-confidence. Which of the following is the good effect for you to use your body language? A. Giving clues showing your status within a group. B. Expressing what you are really feeling inside. C. Bringing up your level of self-confidence. D. Giving signals about your interest in something. Answer: C. Bringing up your level of self-confidence.
Scrooge looked around him angrily. It was Christmas and his only friend Jacob Marley, had been dead for seven years. What was there for him to celebrate? He listened with growing anger to the people calling out greetings in the street and _ his nephew Bob Cratchit, who was just ready to go home. "Merry Christmas, uncle," called Bob as he hurried out of the door. Scrooge sighed. He might just as well go to bed. Aware that he should not waste his candle, he quickly undressed and climbed into bed. But no sooner had he done so than the ghost of Marley, covered in chains, appeared. "What's the matter, Jacob?" he asked. "There are the chains I made in my life," answered the ghost. "I'm forced to wander around with no rest and no peace. I have come here to warn you that if you do not change, this too will be your fate. You will be visited by three spirits. Expect the first one tomorrow when the clock strikes one. Expect the second and the third on the following nights at the same hour." With that Marley vanished. "Nonsense!" he said and going back to bed, fell fast asleep. When Scrooge awoke it was dark. The clock struck one. At the sound, light flashed into the room and there stood a young boy. "Who are you?" asked Scrooge in an unsteady voice. "I'm the spirit of Christmas past," replied the spirit. "Come with me." "Do you remember this?" he asked. Scrooge did. He heard the happy cries of people, and looking around he found himself, as he used to be, sitting on a chair and reading. It was a Christmas. Suddenly Scrooge watched his younger self joined in a band, dancing and laughing. "Strange," said the spirit, "that such little things should make people so happy." The ghost let him go and Scrooge sank down into a deep sleep. When he awoke again the second night, the clock sounded one again. Before he doubted the second spirit already turned up. The fat and jolly spirit was smiling,"I'm the spirit of Christmas present."Again Scrooge grasped the spirit's hand and was transported to a small house filled with a number of children and their mother. "Why, it's my nephew Bob's house," cried Scrooge in astonishment. His surprise increased when the door opened and in came Bob carrying a small, sick boy, Tiny Tim. "Sit down," cried Bob to his family. "Let's have the best Christmas dinner!" They all began to eat eagerly. Scrooge watched at the happiness and contentment of his poor nephew's family. "A Merry Christmas to us all!" cried Bob. "God bless us everyone!" added Tiny Tim, who sat very close to his father and Bob held his thin hand tightly. "No, not for the uncle, but for you and the children. Nobody knows better than you how mean that man is." exclaimed Bob's wife. "Spirit," cried Scrooge. "Will Tiny Tim live?" "If the future remains the same," said the spirit, "there will be an empty chair next year." Again the spirit moved Scrooge away, and he fell asleep as he fell back into his bed. The third night he woke and waited for the hour and the third spirit. This time the spirit didn't come in a flash of light but arrived quietly wearing a black cloth that covered its face and form. "I'm the spirit of Christmas that is to come." The spirit pointed and led him to a large stone. It was at the foot of a grave that was clearly neglected. Scrooge looked closer with trembling fingers and with horror read his own name on the stone. "Oh, spirit, no, no!" The spirit's finger remained steady pointing at the grave. "I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year," cried Scrooge in terror. He reached out to hold the spirit's hand, but it slipped away. Scrooge looked around him. he saw he was in his own bed with his own thing around him. "I have learned from the past, present and the future," he rushed to the window and shouted to the boys below: "What day is it today?" "Why, it's Christmas Day," they replied in amazement. "Wonderful," cried Scrooge. He rushed to his office to wait for Bob. When he entered, Scrooge pretended to look angry. "Do you know what day it is, my boy?" he asked Bob. "I'm not going to stand for this any longer," he continued, "and so I'm going to raise your salary." Bob looked amazed. "A Merry Christmas, Bob," cried Scrooge slapping him on the back. "I want to help you and your family. Let's talk about it this very afternoon." Which of the following saying best describes the passage? Answer: Life on-line can be a much richer experience when you aren't restricted to just written words and still pictures.Even if you're new to the Net,you've probably heard about multimedia on-line--listening to audio,watching animations and videos,even playing in three-dimensional space.Sound and movement make information come alive. To experience it,you'll need special pieces of software called plug-ins.The term "plug-in" refers to a small,add-on piece of software which extends the capabilities of your web browser,like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer,turning your computer into a radio or TV. When you arrive at a web page which contains a file requiring a plug-in which you don't have,you will usually receive a message asking if you want to get it by downloading it and installing it into your computer.Most of the time,the installation will be automatic. Occasionally,you'll run into a downloaded file which needs to be decompressed or un-zipped before installation.Once installed,plug-ins run automatically,without you having to do anything. Many multimedia controls still need to be obtained from the developer but are installed automatically. Shockwave is a good example of this.All you need to do is go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the ActiveX control.The rest happens automatically.The next time you go to a "Shocked" website,the Shockwave control loads and plays the movie. Most plug-ins and controls can be downloaded for free on the Internet,although not all will work with every system.Some of them,for instance,only work with Windows 95. Most of the time,how can we get a plug-in before automatic installation? Answer: One evening , it was raining and the wind was blowing hard . An old couple came to a small hotel and wanted to stay there for the night . A young man welcomed them warmly , but said "I'm sorry ! Our rooms here are all full and the hotels nearby are all full too, for there will be an important meeting held here tomorrow ." Hearing the young man's words , the old couple felt very disappointed , and turned around to leave . Just as they were leaving , the young man came up to them and stopped them :"Madam and sir ,if you don't mind , you can sleep in my bedroom for a night ." The next morning ,the old couple took out lots of money to give it to the young man ,but he refused to take it . "No! You needn't pay me any money , for I only lend my room to you." said the young man with a smile on his face. "You're great, young man! It's very kind of you .Maybe one day , I'll build a hotel for you ." said the old man. With these words , the old couple left . The young man only laughed and went on working . Several years later , the young man got a letter from the old couple , inviting him to go to Manhattan . The young man met the old couple in front of a five-star hotel . "Do you still remember what I said to you several years ago ? Look ! This is the hotel that I built for you !" said the old man . Soon, the young man became the manager of the hotel. For the night , the old couple gave the young man _ . Answer: It's Saturday morning and Tony's sitting at the kitchen table, staring into space and playing with a piece of bread. He's not even hungry. Is he ill? No, but he does have a problem. He has nothing to do and there's just one reason: the Internet is down and Tony has nothing to do. When he woke up this morning, Tony was feeling great. He jumped out of bed full of plans for the weekend ahead. It would be a weekend like any other--a great weekend. But that was before he turned on his computer and wasn't able to go online. No Internet changed everything. Just as Tony is wondering how he can possibly have a normal weekend without the Internet, his mum walks into the kitchen. "Is everything OK?" she asks. "No, mum, everything is definitely not OK," her sad son replies. "I can't go online and I have homework to finish." His mum laughs, "The word program is still working, so what's the problem?" What's the problem? Tony can't believe his own mother isn't able to see how serious the problem really is. To start with, he still needs to do research for his homework. He knows his mum will tell him to go to the library but he hates the library. It's so dark and uncomfortable. And forget homework--what about the rest of his weekend! Every weekend, he goes online to email friends. Then he reads the news to catch up on what's happening in the world. He plays a few online games and finishes the weekend off with an online chess game with his cousin Helen. The wonderful weekend-online! Now it's Saturday morning and he's not going to have access to the Internet for two whole days. Tony stared into space and played with a piece of bread _ . Answer: Which of these live on land as adults? Answer:
If there is something that appears most frequently on Chinese dining tables, it is doufu--beancurd.Beancurd looks like soft cakes and it's made from dried soybeans.Beancurd used to be considered a favourite of the poor because of its low cost.Beans have high yields every year with their short growing period and suitability for various soil both dry and wet. Historical records show beancurd was invented by Liu An, Prince of Huainan and uncle of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty(206BC--220AD).He had a dream of finding the pill for longevity .He traveled all over the country and found soybeans, which looked much the same as gold in terms of colour.He collected soybeans, put them in the water and crushed them into pulp .It got solidified and became known as doufu.Although it's not able to keep longevity, it's really good for one's health with high protein and low fat. With a long history, beancurd is rooted deep in Chinese culture.People eat more meat and fish than beancurd.But they are encouraged to have beancurd every once in a while for it's really good for health.Most Chinese people still keep beancurd as one of their favourite dishes. Why did Liu An travel all over the country? A. He had a dream. B. He wanted to invent beancurd. C. He wanted to find something that could make people live longer. D. He wanted to find gold. Answer: C The universe looks like a pretty quiet place to live. But the universe is filled with dangerous things, all struggling to be the one to wipe us off the planet. Happily for us, they're all pretty unlikely, but if you wait long enough, one of them is certain to get us. But which one? 1. Death by Asteroid Of all the ways we might meet our untimely death, getting wiped out by an asteroid is the most likely. Why? Because we sit in a universal shooting gallery, with 100 tons of material hitting us every day. The problem, though, occurs every few centuries when something big this way comes. If you could ask a dinosaur, I'd imagine they would tell you to take _ seriously. 2. Death by Exploding Star When a huge star ends its life, it does so with a bang, which sends death spreading across space in the form of high-energy radiation. Many studies show that the bang would have to be closer than about 75 light years to do us any harm. The good news: no stars so close are able to do the deed. 3. Death by Dying Sun The sun is important to us; without it, we'd freeze. But the sun is also middle-aged, already halfway to running out of fuel, expanding into a red giant, and cooking us to a fine crisp. Even long before then, it'll warm up enough to raise our average temperature and cause a runaway greenhouse effect, boiling our oceans. Happily, that's a long time from now. 4. Death by Black Hole Black holes are misunderstood. They don't wander the galaxy looking for tasty snacks in the form of planets and stars; they turn around the Milky Way just like the hundreds of billions of other stars do. But it's possible that one could wander too close to us. If it did, planetary paths would be disturbed, causing the Earth to drop into the sun or be thrown out into deep space. Given that it could be trillions of years or more before even that happens, we don't have to worry too much about black holes. My advice? Go outside, look up, enjoy the sun, the moon, and the stars. They may be there forever as far as any one of us is concerned...and forever is a long, long time. While the author is introducing the ways the universe could wipe out humankind, he is _ us. A. warning B. comforting C. entertaining D. ignoring Answer: C To compare the hardness of different minerals, it would be BEST to find A. the color of the minerals. B. which minerals scratch other minerals. C. which minerals reflect light most strongly. D. the samples that feel smoothest to the touch. Answer: B Sitting by her Pinocchio lamp, she smiled at me as her tiny hands' shadow danced on the bedroom wall."A rabbit!" she laughed with all the delight of a four-year old.Her blue eyes shone with pride as she showed me the animated image she had created."Daddy, will you show me how to make a tiger?" she asked."Sure," I said, "and then we'll read a story and tell your angels goodnight."To my youngest daughter, that meant her bedtime prayer. Today my daughter is seven, and I no longer get to read the story.She reads it to me, complete with expressive accents for the story characters. To say I'm proud of our relationship would be an understatement.We have shared days of joy as well as tragedy.Our time together has strengthened the relationship of love and special " _ " that is all our own. I am richer for having planted the spirit of trust in this gentle little person; we have grown together spiritually, learning much from each other.The special times we spend together, like nights by a Pinocchio lamp, create memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. So it is with all of our relationships.The trust factor is vital for relationships to develop.Think of one of your fondest memories, and you will no doubt find a remarkable relationship at its center--one with a spiritual quality that shines outward from the heart. Time together, caring acts, and unconditional love build trust.I suggest that we each spend plenty of time with our personal "Pinoechio lamps"--those special ways that we choose to strengthen our relationships. Relationships take time to develop and maintain.It is not always easy, but the results are priceless."Nights by a Pinoechio lamp", wherever those might be for you, will create enduring relationships of golden "life stuff", spiritual gifts that no one can take away. Why does the author write the passage? A. To recall his fondest memories. B. To stress the importance of trust in building relationships. C. To explain how to create valuable memories. D. To tell the readers how to educate children. Answer: B Alan is using cabbage juice to determine the relative pH of various household solutions. Which of these steps communicates the results of his investigation? A. Conduct multiple trials B. Write down a procedure C. Identify the materials to be tested D. Record observations and data in a journal Answer: D
There is a small village named Bugu in the mountains of Shanglin County, Guangxi. The place is so small that it can't be found in the map of the county of Shanglin. However, the place has strongly interested experts both at home and abroad. There are altogether 81 families in the village with more than 540 people. Among them as many as 156 villagers have a university education. Take this year's college entrance examination for example. Six out of nine students from the village who took the examination were taken into universities. Going to school has been a great thing for the whole village. To encourage children to study hard and become useful people, the village has set up a special group made up of four old villagers. Every day, the four villagers go round the village. If they find any child who is not going to school, the child's parents will be punished . When university students come back to the village for the Spring Festival,the old villagers of the special group always ask them to make up test papers and let the children take the special "Village Test". Those who are taken into university can receive money from the village's education fund. The whole village also helps the poor families send their children to school. The four old villagers' job is _ . Answer: A ship was damaged during a storm at sea and only two of the men aboard were able to swim to a small island. Not knowing what else to do, the two survivors decided that they should pray to God. However, to find out whose prayers were more powerful, they agreed to divide the land between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a tree on his side of the island, and he was able to eat its fruit. But the other man's side of land remained _ After a week, the first man became lonely and decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was damaged and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island. But on the other side of the island, there was nothing. Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes and more food. The next day, like magic, all of these things were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that he and his wife could leave the island, and in the morning he found a ship stopped at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven, "Why are you leaving your partner on the island?" "My blessings are mine alone since I was the one who prayed for them." The first man answered. " His prayers were all unanswered so he doesn't deserve anything." "You are mistaken!" the voice said. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. He prayed that all your prayers would be answered." Why didn't the two men stay together on the island? Answer: WHERE TO STAY IN BOSWELL YOUR GUIDE TO OUR BEST HOTEL Which hotel faces the Orchard Hotel? Answer: Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband, Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children. During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport . He reported the case to the police and then sat there, lost and lonely in strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one. Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband's name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can that had been left out on the footpath. My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend. That family not only _ the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people. We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish to their way. Which of the following can be the best title for the text? Answer: Dick was driving a large American car. As soon as the race started, he pulled out in front. As the race went on, he kept the first place. And he was far ahead of Wilson, the man in the second place. When the race was almost over, some people stood up and left. "Why did stay?" they thought. They were sure they knew who would win. But things did not go as they thought. A strange noise came from Dick's car. It slowed down. Something was wrong. Dick knew his car would not go far. His only hope was that he would make it to the finish. But on his last lap , the car stopped. Wilson's car roared by. Dick saw it go by. He knew he could not win now. "But I can finish the race," he thought. And he got out of his car. So did his assistant. They began to push the car to the finish. Wilson went by them again and again. He was on his last lap. He was going to win. Dick and his friend did not care. They went on pushing. At first, all eyes were on Wilson. He crossed the line. And the race was over. He won! Dick and his friend pushed on. At last, the car crossed the line. By then all the people shouted for them. They shouted more than they did for Wilson. This was a different kind of winner! Which of the following is True according to the passage? Answer:
Question: It's finally the weekend of Halloween and I get to dress up in my lion costume. Halloween is my favorite holiday because I really like candy and love dressing up. Last year I was a ghost, but this year I am a lion. My little brother is dressed like a dinosaur and he keeps chewing on everything. He is only 3 years old so I guess that is okay. His name is Todd and his favorite holiday is his birthday but I don't think he knows much about any of them. My dad loves Christmas and my Mom really likes Thanksgiving. But I love Halloween. We have to wait for my dad to come home from work so we can go out and trick-or-treat. While we are waiting my mommy cooks us dinner. She wants us to eat good food before we spoil our dinner with all the candy we are going to get. I can't wait to go to my friend Kevin's house. His parents give the best candy and give me extra since Kevin is my friend. I think Kevin said he was going to dress up like a pirate but I don't remember. I don't think pirates are very cool, but I didn't tell Kevin that. I think I hear my dad coming up the stairs. Tonight is going to be the best Halloween ever. What holiday is it? A. Thanksgiving B. Christmas C. Birthday D. Halloween Answer: D. Halloween Question: Two Chinese farmers who became an overnight hit when their heart-rending version of a famous pop song appeared on the Internet took to the stage in front of thousands of fans in Shanghai last Saturday. Wang Xu, 44,and Liu Gang, 29, sang "In the Spring" alongside the song's star composer Wang Feng, in front of about 80,000 people at the Shanghai Stadium. The audience buzzed with excitement and let out deafening cheers, the moment as they were introduced on the stage and then when Liu started the first sentence of their parts of the song. The two migrant workers became stars after singing the tearjerker song during an evening drinking session in a 6-square-meter rented room in a late August evening. A friend recorded the performance on a cell phone and posted it on the Internet. "If someday I am dead, please bury me in the spring," they sing. Wang's penetrating chorus, delivered with his eyes closed, has moved thousands to tears. Wang and Liu consider the song a true portrait of lower-class groups like themselves. "With no credit card, no girlfriend, or a home with hot water, but only a guitar, I am singing happily, on streets, under bridges or in wild country, though nobody pays attention to the music," they sing. To support his wife and two sons, Wang came to Beijing in 2000 from the countryside and has worked as a boiler man, and street peddler, before becoming a medical warehouse keeper, with a monthly pay of around 1,500 yuan. Little is left after he pays 600 yuan for rent and buys food. Liu came to Beijing in 2002. "I wanted to try my luck in the big city, " he said. He had worked as a guard, roadside peddler, and porter, but never had a stable job. Street performing was his main income, even after he married and became a father three years ago. Wang and Liu are still uncertain where their fame will lead. Wang has started learning to use a computer. They even have a micro blog account to communicate with fans. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. migrant workers' conditions will be improved soon. B. they will learn to write songs on computers. C. a song showing people's real life and feelings is more likely to be accepted. D. singers for migrant workers are more likely to become popular. Answer: C. a song showing people's real life and feelings is more likely to be accepted. Question: On Christmas Eve a few years ago an English couple received a very special telephone call. It was only a 20-second call but it was very important. The Haydens' 15-year-old daughter had disappeared six months before. On Christmas Eve she rang them. "I'm phoning to wish a happy Christmas," she said, "I love you." Ronals and Edwine Hayden were so happy that they started a special telephone service called "Alive and Well". The service helps parents to get in touch with children who have run away from home. Young people can phone "Alive and Well" and leave a message for their parents. The telephones are answered by answering machines. So no one can speak to the child of making him return home. Parents of runaway children who are under eighteen can ask the police to bring their children home, so children do not want to tell their parents where they are. Through "Alive and Well" they can telephone their parents without worrying about this or giving out their addresses. The Haydens and their helpers write down the tape recorded telephone messages and connect the address given. Many of the 30,000 British teenagers who have left home are probably in London. For only two pence they can go into a telephone coin box and call their parents. They can dial 5675339 and stop a parent's worry: Is he dead or alive? From the passage, we can know that _ . A. the Haydens received an "Alive and Well" call before Christmas B. an "Alive and Well" call usually costs a lot C. 30,000 British teenagers enjoyed the "Alive and Well" service D. an "Alive and Well" call is very important for worrying parents Answer: D. an "Alive and Well" call is very important for worrying parents Question: Which of these most likely has the GREATEST mass? A. Chicken B. Puppy C. Lizard D. Horse Answer: D. Horse Question: There's one language that is used in every country in the world. It's everyone's second language. It's easy to be understood, although you can't hear it. It's sign language. When you wave to a friend who is crossing the street, you're using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you're saying, "I think I know the correct answer." Babies can point at things. They're using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop the traffic holds up his hand. He's using sign language, too. Sign language is a bridge between the deaf and non-disabled people. They use the movement of the hand, arms or body to express a speaker's thoughts. Today, in many countries, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The news reporter tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen. The actors in the theater for the deaf often use their hands to show what they want to say. They can make a roof with their hands over their heads when they want to show "house". One finger over a person's mouth can mean "quiet". You can talk to people behind closed windows. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have a talk under water with sign language. . This passage mainly talks about _ . A. sign language B. Chinese culture C. a foreign language D. bodies Answer: A. sign language
It is a very common thing for a person to have a good friend.My good friend is Diana.She is a rich and proud girl.She often thinks that she is too good for anyone,so nobody wants to be her friend. One day after school,I was waiting for Diana when Vivien came up to me.She gave me a biscuit.I accepted it.We talked and joked,and from then on,I began to spend more time with Vivien than with Diana.I felt a little uneasy. After a few days,I went to see Diana for some snacks when Vivien came and sat with me.She offered me a sandwich.She also offered one to Diana,but Diana refused it.She walked away.I was angry with Diana for being so rude and thoughtless. "Never mind,"Vivien said,"I'm used to it." After school,I tried to catch up with Diana.While walking home,I tried to correct her attitude,but she would not listen to me.She said,"Go and join your 'dear' Vivien.I know you make new friends and forget the old ones." For the next few weeks,we did not talk to each other.Then,one day,Diana came to Vivien and me,saying,"I'm really sorry about what I did.I'm a spoiled girl,but I also need good friends just like you.Would you please forgive me?"Vivien and I looked at each other and smiled.From then on,Diana,Vivien and I have been best friends." Diana asked Vivien and the writer to forgive because _ . A they didn't spend much time with her B she realized she was wrong C Vivien and the writer didn't talk to her D she was a rich and proud girl Answer: B Charles Dickens (1812-1870), the great nineteenth century English novelist, was born near Portsmouth. His father ran heavily into debt and when he was twelve, he had to go and work in a factory for making boot polish. The only formal education he received was a two-year schooling at a school for poor children. In fact, he had to teach himself all he knew. He worked for a time as junior clerk in a lawyer's office. After that, he worked as a reporter in the law courts, and later in parliament, for London newspapers. His career as a writer of fiction began in 1833 with short stories and essays in periodicals, and in 1837 his comic novel The Pickwick Papers made him the most popular author at his time in England. He was a great observer of people and their places because he was attracted by life and conditions in mid-nineteenth century London. He wrote 19 novels all his life and in many of them, Dickens gave a realistic picture of all classes of England society, showing deep sympathy for the poor and unfortunate, exposing the injustice and inhumanity of the bourgeoisie . Many of his novels like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and so on drew attention to the unsatisfactory social conditions that existed in England over a hundred years ago. Dickens criticized capitalist society from the point of view of bourgeois humanism. He wished to see improvement in the living conditions of the poor, but failed to find any effective means to achieve that end. According to Dickens, the society at his time in England was _ . A just B poor C comfortable D unsatisfying Answer: D A pharmaceutical company develops a new antibiotic to treat pneumonia. After limited testing, the researchers conclude that the antibiotic seems to be effective. How can the researchers strengthen their conclusions? A Test the antibiotic on human volunteers. B Publish their results in a medical journal. C Ask an independent lab to retest the antibiotic. D Test the effectiveness of the antibiotic at killing other bacteria. Answer: C As a boy, Charles Robert Darwin collected anything that caught his interest: insects, coins and interesting stones. He was not very clever, but Darwin was good at doing the things that interested him. His father was a doctor, so Darwin was sent to Edinburgh to study medicine, and was planned to follow a medical career. But Charles found the lectures boring. Then his father sent him to Cambridge University to study to be a priest. While at Cambridge, Darwin's interest in zoology and geography grew. Later he got a letter from Robert FitzRoy who was planning to make a voyage around the world on a ship, the Beagle. He wanted a naturalist to join the ship, and Darwin was recommended . That voyage was the start of Darwin's great life. As the Beagle sailed around the world, Darwin began to wonder how life had developed on earth. He began to observe everything. After he was home, he set to work, getting his collection in order. His first great work The Zoology of the Beagle was well received, but he was slow to make public his ideas on the origin of life. Later Darwin and Wallace, another naturalist who had the same opinions as Darwin, produced a paper together. Darwin's great book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (<<>> ) appeared. It attracted a storm. People thought that Darwin was saying they were descended from monkeys. What a shameful idea! Although most scientists agreed that Darwin was right, the Church was still so strong that Darwin never received any honors for his work. Afterwards, he published another great work, The Descent of Man. His health grew worse, but he still worked. "When I have to give up observation, I shall die," he said. He was still working on 17, April, 1882. He was dead two days later. According to the passage, Charles Darwin's whole life was changed by _ . A his study at Cambridge University B his collection of coins C the naturalists at Cambridge D the voyage of the Beagle Answer: D It is difficult for parents of nearly every family to teach their children to be responsible for housework, but with one of the following suggestions, you really can get your children to help at home. If you give your children the impression that they can never do anything quite right, then they will regard themselves as unfit or unable persons. Unless children believe they can succeed, they will never become totally independent. My daughter Carla's fifth - grade teacher made every child in her class feel special. When students received less than a prefect test score, she would point out what they had mastered and declared firmly they could learn what they had missed. You can use the same technique when you evaluate your child's work at home. Don't always scold and give lots of praise instead. Talk about what he has done right, not about what he hasn't done. If your child completes a difficult task , promise him a Sunday trip or a ball game with Dad. Learning is a process of trying and failing and trying and succeeding. If you teach your children not to fear a mistake of failure, they will learn faster and achieve success at last. The whole passage deals with _ . A social education B school education C family education D pre - school education Answer: C
Tuesday, 1stSeptember I had mixed feelings today, nervous, worried, happy, excited... My heart went down when Miss Chan, our head teacher, said that Matthew and Beth, two students from England, would spend three months with us! I was worried that I had to speak English so much! But at the end of the school day, I was happier than I thought: the morning with them today was more enjoyable than I expected. Today is the most unforgettable first day I have had! Matthew is fantastic! His English is clearer and easier to listen to than I thought. The other English student, Beth, is the most helpful girl I've ever met. There were lots of things to do on the first day. Beth offered to help Miss Chan put up all the notices. Of course, some of the credit should also go to ME because I translated some of the notices for her. Miss Chan praised us! We finished all the preparations 10 minutes earlier than expected, then Beth and I talked for a while, Matthew sang several English songs and did some stand-up comedy at the party. We all praised him. When the bell rang to end the first school day, none of us wanted to leave. When I went back home, I had a little headache. I have probably spoken more English today than the whole of last year. It was really a happy day! I hope our friendship can continue, even after they gone back to England! Beth helped Miss Chan with the _ . A comedy B speeches C notices D translation Answer: C. notices Legend has it that an apple which fell from its branches was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity . But now history's famous fruit tree is paying the price of fame. The thousands of visitors drawn to Sir Isaac's childhood home each year could be damaging the tree. A willow barrier has been put around the tree. It means visitors to the 17thcentury Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, will no longer be able to sit under its branches as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when "the notion of gravitation came to mind." The National Trust, which owns the small manor where Newton was born in 1642, said the 2ft-high barrier was designed to _ the tree. Official Ann Moynihan said there had been no damage so far but warned that there could soon be a problem."Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 percent, to 33,000 a year in three years. The more people who visit, the more the earth will become compacted around the tree and over the roots. We just want to _ the tree for another 400 years if we can."She said visitors will still be able to take apples from the tree. Visitor Chris Gwyther,37,said,"I suppose it is a pity that you can't sit under the tree like Newton. But you can still see it and the tree is 400 years old, it needs saving for the future." Newton left no information saying he had been inspired by a falling apple. The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727, the year Newton died at the age of 84. Which of the following sentences is true? A Newton himself wrote a letter about the story of the apple tree. B Newton's family owes Woolsthorpe Manor and tells the story. C Visitor numbers have gone up to 32,000 every year. D A French philosopher wrote the apple tree story in a book. Answer: D. A French philosopher wrote the apple tree story in a book. Nate Robinson is unlike any other player in the NBA. This player is the shortest in the NBA, but he is one of the most fearless players. He is 1.75m tall. "In NBA, he looks like a fourth-grader among a group of high school students," according to The Atlantic. How can he compete with them? Robinson _ for this with his ability to jump. Without moving forwards or backwards, he can jump up to 110cm. However, confidence helps him more. "People talk about my height all the time, but I don't really feel smaller than anyone else," said Robinson. "I always think I'm on fire ." No matter who you are or what you've won, he's going to come at you. With that spirit, he has won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest three times. Also, he has made many wonderful blocks . Chicago Bulls played Miami Heat on May 10, 2013. LeBron James, the 2.03-meter-tall player from Miami Heat, went to shoot. But Robinson blocked him. He also blocked Shaquille O'Neal in Cleveland Cavaliers and even Yao Ming in Houston Rockets. Nate Robinson is a hero. He has given many basketball fans hope. Maybe one day, you can also block big guys like LeBron James! Nate Robinson's _ is the main reason why he can compete with others. A ability to jump B confidence C shooting skills D blocks Answer: B. confidence Girls who play with Barbie dolls tend to see fewer career options available to them, compared with the options available to boys, according to a new study by researchers at Oregon State University and the University of California (UC), Santa Cruz. The study's authors, psychology professors, Aurora Sherman of Oregon State University and Eileen Zurbriggen at UC Santa Cruz, describe their findings as significant. "This is one of the first studies to investigate how playing with sexualized dolls affects young girls, and also one of the first to look at the impact of such play on achievement or career aspirations , rather than body image," said Zurbriggen. Sherman suggests that Barbie and similar dolls are part of the burden of early and inappropriate sexuality placed on girls. Sherman and Zurbriggen used girls' doll play to study the impact of gender role socialization, a process through which children learn to follow cultural norms and which encourages gender stereotypical behavior. Thirty-seven girls from the age of four to seven from an Oregon college town were randomly arranged to play for five minutes with either a sexualized Doctor Barbie or Fashion Barbie doll, or with a more neutral Mrs. Potato Head doll. The girls were then shown photographs of ten occupations and asked how many they themselves or boys could do in the future. The girls who played with a Barbie doll saw themselves in fewer occupations, compared with boys. Those girls who played with Mrs. Potato Head reported nearly as many career options available for themselves as for boys. The two Barbie dolls were the same except for clothing, with unrealistic bodies, extremely youthful and attractive faces, and long full hair. The researchers believe that the doll itself has more of an effect on girls than the role or career aspirations suggested by its costume. "It's significant that a few minutes of play with a Barbie doll had an immediate impact on the number of careers that girls saw as possible for themselves," Zurbriggen said. Based on the text, we know that the study _ . A involved thirty-seven girls and boys in all B was designed for children under four years old C gave children ten photos of occupations to choose from D required children to play with a Doctor Barbie doll for extra five minutes Answer: C. gave children ten photos of occupations to choose from Keep in the air:The Chaoyang Theater is one of Beijing Theaters to present acrobatic programs all year round. Top acrobatic artists invited from all over the country perform for Chinese and foreign tourists.The program features trick cycling,leaping through hoops and Chinese magic tricks.Some of the artists have won prizes in international competitions. Time:7:15p.m.Daily Place:36,Dongsanhuan Belu.Chaoyang District Tel:6507---2421 6507---1818 Use your head:Green head is a new drama given by a group of young Chinese actors.It's a reworking of American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous novel The Scarlet Letter .It describes the heroine's great courage in finding the true love against a backdrop of disapproval. Time:7:15p.m. until March 5th,except Mondays Place:China Children's Theater Tel:6603---7255 6603---7265 Mix and match:Story of Puppets tells a fairy.Zixia,who looks for true love in the human world.After watching a puppet play Peony Pavdion ,she thinks it must be true love in reality,so she uses magic to turn the puppet characters into the humans,wanting to fall in love with the puppet hero.But things don't go as she planned. Li Liuyi,the director of the play has made several successful attempts to join different traditional operas together in one play.This time he combines Peking Opera,Kunqu Opera,Pingju Opera and an orchestral accompaniment,using the structure of modern drama. Time:7:30 p.m until March 10th,except Mondays Place:Small Playhouse of Beijing People's Art Theater Peking Opera:The Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances at the Chang'an Grand Theater. Each performance consists of two classical plays. One is Wenxi(a play focus on singing and dancing);the other is Wuxi(a play full of acrobatic dancing). The first night will be The crossroad and Presenting a pearl of the Rainbow Bridge.And the second night will see the performance of The Godess of Heaven Scatters Flowers and Havoc in Heaven. Time:7:30p.m. February 27th,28th Place:Chang'an Grand Theater Tel:86531043 Which of the following statements is true according to the ads? A The director of the Story of Puppets combines different operas in it. B Green Hat is based on a famous novel acted by some American artists. C Top Acrobatic artists will present their performances around our country. D The Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances with the same plays. Answer: A. The director of the Story of Puppets combines different operas in it.
So there are four of them in this car heading north from Coleman in the heart of Texas to the town of Abilene , some 53 miles away. It is a hot day, and the drive is dusty and boring. Someone has had the bright idea to interrupt a nice family game of dominoes to go on a four-hour round-trip to eat at a really not very good restaurant. When they are back home again, one family member admits that she hasn't enjoyed herself all that much. One by one they all confess that they would rather have stayed at home. "I only went along with it because I thought the rest of you wanted to go," says everyone. No one wanted to go to Abilene. It had just happened. This story was first told by Professor Jerry Harvey in an article published in 1974 calledThe Abilene Paradox and other meditations on management. It offers a wonderful insight into the way that decisions can sometimes just emerge, without ever being consciously "made". Whether they mean to or not, groups exert a pressure to conform . A senior management team can find itself a long way down the track to a bad decision without realizing that the idea has very little support around the table. Close-knit teams are easily influenced by the pull of groupthink. The late Professor Janis suggested several ways in which teams can avoid it. Two key steps are to invite experts from outside into meetings, and to appoint at least one person to the role of "devil's advocate" -- a role that should be played by different people in different meetings. The four family members have decided to go on a four-hour round-trip to the town of Abilene because _ . Now more and more people like to visit South Korea. People are interested in the tradition,clothes,songs,movies,TV series and presents.Do you want to know good manners about giving gifts?In South Korea,you should remember these things when you are giving a gift. 1.Wrap gift nicely. You can wrap gifts in red or yellow paper because these are lucky colors.In their minds,yellow or pink means happiness.Do not wrap gifts in green,white,or black paper.Learn to use the correct color when you wrap gifts. 2.Do not buy four gifts. In their minds,the number 4 is unlucky. So you should not prepare 4 things as a gift. The number 7 is lucky, so giving 7 small gifts is lucky. 3.Use both hands when you give a gift. If you use one hand to give a gift, people will think you are rude. Of course, people who receive a gift should use both hands, too. when you want to wrap gifts, you can use _ paper. When you think of environmental problems you probably think of pollution, but the poaching of wild animals is one, too. Poaching has worried environmentalists for years and, despite laws, this terrible crime has yet to be stopped. Poaching is a serious problem, especially in Africa and Asia. This crime is done for commercial profit , meaning hunters kill animals illegally and sell their most worthy parts. Although poachers usually hunt tigers, elephants and rhinos, they kill sharks and whales, too. This illegal hunting has led to decreasing populations of many species. Many nations have banned poaching, but enforcement is difficult. The small number of police officers trained to deal with this creates an unfair advantage for poachers. Poachers usually kill animals for only one product: tigers are killed for their striped fur, elephants their ivory tusks and rhinos their large horn. The bodies of the animals are left to rot. Sharks' fins are cut off and their bodies thrown back into the ocean. Without fins they can't swim and will die. The illegally obtained fins are used to make shark fin soup. The laws that "protect" animals are no more than pieces of paper. The current poaching bans need better enforcement, and I have a plan. The number of enforcers needs to be increased so that there are enough to watch the herds and make sure poachers can't shoot the animals. The reserve parks in Africa should become a huge zoo so that the animals can move but within a fenced area. Another idea is to build a concrete enclosure instead of fences. Watchtowers could be constructed so enforcers can monitor a wide variety of poacher targets. This may not completely end the problem, but it would slow it down. Poaching is a serious problem and a criminal act. The effects of poaching will be felt for centuries to come, and if there are any still alive, the only place to see animals might be in a zoo. Poaching has not been stopped mainly because _ . In eukaryotic organisms, interaction between which organelles is most important for cell shape, tensile strength, and communication between cells? How do you spend a usual holiday at home? My alarm clock wakes me, which reminds me of school. I usually would sleep like a log, but today is a holiday and I have to be at the pool for swimming practice at a quarter to seven. About 30 swimmers show up for practice. An hour later, I ride my bike home. The suburbs are quiet in the morning, with few cars on the street. I know I should be studying German but instead I wander to my room, lie down on the bed and sleep like a log. When I open my eyes again, the first thing I see is the alarm clock. It's 10:40 and I have a basketball class in less than 20 minutes. With the help of a shortcut I arrive on time. About 15 kids and I spend the rest of the morning "shooting hoops ". A bus takes us home,and I see a neighbour walking her dogs. It's past noon. Lunch is "dousha baozi" ,which my younger brother Richard doesn't eat. He devours part of a cake from the fridge. I wonder if I should practise on the keyboard, study German, finish my homework, play chess,read or sleep like a log. I decide to play computer games for an hour and promise myself that I'll work on German later. As the computer games hit higher and higher levels, Richard and I become more and more bored. He has been aching for someone his own age to play with, and I write , he is _ . He is too sleepy. I think I'll turn off this computer and take him to the park. Then maybe I'll call on some of my old classmates. Holidays can be a time to learn, a time to play, a time to grow or a time to sleep like a log. Whatever you choose to do with your time, do something that you'll remember! From the story we can learn that the writer _ during his holiday.
Mr. Brown worked in a factory of a small town. He had been there for twenty years before one day he was sent to the capital for important business. He was quite excited because he had never been there before. Before he set off, he asked his wife and three daughters if they wanted him to buy something for them in London. Mrs. Brown began to think it over and then she said she wished her husband would be able to buy a nice umbrella for her, and so did their three daughters. As he was afraid he would forget it, he drew an umbrella on his hand. To his regret, he lost _ at the station. On the train Mr. Brown sat opposite to an old woman. The woman's umbrella was so nice that he carefully looked at it and said to himself not to forget to buy a few umbrellas like it. When the train arrived at the station in London, he said good-bye to the old woman, took his bag and her umbrella and was going to get off. "Wait a minute, sir," shouted the old woman. "That's my umbrella!" Now Mr. Brown noticed that he had taken her umbrella. His face turned red at once and said in a hurry,"Oh, I'm very sorry, Madam! I didn't mean it!" Seven days later Mr. Brown left the capital. To his surprise, he met the old woman and sat opposite to her again. Looking at the four umbrellas, the old woman was satisfied with herself. "It seems that I had a better choice than the other four women." She thought. Why did Mr. Brown take the woman's umbrella? A. Because the woman misplaced it beside Mr. Brown. B. Because it was much like his own umbrella. C. Because he thought the woman would not notice it. D. Because he was lost in thought. Answer: D. Because he was lost in thought. It was a long week for Amanda at school. She stayed after school to work on a special project three days in a row. When she got home on Friday, she dropped into the chair with a sigh. "What's going on, Amanda?" her dad asked as he was reading the newspaper. "I have to create a webpage for my technology class, and it is taking a lot more time than I thought it would," Amanda answered. Her dad looked over his newspaper and asked Amanda what the webpage was about. "It's about the difference between newspaper news and Internet news," Amanda said and added, "I have to provide information, examples and illustrations ." "Sounds tough; do you have someone to help you?" her dad asked. "I have a partner named Zach," Amanda replied. "We did research on the Internet today and found some pictures to use." Then Amanda explained to her father the main differences: newspaper news is printed on paper, and Internet news is published online; newspaper news is only available once a day, and Internet news is published almost as soon as the news happens; many newspapers don't even print a daily paper, and Internet news is published around the clock. Amanda's dad asked, "Which type of news do you like better?" "I like Internet news better because I like to learn about the news when it happens," she answered. Her dad said, "I still like newspaper news better because I like to hold the paper in my hands and turn the pages." Amanda dropped into her chair again and said, "You are so old school, Dad." Which of the following may Amanda agree with? A. People should pay for Internet news. B. Newspaper news will soon disappear. C. Internet news is given to readers in good time. D. It is wrong to say no to newspaper news. Answer: C. Internet news is given to readers in good time. Babies love chocolate and sometimes they also eat the paper around it. My cat enjoys a meal of goods, thick paper and letters, for example. She doesn't like newspapers very much. Of course, the best paper comes from wood. Wood comes from trees, and trees are plants. Vegetables and fruit are plants too, and we eat a lot of them. So can we also eat wood and paper? Scientists say, "All food comes in some way from plants." Well, is that true? Animals eat grass and grow fat. Then we eat their meat. Little fish eat little sea plants; then bigger fish swim along and eat them. Chickens eat bits of grass and give us meat. Think for a minute. What food does not come from plants in some way? Scientists can do wonderful things with plants. They can make food just like meat and cheese. And they can make it without the help of animals. Now they have begun to say, "We make our paper from wood. We can also make food from wood. The next thing is not very difficult." What is the next thing? Perhaps it is food from paper. Scientists say, "We can turn paper into food. It will be good, cheap food too; cheaper than meat or fish or eggs." So please keep your old books and letters. Don't feed them to your cat. One day, soon they will be on your plate. _ . Which would be the best title for this passage? A. What can we make from old paper? B. How does food come from old paper? C. Why can scientists do wonderful things? D. How can scientists turn wood into food? Answer: A. What can we make from old paper? You've probably known the crazy traffic in Beijing. Sometimes the cars could hardly move for a long time. The terrible traffic is caused by the poor road and China's ability to cope with so many cars on the road at the same time. With more Chinese people buying cars every day, the problem seems to only get worse. But a design company called Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment has a possible solution: the super bus. The super bus would carry up to 1,400 people in its passenger compartment . It would travel on a rail system that would be elevated above the roads, so cars could drive under it. The bus will run on electricity and solar power, creating far less pollution than that from the cars it would be replacing . Beijing authorities haven't decided whether to create railways for the super bus throughout the city. But they are willing to give it a test drive. Later 2010, the company will test for the first time and in 2011 and 2012, the company will test the super bus with passengers. According to the government, Beijing is probably to have five million cars on the road by the end of 2010. So it seems to be necessary to start taking the bus instead soon. _ cars will be on the road by the end of 2010. A. 1,400 million B. 2,000 million C. 5 million D. 50 million Answer: C. 5 million The world is full of amazing things. Today, I'm going to talk about something amazing. We have lots of things to do every day, so many of us will be tired after a busy day. They all choose sleeping to have a rest. But do you know that sleeping can consume many calories. The energy consumed is even more than watching TV. If you want to have a good health, I think you can't sleep too much. Do you like animals? There are a lot of surprising things they can do. Goldfish are a lovely kind of fish. Most goldfish have quite a short life -- only 6 to 7 years. Once, the goldfish called Freb had a very long life. It lived up to 41 years. It was the oldest goldfish in the world. Now if people take good care of the goldfish, they can live more than 10 years. Animals are our friends. We should know more about them and give them a good home. Do you have any interesting stories about amazing things? If so, tell us. Let's share them together. If we take good care of goldfish, _ . A. we can live longer B. they can make you rich C. they will die soon D. they can live longer Answer: D. they can live longer
Katie was in big trouble. She was such a sweet kid; a third-grade teacher always dreamed of having a classroom filled with Katies; she was never ever a discipline problem. I just couldn't imagine why she had made her parents so angry. It seemed that Katie had been running up sizable charges in the lunchroom. Her parents explained that Katie brought a great homemade lunch each day, and there was no reason for her to buy school lunch. They assumed a sit-down with Katie would solve the problem, but failed. So they asked me to help them get to the bottom of this situation. So the next day, I asked Katie to my office. "Why are you charging lunches, Katie? What happened to your homemade lunch?" I asked. "I lose it," she responded. I leaned back in my chair and said, "I don't believe you, Katie. " She didn't care. "Is someone stealing your lunch, Katie?" I took a new track. "No. I just lose it," she said. Well, there was nothing else I could do. The problem was still unsolved the next week when I noticed a boy who was new to the school sitting alone at a lunch table. He always looked sad. I thought I would go and sit with him for a while. As I walked towards him, I noticed the lunch bag on the table. The name on the bag said "Katie". Now I understood and I talked to Katie. It seemed that the new boy never brought a lunch, and he wouldn't go to the lunch line for a free lunch. He had told Katie his secret and asked her not to tell anyone that his parents wanted him to get a free lunch at school. Katie asked me not to tell her parents, but I drove to her house that evening after I was sure that she was in bed. I had never seen parents so proud of their child. Katie didn't care that her parents and teacher were disappointed in her. But she cared about a little boy who was hungry and scared. Katie still buys lunch every day at school. And every day, as she heads out of the door, her mom hands her a delicious homemade lunch. What was Katie's parents' reaction to the truth about the lunch? Passage A Shenzhou Travel Agency Five-day trip to Zhangjiajie By train Five-star hotel Call Miss Li at 5678-9230 for more information. Piano Lessons Music teacher Good at teaching kids from 5 to 10 years of age Call Mary at 8230-7861 Babysitter Wanted A 2-year-old baby At my home From 8:00 am to 4:00 pm A woman who is less than 45 years old Be good with kids. Call Mr Johnson at 5817-6291 Room for Rent One of two bedrooms Share kitchen and bathroom with a quiet and clean girl E-mail Lisa at ryhou@hotmail.com Who can get the job as a babysitter? This is a true story that happened in Japan.In order to _ the house, a Japanese tore open the walls. Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside was hammered into one of its feet. He saw this, feeling pity and curious.When he checked the nail, he found ti was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built. What happened? The lizard had survived in such a position for 10 years! It has been in a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving! Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step......since its foot was nailed! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard: what has it been doing?what and how has it been eating? Later, he didn't know from where another lizard appeared, with food in its mouch.Ah! He was astonished and touched deeply. The free lizard had been feeding the stuck one for the past 10 years...... Such love, a beautiful love! Such love happened with this tiny creature... What can love do? It can do wonders! Just think about it: one lizard had been feeding the other one untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner. If a small creature like a lizard can love like this... just imagine how we can love if we try. How did the Japanese feel when seeing the stuck lizard? (1)Needed: Full time secretary position available. Applicants should have at least 2 years experience and be able to type 60 words a minute. No computer skills required. Apply in person at United Business Ltd., 17 Browning Street, Leeds. (2) Are you looking for a part time job? We require 3 part time shop assistants to work during the evening. No experience required; applicants should between 18 and 26. Call 366 - 76564 for more information. (3) Computer trained secretaries: Do you have experience working with computers? Would you like a full time position working in an exciting new company? If your answer is yes, give us a call at 457-896754 (4) Teacher Needed: Hania's Playschool needs 2 teacher/trainers to help with classes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Applicants should have appropriate licences. For more information visit Hania's Playschool in Leicester Square (5) Part Time work available: We are looking for retired adults who would like to work part time at the weekend. Responsibilities include answering the telephone and giving customer's information. For more information contact us by calling 345-674132 (6) University positions open: The University of Bristol is looking for 4 teaching assistants to help with homework correction. Applicants should have a degree in one of the following: Political Science, Religion, Economics or History. Please contact the University of Bristol for more information. Julian went to business school and studied computer and secretarial skills. He is looking for his first job and would like a full time position. The best position for him is _ . Because phones have caused many problems, many head teachers have ordered that pupils must keep their phones switched off at school. Others have told pupils to leave them at home. However, Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young at the University of Nottingham believes it is time that phone bans were reassessed--because mobile phones can be a powerful learning aid, they say. "At the start of the study, even pupils were often surprised at the thought that mobile phones could be used for learning," Dr Hartnell-Young says. "After their hands-on experience, almost all pupils said they had enjoyed the project and felt more motivated. "Some teachers also had to reassess their views. "Using this technology gives them more freedom to express themselves without needing to be constantly governed." one said. Other teachers found that pupils who lacked confidence gained most from the project. However, they recognized that greater use of mobile phones in schools could prove troublesome. Increased temptation to steal phones was one worry. "I thought, well, four of these smart phones are going to end up on e-BAY tomorrow," one teacher said. A few teachers remained concerned that phones could prove a distraction for some pupils. Allowing pupils to access school emails via mobiles would also bring risks if passwords were shared, they said. Dr Hartnell-Young says that the teachers' worries are understandable. "While the eventual aim should be to cancel overall bans on phones we do not recommend immediate, whole-school change," she said. "Instead we believe that teachers, students and the wider community should work together to develop policies that will enable this powerful new learning tool to be used safely. We hope that, in future, mobile phone use will be as natural as using any other technology in school." The author wrote the passage mainly to _ .
General Airport Tips Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early,or two during holidays and other busy times;this will reduce the stress of the flight,If all goes well, you will have time to relax,shop for last-minute items,or have a meal before the flight. Flight Delays Find out why your flight is delayed.Gall the free call numbers. Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays.If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight,either on the same air-line or a competing one. This is called "Rule 240",and all airlines are required to do it. Use the lingo ;ask,"Can you 240 me?"when speaking with an agent. They will know what you mean. Flight Cancellations If your flight is canceled,then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination .Usually, air-line officials will try to book everyone on their next flight out. Often they will put you on a competitor's next flight only if you request it. If on-time arrival is important to you, when you check flights through our reservation system yon can make your choices based on their on-time arrival records. Be sure to also check the weather conditions,as they often affect flight schedules. Getting bumped To avoid getting bumped, you must be at the loading gate at least 10 minutes ahead of scheduled departure for a U.S. Flight,20 minutes to/from Bahamas,Canada,and Mexico and 30 to/from all other international points. You must be at the loading gate,not the airport entrance. If a person calls"Rule 240",he wants to _ . Answer: get a ticket for the next flight About fifty years ago, when television first came out, people thought that radio was no longer useful. Television has both sounds and images . It is much more real and interesting to watch television than to listen to the radio. However, fifty years later radio is still very popular and it will be here for a long time. One reason is that we don't need to see an image when we listen to the music on the radio. In fact, listening with your eyes closed is the best way to listen to a piece of music. You can imagine yourself on a sandy beach or up high on a mountain. In other words, you can create your own images. Moreover, while listening to the radio, you don't have to take your eyes off your work. For example, you can listen to the radio and drive at the same time. Or you can read a book and listen to the radio. Television, on the other hand, doesn't have this advantage. A radio is much smaller than a television. You can take a radio anywhere and turn it on anytime you want. In a quiet place you can use headphones to listen to the news or music on the radio. In this way you won't disturb anybody. Moreover, a radio is much cheaper than a television. For less than $ 20 you can buy a small radio and have fun with it. People like to watch TV because _ . Answer: it has both sounds and images Bobby was a little barn mouse and loved to sleep on a blanket. Every day in the morning, Bobby would wake up and fold his little blue blanket that he slept on. Bobby's uncle Arthur got the blanket for Bobby from in the big house. Bobby loved this blanket more than any other thing he had. Bobby had a lot of neat stuff. He had a penny, a safety pin and an earring. He found all of these when he would walk through the forest in the afternoon. Bobby's uncle Arthur would always take walks with him through the forest, to make sure that Bobby didn't get in any trouble. Bobby had to be careful that people didn't see him, because the people didn't like mice. Bobby didn't understand, because people liked other animals, but would scream if they saw a mouse. They didn't scream if they saw a dog, cat or chicken. Bobby thought the dogs were the scariest and people might rather scream when they saw dogs and not mice. Who did Bobby have to make sure didn't see him? Answer: People New research shows how kids' brains reorganize as they learn math. All the time you spent memorizing multiplication tables may have made you a better mathematician, according to a new study. A team of scientists from Stanford University, in California, have shown how the brain reorganizes itself as kids learn math. After a certain amount of time spent practicing math, kids can put away the calculator . They don't even need to count on their fingers. They simply know the answers to subtraction , addition, and multiplication facts. The quicker kids can recall basic math facts, the easier it is for them to solve more complicated math problems. The Stanford University researchers observed the brain activity of 28 students aged 7to 9 for the study. They took scans of the students' brains as the students solved math calculations without the help of a calculator, pen or paper. A calculation--three plus four equals seven, for example--flashed on a screen. The students pushed a button to say if the answer was right or wrong. The scientists also recorded the response speed, and what parts of the brain became active as the kids pushed the button. These observations showed a process called fact retrieval . Rather than using their fingers to count, or writing out answers on a piece of paper, the students pulled the answers from memory. It's as if the answers to basic math problems are kept in a long-term storage area in the brain, which was built from repetition. "Experience really does matter," said Dr. Kathy Mann Koepeke. Children make the shift from counting to fact retrieval when they are 8 to 9 years old, the study shows. This is the time when most students are learning basic addition and subtraction. When kids have basic math facts memorized, the brain has more free space to learn more complicated math. This process has benefits for the future. The study shows as kids grow older, their answers rely more on memory and become quicker and more accurate. Less brain activity is devoted to counting. Some children make this shift quicker than others. What did the researchers do when students worked out the given problems? Answer: They recorded the students' brain activities. Agricultural experts met in Ethiopia last week to discuss ways to help sub-Saharan Africa become a major producer of wheat. The area traditionally produced little wheat, while North Africa was the grain basket. Wheat production fell sharply in sub-Saharan countries during the 1980s. In the 1960s, attempts were made to grow wheat in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa and Zimbabwe. But those countries found it was less costly to import wheat from Europe and the United States. Another problem is that Africa's wheat farms were often far from population centers. There also were transportation issues. And some lowlands were not a good place to grow wheat. Hans Joachim Braun,one of the experts, says now is a good time to increase wheat production. In the last four years we have seen three major price hikes, where the wheat price and other staple process exploded. And that puts a big, big bill on countries which are depending on wheat imports, and Africa is the biggest wheat importer. He also says demand for wheat in sub-Saharan Africa is growing faster than for any other crop. With higher income people would like to have more diversified food. But that is possible not the most important one. The most important one is that there is a tremendous migration of in particular male labor to the cities. And wheat products are convenient food because you can easily buy it. It's easy to process and you also can store it for a few days, which is different from some of the maize and rice products. There are three possible challenges for growing more wheat in Africa: climate change, disease and pests, like insects. Mr. Braun says rising temperatures should not have a major effect on wheat. In fact, he says, it could help wheat grow in areas with high rainfall totals. As for fighting disease and pests, experts suggest growing more resistant crops. In addition, railroads and roads would have to be improved so large amounts of wheat could be moved to large markets. According to Mr. Braun the main challenges for growing more wheat in Africa are _ . Answer: disease and pests and inconvenient transportation
Do you want to save money when you travel by train? Here are some ways . Day Returns: This kind of ticket can save you 45% on the fare.You have to travel before 8.00 a.m. and after 6.00 p.m from Monday to Friday, but you can travel at any time on Saturday or Sunday. Big City Savers : You can save much money with these tickets.You have to buy them by 4.00 p.m the day before you travel. Monthly Returns : You can use these tickets for most journeys over 65 miles. Go any day return within(.....) a month. Monthly Returns can save you 25% on the fare. Family Returns: You can get a card of Family Returns for PS20. After you buy your own ticket ,you need to pay only PS3 for each of the other family members.You can travel as often as you like within two months. Which of the following is TURE? Answer: A card of Family Returns can only be used for two months. When we walked into Papillon Bleu, a Chinese restaurant around the corner from Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal's Old Port, the sole waiter on duty looked surprised to see us. At 7:45 on a Saturday night, at the height of tourist season, just one young white family sat in the dining room. We walked past them to a table in the back, Chopin drifting quietly from the speakers into the certain shade of dim light that only Chinese restaurants seem to have. At our seats, bright yellow napkins, folded into fans, rested on a blue tablecloth next to cutlery . Sometime in the last 18 years of operation, Papillon Bleu stopped bothering with chopsticks. "How did you find out about us?"our waiter politely asked. I told him that my family used to own a Chinese restaurant that served peanut butter dumplings and I wanted to taste them again. Papillon Bleu came up when I googled"Best Peanut Butter Dumplings in Montreal". He shook his head and told us that while it might have been the case a few years ago, they had switched peanut butter brands to cut costs. But the significance for me wasn't which brand they used, it was that they served peanut butter dumplings. Commonly known as Hunan dumplings, this specialty exists neither in China, nor anywhere else in North America. Instead, Hunan dumplings are a unique Quebecois tradition, and a slowly dying one, found in the second-generation Chinese family restaurants. Peanut butter dumplings taste exactly how they sound, but also unlike anything else. It is a kind of dumpling that coats your mouth with a distinct store-brand quality, a little too sweet, but buttery, and luxuriously warm, perfectly suited to resist the bone-chilling effects of the Montreal winter. What can we infer about the restaurant? Answer: The business is not promising. Neighbors play an important role in our lives. Their lifestyle, friends, and social habits can have a strong influence on our lives. So it's a good idea to get along well with neighbors and build a better relationship that will last for many years to come. But how should you get along with your neighbors? When you hear of a special need you can meet, do it, such as sitting with a sick child while your neighbor goes to work or taking an elderly parent to a doctor's appointment when their car won't start. If you hear that someone close by is ill, has an accident, or is out of work, give him or her a hot meal or a fresh dessert. Your kindness will add a special feeling during a difficult time. If your neighbor is cutting down a tree or building a doghouse, offer helping hands to him or her. There is no better way to build relationships. Besides, you never know when the favor might be returned. Exchange holiday cards, gifts or traditions. Invite your neighbors over for a cup of coffee or lunch. A backyard barbecue can be a great way to share food and fun. If they've watched your kids grow up or been concerned about your family events, they may want to share these special events. Plan a party. Invite all your neighbors to your party. Planning and carrying out the activity helps everyone to know and understand each other. Your neighbors are like your family in many ways since you have to live with them, or near them for a long time. Appreciate their strong points and ignore weak points, and everyone will get along well. According to the passage, to build a good relationship with your neighbors, you should _ . Answer: try to give them a helping hand I'm Alice. Today is Children's Day. I get many presents from my family. Do you want to have a look? I like toy bears very much. I have five different bears in my room. My mother buys another brown bear for me today. It's very cute; My uncle gives me a new pencil case; It's so nice. There's an interesting picture on it. My uncle buys it in Canada. My sister buys a red toy car for me. I like cars very much. My sister is so nice. Green is my favourite colour. But I like the car best. The diary book is from my grandmother. I like writing a diary in the evening. I want to be a writer when I grow up. What's Alice's favourite colour? Answer: Green. if the local forest is cut down, which one of these animal's habitat might be affected? Answer: a rabbit who lives in a hole
Question: Beach pollution includes sewage, paper and plastic containers, and oil from boats. Which beach activity most likely increases beach pollution? A. watching birds B. collecting seashells C. eating a picnic lunch D. building a sand castle Answer: C Question: My name is Li Li. I'm eleven. I'm from China. My mum and dad work in a big factory. They go to work every day but rest two days. I have a sister. We look like each other very much and we like to help each other. She is a middle school student and comes home in the afternoon. Everyone in my family likes to look after me. My sister and I are in the same school. I'm a good student in my class. There are forty-two students in our class, twenty boys and twenty-two girls. We have our lessons from eight o'clock in the morning to four o'clock in the afternoon. My teacher of English, Miss. Green is from England. She is a good teacher. We go to school from Monday to Friday .We have five English classes a week. Now we can say a hundred words, and play games in English. We like English. We like our English teacher. Li Li's sister is _ A. a good teacher B. a nice girl C. a bad student D. a good worker Answer: B Question: During the 19th century, scientists found that when certain parts of the brain of a person were hurt, he would lose the power of doing certain things. And so people thought that each part of the brain does a different job. But modern research has discovered that this is not so, for it is not easy to show exactly what each part of the brain does. In the past fifty years there has been a great increase in the amount or research done on the brain. Scientists have found out that the way the brain works is not so simple as people in general may think. Chemists tell us that about 100,000 chemical changes take place in the brain every second. Some recent researches also suggest that we can remember everything that happened to us. We may not be able to think of the things we have heard and seen but it is kept there in the store-house of the human mind. Earlier scientists thought that the power of one's brain got weaker and weaker as one grows older. But it is plenty of exercise, it keeps its power. It is now thought that is not true. As long as the brain is given plenty of exercise, it keeps its power. It has proved that an old person who has always been active in the mind has a quicker mind than a young person who has done physical work without using much of his brain. It has been found that one's brain usually works _ . A. faster when he is old B. a little now and a little then C. in a very simple way D. without any rest all day long Answer: D Question: What is a library for? Most libraries have books and other things to read. Many of them have things to listen to. Some libraries even have computers. Very few people would think of a library as a place to live in. One library in New York City turned into a home for 250 people for a few days. These were all people near the library. They slept on the floor. Why did the people move into the library? The people moved into the library because the city wanted to close it to save money. These 250 New Yorkers loved their library. They didn't want to lose it. So they moved in. They knew that the library couldn't be closed if they were living inside it. At last the city agreed to keep the library open, and the people all went home. The people in the story _ . A. were all the workers in the library B. were all people near the library C. didn't read any books D. wanted to buy some computers Answer: B Question: Do you want to be the most popular, person in your class? You don't want to change your character; you just need to improve your personality. In fact, the most popular people are trusted and loved because they stay normal but still have something that makes them different from the rest of us. Here are some pieces of advice about becoming the most popular person in the class. If you want others to like and respect you, you have to start by liking and accepting yourself. Do not change yourself in order to please others. Be helpful to everyone and do it happily. _ Be active and have a positive view towards life. Develop confidence in yourself. Stay clean and wear fresh clothes. Do no try to follow fashion to please others Respect cannot be brought with big words and power . You have to get it by being honest. It also helps your personal growth. You must be a person that can be trusted to get respect. How can you be respected by your classmates according the article? A. By following fashion. B. By using big words. C. By being honest and helpful D. By changing yourself. Answer: C
Question: Eight-year-old Bethany and seven-year-old Eliza are having a great time jumping around in the orchard of their home in a village near Penrith. They can play any time they like because they don't go to school. Instead, they are educated at home by their parents, Paul and Veronika Robinson. But they don't have lessons, have never used a timetable and learn only what and when they want to learn. "I want my kids to have freedom in their childhood, not spend it in an institution," says 37-year-old Veronika, "School is all about control and following the rules." Veronika and her 56-year-old husband Paul have never experienced the daily rush to get dressed and out of the door that is common in most households with school-aged children. "We get up at our leisure - usually around 8:30," says Veronika. "We might visit a friend, or go to the library, and on Tuesdays we shop at the market. In summer, we spend most of our time outside and the girls entertain themselves a lot." New research due to be published this spring reveals a very different picture of Britain's home educators. "Out of 297 families, 184 said that they never use a timetable," says Mike Fortune-Wood of Home Education UK. "Ninety per cent never or rarely use textbooks, and nearly all said that happiness, contentment and self-fulfillment were more important than academic achievement. Only 15% felt that planning what to learn was important." So far, so good. But what, you might ask, are the children actually learning? "It wasn't important to me that the girls could read by a certain age, but they both picked it up for themselves at around seven," says Robinson. "Weighing cooking ingredients uses maths, and making a shopping list teaches them to write. Observing five hens has taught the girls about survival of the fittest. " But what about when the children grow up? Can they go to university? The home educators' answer is they can if they want to. There are a variety of routes into higher education, but probably the most common is to join a local college. This is what Gus Harris-Reid has done. "I was educated at home all my life. I'd never had a lesson or been inside a classroom until I started GCSEs," says the 18-year-old. "I'm now studying for 4 A-levels at Exeter College. I've had no problem with the work or with fitting in." When asked to reflect on his experience of home education, his considered response is, "Like a permanent holiday, really!" Not a bad start for someone who plans to take a mechanical engineering degree next year. According to the article, in homes with school-going children, _ . A. mornings are rushed and stressful. B. the children hardly ever go outside. C. the family wakes up around 8:30am. D. the children must ask permission to go to the toilet. Answer: A. mornings are rushed and stressful. Question: We have three meals a day. In the morning,we have breakfast. It is at about 6 or 7 o'clock. Breakfast should be good. We can have milk,egg,and other things. Some students often have no breakfast. It is very bad for their heath. In china,lunch is the main meal of the day. It is at about 12 o'clock. It is a big meal. There are often three or four dishes. We should be full after lunch. We usually have supper at about 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening. We should have a small supper. But in England,people call the main meal dinner. It often means supper. What kind of supper should we have? A. Big B. Small C. No. D. Full. Answer: B. Small Question: Grey clouds are a source of A. hot weather B. electrical currents C. falling liquids D. vitamin D Answer: C. falling liquids Question: Which of the following does not give an example of how sparrows use resources in their environment to survive? A. Sparrows breathe air. B. Sparrows drink water. C. Sparrows use the sun for food. D. Sparrows use plants for shelter. Answer: C. Sparrows use the sun for food. Question: In the six months that he'd worked at his aunt's shelter, Bryan had never grown close to a dog, but Patch was different. Aunt Kim had warned him, "Bryan, your mom says no dogs." The fact that Patch was deaf did not help. "It's not your fault you're deaf, "Bryan said, "Don't worry, because I've got a plan!" Later, Bryan got ready to leave. Making sure no one was coming; he secretly put the dog into his bag, and waved his aunt goodbye. Two hours after arriving home with Patch, Bryan sat sadly in his room. He had told his mother he would take care of Patch, but Mom didn't agree. Bryan lay awake that night, Patch jumped onto his bed, and soon he fell asleep. Unbearable barks woke Bryan sometime later. Bryan got up to quiet the dog, but he froze when he saw black smoke snaking into his room. He pulled the door open. Red-yellow flames licked greedily at the hallway entrance, blocking the front door. Suddenly, Patch ran down the hall. Bryan followed and found the dog in his sister Sarah's room. Bryan pushed Sarah to the window and shouted, "Jump with Patch!" Racing back into the smoky hallway, Bryan saw his mom. She seemed hardly able to catch her breath. Bryan tried to drag her to the hall window. But he failed. He looked up just in time to hear voices and feel _ pull them both to safety. A neighbor had heard Patch's barks and called 911. The firefighters thought a few candles had caused the fire. "I can't believe I forgot to blow out my candles," Mom said. "Sorry about the house, Mom,"Bryan said quietly. To his surprise, Mom smiled. It's OK. The important thing is that our family is safe. "She patted Patch's head. "Our whole family." Why couldn't Bryan fall asleep that night? A. His mom refused his request. B. He was too excited to sleep. C. The candles were too bright. D. Patch made so much noise. Answer: A. His mom refused his request.
We spent a day in the country, picking wild flowers. With the car full of flowers we were going home. On our way back my wife noticed a cupboard outside a furniture shop. It was tall and narrow. "Buy it," my wife said at once. "We'll carry it home on the roof rack . I've always wanted one like that." What could I do? Ten minutes later I was PS20 poorer; and the cupboard was tied on the roof rack. It was six feet long and eighteen inches square, quite heavy too. In the gathering darkness I drove slowly. Other drivers seemed unusually polite that evening. The police even stopped traffic to let us through. Carrying furniture was a good idea. After a time my wife said, "There's a long line of cars behind. Why don't they overtake, I wonder?" In fact a police car did overtake. The two officers inside looked at us seriously as they passed. But then, with great kindness, they led us through the rush-hour traffic. The police car stopped at our village church. One of the officers came to me. "Right, sir," he said."Do you need any more help?" I was a bit puzzled. "Thanks, officer," I said. "You have been very kind. I live just on the road." He was staring at our car, first at the flowers, then at the cupboard. "Well, well," he said, laughing. "It's a cupboard you've got there! We thought it was something else." My wife began to laugh. The truth hit me like a stone between the eyes. I smiled at the officer. " Yes, it's a cupboard, but thanks again."I drove home as fast as I could. What did the husband think of this matter? A. It was very strange. B. He felt ashamed of it. C. He took great pride in it. D. He was puzzled at it. Answer: B The GRAMMY Museum is a musically fascinating journey of music in downtown Los Angeles. Turn up the beat over four floors of modern exhibits, interactive experiences and interesting films that will give you a one-of-a-kind experience. They want to engage you, educate you, and inspire you -- just like music does! There are over 30,000 square feet of interactive, traveling and permanent exhibits. This includes over two dozen exhibits along that explore the greatest of the GRAMMY music! Your whole family will find something they love -- rock, classical, hip hop to country... The Crossroads exhibition invites you to explore nearly 160 kinds of music! Open them up on the interactive table in front of you to show photos, songs and stories that describe the influence that music has on the world, as well as the music itself. Journey down the Songwriters Hall of Fame. How many of these songs do you know? How many songwriters have you heard of? You can also try writing a song with some songwriters in the songwriting kiosks ! Have you wondered how a song gets from someone's head to your radio? The third floor shows the art of recording. The museum always has a host of programs and events throughout the year, so make sure you keep up to date -- you won't want to miss out! HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Adults: $ 12.95 Children: $ 10.95 (6-17 yrs) Free: under 5 years old WHEN CAN WE GO? Mon-Fri: 11:30 am - 7:30 pm Weekends: 10:00 am - 7:30 pm Sometimes shut for private events, so check before you go. Where can you go to learn about the development of music recording? A. The third floor. B. The fourth floor. C. The Crossroads exhibition. D. The Songwriters Hall of Fame. Answer: A 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 When you consider what subject to study in college, chances are that you and your parents will think about what you can make out of _ after graduation. You will likely ask the question: "Can I find a well-paid job or simply a job with a degree in this in the future?" This consideration also influences students when they come to choose between studying science or humanities at college. People generally believe that the humanities, which include literature , history, cultural studies and philosophy, do not prepare students for a specific vocation . Science subjects, however, are considered vocational courses that produce scientists, engineers and economists . "I've decided to take finance as my college major. My parents and I think this subject will help me get a good job or start a business," said Huachen Yueru, 17, a science student at Wuxi No. 1 High School. Even those who choose a liberal arts education often pick the humanities subject which they think will best help them later find a job. "I'm going to study Spanish in college, which I believe will open doors to a high-paying job for me," said Liu Chao, 18, a Senior 2 student at Dalian No 20 High School. He said few of his classmates show interest in subjects like philosophy and history, which are seen as "less promising" in job markets. The popularity of liberal arts subjects among college students has also been decreasing in the United States. American scholars and universities are concerned that in the ongoing economic crisis liberal arts subjects will be hit hardest. As money tightens , they worry that the humanities may become "a great luxury that many cannot afford", according to the New York Times. When you consider what to study in college, what does you and your parents usually think about ? A. whether you are interested in the subject. B. if you can lead a happy life. C. what you can make out of it after graduation. D. How much you can learn in the college. Answer: C For as long as they can remember Jynne Martin and April Surgent had both dreamed of going to Antarctica.This winter,they each made it to the icy continent as guests of the National Science Foundation(NSF).Bm they didn't go as scientists.Martin is a poet and Surgent is an artist.They went to Antarctica as participants.in the NSF's Artists and Writers program.The NSF is thegovernment agency that funds scientific research in Antarctica.But it also makes it possible for artists,including filmmakers and musicians,to experience Antarctica and contribute their own points of view to our understanding of the continent. The mixing of science and art in Antarctica isn't new.Some of the earliest explorersbrought along painters and photographers.Edward Wilson was a British painter,doctor,and bird expert who journeyed with RobertFalcon Soott on two separate Antamtic expeditionsmore than 100 years ago.Herbert Ponting was a photographer who also accompanied Scott on one of those expeditions.In hundreds of photos,Pontingcaptured the beauty of the continentand recorded the daily lives and heroic struggles of the explorers. Today's scientists write articles forscientificjournals.Unlike theearly explorers'journals,scientific papers can now be very difficult for non-scientists to understand.Writers in Antarctica workto explain the research to the public.Peter Rejcek is editor,writer,and photographer for the Antarctic Sun,an onlinemagazine devoted to news about the U.S.Antarctic Program.Rejeck began his career in the Antarctic in 2003 by spending a year at the South Pole.He has returned everyyear since,interviewing,scientists about research at Palmer,McMurdo,and South Pole stations. There are also scientists in Antarctica who work hardto explain their research to the public.Scientist Diane McKnight wrote The Lost Seal,a children's book that explains the research she and others are doing in an unusual ice-free area in Antarctica called the Dry Valleys. Antarctica is full of stories and wonders that are scientific,historic.and personal. People such as Martin,Surgent,Rejcek,and McKnight are devoted to bringing those storiesto asmany peopleare they can."Some people are going to be scientists,some people are goingto be journalists,some people are going to be artists,but we can all work together,'saysSurgent,"tocelebrate,thisextraordinary place." Why didn't some earliest explorers bring writers along? A. Writers were not funded at that time. B. Writing can't capture the beauty of the continent. C. Writers were not interested in popularizing science. D. Early explorers'journals can be easily understood by the public. Answer: D
Bringing up children is hard work, and you are often to blame for any bad behavior of your children. If so, Judith Rich Harris has good news for you. Parents, she argues, have no important long -term effects on the development of the personality of their children. Far more important are their playground friends and neighborhood. Ms. Harris takes to hitting the assumption, which has dominated developmental psychology for almost half a century. Ms. Harris's attack on the developmental psychologists' "nurture" argument looks likely to reinforce doubts that the profession was already having. If parents matter, why is it that two adopted children, brought up in the same home, are no more similar in personality than two adopted children brought up in separate homes? Or that a pair of identical twins, brought up in the same home, are no more alike than a pair of identical twins brought up in different homes? Difficult as it is to track the clear effects of parental upbringing, it may be harder to measure the exact influence of the peer group in childhood and adolescence. Ms. Harris points to how children from immigrant homes soon learn not to speak at school in the way their parents speak. But acquiring a language is surely a skill, rather than a characteristic of the sort developmental psychologists hunt for. Certainly it is different from growing up tensely or relaxed, or from learning to be honest or hard -working or generous. Easy though it may be to prove that parents have little impact on those qualities, it will be hard to prove that peers have vastly more. Moreover, mum and dad surely cannot be ignored completely. Young adults may, as Ms. Harris argues, be keen to appear like their peers. But even in those early years, parents have the power to open doors: they may choose the peers with whom their young associate, and pick that influential neighborhood. Moreover, most people suspect that they come to resemble their parents more in middle age. So the balance of influences is probably complicated. Even if it turns out that the genes they pass on and the friends their children play with matter as much as affection, discipline and good example, parents are not completely off the hook What does the author mean by saying parents are not completely off the look at the end of the passage? A Parents should control the situation. B Parents should give their way to children. C Parents should spend more time on children. D Parents should take on their responsibility. Answer: D. Parents should take on their responsibility. When it's five o'clock, people leave their office. The length of the workday, for many workers, is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they're done. These days, the time is everywhere: not just on clocks or watches, but on cell-phones and computers. That may be a bad thing, particularly at work. New research shows that clock-based work schedules hinder morale and creativity. Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours. For example: a meeting from 9 am to 10 a.m., research from 10 a.m. to noon, etc. On the other hand, task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish. They work down the list, each task starts when the previous task is completed. It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning. What, then, are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier, they had participants organize different activities--from project planning, holiday shopping, to yoga--by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under "clock time" vs "task time." They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives. Task timers are happier and more creative, but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening, and seize opportunities that come up. The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in the business culture. Smart companies, they believe, will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies. This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office, but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by clock time. While most people will still probably need,and be, to some extent, clock-timers, task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity. It'll make those tasks easier, and the task-doers will be happier. What did Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier find in their experiments about clock-timers? A They seize opportunities as they come up. B They always get their work done in time. C They have more control over their lives. D They tend to be more productive. Answer: D. They tend to be more productive. Scientists from the United States say they have found fish and other creatures living under key waters in Antarctica. They made the announcement after completing three months of research at the Ross Ice Shelf, the world's largest floating ice sheet. The researchers hoped to find clues to explain the force of the melting ice and its effect on sea level rise. Reed Scherer and Ross Powell are with Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. They just finished up their research on our southernmost continent. Money for the project came from America's National Science Foundation. "We chose a study site where, in the first year ,We went into the subglacial lake and tried to understand the environment in there, both ecologically and in terms of the ice dynamics about how the lake operates ,and how the sediment underneath the ice sheet operates, as well, because it's the water and the sediment underneath the ice that controls how fast the ice is flowing into the ocean" says Ross Powell, who led the investigation. The team included scientists ,engineers, machinery and other supplies across the ice from the main U.S. scientific base at Mc Murdo Station to the researcher's camp .The camp was near a subglacial lake ,where an earlier study took place, Ross Powell says the latest study may provide evidence that can help predict the effect of climate change on rising sea levels. "What we have found is that these are very sensitive areas to the stability of how dynamic the ice is and how fast the ice may react to increases of melting both from the ocean and the atmosphere." Among the new instruments built for the project was a powerful hot water drill. The researchers used the drill to dig down some 740 meters. They collected water ,sediment and other material from the grounding zone. Working around the clock before the deep hole refroze, they sent a video camera down to the 400-square-meter undersea area. Reed Scherer says the video images they saw in the Command Center were a total surprise. "It's a very mobile environment. The bottom is changing constantly. And so the things that we saw were all very mobile organisms, things that swim and some things that crawl. And obviously they are getting enough nutrition that they can thrive, Some of the little crustacean-like creatures called amphipods that we saw swam quite quickly and were quite active." This is the farthest south that fish have ever been seen. How did the creatures get here? What do they feed on? And what effect will the retreating ice have on them? Ross Powell says the ice and sediment cores taken from the grounding zone can offer clues. "We know that the ice is melting there at the moment and so by opening up the cores once they get back, we hope to be able to understand what the ice was doing in the past ,relative to what it is doing now. And because it is melting so fast or seems to be melting fast at the moment, we anticipate that there will he some differences that we'll see in the history of the ice sheet from the sediment cores, once we open them up ."But Ross Powell says the work raises more questions than it answers. What made the researchers surprised when they saw the video images? A Researchers saw fish in the farthest south for the first time. B A video camera was able to work well under deep icy waters. C Sediment cores present differences in the history of the ice sheet. D The drill should dig down 740 meters to collect things. Answer: A. Researchers saw fish in the farthest south for the first time. School children are using mobile phone applications to do their homework, which seem to beincreasing during summer vacations. But instead of blaming students for their behavior, we should say noto too much homework. This is important because by using mobile phone applications to do theirhomework, students don't add much to their knowledge, says an article in Guangzhou-based YangchengEvening News. Excerpts : Using mobile phone applications to do homework is no different from copying from someone else'swork. This is the opinion of a vast majority of teachers. Students who seek cell phone apps help to do theirhomework will pay dearly during major exams when they cannot seek the help of such applications, theteachers say. The heavy load of homework Chinese students are burdened with, said to be the heaviest in the world,has led to the popularity of these applications. Senior high school students in China rarely go to bed before 11 pm. A report in Shanghai published in2013 showed that students in the city on average spend 28.2 hours in class every week, the 9th highestamong 65 countries and regions surveyed. Also, they spend an average of 13.8 hours a week doinghomework, most in the world. There is no association between the amount of homework one does and the amount of knowledge onegathers. In fact, a research by Australian experts shows that the result is exactly the opposite: the morehours students spend doing homework, the less effective they will be in gaining knowledge. The United States is one of the countries where students do little homework, but that has not damagedthe country's academic status in the world. So, it's time Chinese schools understood this fact and freed students of the unnecessary burden ofhomework. What's the writer's attitude toward the students' using mobile phone applications to do theirhomework? A Supporting B Understanding C Scolding D Praising Answer: B. Understanding Before the early 1960's people interested in the differing roles of the left and right hemispheres of the brain depended almost entirely on facts drawn from animal research, form studies of patients with one-sided brain damage. But it was possible to find out which brain hemisphere was most involved in speech and other functions in normal people by having them listen to two different words coming to the two ears at the same time. This became known as the "dichotic listening" procedure. When several word pairs are given in a row, people are unable to report them all, and most right-handers prefer to report, and report more correctly, words given to their right ears. This seems to be related to the fact that signals from the right ear, although sent to both hemispheres, are better sent to the left hemisphere which controls speech. People who have speech represented in the right hemisphere, a very unusual occurrence even in left-handed people, more correctly report what their left ears hear. In contrast to the right-ear advantage for speech, there is generally a left-ear advantage for another type of auditory signal: music. When right-handed people listen to melodic patterns they report them better from the left ear. according to the passage, right-handed people normally _ . A have better hearing in their both ears B have little difficulty in reporting words given to their right ears C are unable to report word pairs given to their left ears D correctly report word pairs given in a row Answer: B. have little difficulty in reporting words given to their right ears
Question: If you know the following fact, you'll understand why many people suffer from foot problems. The average person walks the equivalent of three times around the Earth in a lifetime. That is enormous wear and tear on the 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles that make up the foot. In a recent survey for the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of respondents reported foot pain so severe that it affected their daily function. On average, people develop pain in their 60s, but it can start as early as the 20s and 30s. And usually women give care to their feet while men don't. "A lot of people think foot pain is part of the aging process and accept it, and walk with pain," said Dr Andrew Shapiro. Though some foot problems are inevitable, their progress can be slowed. The following questions will help you assess whether you should take more preventive action as you age. Do you have flat feet or high arches ? Either puts feet at risk. Shoes that support the arch and heel can help flat feet. People with high arches should look for roomy shoes and softer padding to absorb the shock. Proper exercises also strengthen muscles, supporting the foot. Do your shoes fit? In the survey, more than 34 percent of men said they could not remember the last time their feet were measured. 20 percent of women said that once a week they wore shoes that hurt, and 8 percent wore painful shoes daily. Feet flatten and lengthen with age, so if you still stick to the shoe size you wore at the age of 21, get your feet measured. Do you walk? Putting more mileage on your feet is the best way to exercise the muscles and keep them healthy. Which of the following statements best explains foot pain? A. Not all of it can be avoided. B. People can't slow its process. C. Walking more will stop foot pain. D. Preventive actions can't work well. Answer: A Question: Is there intelligent life on other planets? For years, scientists said "no" or "We don't know." But today this is changing. Seth Shostak and Alexandra Barnett are astronomers. They believe intelligent life exists somewhere in the universe. They also think we will soon contact these beings. Why do Shostak and Barnett think intelligent life exists on other planets? The first reason is time. Scientists believe the universe is about 12 billion years old. "This is long enough for other planets to have intelligent life," say Shostak and Barnet. The second reason is size--the universe is huge. "Tools like the Hubble telescope have shown that there are at least 100 billion galaxies," says Shostak. "And our galaxy, the Milk Way, has at least 100 billion stars. Some planets going around these stars might be similar to Earth." In the past, it was hard to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe. But now, powerful telescopes allow scientists to discover smaller planets--the size of Mars or Earth in other solar systems. These planets might have intelligent life. Have beings from space already visited Earth? "Probably not," says Shostak. "It's a long way away. However, intelligent beings may contact us in other way, such as radio signs. In fact, they may be trying to communicate with us now, but we don't have the right tools to receive their messages. However, this is changing. By 2025, we could make contact with other life forms in our universe and we might help each other." Why haven't beings from space visited us yet according to Shostak? A. They are afraid of us. B. It's a long way away. C. They don't want to see us. D. They don't know how to use radio signs. Answer: B Question: If you don't keep yourself warm enough, winter can be a time of illness. During the winter months, people easily get colds and flu . Many think they are the same, but these two illnesses are different. Colds can stay with you for up to a week. You will have a running nose, sore throat, headache, cough and a fever. Flu is more serious. You will feel sick very quickly. You will have a fever and a headache. Your body will hurt and become weak. This could last for up to four weeks. Is there any way to keep yourself away from colds and flu? Staying clear of people with colds or flu may work. Try not to touch your nose or eyes if you have been close to someone who has a cold. Wash your hands, especially after cleaning your nose. Going out with wet hair can also give you a cold! If you catch a cold or flu, go to bed and rest. Doing this will help you get better. Drink lots of water. Stay in a warm, well-aired room. If you have a headache, or your muscles hurt, take some medicine. What will we have if we get a flu? A. Body hurts, a fever, a headache B. A sore throat. C. A running nose D. A headache, a fever, a running nose Answer: A Question: Shopping on the Internet is becoming more and more popular. Why do people use the Internet to shop? Some people say it is more convenient. They don't have to leave their homes to order something; they can shop for anything they want at any time; they can find things for sale that they can't find in the Mores near their homes. Still other people say they can find better prices on the Internet. If you want to buy something on the Internet, you need a credit card. You have to type your credit card number and information on the website and send them to the store over the Internet. You have to be sure that the store will not use your information in the wrong way. You don't want someone to get your credit card number, so be careful with it, because people sometimes steal credit card numbers from stores. TV Internet is also a good place to go window-shopping. Window-shopping is when you look at the things for sale in a store, but don't plan to buy anything. In window-shopping you can see what kinds of things you are able to get and how much they cost. Some stores like Ross Stores have a website for information about their Mores, but not for shopping. Some stores have a website for information about their stores, and you can shop on line there, such as Office Depot, Payless Shoe Source and Safeway. Some stores like Amazone.com are only for on line shopping Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. You can shop on-line at www.officedepot .com B. You can not shop on-line at www.rossstores.com. C. You can only do window-shopping at www.amazone.com. D. You can shop on-line at www.safeway.com. Answer: C Question: Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title , says she has become a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Games. 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 in Athens. "Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really cared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me." Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks after Athens. "In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the race." Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records. However, Radcliffe has not ruled out in 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 the United States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2002 and again 12 months later. Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kilometer 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 in the 2003 London event. Radcliffe's failure in Athens made her _ . A. develop respect for Liz. B. love people around her more. C. rest for five months. D. face criticism calmly. Answer: D
Question: World Expo 2010 will be held in Shanghai. It will last from May 1st to October 31st, 2010. The Expo site covers a total area of 5.28 km2. It spans both sides of the Huangpu River, with 3.93 km2in Pudong and 1.35 km2in Puxi. There are five functional zones marked A, B, C, D and E. Each of them has different functions. Zone A will host the national pavilions of Asian countries except southeast Asian ones. Zone B will be home to the China Pavilion and Oceania countries, Pavilions for International Organizations, Theme Pavilions , Expo Centre, and Performance Centre etc. Zone C will host the national pavilions of European, American and African countries. A large public amusement park will be built at the entrance of this zone. Zone D is home to Corporate Pavilions , the land is one of the original places of modern China's national industry. So some of the old industrial buildings will be kept and renovated into Expo pavilions. Zone E will host stand-alone Corporate Pavilions, Urban Civilization Pavilion , and Urban Best Practices Area. How long will World Expo 2010 last? A. About four months. B. About five months. C. About half a year. D. About a year. Answer: C. About half a year. Question: I lost my left eye just after my first birthday -- I'd fallen seriously ill. My artificial eye was very convincing and I usually wore glasses over it -- even my boyfriend, Mick, didn't really notice. I told him I was blind in one eye just before we got married -- I was 19 at the time. He said he didn't care and that he loved me just the same. The day before we married, I was at my parents' house, when my other eye suddenly went blurry . My dad phoned the doctor, who told him it was probably nerves and I'd be fine by morning. He was right -- when I awoke, I was able to read my good luck cards. The wedding photographer arrived just as I was putting on my dress and I was called into the garden for a pre-ceremony photo. There was no time even to look in a mirror. Afterwards, we drove straight to the church. It was a sunny day, and as we approached I could see all our friends waiting. The service was delightful, and Mick and I went into the minister's office to sign the register -- the last thing I ever wrote with my sight. It was only when we reached the hotel, where the reception was taking place, that I started to feel strange. As we waited to greet our guests, my sight started to become blurry again and I really had to concentrate as our friends and family lined up to congratulate us. Afterwards, we went into the reception room, so the photographer could take our picture as we pretended to cut the cake. That's when the pain started. "Don't let anyone know!"my mum said. She'd always blamed herself for the loss of my other eye, wishing she'd taken me to the doctor earlier. Only a few family members had ever been told -- even my close friends had beennone the wiser. So even as the pain became more severe, I carried on as if nothing was happening. I'd waited so long for this day, and everyone seemed so happy, I didn't want to spoil things. I couldn't make anything out, but I managed tostay calm and made it through the meal and the speeches. I suppose it's normal for the bride and groom to stay close together after a wedding, and Mick led me around properly. We took regular dance lessons, so the first dance passed without incident, Mick leading me in a slow, graceful waltz. Afterwards, we left the building to see if a bit of air would improve the situation, but it didn't help, and nor did a lie-down. I still thought the blurriness would pass, as it had the night before. But I finally accepted that things just weren't going to get better on their own -- I was in so much pain. Mick sent for a doctor, who took one look at me and called for an ambulance. At the hospital, I remember a nurse bursting into tears when she saw me arrive -- I still had confetti in my hair. I was diagnosed with glaucoma, a disease in the eye that causes terrible pressure -- it was unrelated to the problems I'd had as a child, just a coincidence. An operation to try to save my sight seemed successful at first -- as the bandages were removed, I remember seeing a vase of flowers at the end of the bed. But it's the last thing I ever saw. It was hard, but I coped, and nearly 40 years on I feel I've had a full and active life. There are sights I'll always feel sad not to have seen -- the face of the daughter and my grandchildren. I'll always regret not finding the time to look in the mirror on the morning of my wedding, too -- despite everything that happened, I have happy memories of the ceremony. Why did the nurse at the hospital cry suddenly? A. Because she felt sad for the writer's experience. B. Because she felt amazed at their happy marriage. C. Because she was afraid of the writer's appearance. D. Because she was moved by Mick's selfless love for the writer. Answer: A. Because she felt sad for the writer's experience. Question: A consumer must locate it's own A. tools B. nutrition C. soul D. clothes Answer: B. nutrition Question: Cassandra Feeley finds it hard to manage on her husband' s income. So this year she did something more than a hobby: She planted vegetables in her yard. For her fist garden, Ms Feeley has put in 15 tomato plants, and five rows of a variety of vegetables. The family' s old farm house has become a chicke n house, its residents arriving next month. Last year, Ms. Rita Gartin kept a small garden. This year she has made it much larger because, she said,"The cost of everything is going up and I was looking to lose a few pounds too; so it' s a win-win situation all around." They are among the growing number of Americans who, driven by higher living costs and a falling economy , have taken up vegetable gardening for the first time. Others have increased the size of their existing gardens. Seed companies and garden shops say that not since the 1970s has there been such an increase in interest in growing food at home. Now many gardens across the country have been sold out for several months. In Austin, Tex, some of the gardens have a three-year waiting list. George C. Ball Jr, owner of a company, said sales of vegetable seeds and plants are up by 40%, over last year, double the averag e growth of last five years. Mr. Ball argues that some of the reasons have been building for the last few years. The big one is striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk, together with the increases in the price of fruit and vegetables. Food prices have increase of higher oil price. People are driving less, taking fewer vacations, so there more time to garden. Which of the following might be the best title for the text? A. Family Food Planning B. Banking on Gardening C. A Belt-tightening Move D. Gardening as a Hobby Answer: B. Banking on Gardening Question: America has been experiencing the longest economic increase in its history. Incomes have risen, unemployment has fallen, and cities such as New York are bursting with new office buildings. But just a short walk from Manhattan's skyscrapers, George Brown sits on the side-walk, cooking a lunch of rice and bits of fish over a can of cooking fuel. Brown is homeless----one of the 2.3 million people in the US who end up on the street. During the day, Brown collects aluminum cans and sells them for five cents a piece. At night, he sleeps on the street. "I have been on the street about eight or nine years, something like that," said the 62-year-old former construction worker. Brown admits he had problems with alcohol and has smoked cocaine. But he said he still wants a more stable housing arrangement. He could afford it just with the money he earns by collecting cans and small pieces of metal, if only truly low-income housing were available. However, he sees no hope of finding affordable housing in New York. With the strong economy and unemployment down, beautiful housing is being built to meet demand. A US report shows rents in New York City rose more than 27 per cent, from $549 to $700 a month. One of the side effects of the strong economy is that rents have been going up. The majority of people who experience homelessness really just need some affordable housing help. But few housing companies are building for the poor. Many small apartments in the city now rent for $1,500 a month or more. Brown, the homeless New Yorker, said he has a daughter who lives in the city but he rarely sees her. She is angry about his drinking and won't allow it in her house. Smiling, he said he also has seven grandchildren whom he'd like to see more often. "All I've got to do is _ ," he said. It can be inferred from this passage that _ . A. America is short of housing companies B. the poor can't benefit from the increasing economy C. poor people in America will become rich D. housing companies will build more houses for the poor Answer: B. the poor can't benefit from the increasing economy
I've often wondered how exactly sleep, or lack of it, can have such an awful effect on our bodies and, guess what, how much we sleep switches good genes on and had genes off. In the first half of 2013, the Sleep Research Centre at the University of Surrey found a direct link between hours spent sleeping and genes. Every cell in our bodies carries genetic instructions in our DNA that act as a kind of operating handbook. However, each cell only "reads" the part of this handbook it needs at any given moment. Can sleep affect how a gene reads instructions? It's a question asked by Professor Derk-Jan Dijk at the University of Surrey. He set up an experiment and asked his volunteers to spend a week sleeping around seven and a half hours to eight hours a night and the next sleeping six and a half to seven hours. Blood samples were taken each week to compare which genes in blood cells were being used during the long and short nights. The results were rather surprising. Several hundred genes changed in the amount they were being used, including some that are linked to heart disease, cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. Genes to do with cell repair and replacement were used much less. Sleep restriction(six and a half to seven hours a night) changed 380 genes. Of these, 220 genes were down regulated (their power was increased). Those affected included body-clock genes which are linked to diabetes . One of the most downgraded genes is that which has a role in controlling insulin and is linked to diabetes and insomnia . The most upgraded gene is linked to heart disease. So changing sleep by tiny amounts can upgrade or downgrade genes that can influence our health and the diseases we suffer from when we sleep too little. The important message is that getting close to eight hours of sleep a night can make a dramatic difference to our health in just a few days through the way it looks after our genes. What can we learn about Professor Derk-Jan Kijk's experiment? A The experiment was carried out to find the answer to how genes affect sleep. B The experiment took a period of more than two weeks to reach a conclusion. C His volunteers were divided into two groups with two different sleeping patterns. D Blood samples of the volunteers were checked afterwards to decide how many genes changed in sleeping. Answer: C. His volunteers were divided into two groups with two different sleeping patterns. The unwanted disturbing of a mobile phone ringing at a critical moment has led to some famously strong reactions British actor Richard Grif-fiths,stopped a performance at the National Theatre and ordered The offending party to leave Judge Robert Restaino went considerably further.He was hearing a session of domestic violence offenders in a court when proceedings were interrupted by rings of a phone. "Everyone is going to jail unless I get that instrument now," he shouted. Over the next two hours,the judge entered a period of "incredible madness".He began by ordering the doors of the court locked,and set the officers to searching for the phone. When that failed to find the offending item he ordered each of the defendants present in the room up to his bench and in turn asked them if they had no idea, he sent each in turn to jail . All 46 of them. When a defendant protested the judge's actions were not fair to those who didn't possess the phone,Restaino replied:"I know it isn't. Judge's actions caused chaos.Extra officers had to be drafted into the court to control the crowd.and booking officers at the city jail were at full stretch." _ ", one said at the time. Fourteen of the defendants were shackled( )in irons and sent to the county jail. The judge cooled off and later that afternoon released all 46. The "two hours of viral lunacy ", has probably cost Restaino his job.The commission ruled that he should be removed from his $14,000 job.Restaino now has 30 days to appeal . His lawyer pointed out that until that moment he had served 11 years as a judge without any disciplinary issues."With the exception of two hours.his record is spotless." What's the best title of the passage? A Phone-rage judge B Judge,prisoner and mobile phone C The story in court D Mobile phone in court Answer: A. Phone-rage judge Texting long messages can be a pain in the neck. The repetitive action of working your fingers across the keyboard of your cell phone can cause some of the same chronic pain problems previously limited to those who'd spent a lifetime typing. The possible connection is particularly worrying considering how much teens and young adults -- and increasingly those in professional settings -- are texting nowadays, said Judith Gold, who carried out one of the first studies on the potential connection. Text messaging is a fairly new technology, Gold says, so this is a new area of research for those who study ergonomics . But "considering the similarities in body position, findings from research on overuse injuries from computers could be applicable" to texting. "The way the body is positioned for texting - fixed shoulders and back with rapidly moving fingers - is similar to the position for typing on a computer," Gold explained. Previous research has found pain in the elbow connected with too much thumb texting. To look for a broader link between texting and chronic pain, Gold and her colleagues sent a questionnaire to 138 college students, asking them to report the number of text messages they sent per day (in four categories: 0, 1-10, 11-20, 21+ messages) and to point out any discomfort they felt on a body map. The research showed an association between the number of text messages sent per day and shoulder discomfort. The effect seemed to be particularly pronounced in males, though Gold says she doesn't know why that would be. "What we've seen so far is very similar to what we see with office workers who've spent most of their time at a computer," Gold said. However, Gold's study did not take account of the amount of time the people surveyed also spent typing on computers, which could be affecting the results. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A the study was the first one carried out by Gold B one positions oneself differently from computer-users when texting C the amount of computer-use time was calculated in the survey D the result of the survey was not 100% convincing Answer: D. the result of the survey was not 100% convincing It's parents' worst nightmare. Their child doesn't come home one evening and is missing for several days. When a 14-year-old boy from Atlanta, Georgia disappeared earlier this year, his mother turned to her Smartphone for clues using an app called Family Tracker that helped track his location. "You can see where your loved ones are without having to call or bother them. "said Roberto Franceschetti of LogSat, the creators of the Family Tracker, which has more than 100,000 users and is available worldwide. Parents can track the location of their child on a map, send messages, and even sound an alarm on the phone in a long distance. "We have an option for the sender to make a very unpleasant, noisy sound. It's a loud alarm and we repeat that sound every two minutes until the person picks it up, "he said. Parents don't need to own a Smartphone to track their children. The service is also accessible through the web, as long as the phone that is being tracked is running the app. Family Tracker has an additional service that keeps records of all data from the app for a two-week period, which the company calls GPS breadcrumbs. "With a subscription , we keep all the locations where people have been on our servers. You can see where your kid has been for the past two weeks. You can find out where someone was at a certain time or when that person was at a specific place, "Franceschetti explained. "When somebody gets abducted , usually whoever does this throws the phone away or takes the battery out. We were hoping that our app would at least provide information on where the person was abducted or where they had been in the past. " But will these types of apps let out personal secrets? "The advantages are huge compared to the disadvantages. Let's not forget that the person always has to give initial permission--no one can be tracked unless they allow someone to do it. "said Franceschetti. What can we infer from the passage? A The app will enjoy a great popularity in the future. B The loss of children won't be a nightmare for parents any more. C The app will repeat the loud alarm continuously whenever parents track children. D The app can keep records of information for more than half a month. Answer: A. The app will enjoy a great popularity in the future. There are stories about two US Presidents,Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren,which attempt to explain the American English term OK. We don't know if either story is true,but they are both interesting. The first explanation is based on the fact that President Jackson had very little education. In fact,he had difficulty reading and writing. When important papers came to Jackson,he tried to read them and then had his assistants explain what they said. If he approved of a paper, he would write "all correct" on it. The problem was that he didn't know how to spell. So what he really wrote was "ol korekt". After a while,he shortened that term to "OK". The second explanation is based on the place where President Van Buren was born,Kinderhook,New York. Van Buren's friends organized a club to help him become president. They called the club the Old Kinderhook Club,and anyone who supported Van Buren was called "OK". According to the first story, the term "OK" _ . A was approved of by President Jackson B was the title of some official documents C was first used by President Jackson D was an old way to spell "all correct" Answer: C. was first used by President Jackson
When the six very best students from different cities in Guangdong Province all together chose universities in Hong Kong ; when the very best students of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Peking or Tsinghua University ; when the highest enrollment rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it's the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is. Years ago, the answer certainly would be "Peking or Tsinghua University". But now no one could give the exact answer without hesitation . The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students. There's no doubt to call this HK craze , which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves. How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Peking and Tsinghua University and attract so many mainland students? First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive the scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it's easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great. Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students. Furthermore, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students. Can mainland top universities like Peking or Tsinghua University be calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it . The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action-taking of mainland universities , they can perform better together with HK universities. At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees are among students' top concern when they are choosing universities . It's time to move. From the passage we can see HK universities _ . didn't expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular Dear Mrs. Smith, I was a students of yours in Grade Six, and I hope you still remember me. I'm writing this letter because I want to let you know that the school year with you was important and special to me. It made a big contribution to my life. I know I was very quiet in your class, and you never said much to me. But you did something that made a big difference in my life. You see, all through my first year in school, I hated to read. Books were just words that had very little to do with me, and I was bored by them. I'll never forget the first day of Grade Six when you took out a thick book and began to read the story to our class. Your voice seemed to change with the people in the story, I couldn't wait until after lunch when you would read to the class. You read us all kinds of wonderful books. During the summer after my year in your class, I missed hearing the stories you would read. So one day I picked up a book and read it all on my own. I found out that I could make the words interesting, too. I love to read! Thank you for opening the world of books for me. Yours, Jenny This letter is about a girl saying " _ " to a teacher. Thank you. You may have heard about the many benefits of yoga, but a recent New York Times story, has stirred up more than a little controversy in the yoga community. "How Yoga Can _ Your Body," by science writer William J. Broad, quotes a long-time yoga teacher who "...has come to believe that 'the vast majority of people' should give up yoga altogether. It's simply too likely to cause harm." He goes on to describe a number of cases where people have been injured doing yoga, including himself. The research in the article isn't groundbreaking: doing any form of exercise you could potentially hurt yourself. If you look at the injury rates of other physical activities, the number of injuries sustained from yoga would pale in comparison. Practicing yoga is just like anything in life: You have to push yourself in order to grow. But you also have to know your limits and when you're breaking them. If you stick to your comfort zone, you'll never be able to increase your flexibility. If you push to the point where you're not only uncomfortable, but in real pain, you'll likely injure yourself. The reasons that yoga causes "serious injury", according to the Times story, range from students' physical weaknesses to inexperienced teachers pushing too hard to the growing number of inflexible "urbanites who sit in chairs all day" trying hard to twist themselves into difficult postures. Yoga is called a "practice" for a reason. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to tackle every pose. It doesn't matter if you can touch the floor with your palms during your first forward bend or your thousandth, or if you never get there. We go to the mat to learn to better listen to what our bodies are telling us, and to better hear that quiet inner voice drowned out by the noise of our busy lives. It's a shame to discourage the majority of people from practicing yoga and missing out on all of the mind-body benefits that going to the mat has to offer. Which is not mentioned among the reasons for yoga being likely to cause injury? The body doesn't tell when you are in real pain. What do humans do to poison the air? placing plastic into big lakes "We're leaving you a great gift,"Papa once told us, " _ !"We thought this was another one of Papa's jokes.But Papa and Mama knew the true value of that gift.We children didn't -until much later.What great gift did our parents leave us? They left us the oil lamp On winter nights,I felt my way through the dark kitchen to get a drink of water for Papa.I was so afraid of the darkness that I never took the time to light the oil lamp or even to drink before I filled his glass.I always sipped from the glass on my way back to him, "Don't drink it all before you get here Miss,"Papa would call. They left us the milking Today I buy milk in bottles,pure and cold.But as a girl I had to milk the cows each day.Then after the milking I had to wash the milk pails and pans.I couldn't use soap,because the water had to be fed to the pigs.The same was true of the dishwater.Soap in the water would have made the pigs sick.But even without soap,the dishes must shine,Mama said.So we had to make them shine! Now we have the blessed telephone and the automobile.There's no barn to clean out,no hitching of horses.There is the warming magic of the furnace .There are the electric lights,with no oil lamp to clean.There are the vegetables that come in neat clear bags.If I want an apple pie,I don't have to climb a tree first. And there is always water!It comes from shiny taps. Now I know what Papa meant when he said, "We're leaving you a great gift.It's a great gift--the gift of going without.It makes you rich for all the days of your life!" We can infer that the author had to _ when she was a young girl. ride a horse
Jack was a pumpkin farmer. He lived in a big house on the edge of a town and grew the largest Pumpkin farm around the town. Jack's pumpkins were famous , for they always had the perfect shape and never rotted ( ) until well after Halloween . Every year around Halloween , people came from all over the town to buy his pumpkins to make their jack-o-lanterns ( ) One year, Jack was thinking about his pumpkin harvest ( ) of the year when his good friend Pete came to visit him. I have some bad news , Jack ," Pete said. "What is it ? " Jack asked . a little worried. The town decided not to have Halloween this year! They said there was simply no reason for it and they didn't have time to celebrate it because many other holidays were coming up soon . Peter told him. He knew this was very bad news for jack. Jack became very sad and lowered ( ) his head . "What can I do now , Peter?" I have all these beautiful pumpkins and I can't keep them until next Halloween ." Peter replied, " Well , there are always pumpkin pies and pumpkin bread for other holidays." Jack was worried and said, "I sell most of my pumpkins for the Halloween . I can only sell a few pumpkins during the rest of the year. And Pete, it's not so much about the money . I live a simple life out here in the country and I don't need much money . But I feel happy every year when thousands of people get my pumpkins and take them and make them into beautiful jack-o-lanterns. Now all these pumpkins will be useless because people won't make jack-o-lanterns this year. oh, this is very bad news ." Jack began to weep . large tears ran down his face. Which sentence is right? Answer: He feels happy when people get his pumpkins What is green food? Do you enjoy green food every day? The concept of "green food" was first suggested by the Department of the Ministry of Agriculture in 1990. Green symbolizes life, health and energy. Nowadays, people demand healthy and fresh food. Having enough food to eat is only a basic requirement, and they need more than this. They want to enjoy unpolluted, safe and nutritious food and eat comfortably. So the government does this through a set of "from the land to the dinner table" quality controls. It requires to change China's traditional agricultural structures and ensure the food of high quality. Safe vegetables refers to products without substances harmful to humans. Growing such vegetables requires no strong poisons, thus guaranteeing vegetables fresh and clean. There are strict regulations in place for even applying fertilizer . The examination of vegetables should reach the state food hygiene standard. The following conditions for green food are regulated by the China Green Food Development Center. Firstly, products or raw materials must reach the green ecological environment standard set by the Ministry of Agriculture. Secondly, crop planting, livestock raising, fish breeding and food processing must follow green food operating procedures set by the Ministry. Products must be up to the green food hygiene standard. External packing must be pasted with national standard universal labels, special green food packing decoration and tag regulations. However, by now, our goal hasn't been completely realized. When you return home with a full basket, you are still worried about whether what you have bought is green and healthy. Indeed, for the sake of our health, we still have a long way to go. According to the passage, we know the Ministry of Agriculture is a department _ . Answer: which governs agriculture AROUND HANGZHOU is a special news program in English on HTV-1. It's about the city and lasts for 8 minutes. You can watch the program at 22:27 p.m. every Sunday and watch it again at 7:30 a.m. and 15:35 p.m. on Monday. Tel: 85195197 Add: 310004,139 North Ring Road, Hangzhou[ HANGZHOU WEEKLY is to help foreigners understand more about the city. It's a news edition in English in Hangzhou. It usually appears on the 48th edition of the city's most popular newspaper CITY EXPRESS every Thursday. Tel: 85051699 Add: 310041, 218 Tiyuchang Road, Hangzhou. IN TOUCH is an English language magazine. Turn the pages and inside you'll find passages on history, art, music, sports, travel and food of Zhejiang. At the end of every month you can get the magazine in hotels, restaurants and cafes all around Zhejiang without paying. Tel: 87630035 87633103 Add: 310007, 5 Huanglong Road, Hangzhou If a foreign friend wants to know more about HANGZHOU WEEKLY, he can call _ . Answer: 85051699 Did you ever think someone was scary because they looked different or ate strange food? Well, they might think the same about you! One of the things we all need to do is to _ variety.We shouldn't think badly of people from other cultures because they behave differently from us. Sometimes we treat people from other countries unfairly, because one person from that culture did something bad.Well, has your class ever been punished just because a few kids were causing trouble? Has your whole family ever been blamed for something your little sister did? It doesn't seem fair, does it? It's just equally unfair to blame a whole culture for what two or three people have done. So here are some things that you can do to help yourself understand other cultures: 1Find common ground! Just remember that even though some people look different on the outside, that doesn't change how they are on the inside.They still have the exact same feelings! 2 _ Because someone from another culture has been mean to you, you decide to avoid everyone from that culture.Well think about it.Why are you blaming them for something they didn't have anything to do with? Put yourself in their shoes.How would you feel? Putting yourself inside someone else's head can be a very powerful way to understand WHY they are acting the way they are. 3Try to make friends with people from other cultures! You could ask them about their culture, or what it is like in their country, if they can remember, or if they have ever lived there.Try foods from their culture, or ask them about words in their language.You might be surprised at how interesting other cultures can be! You can join great discussion groups, participate in projects, and have lots of fun doing new things. 4Be aware that you've judged other people If you know what you have done, it helps to make things better.Pay attention to what you think about other people.It helps. The following can be the better way to treat foreigners except _ . Answer: avoid meeting them Do you know Marc Yu . He is very famous . He is only nine years old. He is a Chinese American. His mother is from Macao. He likes music very much and he has great musical talent . He can play forty pieces of classical music now. After hearing Mary Had a little Lamb one time at the age of three, he began playing it on the piano. Before that, he didn't learn the piano at all. He started to take the piano lessons at the age of three. His first public performance was at the age of three , too. Now he can play great music for people on the stage. He wants to be a famous musician like Lang Lang in the future. He likes LangLang very much. Lang Lang is his idol. .How many pieces of classical music can he play now? Answer: 40
There is a student from China in our class. He is very good at his lessons, but he is also very shy. He doesn't talk too much with us because he thinks that there are so many differences. When he came into our classroom for the first time, he was so frightened that he cried out. That's because of our appearances. For example, his hair is short, black and straight, but ours are all different from his. Jim's hair is yellow and much longer than his. Dave's hair is curly and brown. Kitty's hair is blonde. Our builds and clothes seem to be strange in his eyes,too. Peter is a boy. He is tall and thin, but he wears a colorful T-shirt. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Answer: October 31st is Halloween.Where does Halloween come from? The Celts think October 31st is the last day of their year and they think ghosts come back to Earth on this day.So people treat the ghosts and then lead them away by wearing strange costumes.Today a lot of people around the world celebrate this old festival.They usually have parties, dress up and tell stories about ghosts.Children play games at Halloween parties. Here are some games for children: 1.Ask your friends to bring a pumpkin lantern to the party. Give a present for the best one. 2. _ some small pumpkins in the garden and play "Find the pumpkin". 3.Get apples out.Put lots of apples in the water and then try to get them out! But no hands ! 4.Tell ghost stories.Sit around on the floor and share exciting ghost stories with your friends. What do children do at Halloween parties? Answer: Carrot juice, because of its many healthy benefits, is commonly called the "magic juice". It has been found that adding carrot juice to people's diets greatly improves their health. And its delicious taste makes it popular with all members of the family as a beverage. Carrot juice is one of the richest sources of vitamin A that can be used in the daily diet. Lack of vitamin A can cause dryness and damage to the skin, nails and hair. Drinking carrot juice to increase the vitamin A in the diet is said to be good for many parts of the body, including the bones and teeth. Drinking carrot juice is thought to be extremely helpful to the liver , because vitamin A helps to clean the liver and reduce fat in it. And it is suggested that drinking carrot juice should be done regularly, rather than just from time to time. Drinking carrot juice is also thought to improve the eyesight because of the vitamin A in the juice. Lack of vitamin A can lead to night blindness, which can be very dangerous, especially when the person is driving a car. An easy way to find out if you are lacking in vitamin A is to walk from a bright room into a dark room. Your eyes may have some trouble in getting used to the change of light if you are lacking in vitamin A. How can you make carrot juice? Wash some carrots well in cold water. Scrape them lightly, but do not peel them, as this will take away valuable vitamins and minerals that lie close to the skin. Lack of vitamin A can lead to _ . Answer: When discussing about friends, I desire those who will share my happiness, who possess wings of their own and who will fly with me. I seek friends whose qualities illuminate me and train me up for love. It is for these people that I reserve the glowing hours, too good not to share. When I was in the eighth grade, I had a friend. We were shy and "too serious" about our studies when it was becoming fashionable with our classmates to learn acceptable social behaviors. We said little at school, but she would come to my house and we would sit down with pencils and paper, and one of us would say:" Let's start with a train whistle today." We would sit quietly together and write separate poems or stories that grew out of a train whistle. Then we would read them aloud. At the end of that school year, we, too, were changing into social creatures and the stories and poems stopped. When I lived for a time in London, I had a friend. He was in despair and I was in despair. But our friendship was based on the idea in each of us that we would be sorry later if we did not explore this great city because we had felt bad at the time. We met every Sunday for five weeks and found many excellent things. We walked until our despairs disappeared and then we parted . We gave London to each other. For almost four years I have had a remarkable friend whose imagination illuminates mine. We write long letters in which we often discover our strangest selves. Each of us appears, sometimes in a funny way, in the other's dreams. She and I agree that, at certain times, we seem to be parts of the same mind. In my most interesting moments, I often think: "Yes, I must tell...." We have never met. It is such comforting companions I wish to keep. One bright hour with their kind is worth more to me than the lifetime services of a psychologist , who will only fill up the healing silence necessary to those darkest moments in which I would rather be my own best friend. What is the best title for the passage? Answer: In modern society, people can hardly do without mobile phone or computer. The youth of today are even more looking forward to Apple Corp's products. The iPad is an Apple tablet computer. The device sits somewhere between a laptop and a smart phone, according to Apple's chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, and does certain things better than both of them, like surfing the Web, reading e-books and playing videos. The iPad went on sale on April 3, 2010, and Apple said it had shipped 500,000 units in the first week. The handheld device puts Apple on a direct collision course with the Kindle from Amazon, which Mr. Jobs ever considered as pioneering the category. It is common knowledge that media companies hope the iPad will finally lead to available ways for them to charge for news, books and other materials. The half-inch thick, 1.5-pound device features a 9.7-inch multi-touch screen and is powered by a customized Apple microchip, which is called A4. It has been designed with an exposed screen and without a camera or separate keyboard. The iPad has the same operating system as the iPhone and also has access to its 140,000 applications. The price of the device starts at $499 for the most basic model, with a Wi-Fi wireless connection. More expensive models with more memory and with 3G wireless access will cost $629 to $829, depending on storage size. Because Apple is attempting to popularize a new kind of computing device, acceptance among consumers is expected to be slower than with previous Apple devices. Critics assume that some buyers are waiting for future versions of the iPad to appear, perhaps with a camera or USB ports . On its first day on sale, iPad users downloaded more than one million applications from the company's AppStore and more than 250,000 electronic books from its iBookstore. A new wave of apps is expected in response to the iPad. For an application developer, having an application accepted for a highly desired Apple product means reaching a passionate group of consumers. The potential income is huge: the apps market for the iPhone and iPod Touch alone is already worth a billion dollars a year in sales. It is implied in the passage that _ . Answer:
Most electrical wires are covered with plastic or rubber. The wires are covered with plastic or rubber because those materials Answer: are not conductors of electricity In America, almost every book shop sells books about food and cooking. Most newspapers and magazines talk about Americans' eating habits. .Many books write about where to eat. So we can see eating is very important to every American. Salads are very popular and they have them all year round .Americans enjoy coffee. Most of them drink coffee or tea before or after every meal. Many Americans have coffee or tea with their meals. The main food in American meals is usually meat, fish or chicken, but people don't eat them together at the same meal. Seafood is something they eat as the first course . Most Americans eat breakfast and lunch quickly, but the evening meal is longer and a time for the family to get together. This is main meal in a day. On Sundays or holidays, Americans like to _ . They get up very late in the morning, so they have to eat their brunch(.) Which statement do you think is right? Answer: To all of Americans eating is very important. I was sure that I was to be killed. I became terribly nervous. I felt in my pockets to see if there were any cigarettes, which had escaped their search. I found one and because of my shaking hands, I could hardly get it to my lips. But I had no matches, they had taken those. I looked through the bars at my jailer . He did not make eye contact with me. I called out to him "Have you got a light?" He looked at me and came over to light my cigarette. As he came close and lit the cigarette, his eyes absently locked with mine. At that moment, I smiled. I don't know why I did that. Perhaps it was nervousness, perhaps it was because, when you get very close, one to another, it is very hard not to smile. Anyway, I smiled. I know he didn't want to, but my smile went through the bars and generated a smile on his lips, too. He lit my cigarette but stayed near, looking at me directly in the eyes and continuing to smile. I kept smiling at him, now considering him as a person and not just a jailer. "Do you have kids?" he asked. "Yes, here, here." I took out my wallet and nervously felt the pictures of my family. He, too, took out the pictures of his family and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them. My eyes were filled with tears. I said that I was scared that I'd never see my family again, never have the chance to see them grow up. Tears came to his eyes, too. Suddenly, without another word, he unlocked my cell and silently led me out and set me free. "My life was saved by a smile." Yes, the smile--the unaffected, unplanned, natural relation between people. I really believed that if that part of you and that part of me could recognize each other, we wouldn't be enemies. We couldn't have hate or scare. Which of the following do you agree with most? Answer: There would be no hate or fear if there is understanding. GWANGJU, South Korea, Sept. 28,2013 (Xinhua) -- Cultural ministers from China, Japan and South Korea participating in the 5th China-Japan-South Korea Ministerial Conference on Culture held here Saturday agreed to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation to promote the cultural prosperity of East Asia. Cai Wu, China's Minister of Culture, Hakubun Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and Yoo Jinryong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea attended the meeting in the South Korean city with more than 2,000 years of history. At the meeting, Cai said that the east and west differ in history, culture and values, but the East Asia as a whole, especially China, Japan and South Korea, should take good advantage of their cultural and historical similarities, trying to create "shared East Asia value"and _ around the world. The ministers drew the Gwangju Joint Document at the meeting to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation in the fields of culture industry, exhibitions, cultural heritage preservation and the youth exchanges to promote the program of "East Asia City of Culture." China, Japan and South Korea also agreed that the host country of the annual ministerial meeting will organize a joint cultural festival, including art performances, exhibitions, academic seminars and other relevant events starting from 2014. The annual trilateral Ministerial Conference on Culture was firstly launched in 2007. The Gwangju meeting is the fifth round of this series, and the last round of this meeting was held in Shanghai, China in May 2012. This text mainly tells us _ . Answer: three Asian countries agree to promote cultural prosperity of East Asia On Children's Day 2004,Hong Kong held an interesting activity.In this activity,children and their parents played the rich and the poor.In the dinner,the rich could have delicious food,but the poor could only have bread with porridge. Parents all hoped to have the dinner for the poor with their children.They hoped that their children could be taught a lesson from the dinner. Now many people on earth don't have enough food or clothing.Every day only half of the world could enjoy enough food. The activity was held to make the families understand the differences between the poor and the rich and also make parents know that too much material life won't always do good to the children. From the news report we're clear that _ . Answer: children shouldn't be given too much material life
Young, believing that Brown suffered from arthritis, told her that for $100 he could cure her with a device he had invented. The device was a large box with a series of electric light bulbs along the sides. Brown, after examining the device, agreed to take the treatment, which consisted of placing her hands inside the box for several ten-minute periods. Brown gave Young $100 and went through the treatment. Young is charged with obtaining money by false pretenses. Each of the following, if true, will absolve Young of guilt for obtaining money by false pretenses EXCEPT: A. Young honestly believed that the device would cure arthritis, but his belief was unreasonable. B. Brown honestly believed that the device would cure arthritis, but her belief was unreasonable. C. Young was playing a practical joke on Brown and intended to return the money. D. Brown was an undercover police officer and did not believe that the device would cure arthritis. Answer: B. Brown honestly believed that the device would cure arthritis, but her belief was unreasonable. ,A,B,C,D,. Luisa is from the USA. She lives in New York. She is twenty-one years old. She likes her teaching job. Now she is a teacher in Beijing. From Monday to Friday, she is very busy and gives classes every day. She likes her students a lot and often plays games with them in the afternoon. Her favorite sport is tennis. Sometimes she reads in the reading room in the afternoon. On weekends, she often goes to see Beijing Opera . She thinks it is very interesting and fun. She collects many pictures of Beijing Opera. Sometimes she goes to see her friends. She like singing, dancing and drawing. She has a pen pal in China. The pen pal is a boy, he is from Shanghai. He likes sports and Beijing Opera. They talk about Beijing Opera in the letters. Luisa wants to go to Shanghai to see the pen pal one day. At school Luisa sometimes _ in the afternoon. A. watches TV B. reads in the reading room C. sees Beijing Opera D. plays the guitar Answer: B. reads in the reading room A gadget which makes water out of air could become the greatest household invention since the microwave.http://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ Using the same technology as a dehumidifier ,the Water Mill is able to create a ready supply of drinking water because it can always get from an unlimited source--the air.http://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ The company behind the machine says not only does it offer an alternative to bottled water inhttp://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ developed countries, but it is a solution for the millions who face a daily water shortage.http://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ The machine works by drawing in wet air through a filter and over a cooling instrument which changes it into water droplets.It can produce up to 12 liters a day.The Water Mill will also produce more water when storms pass over, as the amount of water which is contained in the air increases. In keeping with its eco-development, the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three lights. Inventor Jonathan Ritchey said, "The demand for water is off the chart. So people are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and unreliable." The machine, which is about 3 feet wide, is likely to cost PS800 when it goes on sale here in the spring. Its maker, Canadian Firm Element Four, roughly calculates that a liter of water costs around 20 pence to produce. Environmentalists state that half the world's population will face water shortage because of climate change by 2080. One in five is said to lack access to safe drinking. The Water Mill is not effective in areas where the amount of water contained in the air is below about 30 percent, but in Britain that won't be much of a problem. What does the passage lead us to believe?http://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ A. The cost of water will go up. B. Bottled water will disappear soon. C. The machine is energy saving. D. The machine will be popular worldwide. Answer: C. The machine is energy saving. Maybe you have seen this in schools: some students are studying hard all the time but they just pass their exams, while some others may spend much less time on their books but do much better in exams. How could this happen? People used to think that hard-work is the only way to success. But now they have understood that smart work can make them succeed, too. Hard workers don't mind working for long hours, while smart workers always think of several different answers to these questions, " Why should I suffer this? Isn't there s better way to do this?" Thanks to these people, we can use computers instead of the abacus now. Progress in every field is the direct result of " try a better way" by smart workers. There was a large soap factory in Japan. Once it received an unusual letter, complaining that there was no soap in the soapbox he bought. How could empty soapboxes go out of the factory? The engineers checked the producing and packing . The producing was fine, but in about one in ten thousand cases, the packing machine let an empty soapbox go. There was no need to spend a lot of money repairing the machine for such a small problem. The engineer soon work out a solution. He put a huge X-ray machine and two large computers to find out the empty soapboxes. After teaching the worker how to use it, he sat down in his seat, exhausted . " Sir, we could have solved the problem in a much easier and cheaper way." said one worker. " Really? How?" " We can put a huge fan near the packing machine. The wind will _ the empty boxes. There would be no need for an X-ray machine and computers." See, this is smart work. In order to succeed, we should not work hard like the engineer, but also think smartly like this worker. The article mainly tell us that we should _ in order to succeed. A. think of different answers to our questions B. spend much less time on our school work C. work hard like the engineer and think smartly like the worker D. spend enough money repairing the machine for any problem Answer: C. work hard like the engineer and think smartly like the worker A king had a wonderful talent for growing flowers. He became old and didn't want to deal with big things anymore. So he began to look for someone to take his place. But who could he trust for the job? He thought for a while and got an idea. He would let the flowers decide. He gave everyone a little seed . The one who could grow the most beautiful flower from the seed would be the next leader. A girl called Serena was very beautiful and wanted to grow the most beautiful flower. She planted it in a nice pot and took great care of it, but nothing would grow. The next year she saw everyone come to the palace with pots full of beautiful flowers. She was disappointed but also went to the meeting with her empty pot. The king looked through all the flowerpots and then stopped at hers. "Why is your pot empty?" he asked. "Your Majesty , I did everything to make it grow, but I have failed," she answered. "No, you didn't," he said. "You see, the seeds I've _ were all roasted , so nothing could come out of them. I have no idea where all these flowers come from. But you have been honest and by being so, you will become my successor ." How did the little seed show who was the right person? A. It had some special power. B. The king knew nothing could grow from it. C. A special flower could grow from it. D. Only a good person could grow beautiful flowers from it. Answer: B. The king knew nothing could grow from it.
Millions of children in the United States go to summer camps. Some go to play outdoors at traditional camps in the woods, in the mountains or on lakes. But families now have many choices of special camps. These can be in the middle of nature or a big city. Special camps offer young people the chance to learn about different subjects: anything from space exploration to business to medicine. In technology camps, one subject that children can learn about is video game design. They learn how to use computer programs to create games of their own. One program that teaches video game design is called Cybercamps. Children can learn how to design their own virtual worlds to set their video game in. Then, they program their own rules and objects into the game. Cybercamps also offers courses in robot building and Web design. A recent story in the Washington Post described how one child made a robot that could sing a song. Another made a robot that could follow a black line drawn on a piece of cardboard. Also, children can learn how to make Web sites. One child made a site for Pokemon, one of his favourite cartoon shows. Traditional camps are _ . Answer: all above Father was in the army all through the First World War, so up to the age of five, I never saw much of him, and what I saw did not worry me. Sometimes I woke and there was a big figure looking down at me. Sometimes in the early morning I heard the closing of the front door and the sound of shoes walking down. These were father's entrances and exits. Each time he went away, he left me lots of presents--model tanks, knives and all sorts of military equipment which he put in a long box. When he was not there, mother let me get a chair and search through his treasures. She did not seem to think so highly of them as he did. The war was the most peaceful period of my life. Every morning I awoke as soon as it was light and felt myself to be like the sun. Life never seemed so simple and clear and full of possibilities as then. I got up, went into mother's room and climbed into the big bed. She woke and I began to tell her of my plans. I talked but then fell asleep and woke again only when I heard her below in the kitchen, making the breakfast. I often wondered what mother and I should do all day and what present I would get for Christmas. There was that little problem of the baby, for example. Mother and I could never agree about that. Ours was the only house in the street without a new baby, and mother said we could not buy one until father came back from the war as they were very expensive. That showed how simple she was. The Geneys who lived nearby had a baby, and everybody knew that they had hardly any money at all. Maybe it was a cheap baby, and mother wanted something really good, but I felt this did not really matter. The Geneys' baby would have been fine for us. Until the age of five, the writer _ . Answer: saw his father sometimes Hello.I am Chinese.My name is Wang Fei.I am thirteen.I am in No.5 Middle School in Nanjing.This is my friend.His name is Tony Green.He is an English boy.He is twelve.He and I are in the same class.Our classroom is next to the teachers' office.We have Chinese and English lessons every day.Our English teacher is Mr. Read.He is English but he can speak Chinese,too.Our Chinese teacher is Mr. Ding.They are good teachers,and they are our friends.too. Mr. Read is _ . Answer: Wang Fei's English teacher One day, a farmer was walking along a road with his son Thomas. The father said, "Look! There's a horseshoe, pick it up and put it in your bag." Thomas said, "It isn't worth the trouble." His father said nothing but he picked it up himself. When they got to a nearby town, they had a rest. There the farmer sold the horseshoe and with the few pennies he bought some cherries . The father and the son continued their way. The sun was well up in the sky, and there wasn't a house or even a tree where they could have a rest. Thomas felt too thirsty to walk on. At this time, his father dropped a cherry on the ground and Thomas picked it up quickly and ate it. After a while, his father dropped another cherry and once again, his son lost no time in picking it up and putting it in his mouth. And so they went on. The old farmer dropped the cherries and the son picked them up. When Thomas had eaten up all the cherries, his father said to him, "My dear son, if you had bent down early to pick up that horseshoe, it would not have been necessary for you to bend so many times for the cherries. Always remember the lesson that he who does not worry about the little things will find that he cannot do the great things." The father dropped the cherries one by one, because _ . Answer: he wanted to teach his son a lesson I first came across the concept of pay-what-you-can cafes last summer in Boone, N.C., where I ate at F.A.R.M (Feed All Regardless of Means) Cafe. You can volunteer to earn your meal, pay the suggested price($10) or less, or you can overpay--paying it forward for a future customer's meal. My only regret after eating there was not having a chance to give my time. So as soon as Healthy World Cafe opened in York in April, I signed up for a volunteer shift . F.A.R.M and healthy World are part of a growing trend of community cafes. In 2003, Denise Cerreta opened the first in Salt Lake City. Cerreta now runs the One World Everybody Eats Foundation, helping others copy her pay-what-you can model. "I think the community cafe is truly a hand up, not a handout," Cerreta said. She acknowledged that soup kitchens have a place in society, but people typically don't feel good about going there. "One of the values of the community cafe is that we have another approach," she said. "Everyone eats here, no one needs to know whether you volunteered, overpaid or underpaid." The successful cafes not only address hunger and food insecurity but also become necessary parts of their neighborhood -- whether it's a place to learn skills or hear live music. Some teach cooking to seniors; some offer free used books. Eating or working there is a reminder that we are all in this world together. My 10 am-1pm shift at World-Healthy-Cafe began with the cafe manager -- one of the two paid staff members. Our volunteer crew wasn't the most orderly, but we managed to prepare and serve meals with a lot of laughs in between. At the end of my shift, I ordered my earned meal at the counter, together with other volunteers. After lunch, I walked out the door, with a handful of new friends, music in my head and a satisfied belly and heart. What did the author do at F.A.R.M Cafe last summer? Answer: She enjoyed a meal.
I went to technology _ where people were showing their ideas for better learning. At the show I got a chance to try out lots of new, interesting equipment that might be introduced to schools. I thought some of it were great and would make learning more fun. Cyber Coach Mat The first thing I tried was the Cyber Coach Mat. This allows children to learn things like yoga and tai chi with virtual instructors . Also you can play football or have dance battles on it. Sony PSP The second piece of equipment I tried was the Play Station Portable. or PSP. It lets you access lots of education materials and helps learning in many ways. It's really fun and even has a built-in camera and video so you can have fun with friends. Lego NXT The final thing I tried was the Lego NXT. This involves building a robot and programming it to follow instructions . The robot can pick up sound waves which can then be sent to the computer or a phone. I would really like to do this kind of thing in my lesson! Overall the fair was great and I learn how to use a lot of things that I think could really help children to learn and have fun at the same time. My favourite was the Cyber Coach Mat because it allows you to learn new skills and it"s a great way to do a PE lesson if it's cold and raining outside! What does the passage talk about? A. New ways of learning PE. B. Inventions for making friends. C. New equipment for better learning. D. A kind of robot. Answer: C Daniel Defoe (about 1660~1731) was an important novelist in the English literature . When he was young, he served as a soldier and had been to Spain, Italy, France and Germany. At the same time, he went in for politics. He cared much about the development of capitalism . He had written a lot of articles against it and he was put into prison twice for that. It was not until he was nearly sixty that he began to write the famous novel Robinson Crusoe, which was published in May, 1709. It spread so rapidly that the story was known to _ very soon. Robinson Crusoe can be divided into three parts. The first part is about Crusoe's three voyages, the second part about his hunting, hiding in caves farming and his hard struggles against nature on a small island, the third part about the things which happened after his return from the island. The second part is the body of the novel, in which Robinson's characters are clearly shown. Defoe wrote his novel in a simple style and his language is easy to understand. His novel-writing set a milestone of the modern English novel. In his later part of life, he was in poor health and lived very poorly. He died on April 24th, 1731. How old was he when he began to write his famous novel "Robinson Crusoe"? A. He was in his sixties. B. He was in his fifties. C. He was over 60. D. He was sixty. Answer: B Choose the best answer (,) Suppose you are 17 and live alone with no money. Years ago, that was my dad. His father died when he was 10, and as the oldest of five, he had to take care of his brothers and sisters. When his mother remarried, my dad had to leave home. With few choices, he joined the army, and worked as hard as he could for a job, a nice house, and a family. Having a dad like him has made me different from other people; with his help and advice, I set and meet my goals. When I wanted to play basketball, my dad said, "Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do." People thought I was too small to play, but he let me know I could. Looking back now, I know why my dad said this to me: it was something his father and mother never told him. Time flew by. It was time for me to look for a job. A department store offered me a job as cart assistant. For the whole day, I pushed shopping carts. It was so cold that I couldn't move my hands. But my dad wouldn't let me give up, even though I wanted to. He kept saying it would get better, and he was right. I've worked there for a year now and I do much more than just push carts. My dad helped me grow into the person I'm becoming. When I was younger, I was small. The other boys called me " _ Nicky". I hated it. I went to my dad for a help. He encouraged me and helped me make an exercise plan and I got to work. In my life, there are different roads. My dad helped me get on the one I continue on today. I know I am just at the beginning. There will be difficulties. But there will always be my dad. Even when he is not physically here for me, his words won't leave my mind. At the age of _ , my father had to care for his brothers and sisters. A. 5 B. 10 C. 15 D. 17 Answer: B How to improve our life? Many people think that they have to accept whatever life throws at them. They'll say, "This is my destiny .I cannot change it." Of course not! You don't have to suffer needlessly. Your life depends on you, not on any other external factor. I know a woman who says she just accepts what life gives her because she has done everything she can to improve it. Guess what her lifestyle is? She wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes back home, relaxes, chats with people, watches TV, and then goes to sleep. Next day, the same routine cycle follows. Huh! Is this what she calls "doing her best"? She believes she has tried her best and just accepts it in her heart that this is the life that has been intended for her and that her luck can only change if God wills it. She hasn't realized that we have to do our share of making the effort to live the life of our dreams. Remember that you harvest what you sow. You have to get off the sofa, get your eyes off the TV screen, get your hands off the phone(unless it contributes to your success),and get your mind and body to work! Don't expect your luck to change, unless you do something about it. If something goes wrong, don't just regard it as a temporary setback; instead, learn your lesson, make the most of the situation, and do something to solve the problem. It's not enough to think positively; you also have to act positively. If someone's life is in trouble, do you just hope and pray that things will turn out fine? Of course not! You get to do anything you can to save the person. So it is with your own life. It is not enough to hope for the best, but you have to do your best. In other words, don't just stand(or sit)there, do something to improve your life. The text is mainly written to advise you to _ . A. understand yourself B. improve your life C. believe in yourself D. change your normal way Answer: B "My kids really understand solar and earth-heat energy," says a second-grade teacher in prefix = st1 /Saugus,California, "Some of them are building solar collectors for their energy course." These young scientists are part of City Building Educational Program (CBEP) , a particular program for kindergarten through twelfth grade that uses the stages of city planning to teach basic reading ,writing and math skills , and more . The children don't just plan any city . They map and analyze the housing , energy , and transportation requirements of their own district and foretell its needs in 100 years . With the aid of an architect who visits the classroom once a week , they invent new ways to meet these needs and build models of their creations . "Designing buildings of the future gives children a lot of freedom," says the teacher who developed this program. "They are able to use their own rich imagination and inventions without fear of blame , because there are no wrong answers in a future context . In fact , as the class enters the final model-building stage of the program , an elected "official" and "planning group" make all the design decisions for the model city , and the teacher steps back and becomes an adviser ." CBEP is a set of activities , games , and imitations that teach the basic steps necessary for problem-solving ; observing , analyzing, working out possible answers , and judging them based on the children's own standards . An architect pays a weekly visit to the classroom_. A. to find out kids' creative idea . B. to discuss with the teacher C. to give children lectures D. to help kids with their program Answer: D
For years, business people in Western Europe were worried. They knew they could not compete against business from the U.S. The United States is much larger and had many more resources than any Western European countries. Some European people realized that the European nations need to join together to help each other. If they could forget their language differences and the differences in customs, they might become strong competition against other countries. In 1958, six of the European countries --- Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Italy got together and decided to cooperate. They called their group the European Economic Community, or the Common Market. These countries agreed to join their resources together. Within a few years, the European Economic Community had worked so well that its members were more prosperous than many other European nations. Soon, other nations began to realize the advantage of the Common Market. Today the Common Market includes most of the important countries in Western Europe. It is helping Western Europe to again take its place as a leader among the industrial nations of the world. Which statement is true? A. The Common Market is only a political association. B. The Common Market is an economic and political association C. The Common Market is only an economic association D. The Common Market is neither an economic association nor a political one. Answer: B. The Common Market is an economic and political association Land Art, sometimes referred to as Earth Art or Earthworks, is a form of art which involves using physical landscapes to create art, taking art out of the museum and into the outside world. Modern Land Art movement really got going in the 1960s when American artists began creating Land Art on a large scale. Today, works of modern Land Art can be seen all over the world, sometimes right alongside much older pieces of Land Art created by people who lived thousands of years ago. Land Art, which is not necessarily unchangeable, can take a number of forms. For examples, in 1970 Robert Smithson created the Spiral Jetty , made of a collection of stones and mud, in the Great Salt Lake. The American artist made a large jetty in a spiral shape which sticks out into the waters of the lake. Reshaping the landscape is a common characteristic of Land Art, which can be created by moving parts around. People can also add things to the environment to create Land Art, like salt, which is added to the Spiral Jetty. It is possible to use plants. In all cases, Land Art is immovable. Land Art is designed to gradually form, change, and eventually decay . That's one of the biggest differences between Land Art and most of the art one sees in the museums. Some works of art can exist only for a few hours or days. Others are exposed to rain and wind so that they develop and decay over time, which is part of the attractiveness in the eyes of the artists. What is the passage mainly about? A. Works of Land Art. B. History of Land Art. C. Changes of Land Art. D. Introduction of Land Art. Answer: D. Introduction of Land Art. Clean your ears, because airport security might soon be scanning them. According to a recent discovery, the shape of ears could provide a reliable new way of identifying people at airports. Researchers discovered that ears of each person have a unique shape and they have created a system that can scan them. The ear scanning technique uses a technology called image ray transform that highlights all the tubular structures of the ear and measures them. Professor Mark Nixon, a computer scientist who led the team from the University of Southampton, believes ear scanning could take place as passengers walk through security gates, for example, by placing cameras on either side to record an image of their ears. Comparing the results against a database of ear shapes, the new system could help airport security workers instantly identify passengers. Nixon and his team tested 252 images of different ears and found the system was able to match each ear to a separate image held in its database with 99 percent accuracy. Besides ear scanning, there have been other systems developed for identity recognition. "With facial recognition, the systems are often confused by crows feet and other signs of ageing," Nixon said. "Your ears, however, age very gracefully. They grow proportionally and your lobe gets a bit larger, but otherwise your ears are fully formed from birth." What's more, facial recognition software is often confused by changes in expression so people need to control their faces and in some cases even avoid wearing make-up. An ear scan system would also offer a less _ alternative toretina scanning, which requires passengers to stare at scanners from a close range. Fingertip detection has long been the most effective way of identifying someone. Nixon expects there to be a combination of different techniques that can be used at the same time to identify a person." The ear scanning system would help to find out _ . A. where you come from B. whether you are healthy C. who you are D. who shares your ear shape Answer: C. who you are A great way for teens to cool off during the summer is at water parks. If you live near a water park, you might think about getting a season pass. This way you can go as often as you like. Check to see if there are any water parks around you. Many are indoor facilities. So even if it isn't warm enough where you live to swim outdoors, you can enjoy swimming in a temperature controlled area. The prices are usually good. For example, one ticket to Water World, a water park, is only $5. Some teens like to get a part time job over the summer to make some pocket money. Older teens shouldn't have much trouble finding jobs. An idea is to get some teens together to form your own summer job business. You can walk dogs, bring in the newspapers, feed the cats, collect rubbish, water flowers, etc. Being that it's summer, many people go on vacation and could use someone to look after their houses while they're away. You can also think about other jobs you can do for them. Teens love freedom. Sure you would like to get to such places as the small, movie theaters, the zoo, the beach, picnic, bowling and local amusement park instead of staying home all summer. Then a summer bus pass will be helpful. Check to see if your area has one for you teens. Such a pass costs only $10 for the whole summer. The price is reasonable and also your parents don't have to always drive. If Sally goes to Water World with two friends, they should pay _ . A. $5 B. $10 C. $15 D. $20 Answer: C. $15 Dear Victor, I have received your loving letter from school and I am glad to know that you are becoming responsible enough to decide on your career . You are now in the final year of high school and are going to start further education in college. You know that we belong to different times, and my social life is different from yours. However, all I can say as advice is that you must choose a career wisely. The first consideration is your interest. You can only succeed and feel happy when you do something you enjoy. You must get a job which not only provides you with something useful, but also you are pleased with. Then, you must read a lot in the field you are aiming at. Also, you should get to know the men and women who work in that field, when mind and heart work together, success is _ . No career is more or less important. I think your interest may be in the field of making TV programmes. Your good communication skills, your taking an active part in school plays and the prizes you have won in speech competitions all lead you to that direction. So a career in Mass Communication and TV film production will bring luck to you. If you succeed in that field, you will become famous and rich. Think a thousand times before making any final decision about your career. After all, we want you to be a man of success. We all know that you are old enough to think for yourself. With all the best wishes ! Your loving father We can infer that Victor wrote a letter to ask for advice on how to _ . A. get good marks B. choose a career C. prepare for a competition D. communicate with others Answer: B. choose a career
Hello, I'm Lily. I am a student of No. 6 Middle School. I like singing and dancing. I can sing pop music very well. I like eating meat, because I think it's very delicious. I am good at English, because I like it very much. My mother is a shop assistant. She likes listening to Zhang Xueyou's songs. She always goes shopping with me. She's good at maths. When I have problems with maths she often helps me. My father is a manager. He always goes to the park with me. My father is good at Chinese and he also likes pets very much. My sister is a student of fourteen years old. She's a small famous singer in the city. She likes singing and dancing. She can sing very well. How many people are there in Lily's family? A Three B Four C Five D Six Answer: B Erin placed her shamrock plant in a dark corner. Soon she saw that the leaves had tilted toward her window. What did the plant need most from the window? A sunlight during the day B air during the day C darkness at night D warmth at night Answer: A Which would likely cause refraction? A lego bricks B car windshields C paper D lemons Answer: B Are you in a bad mood? Don't worry! According to a new Australian study, a bad mood can actually be good for you. The study showed that being sad could help people to judge others more correctly and was also good for the memory. The study was carried out by Professor Joseph Forgas at the University of New South Wales."People in a bad mood paid more attention to the people and things around them than happy people .Happy people were more likely to believe anything they were told,"said Forgas For the study, Forgas and his team did a lot of experiments. During the experiments, they made the participants feel happy or sad by watching films and thinking about good or bad things of the past. In one of the experiments, happy and sad participants were asked to judge whether some wrong things were true or not. The results showed that people in a bad mood were less likely to believe that these things were true. People in a bad mood were also less likely to make mistakes when they were asked to remember the things that they saw. The study also showed that sad people were better at talking about their thoughts in written style. In fact, the study said that a slightly bad mood could help to make communication more successful. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A Happy people were less likely to believe anything they were told. B Happy people could judge others more correctly. C Sad people were less likely to make mistakes when they remembered the things they saw. D Sad people did worse in talking about their thoughts in written style. Answer: C Each year, we celebrate many holidays here in America. On January 1, we welcome the coming of a new year like many people in other countries. And we have another four holidays on the first day of a month: April Fool's Day, May Day, Friendship Day (Aug.1) and Grandparents Day (Sep. 1). The most important holiday for the young people comes in February. It is Valentine's Day. Lots of boys give red roses to girls as a present. People celebrate some holidays for their family members. We say thanks to our mother in May and celebrate Father's Day in the following month. In November many people return home for Thanksgiving Day, so the whole family can stay together. There are also some interesting holidays for children. For example, Halloween comes at the end of October. Children often play with pumpkin lanterns and put on all kinds of masks. Of course, the most important festival is Christmas. After a year of work and study, people can enjoy a long holiday, eat big meals, and visit family and friends. What is the most important holiday for the young people? A Thanksgiving Day. B Christmas Day. C Valentine's Day. D New Year's Day. Answer: C
A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile phone. But can you combine the two to do something for your local environment? As early as next year it may well be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone you will be able to bury it in the garden and wait for it to flower . A biodegradable mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the new type of phone will encourage users to recycle. Scientists have come up with a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic and can be hard or soft, and able to change shape. Overtime it can also break down into the soil without giving out any poisonous chemicals. British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover that includes a sunflower seed .When this new type of cover turns into waste, it forms nitrates . These feed the seed and help the flower grow. Engineers have designed a small transparent window to hold the seed. They have made sure it only grows when the phone is thrown away. "We've only put sunflower seeds into the cover so far. But we are working with scientists to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time." said one scientist. As phone technology is developing so quickly, people are constantly throwing their mobiles away. This means producers are under pressure to find ways of recycling them. Some 650 million mobile phones have been sold this year. Most of them will be thrown away within two years, adding plastic, heavy metal and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable cover can change this, according to the scientists. ,A, B, C, D,. (10) We can guess from the story _ . Answer: Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Susan wants to give a present to her mother. Father tells her to go to the shop and try to find something. Susan hurries to the shopping center and goes to the women's store. She has $3.00. First she thinks she will get her mother something to wear. Then she thinks she will buy something for her to use . But she only has $3.00. She can't buy any nice dress. She sees a nice red hat. She knows her mother will like it. But it is too expensive. It is $10.00. The saleslady looks at her and then looks at the hat. She takes off the price tag and says, "That's exactly $3.00. " Why does Susan want to give a present to her mother? Answer: The thing was a hot one! A farmer had shot two wolves on purpose. He had seen the wolves on his farm and decided to get them before they caused trouble. He knew wolves were a kind of protected animals. However, he also knew most of his neighbors would shoot wolves, too. Shortly after the farmer skinned the wolves, problems began. It seemed that someone didn't like the idea of killing wolves after all. The officials had arrived. Out-of-town reporters got hold of the story. And now the farmer was on trial for his killing of the wolves. The farmer did the thing because _ . Answer: Johnny is a nine year old boy. On one hot summer day, Johnny is outside his house playing with his dog. He is very hot and wants to have some ice cream. He looks in his freezer and sees that he does not have ice cream. Johnny then hears the song of the ice cream truck. Johnny runs outside but does not see the ice cream truck. He looks down the street but the ice cream truck is nowhere to be found. The music of the truck starts to get softer and then louder. Johnny waits outside for an hour. Johnny then thinks that he needs money when the ice cream truck comes. He runs inside and finds five dollars in his room. He then hears the ice cream truck song get very loud. He runs back outside and sees the truck pass his house. Johnny runs after the truck and catches up with it. Johnny buys 4 ice cream pops and some candy. He gives his five dollars to the ice cream man and gets one dollar back. He walks home and happily eats all of his candy and ice cream. What does Johnny want to eat when he is playing outside? Answer: "Where there is a will, there is a way." Perhaps not many students can understand this better than 22-year-old Michael Ha. Because of his story of success, he has become an example of young people. Michael Ha was born in a very poor family. His parents worked in Vietnam before they moved to Britain in 1980. They couldn't find work in Britain because they spoke little English. The whole family had to live on benefits and they lived in a small house in Hackney, a poor area in East London. Growing up is not easy for Michael, but he never gave up. At the age of ten, he set his heart on going to Cambridge University. It was not easy, either. Michael studied at a school, which used to be called "the worst school in Britain". However, young Michael made his mind to try his best, no matter what kind of school he was studying at. The smart boy studied very hard and did well in every subject at school. Once he made a bet with his friend to learn further math. As a result, after just spending four months teaching himself from a textbook, he got an A in AS-level further math. Now Michael is the star medical student in John's College, Cambridge and has just won an award for his excellent grades. He hopes he will be an inspiration for other young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. When was Michael born? Answer:
Question: Mrs Green lives in a small village. Her husband is dead, but she has one son. His name is Jack. He is twenty-one. He worked in a shop in the village and lived with his mother, but then he finds a job in a faraway town named Green Sea. He goes and lives there. Mrs Green is not happy about it. One day Mrs Green is angry. She gets on a train and goes to her son's house in Green Sea. Then she says to him, "Jack, why do you never telephone me?" Jack smiles, "But, Mother, you don't have a telephone." "No," she answers, "I don't have, but you have one!" Green Sea is _ the small village. A. in B. next to C. near D. far from Answer: D Question: Three years ago I listened to a lecture on cognition that changed the way I think about intelligence. There are two types of cognition, and the first is normal cognition the ability to regain knowledge from memory. The second type of cognition is metacognition the ability to know whether or not you know. Does this affect intelligence? In traditional education, intelligence is measured by cognitive ability. Some people can easily produce everything they know on a test. But others are awarded with poor grades and considered inferior (not as good as). But does this inability make them any less intelligent? If the question came up on a task, they could refer to a book or a quick Google search. In reality they're just as effective as the people that ace a test. They just can't prove it as easily. Metacognition is more important to success than cognition. A person with poor cognitive ability, but great metacognitive ability might do poorly in school, but when faced with a challenge, they understand their abilities and _ . For example, when faced with a question, a person with strong metacognitive ability will deal with it like this. If he knows the answer, but can't come up with it, he can always do a bit of research. If he knows for sure that he doesn't know, then he can start educating himself. Because he's aware of his ignorance, he doesn't act with foolish confidence. These people might not seem intelligent at first glance, but because they know what they know, they make better decisions and learn the most important things. However, people with great cognitive ability but poor metacognitive ability may be considered excellent at a young age for acing every test and getting great SAT scores. Unfortunately, they've been ruined by poor metacognition they think they know everything but they really don't. They are arrogant (overconfident), fail to learn from mistakes, and don't understand the slight differences of personal relationships, showing disregard for persons with lower cognitive ability. They may make the worst decisions. The most important mental power is the ability to know what you don't know .The recognition of a fault is the first step to improvement. Don't try to hide a lack of knowledge. For intelligent people this is the toughest lesson to learn. People with poor metacognition may not succeed because they _ . A. lack basic moral values B. have improper self evaluation C. fail to communicate with others D. show little respect for others Answer: B Question: Before leaving work, Steve Lee likes to use his cell phone to turn on his heat and air condition system at home. So by the time he gets through traffic into his front door, the temperature inside is perfect. You may wonder what a so-called smart home can do inside. Lee works for a company called Smarthome. com, testing and living with many of his company's home automation gadgets , like this multifunction touch screen that controls devices around the house and even connects to the Internet traffic cameras. "I have cameras, and they follow all the way down the freeway to work, "said Lee with pride, "What's going on at home when you are away? No problem, install some wireless cameras and controllers and from any computer in the world with an Internet connection, you can watch your house. " "You can check on the house, and I can look at the temperature. Believe it or not, if I want to turn on lights ahead of time, I can, "added Lee. We sat in Steve's California kitchen and with the right password, turned on the kitchen counter lights at his boss' house in Wisconsin. Steve did have permission to log on . "If you do know the password and you want to play a trick on your wife, you could turn lights on and off remotely. " This new technology, which can automatically turn on water sprinklers when humidity is low, or turn off a pool pump when it is not in use, is no longer expensive. Several hundred dollars for a basic system is enough and it is not hard to install. Sure the convenience is nice but many people who like the security advantages like making sure kids are safe with the help of camera monitors and bedside alerts. "I can notice that maybe one of my children wakes up in the middle of the night once the light switch is turned on. " What a smart home can't do is get you a snack and you have to leave the couch for that. According to the passage, the following is often a must for a smart home EXCEPT a . A. cell phone B. computer C. camera D. car Answer: D Question: She's a lovely girl. She has long and black hair. She is quite tall and slim. Her eyes are bright and black. She is 13 years old. She is good at singing. She likes listening to music. She is S.H.E.'s fan . Do you know Conan? He is a little detective .The lovely girl also likes him. Oh, sorry. I forget to tell you who the girl is. It's me. I'm a lovely girl. You can call me Kacely or Kacelin. Now I study at Sunshine Middle School. I'm in Class 1, Grade 7. Every day, I get up at 6:00 a.m. The classes begin at 7 o'clock. I like lunchtime because I can chat with my friends at that time. After school, I usually play badminton with my friends. I like playing badminton and I am good at it. I want to be a superstar when I grow up. Conan is a _ . A. policeman B. teacher C. doctor D. detective Answer: D Question: This is a photo of Ben's family. He has a big family. Look! Ben's grandparents are on the sofa. They are workers. They are old, so they don't work now. Ben's father is a doctor. He works in a hospital. He often drives his car to work. Ben's mother is a teacher. She teaches English in our school. The man in white is Ben's uncle. The young woman in red is Ben's aunt. They are office workers. Ben's family live in Beijing now. Ben and I are classmates. We are good friends. ,. Where do Ben's family live now? A. In Canada. B. In China. C. In England. D. In America. Answer: B
Question: Have you heard of the saying, "If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well"? The proverb is a piece of advice to make effects towards perfection in whichever job one does. It could be a small task like folding up your clothes, or a major one like organizing a business meeting in your later life. Perfection just needs paying attention to details. If it is your job to dust the furniture at home, dust it so that not a single spot of dirt shows from any direction. If your task is to make the beds, make them so that not a single crease shows on the bed-covers. There are only two ways to do a job: either sloppily, or well. If you choose the latter, you need to realize that any job that qualifies as (...)"your" work deserves your best. Perfection is an attitude that can be developed with just a little effect. It is a habit that is helpful to a person in later life. Let us prove with an example: you may be asked to turn in an essay on, for example, wildlife, for a school project. Instead of writing carelessly a few facts that you already know, you could make the project more effective by looking up a reference books, encyclopedias or websites for additional information. You could then go over the finished essay for slips and errors, and provide pictures where necessary. If you make it a habit to put in extra effort in your school homework, will it not help you to handle more difficult projects at the college or university level? As Michelangelo, the famous 16th century sculptor and painter, once put it: Trifles go to make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. The purpose of writing this passage is to _ . A. introduce the famous painter Michelangelo B. advise us to do the things that are worth doing C. explain to us the meaning of the perfection D. expect us to give our best to our work Answer: D Question: John Fisher, a builder, and his wife Elizabeth wanted more living space, so they left their small flat for an old 40-meter-high castle tower. They have spent five years turning it into a beautiful home with six floors, winning three architectural prizes. "I love the space, and being private," Elizabeth says. "You feel separated from the world. If I am in the kitchen, which is 25 meters above the ground floor, and the doorbell rings, I don't have to answer it because visitors can't see I am in!" There are 142 steps to the top so if I go up and down five or six times a day, it's very good exercise! But having to carry heavy things to the top is terrible, so I never buy more than two bags of shopping from the supermarket at a time. Except for that, it's a brilliant place to live. "When we first saw the place, I asked my father's advice about buying it, because we couldn't decide. After paying for it, we were a bit worried because it looked awful. But we really loved it, and knew how we wanted it to look." "Living here can be difficult--yesterday I climbed a four-meter ladder to clean the windows. But when you stand on the roof you can see all the way out to the sea on a clear day, and that's a wonderful experience. I am really glad we moved. " Which of the following best describes Elizabeth's feelings about the tower? A. She wanted it as soon as she saw it. B. She likes most things about it. C. She has been worried since they paid for it. D. She finds it unsuitable to live in. Answer: B Question: Western films play an important role in the history of American films. They are set in the American West. Most of the heroes are from famous novels. They speak highly of people's spirit, courage and building everything all by themselves. Early western films were mostly filmed in the studio, just like other early Hollywood films. With the development of technology, it began to be filmed at movie ranches from the 1930s. Often, the vast _ becomes a character in the film. After the early 1950s, various wide screen technologies began to be used. During this time, the most typical western films focused on huge plains, soldiers or tourists, they were always the most handsome men. Until recent times, western films seem to be a little out of date. For example, the guns are always some old ones. They were frequently used in films set in the 1870s. In the late 1960s, things began to change. Some new guns began to show in the films. Western films spoke highly of people's _ . Which of the following is NOT included? A. spirit B. courage C. sadness D. building everything all by themselves Answer: C Question: To become a doctor in the United States, students usually attend four years of medical school after they complete college. Then these young doctors work in hospitals for several years to complete a training program called a residency . These medical residents provide hospitals with needed services in return for not much pay. They work under the supervision of medical professors and more experienced doctors. Medical residents treat patients . they carry out tests. They perform operations. They complete records. In hospitals with few nurses, residents also do work formerly done by nurses. Some medical residents work one-hundred or more hours in a single week. _ Critics of this system say medical residents work too long and do not get enough res. They say these young doctors may be too tired to perform their medical duties effectively. Now, the government will limit the number of hours of work that residents can work. Most doctors in training will be limited to eighty-four hours of work each week. They will have work periods of no more than twenty-four hours at one time. They will have ten hours of rest between work periods. Medical residents will have one day each week when they do not have to work. Any work they accept outside their hospitals will be limited.Experienced doctors and medical professors will closely supervise the residents to make sure they are not too tired to work. Many medical residents welcomed the work limits. Others, however, said the new policy may interfere with patient care and their own medical education. If a first -year college student in America wants to be a doctor, he has to wait for _ . A. 4 years B. 8 years C. at least 10 years D. more than 20 years Answer: C Question: University of Maryland student Ben Simon and his friends couldn't stand to see good food thrown out on their campus."We basically noticed that some of the extra food from the dining hall was going to waste at the end of the day.And we met with the dining services and asked them whether it would be okay if instead of throwing out the food we would donate it.And they were on board," he said. So 18 months ago,the students began what they call the Food Recovery Network.Each night,volunteers would show up at a campus dining hall to pick up leftovers and deliver them to area shelters and food banks.So far,they have donated more than 23 000 kilos of food that would otherwise have been thrown out. Nationwide,$165 billion worth of food is wasted each year,according to the National Resources Defense Council.Spokesman Bob Keefe says that is about 40% of the country's entire food production."If we can reduce our waste in this country by 15%,we can feed 25 million hungry Americans.That is a huge benefit.That is what programs like this Food Recovery Network are doing," he said. Christian Life Center is one of the beneficiaries of the students' efforts.Ben Slye,the senior pastor ,said,"It has been just amazing to see these students take their own time,their own vehicles and own gas money and be able to make an effort like this.Each week we are able with this food probably to feed over hundred people." The University of Maryland's Food Recovery Network now has 200 volunteers and the program has expanded to 18 schools across the country."I want to grow 18 chapters to a thousand chapters within five years.And once we get to the Food Recovery Nation being at every college campus in America,we want to expand to restaurants and farms." said Simon. The volunteers are committed to making that happen. Ben Slye's attitude toward the volunteers' effort was that of _ . A. unconcern B. doubt C. appreciation D. opposition Answer: C
As we all know sewing-machine repair is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world today. Newspapers, women's magazines, high schools and colleges are all encouraging millions of American women to do their own sewing, not only to make their own shirts and sweaters, but also to make nice clothes for their husbands, sons, or boyfriends. The lattes figures show that over 89 million American women, because of the high costs of ready-to-wear clothing are now making almost all of their families' clothes. Most of these women get great satisfaction from making the family clothes on their own sewing machines. So it is natural that the demand for excellent service of sewing machines is growing. Think of it! 89 million or more sewing machines, not including another 10 million sewing machines in schools of all kinds, need service at least once a year, and quite possibly four or more times each year. I know some women who return their sewing machines to repairmen time after time to get them fixed properly. I've seen sewing machines come out of repair shops in worse condition than they were when they went in. So I've decided to write an introduction book to sewing-machine repair and teach people how to repair their own sewing machines at home. It's not that difficult. In the book, I will teach you everything you need to know about how to repair your sewing machine. We learn from the passage that sewing machines _ . Answer: All students need to have good habits :When you have good study habits, you learn things quickly. You also remember them easily. Do you like to study in the living room? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. The telephone bell rings there; the TV is there, and sometimes it is a good place for your pet dog or cats to play and rest. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only think about one thing, and you will learn better. Before you begin to study, do not forget to clean your desk. A good desk light is important, too. You'll feel tired easily if there is not enough light . So you should have a clean and bright lamp. To tell you the truth, the most important is that you should put your heart into your study. The living-room is not a good place for study because it is too _ . Answer: COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A group of black parents and civil rights activists presented a petition Thursday calling for officials to drop charges against a 16-year-old South Carolina high school student who was videotaped being dragged from her desk and thrown to the floor by a police officer in her classroom. The group said it was unfair and unacceptable that the student and her 18-year-old classmate at Spring Valley High School who taped the incident were the only people charged that day when authorities already knew Richland County Deputy Ben Fields had tossed the girl from her desk to the ground. They also said their petition had hundreds of thousands of names from around the country asking prosecutor Dan Johnson to drop the "disturbing schools" charges against the teens. The students in the case are black; Fields is white. Johnson issued a statement Wednesday saying he won't do anything with the case until the FBI finishes its investigation into Fields, who was fired after the video became public. "I do not simply decide cases based upon feelings, public opinion or sentiment, nor do I decide them based on political pressure," Johnson said in the statement. Disturbing schools is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The students' lawyer did not respond to telephone messages. The video spread quickly across the country, prompting questions about when police officers should get involved with classroom discipline. Fields was called to the classroom after the student refused to stop using her cellphone, and then she would not leave the classroom for a teacher or administrator. In the days after the incident, the teacher turned her class over to a substitute and the administrator was placed on leave. Richland two officials didn't respond to an email asking about their current status. The students were allowed back in school. Organizers of the protest said they plan to be at South Carolina's Statehouse next year, calling for legislators to change the law that allows police officers to arrest students for misbehaving at schools. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott blamed that law for escalating the situation. "Let's find a way where we don't saddle students with arrest records," said EfiaNwangaza from the Malcom X Center for Self Determination. "Let's get ahead of the schoolhouse-to-jailhouse train in South Carolina." What is Don Johnson's attitude towards the case? Answer: 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. Why did the child refuse the fish the old man gave her? Answer: Mary loved walking through the woods with her dog, Max. Max and Mary would go on all sorts of adventures together. They really loved looking for blueberries together and then falling asleep next to each other in the tall grass. One day, as Mary was picking the blueberries, she turned around to find that Max was not there. She became worried and ran off to look for her dog. She looked in all of their favorite spots...next to the stream, in their secret hiding place behind the raspberry bushes, and even inside the old cabin that sat in the woods. But poor Max was nowhere to be found. Nonetheless, Mary would not give up. She kept looking and she found him not very far away. He had seen a squirrel and run to chase it. When Mary called Max's name he left the squirrel and happily returned to Mary, wagging his tail as he went. What was Mary doing in the woods? Answer:
Removing waste from the body is the primary function of which body system? Answer: excretory When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying: "We have to go to work now," you're left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage schools, and that the "work" they go off to is to go on the stage in a theatre. Stage schools often act as agencies to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the name "stage school" are those few places where children attend full time, with a training for the theatre and a general education. A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn't settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day? Then of course there are times for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those under 13 are limited to 40 days in the year; those over 13 to 80 days. The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don't make it? While all the leading schools say they place great importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case. Which of the following best describes how the writer feels about stage schools? Answer: He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached. Children who are brought up by two parents grow up to be cleverer than those raised by just one person, new research suggests. Being with both parents in the earliest years of life leads to a child developing more brain cells, the scientists believe. Being brought up by both parents causes boys to have better memory and learning functions. By contrast, it causes girls to develop improved co-ordination and sociability. It is believed that babies with two parents tend to get more attention and more stability , and that they are less likely to suffer emotional distress in the first years of life. This leads to greater brain cell production ------ for boys it is grey matter brain cells that develop and for girls is white matter brain cells. The researchers from Canada studied mice and experimented by creating one-parent and two-parent family groups. They then measured the offspring's brain cell development from birth to adulthood. Adult mice with the highest number of brain cells turned out to be those who had been brought up by two parents rather than one. As babies they had received more attention and more nursing as both parents took turns to lick and tend to their youngsters, said Dr Samuel Weiss. As a result, the babies with two parents are less likely to suffer early life hurt which can have a massive impact on how their brains develop in later life, the research shows. However, what did surprise the researchers is that female babies who grew up with both parents turned out to be good single mothers, as if good parenting was passed on. The researchers said," In the mouse model, parenting and the environment directly _ adult brain cell production. It is possible that similar effects could be seen in other mammals, such as humans." The researchers proved their idea _ . Answer: by experiment on mice. Flying over a desert in an airplane, two scientists looked down with trained eyes at trees and bushes. After an hour's flight one of the scientists wrote in his notebook, "Look here for probable metal." Walking across hilly ground, four scientists reported, "This ground should be searched for metals." From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio one word "Uranium". None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no magic powers for looking down below the earth's surface. They were merely putting to use one of the newest methods of locating minerals in the ground -- using trees and plants as signs that certain minerals may lie under the ground on which the trees and plants are growing. This newest method of searching for minerals is based on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may affect the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface. At Watson Bar Creek, a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Boxes were filled with small branches from the trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was carefully marked. In a scientific laboratory the parts of the forest trees were burned to ashes andtested. Each small part was examined to learn whether there were minerals in it. Study of the roots, branches and seeds showed no silver. But there were small amount of gold in the roots and a little less gold in the branches and seeds. The seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk had more gold than those growing on the ends of the branches. If the trees indicated that there was no gold in the ground, the scientists wouldn't spare money to pay for digging into the ground. Which of the following might be the best title for this passage? Answer: A new method of searching for minerals. School districts are turning to high-tech solutions-from fingerprint scans to electronic cards - to track kids on school buses and keep them from getting off at the wrong stops. A fingerprint scanning system, approved this month for testing at the Desert Sands district, northeast of San Diego. Students will be scanned as they get on and off the bus. "Kids get lost. It happens in every school district, every year," says John DeVries, president of Global Biometrics Security, which developed the Biometric Observation Security System (BOSS) that's being tested. It happened Oct. 13 when a Prince George's County (Md.) school employee took a 5-year-old student to the wrong bus and the student got off several blocks from home. With BOSS, students' fingerprints are scanned and sent to a database. When they get off, they provide a "check out" print. An alarm sounds if the child tries to get off at the wrong place. The fingerprints are not stored, DeVries says. They are converted into a series of numbers that cannot be used to re-create the print, he says. Margaret Gomez of Palm Springs, Calif., whose daughter, then 6, was let off a bus about a mile from her home three years ago, supports the idea. "Anything is better than what they have in place now." Other tracking systems include the ZPass from Seattle-based Zonar Systems, which uses a programmed card carried by students or tied to a backpack. It is in about 30 districts, including North Kansas City Schools and Illinois School District 128 in Palos Heights, company executive Chris Oliver says. Paul Stephens, of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego, says tracking students is reasonable, but the data could fall into unauthorized hands. "What if a child predator was able to get access to this?" he says. What is Paul Stephens mainly concerned about? Answer: The safety of children's personal information.
Although Paris is often considered the city of romance, close to a million adults who call it home are single. Many single people say that France's capital is one of the most difficult places to meet people. The complaints of this lonely group have inspired a new phenomenon known as "supermarket dating." At Galerie Lafayette Gourmet,singles can shop for more than just the items on their grocery list. They can look for someone who has blue eyes, brown hair,and is 1.8 meters tall,or whatever may be on their romantic shopping list. At this Paris location,single people of all ages can schedule their shopping for Thursday nights between 6:30 and 9:00 p.m. When they walk through the door,they pick up a purple basket to advise that they are looking for love. They try to arrive early because the baskets disappear quickly, and then they have to wait in line for their turn to wander the store aisles . With purple baskets in hand, shoppers can consider their romantic options while they pick out their groceries. When they are ready to pay, they can go to the checkout line for singles who want to chat. Most of the people who look for love in the supermarket are skeptical of Internet dating. They know that it is easy to embellish one's appearance or to lie about one's age over the Internet. The supermarket, on the other hand,is considered a safe and casual environment in which to meet a potential match. In addition, what one finds in another's grocery basket can say a thing or two about that person's character or intentions. Buying pet food can be a man's way of showing a potential match that he has a sensitive side. Women who fill their baskets with low-fat food show their healthy style of living. These ways it's possible to find much more than food at a grocery store. How do love shoppers meet one another? They go through a special checkout. A man went to see a doctor."Open your mouth,"the doctor said.Then the man opened his mouth and the doctor looked in quickly. "It's clear what's wrong with you.You need more exercise,"the doctor said. "But,doctor,"the man said,"I don't think..." "Don't tell me what you think,"the doctor said."I am the doctor,not you.I know what you need.I see hundreds of people like you.None of them get any exercise.They sit in offices all day and in front of the television in the evening.What you need is to walk quickly for at least 20 minutes a day." "Doctor,you don't understand,"the man said."I..." "I don't want to hear any excuses,"the doctor said."You must find time for exercise.If you don't,you will get fat and have health problems when you are older." "But I walk every day,"the man said. "Oh,yes,and I know what kind of walking that is.You walk a few feet to the train station from your house,a few more feet from the station to your office,and a few more feet from your office to a restaurant for lunch and back.That's not real walking.I'm talking about walking in the park for twenty minutes every day." "Will you listen to me,doctor?"the man shouted,getting angry with this doctor who thought he knew everything."I'm a postman,"the man went on,"and I walk for seven hours every day." . The postman went to see the doctor because _ . he thought he was ill In my first week as a graduate student at Cambridge University in 1964 I met with a fellow student, two years ahead of me in his studies; he was unsteady on his feet and spoke with great difficulty. This was Stephen Hawking. I learned that he had a bad disease and might not live long enough even to finish his PhD degree. But, amazingly, he has reached the age of 73. Even mere survival would have been a medical miracle, but of course, he didn't merely survive. He has become arguably the most famous scientist in the world for his brilliant research, for his bestselling books, and, above all, for his astonishing victory over hardship. Stephen received his "death sentence" in 1964, when I thought it was hard for him to go on with his study. Stephen went from Albans School to Oxford University. He was said to be a "lazy" undergraduate, but his brilliance earned him a first-class degree, an "entry ticket" to a research career in Cambridge and a uniquely inspiring achievement. Within a few years of the burst of his disease he was wheelchair-bound, and his speech was so unclear that it could only be understood by those who knew him well. But his scientific career went from strength to strength: he quickly came up with a series of insights into the nature of black holes (then a very new idea) and how the universe began. In 1974 he was elected to the Royal Society at the exceptionally early age of 32. The great advances in science generally involve discovering a link between phenomena that were previously conceptually unconnected -- for instance, Isaac Newton realized that the force making an apple fall to earth was the same as the force that holds the moon and planets in their orbits. Stephen's revolutionary idea about a link between gravity and quantum theory has still not been tested. However, it has been hugely influential; indeed, one of the main achievements of string theory has been to confirm and build on his idea. He has undoubtedly done more than anyone else since Einstein to improve our knowledge of gravity and he is one of the top-ten living theoretical physicists. What made Stephen Hawking start his research career at Cambridge? His above-average talent and ability. When a light bulb is turned on, energy changes from one form to another. Which of the following best describes this change? electrical energy to light energy A 10-lot subdivision was approved by the proper governmental authority. The authority's action was pursuant to a map filed by Diaz, which included an undesignated parcel in addition to the 10 numbered lots. The undesignated parcel is differently shaped and somewhat larger than any one of the numbered lots. Subdivision building restrictions were imposed on "all the lots shown on said map." Diaz contracts to sell the unnumbered lot, described by metes and bounds, to Butts. Is title to the parcel marketable? No, because the map leaves it uncertain as to whether the unnumbered lot is subject to the building restrictions.
The Taxi & Limousine Committee agreed Wednesday to carry out a 30-cent extra charge on every city taxi fare -- part of a historic plan to make half the city's yellow cabs wheelchair-accessible. The 30-cent extra charge will be assessed starting next January on all metered yellow and green cab fares. The money will be put in a fund to help yellow cab owners make their vehicles wheelchair-accessible. Only about 400 of the more than 13,000 yellow cabs now on city streets can accommodate wheelchairs. Hopefully, that number will rise to more than 7,500 by 2020. Mayor de Blasio in the city Washington proposed the 30-cent charge to support the upgrades. Consequently, disabled New Yorkers said the addition of more accessible cabs would be life-changing. "We can't go anywhere more conveniently," said Jean Ryan of Brooklyn, who uses a wheelchair. For the birth of her grandson, she had to wheel a mile and a half in a snowstorm to get to the hospital, she said. Ronnie Raymond of Manhattan wept as she described spending "hours trying to get somewhere that takes everybody else 20 minutes." Some supporters for the disabled said more was needed to be done. "I dream of a world where it's 100% accessible and we have cabs just like anyone else," said Jason DaSilva, a Brooklyn filmmaker who suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair. It's particularly important because the city's subway system is ly inaccessible to wheelchair riders. Some other cities, including London, with its famous black cabs, require that all its taxis be fully accessible. Some citizens expressed sympathy for the wheelchair-using riders, many of whom carried neon signs that read "Taxi" next to a wheelchair symbol. "The goal of this committee should be 100% accessibility -- and I hope sooner rather than later," said Frank Carone from the Taxi & Limousine Committee. For what purpose will a 30-cent extra charge be applied on every city taxi fare? I fell in love with the minister's son the winter I turned fourteen. He was not Chinese. For Christmas I prayed for the boy, Robert. When I found out that my parents had invited the minister's family over for Christmas Eve dinner, I cried in panic. What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas? What would he think of our noisy Chinese relatives who lacked proper American manners? On Christmas Eve, my mother created abundant Chinese food. And then they arrived--the minister's family and all my relatives. Robert greeted hello, and I pretended he was not worthy of existence. Dinner threw me deeper into disappointment. My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table. Robert and his family waited patiently for a large plate to be passed to them. My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish. Robert made a face. Then my father reached his chopsticks just below the fish eye and picked out the soft meat. "Amy, your favorite," he said, offering me the tender fish cheek. I wanted to disappear. At the end of the meal, my father leaned back and burped loudly, thanking my mother for her fine cooking. "It's a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied," explained my father to our astonished guests. Robert was looking down at his plate with a reddish face. The minister managed to bring up a quiet burp. I was shocked into silence for the rest of the night. After everyone had gone, my mother said to me, "You want to be the same as American girls on the outside." She handed me an early gift. It was a miniskirt. "But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud that you are different. Your only shame is to have shame." It was not until years later that I was able to fully appreciate her lesson and the purpose behind her particular menu. For Christmas Eve that year, she had chosen excellent Chinese food. The dinner threw the writer deeper into disappointment mainly because _ . Mr. Zhang was a sports fan. He worked in a hospital in the capital. He was busy all the time and had little time to have a rest. And one day he felt unwell and couldn't go on working. He decided to spend a week's holiday in a quiet village where he could go swimming or fishing. He got off at a small railway station and soon got to a quiet village. He took a room hotel and went to sleep as soon as he had a good meal. At first Mr. Zhang enjoyed himself there. He could do everything he wanted and went wherever he liked. Nobody disturbed him and knocked at the door at midnight. But on the fourth day he was in trouble. After lunch it was very hot. He went swimming in the river. Suddenly he saw a beautiful bird in a big tree. He wanted to catch it, so he walked to it, but it found him and flew away ans soon as gone. He began to pick some flowers in the forest and before long he lost his way. The sun had gone down and night had fallen before Mr. Zhang found a small restaurant in another village. He came in and told them to bring him some bread, two eggs and a glass of tea. After a while his food was brought. Soon he ate up all the bread and eggs. When he was going to have the tea, he found there was a fly in the glass. " What's in my tea?" Mr. Zhang called out, " A fly" " It's impossible, sir." said the owner of the restaurant, " I had told them to pick all the flies out of your tea before they brought it to you!" Mr. Zhang didn't enjoy himself in the village, did he? Ahead of so-called Singles' Day on the 11th of this month,2013, online sales have already begun peaking. The leading e-business platform, tmall.com, has promoted its fifty-percent-off discount to attract consumers. They are also trying to attract buyers through social media. Vice President of tmall.com Wang Yulei says more than 20 thousand online stores have joined the Double 11 Day sales. But this number has doubled. The final number of how many products going to be on sale has not been known yet. But so far, many more products planned to be put on shelves with discounts. During last year's Singles' Day, tmall.com, together with taobao.com, reached a record of 19.1 billion yuan in sales, which considered a milestone in the e-business history of China. Singles' Day was first started by Chinese college students in the 1990s as the opposite of Valentine's Day, a celebration for people without romantic partners. The timing was based on the date: Nov. 11--or double 11--for singles. Single young people would treat each other to dinner or give gifts to show love to someone and end their single status. But now, the Singles' Day has been promoted as a kind of grand craze just for the shopping season, thanks to thousands of discounted products being promoted online. Taobao.com was the first big e-retail platform which used the double 11 idea to promote sales. Taobao.com reached one million yuan worth of sales on that day in 2009, when they first promoted the Singles' Day idea. In 2010, the sales increased to 936 million yuan. The figure climbed up to 5.3 billion yuan in 2011, putting huge demand on shipping services. The figure doubled in 2012. E-commerce is considered to be replacing the traditional retailing industry, but the reality is both sides are learning from each other. What can we infer from the passage? Long ago, near the village of Hedley, there lived a strange and playful trickster , known as the Hedley Kow. Sometimes it looked like an ordinary object. Sometimes it looked like a donkey or a goat. One evening, as an old woman went along the path, she saw an old iron pot lying in the ditch. "Fancy that," she said. "Nobody seems to want this old pot. I will take it home and plant pretty flowers in it." When she tried to lift it, she saw that it was full of gold pieces. "Well, now, if that doesn't beat all," she said. "I'm rich! I can buy a fine house and fancy clothes." The pot was heavy, so she tied her shawl around it and began to drag it home. After a while, she stopped to rest. When she looked in the pot, she was amazed to see that it was full of silver pieces! "Oh, my God!" she said. "Aren't I the lucky one! If it were gold, thieves would have been after me. My friends might have been jealous. But I can hide these silver pieces, take out a few at a time, and live like a queen." On she went, pulling the pot after her. She was nearing home now. At her gate, she looked into the pot. What a surprise! The silver had changed into a lump of iron. "Iron," she said. "Well, now! No one will be jealous or want to steal this from me. I can use this iron to prop my door open and let in fresh air and sunlight. Lucky me!" As soon as she said that, the pot began to grow and later it became a goat. Then it jumped up and ran off down the road laughing. "Fancy that!" said the old woman. "I believe I have seen the Hedley Kow! Not many folks can say that, and that's a fact. I'll just sit up by my fire tonight thinking about how lucky I was to see it for myself. I truly must be the luckiest person in the world!" Which of the following sayings can best describe this story?
Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her 5th grade class on the first day of school. She found a boy sleeping in his seat. He was Teddy. Also Thompson noticed the boy didn't play well with the other children. It got to the point "F" at the top of his papers. Mrs. Thompson reviewed each child's past records. However, when she reviewed Teddy's file , she was in a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child. He does his work neatly and has good manners..." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, but he is troubled because his mother has an illness and life at home is difficult." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries his best, but his father doesn't show much interest in his study..." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is _ and doesn't talk with other's. Also he doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents wrapped in beautiful and bright paper, except for Teddy's. He sent a rhinestone bracelet with some stones missing. But Mrs. Thompson told him with a smile, "I like it very much." After school Teddy said, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my Mother used to be." Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class. Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets." ,. Mrs. Thompson felt _ when Teddy sent her a present. A pleased B angry C sad D thankful Answer: A One morning, Mr. Smith came into the garden at the back of his house. He saw so much snow in the garden. Mr. Smith wanted to take his car out, so he asked a man to clean the road from his garage to the gate. He said to the man, "Don't throw any snow on the side. It will damage the flowers in my garden, and don't throw any on the other side, because it will damage the wall. And don't throw any into the street, because the policeman will come." Then he went out. When he came back, the road was clean. There was no snow on the flowers, or the wall or the street. But when he opened the garage to get his car out, he saw: the garage was full of snow, the snow from the road, and his car was under the snow. In the morning Mr. Smith found _ was full of snow. A his garden B his garage C his house D his car Answer: A Holidays Holiday News Vacancies now and in the school holidays at a country hotel in Devon. This comfortable, friendly home-from-home lies near the beautiful quiet countryside, but just a drive away from the sea. The food is simple but good. Children and pets are welcome. Reduced prices for low season. The Snowdonia Centre The Snowdonia Centre for young mountain climbers has a mountain climbing lesson. The beginners' costs are PS57 for a week, including food and rooms. Equipment is included except walking shoes, which can be hired at a low cost. You must be in good health and prepared to go through a period of body exercises. This could be the beginning of a lifetime of mountain climbing adventure. The World Sea Trip of a Lifetime Our World Sea Trip of 2008 will be unlike any holiday you have ever been on before. Instead of one hotel after another, with all its packing and unpacking, waiting and traveling, you just go to bed in one country and wake up in another. On board the ship, you will be well taken care of. Every meal will be first-class and every cabin like your home. During the trip, you can rest on deck , enjoy yourself in the games rooms and in the evening dance to our musical team and watch our wonderful play. You will visit all the places most people only dream about -- from Acapulco and Hawaii to Tokyo and Hong Kong. For a few thousand pounds, all you've ever hoped for can be yours. In what way is the Snowdonia Centre different from the other two holidays? A It provides chances of family gatherings. B It provides customers with good food. C It offers comfortable rooms. D It offers a sports lesson. Answer: D Our lives and our songs Do you ever listen to the songs that your parents like? Chances are that you don't. You probably think the music that they like is old and dull and that the songs on your playlist are much cooler. But here is what scientists found recently : People's music tastes change as they age, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. So it is likely that your own musical preferences will follow a similar path to your parents', whether you like it or not. We used to think that culture and personality are the only factors that affect one's music choice. But researchers at the University of Cambridge, UK, gathered data from more than 250,000 people over the past 10 years. They noticed that as people age, their social circumstances change, and so does their music taste. There are three musical periods that people pass through as they mature -- "intense ", "contemporary" and " sophisticated ". The first period comes in the teenage years , during which people like intense music such as punk and rock because teenagers tend to be aggressive and want to establish their identities as independent individuals. But as people move into early adulthood, their lifestyle changes --they socialize more and want to build close relationships with others. As a result, they become more fond of contemporary music ,such as pop and R&B, which is usually uplifting and danceable and played at parties where people hang out together and chat. When middle age comes, things have settled down for most people. This period will be dominated by more "sophisticated" music, such as jazz and classical, as well as more catchy music like country, folk and blues. " For many , this life stage is frequently exhausted by work and family, and there is a requirement for relaxing , emotive music,"Jason Rentfrow, a research member , told The Telegraph. But you must be thinking : "Aren't there old people who are still into rock music ?" Of course there are. But Rentfrow explained that their reasons for listening to rock music may have changed. " We use music for different reasons," he said , and thus at that age people may listen to remind themselves of their youths. What is the main purpose of the article ? A To explain why parents and children don't share music preferences. B To show how music helps shape people's social lives. C To present a new study about how people's music tastes change. D To discuss research into the varied factors that determine people's music tastes . Answer: C The subject of this year's Kunming International Expo is "man and nature walking hand in hand into the 21stCentury". When theprefix = st1 /UKwas asked to take part, it seemed natural to build a garden. Now theBritishGardenwill be a central part when Expo opens on May 1. David Patterson , the Curator of the Department of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, is leading the team now _ .The Royal Botanic Gardens were chosen for a very good reason. They have the largest collection of Chinese plants in the world outside China. "Ever since people in Britainstarted gardening for pleasure they have used Chinese plants," Patterson told English Corner. "There are probably Chinese flowers in nearly every garden inBritain. This is a good chance to give something back." The garden has been carefully designed to mix traditional British skills with the local Chinese environment. David Patterson describes the garden as "formal but gentle". It contains a raised flower bed, a summer house and a lot of local trees. The garden is contained behind a wall of local, yellow stone. It is intended to be a place of serious thinking and quiet enjoyment. "You could say that we've painted a picture," said David Patterson. "And we have designed the garden to continue for a long time, so that the people of Kunmingwill be able to enjoy it long after the Expo is over." In the BritishGardenyou will feel _ . A nothing familiar B everything British C excited and noisy D quiet and happy Answer: D
Hello,my friend.I'm Jack.Today I'd like to tell you a story about the language.People live together and they speak the same language.They are kind to each other . People want to build a tower.One of them says, "Let's build it high and it can reach the heaven !".And the name is the Tower of Babel.But God doesn't like it."I will stop them!" God says. People can work together because they can speak the same language.So God makes people speak different language.This is a big problem.Someone asks for water,people give him clothes.They can't understand each other.So people are not friendly.They don't like building the tower. People begin to speak different languages and live in different places.They never finish building the Tower of Babel. In the story,people in the world speak _ language(s) at first. A. one B. two C. three D. many different Answer: A. one What part-time job do you do now?What do you do want to do in the future?Leave your comment here! I've been working at Burger Bam for two months.I thought I'd hate it,but it's been really good.I've learned a lot how to work with people I would never normally meet.And I'm not as shy as I was.I don't think I want to work there forever,but it's given me some ideas about how to run a business.Maybe I'll learn business when I go to college. Abby,15,from Toronto I've had my own web design business for a year. I've designed about 20 websites for my friends.I've been doing most of the work on the weekends after I do my homework! I've bought a new computer with the money I earned. A little restaurants in my neighborhood has asked me to design a website for them, so my business is growing. I'm not sure what I want to do in the future, but I really like art and design. Maybe I should go into advertising. Kwan,14,from Seattle I've been volunteering at a senior citizen center on Saturday mornings. Some of my friends think I'm crazy, doing a job for no money, but I really like it. I think that in a few months, I'll try to get a paid part-time job in a law office because I want to study law in the future. There's a lot of competition for part-time jobs, but I think my volunteering will look good on my resume. Tamanna,16,from Dallas Where can we most probably read the passage? A. In a poster. B. In a travel guide. C. In a textbook. D. On a website. Answer: D. On a website. The words "timetable" and "schedule" make most final year students want to eat their own vomit. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that final year students must develop a timetable. If you don't have a schedule or plan for studying, you will have no way of allocating your valuable time when the unexpected arises. A well-thought-out timetable can be a lifesaver. It is up to you to learn how to develop a schedule that meets your needs. Change it if necessary, but most important, follow it . All timetables should be made with the idea that they can be changed. A good one will keep you from wandering off course. A good timetable should make every hour count--every class ,social event and other activity you engage in .You must focus on the other "free time" available and how you will use it .Make a weekly schedule and divided each day into one-hour increments. Indicate times for classes, socializing, and work time. Also block off a period for sleeping every day. In the precious hours left over, plan time for study. This gives you a rough road map of the time available. Of course, you can change your schedule as circumstances need. The timetable you develop should guide you in how to distribute the available time in the most productive manner. Sticking to your schedule can be tough, but don't dribble away valuable time. Avoiding study is the easiest thing in the world. It is up to you to follow the schedule you've prepared. A good deal of your success in high school and with any future study depends on this simple truth. Remember, there is a learning curve. You learn the most in the first 30 minutes of study; after that, it progressively deteriorates. After four or five hours of studying the same material in the same way, you are learning virtually nothing. The solution is to keep switching subjects and study styles. The following are characteristics of a good timetable EXCEPT that _ . A. it can be changed B. it is flexible C. it is of many periods D. it can save our time Answer: D. it can save our time A child rides a wagon down a hill. Eventually, the wagon comes to a stop. Which is most responsible for causing the wagon to stop? A. gravity acting on the wagon B. friction acting on the wagon C. the mass of the wagon D. the mass of the child Answer: B. friction acting on the wagon Scout Bassett is often asked if she hopes to have normal legs. Bassett answers, "No. When you lost a leg, it teaches you to appreciate little things - like being able to walk and run." Born in England, Bassett was left at an orphanage due to terrible burns. Her right leg was cut off above the knee. She felt hungry all the time. When she was old enough to get around, she was forced to clean floors, feed babies and wash dishes. And she had to do all that with an artificial leg that didn't work well. When she was 7, a family in Michigan adopted her, giving her an improved artificial leg. It was OK for everyday activities, but she couldn't play soccer or basketball. When she was 14, she got a high-tech leg made for sports. "I remember being terrified because that was my first time," she said. Scout Bassett was waiting nervously for the race to start when the athlete Sarah Reinertsen came up and said, "I've been doing this for a while. Let me help you." Reinertsen, who lost her leg when she was 7, works with an organization called the Challenged Athletes Foundation to help people like Scout Bassett. She lost that first race, but gained confidence from Reinertsen. Training hard, she improved her strength and skill. She even took up golf and tennis. Now, living in Califomia, Bassett runs competitively and finds time to share her story with school groups. She said, "Some people think they having nothing in common with me. I want to say everyone has challenges - maybe with homework or friends. No matter what it is, everything you need is inside your heart. Take small steps and you will reach your dream." According to Bassett, losing a leg makes her _ A. wish to run like normal person B. lose courage to stand up to walk C. learn to be thankful for little things D. dream of developing artificial legs Answer: C. learn to be thankful for little things
Lily has a pen friend in America. Her name is Alice. They write to each other every week. They tell each other about their lives. Here is a letter from Lily. Dear Alice, Thank you for your letter and telling me about your best friend. In this letter, I'm going to tell you about my friend. Her name is Cathy. She has long brown hair and blue eyes. She is the same age as me, but a little taller .She is always happy. We sit together in class and help each other with our homework. We always play together after school and play computer games for an hour. Cathy thinks quickly and does better than me. She is learning to play the piano .I am learning to play the piano, too. We play together every day. It's fun. We always have a good time. Please write to me soon. Love, Lily What else do they do together every day? Answer: Play the piano. You have heard of Webster Toys. Webster has made good, safe, interesting toys for more than 100 years. Now we sell them, and children play with them, in countries from New Zealand to Norway, and from Japan to Brazil. We are looking for someone to sell our toys in the Far East. He will be between thirty and forty. He will already have some years of selling in world markets behind him. He will speak good English, and at least one other language of the Far East. The person we are looking for will live in Singapore, and work in our office there, but he will travel for up to six months in any one year. He will know the Far East quite well already. He will know how to sell in old markets and where to find new ones. He will understand money and make more than ever before, for himself, and for Webster Toys. Webster wants someone who can stand on his own feet. If you think you are the person we are looking for, write to Mr J. Sloman at our head office in London. The head office of the Webster company is in _ . Answer: England This summer I will leave the junior high school where I have been for three years. I am generally considered to be a careful and polite boy now. However, five years ago, I was a little bit bossy . I often fought with other boys and sometimes I even fought with my elder sister. When I saw Superman on TV for the first time, I dreamed of being a superman one day. One P.E. class, I called up all of my friends to get together in our classroom. "Can anybody jump out of the window?" I asked them. After hearing this, all my friends kept silent. " _ ," I said. "Can you?" one of my friends asked me. "Sure!" I answered. "If I do it, I will get all the toys that you have. If I fail, you will get all of my toys, OK?" They said, "OK!" Then I went up to the window of the second floor. I took a deep breath and then jumped down, stretching out my arms just like Superman. Then I hit the ground. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in the hospital. I was taken to the hospital because my arms were badly hurt. Later, I heard that my P.E. teacher nearly lost his job for this, but I never received the serious punishment I feared. Which of the following is TURE according to the passage? Answer: Superman is one of the writer's favorite characters. When the sand began kicking up and hitting our faces, I started to worry that maybe we had made a mistake. That afternoon, my dad had stood on the deck of our home and laughed as our neighbors packed up their cars and headed inland. They left to spend the night in motels or at friends' homes that were out of range of approaching summer storm. Challenging the weather that threatened to damping our spirits, we lit a fire on the beach. Dad told jokes and we had a good time. When it was 6:30 p.m., all laughter disappeared. Our eyes were drawn to the sky. A tornado was headed straight for us! In a flash, we were all on our feet. The wind started screaming and now we were running to the cottage. My mom stopped next to the front door. "Where can we go?" She shouted at my dad. Most cottages on this part of Lake Michigan had been built without basements. Ours was no exception. The huge windows and the cottage itself wouldn't offer safety from high wind. "Follow me!" my dad yelled. We crawled beneath the deck, pressing ourselves against the foundation of the cottage. Between the deck supports, we watched the approaching storm in silent terror. My dad shouted, "Hold on!" and something else I couldn't hear over the screaming wind. I think he was praying. By the time it reached our cottage, it was nothing more than a strong wind. The rest of the storm lasted for an hour and then simply blew away. "Next time, we'll stay inland at Grandma's. Okay?" my dad said. What was the family's immediate action when they saw the tornado approach? Answer: Running away at once. The homeless dog, known as Xiao Sa, has been following a team of cyclists for 24 days along 1,833 kilometers of highway from Kangding, Sichuan province, to Lhasa in Tibet. Nobody knows where the white dog came from or how long she has been straying on highway G318. Netizens call her the "dog with determination" and the micro blog "Go Go Xiao Sa" recording her life has attracted more than 37,000 followers in two weeks. A picture of Xiao Sa in the arms of a young man in front of the Potala Palace on Thursday night drew more than 4,000 comments congratulating the small dog and expressing dreams of going to Lhasa. The young man in the picture is Zhang Heng, 22, a student in Wuhan, Hubei province. As his graduation trip, he decided to face the challenge of riding to Lhasa alone. On the way he met a lonely dog. "She was lying, tired, on the street around Yajiang, Sichuan province," he said. "So we fed her, and then she followed our team." "We felt she might want to come along with us, so we decided to bring her along to the end." A week later, Zhang and his buddies opened a micro blog account for her. "We thought the dog was encouraging us, and wanted others to know its story," he said. They created the name Xiao Sa by combining xiao meaning "little" with the last syllable of Lhasa. During their journey, Xiao Sa, Zhang and his team covered more than 1,700 kilometers and climbed 10 mountains higher than 4,000 meters. Xiao Sa just ran up the mountains or along dirt roads. "Many people stopped cycling in some sections, then took the bus, but the dog made it," he said. Zhang put the dog on the back of the bike when the team was riding downhill. "The speed can reach 70 kilometers per hour, impossible for the dog to catch us." Zhang Heng, who accompanied Xiao Sa for 20 days, called her "a buddy and a friend". "I would like to take the dog home and take care of her. She has been a stray on the road for a long time. She needs a home." Zhang Heng and his team opened a micro blog account for the dog just because _ . Answer: the dog encouraged them and they wanted more people to know its story

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