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What kind of life do you want? And what would you do if you were born with an illness like Cystic Fibrosis ?Charley was such a man.He was born with Cystic Fibrosis, a serious disease of the muscles.Without properly functioning muscles, eventually you're unable to breathe.However, Charley was fortunate to have many care- givers, including his wife who helped him a lot.He became an engineer and helped plan structures that would allow streets and buildings to give better access to the disabled.Charley couldn't live without a wheelchair, and could only use one hand to move it.His speech was also difficult to understand.However, Charley had a sharp mind.He could see, hear, use a few fingers and think, and that was enough to allow him to make an important contribution to his city.He made those around him more aware of their physical health. In the movie JackandJillvs.theWorld, Jill is a 25-year-old girl who has just arrived in New York City.She has Cystic Fibrosis, but she doesn't let it control her life.She's happy, in fact! She meets a young man, Jack, and changes his life forever.One day she has to tell him about her illness.He's angry and disappointed, but later he realizes that it's their relationship that matters.They decide to be together, and live as happily as possible. Charley's story is true.Jack and Jill's story is made up.How do you want to live your life? Use your imagination, and enjoy your life and all its wonders.Create your picture of a happy life. The film JackandJill vs.theWorld is set in _ . New York City Many environmentalists and entrepreneurs are looking for ideas on how to "capture gold" -- that is, how to collect and convert plastic waste into new plastic or fuel. OK, describing plastic waste as potential "gold" may be overdoing it. But the campaigners say that publicizing the notion that plastic is worth something may help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in oceans and the bellies of sea creatures. To that end, they have set up a competition inviting members of the public to submit ideas online. Organizers will take the best ones to the Rio+20 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro next month, where they are planning a daylong side event called Plasticity focusing on issues related to plastic pollution. The plastic waste problem is gaining broader attention as environmentalists, scientists, manufacturers and the public become more aware of the sheer volume of the stuff that finds its way into the sea. More than 260 million metric tons of plastic are now produced per year, according to the trade association PlasticsEurope. The majority of that is not recycled. Most of it ends up in landfill, and a significant amount ends up as litter on land, in rivers and in the oceans. Technological advances have made clear that it is possible to reuse much of this plastic by turning it into fuel or new products. Yet the companies that have come up with such solutions have not achieved the economies of scale that would allow them to function profitably. Insufficient waste-collection and recycling systems in most countries also stand in the way of " _ " concept, said Doug Woodring, an environmental entrepreneur in Hong Kong who is among the organizer of the Plasticity forum in Rio. Rather than breast-beating, the form aims to highlight some of the technologies and ideas out there for collection and reuse. My personal favorite for now is a vacuum cleaner with plastic parts made from plastic waste. According to Doug Woodring, the companies that want to reuse plastic waste _ . haven't reached profitable scale Remember when a trip to the supermarket was nothing more than a boring thing requiring little or no specialized knowledge? You could send your kids into a cart while you did shopping. You always bought the same brands,usually the brands your mother bought. You didn't know about unit pricing,and furthermore,you didn't care. It never occurred to you to read the labels on anything. After all,you'd bought these things a hundred times. But now,I really look on those days with a feeling of yearn . How innocent we were! How carefree were those trips to the supermarket. No worries. Today a trip to the supermarket is filled with social influence. Every time I buy pork chops I think about the years I'm shaving from my life. I keep a careful eye on the freshness date and examine the tamper-proof packaging. I am victim of that most dangerous social disease:shoppers' panic. I didn't realize how serious my condition had become until the last time I needed laundry, soap. It seemed simple enough. Just run into the market,grab a box of the old reliable and pay for it. I hadn't planned on discovering Ecover,a new brand of laundry soap. It sat quietly on the shelf right next to my old reliable. "Healthy,gentle but effective. "My respect for it deepened with each new claim as I read the entire package. Then I looked at the price:$5. 69 for 2 pound. $5. 69! I cast a quick glance at the old reliable,still on sale for$1. 39. Six bucks for laundry soap! These people must be crazy! Who's going to pay six bucks for laundry soap? It's not as though I can't afford it. See,it's concentrated--use less,get more. BUT SIX BUCKS! And the box is made from recycled materials ...This act went on for a solid half hour,after which I left the shelf without any soap at all. Surely the meat department is most threatening place. Remember what protein was good for you? That's all over. Every bite you take kills you. I won't even mention meat's moral influence. When all is said and done,we still must eat. I gather up my healthy-cooking oil and my recycled paper towels and head to the checkout counter. Recalling the old days' shopping in the supermarket,the author thinks it was_. pleasant Do you suppose Darwin, one of the greatest scientists of all time, really did fools' experiments? Or did he do experiments that were so simple and basic that other people just thought they were foolish? Sometimes, people think they already know the answer to a question or the solution to a problem. Sometimes, they really do know an answer or a solution, but without thinking they are important. Charles Darwin didn't settle for just thinking he knew something. And, he believed all things could be important however simple they seemed to be. Suppose you drop sheets of paper that are of exactly the same size and shape. If you drop them at the same time in the same place, they will fall in the same way. Now make one of the sheets of paper into a tight little ball and let it drop along with the other sheets. What happens? You have done an experiment that is so simple that you might think it couldn't be worth anything. But this simple experiment is important. It explains part of our present day understandings of physics ideas that were worked out long ago by Galileo and Newton. And these understandings set aside some of ancient Greek physics. Scientist sometimes stops to look at very simple things and to think very hard about them. Even the simplest idea, which we might think is foolish, can shake the foundations of science. The passage tells us that Charles Darwin_. thought even the simplest thing was important Based on cultural traditions and the changing face of contemporary British communities, the Festival of Muslim Cultures joins young people from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds together through the creation of innovative , high quality cultural activities. We have been working with arts and educational institutions across the UK to promote the mainstreaming of Muslim cultures within UK everyday life. The Festival was created out of the need to encourage a better understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims, to promote respect for Muslim cultures and to show how culture creates the pathways that connect us all together. The program launched with a visit by the Festival's patron , the Prince of Wales, to the exhibition "Palace and Mosque" in Sheffield and since then there have been more than 100 events that have ranged from a Somali community day in Cardiff at the National Museum of Wales to a late-night Dance with Radio Tarifa (from Spain) and Dimi Mint Abba (form Mauritania) in the Royal Albert Hall and from a home-grown play in Nottingham about the Kashmir earthquake to the exhibition"Beyond the Palace Walls" at the Royal Museum Edinburgh of Islamic art from the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. We are now working on a number of long-term projects which stay true to our commitment to promoting Muslim cultures through arts collaborations and build on the extensive network of local, national and international partners that Festival has created. These include a three-year national program that connects young Muslims to their local cultural institutions; a UK Muslim cookbook; an exhibition of the Ottoman architect Sinan; and a project for schools around the 1000-year old story "The Animals' Lawsuit against Humanity". For more information about the Festival, please click on another page: Who's Who. The best title of this passage would be _ . Welcome to the Celebration of Muslim Cultures
Let's face it.No one drinks diet soda for the taste.People drink diet soda in the hope that it will help them lose weight or at least keep them from gaining it.Yet it seems to have exactly the opposite effect, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Texas said those who drank two or more diet sodas a day had waist size increases that were six times greater than those who didn't drink diet soda."What we saw was that the more diet sodas a person drank, the more weight they were likely to gain," said Sharon Fowler. The study was based on data from 474 participants in a large, ongoing research project, where the participants were followed for nearly l0 years. While the findings are surprising, they also offer some explanations. Nutrition expert, Melanie Rogers, who works with overweight patients in New York, has found that when patients are switched from regular to diet soda, they don't lose weight at all."We weren't seeing weight loss necessarily, and that was confusing to us," said Rogers. So why would diet soda cause weight gain? No one knows for sure yet, but it could be that people think they can eat more if they drink diet soda, and so over-compensate for the missing calories. A related study found some sweeteners raised blood sugar levels in some mice."Data from this and other potential studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners may be risky," said Helen P.Hazuda, professor at the University of Texas's school of medicine." _ may be free of calories, but not of consequences." The new study suggests that drinking diet soda _ . A causes people to become heavier B helps people to be healthier C makes people much thinner D offers people more calories Answer: A A team of US psychologists have found that talking to another person for ten minutes a day helps with memory. "Socializing is just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in memory and intellectual performance," Oscar Ybarra, a psychologist at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, said in a statement. In one investigation, they analyzed data on 3610 people, aged 24 to 96. They found that the higher their level of social interaction , the better their cognitive functioning. Social interaction includes getting together or having phone chats with relatives, freinds and neighbors. In another experiment, the researchers conducted lab tests on 76 college students, aged 18 to 21, to evaluate how social interactions and intellectual exercises affected the results of memory and mental performance tests. The students were divided into three groups: the social interaction group had a discussion of a social issue for 10 minutes before taking the tests; the intellectual activities group completed three tasks (including a reading comprehension exercise and a crossword puzzle) before the tests; and a control group watched a 10-minute clip of the Seinfeld television show. "We found that short-term social interaction lasting for just 10 minutes improved participants' intellectual performance as much as engaging in so-called 'intellectual' activities for the same amount of time," Ybarra said. The study was expected to be published in the February issue of the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. What's the purpose of the experiment on 76 college students? A To judge the effect of social interaction on memory and intelligence. B To find out what is real social interaction. C To learn how much time is needed for social interaction. D To show the function of people's cognition. Answer: A All around the world, people drink tea. But tea does not mean the same thing to everyone. In different countries people have very different ideas about drinking tea. In China, for example, tea is always served when people get together. The Chinese drink it at any time of the day at homes or in teahouses. They prefer their tea plain, with nothing else in it. Tea is also important in Japan. The Japanese have a special way of serving tea called a tea ceremony . It is very old and full of meaning. Everything must be done in a special way in the ceremony. There is even a special room for it in Japanese homes. Another tea-drinking country is England. In England, the late afternoon is "teatime". Almost everyone has a cup of tea then. The English usually make tea in a teapot and drink it with milk and sugar. They also eat cakes, cookies and little sandwiches at teatime. In the United States people drink tea mostly for breakfast or after meals. Americans usually use tea bags to make their tea. Tea bags are faster and easier than making tea in teapots. In summer, many Americans drink cold tea -- "iced tea". Sometimes they drink iced tea from cans, like soda. ,. Tea is popular _ . A in Asian countries B only in English-speaking countries C only in the USA D all around the world Answer: D A light bulb manufacturer claims its light bulb is "twice as bright" per unit of electrical energy consumed as the leading light bulb. If this claim is correct, what factor must be accurately compared between the two bulbs? A how much each bulb weighs B how long each bulb lasts C how much heat each bulb releases D how much metal each bulb contains Answer: C The computer is a perfect tool for all those categories , but... You just never really had the time to take a basic computer class,and the books about how to actually use a computer are heavy reading and it seems like computers and computer manufactures have a language all of their own, so the books really don't help you much, anyway. This is a web site for YOU Here is your chance to get the basic knowledge you need, so you can enjoy the time you spend in front of your computer, and you can learn at your own pace. This web site is a guide for new computer users. Here you will find step by step descriptions of the most commonly used programs and functions of your computer. You can look through the links on the left and find what you need to know right now and come back later and get some more information. This is NOT a web site for computer experts and it's not written by an expert, either, so don't worry, you will find that everything here is written in a language for YOU! The list of computer terms will have the explanations to the words you will need to gain the desired knowledge for everyday use. As you get acquainted with the basic functions you will also have a better picture of what your computer can actually do for you in your daily life. After all a computer is a TOOL, and here is your chance to 1earn how to use it! As I said. It's important to learn at your own pace, so add this site to your favorites. The web site mentioned in the passage serves _ . A the new computer users B the middle school students C the computer experts D the experienced computer users Answer: A
Their thumbs sure must be sore. Two central prefix = st1 /Pennsylvaniafriends spent most of March in a text - messaging record attempt, exchanging a thumbs-flying total of 217,000. For one of the two, that meant an inches-thick itemized bill for $ 26,000. Nick Andes, 29, and Doug Klinger, 30, were relying on their unlimited text messaging plans to get them through the escapade , so Andes didn't expect such a big bill. " It came in a box that cost $ 27.55 to send to me." he said. He said he "panicked" and called T-Mobile, which said it would investigate the charges. The two Lancaster-area residents have been practically non-stop texters for about a decade since they attended Berks Technical Institute together. That led Andes to searching for the largest monthly text message total he could find posted online: 182,000 sent in 2005 by Deepak Sharma in India. Andes and Klinger were able to set up their phones to send multiple messages. During a February test run they found they could send 6,000 or 7,000 messages on some days, prompting the March messaging marathon. " Most were either short phrases or one word, 'LOL' or 'Hello', things like that , with tons and tons of repeats," said Andes, reached by phone. Andes sent more than 140,000 messages, and Klinger sent more than 70,000 to end the month with a total of just over 217,000, he said. A spokesman for Guinness World Records didn't immediately return messages asking whether it would be certified as a record. April came as a relief to Andes' wife , Julie, who had found his phone tied up with texting when she tried to call him on lunch breaks. " She was tired of it the first few days into it, "Andes said. Which of the following is true? A. The two young men set a new Guinness World Record by sending 217,000 messages. B. The two young men had sent 217,000 messages altogether. C. The two young men didn't care about money D. They did some tests before starting the messaging marathon. Answer: D Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight , and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He shouted at her loudly, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses in the box. I filled it with my love. All for you, Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her for forgiveness . My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. What kind of present did the little girl give her father? A. The little girl had put her kisses in the box as a present. B. The little girl had kissed the box as a present. C. The little girl had filled the box with gold wrapping paper. D. The little girl had filled the box with air. Answer: A When Callie Rogers won almost 1.9 million pounds on the lottery at 16, she hoped it would help her put her troubles behind her. The teenager came from a broken home, had dropped out of school and was living in local authority care. Rogers, from Cumbria, England, won the National Lottery in 2003. Then she began spending her money wildly, buying four homes for her family, flash cars and designer clothes, partying and having some cosmetic surgery. Two weeks after her win, she married and had two children. But then she spent 250 000 pounds on cocaine and suffered depression. Earlier this year she lost the right to take care of her children because of her mental state. She became addicted to drugs and attempted suicide three times as her life unraveled. She says the money brought her only misery. Now she is down to her last 100,000 pounds, she has never been happier. Now 22, she said: "Just a few months ago I was taking too many drugs and hated myself. I simply did not want to live any more. But now I have a new man and am finally becoming the woman I want to be. And it's only after I've spent most of my fortune that this has finally happened." "I need to get my act together and make my kids proud, and for the first time I really do think that's possible." She credits her new boyfriend with giving her the stable home life she has always longed for and she now hopes to go to college and eventually become a counselor. "After all I've experienced, I think I have a lot of advice to offer," she said. Why does Rogers hope to go to college? A. She intends to find a good job B. She expects to become a professor C. She longs to improve her situation D. She wants to offer advice for others Answer: D Burn rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. My rate was $ 75,000 a month. Four months after my company was set up, I had only a quarter of the starting capital left in the bank. Looking for guidance, I went to talk to my friend, Arthur Walworth about my new venture. "Times of great change always bring out the risk-takers," he said. "And they leave winners and losers. My grandfather invested a lot of money in a project of Thomas Edison's that ended up in failure. " I was lost in thought at the notion (an idea or belief about something) of a Thomas Edison project ending in failure. Damn. It could happen to anybody! I must continue. At that time CD-ROM sales had bombed, so investors were fleeing from the field. I didn't turn away from mine entirely, but instead linked it to the Internet. My plan was to offer consumers descriptions of home-design products by using a special software and let them modify the designs. Then we can enable them to get online professional and constructional help to have their houses built, decorated and furnished according to their own choice. To realize my plan I needed investors, so I continued to meet regularly with venture capitalists. One said I had a great idea. But I needed to test it. Get the money somewhere. To get this money from a venture capitalist is going to cost my wife and my children! He turned down my request. Wife? Children? I hardly remembered them. I was working nonstop --- struggling to turn the key in the lock, to find the right way ahead. The pressure was terrible. It was just at this time that my parents and sisters stepped up. Two hundred thousand dollars. A lot of money to them, invested in this crazy son and brother without a moment's hesitation. Dad and Mom had driven out from Chicago and seen the passion in my little office and the trouble at home. With their help my company survived and has been prospering ever since. When the author's company started operation, he had _ . A. $ 450,000 B. $ 400,000 C. $ 350,000 D. $ 300,000 Answer: B Utopia is a perfect place. It is a place without war, hunger, poverty, or crime. It is a place where the people work together and share. There is no money in Utopia because the people do not need money. They do not have personal possessions because everything belongs to everyone. All of the people are equal in Utopia, and the laws are all fair. Utopia is not a new place. Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, described a perfect society in his famous dialogue The Republic. In Plato's Republic, philosophers were the kings, and every person had a place in the society. In 1516, Sir Thomas More wrote about an island in the Pacific Ocean where everything was perfect. He named the island " Utopia". In 1602, Tommaso Campanella wrote The City in the Sun about a perfect community on the island of Ceylon ( now Sri Lanka ) ; and in 1872, Samuel Butler wrote a novel about a perfect country which he named " Erewhon". " Utopia" is a Greek word that means " not a place", and "Erewhon" is the English word " nowhere" spelled backwards. Utopia is a perfect place, but it is not a real place. Most 'real' Utopias last only a short time. This is because everyone wants to live in it, but no one knows how to make it work. As a result, when we say something is ' Utopia' today, we mean that it is a good idea, but it is not realistic. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? A. A place without war B. A Good Idea C. A Perfect Place D. The Utopian Community Answer: C
Question: A living thing requires what to grow? A. support B. nutriment C. toys D. plastic Answer: B. nutriment Question: Sports play an important role in British life. The most popular sport is football. Cricket is also popular in England, but is less important in the other home nations. Rugby union and rugby league are the other major team sports. Tennis is the most important sport for the two weeks of the Wimbledon Championships Football The modern global game of football developed from traditional British football games in the 19thcentury. Club football is organized separately in each of the home nations. English football has a league system which combines thousands of clubs. Scotland has a similar but smaller club football structure. The top level league in Wales is the league of Wales. In Northern Ireland the main league is the Irish Football League. Each season the most successful clubs from each of the home nations qualify for(......) the two Europe wide club competitions organized by UEFA , the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. Cricket Cricket was invented in England. It is regarded as England's national summer game and it is probably the second most widely covered sport. There are eighteen professional country clubs, seventeen of them in England and one in Wales. Each summer the country clubs compete in the first class Country Championship, which consist of two leagues of nine teams and in which matches are played over four days. Rugby Like football, rugby union and rugby league both developed from traditional British football games in the 19thcentury. For much of the 20thcentury there was great _ between rugby leagues, which was a mainly working class game based in the industrial areas of northern England, and rugby union, which is a mainly middle class game in England, and is also popular in the other home nations. Tennis Tennis is yet another sport which originated in the United Kingdom and the governing body of the sport is the LTA . However, no British man has won Wimbledon since 1936 and no British woman since 1977. The only British players of either sex to reach the world top 50 in recent years are Greg Rusedski, who learnt his tennis in Canada, and Tim Henman and Andrew Murray ,who did not pass through the LTA system either. What do we know about football? A. The top clubs represent the UK in the two Europe competitions. B. Football is a newly-invented game in England C. The top level league in England is the Irish Football League D. Club football is an organized union in the UK. Answer: A. The top clubs represent the UK in the two Europe competitions. Question: Organisms can be separated by their most basic characteristics into the broadest groups known as A. kingdoms. B. domains. C. phyla. D. orders. Answer: B. domains. Question: Join the thousands of professionals and international travelers who depend on prefix = st1 /Chanps- ElyseesSchauinsLand, Puerta del Sol, and Acquerello italiano to help them stay in touch with the languages and cultures they love. Designed to help you greatly improve your listening, vocabulary, and cultural IQ, these unique European audio-magazines are guaranteed to give you enthusiasm and determination to study the language - or your money back Each audio-magazine consists of an hour-long programme on CD or DVD. You'll hear interviews with well-known Europeans, passages covering current events and issues as well as feature stories on the culture you love. A small book. which goes with CD or DVD, contains a complete set of printed materials, notes (background notes included) averaging 600 words and expression translated into English. The result you build fluency month in and month out. To help you integrate language study into your busy life, we've made each audio- magazine convenient. Work on language fluency while driving to work, exercising, or cooking--- anytime and anywhere you want Best of alt each programme is put together by professional broadcasters journalists, and editors who have a strong interest in European languages and cultures. That enthusiasm comes through in every edition. From New York to London to Singapore? the users tell us no company produces a better product for language learners at all levels Ring for more information, or order at WWW. audiomagazine. com. We guarantee that you have nothing to lose if it's not for you; let us know within 6 weeks and we will completely reimburse you. The audio-magazines in the passage are _ . A. published in European languages B. read on the computer screen C. designed in the form of small-sized books D. broadcast on television and the radio Answer: A. published in European languages Question: Feng Huan was born in a far village in Jiangxi Province. She is 13 years old, but she is only as tall as a six-year-old girl. She is an unlucky child. Born with an illness,she can't walk as others. Family elders once tried to abandon her because of her poor health, but her mother never gave up. She named her Feng Huan, which means happiness, hoping her daughter would grow up to have a happy life in the future. The illness brought so much pain to Feng Huan over the years. Her legs have become deformed as she has been unable to walk since she was born. She could hardly walk or go to the washroom without help. What's worse, her illness is getting worse and worse, which puts pressure on one of her kidneys . Her mother has taken her to Shanghai to see a doctor, and her parents have done everything they could to treat her illness. Thanks to great love from her mother, Feng Huan is able to go to school as other children. She says she loves school because she can learn many things there and chat with her classmates. After she goes home on her mother's back from school, she does her homework with her favorite doll by her side. She takes the doll everywhere with her, even when she sleeps. Luckily, when her story is reported, many kind-hearted people have lent helping hands. Feng Huan is now r _ after corrective surgery on her legs in Shenzheng, Guangdong Province. Perhaps we can see a healthy girl soon. Feng Huan got ill when _ . A. she was 13 years old B. She was 6 years old www.21-cn-jy.com C. she was born D. she went to school Answer: C. she was born
We've organized the following information to help you prepare for your arrival at Boston College.Please feel free to contact our Admissions Office at any time over the coming months with any questions. Your First Steps... Please return the Acknowledgment Form sent with your acceptance letter to Dean Robert Howe, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, McGuinn Hall 221,140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. #For Ph.D.Acceptances and Master's Acceptances with funding, we ask you to reply by April 25, 2008. #For Master's Acceptances without funding and Non-degree Acceptances, we ask you to reply by May 31, 2008. #You should also contact your department to receive any department information. Over the Coming Months... Get informed about services around campus.We have provided links for you to the following offices. #Student Services After you return your Acknowledgment Form, you should receive a letter containing your BC Username and Eagle ID number.With this information you can reach email and Agora.In Agora, BC's online community, you can update your student information, check your student account, and register for classes. The Office of Student Services issues your BC Eagle One Card.This ID card acts as your campus library card and meal card. Student Services' website offers a complete listing of courses for the school year, as well as student forms and other important student information.The Office of Student Services also handles billing. #Housing ... CLICK HERE for more information. If we can be of any more help to you, just contact us.Congratulations again! We look forward to you joining our University! The information above is particularly useful for those _ . A. who want to apply for Boston College B. who want to know about Boston College C. who've been admitted to Boston College D. who've decided to pay a visit to Boston College Answer: C. who've been admitted to Boston College The round trip will cost at least $4.800 in all. Some more fees may also need to be spent. I hope you will have a good trip. DAY 1 Leave the USA for China. Your flight will include meals. drinks. and in-flight entertainment for your journey. DAY 2 Arrive and check in at your hotel: Beijing Hotel. You will only need to payY=560 (70% "discounts off) per night for a single room. DAY 3 In the morning we will go by subway to the Olympic Green and see the Bird's Nest. In the afternoon. we will visit the Water Cube. DAY 4 Enjoy a full-day tour to the Forbidden City. the Temple of Heaven and the Confucius Temple. We will begin at Tiananmen Square and then walk to the Forbidden City. In the afternoon. we will visit the Temple of Heaven and the Confucius Temple: DAY 5 We will visit Beijing Zoo and the Summer Palace. First stop: Beijing Zoo. You have a chance to see China's most cherished native animal. panda. After lunch. we will take the bus to the Summer Palace. DAY 6 We will go to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. DAY 7 Take off from Beijing Capital International Airport. Which of the following places will you NOT see on Day 4? A. The Forbidden City. B. The Summer Palace. C. The Temple of Heaven. D. The Confucius Temple. Answer: B. The Summer Palace. I know what you're thinking : pizza ? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night's _ in the a. m. if you want to. I know lots of women who skip breakfast , and they have a ton of different excuses for doing it . Some say they don't have time, others think they're "saving" calories , still others just don't like breakfast food . But the bottom line is that eating in the morning is very important when you're trying to lose weight. "Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all," says Katherine Brooking , R , D , who developed the super-easy eating plan for this year's "SELF CHALLENGE". And even pizza can be healthy if it's loaded with vegetables, and you stick to one small piece. Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers at the University of Southern California found that breakfast skippers have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal. So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night's leftovers-it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, "You can always eat it tomorrow," I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it...you may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects. What's the writer's attitude towards eating breakfast? A. He thinks it's up to different people. B. He is not sure about it. C. He thinks it depends. D. He supports it. Answer: D. He supports it. Although many online personality tests are fun, only a few will really give you into who you are and what you are supposed to be doing with your life. At CareerPlanner.com we believe that each individual, regardless of race or religion, has a purpose in life, and until you discover what your purpose is, you will not find true happiness, nor true job satisfaction. This doesn't mean you won't be successful. It just means you won't be happy until you are moving towards your true purpose. Unfortunately, our school system does very little to help students discover their true career. This is where online personality tests and career tests can help. Online personality tests and career tests can help you better understand what type of work you should be doing to achieve job satisfaction, happiness, and success. Personality tests are most useful in giving you insight into "how" your personality compares to others and "how" you like to work. In particular, if you frequently experience difficulty working with others, or getting their support and cooperation, a really good personality test would show you how to get along better. While personality tests are very useful at showing you how you like to work and how you like your work environment, they are not really designed to show you "what" type of work is right for you. That is where Career Interest Tests come in. Online Career Tests, such as the CareerPlanner.com offers will help you discover what your true interests are, and what type of work you will be passionate about. But back to personality tests. The most well-established personality tests are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator R, and the Enneagram. You can't achieve true job satisfaction unless you _ . A. find your true purpose in life B. choose the best work C. get along well with others D. adapt to the work environment Answer: A. find your true purpose in life Learning a second language can improve brain power, scientists believe. US researchers from Northwestern University say bilingualism is a form of brain training -- a mental "work out" that adjusts the mind finely. Speaking two languages well affects the brain and changes how the nervous system reacts to sound, lab tests showed. Experts say the experiment performed by the National Academy of Sciences provides "biological" evidence of this. In an attempt to prove the guess that speaking two languages is good for one's mind, the team monitored how the brain of 48 healthy student volunteers reacted to different sounds. Twenty three of these volunteers were bilingual. The scientists used special equipment to trace the pattern of brainwaves. Under quiet, laboratory conditions, the bilingual students responded in a similar way to the English-only-speaking students, who formed the control group. But the bilingual group were far superior at processing sounds even when there were a lot of people talking in the room. They were better able to focus on to the important information -- the speaker's voice -- and block out other _ noises. Prof Nina Kraus, who led the research, said: "The bilingual's better experience with sound results in a hearing system that is highly efficient, flexible and focused in its automatic sound processing, especially in challenging or novel listening conditions." Co-author Viorica Marian said: "People do crossword puzzles and other activities to keep their minds sharp. But the advantages we've discovered in double language speakers come automatically simply from knowing and using two languages.'' Musicians appear to gain a similar benefit when rehearsing , say the researchers. According to some theories, being bilingual might help avoid dementia . How was the bilingual group better at processing sounds? A. They were the control group. B. They could better fix their attention on something of importance. C. They were able to find the speaker's voice quickly. D. They had better nervous system. Answer: B. They could better fix their attention on something of importance.
Important changes took place in the lives of women in the 19th century. When men went out from their farms to cities to seek jobs in industry, peasant women had to take over the sowing, growing, and harvesting of the fields as well as caring for cattle and raising their children. When women also moved to the cities in search of work, they found that it was increasingly separated by sex and that employment opportunities for women were limited to the lower-paid jobs. Later in the century, women in industry gathered mainly in cloth-making factories, though some worked in mining or took similarly difficult and tiring jobs. In the 1800s, service work also absorbed a great number of women who arrived in the cities from the country. Young women especially took jobs as servants in middle-class and upper-class homes; and as more and more men were drawn into industry, domestic service became increasingly a female job. In the second half of the century, however, chances of other service work also opened up to women, from sales jobs in shops to teaching and nursing. These jobs came to be done mainly by women. For thousands of years, when almost all work was done on the family farm or in the family firm, home and workplace had been the same. In these cases, women could do farm work or hand work, and perform home duties such as child care and preparation of meals at the same time. Along with the development of industry, the central workplace, however, such as the factory and the department store, separated home from work. Faced with the necessity for women to choose between home and workplace, Western society began to give particular attention to the role of women as homemakers with more energy than ever before. This passage is about _ in the 19th century. Answer: women and their work Mr. Brown lives in America and has a big factory there. He is busy all the time. But when he takes his holidays, he always goes traveling and has been to about thirty countries. One summer he went to visit Moscow. There he heard the workers were paid much less than those in his countries. And most factories couldn't work because they were short of money. He thought he would save much money if he invested in a factory there. The Russians knew it and warmly met him and he was invited to visit a modern factory. He went to the workplaces, watched carefully how the machines worked. The workers worked hard when he went in. Soon it was time to have lunch. Mr. Brown went in the dining -room. Meat, eggs, milk and bread could be bough there. It seemed that they weren't short of anything. Mr. Brown came up to an old worker and sat down next to him. Are you satisfied with your life, sir? Asked Mr. Brown. "Of course," the worker answered and went on drinking. "What do you have now?" "I live in beautiful villa ," answered the man. "I have a new fridge, a new color television and I drive a new car to my factory." "What's your next wish, then?" "To buy a pair of strong shoes!" Mr. Brown wanted to invest in Moscow because _ . Answer: he could save much money there In eighteen seventy-seven,the American government decided to move the Nez Perce Indians from their land. The government had set up a reservation for them in Idaho. Chief Joseph did not want to leave the land. It was holy ground. It contained the bones of his father and mother. But,like his father in earlier times,Chief Joseph knew it would be hopeless to stay and defend the land. There were too few Indians to win a war against the white men. And so in June of eighteen seventy-seven,the Nez Perce left their home in the Wallowa Valley. They left quickly. They were able to take only a small part of what they owned,and just a few cattle and Appaloosa horses. When the Indians reached the Snake River,the water was very deep and ran very fast with melted snow from the mountains. Chief Joseph and his people made boats from sticks and dried animal skins to cross the river. While the Indians were busy,a group of white men came and stole some of the cattle waiting at the edge of the river. The other chiefs demanded that Joseph call a meeting. Two of the chiefs,White Bird and Toohoolhoolzote,spoke for War,but Joseph held different opinion. Some of the young men in White Bird's group were very angry. That night,they rode into the countryside and killed eleven white persons. During all his years as chief,Joseph had tried to keep the peace. Now he saw there was no hope. Although he and his young men had taken no part in the killings,he knew that the white men would blame all of the Indians. Chief Joseph said,"I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of the white men." Many Nez Perce fled. Chief Joseph remained,because his wife was about to have a baby. After she gave birth,he and his family joined the others in White Bird Canyon to the south. Joseph wanted to lead the people to safety in the flat lands of Montana. But the United States army quickly sent horse soldiers to follow them. They were extremely tired when they reached White Bird Canyon. An Indian--carrying a white flag--walked forward to meet them. A soldier shot him. With that shot,war between the Nez Perce and the United States began. What might be the title of the passage? Answer: The story of Chief Joseph What do you know about the sea? You may have seen it. Some of us have swum or bathed in it. It looks beautiful on a fine sunny day and it can be very _ when there is a strong wind. What other things do we know about it? Of course, the sea is very large. In the world there is more sea than land. The sea covers three quarters of the earth. The sea is also very deep in some places. It is not deep everywhere, some parts of it are very great. At one spot, near Japan the sea is nearly 11 kilometers deep! Just think of it, the highest mountain in the world is only about 9 kilometers high! If you have swum in the sea, you know that the water is salty. Rivers carry salt from the land into the sea. Some parts of the sea are more salty than other parts. Do you know the Dead Sea in Arabia? It is very salty. Swimmers cannot sink in it! Fish cannot live in the Dead Sea. It is a strange sea. In most parts of the sea, there are a lot of fishes and plants. Some live near the top of the sea. Others live deep down. No sunlight can reach the depth of the sea. So it is completely dark. Strange fishes live there. Some are blind. Some have their own lights. Some have great jaws. With their great jaws, they swallow fish larger than themselves. The sea can be very cold. Deep sea divers know this well. At the top of the water may be warm. Then as the divers go down, the sea becomes colder and colder. Many scientists are now making a study of animal and plant life in the sea. They hope to find new resources for mankind. The Dead Sea is lifeless because _ . Answer: the water in it is too salty for anything to grow The Year of the Rabbit will begin on February 3, 2011. We Chinese use 12 different animals to stand for the order of our birth year. What does it mean to be a "rabbit" ? The rabbit is a symbol for kind, elegance and a love of beauty. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are kind and quick-minded . Although they are sometimes shy, they have a strong mind and will run after their dreams all their lives. Rabbit people are talented and they like artistic activities, such as music and painting. They are so kind and well organized that they can be great teachers. There are some famous people who were born in the Year of the Rabbit. For example, actress US Angelina Jolie and England soccer star David Beckham. In China, famous director Zhang Yimou and kung fu star Jet Li are rabbits, too. According to the passage, rabbit people may be _ . Answer: kind
Nowadays, with the busy working hours, parents have no time left to spend with their children. However, spending time with children is of extreme importance. Giving some time for children will play an important role in their development. Therefore, it is a must for parents to spend time with children. Here are some tips for parents which will help them spend time with their little wonder. Having Dinner with Children Even if you are not there at home for a whole day, you should make sure that you have dinner with your children. Moreover, you should make it a point that you are having dinner with your entire family. Also, you should avoid watching TV when you are having dinner with your family. Helping Child Comlete Homework Helping your child complete homework will help you know how he/she is at studies. It is not that you have to spend hours regularly helping your child with homework. But, sometimes you can help your child solve some questions. In this way, you will get to spend time with your child as well as get to know about his or her studies. Fun Activities During weekends you can _ your child in fun activities like gardening, painting etc. However, do not force your child to do so. You can also spend some time in teaching your child finger painting, vegetable painting and craft work. You may even help your child complete his or her art and craft assignments. These activities will help you improve creativity of your child as well as the interaction between you and your child. What can we learn from the passage? A. Helping children with homework will help improve their creativity. B. Parents should spend time regularly with children`s homework C. Spending time with children for parents is a must D. Parents should pick up their children regularly. Answer: C. Spending time with children for parents is a must Which would make an animal fat? A. a canary drinking water B. a cat having too much perch C. a rice plant getting too much sun D. a dog running freely Answer: B. a cat having too much perch The British people are among the world's greatest readers of newspapers.It's been the custom ever since most people could read. But why do people want to do nothing but read while traveling to work in a train? Perhaps they are tired, or else they sit behind a newspaper to shut themselves off from the world.All the same, most men would notice a woman struggling with a heavy case and jump up to help her and a pretty girl sitting opposite wouldn't escape their attention either.In this case a paper is useful because they can have a good look at her from behind it without her knowing.Perhaps they do nothing but read.There are stories of girls and young men who met in the rush hours, got married, and went on traveling in the same train hand in hand. According to this passage, reading newspaper _ . A. is a custom just among men who can read B. is something the British do only traveling in a train C. is a daily activity most people enjoy D. can help people in many ways Answer: C. is a daily activity most people enjoy I grew up in Lakeland, Louisiana, one of 7 children. We all lived on my parents' farm. At 12, I got a part-time job--milking cows to help support the family. I milked cows at five in the morning and again at two in the afternoon, seven days a week. In the kitchen one Saturday before daytime, I remember complaining to my father and grandfather about having to go milk those cows. My father said, "You know, boy, to work is a blessing ." Going to college was rare for a kid from Lakeland, Louisiana. "Pick something that you like doing to study, and you will always look forward to your work," my father told me. But he also added, "Even having a job you hate is better than not having a job at all." I wanted to be a farmer, but I joined the ROTC program to help pay for college. And what started out as an obligation to the army became a way of life that I was devoted to for 37 years. In the late 1980s, during a visit to Bangladesh, I saw a woman with a baby on her back, breaking bricks with a hammer. I asked a Bangladesh military officer why they weren't using a machine. He told me a machine would make that lady unemployed . Breaking those bricks meant she could earn enough money to feed herself and her baby that day. He told me bad as that woman's job was, it was enough to keep a small family alive, which reminded me of my father's words. I'm retired from the army, but I'm still working to help people be prepared for disaster. I'm not going to stop. I believe in my father's words. I believe in the blessing of work. What can we learn about the writer's first part-time job? A. He felt proud of supporting his family. B. He hated having to work so hard. C. It offered him the money to go to school. D. It made him independent. Answer: B. He hated having to work so hard. A team of scientists from University of Freiburg in Germany are developing a shoe with a sensor to automatically tie its laces that could be taken off when users click their heels together. It's been 26 years since we saw them magically tightening Marty McFly's Nike boots in the film Back to The Future. Now,self-tying shoelaces could actually become a reality this year,proving right one of the film's fantastical predictions for what 2015 would be like. Engineers have designed a shoe that can automatically lace up,adjusting itself to the shape of your foot. Simply slip the controller on and pressure sensors will tell the 'smart shoe' when your foot is in position,triggering a tiny motor in the heel that pulls the laces tight. When you want to take off the shoes,you click your heels together twice and the motor will release a spring in the shoe's tongue,which loosens the laces enough for you to slip them off. And the invention doesn't even need to be plugged in to charge or have its battery replaced because it runs on power generated by the swing of your foot as you walk. Engineer K1evis Ylli,of the Institute for Micromachining and Information Technology in southern Gemany,said the shoes could help a variety of different people.[:Zxxk.Com] "One focus is that it could be used in shoes for elderly people who have mobility problems,"he said."But it could also work for children,or as a lifestyle product.". The design,which is still in a prototype stage,cleverly gets the energy of the foot's swing when opposing magnets in each shoe move past each other. It then uses that power to charge a battery.An hour of walking is enough to tighten the laces once,and it requires no energy to undo the shoes because that relies on the spring alone. Which of the following can be the best title of the text? A. A fantastical prediction B. A great invention in Germany C. A shoe with self-tying laces D. A popular lifestyle product Answer: C. A shoe with self-tying laces
Question: This morning, a Virgin Atantin 747 Jumbo Jet became the first commercial airplane to fly on biofuel. The short flight from London to Amsterdam used a blend of 20% babassu oil mixed with 80% conventional jet fuel. What was really exciting about the flight was the fact that the engine did not have to be altered in any way for the biofuel to work While this is a great initial step in trying to reduce CO2(carbon-dioxide)emissions from airplanes. there are a lot of hurdles that still need to be overcome. First and foremost, unlike the normal fuel used to run airplanes (known as Jet A),biofuel freezes at high altitudes. Also, Jet'A'fuel burns consistently (at the same pace),which means it provides a safe and reliable fuel for long flights--engineers are not sure if biofuel will be able to do the same. The biggest hurdle to a full biofuel switch is our ability to be able to grow enough crops that can be converted to biofuel. There are two concerns that scientists have in this matter - the first is that the land to grow the extra crops will come from clearing more of our forests and the second is that since it competes with what we eat, the price of food will go up. However, Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines, envisions that if biofuel starts to replace oil on a greater basis, it will be manufactured from algae produced in sewage treatment plants, not from food sources. Birgin Airlines is not the only one trying to look for alternative fuel sources. Earlier this year, an Airbus A380 used another alternative fuel-a man-made mix of gas-to-liquid, in one of its four engines. The flight was tested by Rolls Royce (manufacturer of jet engines), in partnership with Shell (an oil company). Rolls Royce is also working with Air New Zealand on a similar project. While a complete switch to alternative fuel may take years, it is very encouraging to see airlines, oil companies and airplane manufacturers all coming together to try to make it happen! .Why does Virgin Airlines try to replace normal fuel with biofuel? A. To cut down the flight cost of the company. B. To remove some hurdles for the biofuel to work. C. To reduce CO 2 emissions from airplanes. D. To test plane engines on biofuel. Answer: C. To reduce CO 2 emissions from airplanes. Question: Poster 1 I am a journalist living in Barcelona and I would like to travel exchanging my apartment. I have an apartment in the city center with 2 bedrooms. You can get to the airport by bus or taxi in 20 minutes. And there is a metro station really close to the apartment. The area has many shops , theatres , bars and restaurants. Poster 2 I am looking forward to exchanging my apartment in Madrid for yours in a nice location in Beijing. It's a really nice apartment in the centre of Madrid, within walking distance of the main attractions. You can walk to the Puertadel Sol, Royal Palace, Opera, Plaza Mayor, etc. in a few minutes ;everything is so close!The apartment has all the facilities and it is very modern. Poster 3 Hello, I am a Canadian IT professional and accounting student looking for a room in Wudaokou or other areas near Shang Di ( my office location). I want to pay 1,400 RMB to 2,500 RMB depending on the room and location. I can sign a contract for at least three months. My email address: vhjvm-3584098242@hous.craigslist.org. Poster 4 My 21-year-old son Matthew would like to visit China in the spring for three to four weeks. If you can offer him a safe, clean, cost-free place to stay, I will offer you or your family a stay at my second home 28miles outside of Reno, Nevada, USA . This is a single -story home on the edge of the desert. You have access to 70 acres of land, clean air and clean water. Fishing and golfing are available nearby. I will provide transportation to the home, and pick you up when you have finished. My son Matthew is honest, safe and clean-living. Reply to :hbxdd-3537187673@hous. Craigslist.org. Which poster doesn't involve the exchanging of houses or apartments? A. Poster 1. B. Poster 2 C. Poster 3 D. Poster 4 Answer: C. Poster 3 Question: Swimming is very popular. People like swimming in summer because water makes people feel cool. If you like swimming but swim in a wrong place, it may not be safe. These years, a lot of people die when they enjoy themselves in water, and most of them are students. Some people are not careful when they are swimming. They often think they swim so well that nothing will happen to them in water. Summer is here again. If you go swimming, don't forget that better swimmers have died in water. They die because they are not careful, not because they cannot swim. So don't get into the water when you are alone. Don't get into the water if there is a " No swimming" sign. If you remember these, swimming will be safe. The writer wants to tell us that _ . A. swimming is a good sport B. we should not go swimming in summer C. we must be careful when we are swimming D. we should not go swimming in the river Answer: C. we must be careful when we are swimming Question: Where deer and rabbits generally reside tends to be A. dark caverns B. leaf colored C. under water D. lava filled Answer: B. leaf colored Question: Have you ever been afraid to talk back when you were treated unfairly? Have you ever bought something just because the salesman talked you into it? Many people are afraid to assert (,) themselves.Dr.Robert Albert, author of STAND UP, SPEAK OUT and TALK BACK, thinks it is because their self-respect is low."There's always a superior around--a parent, a teacher, a boss who knows better.'' But Albert and other scientists are doing something to help people assert themselves. They offer assertiveness training courses, A.T.for short.In the A.T.course people learn that they have a right to be themselves.They learn to speak out and feel good about doing so.They learn to be confident without hurting other people. In one way, learning to speak out is to get rid of fear.A group taking an A.T.course will help the _ person to lose his fear.But A.T.uses an even stronger motive to share the need.The timid person speaks out in the group because he wants to tell how he feels. Whether or not you speak up for yourself depends on your self-respect.If your face is more important than you, you may feel less of a person.You start to doubt your answers to problems.However, once you get to feel good about yourself, you can learn to speak out. Which of the following is NOT the thing the A.T.course does? A. Encourage people to speak out . B. Showing people they have a right to be themselves. C. Helping them to be brave enough. D. Helping people to assert themselves even if others are hurt. Answer: D. Helping people to assert themselves even if others are hurt.
"Iris scan , please," the bank's computer voice tells you . You step up and the computer reads your eye , comparing it to the stored file it has of your iris. The images had better match--otherwise you won't be able to get your money. Iris scanning and other technologies , such as fingerprint and voice scanning , have appeared in many science fiction movies in the past. Today , these advanced technologies are part of the real world. They are common at work, the bank, the airport, and your local prison. The iris scan, fingerprint scan, and voice scan are all examples of biometrics a fast developing area of automatic personal identification technology . Basically , biometrics uses various ways to verify a persons identity , based on the individual's unique characteristics ,including fingerprints , voices, irises, body heat patterns, facial images, handprints , signatures and so on. Biometrics identification systems have a number of advantages over password systems. The primary advantage is that an individual has to be physically present in order to be identified. Another important advantage is that there are no passwords to remember , forget, lose or steal. The voice scan is the simplest and most affordable form of biometrics . It only requires a computer, a microphone and the correct software. The software records a subject's voice and then compares it to a stored voice sample for identification purposes. For additional safety, fingerprint and handprint scans can also be employed . Fingerprint scans take the image of a fingerprint and compare it to a stored file of prints. Handprint scans identify the unique features of a hand. Iris scans currently give the highest level of accuracy among all the available biometrics systems. Another technology , full facial scans , is currently in use at border crossings and airports. Facial scanning equipment can actually track and identify moving faces within a crowd. The potential of biometrics is exciting and encouraging . With continued development , testing , and application , current technologies will become even more effective in the future. Soon , the days of password and car keys will be gone . Just don't leave home without your fingerprints! What is the author's attitude towards the future of biometrics? Answer: He feels hopeful about it . Three months ago, Mariza Castro leftprefix = st1 /Honduras. Today, she is in theUnited Statesand she has a job. Castro works behind the counter at McDoald's. Speed is an important part of her work life. Fast - food counter workers are expected to serve customers in less than a minute. At McDonald's they say, "Work fast or you don't last." Are McDonald's workers lucky to have their jobs? Or are they being _ ? The answer depends on who you talk to. McDoald's does many good things. For example, no other company hires more young people than McDonald's. More than half of its workers are under 20 years old. McDonald's also has a good record of hiring minority workers. Thirteen percent of its workers are black. This is better than any otherUScompany. But the burger house has its critics as well. The pay bothered Edward Rodriguez. He worked for nearly a year at a Los Angeles McDonald's. During that time he got only one 10 - cent raise. "I used to joke that working for McDonald's is the closest thing to slave labour in theUStoday," he days. Today, most McDonald's pay about $ 5.00 an hour. They hire new workers constantly. The restaurant has no other choice because 70 percent of its workers quit or are fired every year. But McDonald's also gets its share of praise. Its best workers move up quickly. Just talk to 17 - year - old Ameer Abdur - Razaaq of Harlem, New York City. "They call me 'Young Crew Chief' around my block," he says. "When else can I go at my age and be in charge of this many people?" He sees the job as the first step in his career. However, most McDoald's crew members never make it to manager because the job pressure is so intense, and the rewards so few. As one worker put it, "They expect a lot and they don't pay you much." What's the best title of the passage? Answer: McDonald's--Heaven or Hell? Most people think talking is the most important communication skill.They care little about listening.A research about our waking day communicating time shows that 9% is spent writing, 16% reading, 30% talking and 45% listening. Many of us can remember only 50% immediately after hearing something.But within two to eight weeks, we can only remember 25% or less of the message.Sometimes it will make us fail if we really forget something important. Here are some suggestions to be a good listener. Stop talking -- you can't listen well when you speak. Ask questions -- when you don't understand, when you want to catch their attention or when you want to be liked. Be polite -- give them time to say what they have to say. Listen carefully and actively to what they are saying -- pay attention to their words, their ideas and their feelings as those things relate to the subjects. Understand the main points. Look at each other -- you will feel confident by looking. Don't argue with other people when you are trying to understand them, especially when they are speaking. Try not to bring your worries and problems -- when you listen, they will stop you from listening well. Learn to listen and you'll achieve a great success in your life. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: how to be a good listener Sometimes people call each other " scared cat" , but have you ever thought about this expression? When a cat is frightened, its heart starts beating faster, its muscles get tense, and there are changes in the chemicals in its blood-stream. If the danger continues, this animal will do one of the two things. It will defend itself, or it will run away as fast as it can. Something like this also happens to people. When we are excited, angry, scared, or aroused by other emotions, our bodies go through many physical changes. Our hearts beat faster, and our muscles get tense. All of these changes make us more alert and ready to react. We, too, get ready to defend ourselves or run. Human beings, however, have a problem. If we give way to our feelings and let them take over, we can get into trouble. Have you ever said something in anger - and regretted later? Have you ever shouted at a teacher or told somebody you were lonely and then wished later you had kept your mouth shut? It isn't always wise to express your feelings freely. Does this mean that it's always smarter to hide our feelings? No! If you keep feelings like anger hidden away or bottled up inside, your body stays tense. Physical illnesses can develop, and you can feel disturbed badly inside. _ can actually be bad for your health. Feelings that you keep all bottled up inside don't just go away. It's as if you bought some bananas and stuck them in a cupboard. You might not be able to see them, but before long you'd smell them. And if you opened the cupboard, chances are you'd see little fruit flies hovering all over them. They'd be rotten. You can try to treat emotions as if they were bananas in the cupboard. You can hide them and you can pretend they don't exit, but they'll still be around. And at last you'll have to deal with them, just like those bananas. The author mainly intends to tell us to _ . Answer: make us face the problem that we have to deal with feelings Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight , and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He shouted at her loudly, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses in the box. I filled it with my love. All for you, Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her for forgiveness . My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. Why did the father become angry again when he opened his present? Answer: Because he found that the present box was empty.
Question: Mike works very long hours every day. He usually gets up at 17:00. He has a shower and makes his breakfast. What a funny time to make breakfast! After breakfast he practices his guitar, then he puts on his jacket and goes to work. To get to work, he takes the number17 bus to the Star Hotel. The bus usually leaves at 19:15. He works all night. People love to listen to him! He gets home at 7:00, and he watches the early morning news on TV. He goes to bed at 8:30, a tired but happy man. Can you think what his job is? How long does Mike work? A. 7 hours B. 8 hours C. about 9 hours D. all night Answer: D Question: Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed Wednesday that the socialist path China has followed is "correct," and it is the choice of the "history and people." Citing the remarkable achievements China has made over the past 37 years when it initiated the reform and opening-up policy, Xi noted that it only took several decades for China to complete the journey the developed countries have gone through for centuries. "That fully shows that the Chinese people are following a correct path," the president said while addressing a banquet hosted by Lord Mayor of the City of London Alan Yarrow on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, he _ that China will stay committed to a peaceful development path and does not accept the logic that a country will seek hegemony(,) once it gets strong. "No one and nothing -- in any reason -- can influence China's determination and will to pursue the path of peaceful development," he said. In his speech, the president also explained in detail about the development of friendly relations between China and Britain, citing tea culture, literature, movies, TV dramas, football and cultural exchanges. He specifically referred to Shakespeare's influence on him by sharing the story of his youth time in the countryside, when he was deeply attracted by the master's works. "The China-Britain friendship has been deeply rooted in the hearts of our two peoples. And there is a solid foundation in public opinion and in society for the two countries to grow long-term relations," he added. According to the passage we know that President Xi Jinping is paying a visit to _ . A. the U.S.A B. Britain C. Canada D. Russia Answer: B Question: Astronomers say they are on the point of finding planets like Earth orbiting other stars, which is a key step in determining if we are alone in the universe. A top NASA official and other leading scientists say that within four or five years they should discover the first Earth-like planet where life could develop, or may have already. A planet close to the size of Earth could even be found sometime this year. At the annual American Astronomical Society conference this week, each discovery involving so-called "exoplanets" --those outside our solar system -- pointed to the same conclusion:Quiet planets like Earth where life could develop probably are plentiful. NASA's Dew Kepler telescope and a lot of new research from the suddenly hot and competitive exoplanet field caused noticeable buzz at the meeting.Scientists are talking about being at "an incredible special place in history" and closer to answering the question. "Are we alone? For the first time, there's an optimism that sometime in our lifetimes we're going to _ that," said Simon Worden,an astronomer who heads NASA's Ames Research Center. "If I were a betting man, which I am, I would bet we're not alone." "These are big questions that reflect upon the meaning of the human race in the universe," the director of the Vatican Observatory, the Rev. Jose Funes, said Wednesday in an interview at this week's conference. Worden told The Associated Press: "I would certainly expect in the next four or five years we'd have an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone." From the passage we can learn that _ . A. an Earth-like planet has been found B. it's been proved we are not alone in the universe C. Jose Funes has found the meaning of the human race in the universe D. the discovery of an Earth-like planet could happen in the near future Answer: D Question: Mike is an American. Now he's in No. 8 Junior High School in Tengzhou. He's in Class 5, Grade 7. Every day he gets up early. He always goes to school in his father's car. His classes begin at 8:00 a.m. He has four classes in the morning. He has lunch at school at about 12:00 a.m. He has two classes in the afternoon. After school, he goes home by car at 5:30 p.m. and has dinner at 6:30 p.m. After dinner, he does his homework with his sister and then he plays the guitar for a while. At about 9:00 p.m. he goes to bed. How does Mike go to school ? A. By bike B. By car C. On foot D. By train Answer: B Question: Donald John Trump(born June 14, 1946), is an American businessman and politician who became the President-elect of the United Stateson November 8, 2016. Since 1971 he has chairedThe Trump Organization, the principalholding companyfor his real estate ventures and other business interests. Duringhis business career, Trump has built office towers, hotels, casinos, golf courses, andother branded facilitiesworldwide. Trump was born and raised in New York City and received abachelor's degreein economics from theWharton Schoolof the University of Pennsylvaniain 1968. In 1971, he was given control of his fatherFred Trump's real estate and construction firm. Trump has appeared at theMiss USApageants, which he owned from 1996 to 2015, and has madecameo appearancesin films and television series. Trump and his businesses, as well as his three marriages, have received prominent media exposure. He hosted a popularNBCreality show, The Apprentice, from 2004 to 2015. As of 2016, he was listed byForbesas the 324th wealthiest person in the world, and 156th in the United States, with a net worth of $3.7 billion in October 2016. Trump first campaigned for the U.S. presidency in2000, winning twoReform Partyprimaries. On June 16, 2015, Trump again announced his candidacy for president, this time as a Republican. Trump became known for his opposition toillegal immigrationandfree trade agreements, as well as his frequently non-interventionistviews on foreign policy, and quickly emerged as the Republican nomination front-runner.As of March 23, 2016, Trump has won 21 contests in the2016 Republican presidential primaries. He was elected as the 45th U.S. presidentin the2016 electionon theRepublicanticket, defeatingDemocraticnomineeHillary Clinton, andis scheduled to take officeon January 20, 2017. At 70 years old, he will be theoldest person to ever assume the presidency. Where is Donald Trump's hometown? A. London B. Paris C. New York D. Beijing Answer: C
Question: This is Jim's room.It's a nice room.There are some pictures on the wall .There's a desk and a chair in his room.There is a sofa and a bookcase,too.The desk is between(......)the bed and the bookcase.His schoolbag and pencil box are on the desk.There are some pencils,a pen and a ruler in the pencil box.Jim's sofa is near the bookcase.His baseball is under the bed. Where are Jim's pictures? A. on the desk B. near the bookcase C. in the wall D. on the wall Answer: D Question: Plastic surgery is becoming popular with young people. But just a few days ago, it took the life of a pop singer in China. Wang Bei, 24, a former singer on Super Girl, died on Nov 15 during plastic surgery in Wuhan, Hubei province. The young singer's jaw suddenly started bleeding during the procedure, blocking her throat and causing her to suffocate. The Ministry of Health stepped in on Nov 27, calling on health authorities all over China to increase supervision of the country's medical plastic surgery industry. It also told the Hubei health department to look into Wang's death and "to make the results of the investigation public as soon as possible" Wang's death has raised concerns about the dangers of plastic surgery in China. In China, people, especially youngsters, are becoming more and more conscious of their looks and are willing to _ to make themselves look more attractive. Today, many young people see plastic surgery as the key to love, wealth and success. Ding Xiaobang, a plastic surgeon at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that in the past decade, he had seen a growing number of patients, like Wang Bei, who were young and naturally good-looking. "They want to improve their appearance to find better opportunities in work and in marriage," said Ding. Zhao, 23, a student at the Beijing International Studies University, spent 3,000 yuan on a eyelid tuck before graduating this year. She said: " Of course I want to look prettier. I want to make a good impression on potential employers." Ding also owed this trend to frustration. "Some are frustrated with life and use surgery as a way to try and recover," said Ding. But a lot of people ignore the risk and danger of plastic surgery. In 12 years as a doctor, Zhu Wenbo from Chengdu has often seen unsuccessful plastic surgeries." I've met several people whose faces were ruined by plastic surgery, and helping them recover is difficult," said Zhu. Being yourself is the most beautiful thing in the world. But if you are considering plastic surgery, here is some advice from experts: 1. Choose qualified hospitals, especially those with a good reputation for plastic surgery. Avoid beauty salons. 2. Do not expect too much from changing your appearance. It can only change your face or another body part in certain ways. And safety should always come first. What is NOT the reason for so many young people go to plastic surgery? A. to make themselves more attractive B. to improve their appearance and find better job opportunities C. to seek better opportunities in marriage. D. to stay young forever. Answer: D Question: Linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, the blue waters of the Gulf of Aden near Somalia are one of the most important trading routes in the world. But they are also the most feared. Pirates whose targets are ships and their crew often show up there. On September 25, a Ukrainian ship carrying 30 tanks became another victim. The pirates have reportedly killed one of the crewmen and are now surrounded by the US Navy. But they are still demanding $ 20 million for the release of the ship. This year alone, more than 50 ships have been attacked, 25 hijacked , and 14 are currently being held. Of course this is nothing new either. Ever since there has been water and ships there have been pirates. The earliest documented history of pirates dates back to the 13th century in the Mediterranean Sea. Even the famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates at one time. Piracy reached its peak in the early l700s, especially in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa. In the mid-20th-century, most pirates we're common thieves. They used hooks to steal on board commercial ships, and took all that they could find. These pirates were more likely to flee than fight if met by the crew. However, nowadays piracy has become a multi-million dollar business attracting many in poor countries such as Somalia. "The pirates are well funded and have all the latest equipment, including satellite phones," said a top UN representative in Somalia. In Asia, however, a trend started where pirates didn't just want to kidnap the stuff, they also wanted to control the ship. They would kill the crewmembers or kidnap them for ransom . After the recent kidnapping of Ukrainian ship, people are also worrying that tanks and arms on board would fall into hands of terrorists. Last week the UN called a meeting from all affected countries to fight piracy. "The international community is determined to stop these pirates who are weakening efforts to bring peace to Somalia. This cannot and will not be allowed to continue," a representative said. Which of the following is TRUE about piracy? A. It was recorded that pirates started to attack ships in Somalia in the 13th century. B. Back in the mid-20th century pirates did not appear so harmful as today's. C. Once a ship is attacked, it will be hijacked by pirates. D. In the 13th century, pirates only targeted famous or important persons. Answer: B Question: Which form can be made into a triangle? A. ice B. steam C. water D. salt water Answer: A Question: Scientists have proved that sleeping and learning go hand in hand. Even a short nap can boost our memory and sharpen our thinking. But the relationship goes deeper than that. "The brain is not passive while you sleep," scientist Anat Arzi said. "It's quite active. You can do many things while you are asleep." Arzi and her coworkers didn't try to teach the sleeping volunteers any complex information, like new words or facts. Instead, the scientists taught volunteers to make new connections between smells and sounds. When we smell something good, like a flower, we take deep breaths. When we smell something bad, we take short breaths. Arzi and her co-workers based their experiment on these reactions. Once the volunteers fell asleep in the lab, the scientists went to work. They gave them a whiff of something pleasant and meanwhile played a particular musical note. They didn't wake up, but they heard--and sniffed deeply. Then the scientists gave the volunteers a whiff of something terrible and played a different musical note. Again, the volunteers heard and smelled--a short snort this time--but didn't wake up. The researchers repeated the experiment. After just four repetitions, volunteers made a connection between the musical notes and their paired smells. When the scientists played the musical tone that went with good smells, the sleepers breathed deeply. And when the scientists played the musical tone that went with bad smells, the sleepers breathed briefly--despite there being no bad smell. The next day, the volunteers woke up with the sound-smell connection. They breathed deeply when hearing one tone and cut their breaths short when hearing the other, which must have been unusual for them. Imagine walking down the street and taking a deep breath upon hearing a particular sound! How did the volunteers react when smelling something nice and hearing musical notes? A. They took a deep breath. B. They had a wonderful dream. C. They woke up at once. D. They took a short breath. Answer: A
Do you have any books on your bookshelf for many years? Instead of throwing them away, here is another way for you to consider. If you have books that you do not read anymore, you can share them with others. You can take the books to Share and Read. Share and Read offers used books in different categories , such as storybooks, children books, language books, cook books and computer books, etc. All the books are sold at low prices. Share and Read also aims to help poor children in China. The money raised will be donated to help build schools in rural areas. We welcome all quality books. We do not want textbooks, magazines and dictionaries. Just make sure that your books are in good condition before giving them to us. Address: 201 Riverside Main Street Working hours: Thursdays to Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Hotline: 7654-4321 We look forward to seeing you at Share and Read! When can you take books to Share and Read? Answer: In 1970, Oscar, owner of a 100-acre tract, prepared and duly recorded a subdivision plan called Happy Acres. The plan showed 90 one-acre lots and a tenacre tract in the center that was designated "Future Public School." Oscar published and distributed a brochure promoting Happy Acres which emphasized the proximity of the lots to the school property and indicated potential tax savings "because the school district will not have to expend tax money to acquire this property." There is no specific statute concerning the dedication of school sites. Oscar sold 50 of the lots to individual purchasers. Each deed referred to the recorded plan and also contained the following clause: "No mobile home shall be erected on any lot within Happy Acres." Sarah was one of the original purchasers from Oscar. In 1976, Oscar sold the remaining 40 lots and the 10-acre tract to Max by a deed which referred to the plan and contained the restriction relating to mobile homes. Max sold the 40 lots to individual purchasers and the 10-acre tract to Pete. None of the deeds from Max referred to the plan or contained any reference to mobile homes."Assume for this question only that Pete has announced his intention of erecting a fast-food restaurant on the 10-acre tract and that Sarah has filed an action to enjoin Pete. If Sarah wins, it will be because Answer: A Tchaikovsky concerto is what made Romel Joseph fall in love with the violin. He learned how to play in Haiti, where he was born, but a Fulbright scholarship brought him to the United States, and he finally earned a master's degree, reports CBS News reporter Katie Couric. Music had changed his life. He wanted to do the same for the children of Haiti. Joseph built a school in Port-au-Prince nearly 20 years ago. He was on the third floor when suddenly "It was like boom boom boom and everything just opened," Joseph said. "And the next thing I knew I was on the ground." Blind since birth, Joseph tried to feel his way out, but was pinned beneath heavy concrete . He remained trapped for 18 hours. He prays that his new wife, seven months pregnant , will be found. He is now being treated at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital for two injured legs and an arm. Joseph wonders if he'll ever play the violin again. He can feel sensation in his fingertips. He said, "If you were to give me a violin and if I didn't have to fold the fingers, I would be able to play." Joseph's daughter Victoria spent three terrifying days unsure of her father's fate. For her, having him home is the sweetest music. "Can you imagine your dad not being able to play the violin?" Couric asked. "No, I can't," Victoria Joseph said. "But I will love him all the same if he can't." Romel doesn't know how many of his 300 students died in the quake. As he waits for news about his wife, Romel Joseph is already planning a return to Haiti to rebuild the school and continue teaching there. "We can save two children, 20, 200, 300, 500 through education and music, and these children will make a difference," Romel Joseph said. Romel began to like music _ . Answer: A deal has been signed to turn by-products from a Scottish distillery into fuel for cars. In what is declared to be a world first, the Tullibardine distillery in Perthshire has linked up with a spin-out company from Napier University in Edinburgh. They plan to use bacteria to feed on the "leftovers" from the whisky making process. This will produce butanol which can be used to fuel vehicles. More than 90% of the stuff that comes out of a whisky distillery is not whisky. It is leftovers like draff and pot ales -- both produced in the early stages of the process. They are high in sugar and are currently used for things like fertiliser and cattle feed. Napier University's Biofuel Research Centre (BfRC) has already shown that the right bacteria can feed on those by-products to produce butanol--a direct replacement for vehicle fuel. Now the spin-out company, Celtic Renewables, and independent whisky producer Tullibardine have signed an agreement. Together they will apply the process to thousands of tons of the distillery's leftovers. Professor Martin Tangney, founder of Celtic Renewables, said "Our partnership with Tullibardine is an important step in the development of a business which combines two important Scottish industries -- whisky and renewables. This project shows that creative use of existing technologies can _ resources on our doorstep to benefit both the environment and the economy." Douglas Ross, managing director of Tullibardine, which spends PS250,000 disposing of its by-products every year, said "We are delighted to be partnering Celtic Renewables in this creative business, the obvious benefits of which are environmental. It takes a cost to us and turns it into something that has social as well as commercial value." The project is being supported by a grant from the Scottish government's Zero Waste Scotland initiative. Celtic Renewables said it eventually aimed to build a processing plant in Scotland, with the hope of building an industry that could be worth PS60m a year. How do people deal with whisky leftovers at present? Answer: It's an annual argument. Do we or do we not go on holiday? My wife says no because we have no savings to save us. I say you only live once and we work hard and what's the point if you can't go on holiday. The joy of a recession means no argument next year - we just won't go. Since money is known to be one of the things most likely to bring a relationship to its knees, we should be grateful. For many families the recession means more than not booking a holiday A YouGov survey of 2, 000 people found 22% said they were arguing more with their partners because of concerns about money. A recent research shows arguments about money were especially damaging to couples. Kim Stephenson, an occupational psychologist, believes money may be different things to men and women. "People can say the same things about money but have different ideas of what it's for." he explains. "They'll say it's to save, to spend, for security, for freedom, to show someone you love them." He says men are more likely to see money as a way of buying status and of showing their parents that they've achieved something. "The biggest problem is that couples assume each other know what's going on with their finances, but they don't. There seems to be more of a taboo about talking about money than about death. But you both need to know what you're doing, who's paying what into the joint account and how much you keep separately. In a healthy relationship, you don't have to agree about money, but you have to talk about it." The author suggests that couples should _ . Answer:
Question: A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan.His wife,Gerrie,was still working in the local school cafeteria,but work for Dave was scarce,and the price of everything was rising.The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years.Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift-$7,000,a legacy from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch,who died in an accident."It really made a difference when we were going under financially.''says Dave. But the Fusses weren't the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches.Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches'generosity.In some cases,it was a few thousand dollars;in other, it was more than $100,000. It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $ 3 milliorr-they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm. Children of the Great Depression,Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They thrived on comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store,checking prices before making a new purchase. Through the years,the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their Darents couldn't afford it."Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,"says their friend Sand Van Weelden,"They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them. Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed.It was the Hatches' wish that their legacy-a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents----should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come. Neighbors helping neighbors----hat was Ish and Arlene Hatch's story. Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store? A. They decided to open a store B. Thev wanted to save money C. They couldn't afrord expensive things D. They wanted to buy gifts for local kids Answer: C. They couldn't afrord expensive things Question: The tea gardens in Sri Lanka are actually large estates . The best tea usually comes from plants grown on high grounds, the cool hilltops with rows and rows of tea plants. The plants are about one metre apart. The plant is often pruned so that it remains only 60 to 90 centimetres high. _ is important because it encourages the growth of tender hoots, or young leaves. It is from these shoots that the best in got. Practically all the tea pickers are women. The estates like to employ women pickers because they are more careful. Their thin fingers can easily remove the twin leaves and new shoots from the plant, which are the parts used for processing tea. The pickers carry large baskets into which they throw their pickings. A skilled worker can harvest between 9 to 14 kilogrammes of tea leaves a day. Usually new shoots can be picked from the plants about every ten or fifteen days. Processing tea shoots into the familiar dry tea leaves requires great care and skill. There are various methods of processing depending on the type of tea required. For black tea, the young green leaves are first spread out on shelves to dry. This process removes much of its water and the leaves become soft. After this, the leaves are passed through heavy rollers. This operation will press the leaves for juices which give the tea both its colour and taste. Then the leaves are spread out on floors and left to ferment under wet conditions. Fermentation develops the rich taste of black tea. The fermented leaves are then dried with a hotair blower until they become rolledup black leaves. The final step is to sort and grade them before the black tea is ready for sale to countries all over the world. What's the writer's purpose in writing the passage? A. To introduce various methods of tea processing. B. To persuade readers to buy tea from Sri Lanka. C. To tell a story that had happened in the tea gardens. D. To inform readers of tea growing, picking and processing. Answer: D. To inform readers of tea growing, picking and processing. Question: House for Sale Y=250, 000, built in 2010 The house with 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, a kitchen and a breakfast room. It's in the south of Hezhou. Shiji Supermarket, the biggest shopping centre in our city will open on July 8, 2011. Everybody with today s Hezhou Daily will get a small present that day. You are welcome. Tel: 6668888 Add: No. 8 Renmin Road Hezhou Daily June 8, 2011 Rose's Special Concert Time: 2 p. m. , July 2, Saturday Place: People's Stadium Ticket Price: RMB 150 yuan for adults; 70 yuan for students June 25 , 2011 If two adults and two students want to go to the concert, the tickets will cost RMB _ . A. 220 yuan B. 440 yuan C. 270 yuan D. 370 yuan Answer: B. 440 yuan Question: Sleet, rain, snow, and hail are forms of A. erosion B. evaporation C. groundwater D. precipitation Answer: D. precipitation Question: Money spent on advertising is money spent as well as any I know of. It serves directly to assist a rapid distribution of goods at reasonable prices, thereby establishing a firm home market and so making it possible to provide for export at competitive prices. By drawing attention to new ideas it helps enormously to raise standards of living. By helping to increase demand it ensures an increased need for labor, and is therefore an effective way to fight unemployment. It lowers the costs of many services: without advertisements your daily newspaper would cost four times as much, the price of your television license would need to be doubled, and travel by bus or tube would cost 20 per cent more. And perhaps most important of all, advertising provides a guarantee of reasonable value in the products and services you buy. Apart from the fact that twenty-seven Acts of Parliament govern the terms of advertising, no regular advertiser dare promote a product that fails to live up to the promise of his advertisements. He might fool some people for a little while through misleading advertising. He will not do so for long, for mercifully the public has the good sense not to buy the inferior article more than once. If you see an article consistently advertised, it is the surest proof I know that the article does what is claimed for it, and that it represents good value. By the first sentence of the passage, the author means that _ . A. he is fairly familiar with the cost of advertising B. everybody knows well that advertising is money consuming C. advertising costs money like everything else D. it is worthwhile to spend money on advertising Answer: D. it is worthwhile to spend money on advertising
Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a person has lived using a strand ( ) of hair, a technique that could help track the movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims. The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinking water show up in people's hair. "You're what you eat and drink, and that's recorded in your hair," said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah. While U.S. diet is ly identical, water supplies vary. The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical composition of rainfall changes slightly as rain clouds move. Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable, but traces of both elements are also present as heavier isotopes ( ). The heaviest rain falls first. As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavier water to California than to Utah. Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand of hair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months. Cerling's team collected tap water samples from 600 cities and constructed a map of the regional difference. They checked the accuracy of the map by testing 200 hair samples collected from 65 barber shops. They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad region roughly corresponding to the movement of rain systems. "It's not good for pinpointing ( )," Cerling said. "It's good for eliminating many possibilities." Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learn more about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near Great Salt Lake. The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt and several strands of hair. When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researches. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before her death, she moved about every two months. She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be more specific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming. "It's still a substantial area," Park said, "But it narrows its way down for me." What is the scientists' new discovery? Answer: A person's hair may show where they have lived. Parkour is a new sport that is developing quickly in the world. The aim of parkour is to jump, climb or run over any all stair, or fence on your path easily. Usually, it is done in a city environment. Practicers take very wall or roof as their training place. If you have seen the beginning of the James Bond movie Casino Royale, then you have seen an excellent example of parkour. David Belle, a young Frenchman, developed parkour in the 1990s. His father's experiences as a fireman as well as an acrobat influenced him a lot. His childhood friend, Sebastien Foucan, is the actor in the movie Casino Royale with his parkour performance. Foucan is thought to have developed free-running, which is a more artistic and skillful type of parkour. David belle traveled to India and said one way he trained was by watching a physical one. The aim is to become so skillful, and it is almost unnecessary for you to think about the different actions in running through a path full of barriers . Parkour is not exactly a sport. It is not developed fro competition. It is more about learning to control mind and body in difficult situations. There are many basic movements in parkour. One example is where practicers swing through the narrow space between two bars while keeping their body level with the ground. This is called the underbar. Other movements are the tic-tac and the kong vault jump. Skillful practicers seem to get out of control of gravity. The popularity has spread largely because of parkour videos and organizations on the Internet. And if you search on the Web, you will find parkour groups performing their skills near you. People learn about parkour mainly for _ . Answer: the Internet A Charlotte, N.C., man was charged with first-degree murder of a 79-year-old woman whom police said he scared to death. In an attempt to evade policemen after a bank robbery, the Associated Press reports that 20-year-old Larry Whitfield broke into the home of Mary Parnell. Police say he didn't touch Parnell but that she died after suffering a heart attack that was caused by terror. Can the guy be held responsible for the woman's death? Prosecutors said that he can under the state's murder rule, which allows someone to be charged with murder if he or she causes another person's death while committing or fleeing from a severe crime like robbery--even if he or she doesn't kill someone on purpose. But, medically speaking, can someone actually be frightened to death? We asked Martin Samuels, chairman of the neurology department at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Absolutely, no question about it. The body has a natural protective method called the fight-or-flight response , which was originally described by Walter Cannon,the chairman of Harvard University's physiology department from 1906 to 1942. If, in the wild, an animal is faced with a life-threatening situation, the autonomic nervous system responds by increasing heart rate, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and slowing digestion, among other things. All of this increases the chances of succeeding in a fight or running away from an aggressive beast. This process certainly would be of help to primitive humans. However, in the modern world there is obvious decline of the fight-or-flight response. The autonomic nervous system uses the chemical messenger to send signals to various parts of the body to activate the fight-or-flight response. This chemical is toxic in large amounts; it damages the organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. It is believed that almost all sudden deaths are caused by damage to the heart. There is almost no other organ that would fail so fast as to cause sudden death. Kidney failure, liver failure, those things don't kill you suddenly. By the way, any strong positive or negative emotions such as happiness or sadness can cause the same result. There are people who have died in intercourse or in religious passion. There was a case of a golfer who hit a hole in one, turned to his partner and said, "I can die now", and then he dropped dead. For about seven days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon there was an increase of sudden cardiac death among New Yorkers. What activity can we infer is less likely to damage the organs? Answer: Listening to a sweet song. Greenwich is on the River, five miles from the middle of London, and its history is two thousand years old. The first English people were fishermen there, and they named the place Greenwich, meaning "green village". Later the English kings and queens lived at Greenwich in their beautiful places. The name of the earliest palace was Placentia. Its windows were made of glass--the first in England. But trouble was coming to Greenwich. In 1649, a war started in England and for eleven years there was no king. The men who had worked for him at Placentia decided to live in the place themselves. They sold all its beautiful things, and bought small pieces of the palace garden with money. Finally, the war ended and King Charles II came back. But Placentia was falling down. So King Charles built a new and bigger palace, which is now open to the public. At this time, Charles was worried about losing so many of its ships at sea because their sailors did not know how to tell exactly where they were. So in 1675, Charles made John Flamsteed, the first astronomer in England, try to find the answer. Flamsteed worked in a new building on the high ground in Greenwich Park. From it with a telescope which he made himself, Flamsteed could look all round the sky. And he did, night after night, for twenty years. Carrying on Flamsteed's work a hundred years later, an astronomer called Harrison finally made a clock which told the time at sea, and helped sailors to know where they were.You can see Harrison's clock, still working, in Greenwich's museum of the sea. Because of Flamsteed's work, every country in the world now tells its time by Greenwich time. Charles made John Flamsteed try to find _ . Answer: a way for sailors to tell their positions at sea Most recently, it's very common in students who need a parent present for job interviews. Naturally, it's easy to blame the students in these situations, but the bigger problem is us. We--as parents--are so eager to protect our kids that we fail to realize that this in itself is harming them. As the mother of two young sons, I have to remind myself all the time that the biggest responsibility I have as a parent is to help them develop the skills needed to live in, to live without me. So, I'll let them fail. I'll let them fail because as long as they are safe and warm inside their comfort zones, they will never grow. And failure--along with loss, heartbreak, disappointment, etc.--will be part of growth for them. Call me the anti-tiger mom, but leaving them alone is my way of helping them become equipped to fit in this world as we know it today. From terrorism and seemingly endless natural disasters, to our national debt and beyond, if we expect the next generation to stand up to the very real problems of our time, we need to stop feeding them and start teaching them how to fish. My children are faced with hard situations in their own life almost each day, but they try to negotiate everything now. It's a small price to help them learn a skill they'll use for the rest of their lives, including when I don't come with them on job interviews. The author believes experiencing failure in life can make kids _ . Answer: grow in this challenging world
"Who did this?" asked my teacher. Thirty children tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what our teacher might have found out. "Who did this?" she asked again. She never became angry, but she was this time. She held up a piece of broken glass and asked, "Who broke this window?" "Oh, oh," I thought. I was the one who broke the window. I did not do it on purpose . It was caused by a bad throw of a baseball. Why did it have to be me? If I admitted it, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? "My father is going to get angry at me," I thought. I didn't want to raise my hand, but something much stronger than me pulled it up. "I did it," I said. Then I was silent. It was hard enough saying what I had. My teacher went to one of our bookshelves and took down a book. She then began walking towards my desk. I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me. "I know how you like birds," she said as she stood looking down at my face. "Here is the field guide about birds that you always _ from our school library. It is yours now. We have got a new one for the school. You will not be punished . But remember, it's only for your honesty." I couldn't believe it! I wasn't being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide, the one that I had been saving up all my money to buy. How did the writer feel when he saw his teacher walking towards him with a book from bookshelves? Answer: Frightened. Paulsen sued Daly for nonpayment of a personal loan to Daly, as evidenced by Daly's promissory note to Paulsen. Paulsen called Walters to testify that he knows Daly's handwriting and that the signature on the note is Daly's. On direct examination, to identify himself, Walters gave his name and address and testified that he had been employed by a roofing company for seven years. During presentation of Daly's case, Daly called Wilson to testify that she is the roofing company's personnel manager and that she had determined, by examining the company's employment records, that Walters had worked there only three years. The trial judge should rule that Wilson's testimony is Answer: inadmissible, because it is impeachment on a collateral question. The latest research suggests that the key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success. Instead, it's purposeful practice. Top performers spend more hours practising their craft. If you wanted to picture how a typical genius might develop, you'd take a girl who possessed a slightly above average language ability. It wouldn't have to be a big talent, just enough so that she might gain some sense of distinction. Then you would want her to meet, say, a novelist, who coincidentally shared some similar qualities. Maybe the writer was from the same town, had the same family background, or shared the same birthday. This contact would give the girl a vision of her future self. It would give her some idea of a fascinating circle who might someday join. It would also help if one of her parents died when she was 12, giving her a strong sense of insecurity and fuelling a desperate need for success. Armed with this ambition, she would read novels and life stories of writers without end. This would give her a primary knowledge of her field. She would be able to see new writing in deeper ways and quickly understand its inner workings. Then she would practise writing. Her practice would be slow, painstaking and error-focused. By practising in this way, she delays the automating process. Her mind wants to turn conscious, newly learned skills into unconscious, automatically performed skills. By practising slowly, by breaking skills down into tiny parts and repeating, she forces the brain to internalize a better pattern of performance. Then she would find an adviser who would provide a constant stream of feedback, viewing her performance form the outside, correcting the smallest errors, pushing her to take on tougher challenges. By now she is redoing problems--how do I get characters into a room--dozens and dozens of times. She is establishing habits of thought she can call upon in order to understand or solve future problems. The primary quality our young writer possesses is not some mysterious genius. It's the ability to develop a purposeful, laborious and boring practice routine; the latest research takes some of the magic out of great achievement. But it underlines a fact that is often neglected. Public discussion is affected by genetics and what we're "hard-wired" to do. And it's true that genes play a role in our capabilities. But the brain is also very plastic. We construct ourselves through behavior. The passage mainly deals with_. Answer: the decisive factor in making a genius As dangerous as sharks may have seed to people after watching Jaws, which was released on June 20,1975, the recent disastrous decrease in their numbers show that people have proven far more dangerous to sharks. This disastrous decline is due in large part to commercial fishing of sharks. "The market for shark fins in East Asia opened up thanks to changes in their economy, increasing their ability to spend money on things such as shark fin soup," Burgess said. However, the biggest worry for sharks and their relatives, the skates and rays, which are suffering a similar fate, "is how they are killed incidentally when fishermen try and take other fish--the problem of bycatch ," Burgess explained. "They may be thrown back afterward, but they're still dead." The key of the problems behind bringing sharks back is that "they're not the same as other fish," Burgess said, "Sharks are slow growing and slow to reach maturity. Sharks are live bearers, which means females keep their young in their body just like us, but instead of nine months, it takes 12 to 18 months or more in sharks. Also, sharks generally can't give birth again until a year after they've given birth--sometimes they're on a three-year cycle. So once you get a shark population knocked down, this 'life in the slow lane' means that recovery is measured in decades rather than years."\ Burgess said, "I'm on the recovery team for it, but the recovery plan for that is over the course of 100 years. So I won't see them recover, nor will you, nor will your children. That's what it means when these animals go down--they're down a long time." Any measures aimed at saving sharks must not only consider byeatch, "which is the real killer right now," but also encourage interactional cooperation, Burgess said. "Sharks are very migratory, and many species cross borders," he said. "We can protect them only by getting many govemment to come aboard. That's the hardest part about this." Bringing sharks back is difficult because _ . Answer: their reproductive rate is slow Memo to: Parents Memo from: Administration Office, St. Augustine's Elementary School Topic: Lunch Program and School Information Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 We would like to thank all parents and guardians for your cooperation as we carry out a new method of delivering our lunch program. So far the month-long test of the new system has gone smoothly. For your convenience, we have included a copy of the envelope below to allow you to record the days you have ordered lunch for your child. You can keep this copy at home for your reference. Please note, lunches are prepared using the School Food Guidelines both in terms of items served and size. During the first two weeks some people wrote in additions to the menu, such as ordering extra items. Due to the logistics involved and our limited volunteer base we are unable to fulfill these requests. Ordering process: This year we will distribute a two week lunch envelope. If you decide to order the meal offered on a given day, simply check the box in front of that meal choice. For example, if you choose seven meals over the two weeks, then please enclose (7 x $2.00) fourteen dollars ($14.00) in the envelope. Seal it, and return it to your child's teacher. Please note that the cost for the lunch remains the same: $2.00 daily and includes fruit and milk. You will note that we have also reduced daily choices. For example on Fridays, we offered chicken burgers and hamburgers. This has been changed to chicken burgers on one week and hamburgers the following week. Food prepared according to special requests has also been changed. These items will now be prepared with the same ingredients. If your child does not like the lunch being served on a particular day please ensure that he/she has a packed lunch from home. Thank you for your attention on this matter and we look forward to working with you once again this year. Please return the attached envelopes by Thursday, December 2, 2011. It can be concluded that_. Answer: the school cares a lot about the students' health
"Drink your milk. It is good for you!" You've probably heard that many times, and it is true. Milk contains calcium, which is a necessary nutrient for keeping bones and teeth healthy and strong. The US government even requires milk as part of the National School Lunch Program, saying that students should drink one cup of fat-free milk at each meal. Last Thursday, however, a group of doctors asked the government to remove the lunch program. The Physical Committee for Responsible Medicine says, "Milk is high in sugar, high in fat and high in animal protein," all of which have negative effects on health. The PCRM says there were better and healthier ways to get calcium such as eating beans, broccoli, cereals and tofu. Orange juice and soymilk that have calcium added to them also supply the nutrient. "One of the only reasons people talk about dairy, or promote it at all, is because it is going to help build strong bones." says Dr. Neal Bamard, president of the PCRM. But milk may not be the best way to get calcium your body needs. Of course, calcium is important for health bones and teeth, but there are other things that affect your bone strength, such as genes, how much vitamin D you take in and getting an hour's worth of exercise every day. Some nutritionists disagree with the idea that milk isn't important. Keri Gans, a dietitian, says, "I think it is irresponsible to take this beverage that children enjoy, especially among those who are unable to meet their nutrient needs for the day, and remove it from lunch time." The US government is studying the request of the PCRM, but a decision may be a one way to take off. Meanwhile, Marion Nestle, a professor at New York University, put it best: "Milk demonstrably has nutrients. Other foods have the same nutrients. It's just a food. Like other foods, too much might be a problem. " Why does the US government ask students to drink one cup of milk at lunch time? A. They have been told many times. B. They have taken the PCRM's advice. C. Fat-free or low-fat milk is less expensive. D. Milk helps build students' strong bones. Answer: D Sometime early in the next century, human beings will move to Mars. They will live there for about a year, and then will be replaced with another group of pioneers. Building the base on Mars will advance our knowledge of the solar system and aid in our understanding of the earth. We already know that Mars resembles the earth in many aspects: general size, presence of water, length of day, range of temperatures. These resemblances have caused many people to consider a centuries-long project: to terraform Mars. Terraforming means _ a planet's surface so that Earth's life forms can survive there. This concept, previously found only in science fiction is now being seriously considered by scientists. Terraforming Mars is theoretically simple: add nitrogen and oxygen to the atmosphere; pump water to the surface; and add the earth's plants and animals in the order in which they developed on Earth. But it will take at least 300 years. Some people think that such a project is too huge for humans to undertake, but there are very good reasons to make the attempt. The earth now contains some 6 billion people, and no one has any idea of how many humans the earth can support. Our very existence and numbers are threatening many other species. We also have had some experience with terraforming our own planet: altering the landscape, the atmosphere and the climate. Currently terraforming earth has become a wiser activity as we try to control global warming, air and water pollution, and preserve some natural living places. While the possibility of such a project is small, it is not impossible .Even if earth -bound societies come and go in the next 300 years, the project can continue through the work of the Mars settlers without the need for constant backing from the earth. The future existence of all the people in our world may very well depend upon our ability to terraform Mars. According to the passage the main purpose of terraforming Mars is to _ . A. do some scientific research work B. find out its similarity to earth C. avoid the dying away of many other species D. find on Mars living place for the increasing human beings Answer: D We are going to talk again this week about higher education for disabled students who want to study in the United States.As we noted last time,there are no special colleges or universities for blind students.But there are for deaf students.One of them is Gallaudet University in Washington,D.C. Gallaudet is said to be the world's only liberal arts university where everything is designed for deaf or hard-of-hearing students.About 2,000 students attend Gallaudet.The cost for international students is about 33,000 dollars a year. Financial aid is available in the form of scholarships,but only after the first year of studies. Most scholarship aid goes to students in financial need who do well in their first year.One scholarship for international students is for deaf students from developing countries.Another is just for students from China.The university also offers an English Language Institute.But Gallaudet says this program does not guarantee acceptance to the university. In the past year,students at Gallaudet protested against the administration's choice of a new president for the university.The protests led to the choice of a different president who is more popular with the students,Robert Davila.He is a former officer of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.This technical college is in Rochester, New York. It is one of the eight colleges in the Rochester Institute of Technology. More than one thousand students attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. About one hundred of them are international students.They come from Africa, Asia,Europe and South America. The cost is about 28,000 dollars a year for an international Technical Institute student.Foreign graduate students pay about 20,000 dollars. Both undergraduate and graduate student can receive limited financial aid. They can also take part in the student employment program.This program makes it possible for students to work at the school. The passage is written for _ . A. blind students B. deaf students C. art students D. dumb students Answer: B You have probably been told by your high school instructor that writing is an important and practical skill. However, you may not be convinced that the ability to write will be important in your own future. If so, you will be surprised at the results of a recent survey by the National Institute of Education. More than four thousand working men and women who had graduated fifteen years earlier were asked to name the courses they would have taken in college if they had known better. The designer of the survey expected people to name courses in computer science, mathematics, or business. But the course most often mentioned was writing. If you already have a job, you are probably not surprised at their answers. Many jobs require the ability to write. Despite the increasing use of the telephone and the computer, much information must be communicated in writing.Some ten million people--managers, engineers, sales representatives, and many others-- write regularly as part of their jobs. Summaries, reports, reports, letters and speeches are required in today's work world. The ability to write, therefore, is an important skill. The successful individual is almost always the one who can communicate successfully in writing. Writing communicates your thoughts and feelings to others; it also tells you something about yourself. Maybe this is what Eldridge Cleaver had in mind in his autobiography, "I started to write... to save myself...I had to seek out the truth... I had to find out who I am and what I want to be ,what type of man I should be ,and what I could do to become the best of which I was capable." The survey conducted by the National Institute of Education shows that. A. more than 4,000 working people value the course of writing B. many people regard computer science as a useful course C. some people would study business if they had a chance D. most people consider writing to be an important course Answer: D 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 was Joey upset about? A. Joey's dad was late B. Joey's mom didn't give him a snack C. He left his baseball glove outside D. Billy was mean to him Answer: C
It has been found that less than one shopper in five makes a complete shopping list before going to the store. The reason for this is that seven out of ten of today's purchases are decided in the store, where the shoppers tend toward impulse buying. Buying groceries on impulse had risen for the past forty years, and this rise has coincided with the growth of self-service shopping. However, in grocery stores where clerks wait on customers there is much less impulse buying. It is hard for people to buy on impulse if they have to address a clerk. Psychologists have joined forces with merchandising experts. It is their job to persuade people to buy products which they may not need or even want until they see them attractively presented. It was discovered by the psychologists that shoppers want help in their purchases. Having so many choices confuses them, and they prefer the package that attracts them. Therefore, it is now more usual for food packers to pay attention to their package design. Attraction depends heavily on the position of the product on the shelf, however. Thus, persuading the shopper to buy is easier if the product is located at eye-level. Shoppers tend to buy the products put on _ . Mr King was the manager of a hotel. One weekend all the hotels in the city were full because there was a large meeting. On Friday night, three men came into the hotel and asked for rooms. Mr King said there were no rooms ready because of the meeting. The men were unhappy. Mr King wanted to help them. He remembered that Room 418, a very small room, was empty. He asked them if they would share a room. The three men said they would. Mr King said the room would be thirty dollars: ten for each one. Each man gave him the money and then went up to the room. Mr King soon began to feel sorry. "Thirty dollars is a lot to ask as price for that small room. " he thought. He called his assistant over and said, "Here is five dollars. Take it to the men in Room 418. I asked too much for their room." The assistant took the money. While he was on the way there, he started to think, "How can three men divide five dollars? I'll give them each only one dollar and keep the two dollars for myself. The men will be happy to get something back, and Mr King will never know. " So the assistant returned one dollar to each man. Each man had at first paid ten dollars. After the assistant returned them one dollar each, each had paid nine. There were three men, $ 9 x3 = $ 27. The assistant kept $ 2. $ 27 + $ 2 = $ 29. Where is the missing dollar? The assistant _ . The business executive was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy . Suddenly an old man appeared before him. "I can see that something is troubling you." he said. After listening to the executive, the old man said: "I believe I can help you." He asked the man his name, wrote out a check, and pushed it into his hand saying: "Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time." Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come. The business executive saw in his hand a check for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world! "I can settle all my debts in a moment!" he realized. But instead, the executive decided to put the uncashed check in his safe, just knowing it would give him the strength to work out a way to save his business. With renewed optimism, he made better deals and extended terms of payment. He closed several big deals. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again. Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed check. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as the executive was about to hand back the check and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man. "I'm so glad I caught him!" she cried. "I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller." And she led the old man away by the arm. The executive didn't cash the check because _ . Which of these lists has only products that come from plants? Hello Kitty, the Japanese white cat with no mouth,has a lot of fans around the world. A new home for Hello Kitty was opened in China in the summer of 2014. The Hello Kitty Theme Park was built in Anji, Zhejiang Province and this is the first Hello Kitty Park in China.Anji is known for its natural beauty. It has large forests and many bamboo groves . So the new Hello Kitty Park will be both a playland and a natural park. Children and visitors will enjoy the fun of games and learn about the environment at the same time. There are five gardens in the park. Each of them has a different theme of the five natural elements: water, wood,fire, metal and earth. Visitors to the amusement park will be able to enjoy 3D Games, watch Hello Kitty films and food service. Children can have lots of interesting activities here. Now you see,Hello Kitty's new home was so interesting. So come and see it by yourself. The passage may be a(an) _ .
Question: In the Night Garden In a magical forest, colourful characters have adventures. A mysterious tide of water appears suddenly next to Igglepiggle. He discovers that he can control it by moving his feet. Excited, he takes it to Makka Pakka who finds it very useful indeed. Children Under 5 Today on BBC2 from 11:05am to 11:35am Last of the Summer Wine To relax, Howard tries a simple trick to change his appearance enough to fool even Pearl. But he soon discovers that taking over someone else's identity can be equally dangerous. Comedy Sitcoms Today on G.O.L.D. from 12:40pm to 1: 20pm The Secret Circle Cassie is an orphaned teenager who discovers that not only is she a witch but that she is also the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle between good and evil. When Cassie accepts a cute boy's invitation to the school dance, Adam struggles to control his anger. Today on Sky Living from 10:00pm to 11:00pm The Kid's Speech Eleven-year-olds, Reggie and William, and 14-year-old Bethan, are determined to improve their speech. Along with their parents, they start a unique course at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering children. Over two weeks, they open up about their fears and frustrations. Documentary Today on BBC1 London from 10:35pm to 11:25pm Which play can be used to inspire children who are afraid to speak in public? A. In the Night Garden. B. Last of the Summer Wine. C. The Secret Circle. D. The Kid's Speech. Answer: D. The Kid's Speech. Question: Parents are creating an "I want it now" generation by satisfying children's every demand at Christmas, say experts. Youngsters in Britain are becoming increasingly selfish, claim the education analysts. Behavioral consultant Chris Calland said: "Parents want to make Christmas into magical fairytale for their kids. "There's nothing wrong with that. The problem arises when it means always giving into all our children's demands--- even if they are beyond our price range or not age-appropriate." Ms Calland, who runs "Santa Says No" style sessions with colleague Nicky Hutchinson, added: "Many of us go into so much debt providing the gifts our children want that we spend the rest of the year paying off the bills. But so often the gifts we've carefully wrapped, once opened, are just pushed away because the very thing our little boy or girl was once so desperate for, they have now lost interest in." Ms Calland and Ms Hutchinson have drawn up a list of guidelines to help parents manage their offspring's Christmas lists this year. They say that adults can actually improve their relationships with their children by resisting "pester power". Ms Calland said: "All too often we say yes because we want an easier life when the fact is that we're only building up problems for the future. We are helping create a generation of youngsters who are blind to the needs of others and the necessity of hard work. "Children learn fast--- if we sometimes change our mind, they quickly realize it might be worth lying on the floor and screaming for it. Make sure you and your partner are working together on this. Be consistent. And try not to get caught up in competition with other families or friends. Ms. Calland would agree that parents should _ . A. buy nothing for children at Christmas. B. choose gifts carefully for children. C. let children choose their own gifts. D. avoid competing with others. Answer: D. avoid competing with others. Question: Not long ago, I opened an interesting e-mail from Jennifer, a friend of mine. "I've realized I want to be around people who make me happy," she wrote, "I've been seeing how I feel after communicating with different people and making a mental list of who I feel good about. And you're on my list." Then she invited me -- and 11 other women-- to a "Movie Night" to be held every six weeks at her house. We'd chat, eat, and watch feel-good movies. She made it clear in her invitation that there was no stress to show up to all or any movie nights. Wonderful! I e-mailed her back immediately. I was in. Later, Jennifer told me she had some puzzled reactions to her invitation. Though all the women were willing to join, some said they didn't see themselves as cheerful people. "I've told them they didn't have to be cheerful around me all the time. I invited them because they made me feel happy," she says. Research shows that gatherings such as Jennifer's _ . In a US study, researchers measured the happiness of 4739 people at regular intervals over 20 years. The study found that a person's happiness depends on the happiness of people they connect with. Amazingly, it also found that happiness spreads not only between direct friends, but also among friends of your friends' friends! And those good feelings seem to be the most contagious among friends of the same sex. "People with more supportive friends are less likely to develop sadness," says Dr Toupey Luft, a psychologist in Penticyon, British Columbia. "Though you can't choose your family or workmates, you do have control over friendships." With a little effort, you can add more positive relationships to your social circle. Here's how... How many people did Jennifer invite? A. 1 B. 11 C. 12 D. 13 Answer: C. 12 Question: On a Sunday morning, I was driving down a road and saw something I couldn't believe. A little girl, less than two, was pushing her stroller across the road. It was Sunday morning and traffic was not heavy. I stopped my car at once and ran toward her. This little girl knew enough to run from a stranger. I tried to catch her in order that I could get her out of the road. Suddenly her father came running down a hill across the road from where I had parked my car. He ran right to her and caught her up, saying "bad girl" to her. I picked up the stroller and gave it to him. The father grabbed the stroller and walked toward where he came from without a word. I went back and sat in my car for a few minutes with my son. My hands were shaking and tears were about to run out of my eyes. "Do you feel cold, Mom?" asked my son. I just shook my head. After this happened, I thought about how thankful I am. Even though the father didn't say thank you, I feel that I did something good. Doing something for someone else is pleasing, even when it's only a matter of being in the right place at the right time. I didn't really "save" her, but I feel like it was important that I happened to be there. It is sad that I was the only one who stopped. It really made me a little disappointed that no one else stopped to help. The little girl ran away from the author because _ . A. she wanted to stay on the road B. she didn't know the author at all C. she wanted to look for her father D. she needed to catch her stroller Answer: B. she didn't know the author at all Question: Cindy likes eating ice cream very much. She often buys ice cream in the shop and takes it home. So does her husband . One day her husband sees the ice cream and thinks, "Good! Now, I can have a delicious dessert ." When Cindy comes home from work in the evening, the ice cream is not there and her husband says, "Oh, you see the fridge is broken . It's not cold at all." "Really?" Cindy says. And at the same time, she put her husband's arm into the fridge. Cindy says "Keep it in the fridge for an hour. Don't move it away before I come back." She goes to cook dinner. "Oh, no." her husband shouts loudly. The fridge is broken. Is it true? A. Yes, it is. B. No, it isn't. C. Yes, it isn't. D. No, it is. Answer: B. No, it isn't.
In the past ten years, many scientists have studied the differences between men and women. And they all got the same answer: The sexes are different, because their brains are different. And this, the scientists say, makes men and women see the world in different ways. Boys, for example, generally are better than girls at mathematical ideas. Boys also generally are better than girls at the kind of hand and eye movements necessary for ball sports. Girls, on the other hand generally start speaking earlier than boys. And they generally see better in the dark than boys and are better at learning foreign languages. What makes men and women better at one thing or another? The answer is the brain. The brain has two sides connected by nerve tracks. The left side generally is used for mathematics, speech and writing. The right side is used for artistic creation and the expression for emotions . In men and women, different areas in each side of the brain develop differently. In boys, for example, it's the area used for mathematics. In girls, it is the area used for language skills. Another interesting difference is that the two sides of a man's brain are connected by a smaller number of nerves than the two sides of a woman's brain are. Which of the following is the best title of the article? Answer: Men and Women are Different in Brain In the last years of the Warring States period, the State of Qin attacked the State of Wei on a large scale repeatedly and occupied large areas of land, for the State of Wei was too weak to defend itself. In 273 B.C., the Qin army launched a more serious attack upon the State of Wei than ever. The king of the State of Wei gathered his officials, and asked with a worried look if anyone could propose a way to defeat the Qin army. After years of chaos caused by the wars, the officials trembled when fighting was mentioned, and no one dared to speak of resistance. At the critical moment when a large enemy force was bearing down upon the border, most of the officials persuaded the king to peace, at the cost of giving away to the State of Qin the large area of land north of the Huanghe River and south of the Taihang Mountain. However Su Dai, a counselor, did not agree. He hurried up to the king and said, "Your Majesty, they don't think about the interests of the country at all. It is just because they are afraid of death that they ask you to sue for peace by betraying the country. Of course you can temporarily satisfy the ambition of Qin, but it will never stop attacking us until our land is totally given away." He added,"Once there was a man whose house was on fire. People told him to put out the fire with water, but he would not listen. Instead, he carried a faggot to put out the fire, only to make the fire fiercer. Isn't it similar to carrying faggots to put out a fire if you agree to sue for peace at the cost of the land of the State of Wei?" Though Su Dai's argument was very convincing, the king accepted the suggestion of those officials and gave away to the State of Qin a large area of the land of the State of Wei. As might be expected, the Qin army attacked the State of Wei in 225 B.C. again, surrounding the capital city Daliang and flooding it by digging open the dykes of the Huanghe River. The State of Wei was finally destroyed. The attitude of the writer towards Su Dai is _ . Answer: neutral That "Monday morning feeling" could be a crushing pain in the chest which leaves you sweating and gasping for breath. Recent research from Germany and Italy shows that heart attacks are more common on Monday mornings and doctors blame the stress of returning to work after the weekend break. The risk of having a heart attack on any given day should be one in seven, but a six-year study helped by researchers at the Free University of Berlin of more than 2,600 Germans showed that the average person had a 20 per cent higher chance of having a heart attack on a Monday than on any other day. Working Germans are particularly not protected against attack, with a 33 per cent higher risk at the beginning of the working week. Non-workers, by comparison, appear to be no more at risk on a Monday than any other day. A study of 11,000 Italians proved 8 am on a Monday morning as the most stressful time for the heart, and both studies showed that Sunday is the least stressful day, with fewer heart attacks in both countries. The findings could lead to a better understanding of what is the immediate cause of heart attacks, according to Dr Stefan Willich of the Free University. "We know a lot about long-term risk factors such as smoking and cholesterol but we don't know what actually causes heart attacks, so we can't give clear advice on how to prevent them," he said. Monday mornings have a double helping of stress for the working body as it makes a rapid change from sleep to activity, and from the relaxing weekend to the pressures of work. "When people get up, their blood pressure and heart rate go up and there are hormonal changes in their bodies," Willich explained. "All these things can have an unfavourable effect in the blood system and increase the risk of a clot in the arteries which will cause a heart attack." "When people return to work after a weekend off, the pace of their life changes. They have a higher workload, more stress, more anger and more physical activity," said Willich. Monday morning feeling, as this passage shows, _ . Answer: is harmful to working people in developed countries. The Raytown Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library is offering the following activities for the month of March. The library is located at 6131 Raytown Road. All activities are free, but registration is required. Tax Help for Seniors 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. AARP Tax-Aide representatives will be at the Library to assist seniors with medium to low incomes with tax questions and free tax return preparation. Time listed indicates starting time. Teen Games 2 p.m. March 2. Challenge yourself, challenge your friends. Movie Classics For adults, 2 p.m. March 4. Join us for an afternoon of nostalgia as we watch classic films. Call to see what's showing. KC Zoomobile Africa, for ages 5 and older, 11 a.m. March 5. Join the Kansas City Zoo for an African adventure. We will share African culture as well as show you an animal or two. Come with us to learn something new about Africa. Kids at the Library For ages 6 and older, 11 a.m. March 12. Discover, create, and play. Explore big ideas in a new way. Chess Free Play For ages 6 and older, 1 p.m. March 12. Play chess, learn the basics, brush up on your chess skills, challenge other players at Free Chess Play at the library. The Raytown Branch, in cooperation with the Raytown High School Chess Team coaches, will be hosting chess on the second Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. Chess boards and chess pieces will be provided. Eggstravaganza Noon March 26. Join us for story time with Mayor Mike McDonough, as we take part in Raytown's Easter festivities. After the stories, the Easter Bunny will escort the children across the street for an Easter egg hunt. When can chess players take part in the relevant activities? Answer: At 1 p.m. March 12. My name is David Smith. I am an English boy. My family is in Hangzhou. My father and mother work here. My father is an engineer and my mother is a teacher. I have a sister but no brothers. My sister and I are students of Nol. 1 Middle School. We love Hangzhou, and we love China, too. We have a nice house in Hangzhou. We have a color TV and a computer. My room is big. There is a bed, a desk and two chairs in it. My books are on the bookcase. I have a phone on my desk. There are some pictures on the wall. I like my room and I like these pictures very much. David is from _ . Answer: England
Although most people know there are Seven Wonders in the Ancient world, only few people can name them. This is because most of them are no longer there except the pyramids. However, there is a growing list of wonders of the world today. About nine years ago, UNESCO's World Cultural and Nature Heritage List had 411 places and 136 countries were responsible to protect them, and the list keeps on growing. Usually it is the task of a group of 21 experts to decide which places go on the list. The experts are chosen to work for six years. Their work is to examine and discuss the suggestions from different countries. They also manage the World Heritage Fund which can offer help to countries for protection work. Over the past centuries a lot of cultural or historic places have been destroyed by man or nature. Protecting our natural and cultural heritage is a long and difficult task. Earthquakes, floods, pollution, wars, or even tourism are some of the dangers that harm the heritage. When a historic place is in great danger, it is put on the World Heritage in Danger List and necessary things will be done to protect it. Places which are on the danger list include Historic Bridges of Indiana, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Rosenwald School in Southern U.S., etc. According to the passage, _ may provide some money for protecting the cultural relics. A. UNESCO ( ) B. the World Heritage Fund C. the 21 experts D. some countries Answer: B When it comes to hotel pools, the indoor variety has long been inferior to their outdoor -- often rooftop -- counterparts. But these days, striking decoration, luxury facilities and stunning settings mean many indoor swimming holes can now challenge even the most glamorous of outdoor pools. So go ahead and take a dip at these luxurious indoor pools. The Water Club at Borgata, Atlantic City This nongaming hotel, which is part of the large Borgata complex in Atlantic City, has three indoor pools (and two more outdoors) so there's really no reason for things to get crowded at any of them. A two-lane lap pool is in the two-floor Immersion spa on the 32nd floor and is set against full-length windows that look out to the Atlantic Ocean, the perfect setup for a water workout. An extremely attractive top-floor pool surrounded by lounge chairs, cabanas and lush foliage expresses a more exotic tropical scene than the property's Jersey Shore location. Rooms from $249/ night. www.theborgata.com Altira Macau On the 16th floor of the tallest building on the island of Taipa is the glamorous indoor infinity pool of the impressively massive gaming complex of Altira Macau. It's easy to see why Forbes once named it one of the best hotel pools in the world: One side faces all of the city with crystal-clear floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms from $235/ night. www.altiramacau.com Waldorf Astoria Chicago The spa at this hotel is done mostly in a stark white, which only further emphasizes the gorgeous rose-design tile-work at the bottom of the pool, giving bathers the feel of swimming over a bed of roses. The 102,600 individually patterned tiles come from Bisazza, an Italian company renowned for its mosaic tile production. Rooms from $435/night, double occupancy. www.waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com The Charles Hotel, Munich One of the largest pools in Munich, at The Charles Hotel, is also one of the most beautiful. The entire spa is outfitted with marble mosaic tiles, mostly in subdued color1s punctuated with red flourishes. At the pool itself, a very pretty mosaic of red coral shows respect to the 19th century Bavarian royalty, the Wittelsbach family, known for its collection of red coral paraphernalia, from dining cups to jewelry. Rooms from $375/ night, double occupancy. www.roccofortehotels.com In which of the hotel pools can you look out to the city from one of the side? A. The Water Club at Borgata, Atlantic City B. Altira Macau C. Waldorf Astoria Chicago D. The Charles Hotel, Munich Answer: B The city of Rome has passed a new law to prevent cruelty to animals. All goldfish bowls are no longer allowed and dog owners must walk their dogs, "The civilization of a city can be measured by this," said Monica Cirinna, the councilor( ) behind the new law. "It's good to do whatever we can for our animals who in exchange for a little love fill our existence with their attention," she told a Rome newspaper. The newspaper reported that round bowls don't give enough oxygen for fish and may make them go blind. "Rome has tried to protect fish more than anywhere else in the world. It stands out for recognizing that fish are interesting animals who deserve our respect and compassion every bit as much as dogs and eats and other animals," said Karin Robertson, a director of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Last year a law was passed in Italy that gives people who desert pets big fines and prison sentences. Since then local governments have added their own animal protection rules. The northern city of Turin passed a law in April to give pet owners fines of up to $ 598 if they do not walk their dogs three times a day. The new law in Rome also says that owners mustn't leave their dogs in hot cars or cut their dogs' tails to make them look lovelier. The law also gives legal recognition to the "cat ladies" who feed homeless cats. The cats live all over the city from ancient ruins to modem office car parks. People may break the law in Turin if they A. keep their dogs or cats in cars B. feed homeless animals in car parks C. raise their cats near ancient ruins D. shut their dogs home all day long Answer: D When I entered college in the early 1980s, I had my heart set on being a first-grade teacher. I did all of my observations in others' first-grade classroom. I interviewed for my first job in a first-grade classroom. At last the district offered me a job---as a fifth-grade teacher in an inner-city building, considered at the time to be one of our district's most difficult tasks. It wasn't the first-grade classroom after I had hoped for, but it was my classroom after I had made such great efforts! I managed to deal with everything in first year successfully, while working to form relationships with my students was no easy thing, especially with Alexader. He had learning disabilities in both math and reading. The other children were sometimes unfriendly to him. He was a difficult child to get to open up, but I was determined to make efforts. You can imagine my delight when finally, in late spring, Alexander raised his hand during the math class discussion for the first time ever. Thrilled, I immediately called him. Well, you can imagine my surprise when he suddenly told a story about his grandma, who had a hole in her head. You see, we were studying fraction that day, and I had just explained that a fraction is "a part of a whole". Alexander obviously didn't realize the difference between "whole" and "hole". "Homophones ''I told myself,"had better be tomorrow's English lesson." Acknowledging Alexander that day was exactly what he needed from me. We had suddenly developed a special relationship. Alexander felt such a connection to me after that, that he even went one step further. I arrived at the school the following morning and was surprised to find Alexander and his grandma waiting for me. Grandma began by saying,"Alexander said he told you that I had a hole in my head."I smiled nervously and said ,"Don't worry. You know kids! They have great imaginations"Grandma replied,"You didn't believe him, did you?""No, of course not,"I said .Well, just at that time, Grandma proudly showed the hole in her head. I will never forget that day, and the lesson that I learned from being Alexander's teacher. If a child ever again tells me about a family member with a hole in his or her head, I will believe him or her! What do you think the writer learned from being Alexander's teacher that day? A. she should teach "Homophones" that day. B. she should help Alexander learn fraction better C. she should appreciate Alexander's great imagination D. she should believe what the kids say even though it is unbelievable. Answer: D As a teen, you're going through big changes physically and mentally. Your interests are expanding. And your desire to take control of your own life is growing. Here is the challenge: Kids need to explore the world in new ways, and parents need to protect them from the dangers that are out in that world. These conflicts can easily set off fireworks in otherwise calm houses. Sometimes conflicts can't be avoided. But by paying attention to the building blocks of successful relationships, you can work towards making home a happy and healthy place for you and your parents. For instance, try to find a time to talk when your parents are not angry, tired, distracted, or hungry. A good time to talk is when you're all relaxed . Timing is everything. If the conversation begins to turn into an argument, you'd better calmly and coolly ask to stop the conversation for now. You can pick it up again when everyone's more relaxed. Listen to what your parents are saying, and repeat it back to them. This shows them that you're listening. It also gives them a chance to clear things up if you're not on the same page. Respect is the building block of good communication. People who respect each other and care about each others' feelings can disagree without things getting ugly. You are more likely to get along with your parents and have more independence if your parents believe in you. How do you build trust? Trust comes by actually doing what you say you're going to do. Some teens find that doing fun activities with their parents can improve their relationships. Sometimes we forget that parents are more than rule-makers---they're interesting people who like to watch movies, and go shopping ---just like their teenagers! What do you do if you are trying your best, but your relationship with your parents continues to be rocky ? You may consider seeking outside help. You can find supportive adults, such as a teacher or a coach, who can r. Remember you can only change your own behavior; your parents are the only ones who can change theirs. Why are there conflicts between children and parents? A. Parents are sometimes rule makers. B. Children don't respect their parents as before. C. Children don't want to stay together with their parents. D. Children are grown up. Answer: A
Many people rely on a cup of coffee or two to wake them up in the morning or refresh them during the working day, but now a chemist has come up with a speedy alternative to drinking coffee. U.S. biochemist Ben Yu has created 'Sprayable Energy', which claims to be the world's first caffeine - based topical energy spray. He said tired workers can spray a 'shot' of caffeine onto their skin without experiencing a strong noise, taking in unnecessary calories or being stuck with a nasty aftertaste like they might get from drinking energy drinks or coffee. The tasteless caffeine spray is absorbed through the skin and spread through the body over a number of hours to deliver a caffeine hit that lasts longer than drinking a cup of coffee. The only active ingredient in the spray is caffeine, which is very similar to nicotine in structure. Each spray 'Sprayable Energy' contains around a quarter of the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee, but apparently has the same effect as a full cup. The website said: "The reason for this is our product isn't entirely metabolized by the liver before entering your system and becoming available to your body." Sprayable Energy's website recommends that users apply the spray in places where they normally spritz perfume, such as wrists, the neck or behind the ears, but warns users not to exceed 20 times a day. It claims that after spraying the product on the skin, users will feel awake and focus without being over-excited, which is common with coffee and energy drinks. What can we infer from the text? Antarctica is in the most southern part of the world. It is like nowhere else on the earth. It is much larger than Europe, and nearly twice the size of Australia. Antarctica is the coldest and windiest place in the world, even colder and windier than the North Pole. In summer, the sun shines for twenty-four hours a day, but in winter it's completely dark for about three months. Very few plants grow there, but there is some wildlife, including whales, seals and penguins. When Captain James Cook traveled around Antarctica in the 1770s by ship, he found no one living there. Today, a few scientists work in Antarctica, but they only spend a short time there. Many scientists are studying the _ , which is getting thinner and thinner worldwide. The biggest "hole" is above Antarctica, and weather there is getting warmer. Scientists think that this cold and lonely place can teach us a lot about the earth and how to keep the earth safe. When did Captain James Cook travel around Antarctica? Taiwan police cannot decide whether to treat it as an extremely clever act of stealing or an even cleverer cheat .Either way, it could be a perfect crime , because the criminals are birds----homing pigeons. The crime begins with a telephone message to the owner of a stolen car: if you want the car back, pay some money. Then, the car owner is directed to a park, told where to find a bird cage and how to attach money to the neck of the pigeon inside. Carrying the money in a tiny bag, the pigeon flies off. There have been at least four such pigeon pick-ups in Changwa. What at first seemed like the work of a clever stay-at-home car thief, however, may in fact be the work of an even lazier and more inventive criminal mind---- one that avoids not only collecting money but going out to steal the car in the first place. Police officer Chen says that the criminal probably has pulled a double trick: he gets money for things he cannot possibly return. Instead of stealing cars, he lets someone else do it and then waits for the car owner to place an ad in the newspaper asking for help. The theory is supportd by the fact that, so far,none of the stolen cars have been returned. Also, the amount of money demanded----under 3,000 Taiwanese dollars-----seems too little for a car worth many times more. Demands for pigeon-delivered money stopped as soon as the press reported the story. And even if they start again, Chen holds little hope of catching the criminal. "We have more important things to do,"he said. The writer mentions the fact that "none of the stolen cars have been returned" to show _ . It was my first day of high school, and I was late. My next class, Spanish, scared me. I just could not speak that language. As the bell rang, I ran to the classroom. At the door, a hand reached out and shook mine firmly. I looked up. A man with large glasses smiled. He introduced himself as Profe, which means teacher in Spanish. Right away, his warm smile and welcoming words eased my fears. That year, I enjoyed his classes a great deal because I learned more than just Spanish. I admit I only speak a little Spanish. But I try to live out the life lessons I learned from Profe. Every day Profe stood outside his classroom before and after class to give his "hand hug". After school his room was always filled with students and he would talk to and chat with them--even those not in his class. He taught me that every person is worth your time. One time, I was rejected by my friends, Profe told me, "Linda, life gives you ashes. But learning its lessons will turn those ashes to jewels." Therefore, I learned to look at my troubles differently and not to fear any difficulty. In my senior year, I became president of one of the school's clubs, so I was very busy. Many times I didn't even have time to buy lunch. He served me by giving me his food as well as advice. He lived out what he taught us to do: serve others. The author William Arther Ward wrote: "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." Thank you , Profe, for inspiring me. What would be the best title for the passage? Back in the 1860s, a British scientist named Henry Walter Bates noticed something interesting in the animal world: a kind of butterfly, Common Mormon, can change the pattern on its wings so that it looks like another butterfly species, the Common Rose, which is poisonous for birds to eat. Bates argued that animals develop this ability to protect themselves from being eaten. This theory had been widely accepted by scientists. But one question remains: how do these animals manage to do that? After more than 150 years, scientists are finally able to answer that question--it is all down to a gene called "doublesex", according to a study published on March 6 in the journalNature. In fact, scientists have long known that genes are responsible for this useful ability. But until the new study, scientists hadn't been able to find out which genes in particular were responsible. Scientists at the University of Chicago compared the genetic structures of the Common Mormons that changed their wing patterns with those of ones that did not. And all the results pointed to a single gene, "doublesex". This was much to the scientists' surprise. They used to expect that something as complex as this would be controlled by many different genes. For example, one gene would control the color of the upper part of the wing, one would do so for the lower part. However, the "doublesex" gene doesn't quite do everything by itself. Instead, it acts like a switch--it "tells" other genes to change the wing patterns. Isn't that clever? Scientists believe that this special ability of the "doublesex" gene on Common Mormon was developed throughout the long history of evolution. "The harmless species gains an advantage by resembling something predators avoid," Sean Carroll, a scientist toldNature. "it was obvious evidence for natural selection. " What is the best title of this passage?
Nicknames for Los Angeles A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames. These can help establish an identity, spread pride among citizens and build unity. Nicknames can also be funny. Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in population, after New York City. Los Angeles has several nicknames. One is simply the city's initials, L.A. It is also called the City of Angels because Los Angeles means "the angels" in Spanish. Los Angeles often has warm, sunny weather. So another nickname is City of Flowers and Sunshine. New York is called The Big Apple. So Los Angeles is sometimes called The Big Orange because of the fruit that grows in that city's warm climate. The American motion picture and television industries are based in Los Angeles. So it is not surprising that it is called The Entertainment Capital of the World. Many films are made in the area of Los Angeles called Hollywood. Millions of people visit the area. Many movie stars live in Los Angeles. The city is sometimes called Tinseltown. This nickname comes from the shiny, bright and often unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie industry. Another nickname for Los Angeles is La-La Land, using the first letters of Los and Angeles. This means a place that is fun and not serious, and maybe even out of touch with reality. The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County. There are many smaller cities in the county. Beverly Hills, with its rich people, is one of them. So is Pasadena, with its Rose Parade each New Year's Day. So are the coastal cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, where people like to ride surfboards on the Pacific Ocean waves. A good place for watching unusual-looking people is Venice, an area on the west side of Los Angeles. A system of waterways designed after the Italian city of Venice has been built there. Many people love Los Angeles for its warm sunny weather, beautiful mountains and beaches, and movie stars. That includes Randy Newman, who sings about his hometown. Which of the following is conveyed in this article? Answer: All the nicknames increase the charm of Los Angeles. Albert Einstein died long ago. However, a group of researchers have created a robot which looks like the great scientist. The robotic Einstein is very special because the researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have taught their realistic robot to smile, frown and make other complex facial expressions. Scientists believe that babies learn to control their bodies through movements, including learning to speak. "We use the same idea to work out the problem of how a robot could learn to make realistic facial expressions," said Javier Movellan, director of UCSD's machine Feeling Lab. ks5u The San Diego researchers directed the Einstein robot's head to turn in all directions. The robot could see its expressions in a mirror and then use the software to provide data for machine-learning to match facial expressions to the movements of its small motors. Once the robot learned the relationship between facial expressions and the muscle movements, it learned to make facial expressions. Its head has about 30 facial feelings, and each is moved by a tiny motor connected to ht e skin by s sting. Although we've never met Albert Einstein, we have a feeling that the new robot isn't exactly a fair representation of now of the best minds of the 20th century. The figure does not have the grace of the great man, but it can recognize human expressions and react to them in the right way. In fact, if you smile at it, it will smile right back to you. "As far as we know, no other research group has used a robot to make realistic facial expressions," said computer scientist Tingfan Wu, a computer science PhD student who worked on a more exact facial expression robot. The researchers that developed this robot got the idea from _ Answer: the way babies learn to control their bodies Although the 2008 US presidential elections are still a long way off, candidates are already getting ready for the campaigns ahead. For the Democrats , the two leading candidates are a surprising pair. The first is Hillary Clinton, 60, the wife of former President Bill Clinton. The second is Barack Obama, 45, a Harvard educated senator . It is the first time that the leading presidential candidates for a political party are either a woman or black. The energetic pair has certainly gotten people's attention. But the question remains, is America ready for either one? It's not a simple question to answer. For the past 220 years, Americans have elected only white males to the nation's highest office. That can hardly be called a tradition of diversity. However, many people believe that 2008 will be the year that this changes. "The white men that have been running the country recently have done such a bad job, at home and abroad, that maybe now is the time for a change," said Dorian Cool of San Francisco, California. The polling numbers seem to back up his opinion: 86 percent of Americans say they would vote for a qualified woman. An impressive 93 percent say they would vote for a black man if he seemed right for the job. These numbers are much higher than they were just 20 years ago. They may suggest that Americans are ready to be led by a different type of person. Still, there is a lot to overcome. Although women represent 51 percent of the American population, there are only nine female governors out of 50. Out of 100 senators, only 16 are women. The numbers are significantly lower for blacks in office. Since the American Civil War, only two blacks have been elected governor and only three have been elected to the Senate. Surely both candidates face difficult odds, but never before has there been so much support for either a female or a black candidate. As Barack Obama himself said, "There is not a black America and a white America, a Latino America and an Asian America -- there's the United States of America." If others share his vision, maybe the United States will end up with a new type of leader. The author considers Hillary and Barack "a surprising pair" because they are _ . Answer: either a woman or black Jack Green is 75 years old. He is not in good condition. "I think I'm ill," he tells his wife, "I feel awful. I've got a headache and I don't feel like eating." "You've put on a lot of weight recently. You should see the doctor," his wife says, "ask him how to lose weight. It's not good for your health." "OK," says Jack. He goes to see a doctor. The doctor checks his heart and weighs him. Then he says, "You are too heavy. You need to do some excercise to lose about 30 kilograms. Run two miles a day for the next 100 days. Then call and tell me your weight." A week later, the doctor receives a call from Jack. "Doctor, I ran two miles every day and I feel much better. But I have a new problem." "What's that?" asks the doctor. "I'm 14 miles away from home, and I can't find my way back." Choose the right answer according to the passage. The passage is probably from a _ . Answer: story American Classroom Rules 1. If the teacher asks a question, you should give an answer. If you do not understand the question, you should put up your hand and ask the teacher to repeat the question. If you don't know the answer, it's all right to tell the teacher that you don't know. Then he or she knows what you need to learn. 2. There is no excuse for not doing your homework. If you can not go to school, you should call your teacher or your classmate and ask for the homework. It is your responsibility to find out what homework you have missed. It is not the teacher's job to remind you of missed homework. 3. You must not be absent on a test day. If you are badly ill, call and let the teacher know you will not be there for the test. If your teacher allows you to take a _ , you should take the test within one or two days after you return to class. Bad illness is the only reason for missing a test. 4. Be on time! It's not polite to be late. Also, it bothers other students. If you must come in late, be sure to do it quietly. Have your books out of your bag before you come into the classroom. Then go to your seat and sit quietly. In the US, it is not necessary to knock at the door before you come into the classroom. If you can not go to school, _ . Answer: you should find out what your homework is
It was a very hot afternoon,and we decided to cool off in the river near my home.As we climbed down a small rocky hill toward the water, my boyfriend John suddenly started to shout,then jumped into the water below. Peter and Mary quickly followed but I was too far away to jump. I was strapped. I heard a low hum , which was growing louder .From a distance,the group of bees looked almost like a cloud of smoke.As it got closer,I realized it was actually thousands of bees flying towards me. All I could do was cover my face with hands.Crazily I thought that if I sat very still( ),the bees would think I was just another rock. After a few seconds,I knew my plan hadn't worked.The bees were attacking me. I could hear my friends shouting at me to get down to the pool fast. But it wasn't easy.I was in great pain and the only way I could get away was to use my hands to climb down to the rocks.However, I was afraid to do that at first because my face would be unprotected.The noise the bees made was so loud and frightening ,but I had no choice. I rushed down the rocks and jumped into the pool,but I don't remember doing it.I was just so happy to be free from the pain. I was safe,and the water felt wonderful. But we still weren't out of danger. Every time we tried to climb out of the pool,the bees flew back over our heads.We spent the next three hours in the water, putting our heads under the water from time to time to avoid the bees until they finally lost interest. At first why didn't the writer want to climb down the rocks? A. She ws afraid she would fall B. She was too far away from the pool C. She thought the bees would follow her D. She didn't want her face to be unprotected Answer: B Group-buying in China Modeled after US hot website Groupon.com, group buying websites are now popular in China. These websites use the power of group buying to get competitive discounts for a daily deal on some best stuff to do, see, eat and buy in the cities across China. Discounts are available within just one click. Zhao lei, a software engineer in Beijing, loves the one-hour lunch break at noon, as it is the best time for him to check "today's special" at his favorite group buying websites . Sometimes he searches for great deals at directory sites devoted to the new shopping space. Zhao spends around 800 yuan ($117.65) on group buying every month, mostly to buy food coupons for eating at some nice restaurants and occasionally to find something fun to do. ''I love group buying. In addition to the competitive discounts it offers, it helps me get something fun, exciting and new, and such surprises give me a reason to try something new," he said. When he finds a really good bargain, he will send the link to friends or colleagues through MSN,QQ, or e-mail, or share the information at some social networking websites. In doing so, he often gets a certain cut off the price. At some sites, buyers are invited to leave notes about what they want to buy and the website will consider it if similar applications reach a certain number. That is how Zuo got her digital camera after waiting for two months. "It is cool. I want to buy a new digital camera for my trip to Switzerland this winter, but I never expected such cheap prices!"Zuo said. Zhao Lei succeeded in getting a certain cut off the price by _ . A. bargaining face to face B. discussing with the sellers C. providing the link to others D. inviting others to talk about the price Answer: C When athletes begin to exercise, their heart rates and respiration rates increase. At what level of organization does the human body coordinate these functions? A. at the tissue level B. at the organ level C. at the system level D. at the cellular level Answer: C Newly hatched turtles are easy prey for other animals. What is an important ability turtles have for better survival of their offspring? A. to fight off predators B. to produce a toxin that makes them taste bad C. to lay hundreds of eggs so a few will survive D. to dig a hole and hide from predators Answer: C "Colour" and "color","favourite" and "favorite"... Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a "u"? Is it because they are lazy? Of course not. In fact,the difference in spelling was created by Noah Webster (1758-1843). He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger. Linguists celebrated his 250th birthday on October 16. After the Revolutionary War (1775~ 1783),Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary,rather than rely on British versions . He dropped the British "u" in some words. And he changed "centre" into "center" for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded. Webster wasn't shy about expressing his opinions. In defining preposterous (unreasonable),he wrote: "A republican government in the hands of females is preposterous." Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings. He also added local words. His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom. "He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity,"said Joshua Kendall,who is working on a biography about Webster. "He at last bonded us through our language." According to the passage,when he worked on his dictionary, Noah Webster did all of the following EXCEPT _ . A. voicing his opinion B. changing "centre" into "center" C. adding local words D. dropping "u" in all the British words Answer: D
Bob Pearson is an old man. He has two big houses and a new car. He has no wife. But he is the father of four children. He has two sons and two daughters. One son is from England. His name is Bill. The other son is from America. His name is Mike. One of his daughters is from Japan. Her name is Mikou. The other one is from China. Her name is Lanlan. Bob Pearson is not the children's real father, but he loves them very much. The children love their "father" , too. The children _ Bob Pearson's real children. Answer: aren't Earthquakes strike suddenly at any time of the day or night, but there's no way to tell them. If an earthquake happens, it may cause many deaths and injuries and great damage. Decide how and where your family will get together if separated. Choose an out-of-state friend or that the family members can call after the quake to report where they are and how they are. Know the safe place in each room: under the strong tables, desks, or against inside walls. Keep enough food, water and other things, including a flashlight, a radio, medicines and clothing. During the earthquake, you should keep a clear head and never be too nervous to know what to do. Protect your head and neck with your arms. If possible, take a book, a pillow or any other things to protect yourself from falling glass and ruins. If you are indoors, you must immediately lie under any strong furniture. If outdoors, move to an open area away from trees, buildings, walls and power poles. If you are in a narrow valley, move to the centre of it and look out for falling stones. If you are in a car, move to the side of the road and stop the car. Do not stop near buildings, power lines or under bridges. Stay in your car until the shaking stops. Do not move a badly injured person unless he is in great danger after the earthquake. Do not use the telephone immediately unless there is a serious injury or fire. Turn on your radio for instructions and news report. Be prepared for aftershocks. If you want to leave your home, post a message inside your home telling family members where you can be found. After an earthquake, you should _ . Answer: leave a massage in your home before you leave. Paris is a very nice city. Mrs. Curie often goes to Paris and she has a good time there. Mrs. Curie is old and very , so she sometimes can't find her way. Now she sees a man near a bus stop. "I can ask him the way," she says. "Excuse me," she says in French. "But can you tell me the way to Notre Dame de Paris , please?" But the man doesn't know French. He is Australian! Then he puts his hand into his coat and takes out a small book. He opens it and finds a phrase . He reads, "I'm sorry. I don't speak French." Where is the man from? Answer: Australia. One answer to the question of land shortage was suggested by an organization some years ago. A city was to be built at sea, housing 30,000 people. The suggestion was to shape the city like a harbor .The outer wall of the harbor would stand on steel columns resting on the sea-bed. Naturally this could only be where the water was fairly shallow. The people would like to live in flats in the fifty-metre high outer wall. The flats would be all face inwards, and would be made of concrete and glass. The glass would be specially made and colored to control the heat and strong light from the sun. The planners called this man-made harbor would be calm. On it would be floating islands carrying more building: a hospital, two theaters, museum, an art exhibition hall and a church. On one of the islands would be a special factory to take the salt out of sea water and turn it into fresh water. People living in the city could move around on small boats driven by electricity, so there would be no air pollution from the burning of gas. There would be platforms outside the man wall for ships bringing supplies. People could also travel to the mainland by motorboat or water plane. How would fresh water be supplied to the city? Answer: By treating sea water. There is a saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Although eating properly is important, being kind to others is also good tor your health. Studies show that people who perform kind acts are more relaxed, happier, and healthier than other people. In one study at Arizona State University researchers, found that many volunteers experienced a sudden feeling of joy, followed by a long period of calm, after performing a kind act. This feeling, called "a help's high" may actually help reduce stress as the body releases naturally painkillers. Stress can cause' serious health problems, and heart depression, and .sleeping problems. However, the study found that volunteers had fewer *stress-related health problems when they did helpful things for other people. The study also found that people who did nice things for others felt better about themselves as well. They had higher self-esteem , and were' happier. Many believe this is because volunteers spend more of their time with other people. People who are more outgoing are often healthier. Another study at the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center confirmed the health benefits of volunteering. A ten-year study showed that people who volunteered live longer than those who didn't. Although you shouldn't need a reason to be helpful, it is nice to know that kindness may help you live longer. According to the reading _ . Answer: kindness can help you feel healthy
WUHAN - A 72-year-old woman, Wang Yulan, has started legal procedures against Carrefour after she was falsely accused of stealing in the supermarket. Wang's lawyer Wen Jun said they filed a lawsuit at the Donghu district court, making two demands. First, Wang wants Carrefour to make a public apology and the apology letter should be put up in the Carrefour store or in the media. "We also demand 50,000 yuan in compensation for my wife's psychological injuries," Wang's husband, Yan Fucun, said, "We don't mean to _ money from Carrefour, but asked for it as a recognition of respect. Besides the money spent on lawsuit costs, I will donate the rest to charity." Wang earlier said she went to the store's Guanggu branch to buy cereal. She picked up 20 packs of a particular brand and was given another four as gifts by a saleswoman. However, when she arrived at the checkout, the cashier insisted Wang pay for all 24 packs, which led to an argument. The saleswoman later denied she said the extra packs were free. A store supervisor led Wang to an office, accused her of theft and had her sign a form and pose for photos. Wang and her husband returned to the store the next day with the local media to demand an explanation. Carrefour China then apologized for the incident on its Sina micro blog, saying the managers and staff members involved have visited Wang's home and apologized. The company also sent three apology letters to Wang in the following three days. Eric Legros, president of Carrefour China, said,"We made a mistake and we apologized four times. Four times, you know. And Carrefour will not do anything more about it." Wen Jun said the supermarket's management came with risks. For instance, Wen said the company would offer employees money if they caught a thief in the store. "I hope this case will be a warning for the staff who want to get money by such an immoral method," Wen said. The purpose of this passage is to _ Answer: There was a time when, if a lady got onto a crowded bus or train, a gentleman would immediately stand up and offer her his seat. No more, though. Today, a gentleman will probably look out of the window, or, if he feels a bit guilty , hides behind his newspaper. Either way, the lady will have to stand until someone else gets off. You can't entirely blame men for this change in manners. The days are gone when women could be referred to as the weaker sex. A whole generation of women has grown up demanding equality with men; not just equality in jobs or education, but in social attitudes . Hold a door open for some women and you're likely to get an angry lecture on treating women as inferiors , unable to open doors for themselves. Take a girl out for a meal and she'll probably insist on paying her share of the bill; though on second thoughts perhaps that's not such a bad idea. It's no wonder, then, that men have given up some of the gestures of politeness and consideration which they used to show towards women. On the other hand, automatic male (men) politeness is perhaps slowly being replaced by true consideration for the needs of women, so that men can see women as equal human beings. Maybe that's worth standing in the bus or train. According to the passage, which of the following is not correct? Answer: A Chinese space capsule carrying three crew members has returned to Earth following a 13-day mission . Images of the capsule landing in Inner Mongolia at 10:05 local time were shown live on television. The astronauts, including China's first woman in space, carried out a successful manual docking with the Tiangong-1 laboratory module. This is a key step towards China's goal of building a space station by 2020. Premier Wen Jiabao praised it as a "complete success". "This is another outstanding contribution by the Chinese people to humanity's efforts to explore and use space," Mr Wen said in Beijing. "It feels so good to stand on Earth, and it feels even better to be home," astronaut Liu Wang was quoted by national broadcaster CCTV as saying. "Tiangong-1, our home in space, was comfortable and pleasant. We're very proud of our nation, " female astronaut Liu Yang said. The crew of the Shenzhou-9 craft successfully carried out the country's manual docking operation earlier in the week. The delicate procedure, which involved bringing together two orbiting objects travelling at thousands of miles an hour, was mastered by USSR and US space teams in the 1960s. The crew also carried out automatic docking of the two crafts in the process. The three astronauts returned to the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft on Thursday and performed a manual separation from the space laboratory. They touched down in Inner Mongolia's Siziwang county on Friday, with the capsule equipped with a parachute to slow its approach. Ms Liu, 33, is a major in China's air force from the central province of Henan. On China's Tencent QQ messaging service, she goes by the name "little Flying knight". She was selected into China's space programme only two years ago, but she did particularly well, the official news agency Xinhua says. The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft was launched on 16 June. The final purpose of launching Shenzhou-9 spacecraft is _ . Answer: Most people want to work, but in today's word ,it is more difficult to find work for everybody.The economics of the world need to grow by 4% each year just to keep the old number of jobs for people. Often this is not possible,and so more people are out of work. Some people have no jobs now because new machines can do the work of many people do in a short time.Also, machines do not ask for more money and longer holidays. In all the countries of the world, machines are taking work from people ,not only in factories but also on the farms. One machine can often do the work of forty people. About 75,000 people are moving to the cities a day to look for jobs ,but only 70% of them can find jobs . .How many people can't find jobs every day _ ? Answer: Robots are common in today's world. They manufacture cars, work in space, explore oceans, clean up oil spills and investigate dangerous environments. And now, scientists at the University of Manchester are using a robot as a laboratory partner. The researchers at the university created the robot in 2009 and named it Adam. Despite the name, Adam is not a humanoid robot. It is about the size of a car. Adam was built to do science and make discoveries. Ross King is the leader of the University of Manchester research team. He says the robot made a discovery about yeast , a kind of fungus used in science as a model for human cells. "Adam hypothesized certain functions of genes within yeast and experimentally tested these hypothesizes and confirmed them. So it both hypothesized and confirmed new scientific knowledge." Adam's success as a scientist led to the creation of another robot scientist named Eve. Researchers developed Eve to design and test drugs for tropical and neglected diseases. These diseases kill and infect millions of people each year. Drug development is slow and costly. Experts say it can take more than 10 years and about $1 billion to discover and develop new medicines. Drug manufacturers are unlikely to get their investment money back. So the University of Manchester developed a low-cost test that shows whether or not a chemical is likely to be made into an effective medicine. Mr. King says that other drug testing methods were not very effective. "How it works conventionally is you use robotics as well and you have a large collection of possible drugs. You test every single compound. And you start at the beginning of your library and continue until the end, and stop. So it's not a very intelligent process. The robotics doesn't learn anything as it goes along, even if it's tested a million compounds, it still doesn't have any expectation of what will happen next when it tests a new compound." Mr. King says that Eve is different because the robot learns as it tests different compounds. He says the robot is designed to ignore compounds that it thinks unlikely to be good. It will only test the compounds which have a good chance of working. Eve has discovered that a compound known to be effective against cancer might also be used to fight against malaria and other tropical diseases. Mr. King says he hopes to completely automate the drug testing process with robots like Eve to create and test new chemicals. But he says humans remain in control of the manufacturing process. Whywas a low-cost test developed _ ? Answer:
dead organisms are the source of what for decomposers? A place to sleep B art C friendship D sustenance Answer: D There is an English saying, "Laughter is the best medicine." Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found that laughter really can improve people's health. Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their heart, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, makes the heart beat quicker and makes people breathe deeper; it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial. Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programmes. The group that tolerated the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny programme. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemical in the brain which _ both stress and pain. As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter. According to the author, we should _ in our life. A laugh as much as possible B watch more funny films C smile all the time D spend time in the laughter clinics Answer: A We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. One evening I heard a loud crash in the street. Earlier that evening my wife had asked me to go to the store to get some soft drinks. It seemed like this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly practice her driving, so I sent her to the store in my truck. At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I enjoyed having it, but I said, "Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won't last forever. Never set your heart on anything that won't last." After hearing the loud noise, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted, "Dad! Dad! Holly crashed your truck." My heart sank and my mind was flooded with conflicting thoughts. Was anyone hurt? Who else was involved? As I ran to the door, I heard a voice in my heart say, "Here is a chance to show Holly what you really love. She'll never forget it." The accident had occurred in my own driveway. Holly had crashed my truck into our other vehicle, the family van. In her inexperience, she had confused the brakes and the gas pedal . Holly was unhurt physically but when reached her, she was crying and saying, "Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I know how much you love this truck." I held her in my arms as she cried. Later that week a friend dropped by and asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes moistened and she said, "That happened to me when I was a girl. I borrowed my dad's car and ran into a log that had fallen across the road. I ruined the car. When I got home, my dad knocked me to the ground and began to kick me." Over 40 years later, she still felt the pain of the night. _ I remember how sad Holly was on the night she crashed our truck, and how I comforted her. One day, when Holly thinks back on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times more than any piece of property. I repaired the van, but the dent in my truck is still there today. Every day it reminds me of what really matters in my life. What happened to the author's friend after she ruined her dad's car? A She suffered physical pain for a long time. B She lost the courage to drive. C Her father kicked her out of the house. D Her father was violent towards her. Answer: D "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 author takes Albert Einstein as an example to_. A support the idea that clearer thinking comes from messy environment B tell the fact that Einstein was well-known for his untidy desks C inform readers of one way to success----untidy desks D attract the readers and show the author's wide range of knowledge Answer: A On the first day of the New Year 2013, I made up my mind to go to Thailand to teach English as a volunteer. Fresh out of college with the world at my fingertips, all I cared about was travelling and seeing the world. Little did I know how awesome my life would be in the coming months! My journey began with the attendance of TESOL certification course in my home state of Florida last February. After 3 weekends of study and another 40 hours' post-study online, I received my TESOL certificate. I was put in touch with Philip, who is Program Director of the Teach in Thailand. In close consultation with Philip, I chose my employment school and after many months of excitement, I finally boarded my plane to Thailand in early April, and set off on an adventure! After a few weeks of single travel, I met up with Philip and the other new teachers in my program in Bangkok. It was great to meet other people who were on the same journey as me, see some cool sights and hang out in Thailand's cities! Directly after that, I attended the week-long seminar , which is included in the Teach in Thailand Program. At the end of the seminar, I was transported to my employment school---Anuban Buriram Primary School. I truly love my job--- I teach Grades 5 and 6 and I have the cleverest and most motivated kids in the world. It's a truly fantastic thing that you can see the difference you make in someone else's life, right in front of you! The city Buriram is small, surrounded with green rice fields. People here are more friendly than anyone I've ever met--I've never been anywhere where a smile is so easily received, where everyone you pass is so eager to say "Hello" and "Good morning". I've been taken out to countless dinners, and been lent a guitar, a digital camera, and even a motorbike, and I am constantly given little Thai treats and the most delicious fresh fruits many times a week. I only hope to pay it forward in the future. The author found his teaching in Thailand _ . A rewarding B boring C realistic D attractive Answer: A
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." Visitors to the Kunming International Expo will most probably feel _ . Answer: man quite agrees with nature If we are asked exactly what we were doing a year ago, we might have to say that we could not remember. But if we had kept a book and written in it an account of what we did each day, we should be able to give an answer to the question. It is the same in history. Many things have been forgotten because we do not have any written account of them. Sometimes men did keep a record of the important happenings in their country, but often it was destroyed by fire or in a war. Sometimes there was never any written record at all because the people of that time and place did not know how to write. For example, we know a great deal about the people who lived in china 4,000 years ago, because they could write and leave written records for whose who lived after them. But we know almost nothing about the people who lived even 200 years ago in central Africa, because they had not learned go write. Sometimes, of course, even if the people cannot write, they may know something of the past. They have heard about it from older people, and often songs and dances and stories have been made about the most important happenings, and those have been sung and acted and told for many generations, for most people are proud to tell what their fathers did in the past. This we may call 'remembered history'. Some of it has now been written history, because words are much more easily changed when used again and again in speech than when copied in writing. But where there are no written records, such spoken stories are often very helpful. Remembered history"refers to_. Answer: stories of important happenings passed down from mouth to mouth We live in central Phoenix, near the canal. Every day I used to see a homeless old man and his scruffy little dog hanging out down there. I would tell my husband we should give him food for the little dog. It wouldn't have been a problem; we have our own "mini farm" of animals! But he would say "OK!" and then blow the idea off because of our business. Being in Phoenix, Arizona, you can just imagine how hot it gets here, but his winter was really chilly! I had just come from KFC with take-out food for dinner. As I was turning by the canal, the man and his dog were sitting right there all bundled up. Even the doggy had a coat on! Not even thinking about it, I pulled into the parking lot along the canal and piled up a plate of chicken with all the fixings for the man and his little buddy. I gave it to him with a soda and a bottle of water for the little dog. He said, "Thank you, sweetie. You are an angel." And there were tears welling up in his eyes! I told him he was so welcome, and then went home. When my husband dug into the KFC gag, he asked, "Were you hungry, or what?" I told him what I did and he said, "Only you!" Then he told me I had done a good thing. A few weeks later, we were walking along the canal and found the man walking to me, with his little dog. He asked whether I would mind adopting the dog. With tears in eyes, he said it had gotten too hard for him to care for the dog. He added that he was planning on heading to Washington State but his dog wouldn't have been up to it, so he hoped to give it to me. "Only you! In this city, you are the only person I can believe in!" Now, every time I watch and pat the puppy lying near the fireplace, I will recall the old man's words and wish him good luck. Why did the old man hope to give the dog to the author? Answer: Because the author was the person he could trust. TEENSGIVING is an exciting event where hundreds of New York City teens gather together annually for a remarkable day of community service.This year, TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2013, participants will once again belter New York City and impact thousands of lives! When is TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2013? SUNDAY, APRIL 25,2013 Where is TEENSGIVING? All over New York City.Everyone will meet at the 92nd Street Y (92nd and Lexington) at 9:00 AM for the event kick-off.Then, all TEENSGIVING volunteers will disperse (BW) across the city to work with our partnering agencies where they will make a HUGE difference (and have fun!). Who participates in TEENSGIVING? Hundreds of teenagers from around the city.Teens come from the 92ndStreet Y, various city schools, youth groups, and organizations in the area.In addition, many adult volunteers (ages 21 and older) will donate their time to TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2013. What projects do participants do at the agencies? Sample projects include painting park benches, planting gardens, visiting and playing with underprivileged children, assembling craft kits for children in hospitals, assisting at animal shelters, working at soup kitchens, delivering meals and celebrating with families at homeless shelters. Do I get anything for participating in TEENSGIVING? Yes! Everybody benefits! Teen volunteers will receive 6 hours of community service credits, good towards honor society, high school graduation and college application requirements.Adult volunteers will be "thanked" with a tight breakfast, a gift certificate for their troubles, and the satisfaction of helping our city's youth contribute to their community.In addition, all teen and adult volunteers will receive a cool TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2013 T-shirt. This sounds awesome! How do I register for TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2013? Interested teens and/or adults should e-mail the TEENSGIVING Coordinator Josh Hyman at jhyman@92Y.org (subject: TEENSGIVING) to receive more information and to register for this fantastic event! Teens can also contact their school's Community Service Advisor TEENSGIVING is sponsored by the 92nd Street Y. The author writes this passage in order to _ . Answer: enable the teens to earn more community service credits "But what if I break my arm again?" my 5-year-old daughter asked. I knew how much she wanted to learn to ride. Yet ever since she'd fallen off her bike and broken her arm, she'd been afraid. "Oh honey," I said. "I don't think you'll break another arm." "But I could, couldn't I?" "Yes," I admitted, and found myself struggling for the right thing to say. "I don't think I want to ride," she said and got off her bike. We walked away and sat down beside a tree. "Don't you want to ride with your friends?" I asked. "And I thought you were hoping to start riding your bike to school next year," I added. "I was," she said in a low voice. "You know, honey," I said. "Most everything you do comes with dangers. You could break your arm at gymnastics. Do you want to stop going to the gym?" "No, of course not!" she replied. And with a determined spirit, she stood up and agreed to try again. I held on to the back of her bike until she found the courage to say, "Let's go!" I spent the rest of the afternoon at the park watching a very brave little girl overcome a fear, and congratulating myself for being an independent single parent. As we walked home, pushing the bike as we made our way along the sidewalk, she asked me about a conversation she'd overheard me having with my mother the night before. "Why were you and Grandma arguing last night?" "It's nothing." I told her. She shrugged . "Grandma said she just wanted you to find someone to love." "What Grandma wants is for some guy to break my heart again," I snapped. "But Mom ..." "You're too young to understand." I told her. She was quiet for the next few minutes. Then she looked up and in a small voice said, "So I guess love isn't like a broken arm." Unable to answer, we walked the rest of the way in silence. When I got home, I let go and agreed to meet a man called Steve. Steve was the man for me. We married less than a year later. It turned out my mother and my daughter were right. What does the story want to tell? Answer: Don't be upset about the past unpleasant experiences.
The stinker was that no one let the elf in. He had waited at the door for four whole hours, but was afraid to knock in case the noise would wake the humans. This elf was the tooth fairy's helper, but one day hoped to work in the North Pole. That would never happen if he couldn't even help the tooth fairy with teeth on his first day working for her. It was almost morning now. Soon the children would wake up and run out the front door with their books for school. Inside, the tooth fairy would be wondering what was keeping him. "It's too dangerous to stay at this door," the elf thought, "The children might see me." Just then he heard the alarm clocks go off inside. He dove into a nearby bush and hid, hoping that his green uniform would help him match the color of the bush's leaves. What won't happen if the elf doesn't help the Tooth Fairy on his first day of work? Answer: He'll work in the North Pole A new study says one part of the human brain may become smaller as the result of a condition known as jet lag. Jet lag results from flying long distances in an airplane. Jet lag interferes with a person's normal times for sleeping and waking. People with jet lag may feel extremely tired for several days. They also may have problems thinking clearly and remembering. Kwangwook Cho is a researcher at the University of Bristol in Britain. He reported the findings of his jet lag study in the publication Nature Neuroscience. The study involved twenty young women who worked for international airlines. The women had served passengers on airplanes for five years. These flight attendants flew across many countries and at least seven time zones. In the study, the flight attendants had different amounts of time to recover from jet lag. Half the women spent five days or fewer in their home areas between long flights. The other half spent more than fourteen days in their home areas. Mister Cho took some fluid from the women's mouths to measure levels of a hormone that increases during stress. He tested them to see if they could remember where black spots appeared on a computer screen. And he took pictures of their brains using magnetic resonance imaging. This is a way to measure the size of the brain's temporal lobes. It was found that the women who had less time between flights had smaller right temporal lobes. This area of the brain deals with recognizing and remembering what is seen. The same group performed worse and had slower reaction times on the visual memory test. And their saliva samples showed higher levels of stress hormones. Mister Cho says he believes the brain needs at least ten days to recover after a long trip. He says airline workers told him their ability to remember got worse after working on planes for about four years. Other studies have shown that increased feelings of stress can cause a loss of cells in the part of the brain that controls memory. Scientists say more tests are needed to study the effects of jet lag on the brain. They want to find out if too much jet lag could permanently affect memory. What is the subject discussed in the test? Answer: A research about the effects of jet lag on the brain. Many of Chinese students who have learnt English for more than ten years are still unable to speak English fluently when they meet a foreigner. They seem to have mastered the basic language structure, but a conversation in English will make them feel uneasy. They are afraid that other people might find out their mistakes. It is not uncommon that many students, who are bad speakers of English, can write English perfectly. This proves that they are not unable to organize their idea in English. The center of the problem is that they don't have enough practices and confidence. Why should you be afraid? Do you fear those foreigners to whom you are speaking? Don't be shy. They will not laugh at you just for a little mistake you make. The best to _ this trouble is to learn to speak by speaking more. I am sure that more practice will help you to succeed. What's the best topic for the passage? Answer: Practice speaking English Last year college students in America spent an estimated $700 on textbooks on average. The National Association of College Stores reported more than five billion dollars in sales of textbooks and course materials. The association spokesman Charles Schmidt says electronic textbooks now just make up 2%~3% of sales. But he says that is expected to reach 10%~15% by 2012. Online versions are now available for many of the most popular college textbooks. An etextbook can cost half the price of a new print textbook. But students usually lose access to them after the end of the term. And the books cannot be placed on more than one device ,so they are not easy to share. So what do students think of etextbooks?Administrators at Northwest Missouri State University wanted to find it out. Earlier this year they tested them with 500 students in 20 classes. The university is unusual. It provides laptop computers for all 7,000 of its fulltime students. It does not require students to buy their textbooks either. They rent them to save money. The school aims to save even more by moving to etextbooks. The students in the survey reported that downloading the books from the Internet was easy. They liked the idea of carrying lighter backpacks. And 56% said they were better able to find information. But most found that using etextbooks did not change their study habits. And 60% felt they read more when they were reading on paper. In all,almost half the students said they still liked physical textbooks better. But the survey found that cost could be a big influence.55% said they would choose etextbooks if using them meant their textbook rental fee would not increase. Roger Von Holzen heads the Center for Information Technology in Education at Northwest Missouri State University. He tells us that administrators are disappointed with the etextbooks now available because the majority are not interactive . He thinks growth will come when more digital books include video,activities,games and other ways to interact with the information. The technology is improving. But for now,most of the books are just words on a screen. It can be inferred from the text that in the future _ . Answer: the digital books available need improvement For a valuable consideration, Amato, the owner of Riveracre, signed and gave to Barton a duly executed instrument that provided as follows: "The grantor may or may not sell Riveracre during her lifetime, but at her death, or if she earlier decides to sell, the property will be offered to Barton at $500 per acre. Barton shall exercise this right, if at all, within 60 days of receipt of said offer to sell." Barton recorded the instrument. The instrument was not valid as a will. Is Barton's right under the instrument valid? Answer: Yes, because Barton's right to purchase will vest or fail within the period prescribed by the Rule Against Perpetuities.
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. How did the author find the restaurant? A. By coincidence. B. By frequent visits. C. By searching online. D. By others' recommendation. Answer: C If you have a chance to go to Taiwan, there's one place you should not miss-- the Taipei Palace Museum. The museum has around 650,000 pieces of ancient Chinese treasures. These treasures were originally in the Palace Museum in Beijing. But how did they get to Taiwan? In 1931, the Japanese invaded the northeast part of China. To protect the national treasures from the Japanese, the government of the Republic of China decided to move some important pieces to Nanjing. However, they did not stay long in Nanjing. In 1949, the people's Liberation Army won in the Liberation War. The Guomindang government went from Nanjing to Taiwan. Along with them they took the art pieces. The Taipei Palace Museum was set up in 1965 to hold the national treasures. Taiwan people are very proud of the Taipei Palace Museum. Some of the collections are world famous. One of the most visited art pieces in the museum is the "Jade Cabbage". It is made from a single piece of jade . If you take a close look, you can see two grasshoppers on the leaves, a large one and a small one, which were the symbol of many children in a family. If you are interested in the treasures, you could take a look at a TV programme called Taipei Palace Museum. It gives a picture of the treasures of the Taipei Palace Museum. There are also interviews with over a hundred experts about the stories behind some of the pieces. The treasures stayed in Nanjing for about _ years. A. 10 B. 16 C. 18 D. 34 Answer: C Important changes took place in the lives of women in the 19th century. When men went out from their farms to cities to seek jobs in industry, peasant women had to take over the sowing, growing, and harvesting of the fields as well as caring for cattle and raising their children. When women also moved to the cities in search of work, they found that it was increasingly separated by sex and that employment opportunities for women were limited to the lower-paid jobs. Later in the century, women in industry gathered mainly in cloth-making factories, though some worked in mining or took similarly difficult and tiring jobs. In the 1800s, service work also absorbed a great number of women who arrived in the cities from the country. Young women especially took jobs as servants in middle-class and upper-class homes; and as more and more men were drawn into industry, domestic service became increasingly a female job. In the second half of the century, however, chances of other service work also opened up to women, from sales jobs in shops to teaching and nursing. These jobs came to be done mainly by women. For thousands of years, when almost all work was done on the family farm or in the family firm, home and workplace had been the same. In these cases, women could do farm work or hand work, and perform home duties such as child care and preparation of meals at the same time. Along with the development of industry, the central workplace, however, such as the factory and the department store, separated home from work. Faced with the necessity for women to choose between home and workplace, Western society began to give particular attention to the role of women as homemakers with more energy than ever before. Domestic service became a female job m ainly because _ . A. women took care of children B. women took jobs as servants C. men were employed in industry D. men seldom worked in shops Answer: C There's no need to say it, but there are really more than a few benefits to educational tours. From the word itself, an educational tour is something done to gain knowledge while traveling and touring to some place. It creates opportunities for people to think out of the box and see things and places that aren't usually seen in their normal environment. Educational trips aren't always those that cover far distances. As already said, it is done to gain knowledge and you wouldn't need to go very far to have it. Sometimes, an educational trip could be in your hometown. Historic places and museums are always on top of the lists of the places to go in an educational tour. Educational tours like these would make you know your country better. Your country's history is rich and it is the reason why you came. But remember that the history of other states, counties and countries are as important as your own. When you go on a trip to another country, it is likely that you learn their culture first. Different cultures have different understanding and perspective of different acts, and it could be dangerous or offending if you cannot understand a culture. When you go on an educational tour, it is likely that you would have the opportunity to socialize with other people. Students are encouraged to talk to locals and natives and learn from them, because it is with understanding that students gain knowledge. When students talk with local people, they are gaining insights to their life and their culture. It is said that when in Rome, act and think as the Romans do, and this is a valuable skill that not all people could do. There are millions of people who want to travel, and an educational tour is the perfect time to do so. Traveling opens new doors and opportunities; it always makes you want to learn more. Cultures are many and widely different, and it is a very valuable talent to understand the people of different cultures. Traveling with groups of other students is safer than traveling alone, and bulk travels like those could also be helpful on the budget. Group of friends could stay at one place and get discounts on the place that you wouldn't get if you are traveling alone. Traveling is fun and more budget-friendly when with other people on an educational tour. Travel abroad for a month, try and see if you wouldn't miss your own country. Traveling would let you see your own country in a different way. The benefits of an educational tour are all important, but this one creates patriotism in a person. A school isn't a place where they teach you to find the answers; it is a place where one teaches you to find the questions and learn the answers for yourself. Educational tours are valuable this way. They teach you that you are not the only one seeking for questions and that there are other people who are willing to help you on your way too. What are educational tours according to the passage? A. Something done to gain knowledge while traveling. B. Something done to know more about one's own country while traveling. C. Something done to know more about a foreign country while traveling. D. Something done to seek for more friends while traveling. Answer: A People have different ways of greeting each other. They might shake hands , kiss or hug . But do you ever wonder how dogs say hello? If you are a dog lover, you already know the answer to this question. When you arrive home, your dog jumps up into your lap . It wags its tail, and sometimes gives you wet kisses. Like humans, dogs have five senses : smell, touch, sight, hearing and taste. Humans use sight as the main sense for recognizing one another. But dogs have poor eyesight. They use smell to recognize others. A dog's sense of smell is much better than a human's. It is through its sense of smell that tells the differences between different people. Dogs use smell to recognize other dogs, too. They tell the differences by the smell of pee and pooh . When two dogs meet, they smell each other's noses. Then they go side to side, and smell each other's butts . By smelling its friend's behind, a dog knows who it is with. That is also why dogs smell everything they can on the road. By smelling grass, trees and signposts , dogs know which other neighborhood dogs have been around. Which of the following isn't mentioned in the passage? A. How the dogs eat things. B. Dogs have five senses. C. A dog knows who it is with by smelling. D. Humans use sight to recognize each other. Answer: A
In times of economic crisis, Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our sky-high divorce rate. But this won't necessarily represent an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same. We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses. By 1932, when nearly one-quarter of the work force was unemployed, it had declined by around 25 percent from 1929. But this does not mean that people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes plummeting and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared that neither would be able to manage alone. Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households. Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes. After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities. A 1940 book, "The Unemployed Man and His Family," described a family in which the husband first reacted to losing his job "with tireless search for work." He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do. The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain (continue). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually defeated their attempts to keep their families together. The rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold. Millions of American families may now be in the initial (earliest) stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment. Today's economic depression could well generate a similar backlog of couples whose relationships have been irreparably ruined. So it is only when the economy is healthy again that we will begin to see just how many fractured families have been created. In the Great Depression many unhappy couples chose to stick together because _ . Answer: Shakespeare City Walk This 90-minute leisurely walking tour does not go to the Globe Theatre (because everyone already knows it) , but instead uncovers less known monuments and locations in the City of London with connections to Shakespeare's life, his friends, his loves and his work. The Shakespeare City Walk takes place on Fridays at 11 a.m. at Temple tube station. Address: Meet at Temple tube station, London Telephone: +44(0)790 5746733 Camera Walk Learn how to take better photos as you explore London with a professional photographer on a Camera Trails tour. Walk around Brick Lane and Spitalfields on the Urban East tour, or take photos of Big Ben and St Paul's Cathedral on the South Bank tour. Address: Trafalgar Square, London Telephone: +44(0)798 957 9336 The Celebrity Planet See celebrity homes, famous film locations, music landmarks and places linked to pop history on a Celebrity Planet tour. Find out about stars in Notting Hill, Mayfair, Primrose Hill or Chelsea, or try a Harry Potter, James Bond or Beatles tour. Address: 40 Porchester Square, London Telephone: +44(0)20 7193 8770 Email: info@thecelebrityplanet.com Sandemans New London Tours Sandemans New London Tours offer a completely free tour of Royal London, including the Changing of the Guard. There's also an Old City of London Tour, and a Grim Reapers of London Tour. Our expert guides work for tips, you contribute to the pollution problem of London's cars and buses. Email: info@neweuropetours.com What is TRUE of the Shakespeare City Walk? Answer: Air traffic controllers in the US have been advised to take 26-minute naps , after a series of accidents involving workers falling asleep. Now the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for "controlled naps" during nightshifts . NTSB member Mark Rosekind said that a 26-minute nap would improve performance by 34%. He believes that beyond the aviation industry, other professions, such as motoring and machinery, also carry obvious risks. But other experts doubt whether 26 minutes is the appropriate napping time. It's a bit too long and risks you falling into a deep sleep, says Jim Horne, director of the Sleep Research Council. He said, "A nap of about 15 minutes is best; once you get beyond 20 minutes, you risk a deep sleep and you can be much more tired when you wake up. Therefore, we suggest that a nap be combined with a cup of coffee so that you can enjoy an effective sleep before the caffeine takes effect in 20 minutes. However, this method only works on those who have had a poor night's sleep. If you haven't had a sleep the night before, this method won't be enough to make you fresh." Health writer, Linda Wasmer Andrews, also believes that 26 minutes is too long. She says a nap between 10 and 20 minutes is enough, and the timing of the nap is also important. Putting your head down too early means your body may not be ready to sleep yet, but a nap that is too late in a day might make it harder to fall asleep. Early afternoon is often the best time, between l pm to 3pm, when people experience a post-lunch decrease in energy. According to Linda Wasmer Andrews, _ . Answer: Address: 9020 Bridgeport Road Open: Mon. to Fri. 7:00a.m. --- 2:30p.m.and 5:00 p.m. --- 9:00p.m. Sat. 7:00a.m. --- 11:00a.m. and 5:00p.m.--- 9:30p.m. Sun. 11:00a.m. --- 2:00p.m. and 5:00p.m.---9:30p.m. NEW YORK MUSEUMTelephone: 364431 Address: Vanier Park, 1100 Chestnut St. New York America's largest museum specializing in American history and part of our native people. Open: Mon. to Fri. 9:00a.m.---5:00p.m. (Monday free) Sat. 9:00a.m.---1:00p.m. LANSDOWNE PARK SHOPPING CENTERTELEPHONE: 3562367 Address: 5300 NO.3 Road Open: Mon. Tues. and Sat. 9:30a.m. ---5:30p.m. Wed. Thurs. and Fri. 9:30a.m. ---9:30p.m. Sun. 11:00a.m. --- 5:00p.m. SKYLINE HOTELTelephone: 2785161 Address: 3031 NO.3 Road ( at Sea island Way) The Hangar Den: Wed. to Sun. Lunch from 10:30a.m. Coffee Shop: Mon. --- Fri. 6:00a.m. ; Sat. 6:00a.m. and Sun. 7:00a.m. Mon. --- Wed. to 10:00p.m.; Thurs. --- Sun. to 11:00p.m. Suppose you want to buy some gifts for your friends, you can go to _ . Answer: Every country tends to accept its own way of life as being the normal one and to praise or criticize others, as they are similar to or different from it. And unfortunately, our picture of the people and the way of life of other countries is often a distorted one. Here is a great argument in favor of foreign travel and learning foreign languages. It is only by traveling in a country and getting to know its inhabitants and their language that one can find out what a country and its people are really like. And how different the knowledge one gains this way frequently turns out to be from the second-hand information gathered from other sources! How often we find that the foreigners whom we thought to be such different people from ourselves are not very different at all! Differences between peoples do, of course, exist and, one hopes, will always continue to do so. The world will be a dull place indeed when all the different nationalities behave exactly alike, and some people might say that we are rapidly approaching this state of affairs. With the much greater rapidity and ease of travel, there might seem to be some truth in this at least as far as Europe is concerned. However this may be, at least the greater ease of travel today has revealed to more people than ever before that the Englishman or Frenchman or German is not some different kind of animal from themselves. In this passage, the author wants to say _ . Answer:
Once upon a time there was a cute brown puppy. He was a very happy puppy. His name was Rudy. Rudy had a best friend. His name was Thomas. Thomas had a nice dad named Rick. Thomas and Rudy had been friends for almost a year. Rudy and Thomas loved to play in the big back yard. Sometimes, Thomas would ask his friend Jacob to come to the back yard and play with them. Jacob would always bring his puppy too. Jacob's puppy was named Sally. Thomas and Jacob would run around the back yard and Rudy and Sally chased them and barked. They all had so much fun playing together. One day, Thomas told Rudy that tomorrow would be a very special day. It would be Rudy's birthday. Rudy was very excited. The next day came and Thomas threw a birthday party for Rudy. All of Rudy's friends were there and they had presents for him. Jacob brought Rudy a new ball and Sally brought him a bone. There was one more present for Rudy to open. When he opened the gift from Thomas, Rudy was so exited that he jumped and barked. It was a new red collar with a shiny name tag on it. It was the best gift Rudy had ever been given. What was the best gift Rudy had ever been given? a red collar with a name tag When I was about ten years old, I was walking down the street with my mother. She stopped to speak to Mr. Lee. I knew I could see Mr. Lee any time around the neighborhood, so I didn't pay any attention to him. After we passed Mr. Lee, my mother stopped me and said something that has stuck with me from that day until now. She said seriously, "You let that be the last time you've ever walked by somebody and not opened up your mouth to speak, because even a dog will wag its tail when it passes you on the street." Mother's words sound simple, but it's been a guidepost for me and the foundation of who I am. It's not just something I believe in; it's a way of life. I believe that every person deserves to feel someone acknowledge their presence, no matter how humble they may be. At work, I always said hello to the founder of the company and ask him how our business was doing. But I also spoke to the people who cleaned the buildings and asked how their children were doing. After a few years of greeting the founder, I had the courage to ask him for a meeting. We had a great talk. At a certain point I asked him how far he thought I could go in his company. He said, "If you want to, you can get all the way to this seat." I've become vice president, but it hasn't changed the way I approach people. I still follow my mother's advice. I speak to everyone I see, no matter where I am. I've learned that speaking to people creates a pathway into their world, and it allows them to come into mine, too. What does the author think of saying hello to people? It can build connections with others. "It hurts me more than you,''and "This is for your own good.''These are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin,clean my room,stay home and do homework. That was before we entered the permissive period in educafion in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school.The schools and the educators made it easy on us.They thought that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy. We stopped making our children do homework. We gave them calculators,turned on the television,left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation. Now teachers,faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years,are realizing we've made a terrible mistake.One such teacher is Sharon Klompus who says of her students-"so passive"-and-wonders what happened.Nothing was demanded of them,she believes. Television,says Klompus,contributes to children's passivity."We're not training kids to work any more," says Klompus."we're talking about a generation of kids who've never been hurt or hungry.They have learned somebody will always do it for them. Instead of saying 'go look it up',you tell them the answer.It takes greater energy to say no to a kid." Yes,it does.It takes energy and it takes work. It's time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work.It's time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it's for their own good.It's time to start telling them no again. What is the main idea of the passage? It's time to be stricter with our kids. A girl who graduated from a world-famous university wanted to do translation work for authority leaders. She was so happy when she entered the British embassy . She thought it was the greatest happiness in her life as many graduates wanted to get that job while she was one of the few people who got it! But when she started her new job, she realized that it was just a job of answering calls and recording staff members' starting and quitting times. It was unappreciated and was supposed to have no future. However, she didn't feel sad about it. She learnt how to love the job. And she loved it when she was working. The names and phone numbers of the staff members were written down on the notebook so that she could remember them. When the phone calls came in, she picked it up as soon as possible. When someone asked her about who was not in the office, she would answer them the right name and the time when they left. Nobody could do that except her. Her wonderful performance not only received the compliments from the embassy's staff, but also the employees from the local government. And a leader of a famous company in Britain was also impressed by it and invited her to work for him. After that she became a personal translator of an important leader from Britain and appreciated by the foreigners. We cannot choose our destiny , but we can choose the attitude with which we face our life. Maybe the attitude could change our destiny. If we cry to life, life will be gray. If we smile to life, life will smile to us, too. The author wants to tell us that_. we should take a positive attitude towards life In American schools there is something called Homecoming Day.Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year, except for graduation.Students plan it for many weeks in advance. Several days before Homecoming,students begin to decorate the school.There are signs to wish luck to the team and many other signs to welcome back the graduates from other years.Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after they graduate. The members of school clubs sell delicious foods and fruits,such as apples and sandwiches.Some clubs even help to welcome visitors. During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago.Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school. Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over,the band comes onto the field and plays school songs.Another important moment is when the Homecoming Queen appears.All the students vote a most popular student Homecoming Queen or King.It is a great honor to be chosen as the Homecoming Queen or King. Homecoming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football wins the game.Even if the team loses,the students still enjoy Homecoming.Some stay at the school to dance,and others go to a party.For everyone it is a day to remember for a long,long time. Where do people spend Homecoming Day? At the school.
I can't remember when I fell in love with music. Maybe it happened when I was feeling blue sometime long ago. I can't tell you exactly how music makes me feel better. But while listening to music, especially light music, it makes me feel calm and peaceful. Now I am listening to a song named Moon River. It is really a fantastic song. I didn't like this song at the beginning, but later I found its slow melody and beautiful lyrics deeply touching. "Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker. Wherever you're going I'm going your way. Two drifters are off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see." Yes. Although there is a long way to go for the drifters and maybe there are many troubles ahead, he seems afraid of nothing. I like music. Music reminds me that human beings have a lot in common even if they come from different countries or backgrounds, because we all have the same feeling or understanding of melodies and words. The writer thinks people who come from different countries have _ . Answer: the same feeling of melodies and words Telephone, television, radio, telegraph and the Internet all help people communicate with each other. As a result, ideas and news of events spread quickly all over the world. For example, within seconds, people can know the results of an election in another country. An international football match comes into the homes of everyone with a television set. News of a disaster such as an earthquake or a flood can bring help from distant countries within hours. Help is on the way. Because of modern technology like the satellites that travel around the world, information travels fast. How has this speed of communication changed the world? To many people, the world has become smaller. Of course this does not mean that the world is actually physically smaller. It means that the world seems smaller. Two hundred years ago, communication between the continents took a long time. All news was carried on ships that took weeks or even months to cross the ocean. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it took six weeks for news from Europe to reach America. This time difference influenced people's actions. For example, one battle, or fight, in the War of 1812 between England and the United States could have been avoided. A peace agreement had already been signed. Peace was made in England, but the news of peace took six weeks to reach America. During these six weeks, the large and serious Battle of New Orleans was fought. Many people lost their lives after a peace treaty had been signed. They would not have died if news had come in time. In the past, communication took much more time than it does now. There was a good reason why the world seemed so much larger than it does today. Two hundred years ago, news between the continents was carried _ . Answer: by sea When we asked Oprah to pick the 10 books she's read in the past decade that have mattered to her most, she was momentarily stumped. For someone who describes herself as --inspired, challenged, and sustained by books, it was almost impossible for Oprah to stay within our limit of 10. Still, she offered up the following, but she emphasized that it was only a sampler of delightful titles that have also managed to teach her -- and all of us -- a few things. 1. Discover the Power Within You By Eric Butterworth 256 pages; Harper One Advice from the internationally known spiritual teacher. 2. A New Earth By Eckhart Tolle 316 pages; Plume There's a reason Oprah picked this for her Book Club in 2008 -- and that she gave audience members Post-it pens along with their copies.So much wisdom, so little time! A real-life guide to living your best life. 3. The Poisonwood Bible By Barbara Kingsolver 576 pages; Harper Perennial This novel is about a family involved in the political trouble of postcolonial Africa. It established Kingsolver as one of our wisest observers of history, politics, and human nature. 4. Night By Elie Wiesel 120 pages; Hill and Wang A memoir of a childhood suffered in concentration camps during the Holocaust. It's horrific butuplifting. --I gain courage from his courage,\|\| Oprah says. 5. A Fine Balance By Rohinton Mistry 624 pages; Vintage A Dickensian novel about India during the Emergency. Like the aftermath of September 11, it teaches us about cultures we haven't understood. "It takes us out of our own little shell and exposes us to a whole other world out there." Oprah say. 6. East of Eden By John Steinbeck 608 pages; Penguin This classic is about good and evil as played out in a late-19th-century California ranch family. If you didn't read it in high school, read it now. If you did, reread it! 7. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle By David Wroblewski 576 pages; Harper Collins A kind of Hamlet on the prairie, this is the wrenching story of a mute boy and his dog. Oprah compares it to East of Eden and To Kill a Mickingbird. 8. The Pillars of the Earth By Ken Follett 973 pages; Penguin About the challenges of building cathedrals in 12th-century England. This novel couldn't be more different in setting, time, and plot from the author's breakthrough success, Eye of the Needle. Oprah declares it simply "great". 9. The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison 224 pages; Penguin How to choose among the great Morrison's novel? Start with this one about a girl who thinks she has to have blue eyes to be beautiful. Oprah considered it one of the best in a crowded Morrison field. 10. The Known World By Edward P. Jones 400 pages, Harper Collins When this book was published in 2003, it shocked everybody with its description of slave-owning blacks before the Civil War. A daring, unusual examination of race. In which book the story was set before the Civil War? Answer: In The Known World. Laura was married for 6 months. Her husband was using drugs. She didn't want her son or her unborn baby to live that way, but she was afraid to ask her husband to leave. She left him a note instead. After reading the note, Laura's husband waited for her to come home and then beat her and her son. He smashed(......)dishes, pictures and toys and left the house in a terrible mess . He said it was all her fault. After Laura cleaned up the mess she went to the hospital. She was badly hurt all over her body, but the baby was fine. Laura had little education and she never had a good paying job. She was ashamed to ask for help from the police, courts or women's shelters. Laura wanted her marriage and family to work. Sometimes her husband was very nice to her. She decided to try harder se her children could have a home and a father. Laura joined a church and told a priest about her problem. But her husband kept using drugs and hurting the family. Finally, she told her husband she loved him, but they should live apart for a while. He beat her again. The priest had called and could tell Laura was in trouble. He came over to talk to her, He asked the husband to go out for a while. Laura packed up her kids and left. Her husband went to jail. Laura got a lot of help from groups that help women who have been beaten. Now she is in college, has her own apartment and works on special projects at a women's shelter. "We got out , and it changed the life for me and my children. You can do it. You can break the cycle." Laura said. Laura's husband treated her _ . Answer: badly To communicate well with other people,you must learn to speak well,right? Yes,but speaking isn't everything.Some experts say that only thirty percent of communication comes from talking.Your gestures and other non-verbal actions matter,too.But in different cultures,the same action can have different meanings. When you have to meet someone from a different culture,be prepared.Do you know what kind of gestures and customs are appropriate ? _ In many Western cultures,men stand up before they are introduced to someone important.Standing up shows politeness and respect.After that,somepne usually offers to shake hands. But in the east,typical introductions often begin and end with bowing rather than shaking hands.Sometimes even a small nod of the head is enough.Some Westerners visiting Asia misunderstand shaking hands as a sign of unfriendliness.Such a mistake could be harmful to the start of a new frienship. According to the passage,which of the following is true? Answer: In different countries,the same gesture may mean different meaning.
Hit song Little Apple became so popular after it came out in late May. In China, you may hear it on a bus, or even in a small village. Little Apple is a song for the movie Old Boys: The Way of Dragon. The song's huge success has also made more people see the movie. The comedy took US $17 million in its opening four days. The song Little Apple is so popular. "After hearing it, it's like "I'm brainwashed " by the song. So I came to see the film." a man said. "It's a good story. But the reason I'm here at the cinema is the song Little Apple." Hui Qing, a college student, said. "Many people have come to see the movie, so we added more screenings for it. The film now accounts for 20 percent of the total screenings -- It's quite a good performance for a home-grown movie," a cinema clerk said. Old Boys: The Way of Dragon is based on an online short film called Old Boys. The 40-minute film about youth and dreams got nearly 70 million views on a video website, and was popular among people born in the 1980s or later. "What is popular online is a good indication of what will be popular with young people. And this movie is a good example," businessman Chen Su said. Some have criticized Little Apple for its low quality, but the song continues keeping popular. The video Old Boys online lasts _ . Answer: 40 minutes 2015, the time has come for more creative China tours to be made, Shanghai Disney opens, more high-speed rail options. Insisting on high-quality services, we are proud to present our ever best-selling China tour packages, tour themes and the next popular destinations. Check out the optional activities and information making our Smart Travelers' trips outstanding. China Highlights' most popular private tour. Our private guide, driver and car are available all times. You take the trip, we take the stress. Day 1-2 In Beijing Take a break on your arrival. Enjoy local people's morning exercise at the Temple of Heaven before visiting the Great Wall, and then have a lifetime experience of visiting the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall on Day 2. Day 3-4 In Xi'an Still in Beijing in the daytime of Day 3. Visit the Forbidden City and the Tian'anmen Square to feel royal life in ancient China. After that pay a visit to hutongs which give full flavor of authentic experience. Catch a flight at night to Xi'an. Private guide and driver escort you to visit the highlights of Xi'an on Day 4.[:] Day 5-7 In Guilin/Yangshuo Continue to see Xi'an and have more interacts with the local. Visiting a family in Xi'an and learning how to make different shapes of dumplings give you an unforgettable time. Take a plane at night and arrive at Guilin on Day 5. Get on board to enjoy essence of Guilin, the Li River cruise to Yangshuo. Cycle to villages and meet friendly local people and learn more about Chinese agriculture. Day 8-10 In Shanghai Private transfer from Yangshuo to Guilin airport. Shanghai guide and driver are waiting for you with smiling faces. Highlights of the city on Day 9 show you the future of China as the end of the trip. You have free time on the last day before taking an international flight. Just let us know your travel style! We will then adapt this tour and create a unique quote based on your individual needs. For more information, please click here: http://www.chinahighlights.com/tour/. How many night flights will the tourists take during this trip? Answer: Two. Miss Green came into the classroom with a piece of paper. There was a big black dot in the middle. Miss Green put up this piece of paper and asked, "What can you see in the middle of the white paper?" All the children watched the black dot. " A black dot," they answered quickly. "But can't you see this piece of white paper? The black dot is like unlucky things in our life. If we only see the dark dot, how can we be happy?" The classroom was very quiet at the moment. Miss Green took out another piece of paper from her bag. This was a piece of black paper with a white dot in the middle. "what can you see, kids?" she asked the children with a smile on her facc. "A white dot," the children answered loudly. Miss Green smiled, "My children, although we may be happy or worried in our life, it is just like the clouds in the sky. The clouds can lift quickly and the sun can come out soon. You can be a happy child with the sun in your eyes all the time." What does this article want to tell us? Answer: Life is always beautiful although sometimes it's terrible. Mr. Lewis was a dance teacher. He was a nice man and always had a lot of students. One year he moved to a new town, and was soon teaching many students in the dance school there, but he decided to move again to a big city. He would have more work there. When one of his students heard that he was going to leave, she said to him, "The new teacher won't be as good as you are." Mr. Lewis was happy when he heard this, but he said, "Oh no. I'm sure he'll be as good as I am ---- or even better." The student said, "No. Five teachers have come and gone while I've been here, and each new one was worse than the last." From the story we can conclude that the student wished _ Answer: to have a better teacher As a group of young African immigrants struggle to adapt to life in the United States, an after-school drama program at White Oak Middle School aims to make their lives easier by first making them a little harder. Project X is a program that uses drama, dance, poetry and other creative outlets to help students discuss the tough and sometimes painful problems they face as pre-teen immigrants with language barriers. A final unveiling of their creation will be performed for friends and family at the end of the year at Imagination Stage. Wanjiru Kamau, coordinator of White Oak's African Club said it's important to give troubles to group members to help them find their place at the school. "It comforts those who are uncomfortable, and it discomforts those who are comfortable," Kamau said of Project X. Kamau teamed up with Imagination Stage after she noticed that many African students seemed uncomfortable talking about problems, such as being laughed at by their fellow students about how they look and talk. When most of the kids join the club, they speak little or no English, Kamau said. Each week, the club typically draws five to ten students who are originally from Africa for discussion sessions and the Project X programme. "We are going to express ourselves through our words and our actions, and that's powerful," said teaching artist Meg Green as she introduced fill-in-the-blank poems the students wrote about their identities. One student, Frank Ketchouang, 13, wrote, "I am from the world; I am love," which drew oohs and aahs from the group. Ketchouang has been in the United States for less than a year, said Program Coordinator Chad Dike. When Ketchouang started attending Project X, he had been in the United States for two months and spoke no English. Now he's one of the group's most outgoing members and helps translate instructions from English to Creole for the group's newest member, who is from Haiti. Many people will give up when there's a language barrier, "but these students prove them wrong". Kamau said. "You do have something to give. You are important. When TV, media, etc. are bringing them down, this program is bringing them up." According to the author, what Franck Ketchouang wrote was _ . Answer: excellent
People call the Winter Olympics the White Olympics. At this time, they publish many stamps to mark the great games. The first stamps came out on January 25th, 1932 in the United States for the 3rd White Olympics. From then on , publishing stamps during the White Olympics became a rule. During the 4th Winter Olympics, people published a group of stamps in November 1936. They drew five rings of Olympics. It was the first time that the rings appeared on the stamps of the White Olympics. In the 1950s,the stamps of this kind became more colorful. When the White Olympics came, the host countries as well as non-host countries published stamps to mark those games. China also published four stamps in February 1980 when the Chinese sportsmen began to take part in the White Olympics. In Asia, Japan was the only country to hold the White Olympics. They sold 14,500 million stamps during the Olympics. People drew different kinds of sports on these small stamps, and they enjoyed the wonderful sports and some excellent players. The world made it a rule to publish stamps to mark the great world games _ . No one knows how man learned to make words. Perhaps he began by making sounds like those made by animals. Perhaps he grunted like a pig when he lifted something heavy. Perhaps he made sounds like those he heard all round him--water splashing, bees humming, a stone falling to the ground. Somehow he learned to make words. As the centuries went by, he made more and more new words. This is what we mean by language. People living in different countries made different kinds of words. Today there are about fifteen hundred different languages in the world. Each contains four or five hundred thousand words. But we do not need all these. Only a few thousand words are used in everyday life. The words you know are called your vocabulary . You should try to make your vocabulary larger. Read as many books as you can. There are plenty of books written in easy language. Your dictionary is your most useful book. What do we mean by language? The English expect each other to observe the rules of queuing, feel highly offended when these rules are broken, but lack the confidence or social skills to express their annoyance in a straightforward manner. In other countries, this is not a problem: in America, where a queue-jumper has committed a kind of rudeness rather than a sin, the response is a loud warning: the offender is simply told "Hey, you, get back in line!" or words to that effect. On the European continent, the reaction tends to be loud and argumentative; in some other parts of the world, queue-jumpers may simply be pushed back into line. Ironically , it is only in England, where queue-jumping is regarded as deeply immoral, that the queue-jumper is likely to get away with the offence. Only rarely do the English actually speak up and tell the jumper to go to the back of the queue. Queuing is almost a national pastime for the English, who automatically arrange themselves into orderly lines at bus stops, shop counters, ice-cream vans, entrances, exits, and lifts. In 1946, a Hungarian humorist described queuing as English "national passion". "On the continent," he said. "if people are waiting at a bus stop they walk around in a seemingly relaxed fashion. When the bus arrives they make a dash for it...An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms orderly queue of one." In an update over thirty years later in 1977 he confirmed that this was still the case. After nearly another thirty years nothing much seems to have changed. In many cases, queue-jumping is effectively prevented by non-verbal signals alone. When someone is considering jumping a queue, the queuers will start glancing at him sideways, through narrowed, suspicious eyes. Then they move a bit closer to the person in front of them, just in case the jumper might try to insert himself in the gap. Frowns, glares, and raised eyebrows -- accompanied by heavy sighs, pointed coughs -- are usually the worst that the person will suffer if he jumps a queue. Faced with all this, the jumper will think better of it and withdraw to the back of the queue. In America and other European countries, queue-jumpers_. In most countries in the world, governments require children to attend schools in which trained teachers are responsible for educating the children using an approved curriculum. However, a sharply increasing number of parents believe that it is much better for their children to be educated at home by the people who know them and their needs best. Today, it is estimated that about one million home schooled children in the United States and tens of thousands of other learners around the world are learning outside of school. Now that home schooling is growing worldwide, the real-world experiences of learners show that schools are not always necessary for learning. Therefore, an increasing number of parents are deciding that home schooling is the best option for their children. They are unhappy with the quality or depth of education offered in the schools, or have other reasons why they feel that conventional schools (some people would rather call "normal schools" or "traditional schools") are not suitable for their children. One reason is social factors. Parents worry that their children will suffer from bullying or will be forced into bad behavior by peer pressure. They believe that the good behavior they have taught the child will be lost in school. Another reason is concern over the quality of schooling available. Schools frequently have large classes and they are often under-funded and stuffed with teachers without sufficient knowledge of their subjects. In the third place, other parents may disagree with the aims of the school curriculum, preferring for academic, social or cultural reasons to keep their children separate. However, there are many arguments in favor of sending children to conventional schools. The first is that the children will be exposed to other children. And they will interact with each other and develop social skills. A second point is that the children will learn to function outside the family. They will not be dependent on their parents for their educational, emotional and social needs. A third point is that the children will find it easier to integrate when they finish school, as they eventually will, when they start work or college. All in all, while many parents work hard to teach their children at home, conventional schools are still the right choice for most children. Schools are not perfect, but they seem to be a proven way of preparing our children for the real world. After all, education is not only about learning facts and figures, but also about learning how to survive socially. According to this passage, the author's attitude towards conventional schooling is _ . I still clearly remember that day. I was on the side of the road for close to four hours with my big Jeep. I put signs in the windows that said, "NEED A JACK ". Right as I was about to give up, a truck stopped and a man got off. He sized up the situation and went back to take a jack. After about two hours, we finished the job with sweats. We were both dirty. His wife produced a large water jug for us to wash our hands in. I tried to put $20 in the man's hand, but he wouldn't take it, so instead I went up and gave it to his wife as quietly as I could. I thanked them up one side and down the other. I asked the little girl, their daughter, where they lived, thinking maybe I'd send them a gift. She said they lived in Mexico. They were in Oregon now so Mommy and Daddy could pick cherries for the next few weeks. After that, they were going to pick peaches, and then go back home. After I said my goodbyes and started walking back to the Jeep, the girl called out and asked if I'd had lunch. When I told her no, she ran up and handed me a tamale . I thanked them again and walked back to my car. When I opened the tamale, what did I find inside? My $20 bill! I ran to the van and the guy rolled down his window. He saw the $20 in my hand, started shaking his head smiling, and with what looked like great concentration said in English: "Today you, tomorrow me." Then he rolled up his window and drove away, with his daughter waving to me from the back. This family, working on a seasonal basis where time is money, took a couple of hours to help a stranger while others passed by quietly. Since then I've helped many people like the Mexican family. I didn't accept money. But every time I was able to help, I felt as if I was putting something in the bank. The Mexican man helped the author because he tended to think that _ .
Some people believe that schools will no longer be necessary in the near future.They said that because of the Internet and other new technology, there is no longer any need for school buildings, classes or teachers.Perhaps this will be true one day, but if the world has no schools, I can 't imagine how our society will be, In fact, we should learn how to use new technology to make schools better.We should invent a new knid of school that is linked to libraries, museums, science centers, labs and even companies.Technological companies should create learning programs for schools.Scientists or professors could give talks through the Internet.TV networks and local stations could develop programs about things students are actually studying in school.Labs could set up websites to show new technology so students could see it on the Internet. Is this a dream? No.There are already many cities where this is beginning to happen.Here the whole city is linked to the Internet, and learning can take place at home, at school, and in the office.Businesses provide programs for the schools and the society.The schools provide computer labs for people without their own computers at home.Because everyone can be on the Internet, older people use it as much as younger ones.And everyone can visit distant libraries and museums as easily as nearby ones.How will this new kind of school change the usual way of learning? It is too early to be sure, but it is very exciting to think about it.Technology will change the way we learn; schools will change as well; and we will all learn something from the Internet. What does "a new kind of school" mean? A. A newly built school. B. There a re many new students in the schoo l. C. There are many new teachers in the school. D. A school, which is linked to Internet. Answer: D. A school, which is linked to Internet. Many natural rock formations change color over time. In Utah, for example, iron oxidized and formed red, orange, and yellow rock. Which of the following is the cause of this change? A. chemical weathering B. mechanical weathering C. water erosion D. wind erosion Answer: A. chemical weathering You have probably been told by your high school instructor that writing is an important and practical skill. However, you may not be convinced that the ability to write will be important in your own future. If so, you will be surprised at the results of a recent survey by the National Institute of Education. More than four thousand working men and women who had graduated fifteen years earlier were asked to name the courses they would have taken in college if they had known better. The designer of the survey expected people to name courses in computer science, mathematics, or business. But the course most often mentioned was writing. If you already have a job, you are probably not surprised at their answers. Many jobs require the ability to write. Despite the increasing use of the telephone and the computer, much information must be communicated in writing.Some ten million people--managers, engineers, sales representatives, and many others-- write regularly as part of their jobs. Summaries, reports, reports, letters and speeches are required in today's work world. The ability to write, therefore, is an important skill. The successful individual is almost always the one who can communicate successfully in writing. Writing communicates your thoughts and feelings to others; it also tells you something about yourself. Maybe this is what Eldridge Cleaver had in mind in his autobiography, "I started to write... to save myself...I had to seek out the truth... I had to find out who I am and what I want to be ,what type of man I should be ,and what I could do to become the best of which I was capable." Why does the author say writing is very important? A. Because it is a required course at high school and college. B. Because it is a way to communicate your thoughts. C. Because it is an important skill for many jobs. D. Because it shows your good quality. Answer: C. Because it is an important skill for many jobs. Manners nowadays in metropolitan cities like London are practically non-existence, it's nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her. This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy , ) and that those who go out to work should take their turn in the rat race like anyone else. Women have never claimed to be physically as strong as men. Even if it is not agreed, however, that young men should stand up for younger women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened. Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves "First come, first severed", while a grey-haired woman, a mother with a young child stands? Yet this is all too often seen. Older people, tired and quick-tempered from a day's work, are not angels, either-far from it. Many a brisk argument or an insulting quarrel breaks out as the weary queues push and shove each other to get on buses and tubes. One cannot commend this, of course, but on does feel there is just a little more excuse. If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems imperative , not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. All over cities, it seems that people are too tired and too rushed to be polite. Shop assistant's won't bother to assist, taxi drivers growl at each other as they dash dangerously round corners, bus conductors pull the bell before their desperate passengers have had time to get on or off the bus, and so on and so on. It seems to us that it is up to the young and strong to do their small part to stop such deterioration . The main purpose of the author is to _ . A. call on people in big cities to pay more attention to politeness B. blame the schoolboys' rude behavior towards elderly women on the tube or bus C. criticize the fast pace of city life D. tell young men to give their seats to elderly people Answer: A. call on people in big cities to pay more attention to politeness "Any time! Any where! Decades ago there was no such thing" - "Communication". Then, September 7th 1987, the global system for mobile communication or GSM was born. And international agreements that laid out the standards, regulations and practices gave rise to a global mobile phone industry. To be honest, the world's first mobiles were not so attractive and the range of effectiveness wasn't very good. But they became a must-have among those wealthy people who could afford that. However, by advantage of GSM which has many different elements to it, we can all enjoy the ability to go around the world in 217 countries, land in that country and know that a phone would work. There are other cell phone systems using different technology in the world. The majority of the United States and parts of South America have been using something called CDMA which is very rare in Europe. In some Asian countries like China, GSM and CDMA both exist at the same time. But the GSM Association claims 85% of the global mobile phone market. They estimated there are now about 2.5 billion different users who make more than 7 trillion minutes of calls everyday, and that's not all. 20 years later, the mobile phone is so much more than just a phone. You can use it to send text messages, take pictures, show video, even surf the internet. "The phone itself is involved from just being a communication tool, to be a tool for round-the-clock connectivity, you can not live without it even in a minute." Mobile consultant Nick Lane also points out with so many customized styles and features, your mobile phone will become a symbol of you. Where will the global mobile phone industry be in another 20 years? Certainly, there will be more connections than better coverage. As for where else technology will take us, one can only imagine. According the passage, we can know that GSM is _ . A. a global-used mobile phone B. a global mobile phone industry C. a global mobile phone association D. a global mobile communication system Answer: D. a global mobile communication system
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The term is most commonly used to refer to those eight schools considered as a group. The term is also connected with academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism . The term became official, especially in sports terminology, after the formation of the NCAA Division I athletic conference in 1954, when much of the nation polarized around favorite college teams. "IV" was used because originally the league consisted only of four members. The use of the phrase is no longer limited to athletics, and now represents an educational philosophy inherent to ( ,)the nation's oldest schools. In addition, Ivy League schools are often viewed by the public as some of the most prestigious universities worldwide and are often ranked amongst the best universities in the United States and worldwide. The eight institutions are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. All of the Ivy League's institutions place near the top in theU.S. News & World Reportcollege and university rankings and rank within the top one percent of the world's academic institutions in terms of financial endowment . Seven of the eight schools were founded during America's colonial period; the exception is Cornell, which was founded in 1865. Ivy League institutions, therefore, account for seven of the nine Colonial Colleges chartered before the American Revolution. The Ivies are all in the Northeast geographic region of the United States. All eight schools receive millions of dollars in research grants and other subsidies from federal and state government. Undergraduate enrollments among the Ivy League schools range from about 4,000 to 14,000, making them larger than those of a typical private liberal arts college and smaller than a typical public state university. Ivy League university financial endowments range from Brown's $2.01 billion to Harvard's $26 billion, the largest financial endowment of any academic institution in the world. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? A The ABC of "The Ivy League" B Best Universities in the USA C The Financial Income of American Universities D How to Apply to an Ivy League University Answer: A a soil in a village seems to be nutrient deficient, what might have happened? A the soil is angry B the soil has been taken over by dogs C the gods are angry D there has been too much cultivation Answer: D Each year, the famous Oxford Dictionaries chooses its Word of the Year. The word is carefully chosen depending on how popular it is and how well it explains the year. However, this year they didn't actually choose a word at all. Instead, they chose a "face with tears of joy" emoji . This was the world's most used emoji in 2015, according to research done by the Oxford University Press. It made up 20 percent of all emojis used in the UK and 17 percent of those used in the US. Emojis started from Japan in the 1990s. Through the years, the simple, small pictures have changed the way people communicate online. According to New Yorker magazine, a survey in 2013 showed that 74 percent of people in the US and 82 percent in China had used emojis. About 6, 000,000,000 emoji pictures are flying around the world every day through messages. Although some worry that emojis will make people's language skills weak, fans say they are fun and help them express their feelings more easily. "Emojis are no longer just for sending messages to teenagers. Instead, they have become a kind of expression, which can cross language barriers ," Oxford Dictionaries said in a statement, explaining their uncommon choice. "Emoji culture has become so popular that emojis have their own way and stories." Some even think emojis can take the place of words. Fred Benenson, an American data engineer, translated American novel Moby Dick into Emoji Dick. The book has even been kept by the US Library of Congress . According to the passage, we know _ . A Emojis started from the UK in the last century B A large number of Emoji pictures are used around the world C Learning Emojis is the best way to improve people's language skills D Emojis has become the main ways to communicate online instead of words Answer: B A survey has shown that what you do on a plane can be determined by which nationality is listed on your passport. According to the results of an international passenger survey, Australians are the biggest drinkers on board with 36 percent choosing to down the hatch, compared to 35 percent of Americans and 33 percent of Brits. The Airline Passenger Experience Association(APEX) spoke to around 1,500 people, aged 18 and older, who have travelled by plane at least once during the last three months and were living in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, Australia and Brazil. The results found Chinese travelers are most likely to nod off once the seat-belt sign switches off. They are also the first to take out their credit card for some in-flight shopping and the biggest fans of gaming. Americans on the other hand like to use their time in the air more productively---- when not drinking---- choosing to work while flying at 35,000 feet. Meanwhile, Brits and Germans are the best at making chat with random strangers----spending 50 percent more time than any other nationality. Comparatively, Brazilians conduct their conversations online via email, messaging apps or social media. Despite plane food having a bad reputation, seven out of ten interviewees said they were happy to eat up on the selection of in-flight snacks and meals. In-flight magazines were also popular with four out of five passengers. The international flyers did however express their desire for better in-flight entertainment. "The industry has greatly improved the comfort, entertainment and onboard service, and passengers are accepting those improvements" said Russell Lemieux, APEX executive director. "At the same time, passengers are demanding more from their air travel experiences which will drive more improvements touching all aspects of the journey. " he added. What's the purpose of the passage? A To entertain readers with interesting stories. B To encourage people to behave well in public. C To criticize impolite behaviors on the plane. D To inform readers of the results of a survey. Answer: D The Chinese classic work of literature "A Dream of Red Mansions" has been adapted into a number of stage and screen versions over the years. Artists from the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre made the classic back in 2011. And now the triennial China Arts Festival is recognizing their work. Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest forms of opera still existing in China, with its origins dating back to the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It has distinguished itself by its rhythmic patterns and has had a key influence on all the more recent forms of opera in China, including the Sichuan and Beijing operas. In 2001, UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization)announced Kunqu Opera as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (a UNESCO program that ensures the best of every country's traditions is preserved and developed as well as made known to the outside world). Kunqu Opera, acknowledged as an outstanding opera, has suffered somewhat of a decline since the eighteenth century because it requires a high level of technical knowledge from the audience. Today, it is facing competition from mass culture and a lack of interest among the young. Of the 400 arias regularly sung in opera performances in the mid-20th century, only a few dozen are still performed. More information, please click here. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage? A Kunqu Opera has a history of over 600 years. B Kunqu Opera is the oldest form of opera. C Kunqu Opera dates back to the beginning Yuan Dynasty. D Kunqu Opera was the most popular opera in history. Answer: A
Christmas came in extravagant fashion to the Muslim desert emirate of Abu Dhabi as a shining hotel uncovered a bejeweled Christmas tree valued at more than 11 million dollars on Wednesday. It is "the most expensive Christmas tree ever" with "a value of over 11 million dollars", said Hans Olbertz, general of Emirates Palace Hotel, at its inauguratuion . The 13-metre (40-foot) evergreen, located in the gold hall of the hotel, is decorated with silver and gold bows, ball-shaped decorations and small white lights. But the necklaces, earrings and other jewellery hung around the tree's branches are what give it a record value. "It holds a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, sapphires and other precious stones," said Khalifa Khouri, owner of Style Gallery, which provided the jewellery. "The tree itself is about 10,000 dollars," Olbertz said. "The jewellery has a value of over 11 million dollars--I think $1,141,150." "This will probably be an entry into the Guinness book of world records," Olbertz said, adding that Emirates Palace planned to contact the organization about the tree which is to stay until the end of the year. Asked whether the tree might be against religious sensibilities in the United Arab Emirates, where the vast majority of the local population are Muslim, Olbertz said he did not think it would. "It is a liberal country," he said. The hotel has had a Christmas tree up in previous years, but this year "we have to do something different", and the hotel's marketing team _ the plan, said Olbertz. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? Answer: The most expensive Christmas tree ever A practical English Grammar is intended for intermediate and post-intermediate students. We hope that more advanced learners and teachers will also find it useful. The book is a comprehensive survey of structures and forms, written in clear modern English and illustrated with numerous examples. Areas of particular difficulty have been given special attention. Differences between conversational usage and strict grammatical forms are shown but the emphasis is on controversial forms. In the fourth edition the main changes are as follows. 1. Explanation and examples have been brought up to date. 2. There is now more information on countable and uncountable nouns, attributive and predicative adjectives, adverbs of place, sentence adverbs, cleft sentences, prepositions, conjunctives, modal verbs, perfect tenses, infinitive constructions, the passive, purpose clauses and nouns. 3. Some material has been rearranged to make comparisons easier. For example, parts of chapters on can, may, must etc. are now grouped by functions; verbs of liking and preference have a chapter to themselves; suggestions and invitations have joined the chapter on commands, requests and advice. 4. The contents list now summaries every edition heading, and there is a new index containing many more entries references. In this edition the sign "~" is frequently used to show a change of speaker in examples of dialogue. Note also that although the sign "=""" sometimes connects two words or expressions with the same meaning, it is often used more freely, e.g. to indicate a transformation from active to passive or direct to indirect speech. We wish to thank all at Oxford University Press who have assisted in the preparation of the fourth edition. We would also like to thank Professor Egawa of Nihon University, Japan, Professor Rene Dirven of Duisburg University, West Germany and other colleagues for their friendly and helpful suggestions. London, November 1985 A.J.T., A.VM The grammar book mentioned in this passage is not suitable for _ . Answer: a primary school student My cat's name is Lucy. She is a very pretty cat. Her hair is _ . She has four children. She is very happy with her young babies. The four children are not all like Lucy very much. The biggest child is quite black. It is black with white feet and white ears. Two children are like their mother. They are black. My daughter says, "Aren't they pretty ? Can' t I have the black and white one? Isn't he a tomcat ?" I say, "I don't know, but I know the yellow and black ones are female ." "Are they? How do you know?" "For they are yellow and black. Tomcats never have that colour. I' ll tell you something about that. Listen---" Lucy is a _ . Answer: cat John von Neumann was the oldest of 3 children of an banker, and his speed of learning new ideas and solving problems stood out early. At 17, his father tired to persuade him not to become a mathematician because he may lead a poor life being a mathematician, and so von Neumann agreed to study chemistry as well. In 1926, at 23, he received a degree in chemical engineering and a Ph.D. in mathematics. From then on, mathematics provided well enough for him, and he never had to turn to chemistry. In 1930, von Neumann visited Princeton University for a year and then became a professor there. His first book was published in 1932. In 1933, the Institute for Advanced Study was formed, and he became one of the 6 full-time people in the School of Mathematics(Einstein was one of the others) World War II hugely changed von Neumann's areas of interest. Until 1940 he had been a great pure mathematician. During and after the war, he became one of the best mathematicians who put mathematics theories into practice. During the last part of the war he became interested in computing machines and made several fundamental contributions After the war, von Neumann continued his work with computers, and was generally very active in government service. He received many awards, was president of the American Mathematical Society and was a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. He died in 1957 of cancer. Von Neumann made several great contributions and any one of them would have been enough to earn him a firm place in history. He will be remembered as one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. Von Neumann really was a legend in his own time, and there are a number of stories about him. His driving ability is a part of his legend. He reported one accident this Way: "I was driving down the road. The trees on the right were passing me in an orderly fashion at 60 miles per hour. Suddenly one of them stepped in my path." According to the text, von Neumann's father believed that _ . Answer: a mathematician couldn't earn a lot of money Interested in soccer? Join us now! King's School is organizing a soccer camp for children aged 12-15. Join us for 5 days of fun when you learn to play this exciting sport! When 13-17 January, 2014 (Monday to Friday) 3:00 p.m --5:00 p.m Where City Sports Hall 267 State Street Cost $ 10 each Our special service: Players from the National Soccer Team will be your coaches for the 5 days of camp! After the camp, you will be able to: * understand the rules of the game * carry the ball with your feet * pass the ball to other players using your feet * kick the ball towards the goal Please come in comfortable clothes and sports shoes. For more information, please call us at 01159515092, or e-mail us at kssoccercamp@hotmail.com.uk. Children at the camp can't learn to _ . Answer: make the game rules
Imagine an eco-conscious city where rooftops have been transformed into fertile, green gardens. It's a place where every home is equipped with a system that recycles valuable water resources. In this town, protecting the planet is a way of life. That's how Abby Sharp, 14, Wyatt Peery, 13, and Tom Krajnak, 14, saw their city of tomorrow. The vision won the eighth-graders from Bexley, Ohio, first prize at the 2009 National Engineers Week Future City Competition. The annual design competition challenges middle school students to use engineering to deal with issues that affect the earth. This year the competition focused on water conservation. Participants had to come up with ways to improve water use in the home. Kids from 38 middle schools across the country competed in the finals. The event took place from February 17-18 in Washington, D.C. More than 30,000 students entered the competition. Abby, Wyatt and Tom call their winning city Novo Mondum. The name means "new world" in Latin. Novo Mondum sits on the coast of Iceland. The group chose the spot for its wealth of clean energy resources, such as geothermal energy and hydropower. Both sources use the power of nature to generate electricity. Geothermal energy draws heat from deep inside the Earth. Hydropower gets energy from flowing water. "Our city is very globally aware," Abby told TFK. Students team up with a teacher and a volunteer engineer mentor to develop their cities. Each group creates a fictional city on SimCity 4 Deluxe, a computer game that allows players to build virtual towns. Then they construct tabletop models of the cities and write essays describing their project. The models must be made using recycled materials and cost no more than $100 to build. It can be inferred that water conversation is _ . A. one of the problems that influence the Earth. B. the main theme of 2009 Future City Competition. C. one of the issues for the participants to deal with abroad. D. an easy topic for all the students to design. Answer: B. the main theme of 2009 Future City Competition. For a while, my neighborhood was taken ever by an army of joggers. They were there all the time: early morning, noon, and evening. There were little old ladies in gray sweats, young couples in Adidas shoes, middle-aged men with red faces. "Come on!" My friend Alex encouraged me to join him as he jogged by my house every evening. "You'll feel great." Well, I had nothing against feeling great and if Alex could jog every day, anyone could. So I took up jogging seriously and gave it a good two months of my life, and not a day more. Based on my experience, jogging is the most overvalued form of exercise around, and judging from the number of the people who left our neighborhood jogging army, I'm not alone in my opinion. First of all, jogging is very hard on the body. Your legs and feet need a real pounding running down a road for two or three miles. I developed foot, leg, and back problems. Then I read about a nationally famous jogger who died of a heart attack while jogging, and I had something else to worry about. Jogging doesn't kill hundreds of people, but if you have any physical weaknesses, jogging will surely bring _ out, as they did with me. Secondly, I got no enjoyment out of jogging. Putting one foot in front of the other for forty-five minutes isn't my idea of fun. Jogging is also a lonely pastime. Some joggers say, "I love being out there with just my thoughts" Well, my thoughts began to bore me, and most of them were on how much my legs hurt. And how could I enjoy something that brought me pain? And that wasn't just the first week: it was practically every day for two months. I never got past the pain level, and pain isn't fun. What a cruel way to do it! So many other exercises, including walking, lead to almost the same results painlessly, so why jog? I don't jog any more, and I don't think I ever will. I'm walking two miles three times a week at a fast pace, and that feels good. I bicycle to work when the weather is good. I'm getting exercise, and I'm enjoying it at the same time. I could never say the same for jogging, and I've found a lot of better ways to stay in shape. What was the writer's attitude towards jogging in the beginning? A. He felt it was worth a try. B. He was very fond of it. C. He was strongly against it. D. He thought it must be painful. Answer: A. He felt it was worth a try. Every living thing on Earth is either a plant or an animal, right? Wrong! Many organisms in our world are neither. Some of them float through the air, and some lie hidden in the ground. They do not need sunlight to survive, and if the weather becomes too cold, they can become inactive until conditions improve. What are these? They are called fungi , and you see them almost every day. Many kinds of fungi seem _ , such as the green black things that appear on the food which are left too long in the refrigerator. But other kinds are not so bad. For example, the yeast that is used to make bread and mushrooms are both fungi. What makes fungi different from plants and animals? An animal can move around by itself. Fungi get around too, but they don't have feet, wings, or tails. They have to wait for wind or some other outside force to move them. Plants are different from fungi because they have chlorophyll . It helps them make food from the energy in sunlight. Fungi do not have chlorophyll. Some fungi are bad, while others are not. Some fungi cause diseases, such as athlete's foot, which makes feet uncomfortable. Other kinds of fungi can be used to make medicines, which have saved many lives. Fungi clean up more than wounds, though. They are the world's first recyclers. Without fungi, our world would be a mess. Since fungi cannot make their own food as plants do, they must get their food elsewhere. Many fungi get their food from dead plants. They break them down and turn them into soil. The fungi get a meal, and the world gets a housecleaning. According to the passage, _ . A. fungi can move everywhere by themselves B. fungi are unable to survive in cold conditions C. some fungi can make food from the energy in sunlight. D. some fungi are useful to humans and the environment Answer: D. some fungi are useful to humans and the environment Everyone has done experiments in high school laboratories,but have you ever thought about designing a satellite to explore space? On Nov.19,a team of students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in the US awed peers and even scientists by successfully launching a satellite. The first satellite designed and built by high school students was sent up into space along with a record setting.28 other small ones on a rocket were sent from a NASA center in Virginia,CNN reported.It took the students seven years to build. The students call their tiny satellite TJ3Sat,which is named after their school.It is just 10x10x12 centimeters and weighs only 0.89 kilograms,according to Orbital Sciences,a company which developed the rocket and supported the students' project.It can be controlled with a smartphone. Like most satellites,TJ3Sat can send and receive data.The small spacecraft is equipped with a voice synthesizer ,which can switch text to voice and transmit those sounds back to Earth over radio waves,said Orbital officials.In this case,anyone can give it a try via the project's website (school website) by submitting a text.The texts that get approved will be sent to the satellite,changed to voice and then broadcast back to Earth via radio waves. "I can say 'Go Colonials'on our ground station and when it is on the other side of the world,in India,someone can hear'Go Colonials'over the radio,"the team explains on the website. The satellite will stay in space for at least three months. School principal Evan Glazer told The Washington Post that the project started in 2006 as an activity in the spare time.Later it became a research project for a select group of seniors. At a time when American students are busy with SATs,the launch of the satellite shows what diligent teenagers can achieve when allowed to pursue their own curiosities,Glazer said. "It used to be that kids growing up wanted to be an astronaut," Andrew Petro,program executive for small spacecraft technology at NASA,said in a statement."I think we might be seeing kids saying what they want to do is build a spacecraft.The idea here is that they really can do that." Which of the following statements about TJ3Sat is TRUE according to the article? A. It took a group of students about a decade to build the satellite. B. Besides TJ3Sat,28 other small satellites were built by the students. C. TJ3Sat can receive text messages that the students send into space,which can be changed to voice messages and broadcast back to Earth. D. TJ3Sat is expected to stay in orbit for the next year,sending out messages together with information about its position in space. Answer: C. TJ3Sat can receive text messages that the students send into space,which can be changed to voice messages and broadcast back to Earth. One day when Jack was walking inthe park, he saw a woman he knew sitting on a bench with a dog beside her. The dog was looking up at the woman. Jack walked up to the woman and said, "Hello. Sue, how are you? May I sit and talk with you for a while?" "Of course, please sit down,"Sue said. Jack sat down next to Sue on the bench, and they talked quietly together. The dog continued to look up at Sue, as if waiting to be fed. "That's a nice dog"Jack said, pointing at the animal. "Yes, he's handsome. He's a bit of a mixture but that's not a bad thing. He's strong and healthy" "And hungry," Jack said. "He hasn't taken his eyes off you. He thinks you've got some food for him." "That's true,"Sue said, But I haven't." The two friends laughed and then Jack said, "Does your dog bite?" "No," Sue said. "He's never bitten anyone. He's always gentle and good-tempered ." Hearing this, Jack decided to _ the dog. He put out his hand and touched the animal's head. Immediately it jumped up and bit him. "Hey!" Jack shouted. "You said he didn't bite." "No, I didn't,"Sue replied. "You asked,if my dog bit, and I said no. Jack thought that the dog A. was ill B. belonged to Sue C. was terrible D. belonged in a zoo Answer: B. belonged to Sue
Who is smarter? A human being or artificial intelligence ? The question swept the world last week when a Google-developed program called AlphaGo defeated the world top player, South Korean Lee Se-del, 4-1. So, what comes next? Some people have been arguing that artificial intelligence, or AI in short, will be a bad thing for humans. In an interview with the BBC in 2014, UK scientist Stephen Hawking warned that "the development of full artificial intelligence could mean the end of the human race." So are we really about to live in the world shown in the Terminator movies? "Not quite," answered The Economist. After all, it's not hard to get a computer program to remember and produce facts. What is hard is getting computers to use their knowledge in everyday situations. "We think that, for the human being, things like sight and balance , are natural and ordinary in our life." Thomas Edison, founder of Motion Figures, a company that is bringing AI to boys, told the newspaper. "But for a robot, to walk up and down just like human beings requires various decisions to be made every second, and it's really difficult to do." As The Economist put it, "We have a long way to go before AI can truly begin to be similar to the human brain, even though the technology can be great." Meanwhile, John Markoff of The New York Times said that researchers should build artificial intelligence to make people more effective. "Our fate is in our own hands," he wrote. "Since technology depends on the values of its creators, we can make human choices that use technology to improve the world.".Com] Who believes much has to be done to improve AI? Answer: The Economist. He wrote that the "human mind is capable of excitement without the application of gross and violent stimulants ". And it appears that simply reading those words by William Wordsworth proves his point. Researchers at the University of Liverpool found the works of Shakespeare and Wordsworth and the like had a beneficial effect on the mind, lifting the readers' spirits by catching their attention and leading to moments of self-reflection. Using equipment, they examined the brain activity of volunteers as they read pieces of classical English literature both in their original form and in a more simplified, modern translation. And, according to the Sunday Telegraph, the experiment showed the more "challenging" works set off far more electrical activity in the brain than the ordinary versions. The research also found poetry, in particular, increased activity in the right hemisphere of the brain, an area concerned with "autobiographical memory", which helped the reader to reflect on and reevaluate their own experiences in light of what they had read. The academics said this meant the classics were more useful than self-help books. The brain responses of 30 volunteers was monitored in the first part of the research as they read Shakespeare in its original and "modern" form. In one example, volunteers read a line from King Lear, "A father and a gracious aged man: him have you madded ", before reading the simpler "A father and a gracious aged man: him you have enraged ". Shakespeare's use of the adjective "mad" as a verb caused a higher level of brain activity than the straightforward translation. "Reading classics is not just a matter of style. It is a matter of deep versions of experience that promotes the cognitive ability," said Prof Davis, who will present the findings at the North of England education conference in Sheffield this week. Which of the following sets off the most electrical activity in the brain? Answer: Reading Shakespeare's sonnets in Middle English. It was a week before Christmas, but things were far from cheery. Our task was to deliver as many boxes of food as possible to those in need in Camden, New Jersey. There were no Christmas carolers walking these streets that were lined with boarded-up houses and broken windows. Mothers kept their children close as they hurried down the streets. It was mid-afternoon, but even the bright sun couldn't warm this place. Red tickets in the windows marked which houses we were to visit. Our white truck stopped in front of one townhouse and our group knocked on the door. In our arms were boxes filled with ham, bread and other essentials to make the perfect Christmas dinner. Four small faces glanced through the curtains and one exhausted mom answered the door. She seemed embarrassed to be caught in her nightgown with undone hair. She was in her mid-20s, but her rough skin and tired eyes added years. "Sacred Heart food delivery service," I smiled. "Where can we put this for you?" She pointed and as we entered the house, I noticed the conditions they lived in. The children climbed around, wearing only diapers . There were no carpets, only cold concrete beneath our feet. There was no Christmas tree or decorations. My heart sank. It was so cold, and I found it hard to believe that this was reality for this family. We set the boxes down and the mother grabbed my hand. "You don't know how much of a blessing this is to me and my family," she said, crying. _ I opened my arms and gave her a hug. "Happy holidays!" I replied before I headed out the door. I realized how warm I felt inside. This was unlike anything I had ever experienced. We cannot help what family we are born into, but we can help each other. The passage mainly tells us that _ . Answer: people should help each other Rescuers have found the bodies of over 130 people killed in two ferry disasters in Bangladesh.The accidents happened during a storm that hit the country on April 21st.Hundreds more are missing or feared to be dead. The two ferries sank in different rivers near the capital city of Dhakfi as strong winds and rain hit the South Asian country.The government has since banned all ferries and other boats from traveling at night during the April-May stormy season. One of the ferries,MV Mitali,was carrying far more people than it was supposed to.About 400 passengers fitted into a space made for just 300,police said.The second ferry carried about 100 passengers. "The number of deaths is certain to rise."said an official in charge of the rescue work."No one really knows how many people were on board the ferry or how many of them survived." Ferries in Bangladesh don't always keep passenger lists,making it difficult to determine the exact number of people on board.Besides the ferry accidents,at least 40 people were killed and 400 injured by lightning strikes.falling houses and trees and the sinking of small boats.Storms are common this time of year in Bangladesh,as are boating accidents.Ferry disasters take away hundreds of lives every year in a nation of 130 million people.Officials blame these river accidents on a lack of safety measures, too many passengers in boats and not enough checks on weather conditions. Ferries are a common means of transport in Bangladesh.It is a country covered by about 230 rivers.Some 20,000 ferries use the nation's Waterways every year.And many of them are dangerously overcrowded.Since 1977, more than 3,000 people have died in some 260 boating accidents. The two ferry disasters occurred _ . Answer: at night. People say time is . But to what. I do know that sometimes time "seems" to be moving slower. Remember Christmas Eve when you were a child? It was the longest night of the year. It lasted forever! And now it seems like I just paid my bill yesterday... and it's due again! People tell me all too frequently... I need more time! Oh, really?... Mother Teresa, Michelangelo, and Helen Keller all had 24 hours a day. Look what they did with their time! Is it that we need to manage our time better... or our priorities ? You've heard the expression "first things first". The first step in understanding the power of time is to understand that it is limited. Why is it then that some people get a lot more done? We know the answer. They use their time smartly. One day an expert on time management was speaking to a group of students and announced a quiz. He pulls out a wide-mouthed jar. Next,he places about a dozen fist-sized rocks, one at a time, into the jar, until no more will fit. "Is it full?" he asks. "Yes," responds the class. "Oh really?" he asks. So he takes out a bucket of gravel , which he manages to work down into the spaces between the larger rocks. "Is it full now?" he asks. Wising up, one answered, "Probably not." Sure enough . He takes out a bucket of sand, which he pours into the empty spaces. "Is it full now?" he asks. "No" reply the students confidently. So he takes a glass of water and fills it in. Then he asks, "What is my point?'' One said, "No matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!" "No," the speaker replied, "It tells us if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all." What are the big rocks? The things you should put in to your jar first. The rich don't get 25 hours and the poor don't get 23... we all get the same. Let's use them wisely! Invest your time wisely! How is the passage mainly developed? Answer: By giving facts.
One day I heard that one of my dear friends had lost his mother. This made me sad, for my friend was very close to his mother. He had been by her side as she traveled through her long and hard journey with cancer. At this time, many memories about my loved ones that had passed away came flooding to me. Finally these memories passed, but it was really sad to think that my friend would have to go through the pain. Three times I tried to write an email to my friend and three times words failed me. I am a person who is not often lost for words and I decided to have a sleep. Upon waking up I could hardly wait for my computer to work, the words I needed were there. I was still left with a heavy heart although I had sent an email. They say that everything in this universe is balanced and indeed it is. Three days later, I received his reply letter. I was happy to hear that he'd been admitted to Cambridge University. It served as a gentle reminder for me that my friend would be okay and that life would go on. Everything in life is balanced; the lowest feelings change places with the highest feelings. Without the lows, we would never appreciate the highs. No matter how dark the clouds seem to be, the sunshine is always there and just waiting for the opportunity to shine through. What good news did the author's friend receive? Zhang Lin is a middle school student. He is a good boy. Uncle Wu lives next to him. Uncle Wu has no child and can't see anything. He works in the factory near Zhang Lin's school. He goes to work at 7:30 in the morning and comes home at 4:30 in the afternoon. Zhang Lin walks to school at 8:00 in the morning and comes home at the same time as Uncle Wu in the afternoon. On weekdays Zhang Lin gets up early to take Uncle Wu to the factory. After school he takes him home. On Sundays Zhang Lin helps Uncle Wu clean the house and do some cooking. Uncle Wu thanks Zhang Lin very much. He says, "Zhang Lin is a good boy. He is like my son." Which of the following is right ? BERLIN (AP)----A tiger escaped its enclosure at Cologne Zoo in western Germany on Saturday and killed a female keeper before being shot dead by the zoo's director, police said. The tiger slipped through a passage between the enclosure and a neighboring storage building, where it fatally attacked the 43-year-old keeper, said police spokesman Stefan Kirchner. "It appears the gate wasn't properly shut," Kirchner told The Associated Press. The zoo was evacuated and a SWAT team was called in, police said.But before it arrived, the zoo's director managed to kill the tiger by climbing onto the storage building and shooting it through a skylight using a rifle. Kirchner said it was unlikely that members of the public had witnessed the incident. "This is the darkest day of my life," the zoo's director, Theo Pagel, was quoted as saying by Cologne newspaper Express. The paper said on its website that the Siberian tiger was a 4-year-old male called Tltai that came to Cologne Zoo from an animal park in England.In November it fathered three cubs with a 7-year-old Siberian tiger called Hanya, according to the zoo's website. Police said the zoo reopened after Saturday's incident, which occurred around noon.However, a planned late-night opening of the zoo has been canceled. Cologne Zoo is one of the oldest in Germany.It was founded in 1860 and houses some 10,000 animals consisting of more than 700 different species. Which of the following can be the best title of the news text? City traffic is a great problem. More cars are produced every year and the streets are getting more and more crowded. So during "rush hours", when people are going to or from their work, traffic is brought to a standstill. It has been suggested that commuters--the people who travel to work every day from outside the city--should share their cars and give each other lifts. So each car would carry four or five people instead of only one. It is an excellent idea., however, so far nobody has been able to think of a way to make people do so. To discourage motorists from leaving their cars in the streets all day, parking meters are used. When you park at a meter, you must put a coin in the slot . This pays for a certain amount of time. The meter records this and it shows when the time that you have paid for is finished. If the car is still there then, you have to pay a fine. Traffic wardens look after the meters. They walk around the streets and check that every meter shows that money has been paid for the car parked there. If a meter shows 'TIME EXPIRED', the motorist who has left his car there is fined. Of course, the traffic warden can not wait for the owner of the car to return. He carries many printed forms, and on one of these he writes down all the details, such as the number of the car, where it is parked, how much the driver must pay and where he must send the money. He leaves this form on the car, where the driver will be able to see it easily; he usually pushes it under one of the windscreen wipers so that it will not be blown away. And in case it rains before the motorist returns, the form is put in a little plastic envelope to protect it. When the driver comes back, he gets an unpleasant surprise, but it is his own fault for leaving his car too long at parking meter. In order to reduce traffic commuters_, Blackacre is a three-acre tract of land with a small residence. Olga, the owner of Blackacre, rented it to Terrence at a monthly rental of $200. After Terrence had been in possession of Blackacre for several years, Terrence and Olga orally agreed that Terrence would purchase Blackacre from Olga for the sum of $24,000, payable at the rate of $200 a month for 10 years, and also would pay the real estate taxes and the expenses of insuring and maintaining Blackacre. Olga agreed to give Terrence a deed to Blackacre after five years had passed and $12,000 had been paid on account and to accept from Terrence a note secured by a mortgage for the balance. Terrence continued in possession of Blackacre and performed his obligations as orally agreed. Terrence, without consulting Olga, made improvements for which he paid $1,000. When Terrence had paid $12,000, he tendered a proper note and mortgage to Olga and demanded the delivery of the deed as agreed. Olga did not deny the oral agreement but told Terrence that she had changed her mind and refused to complete the transaction. Terrence then brought an action for specific performance. Olga pleaded the Statute of Frauds as her defense. If Olga wins, it will be because
The cell cycle describes the processes that take place as a cell A lion with bones protruding from underneath its fur has been Clouds flit and flow Singing had always been an important part of Gloria Estefan's life. "Since I was three years old, I sang. I sang everything," Gloria said. "Cubans," she added, "are a musical people". Gloria was born in Cuba in 1957. Her family left the country just before Fidel Castro came to power. In Miami, where the family settled, many people did not accept Cuban immigrants. In first grade, she spoke little English, but she worked hard to learn the language. Six months after she entered school, she won an award for reading in English! When Gloria was ten, her father returned from the Vietnam War. Soon, the family realized he wasn't well. They soon found out that he was badly ill. Her mother went back to teaching at school to support the family. Gloria cared for her father and her younger sister. She still made the honor roll, and she still had her music, but Gloria was lonely. However, when the band leader Emilio Estefan came to speak at her high school, Gloria sang for him. He asked her to join his band. It was the beginning of the Miami Sound Machine. Within a few months, the Miami Sound Machine was the top band in Miami. In 1978 Gloria and Emilio married. At first, the Miami Sound Machine was known only in Miami. Then the band signed with CBS Records. Estefan and his band became stars. Since then, the Miami Sound Machine has sold millions of records. Gloria has done more than just singing when Hurricane Andrew hit central Florida in 1992. She used only two weeks to organize an all-star concert that raised $2 million for the people who suffered in the hurricane. "We needed a party after that _ ," she said. Gloria said, "You have to stay true to the music you really love to do. There will always be people who will tell you, 'that won't work.' You've got to be firm in spite of difficulties. Stick to it--that's the main thing." According to the passage, probably Gloria did the following excep _ . With only a click of the mouse, rumours can be forwarded between microblogs very quickly. As an example, recently, sensitive netizens discovered that some photos displayed on microblogs describing Beijing's June rainstorm had actually been Sina.com is one of the major Internet portals in China with hundreds and thousands of users, and a majority of celebrities and famous citizens have their microblog accounts on this portal. As recently as six months ago, the website decided to establish a specialized team to prove rumours and provide accurate information for its users. Tan Chao is in charge of the team. " Before I took the job, I usually couldn't identify what information was real and what was fake. But during the process of identification, we discovered that a lot of information was false, including fake photos, fake news stories and rumours that had been spread through microblogs." It's not just website portals which are taking on fact-checking responsibilities, but also a number of civic-minded netizens, who recently set up a Rumour Identification Federation on Sina.com's microblog system to help netizens identify fake information online. Dian Zizheng is the team leader of the federation. He says they've publicized more than 150 pieces which contradict rumours, which attracted more than 10 thousand visitors within two months. "We live in an age of new media, so we can't use the old methods to prove rumours. We can't wait for the media to prove the facts with related administrative departments and then release a formal announcement. We can't allow rumours to run wild and then deal with it, we need to fight rumours while they're spreading. I think that this is the best way to deal with rumours nowadays." Some experts say this displays the advantages of the internet compared to other traditional media. The open platform allows information to be examined and clarified by netizens. But experts like Ding Wengguo,President of the Journalism and Communication College at the China University of Political Science and Law says this self-correction function of the Internet is still quite limited. "It's still quite different to tell which information is true in such an open environment by just reading a number of different opinions on the same issue. This is something which we need to pay attention to. If society is flooded with too much false information, and it's allowed to spread in such a fast manner, then people will be suspicious of all kinds of information including important information from authorities. It also worsens problems relating to social communications and mutual-understanding, which in turn harms society as a whole." Experts suggest that the government should react more quickly in the Internet age. Once a rumour begins to spread, administrative departments should make announcements as early as possible to drive away rumours before they lead to bad outcomes. Sina.com decided to found a specialized team to _ .
When an NBA player is young he thinks he can win the championship by himself. It is only later when he has aged and been through many battles that he learns an important lesson: there is no "I " in "team". There is no better example of the value of teamwork than the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were all superstars on three different teams. Yet, none of them had any titles to show for it. Then, last season, they decided to sacrifice money and individual statistics to play together. Garnett and Allen joined Pierce on the Celtics and changed the NBA in the process. It started in simple ways. Garnett and Allen are two of the most intense athletes in the world. They treat every second of every practice like it is the NBA championship. If you want to play alongside them then you will have to do the same. So, the young guys on the Celtics started giving their full effort too. Pierce had been the star of the Celtics for many years. He used to shoot the ball many times a game. But with the addition of Allen and Garnett he shot less and focused on defense. His selflessness showed the young players that doing what made the team better was the only thing that mattered. When the Celtics were winning and the game was almost over, Garnett, Pierce and Allen would come out of the game. But they wouldn't just sit on the bench. Instead, they stood and cheered and screamed for their teammates. They wanted to support their friends and teammates. Now, the guys who don't play know they can still affect the game by cheering so they scream and cheer when Garnett, Allen and Pierce are playing. The Celtics have developed a strong relationship. They are more than just teammates. They are brothers. The result: the Boston Celtics won the championship and are considered the favorites to win the Eastern Conference championship again this year. There is a saying that goes, "A successful team beats with one heart." If that is the case, the Celtics may have the biggest heart in the NBA. What does the passage mainly talk about? A. The stories of three famous basketball superstars. B. A famous basketball team named the Boston Celtics. C. The importance of teamwork among teammates. D. Matches between the Boston Celtics and other teams. Answer: C This is a song millions of Americans will hear this New Year's Eve. It is called Auld Lang Syne (<<>> ). It is the traditional music played during the New Year's celebration. Auld Lang Syne is an old Scottish poem. It tells about the need to remember old friends. The words "auld lang syne" mean "old long since". No one knows who wrote the poem first. However, a version by Scottish poet Robert Bums was published in 1796. The words and music we know today first appeared in a songbook three years later. The song is played in the United States mainly on New Year's Eve. The version you are hearing today is by the Washington Saxophone Quartet. As we end our program with Auld Lang Syne. I would like to wish all of our radio friends a very Happy New Year! This is Buddy Thomas. ,. When did the words and music of Auld Lang Syne we know today first appear? A. In 1790. B. In 1793. C. In 1796 D. In 1799. Answer: D Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs. AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival(19 Oct.) cost PS169. 15 at Booking.com. A week later, the same room costPS 118.15 If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid--or you're looking for a big event to pass your time--check out sites such as Whatsonwhen.com, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category. STAYAWAY FROM THE STATIONIf traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday. Don't be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge's Central Euston hotel inLondonfor Saturday 22 September was PS95.95. A room just a tube journey away at itsCovent Gardenhotel was PS75.75. And at Farringdon, a double room cost just PS62.95. LOOK AFTER YOURSELFReally central hotels in cities such asLondon,EdinburghandCardiffcan cost a fortune, especially at weekends and during big events. As an alternative consider checking into a self-catering flat with its own kitchen. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city centre buildings. A great example is the historic O'Neill Flat onEdinburgh's Royal Mile, available for PS420 for five days in late September, with room for four adults. GET ON A BIKELondon's 'Boris bikes' have attracted the most attention, but other cities also have similar programmes that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs. Among the smaller cities with their own programmes areNewcastle(casual members pay around PS1.50 for two hours) andCardiff(free for up to 30 minutes, or PS5 per day). The main purpose of the passage is _ . A. to tell visitors how to book in advance B. to supply visitors with hotel information C. to offer visitors some money-saving tips D. to show visitors the importance of self-help Answer: C My friends, as you know, my television career began unexpectedly. I was 16 years old in Nashville, Tennessee and I was in the Miss Fire Prevention contest. They had the requirement of having to have red hair in the final part until the year I entered the final. And to my joy the swimsuit competition was also cancelled. That year they were doing the question and answer period. ''Why, young lady, what would you like to be when you grow up? '' And by the time they got to me all the good answers were gone. I had seen Barbara Walters on the Today Show that morning so I answered: '' I would like to be a journalist. I would like to tell other people's stories in a way that makes a difference in their lives and the world. '' And as these words were coming out of my mouth, I went whoa! This is pretty good! I would like to be a journalist. I want to make a difference. Well I was on television by the time I was 19 years old. And in 1986 I launched my own television show with the determination to succeed at first. I was nervous about the competition and then I had no competitor but I still pushed myself as hard as I before. Eventually we did make it to the top and we stayed there for 25years. The Oprah Winfrey Show was number one for 21 years and I have to tell you I became pretty comfortable with that level of success. But a few years ago I decided that it was time to break new ground. So I ended the show and launched OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network. But only one year later after launching OWN nearly every media said that my new attempt was a failure. Not just a failure but a big failure they called it. I can still remember the day I opened up USA Today and read the headline ''Oprah, not quite standing on her OWN. '' I mean really, USA Today? Now that's the nice newspaper! This time last year was really the worst period in my professional life. The reason why she decided to end the television show and break new ground was that _ . A. she was too old for the job B. her television show was not so successful C. she felt too tired and needed a rest D. she wanted to try something new Answer: D As South Africa starts to celebrate 20 years of freedom in South Africa, the moment is ruined with disappointment for many of the nation's poorest, who feel change has been slow to come. Today thousands of people are expected to gather near Cape Town to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release. The moment when Mr. Mandela, who was 71 and had spent 27 years in prison on Robben Island, walked free marked a change from apartheid to multi-racial democracy . He went on to become the country's first black president. His African National Congress (ANC) party has reduced poverty, built houses and delivered water, electricity and schools to blacks. Still, though, needs remain great. With some observers comparing the event to South Africa's equal of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the occasion has sparked debate about unhappy promises and riots among the nation's very poorest, who feel short-changed. Agnes Ntali shares her two-roomed Department of Housing in Soweto with three grandchildren. The 55-year-old widow, who first came to Soweto with her husband in the days after Nelson Mandela's release has been waiting 10 years to be re-housed. "We have stayed here for a long time now but nothing has changed. Now we are free but we are not happy... we have no jobs and we are hungry," she told The Times newspaper. "Since Mandela left, there have been no changes, " she said. Last week the "informal settlement" she shares with several hundred other very poor black South Africans, broke out into violence. Tired of unhappy promises to provide electricity and toilets, some people cut off the power to new council houses nearby. A riot started and the police responded with teargas and rubber bullets. Across the nation, black townships are exploding in violent protests about services they are still waiting for. It is a sign that the poor are prepared to wait no longer for the better life which was forecast 20 years ago, but has, for thousands, failed to appear. Why did some people cut off the power to new council houses? A. They forced the government to control violence in this way. B. They refused to be ruled by the white now. C. The government hasn't kept its promise. D. They don't like the change of apartheid. Answer: C
In 1995,Oseola McCarty gave a present of $150 000 to the University of Southern Mississippi. She wanted to help poor students. It was a very generous thing to do. But her friends and neighbors were surprised. McCarty was a good woman. She went to church. She was always friendly and helpful. But everyone in her town knew that McCarty was not rich. In fact,she was poor. How did a poor 86-year-old woman have so much money? Oseola McCarty was born in 1908 in Hattiesburg,Mississippi. She had to leave school when she was eight years old to help her family. She took a job washing clothes. She earned only a few dollars a day. Oseola washed the clothes by hand. Then she hung the clothes to dry. She did this for nearly 80 years. In the 1960s,she bought an automatic washer and dryer. But she gave them away. She did not think they got the clothes clean enough!At that time,many people started to buy their own washers and dryers. McCarty did not have much work, so she started to iron clothes instead. McCarty never married or had children. Her life was very simple. She went to work and to church. She read her Bible . She had a black-and-white television. But she did not watch it very much. It had only one channel. McCarty saved money all her life and eventually had about $250 000. When she was 86,a lawyer helped her make a will. She left money to the church,her relatives,and the university. McCarty just wanted to help others. She did not think she was a special person. But then people found out about her present to the university. She received many honors . She even flew in an airplane for the first time!Oseola McCarty died in 1999. She was a shy and ordinary woman who became famous. ,. Which of the following is true? A. McCarty had to work to help her family after school every day. B. McCarty learned to read the Bible by herself in the school. C. McCarty made one third of her money by washing and ironing clothes. D. McCarty did not have her own family because she had no husband or children. Answer: D. McCarty did not have her own family because she had no husband or children. With his strong interest in national affairs, 37-year-old Song Zhigang was glued to the TV news during the 2014 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. He not only learned all the latest information about the event, he was also inspired to write a song for Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan. Titled Xi Dada Loves Peng Mama, the song tells of the love between the couple, which goes "Xi Dada loves Peng Mama. Their love is like a myth. Peng Mama loves Xi Dada. A nation with love is the strongest". When the song was released in an online video on Nov 18, it became an instant viral _ , which has been viewed over 40 million times and stirred hot discussion. Many netizens said it's sweet to listen to the song while seeing such photos, and some believe that the couple sets a good example for China's young couples. Born in Zhengzhou, Henan province, Song works as an independent songwriter along with his team there, including singer-songwriters Yu Runze, Xu An and Wu Bai. Song says that he finished the lyrics within an hour and sent it to his team via cellphone. The team finished composing that night. They also made the music video by themselves, which was the first time that they had ever produced a music video and uploaded it online. The video of the song contains 33 photos and 2 cartoon illustrations of the couple, displaying small interactive moments, including tacit eye contact between the couple and hand touching when the couple played a swing. Nine children between 4 and 12 years old were invited to rap and sing along with the team. "When I watched the couple appearing on TV, they seemed just like any other ordinary couple and I felt close to them. With some small sweet moments, I could feel the love between the couple," says Song. "Xi Dada" and "Peng Mama" have both become Internet buzz words, referring to the Chinese president and his popular wife. Song notes that the couple has attracted worldwide attention and even what Peng wears becomes headlines. Yu Runze, 32, is one of the singers and also comes from Zhengzhou. She says the team started to release songs online around four years ago, mostly pop love ballads(,). Though they could make ends meet by making music, they remained unknown before this song. "We didn't expect that the song would gain so much popularity online. People share the same feeling we have about the couple, which is warm and sincere," says Yu, who is a graduate of the Qilu Conservatory of Music, Shandong province, and has released five albums since 2006. "We want to sing the song at 2015's CCTV Spring Festival Gala." What might be the author's purpose in writing the passage? A. To introduce something about the song and its writer. B. To show the influence of the couple on young people. C. To introduce the team that produced the song. D. To show the importance of true love. Answer: A. To introduce something about the song and its writer. Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the sea to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.One day he was walking along the shore.As he looked down at the beach,he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach.So he began to walk faster to catch up.As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore,picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.As he got closer, he called out,"Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused,looked up and replied,"Throwing starfishes in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked,why are you throwing starfishes in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out,And if I don't throw them in,they'll die." "But, young man,don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfishes all along it.You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely.Then he bent down,picked another starfish and threw it into the sea,and said,"It made a difference to that one."There is something very special in each and every one of us.We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference.And if we can know that gift,we will gain through the strength of our vision the power to shape the future. We must each find our starfish.And if we throw our starfish wisely and well,the world will be better. The writer told this story to show us_. A. how and where we can write a good article B. everyone can do something for the future C. wise men ore sometimes stupid D. young men are in fact wiser than old people Answer: B. everyone can do something for the future A few years ago, David had the idea of selling CDs over the Internet. He started his work from his home. Now he sells over 500,000 CDs a year and has made himself into a millionaire , at the age of 24. "I could see that this was the future of shopping," says David. "Why should you pay $15 for a CD and spend the time and the money going into the shop? You know sometimes you have to find a place for your car too. You can have the same CD for half of the price by clicking on your computer. And we can find any CD you want and bring it to your door in 24 hours!" David said this is the only beginning, "One day we'll do our shopping over the Internet: it's easier, quicker and cheaper. Shops and supermarkets will be the past." How has he become a millionaire? A. By making new supermarkets. B. By making advertisements. C. By selling ideas to others. D. By selling CDs on the Internet. Answer: D. By selling CDs on the Internet. Tu Youyou has become the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel Prize, for her work in helping to create an anti-malaria medicine. The 84-year-old's route to the honour has been anything but traditional. In China, she is being called the "three nos" winner: no medical degree, no doctorate, and she's never worked overseas. In 1967, malaria, a then deadly disease, spread by mosquitoes was _ Chinese soldiers fighting Americans in the jungles of northern Vietnam. A secret research unit "Mission 523 "was formed to find a cure for the illness. Two years later, Tu Youyou was instructed to become the new head of "Mission 523". "Mission523" read ancient books carefully for a long time to find historical methods of fighting malaria. When she started her search for an anti-malarial drug, more than 240,000 compounds around the world had already been tested, without any success. Finally, the team found a brief reference to one substance, sweet wormwood , which had been used to treat malaria in China around 400 AD. The team took out one active compound in wormwood, and then tested it. But nothing was effective until Tu Youyou returned to the original ancient text. After another careful reading, she changed the drug recipe one final time, heating the compound without allowing it to reach boiling point. After the drug showed promising results in mice and monkeys, Tu Youyou volunteered to be the first human recipient of the new drug. " In any case, Tu Youyou is consistently praised for her drive and passion. One former colleague. Lianda Li, says Ms Tu is "unsociable and quite straightforward", adding that "if she disagrees with something, she will say it." Another colleague, Fuming Liao, who has worked with Tu Youyou for more than 40 years, describes her as a "tough and stubborn woman". Stubborn enough to spend decades piecing together ancient texts, she applies them to modern scientific practices. The result has saved millions of lives. Which of the following statements is true? A. Tu first invented the idea of using sweet wormwood as a cure. B. Tu was inspired by medical textbooks published in northern vietnem. C. The compound needs to be heated to the boiling point to be effective. D. Over 240,000 compounds were proved ineffective before Tu's seareh. Answer: D. Over 240,000 compounds were proved ineffective before Tu's seareh.
What is the proper ratio of weeks to the Earth's revolution around the Sun? A. 365 :: 1 B. 52 :: 1 C. 33 :: 1 D. 1 :: 1 Answer: B What if our babies could somehow tell us what they're thinking about, what they want, and what makes them unhappy? Robyn Holt, researcher for Baby Talk New Zealand, says they can. Holt heard about baby sign language through an advertisement and decided to go along to a workshop . "Sign language is something that's always interested me, and I thought, it could be really cool to try this with a baby because we are always guessing all the time what they actually want." Holt started using baby sign language with her baby son Benjamin, now 12, and within two weeks he started to sign the sign for milk. She has since used it with her two younger sons Dominic, 8, and Matthew, 3. Baby sign language is nothing new: the practice (which is based on adult sign language) has been out in America for more than 30 years. But it is enjoying a rebirth in New Zealand. The idea behind baby sign language is that babies do have the ability to communicate their needs if they are given the right tools to do so. Although many mothers develop an intuition about whether their baby's crying is from hunger, tiredness, or pain, baby sign language creates a direct form of communication that unlocks _ . When babies are between 6-months and 12 to 13-months, parents can begin to teach them sign language: use the sign for milk while feeding, and also talk about milk, so that the child begins to make the link in their brain. Then they can begin to add other signs, i.e. food, sick or pain. "I know of one parent. Her child was signing the sign for hurt by his mouth, and she realised his first teeth were growing. It makes life so much easier," said Holt. Holt mentioned a parent and her child to show baby sign language is _ . A. helpful B. difficult C. interesting D. special Answer: A People and the sources of air pollution are found in the same places. This means that cities with large populations have the biggest problem of dirty air. Air pollution is caused by many different things. A major source of air pollution is the gas fumes from cars. Statistics show that 93 percent of all auto trips are within cities. Another major source of dirty air is the burning of coal and oil for energy. This energy is needed to make electricity. Of course, much more electricity is used in the city than in the country. On the average, we throw away more trash and garbage than the year before. The burning of garbage contributes to air pollution. Many major industries are also responsible for the dirty air in the around cities. The fumes from iron, steel, chemical, and petroleum production add particles to the air. The effects of air pollution range from mild headaches to death. The levels of pollution found in heavy for traffic may cause headaches for loss of clear vision. Wherever coal and oil are used for fuel, fumes may kill trees and plants and cause metal to corrode. In some of the larger cities, these fumes endanger the live of human beings by contributing to lung diseases and causing early death. Why is air pollution more grave in the city than in the country? A. Because there are larger populations in cities. B. Because the air in the city is dirty. C. Because there are more cars in the city. D. Because there are much more gas fumes from cars and burning of coal and oil for energy in the city than in the country. Answer: D A ball is thrown straight up. Which statement best describes the motion of the ball while the ball is at the maximum height? A. The speed and acceleration are constant. B. The velocity is zero, and the acceleration is constant. C. The speed and acceleration are changing. D. The velocity is zero, and the acceleration is changing. Answer: B Visitors to Britain are sometimes surprised to learn that newspapers there have such a large circulation . For example, national newspapers, the "Daily Mirror " and the "Daily express" both sell about four million copies everyday. Most of British families buy a newspaper every morning and two or three on Sundays. Besides the national papers, there is, however, another branch of the British newspapers, local newspapers. Local newspapers have a weekly circulation of 13 million. Almost every town and county area has one. Nearly all them hold their own and many of them are very profitable . These papers are written almost entirely for readers interested in local events-births, weddings, deaths, council meetings and sports. Editors prefer to believe people who know the district well. A great deal of local news is regularly supplied by clubs and churches in the neighborhood. The editors must never forget that the success of any newspaper depends on advertising. But if the newspaper is well written and the news items have been carefully chosen to draw local readers, the business men will thank for the chance to keep their products in the public eyes. Visitors to Britain are surprised to learn that_. A. there are so many kinds of local newspapers there B. local papers should have a circulation of four million C. the usual number of copies of the newspapers there is large D. British newspapers are read by everyone Answer: C
A study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its delicious chocolate, showed those who ate the same amount of one-third of a chocolate bar every day had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of death. The researchers say, however, it's too early to conclude that it was the chocolate that led to better health. The men who ate more cocoa products could have eaten other food that made them healthier. Experts also point out that eating too much chocolate can make you fat -- a risk for both heart disease and high blood pressure. "It's why too early to make recommendations about whether people should eat more cocoa or chocolate," said Brian Buijsse, an expert for nutrition at prefix = st1 /WageningenUniversityin The Netherlands, who co-authored the study. Still, the Dutch Study, supported by grants from the Netherlands Prevention Foundation, appears to be the largest so far to document a health effect for cocoa beans. And it confirms findings of smaller, shorter-term studies that also linked chocolate with lower blood pressure. Researchers examined the eating habits of 470 healthy men who were not taking blood pressure medicine. The men who ate the most products made from cocoa beans -- including cocoa drinks, chocolate bars and chocolate pudding -- had lower blood pressure and a 50 percent lower risk of death. "This is a very important article providing epidemiological support for what many researchers have been observing is experimental models," said Cesar Fraga of the University of California Davis, who does similar research but was not involved in the new study. Could the study results apply to women? "Our study consisted of elderly inch," Buijsse said. "If you look at the other studies, you will see the same effects in men and women, younger people and older people. The findings may be _ to women, but you never know." Which of the following might NOT be considered a product made from cocoa beans? A Chocolate bars B Coffee drink C Chocolate pudding D Cocoa drink Answer: B After Mom died, l began visiting Dad every morning before I went to work. He was frail and moved slowly, but he always had a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice on the kitchen table for me, along with an unsigned note reading," Drink your juice." Such a gesture, l knew, was as far as Dad had ever been able to go in expressing his love. In fact, l remember, as a kid I had questioned Mom "Why doesn't Dad love me?" Mom frowned, "Who said he doesn't love you?" "Well, he never tells me, "I complained." He never tells me either," she said, smiling. " But look how hard he works to take care of us, to buy us food and clothes, and to pay for this house. That's how your father tells us he loves us. " I nodded slowly. I understood in my head, but not in my heart. l still wanted my father to put his arms around me and tell me he loved me. Dad owned and operated a small scrap metal business, and after school I often hung around while he worked. Dad handled scrap steel into a device that chopped it as cleanly as a butcher chops a rack of ribs. The machine looked like a giant pair of scissors, with blades thicker than my father's body. If he didn't feed those terrifying blades just right, he risked serious injury. "Why don' t you hire someone to do that for you?" Mom asked Dad one night as she bent over him and rubbed his aching shoulders with a strong smelling liniment. "Why don't you hire a cook?" Dad asked, giving her one of his rare smiles. Many years later, during my first daily visit, after drinking the juice my father had squeezed for me. l walked over, hugged him and said, "I love you, Dad." From then on I did this every morning. My father never told me how he felt about my hugs, and there was never any expression on his face when I gave them. The author's father always prepared a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice for him because _ . A that was the author's favorite B that was a gesture of love C the author was always complaining D he was sure the author would be thirsty Answer: B The children often play football in the garden and sometimes break Mr. Black's windows. One afternoon Mr. Black is at home and reads a book. In a minute he closes his eyes and goes to sleep. At that time a little boy knocks at the door. Mr. Black opens the door and asks, "Do you break my window again ?""Oh, no"says the boy, "Your window is open this time and our football is in your room. May I get it please?" Who knocks at Mr. Black's door? A A girl B A boy C A man D A woman Answer: B In Britain and other countries,young people sometimes take a"gap year",a year off between high school and college.This idea never gained a big following in America.Recent news reports have suggested that interest may be growing,though there are no official numbers. Charles Deacon,.Dean of Admissions at Georgetown University in Washington,D.C.,estimates that in the current first-year class of 1,600 students,only about 25 decided to take a year off.He says this number hasn't changed much over the years. Mr.Deacon says the most common reason for taking a"gap year"is to have a chance to travel,but he says international students may take a"gap year"to meet requirements at home for military duty. Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required education,but it can also give students a chance to explore their interests.Students hoping to be doctors,for example,could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital. Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their admission.Expels say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they enjoy. The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its Web site called"Time Out or Bum Out for the Next Generation.''It praises the idea of taking time off to step back,think and enjoy gaining life experiences outside the pressure of studies.It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to Harvard or other colleges partly because they did something unusual with that time. Of course,a gap year is not for everyone.Students might miss their friends who go on directly to college,and parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time off.Another concern is money.A year off,away from home,can be costly. Holly Bull's job is to specialize in helping students plan their gap year.She notes that several books have been written about this subject.She says these books along with media attention and the availability of information on the Internet have increased interest in the idea of a year off, and she points out that many gap-year programs cost far less than a year of college. What is the passage mainly about? A It is likely that taking a"gap year"is becoming popular in America. B More and more American students are choosing to take a year off. C If you want to go to an American university, take a gap year first. D Americans hold different opinions towards students'taking a"gap year". Answer: A One in every five young people has a sleep problem, so you're not alone; Getting enough sleep has become as important as eating vegetables and exercising regularly. It's very important for your body. Most young people only get seven hours of sleep each night, when they actually need nine hours. And making up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on weekends doesn't really work. In fact, sleeping late on weekends may actually do you more harm than good, if you have sleep problems. What happens if you don't get enough sleep? If your sleep problem continues for a few nights, you could suffer serious problems. Lack of sleep can affect learning and memory. Worse , if your sleep difficulties last a long time , that could lead to anxiety or depression . Therefore, you've got to have some healthy sleep habits. Below are some suggestions: * GO TO BED AT THE SAME TIME--including weekends , if possible . * WAKE UP AROUND THE SAME TIME EVERY MORNING . When you sleep late just one morning during the week, it may disturb your body clock. This will make it hard for you to sleep that night. * DO SMOETHING REALXING before going to bed . * EXERCISE DURING THE DAY . Don't exercise right before going to bed. * AVOID DRINKING ALCOHOL. Alcohol makes you excited. This prevents you from falling asleep or wakes you up during the night. * DON'T SMOKE . Smoking is always bad for the body. Smoking before bedtime keeps you awake. If trying these tips over a couple of weeks does not help you, speak to your doctor. Do not take any sleeping pills without first asking your doctor. Many have strong side effects. _ young people have sleep problems. A 10 % B 20% C 25% D 50% Answer: B
It is well-known that twins are closer to each other than most brothers and sisters ---- after all, they probably spend more time with each other. Parents of twins often notice that they develop special ways of communicating: they invent their own words and one can often finish the other's sentence. In exceptional circumstances, this closeness becomes more extreme: they invent a whole language of their own, as in the case of Grace and Virginia Kennedy from Georgia in the USA, who communicated so successfully in their own special language that they did not speak any English at all until after they started school. However, these special relationships are the result of lives spent almost entirely in each other's company. What happens when twins do not grow up together, when they are separated at birth for some reason? Are they just like any other strangers, or are there still special similarities between them? Professor Tom Bouchard, of the University of Minnesota, set out to find the answer to this question. He traced sixteen pairs of twins, who were adopted by different families when they were babies, and often brought up in very different circumstances. Each twin was then interviewed about every small detail of their life. The results of this research make a surprising reading. Many of the twins were found to have the same hobbies, many have suffered the same illnesses, and some have even had the same type of accident at the same point in their lives. One pair of middle-aged women arrived for their first meeting in similar dresses, another pair were wearing similar jewellery. The most incredible similarities are to be found in the case of Jim Springer and Jim Lewis from Ohio in the USA. The story of the 'Jim Twins' made headline news across USA. Born to an immigrant woman in 1939, and adopted by different families at birth, both babies were named Jim by their new parents. But what can be the explanation for these remarkable similarities? Is it all pure coincidence, or is the explanation in some way genetic? Research into the lives of twins is forcing some experts to admit that our personalities may be at least partly due to 'nature'. On the other hand, analysts are also anxious to emphasise that incredible coincidences do happen all the time, not just in the lives of twins. According to Tom Bouchard's research, the special similarities between twins _ . Answer: are not closely linked with where the twins are raised (NEW YORK) A French tourist highly praised for rescuing a two-year-old girl in Manhattan said he didn't think twice before diving into the freezing East River. Tuesday'sDaily Newssaid 29-year-old Julien Duret from France was the man who left the spot quickly after the rescue last Saturday. He lifted the little girl out of the water after she fell off the bank at the South Street Seaport museum. He handed the girl to her father, David Anderson, who had dived in after him. "I didn't think at all," Duret told theDaily News. "It happened very fast. I reacted very fast." Duret, an engineer on vacation, was walking with his girlfriend along the pier when he saw something falling into the water. He thought it was a doll, but realized it was a child when he approached the river. Immediately, he took off his coat and jumped into the water. When he reached the girl, she appeared lifeless, he said. Fortunately, when she was out of the water, she opened her eyes. Anderson said his daughter slipped off the bank when he was adjusting his camera. An ambulance came later for her, said Duret, who was handed dry clothes from onlookers. Duret caught a taxi with his girlfriend shortly after. The rescue happened on the day before he left for France. Duret said he didn't realize his story of heroism had greatly moved New York until he was leaving the city the next morning. "I don't really think I'm a hero," said Duret. "Anyone would do the same thing." Who dived after Duret into the river to save the little girl? Answer: David Anderson Audrey Hepburn (*) was born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. She really was blue-blood from the beginning with her father, a wealthy English banker, and her mother, a Dutch noblewoman. After her parents divorced, Audrey went to London with her mother where she went to a private girl school. Later, when her mother moved back to the Holland, she attended private schools as well. While taking a vacation with her mother in Arnhem, Holland, Hitler's army took over the town. It was here that she during the Nazi occupation. Audrey suffered from depression and poor nutrition. After the liberation, Audrey went to a ballet school in London on a scholarship and later began a modeling career. As a model, she was graceful and, it seemed, she had found her job suitable for her in life - until the film producers came calling. After being spotted modeling by a producer, she was signed to a bit part in the European film Nederlands in 7 lessen in 1948. Later, she had a speaking role in the 1951 film, Young Wives' Tale (1951) as Eve Lester. The part still wasn't much, so she headed to America to try her luck there. Audrey gained immediate prominence in the US with her role in Roman Holiday in 1953. This film turned out to be a splendid success as she won an Oscar as Best Actress. This gained her enormous popularity and more plum roles. One of the reasons for her popularity was the fact that she was self-like, unlike the sex-goddesses of the time. Roman Holiday was followed by another similarly wonderful performance in the 1957 classic Funny Face.In 1988, Audrey became a special ambassador to the United Nations fund helping children in Latin America and Africa, a position she retained until 1993.Her elegance and style will always be remembered in film history as evidenced by her being named in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time." Which one of the following films made Audrey win an Oscar Best Actress Award? _ Answer: Roman Holiday I'm Cindy. Today is January 20th. It's my birthday. I get up at 7:30am. My parents say"Happy birthday!" to me. Today I get lots of gifts from my parents and my friends. My father gives me a book. My mother gives me a blue skirt. Ben, one of my good friends, gives me a basketball. There is a green note on my table. It says," I'm your gift, and I'm behind your schoolbag." Aha, it's a radio! It's from my brother, Jim. I'm a very happy girl. I love my family and my friends very much. Ben gives Cindy _ as a birthday gift. Answer: a basketball A mother of a cheerful five-year-old just returned from a meeting of the National Organization for Women. Inspired by exciting dreams for the possibilities of womanhood, she asked her daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. Little Lisa quickly answered, "A nurse." There was a time when nursing was thought of as a woman's job and the answer somehow seemed not to be satisfied. She had, after all, just returned from a new meeting. "You can be anything you want to be," she reminded her daughter. "You can be a lawyer, a doctor, a banker, president of the country -- you can be anything." "Anything?" Lisa asked. "Anything!" her mother smiled. "I know," Lisa said. "I want to be a horse!" Lisa's dream may need some improvement, but there is plenty of time for that. When do we give up dreaming about the future? When do we resign ourselves to simply replaying dreams from the past? Maybe her dream needs to mature a bit, but would you rather have the optimism of a five-year-old girl who wants to be a horse, or the pessimism of an adult who says in despair, "I can't be anything at all"? Teddy Roosevelt said, _ believe that is the way to make those dreams come true. It begins with looking up and dreaming of something beautiful. How did the mother feel when hearing her daughter's first answer? Answer: Disappointed.
Question: My family moved around a lot when I was growing up.In 2nd grade,I lived here in Washington D.C,where I made an amazing group of friends.I was upset when my parents told me we were moving again and I would have to leave all my best friends behind. In 7th grade.we moved back to Washington D.C.And I could not have been more excited and I felt like I was finally home again.But things had changed.There were two new girls,who decided that they didn't like me,which meant no one else could,not even all my former best friends. And then one day during school,I opened my locker,only to find a note lying on the floor.The note said:Die.Nobody likes you. My heart started beating faster and I felt the blood rushing to my face.I had no idea what to do.The note wasn't signed and I had no idea who had written it,but I figured the new girls were behind it.I had to sit in class all day with my head down,wondering who else knew about this shame.I felt horrible and sure that nothing would ever be good again. I decided that the perfect way to end all of this was with another note,left on the bathroom mirror at school. It's sad for someone to bully other classmates to make themselves feel better or look cool.Bullying others is a way to impress others.It's common,but that doesn't mean it's okay.Looking cool is not worth making others feel bad.Obviously I'm very happy now,but it doesn't mean I'11 ever forget about that note or how it made me feel.And to those of you that are current victims of bullying--know that you are NOT alone.It will get better.I promise. In the end,the author turned things around _ . A. under her teacher's guide B. by compromising to others C. with her best friends' help D. through her own efforts Answer: D. through her own efforts Question: Dear Grandma, It was nice seeing you at Christmas.You looked so happy! After losing two grandparents within the past year, I have taken some time to reflect on what is most important.I want to let you know what a positive influence you have been on me.I am the person I am because of you. I remember being on your farm a lot when I was younger.I remember the projects you planned for us.We painted rocks to represent our family members.We made doll clothes out of colorful socks.We made many "playhouses" in the woods. We learned that if you left a bucket of soybeans in the rain, you would soon have a bucket of growing beans.We learned that if we helped pick the strawberries in the morning, we'd have them on our ice cream in the afternoon.We learned that some plants have funny names, like the elephant ear plant.We learned that you could make do with what you had.We learned that making things out of paper and cardboard was more fun than what came inside the packaging.We learned it was OK to get dirty, but Grandma would wash us up before Mom came. You once made models of everyone's houses, which made me want to be an architect.Another time, you made quilts for all of the grandkids.I still use mine every night.The edge has worn out. But you taught me how to fix it. I love and respect you.You are always patient, with a quiet determination. Grandma, thank you for everything you have taught me.I hope that I am able to pass on all these memories and skills to my children and grandchildren. Love always, Kelly Kelly wrote this letter mainly to _ . A. send her grandma best wishes for Christmas B. show love and respect for her grandma C. recall her happy life on the farm D. ask her grandma for help Answer: B. show love and respect for her grandma Question: My cousin Jenny made some new term resolutions last month. First she wants to keep healthy. So she is going to exercise more and eat a lot of healthier food. She isn't going to eat junk food. She is going to make a volleyball team because she likes it and she's also good at playing it. And she also wants to improve her English. She is going to read English every morning. The third, she is going to read more books because she thinks she can learn a lot from books. So she's going to go to the school library quite often. When she grows up, she is going to be a doctor for children. She wants to help sick children. She's going to study medicine at a university when she finishes high school. She is going to work hard. She loves children and she thinks looking after children will be wonderful. How is Jenny going to improve her English? A. She is going to read English every morning. B. She is going to go to the school library quite often. C. She is going to study medicine at a university. D. She is going to study English really hard. Answer: A. She is going to read English every morning. Question: Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. "I was a clothes addict," he jokes. "I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled." Today David wears casual clothes--khaki pants and sports shirt--to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. "I'm working harder than ever," David says, "and I need to feel comfortable." More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday, but only on Friday. This became known as "dress-down Friday" or "casual Friday". "What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing." said business consultant Maisly Jones. Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. "A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work," says the owner of a software company, "so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code." Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale . Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative effect on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. "Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day," one person said. "For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes." David Smith refers to himself as having been "a clothes addict," because _ . A. he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt B. he couldn't stand a clean appearance C. he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time D. he didn't want to spend much money on clothes Answer: C. he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time Question: Evolution has changed our bodies and faces over thousands of years, and it's still happening. Here's how experts predict what people will be like in 1,000 years. We'll be about 1.83~2.13 metres tall because of improved nutrition and medical science. Our arms and fingers will get longer to reduce the need to reach too far. We'll have smaller brains, maybe because computers will help us memorize and think most of the things. There will be larger eyes and smaller mouths. And there may be fewer teeth as softer food needs less chewing and biting. We could even get our nutrition from liquids or pills in the future. We can expect other great changes too. Everyone will have the same shape of noses. That's because climate will have less influence on noses with the help of air conditioning and central heating. Besides, we will have more wrinkles as a result of looking at our electronic devices. We also may end up with saggy necks because extra sun will cause loose skin. And there will be darker skin as people move around the planet and races mix. ,. What will cause more wrinkles on our faces? A. Looking at electronic devices. B. Wearing warm clothes. C. Using central heating. D. Getting extra sun. Answer: A. Looking at electronic devices.
Christmas in the United States is traditionally a time of gift-giving and family gatherings.But small towns across the country have their own traditions. Middleburg,a small town in the state of Virginia,is known for its horses.For more than 50 years,Middleburg has organized a yearly Christmas parade .Men and women ride horses through the woods and fields.They follow hunting dogs as they search for a wild fox.But first,these hunters ride in the yearly parade,wearing their bright red hunting clothes and hats. John Hale,a citizen of Middleburg says many city people visit his town."We have a lot of people from an urban area that come to visit,but it incorporates a lot of the o1d traditions." The nighttime hay ride is one such tradition.Small groups gather under the moonlight on an open wagon filled with hay.The passengers sing as farm horses pull the wagon slowly across the fields. There are some newer traditions,too.Trey Matheu works at the nearby Salamander Resort.He says a visit to Middleburg is a chance to slow down for a day.He says Middleburg can be a calming,peaceful place without tension. "Middleburg is an opportunity to take a step back,to take a deep breath,and understand that even though life is moving on at a very fast pace,there's really an opportunity where you're allowed to step off for a little bit." Parade organizers say more than 13,000 people attend even in below-freezing weather. But if you ask,you will hear many different reasons why people come to watch the parade: "I come here because I'm from a small town. I like how everybody comes together.""I live right down that street;right there.And that's my dog." Middleburg looks its best at Christmastime.That may be why so many people return each year. What do we know about the small town Middleburg? A It makes a large profit from tourism. B It attracts many people each year. C It is a good place for family gatherings. D It doesn't respect Christmas traditions. Answer: B Nearly everyone agrees that money doesn't buy as much as it used to, no matter when you want to spend it. This is certainly true of the paper money that passes so quickly through one's hands. But what about coins that seem to do very little except stay in purses and pockets? Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valuable the longer it is held, especially if it is put away where it won't get scratched or worn. Why is this? One reason is that coins, being more durable, fall more readily into a category for collectors. Naturally, the rarer gold pieces must become more valuable as the price of this metal goes up. But, curiously, one of the rarest coins in the world is not made of gold, but of the relatively cheaper silver. In 1840, the United States mint struck 19570 silver dollars. That is what its records show. Today only six of this original number remain and these are unlikely ever to reach the auction market. So what happened to some 19564 large silver coins, not the easiest sort of things to lose? One of the more romantic theories is that they were part of the payment to Napoleon for the American land then known as Louisiana. But they never reached France. Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship transporting them was sunk, either by a storm or by pirates. The probable answer to the mystery is that they were melted down -- since the silver value was greater than the actual value of the coin. What really happened to the rest will probably always remain a mystery. What is known is that whoever can come up with one will find himself instantly rich. Which of the following is true of a coin? A The longer it is held, the less valuable it becomes. B The more it wears out, the more valuable it becomes. C The less it gets scratched, the less it values. D The longer it lasts, the more it values. Answer: D When two Bangs meet Sheldon Cooper is a scientific genius on the popular American TV show, The Big Bang Theory (<<>> ). He finally met his match last year: Stephen Hawking. This is not the first time that the scientist has appeared on TV. He has also been on Star Trek (in 1987) and The Simpsons (in 1989). Each time, he played himself. Hawking, 71, is perhaps the world's most famous scientist after Albert Einstein. He has spent his whole life studying the beginning and the end of the universe, including the Big Bang theory. The Big Bang theory explains the early development of the universe. According to the theory, about 13.7 billion years ago everything was all squeezed together in a tiny, tight little ball, and then the ball exploded. The results of that explosion are what we call the universe. Hawking has always tried to make science more popular with people. His book: A Brief History of Time was published in 1988. In the book he shares his understanding of the universe in simple language. The book tries to explain many subjects about the universe to common readers, including the Big Bang, black holes and light cones . Hawking's achievements are even greater if you think about his disability. When he was 21, Hawking caught a bad illness that slowly stopped him from moving or talking. Now he sits on a wheelchair with a computer by his side. To communicate, he moves two fingers to control the computer's mouse. He chooses his words from the screen, which are then spoken by a voice synthesizer . Hawking also believes that there might be aliens in space. However, he believes they are probably very dangerous, so we should not look for them. "I imagine they might exist in very big ships ... having used up all the resources from their home planet," Hawking said in a British documentary named Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking. The Big Bang theory mainly explains _ . A how the universe started B what the universe is like C how old the universe is D how the universe exploded Answer: A More People Are Leaving the Rat Race for the Simple Life Time is more precious than money for an increasing number of people who are choosing to live more with less--and liking it Kay and Charles Giddens, two lawyers, sold their home to start a B&B hotel.Four years later, the couple dishes out banana pancake breakfast, cleans toilets and serves homemade chocolate chip cookies to guests in a B&B hotel surrounded by trees on a hill known for colorful sunsets. "Do I miss the freeways? Do I miss the traffic? Do I miss the stress? No," says Ms.Giddens, "This is a phenomenon that's fairly widespread. A lot of people are reevaluating their lives and figuring out what they want to do.If their base is being damaged, what's the payoff?" Simple living ranges from cutting down on weeknight activities to sharing housing, living closer to work, avoiding shopping malls, borrowing books from the library instead of buying them, and taking a cut in pay to work at a more pleasurable job. Vicki Robin, a writer, lives on a budget equal to a fifth of what she used to make."You become conscious about where your money is going and how valuable it is," Ms.Robin says, "You tend not to use things up.You cook at home rather than eat out..." Janet Luhrs, a lawyer, quit her job after giving birth and leaving her daughter with a nanny for two weeks."It was not the way I wanted to raise my kids," she says, "Simplicity is not just about saving money; it's about me sitting down every night with my kids to a candlelit dinner with classical music." Mrs.Luhrs now edits a magazine,Simple Living, which publishes tips on how to buy recycled furniture and shoes, organize potluck dinners instead of expensive receptions, and generally how to consume less. "It's not about poverty," Mrs.Luhrs explains, "It's about conscious living and creating the life you want.The less stuff you buy, the less money goes out of the door, and the less money you have to earn." It can be learned from the passage that now Janet Luhrs _ . A spends more time with her kids B has an interest in classical music C works as a reporter of a magazine D helps people buy recycled clothes Answer: A Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers.Brain-computer interface(BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines. Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts. In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand.He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts. "Our brain has billions of nerve cells.These send signals through the spinal cord to the muscles to give us the ability to move.But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles," Tavella says."Our system allows disabled people to communicate with external world and also to control devices." The researchers designed a special cap for the user.This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp and sends them to a computer.The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path.They help the computer react to commands from the brain. Prof.Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets brain signals and turns them into simple commands."The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: communication, and controlling devices.One example is this wheelchair." He says his team has set two goals.One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from.And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over long periods of time. How did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory? A By controlling his muscles. B By talking to the machine. C By moving his hand. D By using his mind. Answer: D
BEIJING, Oct.14(Xinhua)----A total of 120 middle school students from 35 countries will attend the final of an international China language contest, to be held in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from Oct.16 to 30. The candidates, aged from 15 to 20,must be from foreign countries and not native Chinese speakers, said a statement issued by the Chinese language Council (CLC),the contest's organizer, here Thursday. All of the candidates have passed the preliminary contests held in their own countries. According to the organizer, the competition will have a top prize, five second prizes,10 third prizes and a dozen prizes for special talents.The organizer will also launch an online vote for "the most liked candidate." It was the third year China has held the contest. "The competition not only tests the proficiency of Chinese language but also the candidates capability to communicate across different cultures."the statement said. All the candidates in the final will receive scholarships from the Chinese government.said Hu Hangyu, an official with the Education Bureau of the Chongqing Municipality, jointly organizing the contest. They will also meet local Chinese students and live with Chinese families, Hu said. "The competition is to meet the increasing demand for Chinese learning by foreign youngsters."said Xu Lin.the CLC director. The CLC has also hosted similar contest for foreign college students since 2002. China has been working to promote Chinese language learning abroad over the past few years.According to the CLC, the country had 282 Confucius Institutes and 272 "Confucius Classrooms" in 88 countries and regions as of 2009 since the first one was established in 2004. In which part of the newspaper is the text most likely to be found? Answer: When large areas of the rainforests are cleared and burned, climate can be affected. Which best explains how rainforest destruction can contribute to the greenhouse effect? Answer: Relax. He is the same little boy you loved yesterday. I smiled trying to hold back the tears. "No, he isn't. Yesterday I dreamed he would be an astronaut. Today I am hoping he will learn to talk." It was like some sort of cosmic joke. I could still recall the day that determined my fate. It was October in Ottawa and the summer breezes had given way to the autumn rainfall of leaves. The snow would begin soon. The crispness of coming frost was in the air. My casually mentioning Wyatt's behavior to Dr. Martin aroused his worries. He started asking me questions about Wyatt's activities speech pattern and emotions. I still see clearly in my mind the cleanness of the room and all its belongings when the doctor turned to me and said, "He almost sounds autistic ." I couldn't face that picture in my mind. I had to run to get away from this all too painful place that was reminding me of what was to be my child's life-being strange. I could not remember how many times I told myself, "This is normal. He is a little boy who is not talking yet," when my asking questions met with his blank-eyed response in a restaurant; how many times I would tell myself, "He loves to play on his own for hours at a time and he never gets into trouble," when Wyatt was playing games that no one else could imagine, let alone join in while other boys in the park were playing together or in small groups played around a sand pail or toy truck. My life was changing direction. So was Wyatt's. I started to hide Wyatt from my friends and neighbor especially from a good friend. It was too painful to let others know about my boy acting strange. It was a Thursday afternoon and I found one half of a great pair of kitchen scissors was missing. They were unbelievably sharp and could be taken apart so they could be washed or the blades sharpened. I knew Wyatt had taken the missing blade. "Wyatt," I began as patiently as I could, "Do you see this?" I held up the blade. "Do you know what this is?" Wyatt put a bunch of Fruit Loops in his mouth. No response. "Wyatt!" I forced eye contact with him. "Where are the other scissors? See these." I showed him the half pair. He smiled big. Ate Fruit Loops. Turned the TV on and off. Still no response. I didn't know what to do. It was really hard. "Wyatt," I tried once more, "Mommy wants these scissors. Can you go get them for Mommy? It will make Mommy so happy if you bring me the scissors." "Watch Spongebob." Wyatt asked as he slid down from his kitchen stool and ran off, leaving me shaking my head and wondering in exactly which way this situation was going to end badly. Five minutes later, I turned my head to see Wyatt coming downstairs, his favorite doll in one hand, the missing half pair of kitchen scissors in the other. I immediately ran over and took it from him. "Wyatt!" I hugged him. "Thank you for bringing me the scissors! Good job! You did it! These scissors need to stay in the kitchen. These are Mommy's scissors!" Wyatt laughed, looked at me straight in the eye and said, "Mommy so happy!" I came close to tears. A realization dawned on me that he was the best gift I had ever gotten even though he was not as normal as other children. And why did I hide him from others as if he were some dark and terrible secret. No! He was my pride. It was a long, hard battle to get him to this point, expressing his wants and needs without turning to violence in embarrassment. With love and patience I have found the beautiful, happy boy who would teach me more about life. And that is the solution. Wyatt brought the missing half of the scissors back to his mother because _ . Answer: On February 3rd, 1949, New York Harbor was an exciting place. Many people were there to greet a ship from France. On the ship were 49 French railroad boxcars filled with gifts from the people of France to the people of America. These boxcars were from the famous Merci Train(Merci:a French word meaning "thank you"). After World War II, a lot of factories, roads and farms in France had been destroyed. Many French people had no jobs or money and had little to wear and little to eat. In the winter of 1947, a train was sent across the United States, stopping in cities and towns along the way. At every stop, people gave whatever they could. Factories gave clothing and medicine. Farmers gave food. Families gave money. Even school children gave away their pocket money. All the things were then taken to France by ship. By 1949,the French had begun to recover from the war. The Merci Train was their way of saying "thank you" to America. French people had filled the boxcars with gifts. Most of _ were personal, like hand-made toys, children's drawings, or postcards. But the boxcars themselves were perhaps the most meaningful of the gifts. On each car, the French people had painted the pictures of all their 40 provinces. with an American eagle on the front. The boxcars were taken to each state of America, where they were warmly greeted. Now many of the states still keep their boxcars. Gifts sent by the French people can still be seen in some museums. The Merci Train came out of the war, but it now reminds the world that countries can also work together in peace. Many people crowded at New York Harbor on February 3rd, 1949 to _ . Answer: The motivation to succeed comes from the burning desire to achieve a purpose. Napoleon Hill wrote, "whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve." A young man asked Socrates the secrets to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning. When they meet, Socrates asked the young man to walk with him towards the river. When the water got up to their necks, Socrates took the young man by surprise and pressed him into the water. The boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy stared turning blue. Socrates pulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air. Socrates asked, "What did you want the most when you were there?" the boy replied. "Air." Socrates said," That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it. There is no other secret." A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment . Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage? Answer:
The host poured the tea into the cup and placed it on the small table in front of his guests,who were a father and his daughter,and put the lid on the cup with a clink.Obviously thinking of something.he hurried into the inner room,leaving the thermos on the table.His two guests heard a chest of drawers opening and rustling. They remained sitting in the sitting room,the ten-year-old daughter looking at the flowers outside the window,the father just about to take his cup,when the crash came,right there in the sitting room.Something was hopelessly broken. It was the thermos,which had fallen to the floor.The girls looked over her shoulder suddenly,shocked, staring. It was mysterious;neither of them had touched it,not even a little bit.True.it hadn't stood steadily when their host placed it on the table,but it hadn't fallen then. The crash of the thermos caused the host,with a box of sugar cubes in his hand,to rush back from the inner room.He looked foolishly at the steaming floor and blurted out. "It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter!'' The father started to say something.Then he said in a low voice,"Sorry I touched it and it fell." "It doesn't matter,"the host said. Later,when they left the house,the daughter said,"Daddy,did you touch it?'' "No.But it stood so close to me." "But you didn't touch it.I saw your reflection in the window .You were sitting perfectly still." The father laughed."Then how would you explain the cause of its fall?" "The thermos fell by itself , The floor is uneven. It wasn't steady when Mr. Li put it there. Daddy,why did you say that?" "That won't do,girl.It sounds more acceptable when I say I knocked it down.There are things which people accept less true it sounds." The daughter was lost in silence for a while.Then she said,"Can you explain it only this way?" "Only this way."her father said. Which statement is a possible main idea of this story? It is well-known that it will take travelers only 48 hours by train to go from Beijing to Lhasa, the capital of west China's Tibet on July 1 this year. Travelers can enjoy the beautiful views during the 48 hour train ride. The new railway line will be controlled by the Beijing' s West Railway Station from July 1, 2006. The most important part of the line, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, has been completed. The Qinghai-Tibet part of the railway is the world's highest railway. About 960 kilometers of the train tracks are 4,000 meters above sea level. The highest parts reach 5,072 meters. The railway is the world' s longest plateau railroad which is 1,956 kilometers long, from Qinghai's capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet. The Golmud-Lhasa part is 1,142 kilometers long and goes across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges. The trains running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway have very good conditions. If the passengers feel hard to breathe, they will be provided with oxygen masks, because all of the trains have oxygen supplying equipments. It will take people 48 hours by train to go to Lhasa from Beijing _ . All parents tell their children little white lies from time to time. "Of course Father Christmas comes down the chimney!" "Eat your spinach -- you'll get as strong as Popeye.". . . and so on. However, there's one fib that's bigger than all the others. It's "I don't have a favorite child." In his fascinating new book, The Sibling Effect: What Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us, Jeffrey Kluger, a father of two daughters, aged eight and ten, claims that " 95 percent of parents in the world have a favorite child -- and the other 5 percent are lying." Kluger may be exaggerating the figures for dramatic effect -- but despite every parent's vehement denial that they have a favorite child -- scientific research shows that he is not far off the truth. According to one recent study by researchers from the University of California -- which followed 384 _ pairs and their parents for three years -- 65 percent of the mothers and 70 percent of fathers exhibited a preference for one child. As this was among families that knew they were being monitored, there's a strong possibility the true figures could be significantly higher. Favoritism is certainly a controversial topic. When raised as a subject for discussion on parenting websites, it always arouses a stream of angry denials. But interestingly, a lot of personal anecdotes appear from parents who say they were overshadowed by a favored sibling, or were, indeed, their mother or father's favorite. It seems everyone knows favoritism exists -- but nobody wants to put their hand up and say they're guilty of it themselves. Another research, where siblings have been asked to say who their mother and father favor, suggests that mothers do tend to a show a preference for their first-born son, but fathers often dote on their youngest daughters. Parents will often be drawn to the child who is easiest to get along with -- or the child that shares similar traits to them. For example, mum will have a special bond with her sensitive, arty son, while dad lavishes attention on his sporty daughter. Professor Scott says being least favored in a family can color1 our behavior as adults. "Children who feel they are less loved within their family are more likely to develop low self-esteem, anxiety and depression." But some experts believe being less favored can have positive consequences. Professor Scott agrees that favored children can sometimes find life difficult when they have to rub along in the real world. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage? Amelia Earharl was born on July 24,1897 in Atchison, Kansas at her grandparent's house. Soon after her birth, Amelia's parents separated. The girl lived with her grandparents until she was 10. In 1917, Amelia entered a nursing school and witnessed the horrors of war. She served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at a military hospital until Novermber,1981,. She later said,"There for the first time I realized what the World War meant... I saw only men without arms or legs...". In 1920, Amelia's parents had reunited in California. Amelia decided to leave Columbia and join them. Amelia's love for flying was born when her father took her to an aerial show, in which she got to ride in a flight over Los Angeles. Amelia started taking flight lessons with Anita Snook at Kinner Field near Long Beach, California. Amelia _ quickly and soon became an excellent pilot. In July of 1920, she purchased her first plane. She named it "The Canary". In October of 1922, just a few years after taking up flying, Amelia began attempting to break records. She first broke the height record of 14,000 feet. In 1925, Amelia took a position at Dension House in Boston as a social worker. While there, Amelia got a call that would change her life forever. On April 27th, 1926, Captain Hill Railey called Amelia to take part in a flight across the Atlantic Ocean. She would only be a passenger. Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gorden flew the plane, but Amelia became the first woman to make the trip across the Atlantic. Amelia didn't think she deserved the attention she received but was more determined than ever to make the trip herself. While in London, and back in the United States, Amelia toured the country, giving lectures and speeches. What is the best title for the passage? Adults are happy to tell their children that crusts will give them curly hair, carrots will help them see in the dark, and spinach will make them strong. Even though adults know it's not totally true, they think it's good for their children's health, a study had found. In a study about 31 per cent of adults said they once told their children the curly hair tale, and 36 per cent said they'd been told the same thing by their mother or father. Among the over-50s, almost half said they'd been promised curly hair if they ate their crusts. A quarter of the 2,000 adults questioned in the study told their children carrots would help them see in the dark. This could be true to some extent because of the high levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene in root vegetables. Another favorite among parents is that milk will make one strong. A third surveyed said their parents told them this, and about 29 per cent said they told their children the same thing. But while there is plenty of evidence to suggest milk is good for people's health, there are also a lot of scientific papers saying it isn't. Thanks to Popeye, spinach is also fed to children, along with the idea that it will make them strong. While there is also some truth in this one, scientists now believe it is not the iron, but the inorganic nitrates that improve physical power. One in seven of the surveyed admitted telling their little ones that runner beans will make them run faster, which is nothing more than wordplay and has no basis in science. Almost one in five adults were subjected to the same tale in childhood. Just over one in 10 parents told their children green food would turn them into a superhero, and a quarter admitted hiding vegetables in meals. Lyndsay Jones, spokesman for Persil Washing Up Liquid, said, "It's clear that the most persuasive stories about food are passed on from generation to generation. Our research shows that the ideas continue, and we tell our kids the same things our parents told us, even if they're not always entirely true." Crusts may not make your hair curly, but there's plenty of research that says crusts contain more of the goodness than the rest of a loaf. Hopefully, as a result of our Cook with Kids promise, more parents will be encouraged to spend time with their children in the kitchen and teach them the truth about food. Which of the following does Lyndsay Jones agree?
Question: I have been a special education teacher for 17 years and I wish more people would get into special education.The position is very demanding and there is always a shortage of special education teachers.It is not an easy profession to get into. One needs a BA in education and then a special education certificate such as a certificate in learning disabilities, emotional disabilities or cross categories which means covering all the subjects.A certified new special educate teacher needs to _ a current special education teacher for at least, a year because there is that much to know and practice. Working with the students is the biggest reward.However, the paperwork is huge with requesting more year after year.If you are good at doing about ten things at the same time, then you may be the right person for the job. No day is the same. Parent and government expectations are high. A sense of empathy(the ability of feeling and sharing another person's feelings) and one hundred percent prepared to help your students is important. Also, if you are a special education teacher working in the high school, it is your job to make sure your special education students are able to be employed after they graduate, and then the special education teacher needs to stay in touch with the special students a year after they graduate to make sure they are employed and can support themselves. Education is a very political field next to working in politics. One needs to know what to say, when to say it and make sure it is a benefit for everyone involved. It is a mixture of knowing medical diagnosis and teaching with that in mind. Your record needs to be perfect, and it would also help to be a very strong Christian because you will need to pray often to yourself. This position is not about the money but more of a service. To become a special teacher, one needs _ . A. a MA decree and a certificate B. a degree and three certificates C. a degree and two certificates D. a degree in education and a certificate Answer: D. a degree in education and a certificate Question: Erosion can make a source of H2O A. stay exactly the same B. remain static over time C. calibrate from its previous capacity D. begin hosting underwater birds Answer: C. calibrate from its previous capacity Question: Technology is the application of knowledge to production. Thanks to modern technology, we have been able to increase greatly the efficiency of our work force. New machines and new methods have helped cut down time and expense while increasing overall output. This has meant more production and a higher standard of living. For most of us in America, modern technology is thought of as the reason why we can have cars and television sets. However, technology has also increased the amount of food available to us, by means of modern farming machinery and animal breeding techniques, and has extended our life span via medical technology. Will mankind continue to live longer and have a higher quality of life? In large measure the answer depends on technology and our ability to use it widely. If we keep making progress as we have over the past fifty years, the answer is definitely yes. The advancement of technology depends upon research and development, and the latest statistics show that the United States is continuing to pump billions of dollars annually into such efforts. So while we are running out of some scarce resources we may well find technological substitutes for many of them through our research programs. Therefore, in the final analysis the three major factors of production(land, labor and capital) are all influenced by technology. When we need new skills, on techniques in medicine, people will start developing new technology to meet those needs. As equipment proves to be slow or inefficient, new machines will be invented. Technology responds to our needs in helping us maintain our standard of living. What is the best title for the passage? A. The definition of technology B. Modern technology C. The application of technology D. The development of technology Answer: B. Modern technology Question: Fucheng Garden Villas is situated along the North 4th Ring Road, just 2 kilometres east away from the Asian Games Village with easy traffic connection. It is 5 kilometres from the Beijing Lufthansa Centre. Fucheng Garden Villas occupies an area of 34.7 hectares , over 80% of which is covered by trees and green, just like a garden in the city. All the 108 villas were designed by American Company IDI, in American style, luxurious besides comfortable. All materials of the construction and decoration as well as equipment are famous American products. From now to July 31st, preferential prices for sale and rent are offered. You can move into Fucheng Garden Villas on signing an agreement. Bank will provide a 50% mortgage for 5 years. Overseas sales License: NO.124. Developer: Beijing Hongda Read Estate Co.Ltd. 60 East, North 4th Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Tel: (8610)64967050 64967049 Fax: (8610)64933575 (From Wednesday, June 25, 1997 CHINA DAILY) How many hectares is Fucheng Garden Villas covered by trees and greens? A. 6.94 B. 27.76 C. More than 27.76 D. 80% Answer: C. More than 27.76 Question: A study of a million UK women, published today in The Lancet, has shown that happiness itself has no direct effect on mortality, and that the widespread but mistaken belief that unhappiness and stress directly cause ill health came from studies that had simply confused cause and effect. Life-threatening poor health can cause unhappiness, and for this reason unhappiness is associated with increased mortality. In addition, smokers tend to be unhappier than non-smokers. However, after taking account of previous ill health, smoking, and other lifestyle and socio-economic factors, the investigators found that unhappiness itself was no longer associated with increased mortality. The lead author, Dr Bette Liu, now at the University of New South Wales, Australia said: "Illness makes you unhappy, but unhappiness itself doesn't make you ill. We found no direct effect of unhappiness or stress on mortality, even in a ten-year study of a million women." As in other studies, unhappiness was associated with deprivation, smoking, lack of exercise, and not living with a partner. The strongest associations, however, were that the women who were already in poor health tended to say that they were unhappy, stressed, not in control, and not relaxed. The main analyses included 700 000 women, average age 59 years, and over the next 10 years these women were followed by electronic record linkage for mortality, during which time 30 000 of the women died. After allowing for any differences already present in health and lifestyle, the overall death rate among those who were unhappy was the same as the death rate among those who were generally happy. The study is so large that it rules out unhappiness being a direct cause of any material increase in overall mortality in women. This was true for overall mortality, for cancer mortality, and for heart disease mortality, and it was true for stress as well as for unhappiness. The writer's attitude towards the result of the study is _ . A. disappointing B. indifferent C. subjective D. objective Answer: B. indifferent
How to Be a Winner Sir Steven Redgrave Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals "In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes . Believing my career was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was it ---the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believed in myself. I am not saying that it isn't difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way." Karen Pickering Swimming World Champion "I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success----you can't follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you'll be a step closer to achieving them." Kirsten Best Poet & Writer "When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can't achieve something. Then, there are other _ , such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as 'calm', 'peace' or 'focus', either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological tool" What does Sir Steven Redgrave mainly talk about? Answer: He overcame the shadow of illness to win. A couple of weeks ago, a few friends and I had an opportunity to attend a dear friend's wedding in New York. After the wedding and reception, rather accidentally four of us gathered in a hotel room and began to explore the deeper meaning of life and death. What does it mean to live truly? If we are all getting closer to death, is all the material accumulation worth it? It is not exactly the type of conversations one has at a wedding. While the answers varied from person to person, I was left with more questions than answers and a feeling of gratefulness to be surrounded by friends who were asking the "right" questions. As the clock kept ticking past 3 a.m., one of the roommates suggested we watch a short film titled "Last Days of Zach Sobiech". The film is about a teenager's journey through the last days of his incurable illness. The film brought up a lot of mixed emotions but one quote that stood out for me was Zach's simple explanation of happiness, " What makes one happy is seeing someone else smile because you put it there." By 4 a.m. , there was this energy in the room that had to be shared! With a few packages of post-it notes, we hit the halls of the hotel. We decided to leave short inspirational words on guests' doors, so when they opened their doors few hours later a smile would turn up. We ended up sticking post-it notes on all the doors until we ran out of them. The note on the door of the newly-weds properly said, "Where there is love, there is life." About "explore the deeper meaning of life and death" at a wedding, the author thinks _ . Answer: it is not proper. There is a saying that the British like a nice cup of tea in the morning and a nice cup of tea at night. And at half past seven, their idea of heaven is a nice cup of tea. They like a nice cup of tea with their dinner and a nice cup of tea time, and before they go to bed, there is a lot to be said about a nice cup of tea! Sometime it seems that no one likes tea as much as the British does. But in fact, tea is liked in countries around the world. In China and Japan tea was first used as a medicine, many years later, people there drank tea as a beverage . People in the world like to drink different kinds of tea -- green, black or red as some people call it. It is served in different ways. But they all know that drinking tea is good for one's health. From the passage we know tea was used as a medicine in _ many years ago Answer: China and Japan Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helpera little bird called a honey guide. The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives . The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or people as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, _ reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share. Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit. Why is it difficult to find a wild bees' nest? Answer: It's hidden in trees. Being organized is an important skill for school and life.When you're well organized,you can stay focused,instead of spending time hunting things down and getting sidetracked.What does it mean to be organized?For schoolwork,it means having one notebook or place where you store all your assignments,so you know what you have to do and when.Keeping clearly labeled binders or folders for handouts and keeping all your schoolwork neat and in a specific place--these are the main parts of organization. For home stuff,being organized means having a place to put your things and putting them back as you go.It means hanging your coat up instead of dropping it on the floor or throwing it on a chair.It means keeping your schoolbag,your shoes,and your clean underwear in the same places so you always know where to find them. Planning is part of being organized,too.Planning means deciding what you will do and when you will do it.Calendars,lists,and schedules can help you plan.You can buy or draw a calendar and keep it near your workplace.Making a schedule or a "todo" list for yourself is a good idea.Looking at your list helps you keep track of what you need to do.Add new things as you get assignments,and check off things when you've done them.Use your list to help you decide which thing is the most important to work on first. It takes some extra efforts to organize yourself and your stuff.But once you're organized,you feel great.The less time you spend hunting around for things or panicking about homework,the more time you have for better things,like reading a good book or playing. If you are well organized at home,you will _ . Answer: know where your clean underwear is
In spite of ill health and a physical incapacity that threatened her career, Carson McCullers completed a novel in the summer of 1961 that made the best-seller list before its official publication; date by virtue of prepublication sales. In an interview at her home, the noted novelist looked back on some of her problems of recent years and spoke without emotion of her latest book, Clock without Hands, her first in fifteen years, "For many years I had been thinking of the novel and finally wrote it this passed year. ""The tall, frail novelist, forty-three years old in 1961, suffered a series of strokes in her twenties that left her partially incapacitated, and she also admitted that a mental block kept her away from writing for many years after the strokes. Mrs McCullers once wrote that "writing is a wandering, dreaming occupation. " But beyond the admission that she works" very hard" at her writing, she is shy about discussing her work. She is remote from literary fashions, and she has never learned to intellectualize her art, but she reads her critics and takes them seriously. Clock Without Hands depicts Mrs McCullers' native South and the slow passing of the old way of life through the lives of a dying pharmacist , a white judge and former congressman, his rebellious grandson, and two Negroes. Among her earlier noted works are Member of the Wedding, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and Ballad of Sad Cafe. The novel made the best-seller list _ . A one month after publication B immediately upon publication C before publication D before completion Answer: C I was going on vacation to meet up with family for a week of fun in Denver. I got to the airport, ready to leave my work behind for a few days. I was comfortably awaiting my flight with a good book to read, when an elderly lady was wheeled to our waiting area. I couldn't help but notice the trouble she was having trying to open a packet of nuts with her shaking hands. I sighed. No one else was willing to meet her gaze so I offered to help. She was very grateful. It turned out that these nuts were her entire breakfast. We sat and chatted. When the time came to board the plane the attendants were nowhere to be seen. The lady could walk but needed some help, so I volunteered to help her on the plane and carry her bag. As I helped her get settled I noticed her "seat mate," a businessman, looked a bit horrified at having to make the fight with her. He offered to change seats with me -- and I agreed. We landed and I needed to change planes, but I helped her disembark first. The wheelchair she ordered was nowhere to be seen so we slowly walked to gate where her daughter was waiting. We only exchanged first names, and she was so grateful to have my help. I had to run to catch my connection but, as I thought about the experience, I saw her as my airport angel: a chance for me to hope that in the future when I'm in my 80's and traveling, someone will take the time to connect with me. Pay it forward. What had the author planned to do during the flight? A Reading. B Helping others. C Resting. D Sleeping. Answer: A Besides providing an ideal environment for sea plants and animals to live in, seawater has other values, one of which is that it constantly moves, and its movements produce energy. The most obvious movements are waves and the tides. Winds causes the waves, and the gravitational pull of the moon and the son causes tides. In places like the Bay of Fundy in Canada, the difference between the high and low tide level can be as much as 40 feet. France and Britain are now trying to use energy in the tides to produce electricity. Waves can produce electricity and some experiments are taking place to learn more about this. One of the most encouraging areas of research uses the difference between the temperature of seawater at the surface and deep down to produce electricity. Waves and tides are caused by _ . A the same forces B different forces C their own movements D plants and animals Answer: C Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, but there have only been few players who were truly great. How did these players get that way---was it through training and practice, or are great players "born, not made"? First, these players came from places that have had famous stars in the past---players that a young boy can look up to and try to imitate. In the history of soccer, only seven countries have ever won the World Cup---three from South America and four from Western Europe. There has never been a great national team---or a really great player---from North America or from Asia. Second, these players have all had years of practice in the game. Alfredo Di Stefano was the son of a soccer player, as was Pele. Most players begin playing the game at the age of three or four. Finally, many great players come from the same kind of neighborhood---a poor, crowded area where a boy's dream is not to be a doctor, lawyer, or businessman, but to become a rich, famous athlete or entertainer. For example, Liverpool, which produced the Beatles, had one of the best English soccer teams in recent years. Pele practiced in the street with a "ball" made of rags. And George Best learned the _ that made him famous by bouncing the ball off a wall in the slums of Belfast. All great players have a lot in common, but that doesn't explain why they are great. Hundreds of boys played in those Brazilian streets, but only one became Pele. The greatest players are born with some unique quality that sets them apart from all the others. According to the writer, which of the following statements is true? A Soccer is popular all over the world, but truly great players are few. B Millions of people all over the world are playing soccer, but only seven countries have ever had famous stars. C Only seven countries from South America and Western Europe have ever had national teams. D Soccer seems the least popular in North America and Asia. Answer: A Not all vegetables need lots of sunshine. Mark Hoffman and his wife own a bed-and-breakfast guesthouse in rural Kempton, Illinois. They often serve their guests fresh products from the garden. The Hoffmans have been growing food and flowers for twenty-five years. For almost ten of those years, Mr. Hoffman has been experimenting and working with shade plantings. He says, "The bottom line here is that most plants will produce more in full sun. But if you do not have full sun, there are other choices." For example, he grows tomatoes near oak trees. Oak trees can produce a lot of shade. But Mr. Hoffman says his tomato plants grow as long as they get five hours' direct sunshine a day, especially morning sun. Not only does this go against the traditional advice that tomatoes need six, eight, even twelve hours' full sun a day. It also shows how plants and tree roots can share nutrients and water. Mr. Hoffman says plants with wider leaves seem to do better in shady environments. He also found that his potatoes did better partly in shade than in full sun. Moving them out of the sun helped control an insect problem. Mr. Hoffman does not use pesticide . Instead, he planted the potatoes in the shade, especially on the east side of the tree. The potatoes get morning sun, but they are shaded during the hottest part of the day. Some insects dislike shade, and the hottest part day is when they do the worst of their damage. Time of day, sun intensity , shadows from trees, walls and buildings all influence how much sunlight falls on plants. And people interested in shade planting should also remember something else. The term "shade" can describe different amounts of darkness. It can even mean different things in different parts of the world. From the passage we can know that _ . A plants with wider leaves produce more in full sun. B as a matter of fact, plants don't need to grow in full sun. C the more sunshine plants get, the more they will produce D plants with wider leaves grow better in shadows Answer: D
"Wanted by the FBI".To the murderer,or the bank robber,these are the most frightening words in the world.When the criminal hears them,he knows that six thousand trained persons are after him. Why should he be so afraid? There are thousands of cities and villages where he can hide,and forests and deserts,as well.Besides,he's usually rich with stolen money. Money can make it easier to hide.With money,the criminal can even pay a doctor to operate on his face and make him hard to recognize.But the criminals know that as public enemies,they can be found by the FBI,no matter where they hide. They know every trick the criminal knows and many more.If he makes just one mistake,they'll get him.That's why the man who is wanted can't sleep.That's why he becomes nervous,and why he jumps at every sound. The FBI began on May 10th,1924.General Harlan Stone chose Edgar Hoover,a young lawyer,to hold the new agency."What we need is a wholly new kind of police force."he said."Criminals today are smart.They use stolen cars and even planes to make their gateways.They have learned to open any lock,using advanced technology.We can't beat them with old methods.We have to train officers to work scientifically." Edgar Hoover quietly went ahead with his plans.He picked his men carefully.They had to be between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five.He wanted only men with good manners and good character.When working as his officers,they would have to meet all kinds of people.Hoover wanted men who could _ .But the FBI cannot help in every police problem.It can look into only certain crimes against the government.Solving all other crimes is the duty of local police forces. The FBI was begun in order to _ . A. bring young men into police work B. reduce crimes C. change people's attitude towards police D. fight crimes scientifically Answer: D. fight crimes scientifically Scotland is a unique place, loaded with history, where you can find aristocratic palaces and castles, as well as the traditional parades in national costumes. In order to see and discover the true soul of Scotland today and what formed the character of this splendid region, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampian Mountains , beautiful and plain. The Scots conquered the environment with simple spades and strong arms, for it was difficult to farm. The history of this ancient struggle, and its people's ancient love with the hard land, can be felt within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typical rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here. From coastal Aberdeen in towards the Grampian Mountains there runs the Castle Trail, a road that touches on many fortresses , which are witnesses of continual fights against the control of neighboring England in Scottish history. Perhaps the most exciting moment for Scottish autonomy is _ experienced inside this ancient church of Arbroath, where, in 1320, the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, at the instigation of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, for whom cinema has designed the wonderful film Brave Heart, the winner of the five Oscars. This is Glamis Castle, where King Macbeth and Queen Elizabeth used to live. Among the most frequent guests here are the predictable ghosts, if not actually created, by ancient popular beliefs. These have been handed down over the centuries by people tending to live with mystery, with the forces of the supernatural. Another attraction here is a legendary monster: the Loch Ness Monster. Whether it's real or imaginary, this monster, which has been nicknamed Nessie, has collected a good 3,000 sightings over the last 50 years. The true flag of Scotland, tartan, is recognizable from the brightly colored plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various social groups. Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings. According to the passage, which one is TRUE? A. The film Brave Heart is mainly about King Robert Bruce. B. The Scottish film industry is one of the attractions of the land. C. Highland gatherings are often marked with bagpipes and dancing D. The supernatural forces in Glamis Castle may change a person's belief. Answer: C. Highland gatherings are often marked with bagpipes and dancing It is the so-called city of dreams that counts some of the greatest masters of music and art among its former inhabitants. And it seems Vienna still has plenty to feel proud of, as it has been named the best place to live in the world -- for the third year running. The Austrian capital, which was home to Mozart and Beethoven, and has a population of 1.7million, has the best living standards in the world, according to an annual quality of living survey. European cities represent more than half of the top 25 cities in the rankings, which are based on factors such as crime, food and climate. Zurich was ranked second, followed by Auckland, and Munich and Dusseldorf. But just one UK city makes it into the top fifty, with London coming in at 38th - one place up from last year and ahead of New York in 47th. Other UK cities, including Birmingham, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Belfast, crept into the top 100. This year, the survey included for the first time a list of the safest cities. Luxembourg topped the list, followed by Bern, Switzerland, Helsinki, Finland, and Zurich, Switzerland. London came 68th, joint with New York, highlighting the crime rates in the capital. www.ks5u.com At the bottom of the 221-strong list, for the second year in a row, was Baghdad, in Iraq, which had the lowest standard of living and was ranked the least safe city by the Mercer survey. Slagin Parakatil, senior researcher at Mercer, said: "European cities in general continue to have high standards of living, because they enjoy advanced and modern city services combined with high-class facilities. But London, high levels of unemployment and lack of confidence in political institutions make their future positions hard to predict." What would be the best title for the passage? A. Vienna--home to masters B. European cities--high standards of living C. What can we see from a living survey D. Vienna named as best in the world Answer: D. Vienna named as best in the world Recently, Chinese netizens enjoy themselves on "growing and stealing crops" on the Internet. This is a game called "Happy Farms". Now more and more people are joining in the game, and getting addicted. Some of them are even found playing the game at work. Because of this, some players have been fired by their bosses. Lovers have broken up, but none of them can stop Happy Farms from becoming more popular. Here we interviewed some young netizens and let's see what their opinions were. Nongmin: Playing happy Farms at work, that's terrible! A clerk was fired because she was online playing it at work. King: I find that all the dreams of having houses and fields, which are very hard to get in real life, are very easy to be realized in the games. I think I know the reason why the game is so popular. Kaixin: We have to know how to control ourselves. We should keep our minds on study. Games are just games. I prefer to play sports with my classmates when I am free. Kitty: I like Happy Farms. My high-pressure work makes me feel like I can't breathe. I wish I could have a real house and farm, but it seems so far away. I have to turn to virtual nature for my own house and farm. People often get tired from work or study, so they go to their own farms, take care of their crops and pull out weeds. It is really delightful to forget about the pressure. But some players work from morning to night to "grow and steal crops". They lose themselves in the game and show no interest in anything else. It is really terrible. From this passage, we know that "Happy Farms" is _ . A. a popular online game B. a kind of sport C. an interesting online film D. a real farm Answer: A. a popular online game One of the biggest challenges facing students and their families is what career they should enter and what is the best path for them to take. I was talking to someone the other day who told me he first studied accounting because that was what everyone was studying several years ago. It was and some say still is a reliable career. However, then he told me that he was now studying financial investment because again--- that's what everyone was studying now and it was needed if he wanted to get ahead in the company. And I asked him what he was actually interested in and then-- well the conversation kind of died. So I asked why he had bothered studying accounting in the first place and he explained that it was his parents' idea. Finally I asked what his passion was and he wasn't too sure because he never thought about it. And so it is-- lifelong learning-- or the continual need to make ourselves marketable in a world that appears to be more competitive as time goes by. Is there a secret to help us so we can live a life of quality? Regardless or not at this stage in world history with increasing connection between people, ideas and markets -- the ability to match the needs and desires of the day with your own skills and products is a tremendous and vigorous challenge. Many have gone into English or foreign language study because it was encouraged at the time when China was entering the WTO. Or maybe they were interested in international affairs or working abroad. Upon graduation they then faced the reality that there was a limit to how many jobs they could apply for. Perhaps some then studied further doing courses for work such as a tour guide or translator/ interpreter. Many may have decided that going into teaching was more rewarding or stable. Others would have gone into media or advertising or conference management and acquired new skills along the way. This constant quest to remain ahead of the game makes many upset and exhausted. Some futurists who examine technology have even predicted that people should expect to change careers six or seven times during their lifetime! So if you are concerned by the nature of change, why not start spending more time looking at the most modern leading economies, institutions and their publications. A whole lot of changes are starting to happen yet there is no reason why this cannot be enjoyable, exciting and also rewarding. Our attitude, approach and willingness to continually learn and update our skills must remain strong. My tip is to track the work that our government is setting about to achieve. In particular, look at the people who have been chosen as the key support team and try to read behind the light surface news and look at their career development and examine the recent reports that they are now recommending the government move towards. Key industry development, new ways of dealing with information and new demands are creating opportunities for the students and workers of tomorrow -- if we stay prepared. The case of the student who first studied accounting and then financial investment shows _ . A. many people decide their majors without knowing their own interest B. parents' decisions are always blind and will result in a life of low quality C. accounting and financial investment are necessary to ensure a reliable career. D. people never have a chance to think about their own interest in choosing career. Answer: A. many people decide their majors without knowing their own interest
Scientists found a fossil of an elephant in the African savanna. It has much longer tusks and is much larger than elephant species presently inhabiting the area. This elephant fossil most likely reveals Answer: Pretending to be happy can actually make you more miserable--especially if you're a woman, according to a new study. Researchers found that walking around with a forced smile and faking happiness simply led to people feeling gloomier. So, putting a brave face on your woes could actually be counterproductive. The research found that women suffered more than men when pretending to be happy. Psychologist, Dr. Brent Scott, who led the study, said employers should take note because forcing workers to smile when workers were dealing with clients could backfire . He said:"Smiling for the sake of smiling can lead to emotional exhaustion, and that's bad for the organization." Dr. Scott said the research showed customer service workers who"faked smiles"throughout a day worsened their moods and then withdrew from work, so their productivity dropped. He added:"Bosses may think that getting their staff to smile is good for the organization, but that's not necessarily the case."Dr. Scott, assistant professor of management at Michigan State University, analyzed a group of bus drivers during a two -week period. The study is one of the first of its kind to examine emotional displays over a period of time and compare the different effects that they have on men and women. His team examined the effects of"surface acting"--or fake smiling--compared to what was termed"deep acting", or cultivating positive emotions by recalling pleasant memories. Dr. Scott said: "Women were harmed more by'surface acting', meaning their moods worsened even more than men and they withdrew more from work. However , they were helped more by'deep acting',which meant their moods improved more." Dr. Scott suggested women tended to suffer more when pretending to be happy because they were expected to be more emotionally expressive than men. Therefore, faking a smile while they are feeling down is more likely to go against their normal behavior and cause more harmful feelings. Although,"deep acting"seemed to improve moods in the short term, Dr. Scott said it was not a long-term solution to feeling unhappy. He said:"You're trying to cultivate positive emotions, but at the end of the day you may not feel like yourself any more" The finding of the research might serve as a warning to . Answer: Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific. It is one of the smallest countries in the world. But for those who are interested in adventure and sport, there is a lot to do. Vanuatu's islands offer visitors two of the most exciting and dangerous activities in the world: volcano surfing and land diving. Volcano Surfing On Tanna Island, Mount Yasur rises 300 meters into the sky. Yasur is an active volcano, and it erupts almost every day, sometimes several times a day. For centuries, people have climbed this mountain to visit the top. Recently, people have also started climbing Yasur to surf the volcano. In some ways, volcano surfing is like surfing in the sea, but in other ways it's very different. Volcano surfers try to escape the erupting volcano--without getting hit by flying rocks! It's fast, fun and dangerous--the perfect extreme sport . Land Diving Most people are familiar with bungee jumping, but do you know bungee jumping started on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu and is almost fifteen centuries old? The activity, first called land diving, is part of a religious ceremony . A man ties tree vines to his legs. He then jumps head-first from a high tower to touch the earth with the top of his head--without breaking the vine. Every spring, island natives (men only) still take part in this amazing activity. What is the purpose of the passage? Answer: Is carrying a few extra pounds into your senior years healthy? Advice has been mixed. Now, two studies published this month attempt to better define the ideal weight for fitness and longevity for adults over age 60. The main point is that you don't need to worry about being slightly overweight, as long as that extra weight is maintained at a consistent level. However, being very overweight is detrimental to health, and exercising to lose body fat and to gain muscle mass is always beneficial. Determining the ideal weight for older people has been a pursuit, with researchers looking for what weight is not too thin, but not too fat. Studies have suggested that being slightly overweight can be protective. For example, a 2001 study by researchers at Yale University found that moderately overweight senior adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 -- two points higher than the BMI of 25 that defines being overweight -- lived longer than seniors who were either thinner or heavier. There's a fine line here, though, because carrying extra pounds is a risk factor for many types of cancer and other diseases. And, according to the researchers behind the two new studies, the general public has misinterpreted the Yale findings to mean that being very overweight is healthy. One new study, published this month in the American Journal of Epidemiology by researchers at The Ohio State University in Columbus, found that seniors who maintained a stable, slightly overweight status survived most probably over the 16 years surveyed. Those seniors who had a so-called healthy weight going into the study (a BMI between 18.5 and 25) and who gained weight, but stayed below BMI 25, had a slight possibility of surviving over the study period. People in the obese group, with a BMI higher than 35 and who continued to gain weight, faced the worst among all the groups in the study. But next-to-last were normal-weight people who lost weight, but this was likely because they became sick, the researchers said. The second study, appearing this month in the journal Obesity, was conducted by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., and supports intentional weight loss among senior adults. Whether weight loss is beneficial has been debated because of this concept that being overweight is protective. In short, the researchers found that physical activity and weight loss for overweight and obese adults resulted in lower cardiovascular disease risk and improved mobility. This finding supports previous studies demonstrating that exercise builds muscle and bone strength, improves balance and coordination, prevents falls and enables seniors to enjoy a more active lifestyle, they said. Hui Zheng of Ohio State, the lead author of first study, said that the negative effects of obesity on health are greatest for young people. What does the passage mainly tell us? Answer: Have you been asked for money by some disabled beggars while you're enjoying shopping? Do you have any pity on them who are so poor and lonely or do you just feel afraid of their terrible shapes? As one of the most special groups, disabled people's living conditions -- not only their material conditions, but their mental world -- really need improvement. The treatment for disabled people should go like this: First, don't look down upon them. Don't be afraid of looking at the terrible shapes of the disabled. Try to treat them _ . Because they are a part of the society ,we cant discard them. The second is to help them as much as we could. If you can be a volunteer and do some work for the disabled people, that would be very nice. That does help not only to the disabled people but also to yourself because you will feel good after your kind action. If every one of us gives a little love, the world will become a beautiful wonderland! Which of the following is TRUE? Answer:
Most of the sandstorms that had swept China last year came from foreign land,a Chinese official in charge of desertification control said on Monday. And the invasions could partly explain the frequent sandstorms in the country in recent years despite its achievements in desertification control. Since the start of last spring,the north and northwestern Chinese regions had been hit by 17 sandstorms,of which,a dozen came from foreign land. Situated in the centralAsia sandstorm region,one of the world's four largest sandstorm sources,China also suffers from sandstorms from outside the country while being blamed as a sand source to northeast Asia. The other three major sources are in Africa,North America and Australia. The land suffering from desertification has been _ by 7,585 square kilometres annually in China,and the area of sandy land has also been falling by 1,284 square kilometres a year. The shrinkage forms a clear contrast to the fact that the land suffering from desertification and sandy feature was added by 10,400 square kilometres and 3,436 square kilometres late last century,respectively. Currently,the desertification land in China makes up 2.64 million square kilometres,accounting for 27.46 percent of the nation's land,and its sandy land totals 1.74 million square kilometres,accounting for 18.1 percent of the country's total. Where do most of the sandstorms in China come from? Foreign countries. Late in the evening, the wind blew hard around the little house. The sound of the wind is like someone crying. It made the old woman nervous. She had not been getting much sleep lately, but with the wind making the spooky noise, she didn't know what else to do but lie down and try to rest a little. Once she lay down to try to sleep, many memories of her life in the little house kept her mind busy. She still was having trouble falling asleep. She remembered being a little girl and her dad putting the finishing touches on the house. Her mom loved the big kitchen, and she and her younger sister had their own room in the back. It was in this, her old bedroom, that she was trying to sleep. The crying sound got louder. It didn't seem like it was outside. It sounded like it was coming from the other side of the bed. When she turned and looked, she saw her younger sister. She still looked five years old. The old woman couldn't remember her any other way, as she had died from a sickness at age five. "What's wrong?" she asked her sister. "I miss you. I am so lonely," answered the little girl, who was so thin you could see through her. The old lady closed her eyes and reached for her sister. That is how they found her the next day, holding her pillow and smiling. "She died in her sleep." "It is best that way." Who still looked five years old? the old woman's little sister My Town the Best Place to Be! My town is a great place to live in . It's the best place to enjoy your free time. There are three movie theaters in the town. They are all good, but the one nearest my house is the best. Shopping is also easy, There are many shops and most of them are trendy. They sell very fashionable clothes. The prices are also cheaper than in other cities, so students love to shop here. There are also a lot of video and music stores. These are very popular with students. I go to the music store every week to buy a new CD. The most crowded place for students to hang out is the park . Everyone goes there ,so it's really interesting. Sometimes there are even street performers. Some students think they are boring ,but I think they are the most creative people. I want to be a street performer, too . The writer thinks street performers are _ . creative From Monday until Friday most people are busy working or studying, but in the evenings and on weekends they are free to relax and enjoy themselves. Some watch TV or go to the movies; others take part in sports. It depends on _ interests. There are many different ways to spend our spare time. Almost everyone has some kinds of hobbies. It may be anything from collecting stamps to making model airplanes. Some hobbies are very expensive, but others don't cost anything at all. Some collections are worth a lot of money; others are valuable only to their owners. I know a man who has a coin collection worth several thousand dollars. A short time ago he bought a rare fifty-cent piece worth $250! He was very happy about his buying and thought the price was reasonable . On the other hand, my youngest brother collects matchboxes. He has almost 600 of them but I doubt if they are worth any money. However, to my brother they are very valuable. Nothing makes him happier than to find a new matchbox for his collection. That's what a hobby means, I guess. It is something we like to do in our spare time simply for the fun of it. The value in dollars is not important, but the pleasure it gives us is. In the writer's opinion, _ . some hobbies don't cost anything Suspecting that students were using narcotics, the president of a private college arranged for local police to place concealed microphones in several suites of the dormitory. Using these microphones, the college security officers recorded a conversation in which Green, a student, offered to sell marijuana to another student. The tape was turned over to the local police, who played it for a local judge. The judge issued a warrant to search Green's room. The room was searched by police, and marijuana was discovered. Green is charged with unlawful possession of narcotics. At trial, Green's motion to prevent the introduction of the marijuana into evidence will most probably be granted, because Green's privacy was unreasonably invaded.
Question: When we think of leadership, we often think of strength and power. But what are these really, and how do they operate? Leadership today is not about forcing others to do things. If this is even possible, it is short-term, and tends to backfire. If you order someone to do something against their will, they may do it because they feel they must, but the anger they feel will do more harm in the long-term, They will also experience fear. Fear causes the thinking brain to shut down, making the person unable to function at his or her best. If they associate you with this emotion of fear. They will become less functional around you, and you will have succeeded in not only shooting yourself in the foot, but possibly making a very good employee or partner unable to perform effectively. Fear has no place in leadership. The way we influence people in a lasting way is by our own character, and our understanding and use of emotion. We can order someone to do something, which may be part of the work day; or we can employ them at the emotional level, so they became fully devoted to the projects and provide some of their own motivation . Today's work place is all about relationships. Anyone works harder in a positive environment in which they are recognized and valued as a human being as well as a worker. Everyone produces just a bit more for someone they like. Leaders understand the way things work. They know the pay check is not the single most motivating factor in the work life of most people. The true strength of leadership is an inner strength that comes from the confidence of emotional intelligence--knowing your own emotions, and how to handle them, and those of others. Developing your emotional intelligence is the single best thing you can do if you want to develop your relationships with people around you, which is the key to the leadership skills. To positively influence employees a leader should first of all _ . A. provide better suggestions B. develop his own personality C. give his employees a pay rise D. hide his own emotion of fear Answer: B Question: Many people are already planning to look for a new position when the job market picks up, but the way you quit can have a long term impact on your career. How to resign on good terms: Be prepared. Review your employee handbook or employment contract before announcing your decision, so you know what company policy is regarding resignations, severance , the return of company property and pay for unused vacation time. If you have another job lined up, be sure to have your offer in writing before you resign. Use it or lose it. If you haven't used vacation time and will lose it if you quit, you might want to use your time before leaving or link it to your resignation date. But if you don't want to burn any bridges, never announce your departure just after returning from vacation. Make an appointment. Be formal and make an appointment with your boss. Prepare what you want to say. Be direct and be transparent. After the discussion, put your resignation in a hardcopy letter that includes your last day and any transitional help you've offered. Keep a copy. Two weeks advance notice is still standard but experts recommend offering more time if you've worked at the company for more than five years. You also need to be prepared to leave right away -- some companies require it. Scrub your digital footprint. Clear your browser cache , remove passwords to websites you use from work, such as your personal email or online bank account and delete any personal files on your work computer that aren't relevant to work. Don't delete anything work-related if you're required to keep it. Stay close. Consider joining an employee alumni association, which often serves as a networking group for former employees. It can be a good way to keep up with changes in the company and industry and find leads to new jobs down the road. Keep in touch with coworkers you worked closely with; they may end up in management roles. What's the purpose of this passage? A. To state impacts. B. To give suggestions. C. To offer warnings. D. To list explanations. Answer: B Question: Andy was still traveling in Spain when he realized he had to confirm his flight home with the airline company . He was visiting Spain in order to improve his Spanish. When he was speaking to people face to face, he had no difficulty understanding what they said. However, when he was speaking on the phone, he still had a problem. Andy called the airline. And the clerk confirmed that his plane was leaving at nine o'clock three days from that day. She also told Andy to be at the airport two hours earlier in order to check in his luggage and get a seat. Since he was leaving in three days, Andy didn't lose any time. He visited as many places as he could. He thought that it would probably be a while before he had enough money again. He wished he could come back and spend a year in Spain. Too quickly, the final day arrived. Andy left early for the airport to arrive two hours before take-off. He hated to rush. He went to the clerk to show his ticket. The clerk looked at the ticket in surprise. "Why, sir, but your flight was at nine o'clock in the morning, and now it is eight in the evening." "But I confirmed my flight," insisted Andy. "Will I have to pay for another ticket?" "No, sir. However, the next flight out will be three days from now." Andy's look of shock turned to pleasure as he realized that now he could continue his vacation. Which word can best describe the feeling of Andy when he came to know that his stay in Spain would be longer? A. happy B. shocked C. upset D. angry Answer: A Question: While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy was ruiningg their life plans, I couldn't help but think the 20-somethings sounded like a bunch of spoiled who grew up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, certainly share their disappointment : my husband and I probably won't be able to buy a house until we're in our 40s, and we two are burdened by student loans . But why should it be any different? Being young persons in America, shouldn't they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers? Consider some of these views shared in the story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won't be able to have children for at least a decade because they can't afford to buy a house yet. I read that, and I thought what planet she is living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury , not a _ requirement. A 26-year-old in the story is disappointed that he can't afford to get a Ph. D in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years. Yes, it's sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people's expectations grew up at a time when everyone's wealth appeared to be increasing, Their parents probably saw their home values rise along with their investments. "So you have people who have grown up in an environment where people had great expectations of what living well means," says Kobliner. This recession will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems a lot better for our mental health to focus on being grateful---for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day---than on longing for some kind of luxury life. . What's the Kobliner's attitude towards the 20-somethings with high expectations? A. Unbearable B. Opposite C. Doubtful D. Understanding Answer: D Question: I live in a town. In the past, the air wasn't fresh. There was a river. People put rubbish in it. The water went bad. The fishes in the river died. There was much rubbish in the streets which weren't wide. It smelt terrible. People lived in low old houses with trees all around and had a terrible life. The children couldn't have many chances to go out to cities, not to say, have a good education. Farmers worked only with their hands. They worked very hard all year round. They planted crops with the help of animals. The poor people went anywhere on foot, and only some rode bikes. Few visitors came here to spend their holidays. At present, things have been greatly changed. People have moved into big bright houses or beautiful buildings. There is a big factory. Many people work in it. They are getting richer. Different kinds of cars and buses are running in the big streets. It is faster and easier to travel. People plant many fruit trees and get much money. People plant crops with the help of machines which can save lots of work. Students can study in a modem school. People pay more attention to the environmental protection. The mountains are becoming greener, water much cleaner. What around us is the clearer sky and greener water. As a result, many visitors come here to spend their holidays. People enjoy their modern life. But with the development of the industry, we have fewer trees. Air and water pollution is becoming more and more serious. We must do something to stop pollution to make our town more and more beautiful. What can we learn about the passage? A. Great changes in my hometown. B. How to protect environment. C. People pay attention to modern life. D. Hometown's pollution. Answer: A
A day at the beach. When Sam woke in the morning, he was super excited! Today was the day! It was Sunday, the day that Sam's mom and dad had promised to take Sam to the beach. Sam's grandma had given a pail and shovel to Sam to use in the sand. At breakfast Sam was so excited he was wiggling in his seat! Mom told Sam that they would leave when the big hand on the clock was pointing to the 10, and the little had was pointing to the 12. Mom asked Sam if he would like to help make sandwiches for the trip, and Sam said that he wanted to help. Dad said, "let's make a game of it, we need to make a sandwich for each of us. There are three of us, so we need three sandwiches. Let's count as we make the sandwiches!" Sam counted as mom made the sandwiches, one for dad, one for mom and one for Sam. Then mom started to make another sandwich! "Mom!" said Sam, "we have three sandwiches and that makes one sandwich for each of us." Sam's mom laughed, "You're right Sam!" Sam's mom said she was being silly. How many people were going to the beach? Answer: BCD, a manufacturer of computers, pays its salespeople a salary of $1,000 per month and a commission of five percent on billings actually rendered for machines that they sell. BCD salespeople are employed at will under written agreements which provide that in order to receive a commission the salesperson must be in the employment of the company when the bill is sent to the customer. In 1976, John, a salesperson for BCD, worked for eight months to get an order from Bobb Corporation for a large $750,000 computer. He consulted extensively with Bobb's top executives and worked with its operating personnel to develop detailed specifications for the new equipment. He also promised Bobb, with BCD's knowledge and approval, to assist Bobb for six months after installation in making the equipment work. On January 1, 1977, Bobb signed an order, and on March 1, the computer was installed. On March 15, BCD fired John on the stated ground that he had failed to meet his 1975 and 1976 sales quotas. John thought that BCD was correct in this statement. Another salesperson, Franklin, was thereupon assigned to service the Bobb account. On March 31, BCD billed Bobb for the computer.""Which of the following additional facts, if shown by the evidence, would support a claim by John against BCD? I. BCD terminated John because Franklin is the son of the company's president, who wanted his son to have the commission instead of John. II. BCD and John were mistaken; John had in fact exceeded his sales quotas for 1975 and 1976. III. John had worked for BCD as a salesperson for 20 years. Answer: Every person leaves a footprint. That's what I learnt when I started to work as a private investigator 10 years ago.People pay restaurant bills with their bank card,check into hotels or travel around. In every case,they leave a trace.And because of this,I'm able to track them down even when they don't want to be found. The first thing I do when I want to find out where someone is staying is to go to the neighbourhood where he used to live.It's human nature to tell stories--which is why neighbours will tell me all they know when I ring at their houses.Sometimes,someone even talks about his friend's dishonesty.Then I produce a pattern of my subject's life:if he likes to have a holiday in Spain or in Italy,if he prefers two- or three- star hotels and where he might hide his assets .When I've got this life pattern,I start my rescarch. Nine times out of l0,I find the people I'm looking for.I once investigated a lorry supplier who owed PS500,000 to a subcontractor .The subcontractor wanted to find out if it was worth bringing charges against the supplier.I found out the supplier had moved assets to his son,who founded a new company offering the same product.It was a11 done within the law.There was no money to be got from that operation. However, I asked the son if I could speak to his father and he told me that his parent was on a long holiday in Spain and wouldn't be back for a while.It didn't take me long to find out that the father wasn't in Spain. I went back to the son and this time he told me that his father might be in Bulgaria,and I found him doing winter sports in a beautiful mountain area.He was 1iving in a big house on a 1arge piece of land he had bought for ie 400,000.This was exactly the kind of asset my customer was loooking for. The lorry supplier moved his assets to his son in oder to _ . Answer: Noise pollution in cities is causing out health to suffer, according to the World Health Organization. Recently, researchers at the Free University of Brussels in Beigium have developed an applocation: NoiseTube. It allows everyone who downloads it the ability to measure the amount of noise they are exposed to by transforming their smart phone into a sound level meter. NoiseTube works by recording sound levels and GPS locations. Once launched the app shows decibel levels of green or red depending on the level of noise. That information is then sent to the NoiseTube server via the Internet where a "noise map" is produced and then made available to the user. Since its launch, the app has been popular with community groups who want to monitor their own noise levels. According to D'hondt of the Noise Tube project, these groups don't think that city produced noise maps give an adequate interpretation of the level of noise they're experiencing. City produced noise maps are based on statistical models involving very few actual measurements. NoiseTube on the other hand gives a detailed account of the level of noise experienced at a specific time and location. "Ten people walking the same area from 9 to 10 am every day for one week can make a valid and detailed map for an area of a couple of blocks," D'Hondt said. "It's reasonable effort by the community groups to produce these maps, and with it they can go to the authorities and have real evidence about what they're experiencing." So far these sorts of noise maps have been produced for a number of European cities. The app has been downloaded by 10,000 people with 2,700 people registered on the NoiseTube website. Why are community groups producing noise maps? Answer: Long ago, there was a queen who lived in a palace. She felt bored and said to her advisor( ), "AIl the things around me are too boring. I need a different kind of beauty. Let everyone know that I will hold a competition for the most beautiful thing in the world. And the prize will be this crown ." Several days later, lots of people came to the competition and showed their things. The queen was not satisfied with what she saw. The advisor suggested, "What you are looking for cannot be brought to you. You must look for it by yourself. What about a journey?" The queen was interested in the idea, so she started immediately. As she was on top of the hill near her palace, she looked down and suddenly something cried in her heart. "Why have I never found my palace so beautiful?" The queen spent one year travelling. She saw beauty on the farm, in the forest and even in the stars twinkling at night on her journey. But what was the most beautiful thing? She thought it over. Suddenly, she understood beauty was everywhere. She should learn to enjoy the world. She left the pieces of her crown at different places that she had seen. As time went by, the queen's crown got smaller and smaller until nothing was left. She found the most beautiful thing at last. It was the world! The passage tells us that _ . Answer:
The old camera Brownie picked up in a charity shop was a splendid find. But the undeveloped film still inside turned out to be even more of a treasure. New owner Don Roccoforte had it developed and saw in it an attractive dark haired woman in her thirties with two young boys. He immediately determined to try to find out who they were. A few weeks later the California-based camera collector received the news that left him _ . The woman was his wife Jaqueline's aunt in a picture taken around 50 years ago, and one of the boys, her cousin. The couple have now unraveled the astonishing coincidence, which leads back to Mrs. Roccoforte's native Lancashire, where many of her family still live. The camera was bought from a shop in Preston, England by Brownie, a friend of Mr. Roccoforte, who knew of his interest in photography and thought it would be an unusual gift. Back in California, the contents of his new possession inspired Mr. Roccoforte's curiosity. Recognizing the water in the background of the photo as a lake in Lancashire, he sent a copy to the local paper in Preston to see if any readers could help. Another relative recognized the group as Winnie Bamber, still living in the area at the age of 81, her son Tony, Mrs. Roccoforte's cousin, and Tony's childhood friend, Mick Murphy. Yesterday Mrs. Bamber was still gasping at the turn of events which has reunited two strands of her family. She said she remembered taking the boys to the lake and losing the camera. The two boys, both now 58, still live near Preston. Mrs. Roccoforte's father is Winnie Bamber's brother, Billy Charnley. He and his wife moved to America in the 1960s. Their daughter met Mr. Roccoforte there and they married and moved to Preston for two years before returning to America. Lancashire is most likely to be located in _ . Answer: England Many people will remember the flight of the space shuttle Challenger , in June, 1993.The achievement of Sally Ride, America's first woman astronaut to fly into space, made this flight especially memorable.Students from two high schools in Camden, New Jersey, however, are likely to remember Norma rather than Sally whenever they think about the flight. Norma didn't travel alone.She brought about 100 companions along with her.Norma was an ant, a queen ant who, with her subjects, made up the first ant colony to travel into space.The ants were part of a science experiment designed by the students to test the effects of weightlessness on insects. The equipment designed by the students for their colony functioned perfectly throughout the long space trip.The young scientists and their teachers were very sad to find that their insect astronauts had all died at some point before the container was returned to the school and opened.The problem did not occur in space, but on the ground after Challenger had landed.The container remained in the desert for nearly a week before the ant colony was removed.The hot, dry desert air dried out the colony's container and the ants died from lack of moisture . The project was termed a success because it did provide useful information.Students will continue their efforts to find out exactly what went wrong.They will try to prevent the same difficulties from recurring on future missions .They don't want to be discouraged either by the death of the ants or by the $10,000 shuttle fare they will have to pay to send the next colony of ants into space. The ants died because_. Answer: they dried out in the desert Most of us long for relationships in which we are loved and accepted. Our hearts' desire is to give and receive love in relationships that make us feel that even if others disagree with what we do or say, they still love us, accept us, and appreciate what we give to the world. While it would be wonderful to have these types of relationships with all people, we know that's hard to do. However, we can have such relationships with some others, but only when we first have them with ourselves--and, strangely, this is often the hardest relationship of all. Do you love yourself? You may think you do, but do you really? There's only one way to find out-- by taking a close look at what you think, say, and do. You may not like some of what you find, but if you are serious about really loving yourself, you can use this insight to do some positive inner work. Here're three ways for gaining greater personal insight for deeper love: Listen Closely to Your Thoughts Your thoughts will determine your actions. One thing helping you to listen to your thoughts is keeping a journal. It is not necessary for you to write in it every day, but it helps to record various insights you gain as you go about your life. Instead of using a big notebook, you might use a small notepad that you can keep in your pocket for easy access to record your thoughts as they occur to you. Whichever method you choose, what's most important is that you write your thoughts down. It will help you know what's in your heart. Be Honest with Yourself To do this, you should pay attention to your actions. Actions speak louder than words, and they always tell the truth. If you say you love your job, but your actions say otherwise, which do you think is more reliable? On the other hand, if you say you're not good at a certain job, but your actions say otherwise, that's also important. What do you do with this insight? You can use it to make more positive choices in your life. By being honest with yourself, you will act according to truth instead of just what you tell yourself. Take Quiet Time to Listen to Your Inner Voice This is similar to the first point, but it takes a step further-- beyond the natural mind to the heart that cannot be seen. You may want to use your quiet time to think deeply. However you use this time, the key is to shut out all of the noise around you by focusing deep within yourself. Breathing deeply during quiet time will also help you focus. I know it's hard to find quiet time during a particularly busy day, but it's so important-- even if it's just 10 minutes a day and you have to hide somewhere to get it. Quiet time can really make a difference in your life. Despite what your mind may be telling you, you can have love with no limits. The key is to unconditionally love yourself first. . By looking deep into what we think, say, and do, we can_. Answer: know whether we really love ourselves Siberia is a huge territory in Russia. It is more than half of Russia and is 4,000 miles wide. Most of this area is a forest with animals and birds. In autumn, the forests in Siberia are full of mushrooms and berries . Many people like picking mushrooms, but that is not as simple as you might think. Old people who live in the villages know places where you can pick lots of mushrooms. Some mushrooms grow in colonies. If you find one, you only need to look around because nearby you'll find more of them. However, when picking mushrooms, it is important not to choose the wrong kind. You have to be careful because some mushrooms are poisonous even though they look good. The smell can help you choose them, because good mushrooms smell very good. Siberian people are very friendly and hospitable. If someone invites you home for dinner, you'll soon be full. You should try everything the host is having. The climate there depends on the territory. Some places have very comfortable climates with hot summers and cold winters. In my opinion, the best season is spring, when nature wakes up after a long winter. It is the time for blossoms and love. Birds come back from other warm countries. Trees become dressed in green. The sun becomes warm and the days are longer. The mood is wonderful and people smile a lot. It is an amazing time. In winter, you have opportunity for sports. The most popular sport in winter in Russia is cross-country skiing. During weekends, many people go into the country and ski. Noses freeze and cheeks hurt, but people continue to enjoy these times. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Siberia in spring? Answer: The night is longer. Sue and Linda usually go to school by car. They drive past a hospital, a supermarket and a food shop. The food shop is next to the supermarket. . Jack and Michael usually go to school by bus. They go past a bank and a post office. The bank is next to the post office. Mary usually goes to work by bike. She rides a bike past a police office, a park and a swimming pool. The park is between the police office and the swimming pool. How does Jack go to school? Answer: by bus.
"Keep out or I'll chase you out! This is my property!" You hear this every spring. It is a long musical sound --- a bird song! Birds use their songs to communicate different messages to one another. People who study bird sounds are learning their meanings. Usually it is the male that sings. Early in spring he sings to say that he has picked out a piece of property. He sings to attract a female of his same kind. Together they will raise a family in his territory . He sings to tell all other birds of his kind to keep out. Each kind of bird has its own type of song. Cardinals sing something that sounds a little like "What cheer, cheer, cheer." Towhees sing, "Drink your tea." Most of the time, birds pay attention only to the songs of birds of their own kind. Cardinals answer cardinals, and song sparrows answer song sparrows. A cardinal knows that a song sparrow will not try to steal its mate. So you can see one reason why a cardinal may chase away another cardinal but will not bother a song sparrow. Most different kinds of birds eat different things. To find enough to eat, a bird needs a big piece of land to search in. Many kinds of birds have some ways of dividing up the land into territories. Song sparrows, cardinals ovenbirds, and white-throated sparrows are some of the birds that have territorial systems. Especially in early spring, birds work out the boundaries between their territories by singing "keep out" threats and by chasing and fighting each other. The birds continue singing to tell females that they have set up territories. Neighboring birds seem to agree that there are make believe fences between their pieces of property. Then they do not have to waste energy chasing each other instead of taking care of their young. Scientists guessed that some birds could recognize their neighbors by small differences in their songs. Two scientists who studied white-throated sparrows found that these birds can even tell the difference between songs of individual birds of their own kind. White-throated sparrows have songs that seem to say "I'm your neighbor" or "I'm a stranger" or "I'm your neighbor to the west." Other kinds of birds could tell neighbors from strangers by their songs, too. A cardinal may not keep a song sparrow out of its territory because _ . A they sing different songs B they have separate territories C it feels no threat from a song sparrow D song sparrows are friendly to other birds Answer: C What's a good friend like? One may have different answers to this question at different ages. When he is very young, he may think a good friend must be together with him all day. And they can share everything together. If his friend doesn't give him food to eat once, he doesn't think they are good friends any more. But they will play together happily again very soon. When he grows older and studies in a middle school, his idea about a good friend changes. He thinks a good friend should be helpful and honest. A good friend should always help him with his lessons. A good friend should come to him when he is sad. And he is always ready to tell everything to his friend. If his friend tells others about his secrets, he may hate the friend. When he grows up, he may not think it's necessary for a good friend to be always honest. Everyone has his secrets. If the truth may hurt the friend, it's better to keep it secret from him than tell him about it. And he may think a good friend can give him some good advice when he has problems. He comes to understand that he shouldn't just ask friends for help and that he should also learn to do something for his friends. The passage mainly tells us _ . A what a good friend means for a person at different ages B how to keep secrets for our friends C how to make friends D how important it is to be an honest friend Answer: A Although English is not as old as Chinese , it is spoken by many people around the world every day. English speakers are always creating new words and we are often able to know where most words come from. Sometimes, however, no one may really know where a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers are called hamburgers, especially when they are not made with ham? About a hundred years ago, some men went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg. They didn't speak good English, but they ate good food. When some Americans saw them eating round piece of beef, they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans didn't understand the question and answered, "We come from Hamburg." One of these Americans owned a restaurant, and had an idea. He cooked some round piece of bread and started selling them. Such bread came to be called "hamburgers". Today, "hamburgers" are sold in many countries around the world. Whether this story is true or not, it certainly is interesting. Knowing why any word has a certain meaning is interesting, too. This reason, for most English words, can be found in any large English dictionary. According to the passage, _ . A few Americans like hamburgers B hamburgers are made with beef C hamburgers are made with ham D hamburgers were first sold about a century ago Answer: D Charlotte's Web is a popular American children's book about the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. The writer, E.B. White, shows that a real friend will help you even though he or she has nothing to get from doing so. In the book, Charlotte is always helping Wilbur. She spins words into her web to save Wilbur's life, even though spinning the words is tiring and difficult for her. Charlotte is a true friend. She helps Wilbur for only one reason - she cares about him. Templeton, the rat, on the other hand, is not a real friend to Wilbur. Templeton only helps others when there is something in it for him. When he is asked to help save Wilbur's life, he says "no" at first. Later on, he agrees to help, but only because he wants to keep eating Wilbur's meals. At the end of the book, Wilbur learns the true meaning of friendship. He helps Charlotte to save her babies. He does this not for other reasons, but because he cares about his friend. Reading this book lets me know how important it is to help others. Being a good friend means being there when you are needed. The passage mainly talks about the _ . A neighbourhood B friendship C war D work Answer: B There is a photo on Becky's desk. It is a picture of her family. There are four people in it. The man is her father. He is thirty-eight. He can speak Chinese. There is a woman behind Becky. She is Becky's mother. She is thirty-seven. She can't speak Chinese, but she speaks English. They're teachers. They work in a school. There is a boy in the picture, too. He is Becky's brother. His name is Jack. He is twelve. He can skate and ride a bike. He has an American friend. Her name is Betty. Becky and her brother are in the same school, but they aren't in the same grade. They look like their mother. They are English. It's a big family. ,. Becky's mother is _ . A 38 B 37 C 35 D 36 Answer: B
A Bite of China Season Two(<< >> ) is coming! The program is shown at 9:00 on CCTV-1 every Friday night from April 18 to June 6, 2014. There are altogether eight episodes , all about history andculture of food, eating and cooking in China. The directors spent one year visiting more than 150 different parts of China. More than 300 types of food are covered in the documentary. As an old Chinese saying goes, _ . It plays an important role in our daily life, and the rich food culture is also one of the most important parts of Chinese culture.A Bite of China Season Twowants to show the joys and sadness of ordinary Chinese in changing times through food. A Bite of China Season Onewas shown on CCTV in 2012. It attracted more than 100 million viewers. It is all about food, while the second season cares more about the relationship between the people and the food. For example, the first episode shows a young man spent four hours climbing a 40-metre-high tree to get something nice for his brother. The show reminds viewers of their homes and the tastes of childhood. One Weibo user wrote, "A Bite o f China Season Twomakes me have so many words to say. It makes me think of my parents and my grandmother. I haven't been home for a long time, so I have decided to go back in a few days." The show uses food as a window to introduce China to the world. Viewers can see how Chinese people love life by loving food. Anyone who wants to know more about Chinese culture and Chinese society should have a bite of the program. The type of the TV programA Bite of Chinais _ . A. a cartoon B. a drama series C. a chat show D. a documentary Answer: D. a documentary Lots of kids hate school, a new study found. Usually this kind of feeling doesn't last long. But what happens if you feel this way too much? School is a fact of life and getting a good education can help you build the kind of future life you want. So let's talk about school and what to do when you don't like it. If you don't like school, the first step is to find out why. You might not like school because you don't have enough friends, or maybe you don't get along with your teacher. Sometimes it's a big problem with your classes and school-work. You may be getting farther and farther behind, and it may seem like you'll never catch up. When you know why you don't like school, you can start taking steps to make things better. It's a good idea to talk to someone about your problems with school. Your mum, dad, teacher or school counselor will be able to help you. Another good idea is to write down your feelings about school in a notebook. It's a great way to let out emotions . Remember, you don't have to share what you've written with others. If you don't like school, the first step is to_. A. find out the reasons B. go to see a doctor C. ask your parents for help D. leave school for a short time Answer: A. find out the reasons The Ministry of Education in Singapore is releasing a new book this month that summarizes the thinking behind the model method for teaching math.The approach has drawn interest from many comers of the world thanks to the country's top performance on international exams.Last night, education officials and researchers from the US and Singapore highlighted some key differences between the two systems. Singapore's method is highly visual and explores fewer topics, but in greater depth.While Singapore's text books have an average of 34 lessons with 15 pages of explanation for each, much bulkier texts in the US include an average of 157 lessons, with about four pages of explanation per lesson.There arc some more surprising differences. Professional development is intensive for all teachers in Singapore, but strangely about half of the elementary teachers do not have university degrees.That is certain to change, though, as education standards for entering teachers are increasing, said Madame Low, the director of curriculum, planning and development with Singapore's Ministry of Education." Starting salaries for math teachers match public sector accountants or engineers.Teachers are treated as professionals," added Madame Low. Mentoring programs for new teachers in Singapore last five years! Teacher evaluations there are extremely comprehensive, and teachers who succeed receive bonuses worth one to three months of salary.Grades one and two have smaller class sizes--only 30 students.Students are taught in English, not their native tongue.Many are bilingual or trilingual. People often ask, how applicable is a successful model in Singapore to the more diverse and much larger US? I'm also interested in the practical challenges.Given that books in the US are written with state standards and assessments in mind, matching them up with another country's approach might be tough. What do you think? How applicable is a successful model in Singapore to the US? From the book by the Ministry of Education in Singapore, we know _ . A. Singapore's math teachers offer more explanation in the class B. Singapore has as good math methods as the US C. mentoring programs in Singapore may benefit new teachers D. math teachers get higher salaries than the other teachers in Singapore Answer: C. mentoring programs in Singapore may benefit new teachers Michael Jordan was born on February17,1963,in Brooklyn ,New York . Jordan is the fourth of the five children in his family .His family moved to North Carolina when he was just a baby .As a young boy , his favourite sport was baseball ,but soon he found that he could play basketball as well .At the age of 17, he began to show people just how talented ( )he really was .Throughout his basketball career ( ) , Michael Jordan has won many scoring titles ( ) .many boys and girls look up to Michael Jordan as their hero .Do you know he was a hero ,too , when he was growing up ? He looks up to his older brother ,Larry , Michael Jordan , a basketball superstar , is not just a star on the basketball court .He also works hard to raise money for many children's charities( ) . He encourages children to develop their talents by practice , practice and practice ! Michael Jordan often tried his best to raise money for _ . A. his hometown B. his school C. his coach D. many children's charities . Answer: D. many children's charities . Does this sound familiar? It's 3:00 am and you're still awake and staring at the clock. You can't sleep , and you've already tried all the familiar tricks - taken a warm bath , drunk a glass of heated milk ,tried counting sheep, and read a book -all with no success. If you are such a sufferer, remember you're not alone. Experts said that one in every four Americans have trouble falling or staying asleep. Lack of sleep can hurt your quality of life in so many ways. Short temper, impatience, poor decision-making, and mood swings are common among those with sleeping problems. Besides, relationships with family, friends, and co-workers may suffer as a result. Improper sleep can also put your safety at risk by reducing your awareness. When you're awake in the middle of the night, you can start to feel desperate for a way out . However, it makes sense to weigh the available treatments before choosing the one that's right for you. Other sleep aids may seem like _ , but it turns out that there are many disadvantages of these drugs. For one thing, they may require expensive, time-consuming trips to your physician. They may also be habit-forming or have unpleasant side effects like dizziness( ) dry mouth, and next-day sleepiness. Plus , they become less effective over time. So what is the best sleep aid available on the market today? The answer is Somnapure , a product that represents nature and science coming together. This all-natural sleep aid which comes from Peak Life allows you to fall asleep quickly and remain asleep through the night . With Somnapure, you wake up feeling refreshed and energetic. Somnapure is currently giving away a 14-day trial here. Get your Somnapure trial for better, deeper sleep that you deserve. We can infer that the passage is probably immediately followed by information about _ . A. the instructions to take Somnapure B. the side effects of Somnapure C. the price of Somnapure D. the way to get Somnapure Answer: D. the way to get Somnapure
Everything has a name. All people, places and things have names. For example, Jenny is the name of a student from England. England is the name of her country. Cities and towns have names, too. Schools and office building also have names. All things have names. Names are important. Names are different all over the world. In Jenny's class, Jenny must learn the names of students from all over the world. This is very difficult because the names are different. www. In the USA, most people have a first name, a middle name, and a last name. Parents choose the first and middle names for their baby. There are names for boys and names for girls. For example, John, Peter, Tom and Mike are all names for boys. Elizabeth, Betty, Susan, and Mary are all names for girls. The last name is the family name. Usually it is the father's family name. In a family, the mother, the father, and the children usually have the same last name. Names are different all over the world. They can be long or short, but they are always very important. Why does everything have a name? Because _ . A. it is very interesting to have a name B. it is very easy to be remembered C. it is very easy to be told from others D. both B and C Answer: D "Dr. Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?" The usual laughter followed, and people stirred to go. Papaderos held up his hand and stilled the room and looked at me for a long time, asking with his eyes if I was serious and seeing from my eyes that I was. "I will answer your question." Taking his wallet out of his hip pocket, he fished into a leather billfold and brought out a very small round mirror, about the size of a quarter. And what he said went like this: "When I was a small child, during the war, we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day, on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place. I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece. This one, and, by scratching it on a stone, I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine--in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find. I kept the little mirror, and, as I went about my growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child's game but a _ for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light--truth, understanding, knowledge--is there, and it will shine in many dark places only if I reflect it. I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world--into the black places in the hearts of men--and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life." On hearing the author's question, Dr. Papaderos _ at first. A. laughed at his foolishness B. wasn't sure of the answer C. doubted his seriousness D. wasn't interested at all Answer: C Jules Verne was a Frenchman who was born in 1828 and died in 1905. He read a great many scientific books and wrote a number of exciting books about the things which he thought that scientists and inventors would one day be able to do. Years later, many of the things really happened. At that time, however, his stories seemed like fairy tales. Jules Verne's most famous book is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.(A league is an old word meaning a distance of about three miles). In those days submarines had not been invented but he described an underwater ship very like a modern one. Many of the things Jules wrote about in his books more than a hundred years ago to look into the future, however, were surprisingly exact. In his book From the Earth to the Moon he wrote at the age of about forty, three men and a dog made a journey around the moon in a hollow ship fired from a gun. After going around the moon, they returned to the earth and splashed down into the sea not far from where the first real moon traveler landed in July, 1969. Many of the things really happened _ . A. as soon as Jules' books were published B. some years after his books were published C. at that time D. when Jules was in his forties Answer: B There is a little story about an insurance salesman in Tokyo. Even though this man tried very hard to promote the insurance, nobody bought it. One day, he came to a small temple and began to brag about his insurance. After listening to his introduction, the monk said: "Your recommendation of insurance can't arouse any of my interests! When you are communicating with others, you must have the charm to attract others, or you will be unpromising in the future. Young man, try to change yourself!" The salesman thought deeply about each word. From then on, he invited all his friends to point out his weakness and kept on improving himself bit by bit for all his life. Thirty years later, he became a millionaire. And this man is the famous Yuan Yi Ping. His experience reflects one attitude: sometimes, we should change ourselves instead of changing the world. The right title for this passage can be " _ ". A. A story about a salesman B. Communicate more with others C. Attract others D. Change yourself Answer: D American scientists are developing an "intelligent" mobile phone capable of blocking incoming calls depending on the owner's mood. Using "context aware" technology, the "Sensay" phone will monitor calls and send back polite messages saying the user may be contacted later. A research team at the Institute for Complex Engineering Systems at Carragie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, are developing body temperature and electrical skin monitors to help the device understand the emotional state of its user. If the phone senses that the user is busy -- for instance, involved in a conversation -- it might block an incoming call and turn it onto voicemail. The phone would send back a text message saying the user is unavailable, but advising that if the matter is urgent the caller can try again in three minutes. If a call from the same person came in again, the phone would put it through. The researchers are interested in four basic different states -- busy and not to be interrupted, physically active, idle, and "normal." Most people are said to change between these states, an average of 6 to 12 times a day. Professor Asim Smailagic, a leading member of the Carnegic Mellon team, told The Engineer magazine, "Today's computers are pretty dumb compared with the device. We got to work at the beginning of May and since then have been improving it. The next stage is to make it smarter, adding various intelligence systems so it can learn about the user. The phone also employs four primary sensors -- two microphones to pick up conversations and monitor local noise, a light detector and an accelerometer .The light sensor shows if the phone is being carried in a bag or pocket, while the accelerometer determines whether the user is walking, running or standing still. In the future, the sensor box, phone and personal organizer will be combined into one device." According to Professor Smailagic, the detector will show _ . A. where the mobile phone is B. where the mobile phone user is C. whether the mobile phone user is busy D. whether the mobile phone is within reach Answer: C
Mike is an American. Now he's in No. 8 Junior High School in Tengzhou. He's in Class 5, Grade 7. Every day he gets up early. He always goes to school in his father's car. His classes begin at 8:00 a.m. He has four classes in the morning. He has lunch at school at about 12:00 a.m. He has two classes in the afternoon. After school, he goes home by car at 5:30 p.m. and has dinner at 6:30 p.m. After dinner, he does his homework with his sister and then he plays the guitar for a while. At about 9:00 p.m. he goes to bed. What does Mike do after dinner ? A. He does his homework and plays the guitar. B. He plays soccer. C. He watches TV. D. He goes to bed. Answer: A Do you know that a Mom deserves a special gift this year for Mother's Day? Sure, flowers can always brighten Mother's day and a dinner out is always appreciated. However, doesn't she deserve something more personal or something that lasts longer than an evening? I'm talking about the gift of fitness. Improved fitness is a gift that is invaluable to everyone. When you give a woman the gift of fitness, you are helping her open a door to better health. I can't think of a more thoughtful gift that shows the recipient how much you care about their well-being. By giving the gift of fitness you are providing them with unlimited health benefits. And, its a gift that you can truly feel proud to give. Of course, we all know that exercising can help people stay slim and fit. But, do you also know about all the other great benefits of exercising? Daily physical activity reduces stress and can help you sleep better. Fitness has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression. Researchers also believe that strength training can help prevent osteoporosis . Not to mention that exercising also improves self-esteem, increases energy and helps you be able to do continuous work for longer. All Moms would find these fitness benefits extremely invaluable. If they are like most of us, they have probably even mentioned how they would like to drop a few pounds or just get in better shape. In fact, experts say that about 62% of Americans are currently on a diet. By giving the gift of fitness you are helping provide your mom with extra motivation. She may be more motivated to actually get fit because she doesn't want to feel guilty about ignoring such a thoughtful gift . You would like to send the gift of fitness to your mother because _ . A. it is very expensive B. it doesn't cost you too much C. it makes your mother healthy D. you will be proud of it Answer: C He is a lesson to every boy who ever picked up a basketball and dreamed that it would change his life. The lights were never brighter and the crowds were never bigger for a homegrown sports hero than they were a quarter-century ago for Ray Hall. But his athletic achievements, as impressive as they are, are to my mind not what is most admirable about the man. Known as "Sugar Ray" in his teens, Hall was rated among the country's top 25 high school basketball players. An inner-city kid from a solid family, Hall took on the challenge of lifting Canisius College -- still recovering from its failure -- back to respectability, rejecting more favorable offers. His status of a savior brought more pressure than any 18-year-old should have to handle. However, I watched him mature into the player who led Canisius back to daylight. After college Hall played professionally in Italy and Greece for over 10 years until a car accident at 32 ended his basketball career. The news that he would never play again shocked Hall but unlike so many others he was ready for life after basketball. When I met Hall -- still fit at 46 -- for lunch Monday, he wore a cut-sharp gray suit, designer tie and blazing white shirt that screamed Success. "That was always the question -- when the cheers end, where do you go? Who do you turn to?" he said. "It starts and ends with that person in the mirror." Hall got the concept of academics-first from his parents. He graduated from Canisius a semester early. "No matter how good of an athlete you are, you are just one injury away from losing it all," he said. "But if you take care of things academically, you are prepared until you leave this earth." For the past 14 years, he has been in a computer sales job at Ingram Micro. He married his college sweetheart. They have three kids and a nice house in the suburbs. He figured out early what others learn too late: Athletics is part of a journey, not the destination. Congratulations, Ray, you made it. In more ways than one. We can learn from the passage that _ . A. Ray was from an academic family B. Ray was very mature in his teens C. Ray was once desperate facing the cruel reality D. athletics was not Ray's final goal in life Answer: D Rare birds in the UK have been living far better than the more common birds over the last decade due to the efforts of conservation organisations, according to a new assessment. The research shows almost 60% of the 63 rare birds that live in the UK have increased over the last 10 years. By contrast, only about one third of common species have increased over the same period. Just 28% of rare birds have decreased over the same period, compared with four out of every 10 common birds. The rare birds described in the assessment with increasing populations include theosprey andcorncrake . All of these birds are subject to conservation action. The declining common birds include the nightingale,swift , house sparrow and redgrouse . These are suffering declines for a variety of reasons, including changes in farming practices. Dr David Noble, from the British Trust for Ornithology, said: "That some of our rarer birds have responded to targeted conservation action is great news. It shows just what can be achieved. What we need to do now is to continue the good work and use some of the lessons we have learned to help our more common birds." Dr Mark Avery, the conservation director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), said: "Over the last decade we've enjoyed some great conservation successes, including removing some threatened species from the World Conservation Union's Red List of Thratened Animals and increasing the populations of red kite, osprey, etc. However, these successes arecountered by continued declines of some widespread species." The overview of 210 native birds has been produced by a group of conservation organisations, to mark the publication ofThe State of the UK's Birdsreport, which is in its l0th year. The report was published by the RSPB for a group of conservation organisations. The author's purpose of writing this article is to tell people _ . A. some good ways to protect rare birds B. the differences between rare birds and common birds C. the number of rare birds has increased over the last decade D. some widespread birds in the UK are in great need of help Answer: C I live in a small doll's house in a young girl's room. The girl is called Danielle. She loves me very much. She puts beautiful clothes on me and combs my hair every day. I look like a lady from the Tang Dynasty in China. My clothes are red and blue. I wear golden shoes and small gold hair clips. Danielle is going to take me to Japan for the Doll Festival. I can see many dolls there. Sometimes I feel lonely because I am Danielle's only doll and I never see other dolls. I want to talk with other dolls. I want to talk about our clothes, houses and lives. I want to ask the Japanese dolls a lot of questions. I want to ask the Kokeshi dolls why they have no arms or legs! They are usually little girls. I like to talk to young dolls. Danielle says I can meet some boys' dolls at the festival too. I hope I can make friends with some of them. The writer _ to go to the Doll Festival. A. dislikes B. doesn't like C. likes D. doesn't want Answer: C
Which adaptation allows a walrus to stay warm in cold water? Answer: thick layer of blubber The relationship between humans and animals has always been complex. Some cultures have developed entire belief systems around favored animals. Even in cultures with less formal belief systems, connections between people and animals still lead to commonly accepted opinions about animals. These belief systems usually develop around the animals that interact with humans most frequently. Therefore, it should not be surprising that so many stories surround the most common of animals: rats. Rats live side by side with humans all over the world and regularly interact with people. Human-rat coexistence may be common all around the world, but different cultures respond to that closeness in different ways. In the United States and Europe, one typical attitude is that the rat is a pest. This could be due to the common belief that rats spread disease. Actually, they don't, at least not directly, but many people don't know that. The Pied Piper of Hamlin, a well-known children's story, is one example of how rats have been described in Western literature: in that story, rats cause such a problem that a town has to hire a piper to call them all away. In many Latin American countries, the rat is described in a very different way. The story of the tooth fairy (a fairy believed by children to leave money while they sleep in exchange for a tooth that has come out) is common all over the world, but in Latin America, the "fairy" is a rat! Rats do have very strong teeth, which could explain the association. Clearly, this shows another attitude toward rats that is much more positive. Yet another attitude toward the rat can be seen in the Chinese Zodiac . The Rat is one of the animals of the Zodiac. Like the other zodiac animals, the Rat is neither entirely good nor entirely bad. It's described as clever and friendly, but also tricky and not entirely honest. That may be the most accurate description of the rat so far. Whether you like rats or not, it's hard to deny their reputation for cleverness. As many people are discovering these days, rats can even make excellent pets, so long as you remember to close the cage carefully! The rats in The Pied Piper of Hamlin appear _ . Answer: unpleasant Dear friends, I'd like to share my suggestions about studying with you. "Studying" is not the same thing as "doing homework"! Studying may include doing homework,but it also includes a lot more, as you will see. So if you say that you have no homework,and therefore you can't or you don't have to study, you're mistaken! I am going to give you some suggestions on how to study efficiently. _ worked for me when I was in the high school and college. Not only that, but they also worked equally well for me in literature and math. Although everyone's learning style may be different,and some of my suggestions may not work for you, I still ask you to try them. A lot of successful students have used them. Please send me suggestions about studying that work for you. I will try to include them into the further version of this guide. Here are some of my suggestions: A. Manage your time. B. Take notes in class and rewrite them at home. C. Study hard and study in a quiet place. D. Read texts actively and slowly. Do it before and after class. E. Finish your homework by yourself. F. Do not only study for exams. Yours, Emma What does Emma think of her learning style? Answer: Hers may not be the best, but it may be helpful. For well over a thousand years, smallpox was a disease that everyone feared. The disease killed much of the native population in South America when the Spanish arrived there in the early sixteenth century. By the end of the eighteenth century, smallpox was responsible for about one in ten deaths around the world. Those who survived the disease were left with ugly scars on their skin. It had long been well known among farmers that people who worked with cows seldom caught smallpox; instead, they often caught a similar but much milder disease called cowpox . A British doctor called Jenner was extremely interested in this, and so he studied cowpox. He believed that, by vaccinating people with the disease, he could protect them against the much worse disease smallpox. In 1796, he vaccinated a boy with cowpox and, two months later, with smallpox. The boy did not get smallpox. In the next two years, Jenner vaccinated several children in the same way, and none of them got the disease. News of the success of Jenner's work soon spread. Vaccination soon became a common method to protect people against other diseases caused by virus, such as rabies , and vaccines were sent across the world to the United States and India. It took nearly two centuries to achieve Jenner's dream of getting free of smallpox from the whole world. In 1967, the world Health Organization (WHO) started a great vaccination program, and the last known case of smallpox was recorded in Somalia in 1977. The story of vaccinations does not end there, however. There are many other diseases that kill more and more people every year. Besides, many new diseases are being discovered. The challenge for medical researchers will, therefore, probably continue for several more centuries The author of the passage thinks that _ . Answer: there is a long way to go to fight against diseases Mrs Green had a young dog which was very clever. It often helped her buy a newspaper. One winter evening, the dog went out to play. It was snowing heavily. Soon the ground became white. " The dog never loses his way. Where is he now?" Mrs Green thought. She shouted his name. But still the dog didn't come back. So she telephoned the police and told them a lot about her dog. " My dog is very clever. He always goes out and comes back soon. Sometimes he plays with his friend, Mickey. He can buy a newspaper. _ ." The policeman was tired and said, " I think you'd better put your telephone down. Maybe _ is trying to telephone you now." The dog didn't come back because _ . Answer: he lost his way.
Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergence alert system using text messages delivered to cell phones. Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month. The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvements to the nation's emergency alert system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies. "The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan. Participation in the alert system by carriers--telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry. The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts. There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules. The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts. The service could be in place by 2014. The improvement to the present system is in the charge of _ . Answer: FCC Mr.Brown was traveling by train.He was very hungry.The train stopped at a small station.He wanted to buy some cakes to eat very much.But it rained hard.So he wanted someone to help him.Then a little boy came here.Mr.Brown asked him to buy cakes for him.He gave the little boy some money and said,"Go and buy two cakes with the money.One cake is for me,and the other is for you." The little boy was happy and ran to buy cakes in the rain.A few minutes later the boy came back.He said to Mr.Brown,"I'm very sorry,sir.I eat the last cake.It's fifty fen.And it's very delicious.Thank you very much.Here is your fifty fen." The little boy _ . Answer: bought one cake and ate it himself In a country that defines itself by ideals, not by shared blood, who should be allowed to come to work and live here? In the wake of the Sept.11 attacks these questions have never seemed more pressing. On Dec.11, 2001, as part of the effort to increase homeland security, federal and local authorities in 14 states staged "Operation Safe Travel"---raids on airports to arrest employees with false identification.In Salt Lake City there were 69 arrests.But those captures were anything but terrorists, most of them illegal immigrants from Central or South America.Authorities said the undocumented workers' illegal status made them open to blackmail by terrorists. Many immigrants in Salt Lake City were angered by the arrests and said they felt as if they were being treated like disposable goods.Mayor Anderson said those feelings were justified to a certain extent."We're saying we want you to work in these places, we're going to look the other way in terms of what our laws are, and then when it's convenient for us, or when we can try to make a point in terms of national security, especially after Sept.11, then you're disposable.They are whole families being uprooted for all of the wrong reasons," Anderson said. If Sept.11 had never happened, the airport workers would not have been arrested and could have gone on quietly living in America, probably indefinitely.Ana Castro, a manager at a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop at the airport had been working 10 years with the same false Social Security card when she was arrested in the December airport raid.Now she and her family are living under the threat of deportation .Castro's case is currently waiting to be settled.While she awaits the outcome, the government has granted her permission to work here and she has returned to her job at Ben & Jerry's. Undocumented workers became the target of "Operation Safe Travel" because _ . Answer: terrorists might take advantage of their illegal status Cell Phone Are the New Cigarette When you get in your car, you reach for it. When you are at work, you take a break to have a moment alone with it. When you get in to a lift, you play with it. Cigarette? Cup of coffee? No, it's the third most addictive thing in modern life, the cell phone. Experts say that it is becoming more difficult for many people to curb their longing to hug it more tightly than most of their personal relationships. With its shiny surface and its smooth and satisfying touch, the cell phone connects us to the world even as it disconnects us from people three feet away. In just the past couple of years, the cell phone has challenged people in ways its inventors in the late 1940s never imagined. The costs are becoming even more obvious, and I don't mean just the monthly bill. Dr. Chris Knippers, working at the Betty Ford Center in Southern California, reports that the overuse of cell phones has become a social problem not much different from other harmful addictions: a problem that limits one-on-one personal contact, and an escape from reality. Sounds extreme, but we've all witnessed the evidence: the person at restaurant who talks on the phone through an entire meal, ignoring his kids around the table; the women who talks on the phone in the car, ignoring her husband; the teen who texts messages all the way home from school, avoiding contact with kids all around him. Is it just rude, or is it a kind of unhealthiness? And pardon me, but how is this improving the quality of life? Jim Williams, an industrial sociologist based in Massachusetts, notes that cell-phone addiction is part of a set of symptoms in a widening gulf of personal separation. He points to a study by Duke University researchers that found one-quarter of Americans say they have no one to discuss their most important personal business with,Williams says studies show that we don't have as many friends as our parents."Just as more information has led to less wisdom,more acquaintances via the Internet and cell phones have produced fewer friends."he says. The example of a woman talking on the phone in the car supports the idea that _ Answer: cell phones do not necessarily bring people together Recently, an Internet game has become a new fashion among young office workers and students. People can "farm" on a piece of "land" and "grow", "sell" or even "steal vegetables", "flowers" and "fruits" on the Net. They can earn some e-money and buy more "seeds", "pets" and even "houses". Joyce interviewed some young people. Here are their opinions: Harold: I don't quite understand why they are so mad about the childish game. Maybe they are just not confident enough to face the real world. Allan: I enjoy putting some "bugs" in my friends' gardens and we've become closer because of the game. Having fun together is the most exciting thing about it. Laura: You know, people in the city are longing for the life in the countryside. It reduces my work pressure . Besides, it gives me the exciting experience of being a "thief". Ivy: Well, it's just a waste of time. Teenagers playing the game spend so many hours on it that they can not focus on their study. Where can you find this passage? Answer: In a science book.
Even a small reduction in salt in the diet can be a big help to the heart. A new study used a computer model to predict how just three grams less a day would affect heart disease in the United States. The result: thirteen percent fewer heart attacks. Eight percent fewer strokes. Four percent fewer deaths. Eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease. And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings. Researchers found it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year. The study is in the New England Journal of Medicine. Kirsten, at the University of California, was the lead author. She says people would not even notice a difference in taste with three grams, or one-half teaspoon, less salt per day. The team also included researchers at Stanford and Columbia University. Each gram of salt contains four hundred milligrams of sodium, which is how foods may list their salt content. The government says the average American man eats ten grams of salt a day. The American Heart Association advises no more than three grams for healthy people. It says salt in the American diet has increased fifty percent since the nineteen seventies, while blood pressures have also risen. Less salt can mean a lower blood pressure. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading an effort called the National Salt Reduction Initiative. The idea is to put pressure on food companies and restaurants. Mayor Bloomberg has already succeeded in other areas, like requiring fast food places in the city to list calorie information. Now a study by the Seattle Children's Research Institute shows how that idea can influence what parents order for their children. Ninety-nine parents of three to six year olds took part. Half had McDonald's menus clearly showing how many calories were in each food. The other half got menus without the calorie information. The National Salt Reduction Initiative aims to _ . Answer: Hello , boys and girls ! I'm Anna Green . Look ! This is my bedroom . The wall is white . And this is my bed . B-E-D , bed . It's green . What's this on the bed ? It is a quilt . It's a yellow quilt . And that's a jacket . It's green , too . What are those on the sofa ? They are my books . Oh , what's this on the wall ? It's a map of China . What color is it ? It is green . Oh , no . It's yellow . No , it's blue , yellow and brown . I like my bedroom very much . The map is _ . Answer: MUMBAI, India --The children in their party clothes on the stage were very excited when they received the award. And the two of them said, "It's unbelievable!" Nine-year-old, Rubina Ali, and Azharuddin Ismail, 10, were living a very different life and obviously loving every minute of it. The two, some of the child stars of the Oscar-winning Slum dog Millionaire(<<>> )movie, know the Indian slums very well. That was where they grew up, and it is where they will return at the end of their Hollywood dream trip. But before going back home, there was an interview with the host, Ryan Seacrest. During the interview they smiled and repeated their disbelief in what was happening to them. To their surprise, their movie won first place in the Oscars. When the two received the award, it was late morning in the children's home city of Mumbai, where family, friends and many fellow residents of the slums watched the result from Hollywood. "I don't really know what the Oscars are," Rubina's mother said. "I'm just glad my daughter looks happy, though she told me she missed Indian food." "Our children lead a dog's life," Rubina's mother said, pointing out the rubbish everywhere, the open drains and the lack of education opportunities. In a few days they will be back in Mumbai and back in the slums which are their home. Fortunately, according to media reports, the movie's director, Danny Boyle, has promised to help the children chosen from the slum and make sure they will go to a proper school. The two don't need to worry about their daily lives because of the Oscar success of Slum dog Millionaire. But the poverty and lack of opportunity --the central theme of the movie--is always all around. According to the author, the value of the movie is that _ . Answer: We all know that Paris is a popular travel destination, which has much more to offer than just seeing the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower that are well-known. Experience this amazing city through some of its secret places. River Boats Tour the heart of Paris by boat along the Seine River! Boats offer 8 must-see tourist stops along their boat tour route. The cost is 13 Euros for a whole day of river boating with stops for tourists to walk through the Parisian sites. There is a 15-minute interval between two boats. Boating along the Seine is a good way to drink in the unique atmosphere of Paris! Children's Science Museum If you are travelling to Paris with kids, the Children's Science Museum is the perfect place to visit. The Children's Science Museum has many exhibits for children. Some exhibits exercise a child's cognitive skills. The cost is low by European standards at only 8 Euros per adult and 4.50 Euros per child. Medieval Tavern In Paris , tourists can enjoy the night at Medieval Tavern every Thursday night from 8PM--2AM. This tavern opens its doors to the people of Paris and invites them to experience a life from long ago. The menu includes foods that were enjoyed in old days. The entire experience can be enjoyed for only 15 Euros per person! Luxembourg Garden The garden is the second largest public park in Paris. Whether you are interested in a walk through the flowers or a pleasant ride on the old carousel , this park is a good choice. Children like playing in the theater while adults enjoy free musical performances. Welcome to Paris and enjoy these attractions. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: This year some twenty-three hundred teen-agers (young people aged from 13-19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in U.S. homes . They will attend U. S. schools , meet U.S. teenagers , and form impressions of the real America . At the same time , about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world . Here is a two-way student exchange in action . Fred , nineteen ,spent last year in Gemany with George's family . In turn , George's son Mike spent a year in Fred's home in America . Fred , a lively young man , knew little German when he arrived , but after two months' study , the language began to come to him . School was completely different from what he had expected-much harder . Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room . They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States . There were almost no outside activities . Family life , too , was different . The father's word was law , and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first . Also , he missed having a car . "Back home ,you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time . In Germany , you walk , but you soon learn to like it ." At the same time , in America , Mike , a friendly German boy , was also forming his idea . "I suppose I should criticize American schools ." He says , "it is far too easy by our level . But I have to say that I like it very much . In Germany we do nothing but study . Here we take part in many outside activities . I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens . There ought to be some middle ground between the two ." The whole exchange programme is mainly to _ . Answer:
English words don't stay the same. People need new words for new ideas and new inventions. Some new words come into use, and some old words are used in a new way. English can change by borrowing words from other languages. The word "tomato" was borrowed from Mexico, and "tea" came from China, and so on. Now a great many new space and science words are being borrowed from other countries, too. New words can be created in other ways. For example, some can be created by adding two words together. "Weekend" and "cookbook" are made up of two parts. Sometimes new words are shorter forms of older words. The word "photo" was made from "photograph" by cutting off the end of the longer word. "Plane" was made by cutting off the front part of "airplane". The names of people and products can become new words. Our "sandwich" was named after a man named Sandwich and "sello " was a name given by the company that first made the product. The main idea of the passage is that _ . Answer: the English language is always changing Living in the desert is really hard! With less than 10 inches of rainfall a year, deserts are dry all year round. Lots of heat from the sun and a shortage of water are just a few of the challenges facing desert animals. Deserts are homes to many animals and plants. Few large animals have got used to life in the desert because their size makes it difficult to find shelter from the heat and they can't store water. In order to survive, desert animals have developed a number of ways to live in their special habitat. The most common way is staying under plants or rocks or digging underground in the heat of the day. And many desert animals stay in shelter during the day and hunt at night when it is cool. Some animals get the water they need from the insects, plants and seeds they eat, and do not need to drink. They do not have sweat glands and pass only small amount of waste water. Some animals develop their own ways of surviving in deserts. The Thorny Devil is a kind of lizard that lives in Australian desert areas. It has a body that channels raindrops directly into its mouth when it rains. Water-holding frogs spend most of the year underground in Australian desert areas, and develop a sort of cocoon that enables them to store water to keep them going through the dry times. When it rains, they come out to lay their eggs in ponds. The eggs hatch within days and develop quickly, before the water dries out. Why are there few large animals in deserts? Answer: They can't protect themselves from the heat. There is nothing in the US quite like Black Friday. Before midnight on Thursday, in malls across the US, people start queuing up outside the locked entrances of stores, making longer and longer lines, holding coupons , sipping coffee and hot chocolate, rubbing their hands and stamping their feet for warmth, excitedly chatting, and waiting for the clerks to open the door when the time arrives. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which fell on Nov 28,2014, "has become in recent decades a special American holiday", said the International Business Times. Indeed, up to 147 million Black Friday shoppers were expected to put up with the dark of night and the elbows of other shoppers so that they could bring home some bargains, according to the US National Retail Federation. But why does the shopping festival have such a name? The name was first used in Philadelphia in the 1970s. The streets and sidewalks of the city became so packed with traffic and crowds on the day after Thanksgiving Day that the local police did not look forward to it. Because of this, they called the day "Black Friday", said The Huffington Post. However, others believe that Black Friday takes its name from the fact that because of the increase in sales on the day, shops are able for the first time in the year to move out of the "red" - that is, debt - and into the "black", or profit. Businesses, of course, try to take advantage of this day. A decade ago, retailers opened at 5 or 6 am. Now, many of the big stores open at midnight. People really seem to like the whole experience of queuing up before midnight, "for it isn't just about the bargains", noted CNN. "For many shoppers, it's just fun to be part of a large crowd. Those who go to the malls at midnight are driven by the same thing that makes a million people get together in Times Square each New Year's Eve." What is the article mainly about? Answer: An introduction to the origin and influences of Black Friday. Americans have always been hungry for the holidays. After all, a big Thanksgiving feast is one of our country's oldest traditions, older than America itself. Thankfully, the spirit behind Thanksgiving has never changed, either. It has always been a special time to be thankful for the blessings of the past year. The feast that has become known as the First Thanksgiving was actually a harvest festival celebrated in December of 1621. That's when English settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, gave thanks for the progress they had made after a harsh winter in their new country. Guests at outdoor tables gobbled up ducks, geese turkeys, clams, eels, fish, wild plums, corn bread and other goodies. About 90 Native Americans also came and brought five deer to add to the feast. The festival lasted for three days. Thanksgiving customs spread and expanded along with the rest of America. After the American Revolution, George Washington proclaimed that the first national Thanksgiving would be on November 26, 1789. In the decades to follow, however, people celebrate Thanksgiving locally and with no official date. A women's magazine editor named Sarah Josepha Hale wanted to change this. After years of trying hard to get support, she finally persuaded President Abraham Lincoln to proclaim the last Thursday in November 1863 as a national day of Thanksgiving. It stayed that way for 75 years afterward until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt set it one week earlier. He wanted to lengthen the shopping period before Christmas to encourage gift-buyers and help businesses. So Congress ruled that, after 1941, Thanksgiving would be an official federal holiday falling each year on the fourth Thursday of November. This year we celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26. When was Thanksgiving ruled as an official federal holiday? Answer: In 1941. Mark twain tells a boy's story in The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. Huck is a poor child, without a mother or home. His father drinks too much alcohol and always beats him. Huck's situation has freed him from the restriction of society. He explores in the woods and goes fishing. He stays out all night and does not go to school. He smokes. Huck runs away from home. He meets Jim, a black man who has escaped from slavery . They travel together on a raft made of wood down the Mississippi River. Mark twain started writing "Huckleberry Finn" as a children's story. But it soon became serious. The story tells about the social evil of slavery, seen through the eyes of an innocent child. Huck's ideas about people were formed by the white society in which he lived. So, at first, he does not question slavery. Huck knows that important people believe slavery is natural, the law of God. So, he thinks it is his duty to tell Jim's owners where to find him. Later, Huck comes to understand that Jim is a good man. He finds he cannot carry out his plan to inform Jim's owners of his whereabouts . Instead, he decides to help Jim escape. He decides to do this, even if God punished him. Why does Huck change his mind at last? Answer: He finds that Jim is a good man
Question: Bookstores are second homes for readers. 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. In China. there are many special bookstores. Sanlian Taofen Bookstore became the first 24-hour bookstore in Beijing at the beginning of April. Popular Holdings in Shanghai is a film-themed bookstore. It has film books and posters. Eslite Bookstore in Taiwan often has activities like talks with famous writers. At the same time. bookstores outside China can be very colorful. too. Scarthin Books is a small bookstore in the UK. It sells new and second-hand books. There are more than 100.000 books lying on the shelves of the store's 12 rooms. Bart's Books in the US is a good place to enjoy the sunshine while reading books. It's an outdoor bookstore. Bookshelves are on the street. When the store is closed. people can still buy books. They just put money into the door's coin box. Where can you find a cafe. bar and bookstore in just one place? The answer is probably El Pendulo in Mexico. Books line the walls of the store. On the second floor. visitors can order everyday meals in the cafe and drinks from the bar. In order to keep cool. there are green plants and trees inside. Does it look like a park? .Readers can _ at El Pendulo. A. talk with famous writers B. order meals C. enjoy the sunshine D. buy film posters Answer: B Question: For most of us, the purpose of the holidays is to bring peace, love, and goodwill towards all. Yet, for many, the holiday season often means stress, fatigue, pressure, disappointment and loneliness. These feelings, often known as the "holiday blues", may be even more prevalent, due to the emotional turmoil of the past few months, not to mention the unsteady economy. Experts say even the more ritual tasks of shopping, decorating, late-night parties, cooking, planning and family reunions can be holiday stressors. In addition, the psychological phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, may bring a specific type of depression related to winter's shorter days and longer nights. "Certainly just because it's the holidays doesn't mean people are going to be happy," says Dr. Doug Jacobs of prefix = st1 /HarvardUniversity. "And this will be a particularly hard holiday for some who are dealing with a lost job, debt, or even a lost loved one." And with family reunions becoming less frequent events over the years, there is now the added pressure of getting just one chance to get it all right. "Families are much more different now. The disappointment and sense of alienation that often results from family gatherings, is actually a realization that the fantasy is not met." says John Stutesman, a clinical psychologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Still, say experts, the blues should be addressed. The most essential step, says Stutesman, is for the individual to acknowledge their feelings and the reason for their withdrawal. "Denial will only compound the stress they're feeling." Stutesman recommends people do things that are normally comforting in order to get a handle on the holiday stress. "If they're feeling a little blue, they should try to do things personally satisfying for them. Maybe this is exercise, cooking, reading a book, or massage." Stutesman also advises that sometimes "avoidance is actually not such a bad idea." In some situations, fulfilling social obligations may be self-destructive when the best thing may be to just stay home. The healthy choice has to do with taking care of oneself." What is the "holiday blues"? A. The feeling of disappointment and sense of alienation in family reunions. B. Feelings such as stress, fatigue, disappointment and alienation in holiday. C. Feelings such as peace, love, and goodwill in holiday. D. The psychological phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder. Answer: B Question: My friend Robert started a new job this week and he's been in the training class for two days. The employer has a very strict dress code--dark blue shirts and pants. On the first day, an older gentleman in his class did not have the proper clothes and he was strictly told that he would be fired if he didn't have the right clothes the next day. He explained, "Sir, I had not been told about this. Because of my larger size, it's sometimes difficult to find the right clothing for a price I can afford." Last night, Robert and I decided that this old man shouldn't lose the chance of work simply because he couldn't afford the clothes. I had some cash on hand and Robert took it with him this morning just in case it was needed. When training started this morning, the trainer was ready to fire the older gentleman. "You have 10 minutes to be in proper clothes," he was told. At this point, Robert spoke up and asked if he could have 10 minutes to get him the clothes. He then ran out to the store and bought the proper-sized pants and a shirt; he returned with both and gave them to the older man. The older gentleman began to cry and told him that he couldn't accept such a gift from a stranger. Robert told him he had to because he had lost the receipt and couldn't return them--a little white lie. The pants were a perfect fit, the shirt was a bit tight but he was able to keep his job. "My wife and I tried to gather together some money last night, but we didn't have enough to buy the clothes," he told Robert. "It's unbelievable to me that anybody would do such a thing for only knowing me a day!" More unbelievable is how good it has made Robert and me feel to do this. The money which was paid for the clothes belonged to _ A. the trainer B. the older man C. the writer D. Robert Answer: C Question: Dear Li Ming, I've been in England for two months now. I hope you don't think I have forgotten you. There have been so many places to see and so many things to do that I've not had much time to write letters. I will soon be starting my studies at King's College. So far I've been learning about England and British ways of living. I will tell you about London. One great thing about it is that it has lots of books you can read and lots of pictures you can look at. I am sure you'll be more interested to know what I think about the life here. I found some of the customs new and interesting. People here don't shake hands as much as we do in Germany. During the first few weeks I was often surprised because people didn't put out their hands when I met them. Men raise their hats to women but not to each other. Wang Gang The writer came to England to _ . A. make a living B. study C. learn about life there D. learn British ways of living Answer: B Question: There once was a pumpkin. The pumpkin was sad. The pumpkin wanted to leave the garden and see the world. But the pumpkin had to stay in the garden because its vine held it there. One day a fox came by. The pumpkin asked the fox to cut the vine so the pumpkin could leave the garden. The fox said it would cut the vine so the pumpkin could leave the garden. When the fox cut the vine the pumpkin could roll around. The pumpkin rolled around until it got out of the garden. First it met a cat. It told the cat it was happy because now it could see the world. The cat gave the pumpkin a piece of cake to eat. The pumpkin could not eat the cake because it had no mouth but it was still very happy to have the cat as a new friend. Who did the pumpkin meet outside the garden? A. another pumpkin B. the person who planted the garden C. a cat D. a fox Answer: C
Question: Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career ? It means a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10 000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma . Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in all of today's growing fidds--without having to go to college full time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time, so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking & Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering and more! Your training includes everything you need! Books, lessons and learning aids are all included in the low tuition price you pay. Your education is nationally recognized! 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Call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Website: www. Harcourt-learning. com. E-mail: Harcourt@learning.com. What does the writer of this ad intend to say by naming General Electric, IBM, Ford, etc.? A. To show that their training is widely used in the country. B. To show that the training program is fully supported by famous companies in the prefix = st1 /US. C. To prove the value of their training in every area. D. To show the importance of getting recognized by the most famous companies. Answer: C Question: Having put down your pens at the end of the college entrance exam, you have ended 12 years of hard study. Forget your studies for a while. It's time to enjoy yourselves! There are many ways to celebrate this special month of graduation. You can have photos taken with your classmates and teachers, or dine out together and exchange gifts. High school students in Western countries such as the United States and Canada usually have a prom to mark their graduation. It's to mark the time kids turn into young men and women. After the prom, teenagers either go to college or find a job. It means they are no longer as dependent on their parents as they were before. At the prom, boys usually dress in dinner jackets and bow ties, though many different types of formal clothes are worn. Traditionally, girls give boys matching boutonnieres ( ). Girls traditionally wear formal dresses, or dress to shock or be noticed, in shiny or brightly colored materials. Common prom activities include dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom king and queen, and just talking to friends. In some cases, high school students collect funds for their class prom through the four years of their high school. High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, in a pleasure cruise boat. But often costs are cut by simply using the school gym. Students make a lot of effort to decorate the gym to make the event special. The music played at the prom will be the most popular kinds, like rock and hip-hop. The students elect the Prom Queen. She is partnered with a Prom King who is elected similarly. These are great honors that the pair take very seriously. The two dance with each other to celebrate their election. What clearly indicates that prom is very important to students? A. Music is played at the prom. B. They take pictures at the prom. C. The King and Queen dance with each other. D. They wear formal clothes or special clothes. Answer: D Question: Hundreds of people lined up at Grand Central Terminal yesterday, but they weren't there to catch a train. They came to New York City's famous railroad station to trade in old dollar bills for the new George Washington Presidential1 coin. The gold-colored coin is the first in a new series by the U.S. Mint that honors former U.S. Presidents. The Mint will issue four Presidential1 coins a year through 2016. Like the popular 50 State Quarters program, which issues coins in the order in which each state joined the Union, Presidential1 coins will come out in the order in which each President served. The George Washington coin is the first to be released. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison coins will come out later this year. The Presidential 1 coins will be the same size and color as the Sacagawea Golden Dollar. However, there is an important difference. For the first time since the 1930s, there is an inscription on the edge of each coin. Each coin will show a different President on its face, or head side. It will also show the President's name, the order in which he served and his years in office. The other side of the coin will show the Statue of Liberty and the inscriptions "United States of America" and " 1". There will be one Presidential1 coin for each President, except Grover Cleveland. He will have two! Cleveland is the only U.S. President to have served two nonconsecutive terms. The last President scheduled to get a coin is Gerald Ford because a President must have been dead for two years before he can be on a coin. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. there are no words on the Sacagawea Golden Dollar B. the new coin can buy more than the old coin C. the new coin takes on a white color D. the Sacagawea Golden Dollar is bigger Answer: A Question: Peter is a tall boy. He is 1.8 meters tall. He lives in Canada. On Sunday morning he likes to go to see his friend. Her name is Alan. She is a girl. She has a good garden . There are many trees and rose in the garden. They are apple trees oranges trees and other fruit trees. There are lots of fruits on the trees. There are many birds in the garden, too. They are happy. The birds sing in the trees. Peter and Alan listen to the birds and sing songs with them. They draw pictures of birds. It's lunch-time. They are hungry. They go to a restaurant. Peter would like some dumplings. Alan wants to have a bowl of noodles. They order them for lunch. They have lunch _ . A. in school B. In Alan's home C. in peter's home D. in a restaurant Answer: D Question: "Come in . Kim . Have a seat , please ." said Bill Williams , the manager . This was Kim's first experience with an assessment . After only six months he was due for a raise if this assessment was satisfactory "Kim," began Bill Williams . "I am very pleased with the quality of your work . I have nothing but praise for your devotion and your hard work . My only concern is that you are not active enough in putting forward your suggestions ." "But." Replied Kim. "I have always completed every assignment you have given me . Mr. Williams." "I know that , Kim . And please, call me Bill .But what I expect is for you to think independently and introduce new ideas . I need more input from you --more feedback on how things are going I don't need a "yes man". You never tell me what you think . You just smile as though everything is fine ." "But," said Kim," " I feel that since you are my superior , it would he presumptuous of me to tell you what to do ." "I'm not asking you to tell me what to do, but what you think we could do .To make suggestions . I employed you because I respect your experience in this field, but you are not communicating your thoughts to me ." "Yes . I see I'm not accustomed to this , but I will try to do as you say ..., Bill" "Good, then , I expect to hear more from you at staff meetings or at any other time you want to discuss an idea with me ." "Yes , of course . Thank you Mr. Will...Bill ." The word "presumptuous" in the middle of the passage is closest in meaning to "_" . A. full of respect B. too confident and rude C. lacking in experience D. too shy and quiet Answer: B
I couldn't believe today had come! It was finally my birthday and that meant I could start working at the nearby pet store. First off, let me say that my name is Lilly, and as I'm sure you know, today's my birthday! Working at the pet shop has been my dream ever since I was a little girl, so actually getting to work with and help take care of the kitties, puppies, lizards and all sorts of animals is the coolest thing to happen to me. Some people dream of being a doctor, or a nurse, or even a teacher, but I've always wanted to work with pets. I'll say, like many people, I do have fears and that fear is snakes so I won't get to take care of them! \tabI arrived at the pet store around nine in the morning and was greeted by the friendly woman that owned it who I talked with over the phone. Her hair was covering her name tag so I couldn't tell if her name was Martha, Margaret, or Mary, but it turns out she told me it was Margie so none of them were right. Margie helped me become friendly with all the animals, and I had so much fun the whole day. I fed them, gave them water, and even got to play with them! Margie didn't think I was ready to clean up after them yet so she said that could be done another day. It was everything I ever hoped and I can't wait for tomorrow! What was the shop owner's name? A. Margaret B. Martha C. Mary D. Margie Answer: D. Margie Hello, my first name is Jenny and my family name is Brown. I am a girl. I am 11. My telephone number is 025-7658. I have two friends. One is a boy. His name is Mike Green. He is 10. His telephone number is 636-7654. Linda Smith is my friend, too. She is 9. Her telephone number is 356-7890. ,. Which of the following statements is correct? (?) A. Jenny's family name is Smith. B. Mike's phone number is 025-7658. C. Linda is nine. D. Linda has three friends. Answer: C. Linda is nine. When he was still a child, Iwatake's father was lost at sea off Hawaii. With no food, his family was forced to move to Japan, where Iwatake joined the army during the war. He lost a brother when the bomb fell on Hiroshima. But over all the time one thing has remained unchanged. His parents bought a Christmas tree in 1937, and his family brings it out every Christmas since then, even when doing so meat risking arrest. "This tree was a shining light, because it was a symbol of unity in my family," Iwatake said as he and his wife put the final touches on the tree, which is about 3 - foot - tall. They took it out once again this year, "We have put this tree up every year for 70 years." Though he considers himself Buddhist, Iwatake was raised in a Christian tradition. He still keeps a photo of the tiny wooden church in Mauri where he and his five brothers went to church services and Sunday school. Christmas was always a special time. His father worked at a store, and Iwatake remembers the day he came home with a tree. It was nothing all that special, just metal - and - plastic, the kind of decoration that can easily be placed on a table, or in a corner somewhere. He got a string of lights, too, the kind with the big bulbs . Soon after, his father died in a fishing accident. His body was never found. Iwatake's mother had s in Japan, and took Iwatake's younger brothers there. Iwatake stayed behind to graduate from high school. In 1941, six months before Pearl Harbor , he moved to Japan as well. "Things were bad," he said. "There were war clouds hanging everywhere." The Christmas tree is so dear to Iwatake because _ . A. it was bought in 1937 B. it was loved by his father C. it helps to keep the house bright D. it brings back a good memory of his family Answer: D. it brings back a good memory of his family Fans are desperate to lay their hands on the larger-screen iPhone 6, thanks to Apple's "hunger marketing". Analysts are busy debating which of the phones giants --Apple, Samsung or Xiaomi -- leads the Chinese market. But too few people spare a thought to environmental damage caused by cell phones. Indeed, smartphones are great innovative tools, but they also make people change phones that are as good as new, and thus worsen the already serious environmental pollution. Theoretically, a cell phone can be used for eight years, but in practice one lasts 15 months on average in China, according to D. Phone. From production to disposal, cell phones, even those made by big brands like Apple and Samsung, pollute the environment. A study by the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and ifixit.com showed that each of the 36 dissected phone models contained at least one of the following poisonous elements: lead, bromine, chlorine, mercury and cadmium. And these poisonous elements are linked to birth defects, impaired learning and other serious health problems. China, the largest phone-making country and smartphone market, should be alarmed by the environment damage caused by cell phones. So there is no reason to celebrate the "good news" that last year China produced about 1.46 billion cell phones, about 81.1 percent of the total global output, and 340 million smartphones were sold in the country -- a figure that is expected to cross 400 million this year. In fact, Apple's production chain best shows the urgency for China's manufacturing sector to climb up the global value chain. Apple products are designed in the US, assembled in China and sold across the world. And while Apple takes away the lion's share of the profits, Chinese workers can barely manage to keep their pots boiling and the environment ends up paying the heaviest price. Which of the following cellphone brands is NOT mentioned in the text? A. Huawei. B. Apple. C. Samsung. D. Xiaomi. Answer: A. Huawei. The video rooms have been open since Jan. 2. If successful, the chain hopes to expand the service to other provinces, or even other countries. In addition to the food, customers pay 200 yuan per hour for using the room. ''The video rooms have been fully booked in February,'' said Chen Yu, manager of the Wangfujing branch. The Video room in Beijing is about 30 square meters and large enough for six customers. ''Many customers prefer to use the room for dinners rather than lunch,'' Chen said, adding the average age of customers who booked the video hotpot is about 30. ''The whole process is very smooth. The image and the voice transmission are as good as those of video conferencing at work, ''said one of Chen's colleagues surnamed Luo. ''I have a lot of friends in Beijing, whom I haven't met for a long time because of being busy at work,'' said a woman surnamed Yu who is having dinner with her husband at Haidilao.''The new service gives us a chance to have a dinner together without traveling. I would like to give it a try.'' The video hotpot also helped establish a friendship between waitresses in the two cities. Zhao Huanhuan, in her 20s, who is specially trained for serving in the video room in Shanghai, developed a friendship with a waitress named Lu Ke in the Beijing branch. Zhao said excitedly: ''It was too amazing to believe. I'm so interested in using the special room and enjoy serving people there. I also talk about some interesting interactive games with Lu before guests come for dinner''. Although Lu felt a little bit nervous when she first served in front of the screens, she said the new mode of communication also encouraged her to supply better services for customers. ''It's like a service competition. We saw each other through video and I could learn from Zhao's serving,'' Lu said, adding she will visit Zhao if she goes to Shanghai. It seems that video hotpot doesn't satisfy everyone's taste, however. Haidilao may be the name of _ . A. a theatre B. a restaurant C. a cinema D. a hotel Answer: B. a restaurant
"You'll have to take care of the baby today," a woman told her husband . " I'm not feeling well." "Then you must stay in bed and rest, dear. " her husband said. "I'll be pleased to look after our baby. " "Thank you. I'll have a quiet day and I'll soon get better. " his wife told him. "Shall I do the shopping for you as well?" her husband asked. She was very pleased and said, "That will help me very much. I'll give you a list of things to buy. " She wrote out the list and gave it to him. "You can get all these things at the supermarket," she said. "You can put the baby in the shopping cart, then you won't have to leave him outside." The man took the baby to the supermarket and put him in the shopping cart. Then he pushed the shopping cart along the rows of things to buy and looked for those that were on his list. At first all was well, but then the baby began to cry. Then he started to scream. And scream! And SCREAM! "Keep calm ,George, " the man said. "Don't get excited. Don't shout, George. Don't lose your temper, George." A woman in the supermarket heard him saying these things. She walked up to him. "I think you are wonderful ,"she said. "You are so patient with your little George. " "Madam, "" the man said, "I'm George. He's Edward." Finally we can infer from the story that _ . the woman mistook George for the baby, while in fact the man was named George Robert was born in a small town in England. His father has a farm and can supply him enough money to finish university where he's studying law. The young man studies hard and hopes to be a famous lawyer. Last Monday their term was over. Robert said to his father on the telephone that he was going to travel in a small country during his summer holiday. His father agreed to his plan and posted some money to him. So he started four days ago. Their plane landed at the only airport of the country safely. He took a taxi and got to a hotel in the centre of the capital. He felt hungry and tired. So he had a dinner and then a good sleep. This morning he was all right and was going to visit some places of interest. He met an English visitor while he was having breakfast and the man told him to be careful of thieves. Robert thanked the man and left. But he thought he was smart and strong and he decided to have a try. He brought out a piece of paper and wrote on it, "A pig has stolen my wallet !"Then he put the note into his empty wallet. After that he put the wallet into a pocket and set off. He did all carefully and hoped to find out who would steal it. "Everything went well, "Robert thought to himself after he had returned to the hotel. He brought out his wallet and put his money into it again. He had a look at the note. To his surprise, it was rewritten. It said, "Your uncle has touched your wallet!" Robert can study in the university because _ . [ ] his father is a rich farmer I wasn't interested in becoming a model at first. I worked as a receptionist in a beauty shop during high school. It was in South Dakota. A woman who had worked for Vogue--a famous fashion magazine said to me, "Why don't you go to New York and be a model?" So I went to New York at eighteen. I went to the first model agency, they thought that I was too long-waisted. It was too bad since I came all the way from South Dakota. I did an information check on the internet and found that Hunting Hartford had just bought the agency. I looked up in the telephone book and dialed. Then I went there. About half an hour later, the man who had just taken over the agency--he had been a male model before--came in. I was just staring at this unfamiliar man when he said, "You! Come into my office!" How do you feel as a fashion model? Quite OK, I should say. But you stop thinking when you are working. It takes a lot of nervous energy as well because the camera goes one, two, three very fast and you have to move very fast. I like my job because it gives me freedom. I can have half a day off to do things I like. I can't do that if I do a normal job. I never like becoming a secretary. They have to sit in the office for eight hours a day, facing the same people. Most models, after one or two years, can't be still very interested in it. But I like being a model. Maybe I was a born one, as many people say. Why didn't the author return to South Dakota when she was first refused? Because South Dakota is far away from New York. Antidepressant drugs such as Prozac were viewed in the early 1900's as wonder pills that would remove depressive blues for good. But in the past five years, growing scientific evidence has shown these drugs work for only a minority of people. And now a research journal says that these antidepressants can make many patients' depression worse. This alarming suggestion centres on the very chemical that is targeted by antidepressants-serotonin . Drugs such as Prozac are known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors(or SSRIs). Their aim is to increase the level of this "feel-good" chemical in the brain. But the new research, published in the journal Frontiers In Evolutionary Psychology, points out that serotonin is like a chemical Swiss Army knife, performing a very wide range of jobs in the brain and body. And when we start changing serotonin levels purposely, it may cause a wide range of unwanted effects. These can include digestive problems and even early deaths in older people, according to the study's lead researcher Paul Andrews. " We need to be much more cautious about use of these drugs," says Andrews, an assistant professor of evolutionary psychology at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Previous research has suggested that the drugs provide little benefit for most people with mild depression, and actively help only a few of the most severely depressed. Famous psychologist Irving Kirsch has found that for many patients, SSRIs are no more effective than a placebo pill. A research in 2010 on Danish children found a small, but significant, increase in the risk of heart problems among babies whose mothers had used SSRIs in early pregnancy. The key to understanding these side-effects is serotonin, says Andrews. Serotonin is also the reason why patients can often end up feeling still more depressed after they have finished a course of SSRI drugs. He argues that SSRI antidepressants disturb the brain, leaving the patient an even greater depression than before. "After long use, when a patient stops taking SSRIs, the brain will lower its levels of serotonin production," he says, adding that it also changes the way receptors in the brain respond to serotonin, making the brain less sensitive to the chemical. These changes are believed to be temporary, but studies indicate that the effects may continue for up to two years. Most disturbingly of all, Andrews' review features three recent studies which, he says , show that elderly antidepressant users are more likely to die earlier than non-users, even after taking other important variables into account. One study, published in the British Medical Journal last year, found patients given SSRIs were more than 4 per cent more likely to die in the next year than those not on the drugs. "Serotonin is an ancient chemical," says Andrews. "It is regulating many different processes, and when you disturb these things, you can expect that it is going to cause some harm." Stafford Lightman, professor of medicine at the University of Bristol, and a leading UK expert in brain chemicals and hormones, says Andrews' review highlights some important problems, yet it should also be taken with a pinch of salt. "This report is doing the opposite of what drug companies do," he says. "Drug companies selectively present all the positives in their research, while this search selectively presents all the negatives that can be found. Nevertheless, Andrews' study is useful in that it is always worth pointing out that there is a downside to any medicine. " Professor Lightman adds that there is still a great deal we don't know about SSRIs-not least what they actually do in our brains. When it comes to understanding why the drugs work only for a limited part of patients, U.S. scientists think they might now have the answer. They think that in many depressed patients, it's not only the lack of feel-good serotonin causing their depression, but also a failure in the area of the brain that produces new cells throughout our lives. This area, the hippocampus, is also responsible for regulating mood and memory. Research suggests that in patients whose hippocampus has lost the ability to produce new cells, SSRIs do not bring any benefit. Which of the following is TRUE about SSRIs? They are used to increase the "feel-good" medical in the brain. Louie was _ chocolate. He loved having chocolate biscuits for breakfast. He asked his dad to buy all kinds of chocolate cookies for him. One morning, Louie's big brother, Ben, said to Louie, "You can't live without chocolate, can you?" "Of course I can," said Louie. "But I don't want to." "I bet you anything that you can't live without chocolate for one whole week," said Ben. Louie stopped eating his chocolate cookies and looked at Ben, "You bet anything? Even your new skateboard?" "Why not?" said Ben. "I'm sure you can't last seven whole days." "That's what you think," said Louie. And then he put his chocolate cookies into a box. Monday was easy for Louie. He had porridge for breakfast. On Tuesday he didn't exchange his yogurt for Anna's chocolate pudding at lunch. On Wednesday he went to Franco's birthday party and didn't eat the chocolate cake. On Thursday, Aunt Irene came to visit with chocolate-chip cookies. "I'm not really hungry," said Louie. On Friday and Saturday Louie didn't exchange his apple juice for Josh's chocolate milk. Then came Sunday. Louie woke up and found a glass of milk and a pile of chocolate cookies beside his bed. "Go ahead. Enjoy yourself," said Ben. Louie picked up a piece of chocolate cookie, but then he stopped, "I'm thinking how delicious it will taste tomorrow after I ride my new skateboard," said Louie. "Oh, no!" cried Ben. "I was so close!" ,. According to the passage, we can learn that _ . Anna had chocolate pudding for lunch on Tuesday
Question: Marilyn M.Arnold 4500 Ridgewood Road Memphis,Tennessee 38116 Tel:9015990316 Email:efg@yahoo.com Objective To obtain a position that will enable me to improve my organizational skills,educational background,and ability to work well with people. Experience Lead Teacher La Petite Academy,Memphis,TN. June,2011July,2012 --Planned activities that would promote growth in language,social skills. --Provided children with individual attention. --Communicated with parents on a regular basis. Education At present,studying Science in Elementary Education at the University of Memphis. Fahd EI Zoghat American University of Beirut Tel:00963116820300 (Damascus) Email:abc@aub.edu.lb Objective To secure a promising position that offers both a challenge and a good opportunity for growth. Experience 20102011 --Assisted a professor in the computer simulation of digital circuits. --Assisted an instructor in the area of radar systems. --Worked as a research assistant with a professor in the area of digital image processing. Education Stanford University,Palo Alto,CA Madeline Little 555 Maple Dr.Hartford,CT 06105 Tel:(860)5550820 Email:m.e.little@gmail.com Objective To obtain a position as a Salesman Associate to improve the ability to work well with people in Summer. Experience September 2009Present --Aid students in person and via phone with questions regarding course registration. --Assist with all other office administrative duties. --Nominated for Employee of the Year in 2011 due to excellent performance. 20052008 --Teammate on Hartford High School women's soccer team. Education ABC Community College Hartford,CT Bachelor of Arts James Todd Wells 7444 Vesta Drive Little Rock,Arkansas.72210 Tel:(501)555555 Email:jtwell@mail.net Objective To secure a position with a wellestablished organization with a stable environment that will lead to a lasting relationship. Experience 20012011 --Worked in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit Admissions of Outpatient Services at Hickingbotham Center admitting patients.Worked as liaison representative between family members and doctor. --Worked also in Emergency Room admissions checking in patients.Entered personal data and followed up on insurance verification . Education University of Arkansas at Little Rock,Little Rock,Arkansas According to James Todd Wells'experience,he is most likely to be hired by _ . A. a supermarket B. a hotel C. a hospital D. a school Answer: C. a hospital Question: When the Japanese attacked America's ships at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, they did it secretly. The makers of the movie Pearl Harbor have behaved differently. The noise about Pearl Harbor, made by Disney,has reached its highest point with its premiere before the movie opens in cinemas across the US at the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a time to recall national heroes who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. As Ben Affleck is the main star, the movie seems sure to become a success in the United States at least. At almost three hours in length, it promises to be a good old Hollywood movie. There is a love story. Affleck and his co-star, Josh Hartnett, both fall in love with the navy nurse, Kate Beckinsale and, of course, there is much human courage and love of country. It's certain that Disney will be accused of "changing" history. The showing of actual events in a movie always causes arguments. Bits of the story are deliberately not mentioned in the movie. It does not address the theory held by some historians that President Franklin Roosevelt knew about Japan's intention to attack the ships in Pearl Harbor.It is said he did nothing, as he was aware that such a blow would allow him to take America into the Second World War. Japan remains sensitive about being accused of wartime atrocities . And Disney is sensitive about its business in Japan, where it has a theme park. Not all the reviews of the movie have been full of praise. A reviewer for Newsweek, who was given an early preview, acknowledged that the 40-minute sequence showing the attack itself was powerful. The attack comes quite late in the movie, however, and the reviewer was less impressed with the characters and the love story. "Almost every line of the dialogue sounds like it comes from an old movie, " the reviewer wrote. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Pearl Harbor? A. The movie will cause a lot of arguments. B. The movie has made the Japanese angry. C. The movie truly describes the Pearl Harbor Incident. D. The movie shows that President Roosevelt knew about Japan's intention. Answer: A. The movie will cause a lot of arguments. Question: Bob was happy. He was at a new school, and the other students were friendly. "Hi, Bob!" They said. But some students said, "Hi, Peter!" Bob didn't understand. He asked another student, " Why do some students call me Peter?" "Oh, that is easy to answer," the student said. "Peter was a student here last year. Now, he goes to a different school. You like Peter. Some students think that you are Peter." Bob wanted to meet Peter. He got Peter's address from a student and went to Peter's house. Peter opened the door. Bob couldn't believe his eyes. He looked really like Peter! Bob and Peter had the same color eyes and the same smile. They had the same black hair. They also had the same birthday. Bob and Peter found out that they were twin brothers. They both were adopted by two different families. Soon after the boys born, one family adopted Bob, and another family adopted Peter. Bob's family never knew about Peter, and Peter's family never knew about Bob, either. Bob didn't understand why _ . A. he was happy B. he went to a new school C. some students called him Peter D. he was named Bob Answer: C. some students called him Peter Question: The neglected baby is crying alone. The young man, suffering from a lack of sleep, threatens suicide. The marriage fails because of the husband's crazy behavior. Is this just another story of social breakdown in the modern age? Not really. But they are the effects of a real social problem--Internet Addiction , or, Internet Addiction Disorder. The addiction is obvious from the popularity of one game alone: "Halo 2". It's a first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios for the Xbox video game console. By early 2005, 1 million players worldwide had clocked up an amazing 100 million hours on the game, among which are 360, 000 Chinese players. China has about 94 million regular Internet users. Of these, a survey suggested, 4.4 million are teenagers who are so addicted to it that they neglect anything else. Video gamers who have gone too far show symptoms similar to those of alcohol and drug abusers. "The real world meant nothing to me when I was fully involved in online games. I lost track of time, space, hunger, pain, and everything," explained Liu Pinyi, a 19-year-old college dropout. She has had treatment in Beijing for her addiction. What makes it similar to drugs is that online game addicts also develop a chemical imbalance in their brains. Gaming stimulates the production of a chemical compound that produces delighted or pleasant feelings. When they're away from the screen, they suffer feelings of anxiety and headaches. Experts say young people are attracted to video games partly because they are partly because they are pushed right into the center of the action. This allows them to overcome a lack of confidence which people at that age can often suffer from. How much time in total had Chinese game players spent on "Halo 2" by early 2005? A. 1 million hours. B. 94 million hours C. 100 million hours. D. 36 million hours Answer: D. 36 million hours Question: I wasn't surprised when I read that actress Helen Hunt recently stated that she would never allow her young daughter to become a child star. Ms Hunt is the daughter of a Hollywood technical director, and grew up in Hollywood. Now in her late 40s, she started acting and modeling when she was eight and has probably seen a lot over those years in show business. She has had a successful career. She earned four Golden Globes and four Emmys. She also attained the top honor of her profession when she won the Best Actress Academy Award for her role in the 1992 movie, As Good As It Gets. Given those _ , Ms Hunt is successful. There is no doubt that her early experiences as a child star prepared her for what has been an outstanding adult career. Given those achievements, why would this star declare she'll never allow her daughter, now at the age of six, to follow in her footsteps? Everyone familiar with the entertainment scene is aware of the reasons for her attitude. Recent tabloid news headlines featuring the troubles of former child stars, among them Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and the late Gary Coleman, may answer the question. Although Ms Hunt managed to become a successful grown-up star, she apparently believes she's an exception. What Ms Hunt may be suggesting is that many very young stars go through unnatural childhoods on movie and TV sets. While they're earning big incomes, they're so pampered by directors and praised by fans; they may get false impressions that their lives will always be that way. Then, within a few years, when faced with reality, they're hurt and confused. After all the overwhelming affection, they find they can't deal with the problems. That's often when drugs and alcohol take over their lives. Helen Hunt has some other reasons why she doesn't want her daughter to be in the entertainment business. Many child stars can never make a successful transition to meaningful adulthood. However, as with many Hollywood movies, I believe there are both good and bad scenes about how it can be played out in real life. From the passage we can conclude that _ . A. few child stars will succeed in the future B. there is no way to save the entertainment business C. the author has a different opinion about child stars D. meaningful adulthood only belongs to non-child stars Answer: C. the author has a different opinion about child stars
Americans have always been interested in their Presidents' wives. Many First Ladies have been remembered because of the ways they have influenced their husbands. Other First Ladies have made the history books on their own. At least two First Ladies, Bess Truman and Lady Bird Johnson, made it their business to send signals during their husbands speeches. When Lady Bird Johnson thought her husband was talking too long, she wrote a note and sent it up to the platform. It read, "It's time to stop ! " And he did. Once Bess Truman didn't like what her husband was saying on television, so she phoned him and said, "If you can't talk more politely than that in public, you come right home. " It was First Lady Helen Taft's idea to plant the famous cherry trees in Washington, D. C. Each spring these blossoming trees attract thousands of visitors to the nation's capital Mrs. Taft also influenced the male members of her family and the White House staff in a strange way: she convinced them to shave off their beards ! Shortly after President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke , Edith Wilson unofficially took over most of the duties of the Presidency until the end of her husband's term Earlier, during World War I, Mrs. Wilson had sheep brought onto the White House lawn to eat t e grass. The sheep not only kept the lawn cut. but provided wool for an auction held by the First Lady. Almost$ 100,000 was raised for the Red Cross. One of the most famous First Ladies was Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was active in political and. social causes throughout her husband's term in office After his death, she became famous for her humanitarian work in the United Nations. She made life better for thousands of needy people around the world. Why have First Ladies been remembered? A They are the wives of the presidents. B They are made up of history books. C Americans are interested in them. D They have an effect on their husbands. Answer: D The other day, I received a most unexpected message in response to one of my essays:I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished. I shared your opinion ... It was signed Margaret Leibfried, who was my English teacher -- a teacher who appeared at a vital point in my life and helped me believe that I could become a writer. Thirty years ago, I entered high school as an introvert made all the more shy because I was the school's only nonwhite student. I always felt in danger of being swept away by a sea of tall white athletes. I spent a lot of time alone, reading and writing stories, hoping to escape being teased. Ms. Leibfried taught American literature and composition grammar, which involved the usual memorizing vocabulary, but also, thrillingly, reading novels. Thrilling to me, that is. Many of my classmates expressed dislike for novels because they were "not real." For once, I didn't care what they thought. Ms. Leibfried seemed to notice my interest in both reading and writing, and she took the time to make me feel less shy; she even offered me reading suggestions, like one of her favorite novels, "The Bell Jar." That year's big project was a book report, to be read aloud to the class. However, Ms. Leibfried suggested I do something "a little different." Instead of a report, I chose a passage from "The Bell Jar" that I considered as the best to recite. The morning of the presentations, I remember my hands sweating so badly as I walked to the front of the class that I kept my hands crossed, so I wouldn't wipe them on my blouse. When I finished, to my surprise, the class applauded. "Marie has picked out a particularly sensitive piece of writing and delivered it beautifully," Ms. Leibfried said, smiling. I felt, maybe for the first time, confident. Why did Ms. Leibfried ask the author to recite a passage in front of the class? A To test whether she had a good memory. B To make her earn the respect of her classmates. C To help deepen her understanding of "The Bell Jar." D To guide her to build a good relationship with others. Answer: B Mr. and Mrs Black live in a small house near London with their children. Usually Mr Black comes back from work very late. At that time, his wife and the children are sleeping. So he opens the front door of his house with his keys and comes into the house quietly. One night he comes home very late. It is 11:00 p.m. But he can't find his keys. He rings the bell . Nothing happens . He rings it again. Again nothing happens. No one can hear it. Mr. Black knocks on the bedroom window. He calls his wife's name. He shouts but his wife doesn't wake up. At last he stops and thinks for a few minutes. Then he begins to speak like a small child. "Mother," he says. "I want to go to WC." Mrs Black wakes up at once . Then he speaks to her, and she opens the door for him. Why can't Mr. Black open the door? A Because he comes home late. B Because he can't find the key to the door. C Because his wife is not at home. D Because he doesn't ring the bell. Answer: B If I had one million Yuan, I would buy you a house! Do I have one million Yuan? No, I don't.So I only can spend ten fens on this short message, sending you my best wishes! Today SMS---Short Message Service is popular, and China Mobile says that every second , there are 410 messages being sent. Look around you! People are watching their mobiles , smiling or laughing.Thumbs are moving quickly on mobiles, bringing happiness to their friends.Through SMS, we know the weather report, share jokes and news, express love and friendship. SMS is becoming more and more popular.It's reported that 67% of young people like to send short messages to greet each other.Internet SMS will be more helpful to people.I'm thankful for the progress because SMS saves me much money.Just on the top of the thumb, so much joy can be found. SMS can help people do the followings except _ . A knowing the weather report B sharing jokes and news C expressing love and friendship D spending more time traveling Answer: D From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once fatal illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and surgery. It is almost certain hat one day remedies will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the incredible slaughter of men, women and children on the roads. Man versus the motorcar! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen. It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motorcar often brings out a man's very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-years-olds and utterly selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments and jealousies seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving. The surprising thing is that society smiles so kindly on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy tragic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is desecrated by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten. It is high time a world code were created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are notoriously lax and even the strictest are not strict enough. A code which was universally accepted could only have a dramatically beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so, the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict annual tests for safety. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can weaken a person's driving ability. Present drinking and drinking laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Maximum and minimum speed limits should be enforced on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for manufacturers. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may sound extremely harsh. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the annual loss of human life. After all, the world is for human being, not motorcars. Why does the author say, 'His car becomes the extension of his personality'. A Driving can show his real self. B Driving can show the positive part of his personality. C Driving can bring out his character. D His can show his temper. Answer: A
I went online to check if my pay was in my bank account . To my amazement I discovered that not only had I been paid, a company I'd never worked for had also paid me! I know I'd have been beside myself if my own salary was not in my account, so I tried to get the money back to the right person. Easier said than done. The bank couldn't help as it "wasn't a bank problem." The human-resource department at the company that paid me was unable to help as I didn't have enough details. I rang the bank again. Thankfully I had a sympathetic call operator who gave me a name, so I again rang the company "Daniel" worked for. I expected the bank would get in touch with me to arrange to take the money from my account and repay Daniel. I heard nothing for a month and the money remained in my account when Daniel called, explaining he'd tried to get back his money but had been unsuccessful as neither the bank nor his company felt it was their error. He had rung to ask if I could speak to the bank, but after chatting for a few minutes we realized we could probably fix this problem ourselves. We decided I would take the money from my account and he would pick it up from me. Due to my busy job I was unable to meet Daniel personally but he left me a lovely bottle of wine in exchange for what was rightfully his. I never had any intention of keeping Daniel's pay but red tape made it difficult to do the right thing. It all came down to two people being able to do what a huge bank and a large company couldn't do -- admit a mistake had occurred and fix it. How was the problem solved in the end? Answer: Altering the physical structure of an object destructively might involve Answer: While assisted living centers have been available in the United States for many years, the growth and availability of assisted living has had a dramatic increase since the early 1990s. An assisted living center is a residential alternative that promotes maximum independence for each resident through a combination of supportive services and assistance. The definition of assisted living from one state to another may vary and so will the cost and types of services. Assisted living centers vary in size, style and the optional services they may offer. Small family style living or the larger complex of units can be found in the United States. Some facilities are operated by nonprofit organizations, while others are _ . In addition, some facilities may be co-located or affiliated with a hospital or nursing facility. An assisted living center is any institution, rest home, boarding home, place, building or agency that is maintained and operated to provide personal care and services which meet some need beyond basic provision of food, shelter and laundry in a free standing, physically separate facility which is not otherwise required to be licensed. In general terms, an assisted living center is required to provide assistance with daily living activities, including eating, bathing, dressing and personal hygiene; three meals a day; supervision (,) of self-administration of medications; laundry service including personal laundry, housekeeping, and 24-hour staffing. An assisted living center offers the following services EXCEPT _ . Answer: My mother only had one eye. I hated her, as she was such an embarrassment for me. She ran a small shop at a market, selling anything for the money we needed. One day, my mom came to my school. I threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day, my classmates shouted, "Your mom only has one eye! '' and they _ me. My face turned red. I wished that my mom would just disappear from this world, so I said to her, "Mom, why don't you have the other eye? You make me a laughingstock." She didn't say anything. Maybe it was because my mom hadn' t punished me, so I didn' t think that I had hurt her feelings very badly. I decided to study hard so that I could leave her for the rest of my life. I made it at last. Now I'm living happily as a successful man in another country. Many years later, I received a letter, which said, "I think my life has been long enough now, but would it be too much to ask if I wanted you to visit me once in a while? I' m sorry that I am an embarrassment for you. You see, when you were very young, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with only one eye, so I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son that was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. I was never angry with you for anything you did. I miss the time when you were still young around me. You mean the world to me. I love you." I can't help crying with the letter in my hand. What is the mother's job? Answer: Several years ago, I read a book Your Money or Your Life, written by Joe Domingguez and Vicki Robin. The major theme of the book is the idea that if you want to cut your spending, you'll have to begin by stopping trying to impress other people. The authors divide people into two groups : people whose opinions you care about, and people whose opinions you don't care about one way or another. It's easy to stop caring about people whose opinions you don't care about. Who cares what they think ? As long as you're not doing something truly immoral ---- something that might potentially create a negative reputation for you ---- it doesn't matter what they think. But shouldn't you impress other people whose opinions you do care about ? Anyway, they are people you want to meet : customers, friends and family. The answer is that you don't need to impress those people with expensive, shiny things. The relationship you've built with them ---- or you're going to build with them ---- is based on you, not on the material items. They'll either like you for you or they won't. To put it simply, take care of the basics. Keep yourself clean. Keep your weight under control. Wear reasonable clothing. Work on your communication skills. If you have them covered, you don't need to invest time and money in impressing other people. Coming to this realization is incredibly valuable. It drops your clothing budget. It drops your automobile budget. It drops your electronics budget. It drops your housing budget. You don't need a shiny car, an iPhone, or a $50 haircut. Yes , you may actually still want one or two of these things, but the impetus comes from what your personal values are, not what other people around you seem to value or what marketing messages you receive. For some people, it seems impossible. Their social cues come from advertising-laden media and from friends who also get their cues from advertising-laden media.They believe they need a slick cellphone and $100 casual clothes. Their self-worth revolves around that little burst they get from impressing others. People should learn to break through that situation. In short, don't play socially by the tiring old rules that revolve around needing to impress people. Instead, spend your time on things that bring real value to you and give real value to others. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ? Answer:
Learning about the environment is very important. There are many good books that will help you learn. To get started, ask your teacher or your friends for some advice. You can also look at some good websites with information about the environment and climate change. Climate change may be a big problem, but there are many little things we can do to make a difference. Driving a car or using electricity is not wrong. We just have to be smart about it. Some people use less energy by sharing a car. For example, four people can ride together in one car instead of driving four cars to work. Whenever we use electricity, we put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off the lights, the television, and the computer when they aren't needed, you can help a lot. Don't buy products that use too much energy. Some products, like certain cars, are made specially to save energy. These cars can travel longer on less gasoline . They don't pollute as much, either. Products like computers, TVs and VCRs with the ENERGY STAR label are made to save energy. Buying products with these labels will help protect the environment. Buy recyclable products instead of non-recyclable ones. Recyclable products are usually made out of things that have already been used. It usually takes less energy to make recyclable products than to make new ones. So when you go shopping, look for the recycle mark on the package. The less energy we use, the better. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: When a lake receives too much rain it will Answer: According to a new survey, students' safety has become a big problem. Now in some cities of China, many schools start a new lesson: self -- protection. Students like this lesson because there are no exams or boring classes. And they can leam how to save lives and know how to stop danger before it happens. Lin Li, a teacher from Yantai, gives young students some advice on how to deal with danger If you are in a traffic accident If a car hits you, you should remember the car number. If you get badly hurt, you should call l20. If it is a bicycle, try to call your parents before you let the rider go. This is because you don't know how seriously you are hurt. If it is raining hard and there is lightning Don't stay in high places or turn on the TV. Don't use the phones. Keep away from trees. When there is a fire Get away as fast as you can. Put wet things on your body and try to find an exit. Don't take the lift. If someone is drowning If you can't swim, don't get into water. Cry out for help. If you are robbed Keep calm. If you can not cry for help or run away, give the robber your money. Try remember what the robber looks like and tell the police. Remember that danger is never as far away as you think. Protect yourself at all times ! There are _ ways of self -- protection mentioned in the passage. Answer: A lack of water has a direct connection on the amount of available Answer: I ran into quite a few language problems while vacationing with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her "pants were dirty". They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, "pants" means underpants or knickers, not trousers as it does back home. Katie -- From America I went to stay with a friend on the west coast last summer. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn't find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor. David -- From Britain When I asked for the "restroom" in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and "rest". It took me years to get through to someone that I only wanted the toilet! Tom -- From America Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire company and tried to explain that the lock on the boot was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for "boot" was "trunk". In the end we went to a _ and just solved the problem. Mary -- From Britain David went out to find a phone box to _ . Answer:
John Milton was born in 1606. His father expected him to enter the church of England, but Milton wanted to be a poet. At twenty-nine Milton set off for a travel on the _ He traveled in France, Switzerland and Italy, winning the friendship of many artists and scientists, including Galileo, the famous Italian scientist who suffered for his discovery in prison. In 1639, he was planning to go on this journey when the news reached him of the break between the king and Parliament . Milton returned to England immediately, and put himself into the struggle against the king, for which he had long been prepared. During the Civil war, Milton worked as the spokesman of the revolution. By the beginning of 1652, Milton had become completely blind, yet he didn't stop fighting. After the Restoration , his books were burnt, and he himself avoided being killed because of his blindness. John Milton was not only a brave revolutionary but also a great poet. His famous poem Paradise Lost was an immediate success. But, for its publication (being published), Milton received only 18 pounds. He died in 1671. Milton would have been killed if _ . Answer: A Guide to the University Food The TWU Cafeteria is open 7am to 8pm.It serves snacks , drinks, ice cream bars and meals.You can pay with cash or your ID cards.You can add meal money to your ID cards at the Front Desk.Even if you do not buy your food in the cafeteria, you can use the tables to eat your lunch, to have meetings and to study. If you are on campus in the evening or late at night, you can buy snacks, fast food, and drinks in the Lower Cafe located in the bottom level of the Gouglas Centre.This area is often used for entertainment such as concerts, games or TV watching. Relaxation The Globe, located in the bottom level of McMillan Hall, is available for relaxing, studying, cooking, and eating.Monthly activities are held here for all international students.Hours are 10 am to 10 pm, closed on Sundays. Health Located on the top floor of Douglas Hall, the Wellness Centre is committed to physical, emotional and social health.A doctor and nurse is available if you have health questions or need immediate medical help or personal advice.The cost of this is included in your medical insurance.Hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to noon and 1;00 to 4;30pm. Academic Support All students have access to the Writing Centre on the upper floor of Douglas Hall.Here, qualified volunteers will work with you on written work, grammar, vocabulary, and other academic skills.You can sign up for an appointment on the sign-up sheet outside the door two 30 -minute appointments per week maximum.This service is free. Transportation The TWU Express is a shuttle service.The shuttle transports students between campus and the shopping center, leaving from the Mattson Centre.Operation hours are between 8am and 3pm.Saturdays only.Round trip fare is $1. How can you seek help from the Writing Center? Answer: "Excuse me," said a young man , standing shyly at the open church door. " I'm here to pick up an Easter basket for my daughter. Am I in the right place ?" " Well, we have baskets, but they're not Easter baskets for kids; they're food baskets,"I explained. That morning I arrived at St. Michael's Church in Carmichael, California, to help give out the baskets to needy families for Easter. To make sure every family would receive one, we had handed out numbers to them that matched the baskets they were supposed to receive . Each one contained a whole ham, potatoes, bread,vegetables, and a pie--enough food to help feed a family for a week. "Why don't you come in ?" I said to the man. He looked disappointed. He shook his head and said," I can't ...My daughter is waiting for me over there.I'm grateful for the food,but when I heard you were giving away baskets for Easter...well, I thought they would be Easter baskets for children." He continued, "I promised my daughter one ,and I wanted to surprise her." I felt bad, but there was nothing I could do.The man hadned me his number, and I walked over to the baskets. A bulge in one of the baskets caught my eye. " What is that ?" I wondered. Leaning over and looking more closely, I could see, unmistakably, an Easter basket filled with candy, chocolate, and Easter eggs.One of the volunteers must have added it by mistake! I thought. Then I looked at the man's number in my hand.Well, he'll be..... "Happy Easter," I said to the man , handing him the only food basket with an Easter basket inside -the very same basket with his number on it. " Someone knew just what you needed." What surprised the author was that _ . Answer: John is an American boy. His family is in China now. John likes chocolates very much. But his mother doesn't give him any. They are not good for him, she thinks. But John has a very nice grandfather. The old man loves him very much, and sometimes he buys John some chocolates. Then his mother lets John eat them. She wants to make the old man happy. One Sunday evening John says in his room, "Please, God. Make them give me a big box of chocolates tomorrow. It's my birthday." His mother says, "God can't hear you, my boy." "I know, but my grandfather is in the next room. He can hear." ,. Where's John's grandfather on Sunday evening? Answer: When someone walks into a room wearing bright colours, everyone seems to take notice. Beautiful bright colours can easily draw our attention. Fresh roses can cheer us up when we're feeling blue. Dressing up in colourful clothing can bring us into a more positive mood. What shall I wear today? What colour should I choose? Dressing yourself for the day is quite important whether you know it or not. Our moods often show what our bodies end up wearing. When you look in the mirror after you dress, train yourself to notice how you feel when you see yourself. Notice your mood. If you are not feeling yourself, could the colour of what you are wearing irritate your nervous system? Did you never notice that before? We all know that dark colours can tell lies. They can make you look and feel older than you really are. That is why baby clothes never come in dark colours. To the mind, dark colours seem easier to hold power, but to the heart and feeling level, they don't help your heart to open. Bring happy colours and happiness to go hand in hand. Bright happy colours open your heart, calming your nervous system. Some advice: If you work around people who wear black, try to find a happy colour to look at to replace the picture of dark colours in your mind. At night, wear soft clothes in light colours to help your nervous system calm down and smooth it out, preparing yourself for sleep. Don't dress children in dark colours because their nervous systems are just beginning to feel. What kind of colours can easily draw our attention? Answer:
Rather than talk about how he feels, often a man would express his love by buying the woman cosmetics , or bringing home a flower, or giving up the control of the remote . And when men do talk, they'd prefer to talk about actions rather than emotions. For example, a lot of men would choose to express their long-range faith in a relationship by talking about next summer's vacation plans, not by starting a conversation about undying love. Men just prefer to say their plans with plane tickets, rather than poetry. It's one of the reasons why men are more comfortable talking at work (the practical world) than they are at home (the castle that emotion built). But you can bring out his great communicator by making him feel more like he's operating in the work mode, even when the topic at hand is your love life. When men talk less and women want more, the conflict can _ . Like when a policeman is questioning an unwilling witness, more silence equals more questions. A full 65 percent of men we surveyed recently told us that they don't want their partners to ask them more questions about themselves. It's clear that some men are just tired of feeling like they're on the witness stand. They're not necessarily hiding anything; many men simply prefer not to have to tell confusing feelings that they may not even understand themselves. An age-old method can make things better: back off a little, give him room to operate in a conversation, and he's more likely to open up. According to the author, men feel more comfortable when talking _ . A. actions B. feelings C. long-term friendship D. conversations Answer: A. actions The television news feature about Ben Heckmann, an eighth grader from Farmington, Minn, was breathless in its praise. "At 14, he has accomplished something many adults can't achieve," the reporter said, "Ben is a twice-published author." But Ben's two "Velvet Black" books, describing a fictional rock band, were not picked from a pile of manuscripts by an eagle eyed publisher. They were self-published, at the cost of $400 by Ben's parents. Over the past five years, print-on-demand technology and a growing number of self publishing companies whose books can be sold online have inspired writers of all ages to avoid the traditional gatekeeping system for determining who could call himself a "published author." The mothers and fathers who foot the bill say they are simply trying to encourage their children, in the same way that other parents buy equipment for a promising baseball player. But others see self-publishing as a lost opportunity to teach children about hardship and perseverance. Mr. Robbins, a critic, thinks it is wonderful to start writing at a young age, but worries self-publishing sends the wrong message. "There are no prodigies in literature," he said. "Literature requires experience, in a way that mathematics and music do not." Alan Rinzler, a publishing industry veteran, suggested parents hire a professional editor like him to work with their child to tear a manuscript apart and help make a better. Ben's father, Ken, said Ben's ambitions "weren't to knockHarry Potteroff the list," but "to get that good feeling inside that you've done something." Ajla Dizdarevic, 12, who has self-published two books of poetry, has been on television and in local newspapers. "Being a published author," she said, "was always a dream of mine." Her new dream: three books by age 15. Which of the following is true of Ben? A. He has achieved something unusual for his age. B. His self-published books were well received. C. His manuscripts were favored by the publisher. D. He was thought little of by the public media. Answer: A. He has achieved something unusual for his age. Hip-pop Dancing Hip-pop dancing is popular with many young people today. They like it because they can invent their own moves. They use this dance to show their love for life. It also shows that they feel good about life, that they just want to be themselves and enjoy life, and that they are not afraid of problems. Hip-hop dancing has a history of more than 30 years. It first began in the 1980s in the US. In early times, it was seen in New York and Los Angeles. At that time, many young black people often danced to music in the streets. They used their legs, arms, heads and even shoulders to dance. Many young people still use most of these moves today. Hip-pop dancing became popular all over the world because of the 1983 movie Flash Dance. Some people performed Hip-hop dancing in the movie. People enjoyed their performances. They began to dance like them. Then it became popular. There are two kinds of Hip-pop dancing: the new school and the old school. More and more young people are learning Hip-pop dancing. People believe that it is a good way to exercise their bodies, and that it is good for their health. ,. ( 5 ) At first Hip-pop dancing was seen _ . A. in the movies B. in the streets C. in the old schools D. in the new schools Answer: B. in the streets Once upon a time, there was a boy named Freddy. And Freddy loved his mom very much, and his mom loved him very much too. One day, Freddy went outside to ride his bike. On the way out, his mother told him, "Remember to wear your helmet," and Freddy grabbed his helmet and met his friends outside. When he was putting on his helmet, his friends told him, "Helmets are for girls! You're not cool if you wear a helmet!" Freddy thought about what his mom told him, but he wanted to be cool like his friends, and he took off his helmet. Freddy and his friends went on a long adventure, and they rode all the way to the top of the largest hill in their neighborhood. Looking down, Freddy was scared. He had never ridden down this hill before. His friends said, "What are you, scared?" Freddy did not want to come off as scared. He hopped on his bicycle, and down he went. Freddy started speeding up, going very, very fast. He pressed his brakes, but oh no, his brakes weren't working. Freddy, speeding down the hill, did not know what to do. He got to the end of the hill and slammed right into a tree. He awoke the next day in the hospital. At the hospital, his mother was there. Freddy opened his eyes and told his mom the whole story. He told her how we would never do that again, and how he would always wear his helmet. His mom gave him a big kiss on the forehead, and Freddy knew his mother was right in the beginning. She didn't have to say it. In the end, Freddy learned that it's important to not care what other people think, and those that think you're not cool because you wear a helmet are the ones that aren't cool in the first place. Who does Freddy love? A. His friends B. His bicycle C. His mom D. His dad Answer: C. His mom The journey two naval officers made some time ago to the very deepest point on the earth makes us realize how much of the world still remains to be explored. The two men went down seven miles to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean inside a small steel ball called a "bathyscaphe" to find out if there are any ocean currents or sings of life. It was necessary to set out early, so that the "bathyscaphe" would come to the surface in daylight, and so be easily found by the mother ship which would be waiting for it. The drivers began preparations at dawn and soon afterwards, when all was ready, the steel ball disappeared under the surface of the water. In time, the temperature dropped to freezing-point and the men trembled inside the ball. They kept in touch with the mother ship by telephone describing how they felt. Then, at a depth of 3,000 feet, the men were surprised by a sudden, loud noise, even the smallest hole in the ball would have meant instant death. Luckily, though, it was only one of the outer windows that had broken. Soon afterwards, the "bathyscaphe" touched the soft ocean floor raising a big cloud of "dust" made up of different kinds of small, dead sea animals. Here, powerful lights lit up the dark water and the men were surprised to see fish swimming just above them quite uncontrolled by the very large water-pressure. But they did not dare to leave the lights on for long, as the heat from them made the water boil. Quite unexpectedly, the telephone began working again and the weak but clear voices of the officers wre heard on the mother ship. After a stay of thirty minutes the men began their journey up, arriving three hours later, _ . The best title for his passage might be _ . A. The invention of a "bathyscaphe" B. Two naval officers should be awarded C. The adventure to the bottom of the ocean D. The ocean floor is soft and dusty Answer: C. The adventure to the bottom of the ocean
If cars had wings , they could fly and that just might happen, beginning in 2011. The company Terrafugia, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, says it plans to deliver its carplane, the Transition, so customers by the end of 2011. "It's the next'wow'vehicle,"said Terrafugia vice president Richard Gersh."Anybody can buy a Ferrari, but as we say, Ferraris don't fly." The carplane has wings that unfold for flying-a process the company says takes one minute-and fold back up for driving. A runway is still required to take off and land. The Transition is being marketed more as a plane that drives than a car that flies, although it is both. The company has been working with FAA to meet aircraft regulations, and with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to meet vehicle safety regulations. The company is aiming to sell the Transition to private pilots as a more convenient and cheaper way to fly. They say it saves you the trouble from trying to find another mode of transportation to get to and from airports: You drive the car to the airport and then you're good to go. When you land, you fold up the wings and hit the road. There are no expensive parking fees because you don't have to store it at an airport-you park it in the garage at home. The carplane is designed to fly primarily under 10,000 feet. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds, including fuel and passengers. Terrafugia says the Transition reduces the potential for an accident by allowing pilots to drive under the bad weather instead of flying into marginal conditions. The Transition's price tag:$ 194,000. But there may be additional charges for options like a radio, a transponder or a GPS. Another option is a fullplane parachute. "If you get into a very awful situation,it is the necessary safety option,"Gersh said. So far, the company has more than 70 orders with deposits."We're working very closely with them, but there are still some remaining steps,"Brown said. What's the best title for the passage? Answer: Michael Jackson was one of the world's best singers. He was born in the middle west of the city of Gary, Indiana,in 1958. He began singing with his four brothers. They called the group, "The Jackson Five". The group became very popular after appearing on a television program. In 1970 the group made their their first record with the name of I Want You Back. It was very popular. One of their hit records was Never Say Goodbye. Michael was good at dancing as well as singing, for example, his dance moves and moon walking. He was asked to act in a film in 1978 for the first time, and in the same year he made a record on his own, which was sold eight million _ all over the world. Michael nearly didn't go out because he was too famous. Once his fans went off in a faint when they saw him at the concert. No one can do it by now. He lived in a large house and kept lots of animals. He never ate meat. He often raised money for charity. This made him win the Guinness world Records in 2006. He died on June 25th, 2009, but he would live in our hearts forever. Why did Michael have to stay at home most of the time? Answer: I have many new teachers in high school, but Lori Runkle, my English Language and Composition teacher, is my favorite teacher. Ms. Runkle enjoys getting to know more about students, so I have many chances to talk with her after class. I have always wanted to become a journalist . Since Ms. Runkle used to be a journalist back in the United States, she has introduced many helpful journalistic writing skills to me. Although she is my teacher, Ms. Runkle and I are more like friends. She often invites my classmates and me to take part in different activities outdoors. For example, I went to listen to a journalist's speech, which helped me better understand current events . Not only does Ms. Runkle talk with me outside of school, she is also a great teacher in the classroom. English Language and Composition is a really hard subject for a second language learner. We felt worried in the beginning, but Ms. Runkle really makes an effort to help us out. In class, Ms. Runkle always encourages students to question everything to keep us active. One part of class I love the most is when groups of students are requested to give speeches on events that are happening in the world. It requires a lot of deep thinking and I really learn quite a lot from it. I love Ms. Runkle very much. She not only helps me to get good scores, but also acts as a good friend and always gives me advice on life. After class, the author _ . Answer: (CNN)-China will sometimes say "no" and the world should get used to it. That message came through when China joined Russia in blocking action on Syria. "Do not mistakenly think that because China takes a careful and responsible position on the Syria issue, China will not use its veto power or will always abstain ," said Cui Tiankai, China's vice foreign minister, "When China must use its veto power to say no, it will surely use it." On Saturday, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called the vetoes "disgusting and shameful." He Wenping, director of African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the veto shows China's confidence in foreign affairs. "A country expressing its true opinion - that's progress. China opposes the use of threat or force to achieve regime change in other countries. This agrees with China's long-standing diplomacy principle. It is also not acceptable for China to rush a U.N. vote without sufficient discussion." So why did China use its veto this time? China's critics say China's veto of the U.N. draft proposal was in part due to Beijing's fear that allowing a regime change in Syria could encourage the spread of the Arab revolution and eventually threaten China. He Wenping disagrees, "China has a completely different political system and economic development path. If someone in the international community thinks that the Arab Spring will happen in China, then I think they misjudge the situation in China, exaggerate some problems in the Chinese society and underestimate the ability of the Chinese government to control the situation in China." Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: A few days ago my wife sent me out to buy something. When I came home, I handed her a paper bag and said, "Here are the apples you wanted." She looked in the bag, and then she looked at me. "I told you," she said slowly, "to buy some eggs." I felt worried about my _ , so I went to see a doctor. He was a very kind man. "I have seen many people like you. It's nothing to worry about," he said. "If you know you are absent-minded, you are all right. But if you do not know you're absent-minded, you may be really in trouble." "Many famous people were absent-minded," the doctor told me. "Thomas Edison was standing in line one day to pay his taxes . When he arrived at the window, he found that he had forgotten his own name. He had to ask the man who was behind him to tell him who he was." I felt much better and got up to leave. "Thank you, doctor," I said. "How much do I have to pay you?" "Ten dollars for the check-up ," the doctor said. "But doctor, I did not have a check-up!" For a moment the doctor looked puzzled. Then he said, "Oh, yes, it was the patient before you who had a check-up. How absent-minded I am!" According to the passage, who was (were) absent-minded? Answer:
Question: The United States government is back in business. Early Thursday morning, President Barack Obama signed a bill to reopen the government. The budget bill, drafted by Senate late on Wednesday night, raised the government's debt ceiling and averted a serious economic crisis. "With the shutdown behind us," Obama said after the Senate vote, "we now have an opportunity to focus on a sensible budget that is responsible, that is fair and that helps hardworking people all across this country." Now that a settlement has been reached, formerly furloughed employees have returned to work, national museums and parks are reopening, and the government's gears are slowly beginning to turn again. Before the shutdown, a federal funding bill went back and forth between the Senate and the House. A major issue was whether or not the government would pay for changes in Obama's healthcare plan. The Senate, with a Democratic majority, wanted to pass a budget that would fund the new healthcare law. But the House, which has a Republican majority, did not want government money used that way. Because an agreement could not be reached on a budget plan, the government was forced to partially shut down. Sixteen days later, _ have come together to pass a measure that raised the country's debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is the strict legal limit Congress places on the amount of money that can be borrowed each year. Had this agreement not been met by October 17, the U.S. may not have been able to pay its promised payments. This legislation, or law, will fund the government through January 15. During this time, Obama and Congress will work on a long-term spending plan. The effects of the two-week government shutdown were widespread. In addition to national parks, museums, memorials and monuments were off-limits to visitors. Workers at government-run organizations like NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency were furloughed. Part of the new legislation will pay back the 800,000 workers who were without pay during the shutdown. Early Thursday, the Smithsonian Institution celebrated the government's reopening on Twitter. "We're back from the shutdown!" they wrote, announcing that museums would reopen Thursday and the National Zoo in Washington on Friday. To the delight of many people, that also means the return of the zoo's popular live Panda camera. What can we learn about the U.S. Government from the shutdown? A. It is run by lazy workers. B. It is affected by different political forces. C. The people has no say in the decision making process. D. Obama decides whether his health care bill will be passed or not. Answer: B. It is affected by different political forces. Question: Victoria Avenue School supports the Walking School Bus initiative a safe, healthy and fun way for children to walk to and from school, guided by a registered group of parents. If you and your child would be interested in joining one of our buses we would love to hear from you. Bell Road route This is a morning bus with over 30 walkers! The route is as follows: Starts at 14 Bell Road, down Scherf Road, crosses Portland Road into Ingram Street, left into Spencer Street then to school. Please call Vanessa McNaught at 5234529. Lingarth / Mahoe route This bus runs morning and afternoon. It departs from the corner of Combes Road and Lingarth Street at 8:10 am. There are two routes-one goes along Lingarth Street and the other along Mahoe Avenue and Manawa Road at 8:25 am. The bus continues up Manawa Road, turns right into Victoria Avenue, and goes down Dragon Drive. At the end of the school day all walkers meet at the bottom of Dragon Drive, leaving school at approximately 3:10 pm. Please contact Toko Kofoed tokofoed@gmail. com. Shore Road route We gather together at Hapua Reserve at 8:15 am and depart at 8:20 am. We walk along Shore Road to Stirling Street and then up Stirling Street to school. Please contact Nicky Hall nicky. hall@simpsongrierson. com. Spencer Street starwalkers The route begins at the crossing of Aldred Road and Spencer Street leaving at 8:20 am.The bus then crosses Glenbrook Street and continues along Spencer Street reaching the school. Please contact Victoria Nicholls victorian@ pascoes. co. nz. Shera Road route Currently this bus is not running. Those living in Shera Road, Leys Crescent and Portland Road are welcome to register your interest in taking this bus. We hope to have the bus running in the autumn, when it will travel along Portland Road, up Ingram Street and left into Spencer Street. Pease call Vanessa McNaught at 5234529. In the afternoon, a student taking the bus of Lingarth/Mahoe route may go along _ . A. Combes Road Lingarth Street Mahoe Avenue Manawa Road B. Combes Road- Mahoe Avenue Manawa Road Dragon Drive C. Dragon Drive Victoria Avenue Manawa Road Mahoe Avenue D. Dragon Drive Manawa Road Victoria Avenue Lingarth Street Answer: C. Dragon Drive Victoria Avenue Manawa Road Mahoe Avenue Question: Why do plants grow in some places and not in others? Why does some land have so much growing on it, while other land has almost no plants growing on it at all? To grow, plants need several things. One is warmth. In very cold places almost nothing grows. Plants also need water. In very dry parts of the Earth only a few unusual plants can grow. That's why dry deserts everywhere are almost not covered by trees or grass. Plants must also have a place in which to put down their roots and grow. They find it difficult to grow on hard land. The town is built on hard land. The plants here have only the soil found between the _ cracks of the stones to grow in. Another thing plants must have before they can grow is food. What will happen if we try to make things grow on the sandy beach? A few plants, such as beach grass, will grow in sand, but most plants won't. Even if the weather is warm enough and we water the plants each day, many of them will die because the sand on this beach has almost no food for plants. According to the passage, plants need_things to grow well. A. two B. three C. four D. five Answer: C. four Question: Apple trees can live for many years, but bean plants usually live for only a few months. This statement suggests that A. different plants have different life spans B. plants depend on other plants C. plants produce many offspring D. seasonal changes help plants grow Answer: A. different plants have different life spans Question: Nowadays, the younger generations are often complained about the selfishness and lack of respect by the older generations. It is undeniable that some young people do need to be educated on mutual respect and concern for others, especially senior members of society. But we older people should have some understanding about the young, too. Today's society is rather different from what it was when we were young. The social, financial and psychological pressure today's young people have to face is much higher than what we did back in the 1950s through the 1990s. They are in the early stage of their career. They have to find proper jobs to support themselves and work hard to rise. They have to live in smaller houses, because they are unable to afford the rising housing prices. Considering these facts, we may find it understandable why young people sometimes appear aloof and disrespectful. I don't mean that we should put up with it without reminding them of the need to mend their ways. What I mean is that we should be more patient, understanding and tolerant toward them. For instance, when we get up on a bus or a subway train, we should not complain about not being offered a seat. A young person does not offer a senior citizen his/her seat probably because he/she has to travel a long way to work or because the carriage is too crowded for one to move at all. In fact, young people do offer their seats to the seniors. I seldom take a bus or a subway train, but more than a quarter of the times I have done so, I was offered a seat. That is fair enough, considering that I do not look so old. But on occasions, I have seen old people not showing any sign of gratitude when offered a seat. China has become an aging society since the end of the last century. According to a recent survey, people older than 60 accounted for 11.4 percent of the nation's population. And the percentage is expected to rise because of the one-child family planning policy our country has practiced for more than three decades. In other words, the younger generations will have to shoulder a heavier burden in looking after the parents and grandparents. Theoretically, there will come a day when one couple may have to support four parents and eight grandparents. What a burden it would be! All this require that we should show more concern and understanding to our younger generations. The author's attitude towards young people not giving up seats to the old is _ . A. unreasonable B. unacceptable C. understandable D. unusual Answer: C. understandable
In recent years, our parenting culture began to send the message that competence was important for building self-confidence. However, that same parenting culture made a big mistake by telling parents they should tell their children how competent they were. Children can't be convinced that they are competent. Only your children can build their sense of competence. However, you can do several things to encourage them to develop their own competence. First, you can give them opportunities to gain a sense of competence. You should allow your children to "get their hands dirty" in the daily life and find out what they are capable of. These daily experiences allow your children to develop specific competencies that will be helpful to them as they grow up. Also, the more individual competencies children develop, the more they will view themselves as globally competent people. Second, you can be sure that they gain the most value from their experiences. You can direct their focus to the competences that enabled those successes rather than some generic praise of the accomplishment itself. And you can also praise their accomplishments. A great difficulty for parents is allowing their children to be wrong or do something poorly in the mistaken belief that these experiences will hurt their sense of competence. In fact, whether they do it well isn't important because success isn't really the goal. Instead, the goal is their willingness to keep trying. Another mistake that parents make is that, after being unsuccessful when their children first try something, they try to correct them so they will succeed the next time they try. That's not to say that you can't lend a hand when they are struggling. But let them take the lead; if they really want your help, they'll ask for it. Parents often make a mistake by _ . Answer: A 13-year-old boy traveled to Washington, D.C. to raise money for homeless kids. Zach Bonner was pretty tired. Instead of going to camp last summer, Zach decided to walk 668 miles from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. He hoped more people would help homeless kids. His journey to help others began six years ago. Zach walked from his home in Tampa to Tallahassee. Then, in 2008, Zach Bonner went on a 270-mile walk from Tallahassee to Atlanta. In 2010, he did it again, from Tampa to Los Angeles. Last summer, Zach traveled 12 miles every day on foot. Along the way, he collected more than 1000 letters about homeless children. He hoped to give the letters to President Obama. Zach says he wants his walk to make a difference. More than 1 million children in the U.S. have nowhere to live. During his journey, Zach spent 24 hours with some homeless children so he could learn the difficulties they face. When Zach walked the last mile of his long journey, more than 500 supporters, including 300 homeless kids, joined Zach. They went with him down the National Mall. "It was a long walk," Zach says, "but it was meaningful." Although the journey is difficult and tiring, Zach won't give up. "When homeless kids get tired of being homeless, they don't get to stop. So why should I stop when I get tired of walking?" What is the best title for this passage? Answer: Success starts within our mind. Now, we will discuss four steps to change our lives and create a new future. # 1. Think big. Get rid of negative beliefs. Your beliefs have developed from what happened to you in the past. You should realize that the past is not equal to the future, unless you really live there. The first thing you need to do is to drive all the negative beliefs away from your mind. Those beliefs are not useful for creating a new future. Think that everything is possible if you put enough effort in it. When you change your beliefs into positive ones, you will feel more powerful. You will then be able to move on to the next level. # 2. Write your plan to achieve your goals. Your great goals should be divided into smaller goals. Make a timetable for each goal so that you can measure your progress. Write a detailed plan to achieve these goals. # 3.Take action according to your plan. Nothing bears fruit without action. Every successful person has to work hard towards his or her goals. There is no exception . Be prepared to work according to your plan. Be willing to invest in the resources necessary for your progress. Do not give up. # 4. Review what you have done and know how good you are. While you are in the process of your work, take some time to review how well you have done. Review your progress based on your plan and see if you need to change anything. You can change your methods but you should not change your goals. Which of the following has the same meaning as "Nothing bears fruit without action."? Answer: "Hurry, Mommy! Let's go trick-or-treating!" My daughter waited by the door in her pink princess skirt while I prayed in the living room. Usually I liked taking her out on Halloween, but this year I was sad. I was worried about my mother, who was in China on vacation. I got a call that afternoon that she had slipped and fallen on the hard floor of her hotel and broken her leg. She was taken to a hospital in Beijing. Mom was nervous because she couldn't understand any of the doctors. If only I could do something to help her! I knew I couldn't let my worries spoil my daughter's fun. There was nothing I could do for Mom except pray, I thought. We left the house and went down the block. I was so upset that I hardly took notice of the kids around me. There came the man to whose son I'd once given piano lessons. "Hello there," I said, greeting him and the boy at his side. "Hello," the father answered. "Having fun?""I'm trying," I said. "Why, what's wrong?" he asked. I told him the whole story. "My mother, in China, broke her leg and didn't understand any of the doctors. And I'm too far away to do anything!" I said. He raised his eyebrows. "Beijing, you said?" he asked. I nodded. He smiled. "Believe it or not, my sister is a doctor at an English-speaking hospital there. If you want, I'll make a call right away and we'll try and get your mom transferred ." A few days later I sat in the living room with my daughter as she finished the last of the candy. "Mommy, how far away is China?" she asked. "Not as far as I thought," I said. What did the author's daughter want to do? Answer: Who's building the new China? It's not the factory owners or the business men and women of China. It's someone else. We see them every day, They work day and night in the terrible working conditions and weather. They build the roads, the theaters, the cinemas and the supermarkets. They even clean up our rubbish. They are China's migrant workers . More than 140 million workers have left their homes in the countryside to look for jobs in big cities all over China. They hope to be rich, but they realize they have many difficulties in making enough money. And one of the difficulties that these workers have is the pride and discrimination from the people in cities. When night falls, everywhere I look I see the sad faces of the migrant workers. Many are living far away from those whom they love. Yes,they dress differently, they speak differently, and they have different habits, but they work hard .The people in cities regard them as outsiders, and most governments refuse to give them medical care and public schooling for their children. If China hopes to move into the future, many things need to change. The first is discrimination! We need to stop our discrimination against the migrant workers of China! They may not make as much money as some people in cities, but they are good honest people just trying to _ this game of life. These workers are very important and necessary to China's economic development and have become an important force for the change of Chinese society. They are building the new China, so we should help them. Which one is NOT TRUE about China's migrant workers according to the report? Answer:
Once a neighbour stole one of Washington's horses. Washington went with a police officer to the neighbour's farm to get the horse, but the neighbour refused to give the horse up; he claimed that it was his horse. Washington placed both of his hands over the eyes of the horse and said to the neighbour, "If this is your horse, then you must tell us in which eyes he is blind." "In the right eye," the neighbour said. Washington took his hand from the right eye of the horse and showed the police officer that the horse was not blind in the right eye. "Oh, I have made a mistake," said the neighbor. "He is blind in the left eye." Washington then showed that the horse was not blind in the left eye, either. "I have made another mistake," said the neighbor. "Yes," said the police officer, "and you have also proved that the horse does not belong to you. You must return it to Mr. Washington." Why did Mr. Washington go to the neighbor's farm with a police officer? Answer: Backpacks are convenient. They can hold your books, your lunch, and a change of clothes, leaving your hands free to do other things. Someday, if you don't mind carrying a heavy load, your backpacks might also power your MP3 player, keep your cell phone running, and maybe even light your way home. Lawrence C. Rome and his colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia2 and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole3, Mass. 4, have invented a backpack that makes electricity from energy produced while its wearer walks. In military actions, search-and- rescue operations, and scientific field studies, people rely increasingly on cell phones, global positioning system (GPS)5 receivers, night-vision goggles, and other battery-powered devices to get around and do their work. The backpack's electricity-generating feature could dramatically reduce the amount of a wearer's load now devoted to spare batteries, report Rome and his colleagues in the Sept. 9 Science6. The backpack's electricity-creating powers depend on springs used to hang a cloth pack from its metal frame. The frame sits against the wearer's back, and the whole pack moves up and down as the person walks. A gear mechanism converts vertical movements of the pack to rotary motions of an electrical generator, producing up to 7.4 watts. Unexpectedly, tests showed that wearers of the new backpack alter their gaits in response to the pack's oscillations, so that they carry loads more comfortably and with less effort than they do ordinary backpacks. Because of that surprising advantage, Rome plans to commercialize both electric and non-electric versions of the backpack. The backpack could be especially useful for soldiers, scientists, mountaineers, and emergency workers who typically carry heavy backpacks. For the rest of us, power- generating backpacks could make it possible to walk, play video games, watch TV,and listen to music, all at the same time. Electricity-generating packs aren't on the market yet, but if you do get one eventually, just make sure to look both ways before crossing the street! Backpacks are convenient because Answer: Books, software, and videos, no matter what you are looking for, if you turn on a computer and log on the Internet, you are sure to find something. E-books are all over the Internet; some are free, and some are not. E-books are basically electronic books you can read without having to carry heavy books and flip through all the pages. Now authors not only sell regular books in bookstores but also sell e-books on the Internet. Some e-books are sold on CDs, too. You can get all types of software right from the Internet. After you download it, you have it. It is so convenient that you can get it even without leaving the house. These are the advantages we have in today's high-tech world. We can find videos of different people. There are so many websites with videos that it would take you some time to actually go through them all. The cool thing about videos is that some people have their own websites or their own spaces where they can upload videos of their families or of different events and allow other people to view them. It is amazing. The Internet is an exciting place and it plays a big part in our lives today. You can even pay your bills on the Internet if that's what you want to do. The marketing industry is also doing a lot better because of the Internet. Companies can communicate very quickly with each other over the Internet. What can we know about the videos online according to the passage? Answer: Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members don't know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it's quite often for brothers and sisters to fight with (...)each other and then they can only go to their friends for some ideas. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a group of friends in their lives. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among(......) them on the phone. This communication is very important in children's growing up, because friends can discuss something. These things are difficult to say to their family members in fact. However, parents often try to choose their children's friends for them. Some parents even stop their children from meeting their good friends. Have you ever thought of the following questions? Who choose your friends? Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you? Have you got a good friend your parents don't like? Your answers are welcome. Choose the best answers:(. ) _ is very important to teenagers. Answer: Reading is an activity that people enjoy a lot in their free time. Some like reading newspapers, and others enjoy novels or comic books. I like reading about the lives of great people. _ always gives me a lot of ideas on how to make my own life better. Great people are remembered not because they were handsome or beautiful, but because they did not give up when their lives were difficult. They used every opportunity to change their lives and make the world better. One good example is Orville and Wilbur Wright, the two brothers who invented the airplane. The plane has made the world into a small village. Hard work, not good luck, is the reason why the Wright Brothers could invent this convenient machine and become remarkable people. Today we still remember them when we see planes in the sky. When I feel sad, stories of great people always help me feel better. This is why I enjoy reading about great people's lives. We still remember those great people, because _ Answer:
Item 1: JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has signed a publishing deal with Little Brown, to release her first ever novel for adults. The deal means that Rowling's long-standing relationship with Bloomsbury, the London-based publisher that launched the Harry Potter books, has come to an end, at least in terms of new works by the author. Rowling, who is worth an estimated PS530 million, said that the new novel will be nothing like the Harry Potter series, which sold over 30 million copies in the UK alone. She said that with the move from children's to adult fiction, a move to a new publisher seemed like a logical step. Item 2: China's hurdler Liu Xiang was disqualified Thursday at the Stockholm indoor athletics tournament due to false start, giving his rival Dayron Robles of Cuba an easy win of 7.66 seconds. Liu was not willing to explain the reason of his false start, but he told Xinhua that it was not related to his foot injury. Another Cuban Orlando Ortega followed in 7.68 seconds and Balazs Baji of Hungary stood third in 7.70 seconds. Last Saturday, Liu won the men's 60m hurdle final in 7.41 seconds at the Birmingham indoor tournament, setting a new Asian record. He said Wednesday that he hoped to have an even better performance than he did in Birmingham at the Stockholm indoor tournament. Item 3: Former NBA star and current Bobcats owner Michael Jordan filed suit in a Chinese court against Qiaodan Sports Company Limited, a sportswear and footwear manufacturer, for the use of his name without permission. Jordan says "This complaint is not about money, it's about principle and protecting my name." The Chinese company has registered and uses the name "Qiaodan". Jordan has been known in China since he gained widespread popularity in the mid-1980s. Item 4: A commuter train crashed at a busy central station in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, killing 49 passengers and injuring more than 600 people, the deadliest in a series of train accidents in Argentina over the past years. The train crashed at about 8:30 a.m. at its final stop at the Once Station, not far from downtown Buenos Aires. The train was carrying more than 800 passengers and traveling at an estimated 16 miles per hour when it entered the station, slamming into the barrier of the platform, destroying the engine. Where can we see the passage? A. Textbook B. Guidebook C. Magazine D. Website Answer: D KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) - Nepal has given its security personnel permission to shoot pro-Tibet demonstrators during China's Olympic flame climb to Mount Everest's summit early next month. "About 25 soldiers and policemen have established camps on the mountain and they have been ordered to use force if necessary to stop any anti-Chinese activities," Mod Raj Dotel, spokesman for the home ministry, said Sunday. "This could mean shooting if necessary." Security personnel will also check mountain climbers for non-essential expedition materials, Dotel added. "If anyone is found with anti-Chinese material their permit will be canceled and returned from the mountain," he said. Chinese climbers plan to take the Olympic flame to the top of the world's highest peak, at 8,848 meters (29,028 feet) as part of the global relay leading up to the August 8 opening of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Spring is the most popular season for climbing Mount Everest, which straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region of China. The Nepali government has given permits to dozens of climbers from 30 expeditions this season. But between May 1 and May 10, climbers are _ from going above 6,400 meters until the torch run is completed. China plans to take the Olympic flame to the summit sometime then. Bad weather conditions allow only about two opportunities in May for a push to the summit. The Chinese have not allowed any expedition to climb the mountain from the north side, according the Kathmandu representative of the Tibet China Mountaineering Association. Almost every day in the past month, Nepalese police have arrested pro-Tibet protesters from in front of the Chinese Embassy and the United Nations offices. The demonstrators are released later in the evening. Supporters of Tibet punish the government's attitude toward the autonomous region, and many believe China should not have been awarded the honor of hosting the Olympic Games. Earlier torch relay stops in London, England; Paris, France; and San Francisco, California attracted tens of thousands of demonstrators. They led to attacks on the torch and relay participants, and prompted police to make dozens of arrests. Subsequent stops in Argentina, Tanzania and Oman were trouble-free. In Pakistan, authorities closed the relay to the public. And India shortened the relay and kept thousands of anti-Chinese protesters at bay by sealing off roads and shuttering buildings along the route. The relay went smoothly in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, amid heavy security and scattered protests along the route. The flame arrived in Malaysia on Sunday. About 1,000 police officers will be on hand to watch for protesters during a relay in the capital city Kuala Lampur Monday. What is the attitude of the Nepali government towards towards China's Olympic flame climb to Mount Everest's summit? A. negative B. positive C. ambiguous D. indifferent Answer: B "People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help deal with climate change," the world's leading authority on global warming has told The Observer. Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further. Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel's chairman for a second six-year term last week, said diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems associated with raising cattle and other animals. "It was relatively easy to change eating habits compared to changing means of transport," he said. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are produced during the production. For example, ruminants , particularly cows, give off a gas called methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than CO2. Pachauri can expect some opposite responses from the food industry to his advice, though last night he was given unexpected support by Masterchef presenter and restaurateur John Torode. "I have a little bit and enjoy it," said Torode. "Too much for any person is bad. But there's a bigger issue here: where the meat comes from. If we all bought British and stopped buying imported food, we'd save a huge amount of carbon emissions." Professor Robert Watson, the chief scientific adviser for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, said government could help educate people about the benefits of eating less meat, but it should not regulate. "Eating less meat would help, there's no question about that," Watson said. However, Chris Lamb, head of marketing for pig industry group BPEX, said the meat industry had been unfairly targeted and was working hard to find out which activities had the biggest environmental impact and reduce them. "Some ideas were contradictory," he said. "For example, one solution to emissions from cattle and other animals was to keep them indoors, but this would damage animal welfare. Climate change is a very young science and our view is there are a lot of simple solutions being proposed." Which of the following might be the best title for the passage? A. Less meat, slower global warming B. More animals, more greenhouse gas C. Less imported food, better our environment D. Greater diet change, smaller climate change Answer: A Everyone knows what a needle is. Of course there are needles and needles: Needles for sewing machines, needles for injection , you name it. But few people think of the wonder : a needle works in the hands of those who practice acupuncture . During the past ten years or so, I have been suffering from terrible headache. It seems to be getting from bad to worse these days . Last night I got a sudden pain in my head. It was so terrible that I could hardly bear it. Although I swallowed all kinds of pain-killers , I didn't feel any better, It seemed that there was nothing I could do but phone for a doctor. One of our neighbours happened to be with us. He was not a doctor, but he timidly offered his help, saying "Do you mind if I tried acupuncture on you? These needles may possibly do you some good." I agreed. In a moment, he had taken out a few needles from his purse. Without a moment's delay, he fixed a few needles into the skin on my head here and there, Before long, I felt thoroughly relieved . Just then, the doctor sped through my house and said, "Where is our patient?" "Sorry, Doctor, You are too late, It's killed!" I answered in delight. It's miracle , isn't it? The passage tells us that . A. everyone knows that acupuncture is a miracle B. the neighbour wanted to use acupuncture on every patient C. the effect of acupuncture on the man was unbelievable D. the patient did not believe in acupuncture Answer: C One afternoon Peter and Jim went out for a bicycle ride. When they passed a place they saw a large area of grass and bushes on fire and a strong wind was blowing the flames towards a village. The firemen had already arrived and were trying to put out the fire. The boys left their bicycles and ran towards the village to see if they could help to fight the fire. On the way they met two firemen. "Quick, you boys," said one of the firemen. "Come and help us to pull a pump to the stream. We can't beat out the fire. The wind is too strong. The pump is our only hope." The two boys ran further until they came to a heavy pump. They helped to pull it to a stream not far from the village. Soon the pump was working well so the boys went to watch the fire. It had already reached the edge of the village. The boys saw that two houses were on fire, and the flames were attacking a third building. Suddenly there was a shout from one of the villagers. "Keep away!" a voice shouted. "There's paint stored in that building." The boys and villagers moved away quickly. With a loud explosion , the whole building burst into flames, sending clouds of thick black smoke into the sky. At this time Peter and Jim began to think that the whole village would be burnt to the ground. The firemen had left the burning buildings and were pouring water onto the neighboring houses, trying to stop the fire from spreading. Then the wind died down. A second pump was brought up to help, and the fire was gradually put out. "It's soon finished," Peter said to his friend. "We must go or we shall get home late." "Yes, come on," agreed Jim, and with a last look at the ruins, they walked back to their bicycles. Seeing the fire, the boys ran to the village to _ . A. watch it B. ask for help C. help the firemen D. warn the villagers Answer: C
Some of the best-known names in the entertainment industry have taken part in an unprecedented _ to help victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The benefit , called "America: a Tribute to Heroes," was sponsored by all four major U.S television networks, ABC,CBS, FOIX and NBC. It was broadcast by three-dozen television, cable and radio networks across the country and aired live to more than a hundred countries around the world. Hollywood stars joined music entertainers in asking listeners and viewers to pledge cash donations to charities helping the victims of the September 11thattacks. Actors, including Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood, told stories of heroic acts by people who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali made a rare public appearance in show of support. The appeals alternated with performances by such popular entertainers a Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Steve Wonder, Paul Simon and the rock band U--2. They appeared on stages in New York, Los Angeles and London, decorated with hundreds of burning candles. Singer Billy Joel sang " New York State of Mind" with a New York City firefighter's hat on his piano. Sting dedicated his song " Gragile" to a friend who died in the World Trade Center. Stevie Wonder condemned hatred in the name of religion before singing his song " Love's in Need of Love today". Pledge phones were manned by dozens of other celebrities, including Jack Nicholson, Meg Ryan, Whoopic Goldberg, Cindy Crawford, Al Pacino and Sylvester Stallone. Organizers say the two-hour telethon raised millions of dollars. All participants, from stars to stagehands, worked without pay. Which of the following statements is true? The organizers, stars and people who worked for the benefit didn't get any money for themselves. Alice is a white dog. She is two.Bob is a brown dog. Bob and Alice are good friends. Look at the two dogs. Bob:Good morning! Alice: Good morning! Bob:What's this? Alice: It's a jacket. It's my sister's. Oh, my sister is Grace. Bob:What's that? Alice:It's a book. It's Miss Miller's book. She is an English teacher. Bob:Well,dogs don't like books. Alice and Bob meet in the _ morning Which of these mixtures would be easiest to separate? Fruit salad A Trap Mr. Smith left his car outside his apartment one night as usual, but when he came down the next morning to go to his office, he discovered that the car wasn't there. He called the police and told them what had happened, and they said that they would try to find the car. When Mr. Smith came home from his office that evening, the car was back again in its usual place in front of his house. He examined it carefully to see whether it had been damaged, and found two theater tickets on one of the seats and a letter which said, "We're very sorry. We took your car because of an emergency." Mr. and Mrs. Smith went to the theater with the two tickets the next night and enjoyed themselves very much. When they got home, they found that thieves had taken almost everything they had had in their apartment. What did Mr. and Mrs. Smith do with the thing(s) they found in their car? They went to the theater with them. Hungry for Change is part of a growing movement of people who want to stop _ throughout the world . They want to make certain that people in famine areas can protect themselves from the effects of future droughts . They also want to make certain that enough help is quickly available for emergencies in all parts of the world . Hungry for Change has helped to raise millions of pounds for famine relief . It has attracted a great deal of newspaper publicity for its relief work . It has also been successful in persuading the government in prefix = st1 /Britainto increase its aid budget by several million pounds and carry out new research into improved crops . While Hungry for Change works in Britain for an end to poverty and famine in the world , Oxfam is helping to get over the fear of famine in such countries as Ethiopia and Sudan with long-term development projects . In North West Darfur , Sudan , Oxfam is helping to increase food production . In Nile Province,Sudan, Oxfam is planting trees in order to provide fuel and shelter , and to protect the soil . It is a faraway area , where rainfall is poor and conditions for agriculture and the forests are difficult . In Arba Minch,Ethiopia, Oxfam is supporting a project to supply clean water to villages . Clean water will reduce the risk of diseases, especially among children . According to the passage , Oxfam does not help_. to build schools and hospitals
Brush your teeth every day, dentists say. In the south of Africa, some people brush their teeth all day long. They keep a small stick in their mouth to chew or scrub their teeth all day. People cut the sticks from trees. They are the African toothbrushes. People there are used to brushing their teeth with sticks. Africans think the sticks work better than toothbrushes. The sticks come from nature, and it is said that there is something special about them. The special thing may stop many kinds of tooth problems. "If you have a bad tooth, it is a medicine," said Diop, a seller in Africa. The sticks are also much cheaper than toothbrushes. In Senegal ,the chewing stick is called "sothio". It means "to clean" in their language. In east Africa,the stick is called "mswaki". It's their word for "toothbrush". Even the dentists agree that the sticks seem to clean teeth better. Nowadays, some nice health stores in the United States start to sell chewing sticks. They think that the stick is natural kind of tooth care. When do the people in the south of Africa brush teeth with sticks? All day. A person may use water from a treatment plant so that it is free of chunks The human brain weighs about 1.4 kilograms, but it can, hold much more information than most computers. However, there is another difference between humans and computers. Computers don't forget information they are given, but humans often do. No one remembers everything, and luckily we don't usually have to. But everyone can improve their memory if they want to. Here are some suggestions. * Try to use new information immediately. For example, if you meet someone who says "Hi! I'm Carlos," don't just say "Hello." Repeat the person's name. Say" _ " * Break a big number into smaller parts. For example, it's hard to memorize 109244153. But if you break it into three parts--109/244/153--it becomes easier. Write out what you need to remember over and over again. This will help you keep it in mind longer, especially for memorizing formulas or facts. Always review information. If you bring what you've learned back to your mind, they become easier to remember. For example, before you go to sleep, it's a good idea to review the new things you learned that clay. * Discuss with a friend. It is always easier to remember things through discussions. You can have a discussion about what's right and what's wrong, and it will lead to the right answer. *Never tell yourself that you have a bad memory. You can always do something to help improve your memory. And everyone's memory gets better if they use it often enough. All of the suggestions are helpful. If you follow them, you are certain to improve your memory. What does the sentence "Never tell yourself that you have a bad memory" mean? You should be confident in your memory ability. How might you figure out what a parts are needed to let your car drive? break it down and determine what it is composed of Pure Brightness Festival, also known as Tomb-sweeping Day in China, falls on the 4thor 5thof April each year. It was started in the Han Dynasty. On this day, whole families, young and old, with flowers visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects. Following the custom, tomb sweepers clean and tidy the graves, decorate them with flowers. They burn paper money made for the dead, set off firecrackers and bow before their ancestors' tombstones. On this day, they don't cook. Only cold food is served. However, tomb sweeping is not the only activity during Pure Brightness Festival. This day is also a time for people to enjoy themselves. Other activities include spring outing, flying kites, planting trees, tasting tea and so on. In April, everything in nature takes on a new look. Trees turn green, flowers come out and the sun shines brightly. So it is a good time to be out to appreciate the beauty of nature. People fly kites not only in the daytime but at night. In the dark, some people fly kites with lanterns, which are called "God's lanterns". They plant trees because young trees which are planted during this period are easy to grow up. And they enjoy tea because the tea produced around the festival is said to have good quality. According to the passage, Pure Brightness Festival is _ . a combination of sadness and happiness
Get up close and very personal with the Aquarium's largest exhibit and its biggest predators with the new Shark Keeper program! After each participant prepares to feed the sharks and other fishes in the 120,000-gallon Lost City of Atlantis Exhibit, they will then get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to feed our sand tiger sharks! Participants will also experience a tour of other behind-the-scenes animal care work areas and take home a real-life shark tooth. Program Outline: Greeting from Educator Educational Program: misunderstandings about sharks, biology, pictures, shark tooth comparisons, animal overview, what to expect during the experience. Behind-the-scenes food prep Brief overview of Safety and Policies *Feeding Schedule: Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 3:40 pm Session: 3:40 pm Length: 60 minutes Requirements: All participants must be 16+. Price: $50.00, plus Admission(Members: $45.00). Space is currently limited to three participants per scheduled session. How to Book: Phone: 631 208 9200,ext.H2O(426) Online: When purchasing your Admission ticket, please select the Shark Keeper add-on under the Aquatic Adventures section of the shopping cart. Guests with Special Needs: Long Island Aquarium&Exhibition Center makes every effort to accommodate guests with special needs. Please be aware that to participate in this program, guests must be able to navigate the animal habitat spaces with minimum assistance, and must be able to understand and take direction in English from staff members. To ensure the best experience, please contact the Call Center at 631 208 9200, ext. H2O(426) to discuss your individual needs. Cancellations : There is a 72-hour cancellation policy. Any cancellation made within 72 hours will not be refunded. No-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled. Guests arriving late (after the required program check-in time) will not be permitted to participate in the program and will not be refunded or rescheduled. We encourage guests to arrive at the Aquarium with plenty of time to park, enter, and check into the program. Adventurers should report to the Main Entrance at least ten minutes ahead. The sessions will begin quickly at the scheduled time. Please plan accordingly. As a guest with special needs, you are expected to _ . A. make sure of your individual needs B. move around the center alone C. follow the directions of staff members D. seek as much assistance as possible Answer: C. follow the directions of staff members For thousands of years humans have used herbs , roots, and other things from nature to cure disease. Scientists looking for new cures often visit traditional healers. They find out what plants are used in healing. Then they look at what the plant contains. They find the active ingredient , which is the chemical in the plant that works to heal. Many of the drugs we use, including aspirin, have come from these natural medicines. In recent years, many people in the US have taking what are legally known as dietary supplements . They may be vitamins or minerals. They may be herbs that help with health problems, such as depression. Some of them are teas. Others are capsules or tablets. They are sold in natural food stores, drug stores, and groceries. Most people think that because these products are natural they are also safe. This is not always true. There are many plants that are poisonous. There are others that have bad side effects. The New England Journal of Medicine publishes medical research. A recent edition called for the government to _ dietary supplements. Several doctors wrote to the Journal and told of bad experiences people have had with dietary supplements. Dietary supplements aren't tested in the same way as drugs. There is not always proof that the supplement really does what it is supposed to do. There is also a problem with purity of the supplements. Supplements have been found to contain things that are bad for the body. For example, the California Department of Health found that of 260 herbs grown in China, one third contained heavy metals. These are minerals such as lead and mercury . They are very poisonous, even in tiny amounts. The problem with dietary supplement may be in that _ . A. the supplements can't be tested like drugs B. the supplements may contain something useless C. the supplements may be polluted seriously D. there is no clear evidence that the supplement does work well Answer: D. there is no clear evidence that the supplement does work well About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table. I couldn't help overhearing parts of their conversation. At one point the woman asked: "So, how have you been?" And the boy--who could not have been more than seven or eight years old--replied, "Frankly, I've been feeling a little depressed lately." This incident stuck in my mind because it confirmed my growing belief that children are changing. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn't find out we were "depressed", that is, in low sprits, until we were in high school. Undoubtedly a change in children has increased steadily in recent years. Children don't seem childlike anymore. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to. Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is different. Childhood as it once was no longer exists. Why? Human development is based not only on born biological states, but also on patterns of access to social knowledge. Movement from one social role to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new status. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages: traditionally, we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders. In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation machine has been installed in 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information to all viewers alike, whether they are children or adults. Unable to resist the temptation, many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging, more vivid moving pictures. Communication through print, as a matter of fact, allows for a great deal of control over the social information to which children have access. Reading and writing involve a complex code of symbols that must be memorized and practiced. Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials. What does the author think of the change in today's children? A. He feels their adultlike behavior is so funny B. He thinks the change worthy of note. C. He considers it a rapid development. D. He seems to be upset about it. Answer: B. He thinks the change worthy of note. Although there is no possibility of living completely free of stress , it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can't be avoided. The US Department of Health and Human Services offers the following suggestions for the ways to deal with stress. Try physical activity When you are nervous, angry or upset, try reducing the pressure through exercise of physical activity. Running, walking, playing tennis or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Physical exercise will relieve your anxiety and worry and help you to relax. Your body and your mind will work together to ease the stress in your life. Share your stress It helps to talk to someone about your anxiety and worries. Perhaps a friend, family member, teacher or even your leader can help you a better view of what is troubling you. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek professional help from psychologist or a doctor. Knowing when to ask for help is an important step in avoiding serious problem later Take care of yourself You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest. If you easily get angry and cannot sleep well enough, or if you are not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult a doctor Make time for yourself Schedule time for both work and entertainment. Don't forget, play can be just as important to your over-all well-being as work. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun. Go window-shopping or work on a hobby. Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy. Make a list of things you need to do Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that "there is so much to do, and not enough time." Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the more important tasks first. Go ahead and cry A good cry can a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety. It might even help you avoid a headache or other physical effect of anxiety and stress What is most probably the writer's purpose in writing the article? A. To release his or her working pressure B. To help solve the universal problem of stress C. To reduce her or his own anxiety D. To help more people cry out Answer: B. To help solve the universal problem of stress In the old days, children were familiar with birth and death as part of life. Now this is perhaps the first generation of American youngsters who have never been close by during of the birth a baby and have never experienced the death of a family member. Nowadays when people grow old, we often send them to nursing homes. When they get sick, we send them to a hospital, where children are forbidden to visit terminally in patients-- even when those patients are their parents. This deprives the dying patient of family members during the last few days of his life and it deprives the children of an experience of death, which is an important learning experience. Some of my colleagues and I once interviewed and followed about 500 terminally in order to find out what they could teach us and how we could be of more benefit, not just to them but to the members of their families as well. We were most impressed by the fact that even those patients who were not told of their serious illness were quite aware of its potential outcome. It is important for family members, and doctors and nurses to understand these patients' communication in order to truly understand their needs, fears and fantasies . Most of our patients welcomed another human being with whom they could talk openly, honestly, and frankly about their trouble. Many of them shared with us their great need to be informed, to be kept up - to - date on their medical condition and to be told when the end was near. We found out that patients who had been dealt with openly and frankly were better able to cope with the coming of detach and finally to reach a true stage of acceptance before death. The need of a dying patient for people to accompany him shows _ . A. his wish for communication with other people B. his fear of death C. his unwillingness to die D. he feels very upset about his condition Answer: A. his wish for communication with other people
Mold is often found growing on old bread. In a food chain, mold is a ___. A. decomposer B. producer C. consumer D. scavenger Answer: A. decomposer American cities are similar to other cities around the world.In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture.American cities are changing,just as American society is changing. After World War II,the population of most large American cities decreased;however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased.In the late 1940s and early 1950s,city residents became wealthier.They had more children so they needed more space.They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes.They bought houses in the suburbs . Now things are changing,the children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults.Many, unlike their parents,want to live in the cities.They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest.Many young professionals are moving back into the city.They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there;or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers. This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits.Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent.In the 1950s,many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs;now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities. Only a few years ago,people thought that the older American cities were dying.Some city residents now see a bright,new future.Others see only problems and conflicts.One thing is sure:many dying cities in America are alive again. Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War II? A. Because older American cities were dying. B. Because they were richer and needed more space. C. Because cities contained the worst parts of society. D. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city. Answer: B. Because they were richer and needed more space. 7 ways a government shutdown will affect your daily life (CNN) -- Democrats and Republicans were unable to resolve their differences over Obamacare and now the government is shut down. The two previous shutdowns -- 1995 and early 1996 -- cost the country $1.4 billion. But what will the shutdown mean for you? Here are 7 ways the government shutdown will affect you. 7. Vacation all I ever wanted: Need to get away? Well, you can't. At least not to national parks. Or to national zoos. Or to national museums. They'll be closed. Were you thinking more along the lines of a trip to France? If you don't already have a passport, you might not get your blue book in time. The last time the government shut down, 200,000 applications for passports went unprocessed. 6. If you drive a car, I'll tax the street: You may be thinking, "No functioning government, no need to pay taxes." Think again. The Man would continue to collect taxes. U.S. bonds would still be issued. And other essential banking functions will go on. 5. Wait a minute, Mr. Postman: You know that whole "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night" thing? Apparently, the U.S. Postal Service works through shutdowns as well. Sorry, you won't catch a break from the junk mail. 4. I want a new drug: Oh, the irony . Republicans still want to _ delay or otherwise withdraw gradually at Obamacare in exchange for funding the government. But the health care act at the center of this storm would continue its process during a shutdown. That is because its funds aren't dependent on the congressional budget process. 3. Pass the ammunition : Not so fast. A shutdown would affect the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Translation: That gun permit you wanted processed won't happen anytime soon if this goes on for a while. 2. Money (that's what I want): Well, if you owned a small business and needed a loan from the government, you would have to wait, depending on how long this lasts. If you were planning to buy a house and needed a federal loan, you would have to wait. 1. I'm proud to be an American: Perhaps the biggest hit would be to the collective psyche . America is the largest economy in the world and a beacon for how democracy ought to work. A recent CNN Research Corporation found that 51% would blame Republicans for the shutdown. The United States has operated without a budget since 2009 and has avoided a government shutdown with last-minute deals. Not only did the government run out of money on Tuesday, but the nation is set to hit its borrowing limit and potentially default on its debt in mid-October. Together, they serve as a double whammy . According to the essay, what led to the shutdown of the American government? A. The government of America ran out of money. B. The government of America is on debts. C. America is set to hit the borrowing limit of its debts. D. The American government ran out of money and may fail in repaying its debts. Answer: D. The American government ran out of money and may fail in repaying its debts. When I was 11, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings . Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn't a good student, I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. In the end, I became so angry that I ran to my father with tears in my eyes. He listened to me quietly, then he asked. "Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn't you ever wonder what you're really like? Well, you now have that girl's opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said." I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn't change (like being very thin), but a good number I could--and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself. I brought the list back to Dad. He refused to take it." That's just for you," he said. "You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you'll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don't shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do." Daddy's advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I'veneverhadabetterpieceofadvice. Why did her father listen to her quietly? A. Because he wasn't quite sure which girl was telling the truth. B. Because he had been so angry with his daughter's shortcomings that he wantedto show this by keeping silent for a while. C. Because he knew that his daughter would not listen to him at that moment. D. Because he believed that what her daughter's "enemy" said was mostly true. Answer: D. Because he believed that what her daughter's "enemy" said was mostly true. CHICAGO --Bill Clinton's eagerly awaited memoir , My Life, will be published this June, and is sure to ignite a firestorm of interest in an already politically charged election year. Bill Clinton said that most presidential memoirs are thought to be "dull and self-serving, but I hope mine is interesting and self-serving." My Life, which is being published by Knopf and will sell for $ 35, is expected by many industry watchers to rise to the top of the best-seller lists. Clinton said the book tells the story of his life from his birth and childhood in Arkansas to his years in the White House. From the book readers can have a look at his successes and _ . He tells the story "as it happens to me, so you see what it's like to be president ... to see how everything happens at once." Without offering specifics or mentioning Monica Lewinsky, Clinton said, "I don't spare myself" in the book. "I have no idea if this is a great book," he said, "but it's a pretty good story. " Clinton was reportedly paid an advance of $10 million for the book, which was supposed to be done a year ago. "The minute that book goes on sale, people will be lined up buying the book," said Bob Wietrak, a vice-president and chief merchant for Barnes & Noble. Some predict the 957-page book will be one of the few presidential memoirs to fly off shelves. Booksellers have already taken pre-orders. The 1.5 million-copy first printing is bigger than the first run for Hillary Clinton's memoir Living History, which sold 1.8 million copies. What can we learn about the sale of book? A. The whole printing will be bigger than that of Hillary Clinton's Living History B. Some booksellers have placed orders beforehand. C. The book will be taken off the shelves after it meets failure. D. People have to place an order for the book before it comes out. Answer: B. Some booksellers have placed orders beforehand.
Question: Which of these makes it possible for hurricanes to form? A. water depth B. water clarity C. water salinity D. water temperature Answer: D Question: The First of May is a Bank Holiday--the first public holiday of the year in England. Most people consider it a special day ,the beginning of summer ,a day when the light lasts long into the evening ,and when we can look for warm weather .We don't always get it .We feel disappointed ,but not surprised if there are cold winds and frosts at night in May .Winter should be over .Most people know that in the past ,when farming occupied almost everyone ,the changing seasons were of great importance .In that older time there was every reason to celebrate May Day .Customs of those celebrations remain. Of these customs ,the best known is the choosing of a May Queen and the dancing round Maypole .Even these customs are little more than memories now--but in the last century it was quite common in villages and small towns ,and even in schools and colleges ,for a pretty and popular girl to be chosen Queen of the May .It was a great honour to be chosen .For a day she wore a light and flowery dress, carried garlands ,and was ceremonially crowned with flowers .She presided over a procession ,as a rule with a number of attendants ,and over the Maypole dancing and all kinds of entertainment .The Maypole was slender tree trunk ,cut off its branches, with beautiful ribbons fastened to the top .The dancing was designed in such a way that the dancer's movements move the ribbons into a pattern. This, as you can imagine ,required skill from the dancer ,and was not achieved without practice . It's the Celtic people who celebrated the First of May as a spring festival .Their celebration seems to have had little to do with taking pleasure in early ,beautiful flowers and in warmer weather! They called it Beltane--the fire of the god Bel .They lit fires ,in the expectation that their blaze would help the sun in its struggle to regain its strength. They drove their cattle between banks of flame in the expectation that the terrified beasts would be purified and protected from disease .A tree ,which must have been blackened with smoke ,stood in the middle of the fires ,and is thought to have been the origin of the Maypole .Their priests made sacrifices to the goods in the hope of good harvests and sufficient store of food for the winter. There was dancing certainly ,but it was noisy and cheerful ,since its purpose was not to weave a pattern of colored ribbons ,but to drive out evil spirits from the earth and to arouse those kind spirits. According to the passage ,which sentence is NOT true? A. In the old days they celebrated May Day for the changing of the seasons. B. In England summer begins at the first of May. C. The custom of the choosing of a May Queen still exists in the present May Day celebration. D. The Celtic people celebrated the first of May as a spring festival. Answer: C Question: Koala bears as pets might be appealing to many of us. However, there are quite a few points to consider even before thinking of adopting one. Koala bears are one of the most lovely Australian animals. In certain cases where the koala has been raised by hand, they have turned out to be quite affectionate pets. These people tied a piece of fur to a pillow and placed it beside a joey (a baby kola) as a substitute for the mother koala. This trick seemed to work well with the baby koala. However, it is a known fact that human handling causes stress to koalas. In my personal opinion, this aspect clouds the fact that koala bears can be tamed . In Australia the koala is a priority animal as far as conservation status assessment is concerned. It was hunted to near extinction for its fur. In fact the koala had been wiped out from South Australia in the 1920s. However, rehabilitation efforts have brought the animal back in the state. As for the Australia government, the koala is not a threatened animal, but the US government does list the koala as one. Although they may live in 40 to 60 kinds of eucalyptus trees, they prefer only 10 to 14 specific kinds. Koalas sleep for most part of the day, which is about 16 to 18 hours, and for most of their waking hours all they do is eat. Koala bears eat the leaves of eucalyptus trees. A full-grown koala can eat almost 2 to 3 pounds of leaves in a day. Despite their slow movements and sweet look, koala bears can be _ when hungry. Other than this, there are the stress caused to koalas due to human handling and the fights that start in koalas. Almost everyone finds koalas lovely in the zoo. However, as far as having koala bears as pets is concerned, there are legal issues to consider. Other than that, being able to provide for its diet and habitat is another point that needs some attention before any law legalizing their adoption as pets is passed. What's the author's attitude towards people raising the koala? A. Optimistic. B. Grateful. C. Cautious. D. Enthusiastic. Answer: C Question: I am an English dictionary. I can still remember the day my ex-owner bought me. He had stood in front of the shelf for around half an hour before finally picking me. Originally, he chose my neighbor. But because she had some ink on the cover, he put her down and chose me instead. I may sound arrogant . But please forgive me. I am so proud of my vocabulary. With 100,000 entries and 300,000 examples, I think no scholar can be more knowledgeable than me. My only weakness is that I can't speak. But that is not my fault. I was not designed to speak in the first place. My ex-owner was supposed to read the phonetic symbols clearly printed beside each word, which were also my selling point. I should have been respected but have ended up lying next to a piece of used toilet paper inside the rubbish bin. It is all because of the electronic dictionary. He is the bad guy because he takes advantage of my one weakness. And I just don't understand why he can be so slim. He also has about 100,000entries but 450,000 examples! But I know this was not the reason why my ex-owner was attracted, for he was not a very diligent student and seldom read the examples listed. The main reason was that the bad guy had so many games in him. My ex-owner always pretended to be working hard while actually he was playing games. My ex-owner put me on his bookshelf because of my awesome English name "Advanced English Dictionary". He wanted people to think that he was an advanced learner. I wanted to tell him that it would be better if he hid the comic books standing next to me. But, you know, I can't speak. I stood there for years. I was so bored. So I talked to the comic book next to me. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have talked to him because I was educated and he was not. But who else could I choose? He told me that my ex-owner had read him once only and then put him there. I was upset because he had never read me from page one to page 1,000. Was I not a better book than the comic book? I wanted to challenge his honesty but before I did so, he was thrown away. I give up. My pages are absorbing waste water. There is no way people will use me again. Suddenly, I want to talk to the comic book. Would he talk to me if we met? The dictionary thinks that its ex-owner put it on the bookshelf because he _ . A. thought that it could match the comic books B. wanted his friends to study English C. just wanted to show off D. had to use it sometimes Answer: C Question: Is your TV connected to the Internet? What about your chair,or your fridge? Probably they are not. But in the future, most things in your home may be connected, thanks to the so-called "Internet of things". The Internet of things may be coming sooner than you think. Earlier this year, A Samsung CEO spent a lot of time talking about the Internet things. He said that five years from now,every Samsung product will be part of the Internet of things,no matter whether it's a remote control or a washing machine. So, how do household objects that are part of the Internet of things work? Well,think of a common chair. When connected to the Internet, the chair warms up when it knows the user has just walked into the room and is feeling cold. An Internet-connected camera could help people feel safer in their homes. It can know people's faces and has an infrared sensor ,so even if it's dark it can see when someone passes by and send you a message on your smartphone to let you know who's there. If the person is someone you don't know,it can tell you that ,too. But according to MIT Technology Roview, whether companies are connecting dog food bowls or security systems to the Internet, there may be some problems. For example, many early connected-home objects don't have much built-in security, which means they could be hacked . Morever, it could be difficult to get these new machines to work together especially when they are made by different companies. To fight this ,many companies have joined the Open Interconnect Consortium, which had 45 menbers by late 2014. So, picture this: you enter your home.The temperature changes to make you feel comfortable. Your favorite music starts playing for you. Do you think that this would be a good thing? I t may happen sooner than you think. What does the article mainly talk about? A. Advantages of living with the Internet B. Disadvantages of living with the Internet C. The coming " Internet of things" D. The imposslble " Internet of things" Answer: C
A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports. Grimsvotn is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvotn different is that it lies under a huge glacier of ice up to 12 metres thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer of water between glacier and the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what is happening today. Now airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe's biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane's engines, causing damage to the plane. The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp, glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them eating ash-covered grass or the sharp objects. What keeps Grimsvotn still? A The slow flow of water.. B The thick glacier. C The water pressure. D The low water temperature. Answer: C "It's the best...uhh...What? You don't want it?...,"the inexpertienced young man uttered,his hope dashed. "Again,you disappointed me,Andrew.When are you going to learn? You have to be sure and confident. And think how best to make him part with his money. Apply yourself, Son. All your college education will not help if you don't put your mind to selling. Think on your feet. Use psychology," Andrew spoke with diffidence overwhelmed by his father's criticism. "You've been in this shop for six months and you haven't succeeded in selling a single computer. I tell you what. I'll give you one more chance. I'll give you another three more weeks. If you still can't make one sale, I'll call in your elder brother to replace you. He will also take over the shop when I retire. There. I'll just give you one last chance to prove yourself," said Mr. Whitely, his patience wearing thin. Andrew's heart missed a beat. This time he would have to do it. Do or Die! A sense of urgency gripped him. Somehow he must prove himself to his father. It was now the end of the day and the shop was being closed. The assistant employed by his father, called Mike, chuckled and put his arms round poor Andrew to comfort him," Sort it out yourself. It's gotta come from yourself." he said. The shop was located in a bustling shopping center. Andrew left the shop and walked round the complex aimlessly and by chance entered a large bookstore. He glanced at the books and was about to leave when his eyes caught some interesting titles:' How to increase your confidence,'' The art of communication,''How to sell well'amongst others. The next minute he was out of the store with the shopping bag bugling with books. In his apartment (for he loves separately from his parents and little sister),he settled himself in his easy chair and devoured the contents of the books, one by one. His keen intelligence enabled him to focus the details that matter and pick out the ideas and techniques expounded.In a week his image underwent a transformation. Gone was the stubble that used to give him an untidy image likened to a heroin addict.He was also smartly dressed now. Instead of his usual slurred speech and incoherence ,he spoke with clarity, purpose and forcefulness.He was more convincing and persuasive. Above all, confidence flowed from his being and he seemed to have learned a few tricks of the selling trade. He worked hard at his sales pitch and one day he succeeded in selling a computer. His first sale. He had finally achieved the quota of one sale within the given time frame of three weeks. The job, the shop, was his. He had to thank Mike for it. And now he had to go beyond his first successs and score, consistently and persistently. Nevertheless he had proved himself at last and the future looked bright and promising. What's the most significant change of character in Andrew? A He's more convincing. B He's more hard-working. C He is more confident. D He is more intelligence. Answer: C Researchers continue to show the power behind our sense of smell.Recent studies have found,among other things,that the smell of foods like pizza can cause uncontrollable anger in drivers on roads. The review explains that smell is unique in its effects on the brain.According to Conrad King,the researcher who carried out the review,"more than any other senses,the sense of smell goes through the logical part of the brain and acts on the systems concerned with feelings.This is why the smell of baking bread can destroy the best intentions of a dieter." Smell,which dictates the unbelievable complexity of food tastes,has always been the least understood of our senses.Our noses are able to detect up to 10,000distinct smells.Our ability to smell and taste this extremely large range of smells is controlled by something like 1,000genes ,which make up an amazing 3% of the human genome.Researchers Richard Axel and Linda Buck were together awarded a Nobel Prize in 2004for their ground-breaking research on the nature of this extraordinary sense.These two scientists were the first to describe the family of 1,000olfactory genes and to explain how our olfactory system works. According to one study in the research review,smelling fresh pizza or even the packaging of fast foods can be enough to make drivers feel impatient with other road users.They are then more likely to speed and experience uncontrollable anger on roads.The most reasonable explanation is that these can all make drivers feel hungry,and therefore desperate to satisfy their appetites. In contrast,the smells of peppermint and cinnamon were shown to improve concentration levels as well as reduce drivers'impatience.Similarly,the smells of lemon and coffee appeared to promote clear thinking and mental focus. However,the way genes regulate smell differs from person to person.A study by researchers in Israel has identified at least 50olfactory genes which are switched on in some people and not in others.They believe this may explain why some of us love some smells and tastes while others hate them.The Israel researchers say their study shows that nearly every human being shows a different pattern of active and inactive smell-detecting receptors. What is the passage mainly about? A Logic and behaviour. B Smell and its influence. C Sense ability and food tastes. D Olfactory genes and its system. Answer: B Are you a bit bored with your nine-to-five routine? Have a look at our exciting range of holidays and decide what type of adventure you'd like. Activity holidays Our activity holidays are for everyone who loves danger. We have a huge of water, snow and desert holidays. We'll take you scuba diving in the Red Sea of kayaking and white water rafting in Canada. If you prefer snow, you can try skiing or snowboarding in the Alps or even igloo-building( ).For those who like warm weather, we also have sand boarding(the desert version of skateboarding) or camel safaris. Polar expeditions Take a cruise to the Antarctic or the Arctic; explore a land of white nature beauty or wonderful wildlife. Our experts will explain everything about the two poles as you watch penguins or whales in the Antarctic and polar bears in the Arctic. There's no greater adventure than traveling to the two ends of the earth. Culture journeys Our culture journeys will help you discover the secrets of distant places such as India, Thailand or Egypt. Explore their history by visiting temples, palaces and ancient ruins. You can also get to know how people live in the modem world by exploring markets, eating exotic foods and meeting local people. Hiking tours We have hiking holidays to famous places, such as Machu Picchu or the Everest Base Camp Trek,as well as some nearer to home, for example in the highlands of Scotland. You don't need to be too sporty, just fairly fit. You'll have a great time enjoying nature with a group of new friends. Some of the holidays need camping, but we'll transport the tents for you! Wildlife holidays We organize small group tours to get closer to nature in Africa, Asia or South Africa. Go on safari in Africa and watch lions and giraffes. Meet the famous turtles of Galapagos Islands. Look for tigers in India, or take an elephant safari in Sri Lanka. We use local guides and stay in a range of accommodation, from tents to tree houses. What kind of activities can you do if you go to the Red Sea in summer? A White water rafting B Diving C Igloo-building D Sand boarding Answer: B Over the holidays, I took my three young children into a fancy chocolate shop to buy gifts. Halfway home, I noticed my 7-year-old son playing with a plastic noisemaker. Long story short: He had stolen the toy. I kept my cool -- even when he said, "but it was only $1.50, Mom!" --and explained why it was unacceptable to take things we didn't buy. A few hours later, I marched my son back to the store with two dollars from his piggy bank. He walked embarrassedly to the counter and told the clerk that he had taken something without paying for it, that he was sorry to break it and that he would pay for it now. I know exactly how terrible he was feeling. Returning to the scene of the crime is the same shame-causing punishment I received when I was five and stole something from a store. 1 remember my dad sending me back to return the item. It remains one of my clearest child- hood memories. After that day, I never stole again. My dad taught me such an important lesson 30 years ago and I saw an opportunity to do the same for my son. But now I wonder if it was the fight thing to do. "Returning to the store is absolutely the right thing to do," Laura Markham, Ph.D., a child psychologist and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, says. "Many children steal -- they' re not born knowing the rules so it' s our job to teach them." And stay calm when you set them. "If you overreact or yell, you might create a fascination with the behavior and a willful child will be more likely to fight against you," she says. Having a child physically return the stolen item helps him or her grasp the situation -- and the consequence. But don't talk about it for too long. "lf you continuously bring up the incident, the child will believe they' re a thief and that they' re bad," she says. Only time will tell if this experience will have the same powerful effect on my son as it had on me, but at the same time I can rest if I haven' t dealt with the situation badly. What does the author think of Laura Markham' s words? A They are doubtful. B They are unacceptable. C They help her to stop feeling worried. D They have taught her a good lesson. Answer: C
When Geoff Marcy was 14, his parents bought him a telescope. Every night, he would go onto the roof outside his window to see the wonders of the sky. "What excited me most was whether there were planets in other solar systems where life might exist," he says. "I decided to try to find planets orbiting other stars like our Sun." And he did. "My fellow researcher, Paul Butler, and I found our first planet in 1995," Dr. Marcy says. "We worked for ten years without finding anything! _ and our patience paid off." Since then, the two scientists have discovered 65 of the more than 100 planets found orbiting other stars. Dr. Marcy and Dr. Butler also spotted the first "family" of three planets. In June 2002 they announced another discovery: a Jupiter-like planet orbiting star 55Cancri. At first, the two researchers found only planets that orbit close to stars. Recently, the scientists found planets farther out. The planet orbiting 55Cancri is a major breakthrough: it is the first sighting of a large gas planet about same distance from the star as Jupiter is from the Sun. Why is this important ? Scientists think that life on Earth may exist because of two special features in our solar system. The first is Jupiter. "Because it's so big, Jupiter pulls comets and asteroids , or they all come and hit the Earth." Dr. Marcy explains. "Without Jupiter , life on Earth would likely have been destroyed." A second feature is that Earth is a rocky planet where liquid water, which is necessary for life , can exist. Unlike gas planets, rocky planets like Earth have surfaces where water can gather in pools and seas, which may support life. A huge space exists between the Jupiter-like planet and two other planets that lie close to 55Cancri. Is there an Earth-like planet in the space, too small for us to notice? If so, says Dr. Marcy, "We would have two striking similarities to our solar system: a Jupiter-like planet and an Earth-like planet. And there may be life!" What can we learn about Dr. Marcy from the passage? He is interested in finding life in outer space. Taste is such a subjective matter that we don't usually conduct preference tests for food. The most you can say about anyone's preference is that it's one person's opinion. But because the two big cola companies--Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola are marketed so aggressively, we've wondered how big a role taste preference actually plays in brand loyalty. We set up a taste test that challenged people who identified themselves as either Coca-Cola or Pepsi fans: Find your brand in a blind tasting. We invited staff volunteers who had a strong liking for either Coca-Cola Classic or Pepsi, Diet Coke, or Diet Pepsi. These were people who thought they'd have no trouble telling their brand from the other brand. We eventually located 19 regular cola drinkers and 27 diet cola drinkers. Then we fed them four unidentified samples of cola one at a time, regular colas for the one group, diet versions for the other. We asked them to tell us whether each sample was Coke or Pepsi; then we analyzed the records statistically to compare the participants' choices with what mere guess-work could have accomplished. Getting all four samples right was a tough test, but not too tough, we thought, for people who believed they could recognize their brand. In the end, only 7 out of 19 regular cola drinkers correctly identified their brand of choice in all four trials. The diet-cola drinkers did a little worse----only 7 of 27 identified all four samples correctly. While both groups did better than chance would predict, nearly half the participants in each group made the wrong choice two or more times. Two people got all four samples wrong. Overall, half the participants did about as well on the last round of tasting as on the first, so tiredness, or taste _ , was not a factor. Our preference test results suggest that only a few Pepsi participants and Coke fans may really be able to tell their favorite brand by taste and price. The author's purpose in writing this passage is to _ . show that taste preference is highly subjective Want ads (1) Wanted :"Are you hard-working ?" Do you like to meet people? If your answer is "Yes", then we have a job for you as a waiter, call AL Hotel at 556779! (2)Summer Job: Do you like to talk with people ? Do yu like to write stories? If you want to work for our magazine as a reporter. Please call Karen at 558366. (3)Help wanted: Do you like babies ? Can you look after one baby for two days ? If you are sure to take good care of it, call us at 766588. $80 or more. Today ! Hurry ! (4)Cleaner wanted: Can you make a large house clean and tidy? If you hope to get the job paid at $20 once, call us this evening 18:00-20:00 Tel : 633800. If you're a college student of English ,and you enjoy writing, during your summer holidays you will be more interested in the job in _ ad(2) DJs(disc jockeys) are the people who play and present music on the radio, or in nightclub. A VJ(video jockey) is a person who introduces music videos on television. VJs were first seen on television in the early 1980s when MTV went on the air. As MTV became popular, and the audience for music videos expanded, a variety of other music video channels started broadcasting. In addition to rock music, there were channels for people who had a lot of interest in alternative kinds of music, such as country music, light music, and R&B(rhythm and blues), and all of these channels needed VJs. By the 1990s, international music video channels like Channel V in Asia and VIVA in Europe had started. The VJs for the new international stations had to be chosen carefully. Although some VJs did shows that focused on small audiences and showed mostly local content, other VJs presented shows for international viewers. These VJs, and the material they presented, needed to be popular in several different cultures. One successful international VJ in Asia is Asha Gill. She is from prefix = st1 /Malaysia, but her parents and grandparents are fromIndia,FranceandEngland. She speaks three languages and has fans across Asia, fromJapanto theUnited Arab Emirates. Another VJ who has made a big hit in Asia is Lili. She is actually a computer- Animated VJ on MTV Asia. An actress wearing special computer equipment makes Lili move like a puppet . The actress also talks for Lili, and her shows can be seen in five languages. When asked what makes a good video jockey, many successful VJs have given similar answers. To be a good VJ you need to know a lot about music, you need to be funny, and you can't be shy. What do Channel V and VIVA have in common? They have viewers in more than one country Fox was hungry. He was very hungry because he had not eaten in 3 days. Bird flew to Fox's home and talked to him. Bird asked Fox why he had not eaten in so long. Fox said it was too cold outside. Bird said "But you have such nice, thick fur!" \tabFox said, "Well I am really too lazy." Bird said he would bring Fox any food he saw when he was flying around and left. \tabBird flew to other side of the forest to visit Tiger, but he did not see any food on the way. Tiger was reading a book about cooking. "Hmm, there are so many delicious foods I have not tried yet." Bird arrived at Tiger's den and said "Hello Tiger, what are you doing?" Tiger said "I am trying to think of what to have for dinner." \tab"How can you choose?" asked Bird. \tab"Why don't we pick a color and eat something that is that color" said Tiger. \tab"How about red?" said Bird. \tab"Yes! Like a fox!" said Tiger. \tab"I know where a fox is!" said Bird, "I'll show you." So Tiger followed Bird all the way across the forest. Finally they arrived outside Fox's home. "Pretend you are asleep and wait right here", said Bird to Tiger. Bird then flew in to Fox's home very happy. "Fox, I have found a big yummy treat for you and you won't ever be hungry again! Follow me outside." Fox followed Bird outside and said "WOW! A whole tiger! Yum!" Then Tiger jumped up and gobbled up Fox in one bite. Fox was now inside Tiger's belly and he yelled out "Bird, you lied to me! Why?!" \tab"Because you ate my sister!" yelled Bird. \tab"That wasn't me, it was Snake!" cried Fox. \tab"Oh. Um, sorry Fox. Well at least you don't have to hunt for food now" said Bird. Tiger laughed so hard that he coughed up Fox. Then they all went and got ice cream. Who was too lazy to find food? Fox
Question: Mr. Harris used to work in Dover, but then he changed his work, and he and his wife moved to another town. They did not have many friends there, but they soon met a lot of interesting people, and after a few weeks, they often went to dinner or to parties at other people's houses. Then Mrs. Harris said to her husband, "We've been to a lot of other people's houses, and now we must invite them to our house, mustn't we?" "Yes, certainly," answered her husband, "A big party will be the easiest thing, won't it? Then we can start to invite people to dinner in small numbers next month." So Mrs. Harris said, "Yes, I'll invite all our friends here to a big party on 5th December." "How many will that be?" Mr. Harris asked. "Don't invite too many." Mrs. Harris was beginning to write the invitations when her husband saw that she was writing, "Party. 6.30 to 8.30 p.m." "That isn't very nice, is it?" he said. "You're telling our guests that they must go at 8.30." So Mrs. Harris just wrote "Party. 6.30 p.m." A lot of guests came, and they all had a good time, so they did not go home at 8.30. In fact they were still there at mid-night when the door bell rang and a policeman arrived. He said, "You must stop making a noise, because someone has complained." Mr. Harris said he did not want to quarrel with the policeman, so everyone went home. They were sorry to have to go. When Mr. and Mrs. Harris were alone again, she said to him. "That was a surprise, wasn't it? Who complained about the noise?" "I did," Mr Harris answered in a tired voice. What made Mr. and Mrs. Harris hold a party at their house? A. It was easy to hold a big party at home. B. They could ask people to dinner in small numbers. C. They had gone to other people's parties many times. D. They liked making friends with others. Answer: C. They had gone to other people's parties many times. Question: When I was small and my grandmother died, I couldn't understand why I had no tears. But that night when my dad tried to cheer me up, my laugh turned into crying. So it came as no surprise to learn that researchers believe crying and laughing come from the same part of the brain. Just as laughing has many health advantages, scientists are discovering that so, too, does crying. Whatever it takes for us to reduce pressure is important to our emotional health, and a study found that 85 percent of women and 73 percent of men report feeling better after crying. Besides, tears attract help from other people. Researchers agree that when we cry, people around us become kinder and friendly and they are more ready to provide support and comfort. Tears also enable us to understand our emotions better; sometimes we don't even know we' re very sad until we cry. We learn about our emotions through crying, and then we can deal with them. Just as crying can be healthy, not crying -- holding back tears of anger, pain or suffering -- can be bad for physical health, Studies have shown that too much control of emotions can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems and some other illnesses. If you have a health problem, doctors will certainly not ask you to cry. But when you feel like crying, don't fight it. It's a natural -- and healthy -- emotional response . According to the author, which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Crying is the best way to get help from others. B. Fighting back tears may cause some health problems. C. We will never know our deep feelings unless we cry. D. We must cry if we want to reduce pressure. Answer: B. Fighting back tears may cause some health problems. Question: Students are designing kites to discover what type of kite flies the highest. Which is the most important to consider when designing a kite to fly high? A. string length B. surface area C. materials used D. time of day Answer: B. surface area Question: Hellen Keller lived in the USA. She was a great woman. When Hellen was a baby, she got very sick. Several weeks later. The doctor said," She is better, but now she can not see and hear." Her mother and father were very sad. After a few years, things got worse. There was no way for Hellen to speak to other people, She heard nothing. She did not understand anything. Then one day a teacher came to live with Hellen and her family. The teacher helped Hellen learn about words. Hellen was a very bright child and soon she learned to spell her first word. When she was old enough, she went to college. Hellen was very famous. She helped many blind and deaf people. She travelled around the world and helped many people. The world remember her today as a brave and wonderful woman. She was blind and deaf, but she found a way to see and hear. Hellen got very sick and became blind and deaf when she was a _ . A. student B. baby C. nurse D. doctor Answer: B. baby Question: Lin Xiao, 21, a student at Guangdong University, has a big family - her two parents, a younger brother and two younger sisters. Lin took her role as the "big sister" seriously. When her first sister was born, Lin took turns with her mom holding the baby late into the night. "I almost did everything that was supposed to be a parent's job, but I felt proud of myself," she said. Not all of Lin's classmates shared her experiences because of the family planning policy , a law that was carried out in China about forty years ago. But the situation is about to change. A new policy made on October 29 said all couples can now have two children. The new policy is expected to help raise the population of China. Recently, China has been facing an aging population and labor shortages because of the low birth rate . The two-child policy may also be the gift for every only child. Researchers found that growing up with a brother or sister can have good influence on one's mental health. "Brothers and sisters do matter in unique ways. They give kids something that parents don't." Laura Walker, a professor from Beijing University, told China Daily. She noted that having a brother or a sister protects teenagers against loneliness, fear and so on. Liu Fang, 20, from Shenzhen University, has a 2-year-younger sister. When her sister disagreed with parents over choosing a college major, she helped her to communicate with parents. "If necessary, I would always have her back," said Liu. "The best part of having a sister is that you have a partner, friend and supporter throughout your life." But children with brothers or sisters also have to learn to understand and look after each other, said Laura. We can infer from the article that _ . A. Lin Xiao doesn't like her sister B. Liu Fang has a 17-year-old sister C. Laura is against the two-child policy D. The one-child policy is out of date now Answer: D. The one-child policy is out of date now
People who have the habit of texting while walking tend to develop a robot-like posture, lose their balance, and involve themselves in traffic accidents, according to a research from the University of Queensland. Researchers said that text-walkers are in danger of walking into traffic and train tracks among others. They suggest pedestrians stop aside, type a text and then continue walking. For the study, the researchers tracked body movements of 26 young men and women while walking in a straight line over a distance of about 8.5 m ---once without a mobile phone, once while reading a text message and once while typing a message. They found that participants' body movements were greatly changed when they used their phone. The difference in their posture was more _ while sending a text than while reading a message. They further said that when those people began texting while walking, they slowed down their pace, went off course and moved their necks less than when reading a message. "We found that they 'locking' their arms, trunk and head together walked with a posture that was robot-like, all in aid of keeping their phone in their field of vision. So there is less movement between each of their body parts." Researcher Siobhan Schabrun said, Daily Mail UK reports. "In recent years, there have been many reports of people involved in traffic accidents because they were texting while walking. The number of pedestrian accidents is rising and texting has been blamed," Schabrun said. Despite such repeated accidents, only few studies have analyzed the impact of texting on body language. If more studies concentrate on walking styles adopted while texting, their findings can be used to lower whole accidents. While a few U.S. states have introduced laws on texting while driving, Fort Lee, a New Jersey town, went further ahead and recently fined some walkers an $85 for catching them texting. It is hoped that other American states and countries will follow. When texting, the pedestrians walk in a different way to _ . Answer: keep their eyes steady on the phone American people like to say "Thank you" whenever others help them. People of many other countries do so, too. It is a very good habit. You should say "Thank you" when someone passes you the salt on the table. When someone walking ahead of you keeps the door open for you, when someone says you have done your work well, or you have bought a nice thing, or your city is very beautiful. "Thank you" is used not only between friends, but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. "Excuse me" is another short sentence they use. When you hear someone say "Excuse me" behind you, you know that somebody wants to walk past you without touching you. It's not polite to interrupt others while they are talking. If you want to speak to one of them, say "Excuse me" first, and then begin talking. You should also do so when you want to cough or make any unpleasant noise before others. Let's all learn to say "Thank you" and "Excuse me". Thank you is _ . Answer: widely used International Studies (BA) Key features Recognizes the "global community" Has close connections with practical research * Much of the teaching is done in small discussion groups About the course The course gives you chances to know great power politics between nation states. It will provide more space to study particular issues such as relationship among countries in the European Union, third world debt, local and international disagreement, and the work of such international bodies as the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and the World Bank. The course puts theories into the working of the international system with close attention to particular countries. You will also have a better knowledge of methods of solving the international problems. Related courses BA (Hons) Community Management BA (Hons) Public Policy and Management Employment possibilities International organizations International business Earth Science (BSc) Key features * Based on key courses and the latest research findings Pays much attention to practical skills Offers chances for fieldwork About the course The demand for natural resources is becoming an increasingly serious problem for the future of mankind. Graduates in Earth Science will play an important role in meeting this demand, and in knowing the meaning of using the natural resources. The course covers geography and geology. You will carry out fieldwork in the UK and possibly overseas, and a research in an area of interest to you in the final year. Related courses BSc (Hons) Geography; BSc (Hons) Geology Employment possibilities Mineral , oil, water or other related engineering industries. International Studies is a course in _ Answer: international politics Lily is a healthy girl. She likes to eat vegetables and fruits every day. She has eggs, milk, bananas and bread for breakfast. For lunch, she likes sandwiches, carrots and apples. And she eats chicken, tomatoes, broccoli and fruit salad for supper. Sometimes she has ice cream or apple pies for dessert. She has a good friend, Henry. He is very fat, because he likes to eat much junk food, such as ice cream, chocolate, French fries, coke, popcorn and so on. He gets much fat from the unhealthy food. Lily likes to eat _ food. Answer: healthy There are now many more people because of Answer: efficient farming
A written contract was entered into between Bouquet, a financier-investor, and Vintage Corporation, a winery and grape-grower. The contract provided that Bouquet would invest $1,000,000 in Vintage for its capital expansion and, in return, that Vintage, from grapes grown in its famous vineyards, would produce and market at least 500,000 bottles of wine each year for five years under the label "Premium VintageBouquet." The contract included provisions that the parties would share equally the profits and losses from the venture and that, if feasible, the wine would be distributed by Vintage only through Claret, a wholesale distributor of fine wines. Neither Bouquet nor Vintage had previously dealt with Claret. Claret learned of the contract two days later from reading a trade newspaper. In reliance thereon, he immediately hired an additional sales executive and contracted for enlargement of his wine storage and display facility. "If Vintage refuses to distribute the wine through Claret and Claret then sues Vintage for breach of contract, is it likely that Claret will prevail? A Yes, because Vintage's performance was to run to Claret rather than to Bouquet. B Yes, because Bouquet and Vintage could reasonably foresee that Claret would change his position in reliance on the contract. C No, because Bouquet and Vintage did not expressly agree that Claret would have enforceable rights under their contract. D No, because Bouquet and Vintage, having no apparent motive to benefit Claret, appeared in making the contract to have been protecting or serving only their own interest Answer: D Hi! My name is Lisa. I'm a student in Shanghai. I'm in Class Nine, Grade Five. Wang Tao and Li Fang are my friends. They are in Grade Five, too. They are not in my class. They are in Class Seven. I'm 12. They are 12, too. Mr. Cheng is my teacher. His telephone number is 8869254. What's Mr Cheng's telephone number? A 3517288. B 4356786. C 8869254. D 8679254 Answer: C "I honestly have no idea how that cat got up there.It's a hundred--foot--metal pole.There's no way he climbed that thing,"Jim said to the worried woman.It wasn't even her cat,but she was passing by and saw it.immediately calling the fire--station to come to save it.Jim saw a lot of strange things as a fireman,often sad or upsetting things,but this was new. "I suppose we could get the blanket and see if we can convince the poor cat to jump down* But he doesn't really look too scared..."Jim said to the woman. "Dave,get over here!" Jim called over his shoulder to the fire truck driver.Dave walked over and looked where Jim was pointing. "How'd he get up there?" Jim shrugged,similarly puzzled."Do you suppose we could get the blanket and convince him to jump?" Dave shrugged in response."I don't see why not." Jim looked up at the black mass on the top of the flagpole,the American nag waving proudly beneath _ .It was definitely a cat,and he regarded the people gathered below as if they were his subjects and he their king,his yellow eyes scanning his surroundings with apparent disinterest. When the blanket was spread out below the cat,Jim and Dave began striking the flagpole.The cat looked down,and then gazed into the sky as if it were looking for something.Jim and Dave followed his gaze.Suddenly,out of the clear sky,appeared a dark figure.The figure swooped low toward the flagpole.It was an eagle! As it got closer,the cat leaped down the pole swiftly onto the ground,and then got lost in the bushes. Jim,Dave,and the old woman were left with their mouths open.They all agreed it was the best way to get it down. What did the firemen plan to do at first? A To strike the pole. B To spread the blanket. C To shout at the cat. D To shrug helplessly. Answer: B It's easy to see how to help others, but what about those whose needs aren't so obvious? This story may have happened a while back, but it was a lesson which has stayed with me and helped me ever since. It was Thanksgiving and I was volunteering with my parents at a shelter for the poor. We stood behind the counter dishing out hot food to whoever came in. most of our dinners looked like they had been having hard times, their clothes old, worn and dry. In short, they looked poor! Then, a man came in, who looked anything but poor. He was well dressed, wearing an expensive suit. I wondered what he was doing there and my jaw dropped in amazement when he joined the line for food. The closer he came to my service station, the more I muttered. What was this man doing? I wanted to know. Surely he wasn't gong to take food. Then my mother quietly took me to one side. She said, "You have assumed that the needs of the people who come here must be purely physical: hunger, inadequate shelter and needs are emotional? What if he needs comfort, friends, or just to be among other human beings?" her words hit me like a ton of bricks! I felt like I should apologize to the man, but I didn't. About a week later the shelter received a large donation from an anonymous source. I can't help but wonder if it came from that man. Now, whether I meet others, I remember my mother's words and try to send kindness and blessings to them, regardless of how they look. Needs aren't always visible. But kindness always makes a difference. The author felt he should apologize to the man, because he _ . A was asked to do so by his mother B gave the man food much less than others C realized something was wrong with the man D knew later that the man went there to donate Answer: C prefix = st1 /China Coal mines claim more lives. A COAl mine blast in Jixi, Heilongjiang, left more than 100 miners dead on Thursday. Ten mines in Jixiwere ordered to stop production. The government has tried to shut down thousands of small, illegal mines in the country that do not meet safety standards. MIDDLE EAST Bombers continue to kill. PALESTINISANS killed 32 Israeli in three major attacks between Tuesday and Thursday. There were two suicide bombings and a militant attack on a Jewish settlement. They yielded one of the highest Israeli death tolls in such a short period over the last two years. CHINA Young people stand tall. THE average height of Chinese young people has risen by 6 centimeters compared to that of 20 years ago. This far exceeds the word's average growth speed. A survey on health conducted by a panel of Chinese students found the results. According to the world average level, youths get taller by 1 cm every 10 years. CANADA Talking about world issues. The Group if Eight(G8)--the US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia - will hold a summit on June 26 and 27 in Kananaskis, Canada. The G8 are the richest and most powerful countries in the world. G8 leaders and some African presidents will discuss strengthening global economic growth and helping Africa. United Nations Secretary - General, will also attend. How many Israelis died in the three major attacks by Palestinians? A 23 B 32 C 100 D We don't know Answer: B
Through history, children have played with toys and they help to prepare children for adult life. But the toys are changing all the time. As science and technology have changed the way adults live, the toys children play with have changed as well. Developments in science and technology have had a big effect on the toys that children play with. Today trains and mobile phones are popular toys for young children, but there were no toys of this kind before real trains and mobile phones were invented. The materials that toys are made of have also changed. Today lots of toys are made of plastic. Plastic is a modern, man-made material that did not exist in the past. On the other hand, some other toys that you have might not be all that different from the ones children played with 1,000 years ago. Scientists have found some bone dice in Aberdeen. In medieval times dice were used for playing games as much as they are today. A recent survey found that half of all the children aged from 4 to 6 have played video games, a quarter of them regularly. The increasing use of electronic toys troubles Dr Singer, a professor at Yale. "One thing we know is that kids in early years need to be in touch with the real world," he said, "No matter how brilliant they are, they're not going to learn to walk, to move or to talk to others unless their hands or feet have a direct role in such activities." Some toy experts argue that the best toys are the ones that increase a child's creativity and imagination. Traditional toys can be used for different kinds of purposes and be used in group settings, individually , and one-to-one. They are also used differently depending on the child's age and skill level. And these toys made of natural materials are valuable for children because they teach children what the world is made of. According to Dr Singer, _ . A. the electronic toys are good for children if they play often enough B. the electronic toys prevent children keeping in touch with the real world C. children should be stopped from being hurt by the danger coming from the outside world D. children should play with electronic toys instead of the traditional ones Answer: B. the electronic toys prevent children keeping in touch with the real world Movie fans know that their action hero Superman does not really fly.And, in the movie Superman Returns, another visual trick is played on viewers.The man they see flying is not real.He is what is called a virtual actor.The first step in creating this digital actor is to have a real person stand in a room called a light stage.A computer then captures the outlines and shapes of his face and records how they throw off light .Paul Debevec is with the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California. "We can light them with very specially computer-controlled illumination and take photos of them from seven different viewpoints with high quality digital still cameras." Mr.Debevec is part of a team working to create computerized images of people, objects and environments that look and act real.The light stage permits actors to be turned into digital versions of themselves much like the blue creatures in the movie Avatar.The real world could soon be using a similar technology.Computer experts at the Institute are developing a 3-D video teleconferencing system.It would send a video image of a person into a meeting room.That image would be able to work with the people in the room, who would see it in 3-D without special eyeglasses.Paul Debevec says: "The person who is being transmitted to a remote location can actually look around at the people in the room and everybody in that room knows who they're looking at .And that's such a fundamental part of human communication." He believes the business world will begin to use3-D video teleconferencing in the next five years." It's also a medium with which young people today are particularly comfortable," he said.A demonstration of an interaction between an earthquake survivor and students may be possible in a year.In 10 years, we may be able to play 3-D video games without special glasses. What is the author's attitude towards 3D technology? A. Cautious. B. Positive C. Skeptical D. Critical. Answer: B. Positive One Saturday afternoon about the second week of May, Maggie and her mom Jan went to the dentist. Maggie was seven years old and she was scared of the dentist, but her mom promised to fix her favorite chicken dish for dinner if Maggie was a good girl. "At least it's not the doctor's!" she said. They got to the dentist office and Jan told the woman, named Tiffany, at the front desk that they were there. There were lots of toys in the waiting room but Maggie was too nervous to enjoy them like the other kids. Finally, a woman came and told Maggie and Jan that it was Maggie's turn. They made a right turn and went to the third room on the left. Maggie sat down in the dentist's chair. A woman, Mary, came in and cleaned her teeth and told Maggie and Jan that Maggie had done well with her brushing. Then the dentist, Taylor, came in and did a checkup. He saw that everything was good and that Maggie had no problems with her teeth. He gave Maggie a bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a sugar free candy. There was also a smiley face sticker in the bag. Jan was proud of her daughter and stopped at the grocery store to get ingredients for the chicken dish for dinner as promised. Where did Maggie and Jan go? A. to the toy store B. to the candy store C. to the doctor D. to the dentist Answer: D. to the dentist Born into a poor family,two of the Durers' children still had a dream for art,but they knew their father could not afford to send either of them to the academy . After discussions,the two boys finally agreed to toss a coin.The loser would go to the nearby mines and support his brother while he attended the academy.Then,when the winner completed his studies,he would support the other brother,either with sales of his art work or,if necessary,by working in the mines.So they tossed a coin.Albrecht Durer won the toss and went to Nuremberg.Albert went to the dangerous mines and financed his brother,whose work at the academy was almost an immediate success,and by graduation,he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his works. When the Durer family held a dinner to celebrate Albrecht's homecoming, Albrecht drank a toast to his brother,"Now,Albert,it is your turn to go to Nuremberg and follow your dream,and I will take care of you." Albert wiped the tears from his cheeks,glanced at the faces he loved,and said softly,"No,brother.It is too late for me.Look....look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been broken at least once,and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast,much 1ess make lines on canvas with a pen or a brush.No,brother ...for me it is too 1ate." Therefore,Albrecht took pains to draw his brother's injured hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward.The entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and named it "The Praying Hands". Albert refused his brother's offer because. A. he was too old to learn drawing B. he suffered an accident. C. he was not used to holding a pen or brush D. his hands were out of shape as a result of hard work Answer: D. his hands were out of shape as a result of hard work Jyoti Amge, an Indian girl, is the world's smallest woman. She is only 0.628 metres tall. She is small, but her dream is great. On her 18th birthday in 2012, she shared the good news with others. She would act in two movies. Jyoti is the youngest of the five children in her family. She stopped growing after her first birthday. Because of her size, Jyoti has special clothes and jewellery . She even has her own desk and chair in a regular school. Jyoti also loves movies and fashionable dresses like others. Before 18, she acted in a music video along with a famous Indian singer. Jyoti said, "I'm just the same as other people. I eat like you, and dream like you. I don't feel I am different." How many sisters and brothers does she have? A. 3 B. 4 C. 6 D. we don't know Answer: B. 4
Dear David, How are you? I'm fine. I'm in London , at a school of English. I'm in Class Seven. It has eight students. They are from different countries ----Spain, Japan , Argentina, Switzerland and Thailand. Our teacher's name is Henry Briscall. He's very nice. He's a good teacher. I live with an English family, Mr. and Mrs. Brown. They have two sons and a daughter. Thomas is fourteen, Catherine is twelve, and Andrew is seven. They are all very friendly to me, and we are good friends. London is very big and very interesting. The weather is good and the parks are nice! Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James' Park are all in the city center . English food is OK, but the coffee is not good! Are you all right at home in Shanghai? Is everything OK? Write to me. Love, Paul Hyde Park is _ . Neighborhood yentas are well--known women. They spend most of their time watching people around them. The yentas have this title for this. "Yenta" is a Yiddish word. It means a trouble maker or a talkative person. Nobody in the street is safe from their eyes or tongue. Yentas certainly are not bad people. They pass on messages and advice. They give _ weather reports. They know who is doing what. They see,hear,and know all and usually repeat it. They have called themselves reporters. Some of the yentas' neighbors think them so interested in others' things that they forget their own. Sometimes, however ,a child has to be found,or a robbery has to be reported. Then what yentas do are helpful. Every neighborhood appreciates its yentas very much. It doesn't matter what their color,belief or accent is. Which of the following is NOT true? Visiting the forest zoo Come and see the Indian elephants and the new tigers from Northeast of China. The beautiful birds from England are ready to sing songs for you, and the monkeys from Mount Emei will be happy to talk to you. The lovely dogs from Australia want to laugh at you. Sichuan pandas will play balls for you. The giraffes from Africa are waiting to look down on you. Tickets Opening time Grown-ups : 3 yuan 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. (Monday--Saturday) Children over 1.4 m : 2 yuan except Friday (closed) Children under 1.4 m : Free 10:00 a.m. --3: 00 p.m. (Sunday) Keep the zoo clean! Do not touch , give food or go near to the animals. At which of the following time can we visit the zoo? Staying in a Homestay in Canada will give you an excellent opportunity to improve your English conversation skills and know more about Canada customs and cultures. Our homestay families are located in areas of Vancouver,Toronto and Montreal,Canada,living from 40 to 60 minutes from the school. These homes are safe,secure,inspected and approved by our homestay program coordinators. Your homestay family in Canada will be different from your own,especially the food and customs,but you will become one of the family! Most Canadians work outside the home and are active in community affairs. Family members have duties around the home and do many things for themselves. For example,family members are expected to take their own dishes from the dining room to the kitchen and take care of their own possessions. This will apply to you too! There will be many differences,both personal and cultural between you and your homestay family in Canada. We ask both you and your new family to be accepting of these differences. Each family will assist you in learning the arrangement of your new home. You will be asked to respect the rules and regulations that are suitable for their household. If any questions arise about your new home,please feel free to ask your family. You will be provided with a clean,comfortable,private room. The room will be furnished with a desk,bed,dresser,closet and good lighting. You are expected to keep your own room neat and tidy. You will have your own house key. Please respect the security of the household. Make sure you return the key when you leave. Why are you expected to return your key when you leave? Chinese mainland's star-making reality TV show "Happy Boy" will not be open to male applicants from Hong Kong, prefix = st1 /Taiwan, Macau or other foreign cities, said the country's top TV industry committee yesterday. Happy Boy is the male version of Super Girl, which is regarded as the Chinese version of American Idol. The girl's event, operated by central China's Hunan TV, drew an audience of 400 million for the final match in 2005. The country's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television approved the male version earlier this month. However, the regulation that only mainland's male applicants are allowed to register was released just days before the application procedure began on Wednesday inChangsha, one of the five mainland cities to hold the contest. The other four includesChengduand three undecided cities. The regulation _ Hunan TV's ambition to extend the series to the overseas market, an official with the TV station told the Hunan-based Xiaoxiang Morning yesterday. "My Hero," another star-making reality show byShanghai's SMG Dragon TV, said it was not informed of the regulation, and it is still receiving foreign applicants, said an official with Dragon TV. A previous regulation by the administration has made clear that televised talent shows can't run for more than six weeks at a time. While the first "Happy Boy" may last for five months, according to a previous report. Last year there were about 10 influential star-making TV shows across the country, among which those from CCTV, Hunan Satellite TV and SMG's Dragon TV, were the most popular. "Super Girl" ran for almost five months and "My Hero" lasted four months. While the shows have proven popular, they have also earned many complaints from people who say they are crude and not satisfactory. We can safely draw the conclusion that _ .
Coffee has become the most popular American drink. Today people in the United States drink more coffee than people in any of the other countries. People drink coffee at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner and between meals. They drink hot coffee or coffee with ice in it. They drink it at work and at home. They eat coffee ice-cream and coffee candy. Coffee is black and very _ . Different people like to drink it in different ways. Some people like coffee with cream or sugar in it. Other people like coffee with both cream and sugar in it. In all ways it is served. Coffee has become an international drink. Today Americans drink _ coffee than people in any of the other countries. . more As a parent you might never guess all the ways a good imagination benefits your child. It helps a preschooler : Develop social skills As children play pretend, they explore relationships between family members, friends and coworkers and learn more about how people interact. Playing doctor, they imagine how physicians care for their patients. Playing house, they learn more about how parents feel about their children. Imaginative play helps develop empathy for others. If children can imagine how it feels to be left out of a game or to lose a pet, they are better able to help those in need. They become more willing to play fair, to share, and to cooperate. Build selfconfidence Young children have very little control over their lives. Imagining oneself as a builder of skyscrapers or a superhero defending the planet is empowering to a child. It helps them develop confidence in their abilities and their potential. Boost intellectual growth Using the imagination is the beginning of abstract thought.Children who can see a king's castle in a mound of sand or a delicious dinner in a mud pie are learning to think symbolically . This skill is important in school where a child will have to learn that numerals symbolize groups of objects, letters symbolize sounds, and so on. Practice language skills Kids who play pretend with their friends do a lot of talking.This helps _ their vocabulary, improve sentence structure and promote communication skills. Work out fears Playing pretend can help children work out their fears and worries. When children roleplay about the big, bad monster under the bed, they gain a sense of control over him and he doesn't seem quite so big or so bad. Imaginative play also helps kids vent confusing feelings they might have, such as anger toward a parent or compete with a new sibling . To encourage your youngster's imagination, read to him every day. Books offer children the opportunity to visit other worlds and create new ones of their own. For generations children have enjoyed reading the story of Peter Pan because Peter takes them on fascinating adventures.Reader's Digest Young Families offers a beautiful typical Disney edition of Peter Pan, which is an iParenting Media Award winner. Click here to find out how you can get this classic story along with 2 free books-Bambi and Pinocchio. What's NOT the advantage of children having a good imagination? Helping them form a good habit of reading stories. Tom:Good evening, Mum. Mum:Good evening, Tom. Tom:Do we eat chicken for dinner, Mum? Mum:No, we eat fish and carrots, dear. Tom:Mum, I don't like carrots. I like chicken. Mum:But we need more vegetables, not only meat . It's not healthy to eat chicken every day. Tom:OK. But dad likes chicken, too. Mum:Well, let's eat chicken and tomatoes tomorrow . Tom:That sounds great! What do they need to eat more? Vegetables. He has breakfast at 2 a.m.because Johnny Barnes, Mr.Happy Man, has work to do.From 4 to 10 a.m.,he greets commuters as they drive by on their way to work. For years he worked as an electrician on the Bermuda railway and drove buses.When he retired, he still wanted to feel useful.So he positions himself on a patch of grass next to a roundabout that leads into Hamilton, Bermuda's largest city.He smiles and waves at every single person who passes by.He tells them he loves them - and means it. In the Matt Morris's short documentary, he says: I'm just little Johnny Barnes.I'm just a little , small instrument in the hand of God be used any way he feels fit.What I do every day , 2:00 in the morning I'm getting my break fast.You're still sleeping [he tells the interviewer] , I guess. From 20 to four until ten I stand on the corner and just greet people, let them know that life is sweet and beautiful. No matter what happens in life, it's always sweet to be alive. No matter what the weather is like , he is there from Monday to Friday , spreading love. On the rare occasion he is not there , people call the radio station to see if he is OK.. He was 88 when the film was posted in 2012.Every day he was spreading love, straight from his generous heart. So well known and beloved is Barnes that the city of Hamilton built up a statue in his honour.The figure wears the same full beard and straw hat that are Barnes's trademarks.So even when the day comes for the real Johnny Barnes to pass from this life, his smile and his memory will still be at that corner, spreading love to every passer--by. The attitude of people in Hamilton towards such a behavior is_. approving Something in chocolate could be used to stop coughs and lead to more effective medicines, say UK researchers. Their study found that theobromine , found in cocoa, was nearly a third more effective in stopping coughs than codeine, which was considered the best cough medicine at present. The Imperial College London researchers who published their results online said the discovery could lead to more effective cough treatment. "While coughing is not necessarily harmful it can have a major effect on the quality of life, and this discovery could be a huge step forward in treating this problem," said Professor Peter Barnes. Ten healthy volunteers were given theobromine, codeine or placebo, a pill that contains no medicine, during the experiment. Neither the volunteers nor the researchers knew who received which pill. The researchers then measured levels of capsaicin, which is used in research to cause coughing and as a sign of how well the medicines are stopping coughs. The team found that, when the volunteers were given theobromine, the capsaicin needed to produce a cough was around a third higher than in the placebo group. When they were given codeine they needed only slightly higher levers of capsaicin to cause a cough compared with the placebo. The researchers said that theobromine worked by keeping down a nerve activity , which cause coughing. They also found that unlike some standard cough treatments, theobromine caused no side effects such as sleepiness. We learn from the text that volunteers in the experiment _ . were divided into the three groups
When I arrived, it was early morning and it was raining. I looked to the east--the sky was becoming grey. I got out of the car, went through a gate and walked along a dark path. There was nothing to see, but I knew it was there. After about a mile, a stranger appeared beside the path. "Am I going the right way?" I asked. He knew where I was going. "Yes," he replied. "you'll get there in five minutes." Finally, I came to some rocks and stopped. I looked over them, but it was silent and there was no sign of it. Suddenly, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared. The sun rose behind me and shone on the rocks. Far below me, the ground fell away and down to a river. I was looking across one of the wonders of the natural world -the Grand Canyon. I looked down to the Colorado River, a silver stream nearly one mile below me. If you put the two tallest buildings in the world on top of each other at the bottom of the canyon, they still would not reach the top. Then I looked across to the other side of the canyon. It was about fifteen miles away, maybe more. Finally, I looked to my left and to my right, and on both sides the canyon went far away for more than 200 miles. The Grand Canyon was not just big. It was huge! I remained by the canyon for about half an hour, and I asked myself, "Is the Grand Canyon the greatest wonder of the natural world?" I certainly know the answer. What do you think? Why was there nothing to see? A Because there was nothing B Because it was too dark C Because it was raining D Because it was in the morning Answer: B Have fun with Stamp collecting...Join the Collectors Club today!If you enjoy learning all about stamps, then the Royal Mail's Collectors Club is for you.Join the club and discover the fascinating world of stamps.There are over 70,000 members and it is one of the biggest clubs of its kind in the country. Become a member today and you will receive lots of wonderful stamp collecting goodies... A Starter pack... And every two months... Collectors Club magazine Collectors Corner supplement And every year... A new Stamp Calendar *A set of Album Pages Join today! It won't cost you much to experience the fun of stamp collecting. Collectors Club Starter Pack 1.100 used stamps and hinges 2.The Collectors Club Guide to Collecting 3.The latest Collectors Club magazine (packed with news and views about stamps, quizzes and competitions, all in colour) 4.Album pages 5.Badge and stickers 6.Membership card 7.Royal Mail Stamp Calendar. Already Registered? Sign In Here! Learn More View a Flash presentation about our club (3.51MB) This advertisement is written for people who want to _ . A make money through collecting stamps B develop stamp collection as a hobby C get something free from the club D find out where the club is located Answer: B My life suffered a lot in summer five years ago. My father died in a car accident,leaving my mother,my two younger brothers and I alone. At that time,I was a senior high school student. After my father's funeral,I had no choice but to drop out of school and work in a factory. I really wanted to return to school and wanted to go to college,but I couldn't. I only hoped to bring up my two young brothers. Life was not easy for me,for I can't afford their tuition even if I worked from day to night without stopping. Without my father's protection,I thought I was a slave to the fate. Later on,something changed my life. I still remember that it was a rainy day. I put myself in the rain and walked slowly in the street. Suddenly the rain stopped!I raised my head and found "the sky" was in fact a dark blue umbrella. Then I noticed a middleaged man with one leg on crutch standing behind me. He said to me,"Why not run without an umbrella?If you didn't run,you would get drenched." The man told me that he was a promoter. He once dreamed of being a policeman,but an accident ruined his dream. Though his present job was not suitable for his legs,it was a wonderful start to him. He was very happy that he didn't lose heart and still "ran" on the road of life... I was encouraged by the man's words. I went to a big city and became an assurance representative. After two years' running,I did well and my family condition turned better little by little. Later I returned to school and succeeded in my entrance to university. Life is like this. When you are in rainy days in your life,if you couldn't find a way to prevent you from being wet,you would be overwhelmed. But if you decide to get rid of it,you'll discover that the rainy days last not so long as you imagine. What's the best title of the passage? A Run out of the Rainy Season of Your Life B Care for the Disabled Person C Try to Be Independent D Get to Know More about Middleaged People Answer: A An average 30-year-old person who has eaten three meals a day since birth has eaten more than 30,000 meals to date. Even if you've only eaten half that much, you have to admit this: you've let some of that breakfast, lunch or dinner go to waste. And it turns out that we're all to blame for this shaming fact: 30% of all food produced in the world each year is wasted or lost. That's about 1.3 billion tons, according to a new report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. That's the weight of more than 8.6 million full-grown blue whales, the largest creatures on earth. That's the weight of more than 2.3 million Airbus A380s, the largest planes in existence. That's as if each person in China, the world's most populous country with more than 1.3 billion people, had one ton mass of food they could just throw into the dustbin. It's almost _ ,isn't it? Setting aside that big number, we find the people with the most money are the ones who waste the most. Per capita( ), European and North American countries waste between 95 and 115 kilograms of food. Sub-Saharan African, South Asian and Southeast Asian countries waste much less -- between 6 and 11 kilograms per person. Here's another statistic: all the food that the world's richest countries waste is about equal to all the food that sub-Saharan Africa produces. The numbers: 222 million tons and 230 million tons, respectively( ). Basically, the wasted food of the rich could feed much of the African continent. And these numbers come as we've just been reporting about rising food prices around the world in the past week. And my own personal tip: if I eat at a restaurant and can't finish it all, I ask for a doggie bag. I used to be a waiter years ago and will never forget the amounts of food I saw left on the table after the bill was paid. There's no reason to waste food. It's up to all of us to use our common sense to eat and shop just a bit more wisely. What is the purpose of this article? A To show the author's opinion of food. B To let us live more wisely and not waste food. C To show the amount of wasted food a year. D To ask the richest countries to help African people. Answer: B In many businesses, computers have largely replaced paperwork, because they are fast, and do not make mistakes. And they are honest. Many banks say that their business is "untouched by human hands" and therefore safe. But they have no thought that the growing number of computer crimes show they can be used to steal. Computer criminals don't use guns. And even if they are caught, it is hard to punish them because there is often no proof. A computer cannot remember who used it. It simply does what it is told. The head teller at a New York City bank used a computer to steal more than one and a half billion dollars in just four years. No one noticed this because he moved the money from one account to another. Each time a customer whose money he had stolen questioned the balance in his account, the teller said it was a computer mistake, then replaced the missing money from someone else's account. This man was caught at last. Some workers use the computer's power to punish their bosses they consider unfair. Recently, a large company fired its computer record assistant for reasons that were connected with her personal life rather than her job. She was given thirty days notice. In those thirty days, she stole all the company's computerized records. Most computer criminals have been common workers. Now police wonder if this is "the tip of iceberg". As one official says, "I have the feeling that there is more crime out there than we are catching. What we are seeing now is all so poorly done. I wonder what the real experts are doing--the ones who really know a computer works." Business in many banks is declared to be safe because _ . A paperwork is no longer needed B computers are honest C people are not allowed to work there D it is done through computers Answer: D
Question: Stoven, who owned Craigmont in fee simple, mortgaged Craigmont to Ulrich to secure a loan of $100,000. The mortgage was promptly and properly recorded. Stoven later mortgaged Craigmont to Martin to secure a loan of $50,000. The mortgage was promptly and properly recorded. Subsequently, Stoven conveyed Craigmont to Fritsch. About a year later, Fritsch borrowed $100,000 from Zorn, an elderly widow, and gave her a mortgage on Craigmont to secure repayment of the loan. Zorn did not know about the mortgage held by Martin. The understanding between Fritsch and Zorn was that Fritsch would use the $100,000 to pay off the mortgage held by Ulrich and that Zorn would, therefore, have a first mortgage on Craigmont. Zorn's mortgage was promptly and properly recorded. Fritsch paid the $100,000 received from Zorn to Ulrich and obtained and recorded a release of the Ulrich mortgage. The $50,000 debt secured by the Martin mortgage was not paid when it was due, and Martin brought an appropriate action to foreclose, joining Stoven, Fritsch, and Zorn as defendants and alleging that Martin's mortgage was senior to Zorn's mortgage on Craigmont. If the court rules that Zorn's mortgage is entitled to priority over Martin's mortgage, which of the following determinations are necessary to support that ruling? I. Ulrich's mortgage was originally senior to Martin's mortgage. II. Zorn is entitled to have Ulrich's mortgage revived for her benefit, and Zorn is entitled to be subrogated to Ulrich's original position as senior mortgagee. III. There are no countervailing equities in favor of Martin. A. I and II only. B. I and III only. C. II and III only. D. I, II, and III. Answer: D. I, II, and III. Question: Can people change their skin color1 without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color1. The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 percent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 percent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of science. Scientists have changed the color1 of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin color1 is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanin . The number, size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color1. It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation in the gene for melanin production. This results in less pigmented skin. However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes. Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun , which can cause skin cancer. But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng. "Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color1," said Cheng. The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin color1 without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson. ks5u The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that _ A. they are born light-skinned people B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanin production C. they have fewer activities outside D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin Answer: B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanin production Question: Let's Go See Papa is a lovely children's book. In this book, a little girl tells about her life while her dad is working far away from her. "I haven't seen my dad for one year, eight months and twenty-two days," the girl writes in her journal. She writes everything she has done so that her father will never miss a day. Sunday is the cheapest day for long-distance phone calls, so that day is special to the girl and her mother. One Sunday phone call brings surprising news. Dad tells his daughter that she and Mom will finally be able to come and live with him in the United States. The girl feels happy, because she can see her father again. But she has to leave her dog and her best friend Rocio behind. A few days later, Mom and the little girl go to the airport. They have to say goodbye to the happy days they spent here. Whom does the girl get her journal ready for? A. Her mother. B. Her father. C. Her friend. D. Her pet. Answer: B. Her father. Question: As a professor at a large American university,there is a phrase that I hear often from students:"I'm only a 1050."The unlucky students are speaking of the score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT),which is used to determine whether they will be admitted to the college or university of their choice,or even if they have a chance to get a higher education at all.The SAT score,whether it is 800,1100 or 1550,has become the focus at this time of their life. It is obvious that if students value highly their test scores,then a great amount of their self-respect is put in the number.Students who perform poorly on the exam are left feeling that it is all over.The low test score,they think,will make it impossible for them to get into a good college.And without a degree from a _ ,they fear that many of life's doors will remain forever closed. According to a study done in the 1990s,the SAT is only a reliable indicator of a student's future performance in most cases.Interestingly,it becomes much more accurate when it is set together with other indicators-like a student's high school grades.Even if standardized tests like the SAT could show a student's academic proficiency ,they will never be able to test things like confidence,efforts and willpower,and are unable to give us the full picture of a student's potentialities .This is not to suggest that we should stop using SAT scores in our college admission process.The SAT is an excellent test in many ways,and the score is still a useful means of testing students.However,it should be only one of many methods used. Students' self-respect is influenced by their _ . A. scores in the SAT B. achievements in mathematics C. job opportunities D. money spent on education Answer: A. scores in the SAT Question: If you go to England, you may want to visit Big Ben. Big Ben is not the name of a man but a name of the clock in London. It has a long history of about 150 years. It is at the north end of the Palace of Westminster . The big clock has four faces. So you can read the face of the chock everywhere.The hands of it are about four meters long.When the new year comes, it _ to welcome the start of the new year. There are also many fireworks over the clock tower. The big clock makes a very loud sound "Ding dong.Ding dong"-the clock gives the sound every 15 minutes of an hour. What's the best title of the passage? A. The clock tower B. The palace of the westminster C. Clock hands D. Big Ben Answer: D. Big Ben
Eco City Farms are becoming more popular in cities and towns around the Unites States. Eco City Farms in Edmonton, Maryland, is located near shopping centers, car repair shops and homes. The neighborhood is a working-class community . People do not have very much money. And they have limited access to fresh food in markets. Over the past two years, the farm has attracted volunteers from the community like Marcy Clark. She schools her four children at home. On a recent day she brought them to Eco City Farms for a lesson. Her son Alston Clark thinks his experience is very valuable."I like coming out here,"he says,"You know, you connect with the earth, where your food comes from. You appreciate the food a little bit more." Margaret Morgan started Eco City Farms. She thinks of it as a place where people can learn to live healthier lives. "Growing food in a community brings people together,"she continues,"Every piece of what we do here is a demonstration to show people everything about how to have an eco-friendly community."she says. From the Eco City Farms people come to know that they are not only growing food and raising chickens and bees, but improving the soil with compost made from food waste. Eco City Farms is an experimental operation. The farm gets its power not from the local electricity networks, but from the sun with solar panels. In winter, the green house use a geothermal system. Vegetables can be grown all year. So once a week, all winter long, neighbors like Chris Moss and her three children bike to the farm to pick up a share of the harvest. "I like eating the vegetables "say five-year-old Owen Moss. What is the author's attitude toward Eco City Farms? A. Enthusiastic . B. Disappointed. C. Surprised. D. Doubtful. Answer: A People around the world drink about 180 billion liters of soda a year. That translates to more than 29 liters per person. Experts say the amount of carbonated soft drinks we consume is growing. New research from the American Heart Association finds that drinking soda, even diet soda, may significantly increase your risk for heart disease. Dr. Ramachandran Vasan led the study. "Drinking just one or more sodas a day may not be as innocuous as people think." In a large study of 9,000 people, doctors discovered that those who drank one or more sodas a day had a 30% increased risk for obesity , a 25% increase in the risk for abnormal blood sugar levels, and a 32% increase in the odds of having low levels of good cholesterol . All of these factors increase the risk for heart disease. And there was no difference in the results for those who drank diet soda over regular soda. It's something that surprised even the researchers. Critics of the study say diet soda may not be the cause of increased risk of heart disease. Connie Diekman is president of the American Dietetic Association. "It does not conclusively say that this will cause that." In other words, it could be that unhealthy people like soda. Dr. Vasan found those who drink soda generally tend to have greater caloric intake. They eat more saturated fat and trans fats. They also eat less fiber and exercise less. Diet soda drinkers may also share this unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Vasan agrees that the link he found between heart disease risk and diet soda needs additional study. What can be inferred from the passage above? A. All the experts agree with the results of the study. B. Sodas of any kind are certain to increase the risk for heart disease. C. People have expected the results of the research. D. More studies are needed to prove the results. Answer: D Perhaps the only test score that I remember is the 55 when I was in high school. The test was the final for a course. I remember waiting anxiously as my teacher Mr. Right passed out our papers one by one. It was a rather difficult test. I heard my classmates groaning , and I could tell by the groans that the scores weren't looking good. Mr. Right put my paper on my desk. There in big red numbers, circled to draw attention, was my score, 55! I lowered my head, and covered the score up quickly. A 55 is not something that you wanted your classmates to see. "The scores were not very good, none of you passed," Mr. Right said. "The highest score in the class was a 55." A 55. That's me! Suddenly my sad look didn't look so bad. I had the highest score. I felt a lot better. I walked home alone that day with the low but high score. My father knew that I had a big test that day and asked me as soon as I got home, "How did you do in your test?" "I made a 55," I said. A frown now stood on my father's face. I knew I had to explain immediately. "But Dad, I had the highest score in the class," I proudly stated. I thought that explanation would make a difference. "You failed!" my father replied. "But it's the highest!" I insisted. "I don't care what scores others had, but you failed. What matters is what you do!" my father firmly said. For years, my father was always that way. It didn't matter what others did, it only mattered what I did and that I did it excellently. We often don't understand the wisdom of good parents until we ourselves stand in the parents' shoes. My father's words have carried me throughout life. A frown stood on my father's face because he thought _ . . A. I did a bad job in the test. B. I gave a good excuse. C. I became the worst student. D. I stood in his shoes Answer: A Around the World in Eighty Daysis a classic Adventure novel by Jules Verne. The story starts in London in 1872. One day in the Reform Club, Phileas Fogg, a wealthy gentleman, accepts a wager for PS20,000, which he will receive if he travels around the world in 80 days. Phileas Fogg sets off immediately, with his servant Passepartout. They reach Suez quickly. While landing in Egypt, he is watched by a British detective named Fix, who is in search of a bank robber. Because Fix mistakes Fogg for the criminal, he follows secretly, as they are getting on a ship to Bombay. After more than 20-days of travelling, they arrive in San Francisco, and then get on the train to New York. During that trip, the train is attacked by Indians, who take Passepartout away. With some soldiers' help, Fogg succeeds in freeing his companion. To make up for the lost time, Fogg and his companion hasten on to New York, and catch the steamer for the crossing of the Atlantics. They arrive in Ireland in time to reach London before the deadline. However, once on British soil again, Fix arrests Fogg. Although the misunderstanding is quickly cleared up--the actual bank robber had been caught several days earlier. Fogg has missed the train and returns to London five minutes late, sure that he has lost the wager. However, the next day Fogg learns from the priest that he is mistaken in the date, which he thinks Sunday but which actually is Saturday, due to the fact that they gained a full day on their journey around the globe, by crossing the International Date Line. Fogg immediately sets off for the Reform Club, where he arrives just in time to win the wager. During his time in America, Phileas Fogg spends a lot of "unexpected" time _ . A. travelling across the continent of America B. rescuing his companion from the Indians C. waiting for the ship back to London D. getting rid of the pursuing of Fix Answer: B Some friends are playing hide-and-seek at Mr. Green' home. They play in Mike's room. It's time for Lily to find her friends. Lily first finds Sally.Sally is behind the door. Then, Lily sees Bob. Bob is under the table. Mike is under the table, too. Now it's time to find David and John. David's hat is on the sofa. Is David under the sofa? No, he isn't.John's schoolbag is on the chair, but he isn't there."Where are they?"Lily thinks.Shh! Don't let her know. They are under the bed! What's on the sofa? A. Bob's hat B. Mike's schoolbag C. David's hat D. John's schoolbag Answer: C
Barack Obama, a black man, is the president of the United States now. He was born on August 4th, 1961, in Hawaii and has lived in many places. His mother was from Kansas and his father was from Kenya. Obama went to Columbia University in New York and got a law degree at Harvard University in Massachusetts. His wife is Michelle Obama. She also worked as a lawyer and later worked for the University of Chicago. They have two young daughters. Obama wrote a bookDreams from My Father. "I always live in the dream of my father and American people, " Obama once said. He was born in a poor family. And he was taken good care of by his grandparents when he was young. He also lived and worked in Africa. Then he got good education in Harvard University. On November 4th, 2008, he became the president of America for the first time. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Obama has a son and a daughter. Greenpeace is a global group that tries to change people's ideas and behaviour to protect the environment. Now it is inviting people to take part in the"Kids for Forests" project. This project tries to help to save ancient forests. Small children, teenagers, teachers and schools from all over the world are joining the project. Everyone can do a little to help the forests, and every little bit of help is important! Over 80% of the ancient forests have already been destroyed. There are only seven big ancient forests that are still intact today. Thousand - year - old trees are cut down just to make everyday goods. Children and young people all over the world are saying"No" to the devastation of ancient forests. They together with Greenpeace have set up"Kids for Forests".The project is working in more than 15 different countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South America. And by the way, this is not the first time that"Kids for Forests" has stood up for the protection of ancient forests. In 2001 and 2002, more than 35,000 children and young people fought to save ancient forests all over the world. Young people all over the world are standing up to protect our ancient forests,and you can,too. Go and join them now! Kids for Forests helps to save _ . Answer: ancient forests Since the 1990s, education has been required for all South Africans from age seven to fifteen. Last December, the government announced that 70% of students passed their final examination to finish high school. In 2008, the pass rate was about 63%. There have been increases each year since then. Professor Shireen Motala says basic education is no longer a problem in South Africa. Most children stay in school until they are about sixteen. The problem is that large numbers of them leave without completing high school. Students take an examination known as the "matric" in Grade Twelve. Professor Motala says, "Less than half of the children who started school in 2000 sat for the matric last year. Many dropped out of school, so only around 45% took the matric. And the worry is where those students actually go." Those who drop out have to compete with better educated people for jobs. Educational researchers also point to another problem. South African schools do not produce enough students with the skills for higher education in maths and science. Many schools are not well-equipped. Children do not see laboratories, and, as a result, their science marks are not very good. They do not have libraries at school. Also, many teachers do not have the skills or training to do their jobs. In South Africa, a number of teachers were poorly trained before. Secondly, teachers have been confused by the many educational reform efforts in the last fifteen years. Finally, language differences in the classroom have not got as much attention as they should, which is a huge problem. Subjects such as maths and science are taught in English starting at about the age of ten. But South Africa has eleven official languages. South Africa's minister of basic education promises a number of improvements. Angie Motshega says teacher development efforts will focus on subject and content knowledge, making sure that the correct teachers are in the correct jobs. South African students perform poorly in science for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT _ . Answer: they don't work hard enough One Tuesday morning, Harry saw an ad in a window. It said, "Wanted. The Best Salesman in the World Top Pay." Harry thought he was a great salesman and went to ask for the job." I am the best salesman in the world," he said to the manager, "Give me the job." "You must prove you're the best," the manager said. "OK, I will!" Harry answered. "Good!" The manager took a box of sweets out of his desk." Last week I bought a thousand boxes of sweets. If you can sell them all before the end of the week, you can have the job," said the manager. "That's easy." Harry said. He took the boxes of sweets and left the office. Every day and all day, he went from shop to shop, trying to sell the boxes of sweets. He couldn't sell one. The sweets were too bad for him to sell. At the end of the week he went back to the manager. "I'm sorry, sir." He said. "I was wrong about myself. I'm not the best salesman in the world, but I know who is." "Oh," said the manager. "Who?" "The person who sold you a thousand boxes of these sweets." Harry said. If Harry wanted to get the job, he would have to _ . Answer: sell out all the sweets in a few days Your glasses may someday replace your smartphone, and some New Yorkers are ready for the switch. Some in the city can't wait to try them on and use the maps and GPS that the futuristic eyewear is likely to include. "I'd use it if I were hanging out with friends at 3 a. m. and going to the bar and wanted to see what was open," said Walter Choo, 40, of Fort Greene. The smartphone-like glasses will likely come out this year and cost between $250 and $600, the Times said, possibly including a variation of augmented reality, a technology already available on smartphones and tablets that overlays information onto the screen about one's surroundings. So, for example, if you were walking down a street, indicators would _ showing you the nearest coffee shop or directions could be plotted out and come into view right on the sidewalk in front of you. "As far as a mainstream consumer product, this just isn't something anybody needs," said Sam Biddle, who writes for Gizmodo.com. "We're accustomed to having one thing in our pocket to do all these things," he added, "and the average consumer isn't gonna be able to afford another device that's hundreds and hundreds of dollars." Google publisher Seth Weintraub, who has been reporting on the smartphone-like glasses since late last year, said he is confident that this type of wearable device will eventually be as common as smartphones. "It's just like smartphones 10 years ago," Weintraub said. "A few people started getting emails on their phones, and people thought that was crazy. Same kind of thing. We see people bending their heads to look at their smartphones, and it's unnatural," he said. "There's gonna be improvements to that, and this is a step there. " According to Sam Biddle, the smartphone-like glasses are _ . Answer: expensive for average consumers
Can you imagine traveling to work in a one-man submarine? Scientists believe that someday one-man submarines will be as numerous as automobiles today. One says," One day soon, men will walk on the ocean floor as they do on the street. " Perhaps during your life time, people will travel, work and live under the sea. Ships carrying oil and articles of trade will move beneath the ocean. Passenger ships will be built to travel underwater, where storms cannot delay them or make people seasick. Special underwater ships will be designed for mining, fishing, and exploring unknown areas. For military use, there may be submarines that can fly and then dive underwater to approach the battle area without being seen. First, however, the human problems associated with living in the ocean will need to be studied in detail. Many of these problems are the same as the problems of living in outer space: pressure, lack of oxygen, and weightlessness. Already scientists have begun to study these problems. In 1963 and 1964 scientists and Navy divers lived and worked underwater for several days in two projects which were called Sealab I and Sealab II. The Sealab II experiment kept the scientists and divers 215 feet below the surface for thirty days, studying marine biology, temperature, pressure, currents, and ocean bottom geology. Many puzzling questions remain unanswered, however. Man's warm blood makes it difficult for him to live long in the sea without some kind of warmth. Can our blood be changed to fit new water surroundings? What will happen to our muscles if we live in the water very long? Will they become soft away from our usual land existence? Will bones become weak and our blood pressure change? Scientists are searching for answers. By studying plants and animals deep in the ocean, scientists may find a cure for some of our most serious human diseases. We may learn to use plants to increase our world food supply. Engineers may learn to use the power of the sea by building huge walls to catch the force of the tides. According to the author,in future,passenger ships might be the ones that can _ Those people, those things, such as bursts of light rain in the lake left ring watermark four scattered to each other to melt each other's impact; just like the quiet shining star, not very bright, but clearly made. They do not know how much to spend with me during the bright day and silent night. In my memory, the third year is not gray, because I still remember seeing sunrise and sunset with my friends, and it's that nice. Youth is the eye lotus spring, third year is spring season that this eye bubbled. I, however, strongly smell in the bubble years of the Problem tests. I do not exclude these, but _ . Unfortunately, after the college entrance examination, even the pressure would become the memories, and be my third year living memory of the dead evidence. In the time before we are so powerless, the only left on just the eye springs, and we have no regrets of the promise, I hope day after day, year after year, when I return to this page, people still have remembered the beauty. I have read one another frightening words: Some people say that once you start to like the memories of those, you will get old. I only admit mature, do not believe they have been growing old. My friends are growing up day by day, and were young and mature, how can I grow old ahead of time? "Heaven Rain in green and so on, and I am waiting for you, the moonlight was recovered, the faint opened the outcome." Jay's sad voicehas been completely different from the business for the time sentimental ; Bard will be the years the pace of a camel carved into the blue and white porcelain in that respect. Our future? Friends ah, I will time the other end, waiting for you. The tune of the passage is _ . The world itself is becoming much smaller by using modern traffic and modern communication means . Life today is much easier than it was hundreds of years ago, but it has brought new problems. One of the biggest is pollution. To pollute means to make things dirty. Pollution comes in many ways. We see it, smell it, drink it and even hear it. Man has been polluting the earth. The more people, the more pollution. Many years ago, the problem was not so serious because there were not so many people. When the land was used up or the river was dirty in a place, men moved to another place. But this is no longer true. Man is now slowly polluting the whole world. Air pollution is still the most serious. It's bad to all living things in the world, but it is not only one kind of pollution. Water pollution kills fish and pollutes drinking water. Noise pollution makes us become angry more easily. Many countries are making rules to fight against pollution. They stop the people from burning coal in houses and factories in the city, and from blowing dirty smoke into the air. The pollution of SO2 is now the most dangerous problem of air pollution. It is mostly caused by heavy traffic. It is certain that if there are fewer people driving, there will be less air pollution. The earth is our home. We must take care of it. That means keeping the land, water and air clean. And we must try to control the growth of population at the same time. Air pollution is the most serious kind of pollution because . The computer is a perfect tool for all those categories , but... You just never really had the time to take a basic computer class,and the books about how to actually use a computer are heavy reading and it seems like computers and computer manufactures have a language all of their own, so the books really don't help you much, anyway. This is a web site for YOU Here is your chance to get the basic knowledge you need, so you can enjoy the time you spend in front of your computer, and you can learn at your own pace. This web site is a guide for new computer users. Here you will find step by step descriptions of the most commonly used programs and functions of your computer. You can look through the links on the left and find what you need to know right now and come back later and get some more information. This is NOT a web site for computer experts and it's not written by an expert, either, so don't worry, you will find that everything here is written in a language for YOU! The list of computer terms will have the explanations to the words you will need to gain the desired knowledge for everyday use. As you get acquainted with the basic functions you will also have a better picture of what your computer can actually do for you in your daily life. After all a computer is a TOOL, and here is your chance to 1earn how to use it! As I said. It's important to learn at your own pace, so add this site to your favorites. The aim for the author to write the passage is _ . "If you want to see a thing well, reach out and touch it!" That may seem a strange thing to say. But touching things can help you to see them better. Your eyes can tell you that a glass ball is round. But by holding it in your hands, you can feel how smooth and cool the ball is. You can feel how heavy the glass is. When you feel all these about the ball, you really see it. With your skip, you can feel better. For example, your fingers can tell the difference between two coins in your pocket. You can feel a little drop of water on the back of your hand, too. You can even feel sounds against your skin. Have you ever wanted to know why some people like very loud music? They must like to feel the sounds of music. All children soon learn "what Don't touch!" means. They hear it often. Yet most of us keep on touching things as we grow up. In shops,we touch things we might buy, such as food, clothes and so on. To see something well, we have to touch it. The bottoms of our feet can feel things, too. You know this when you walk on warm sand, cool grass or a bad floor. All feel different under your feet. There are ways of learning to see well by feeling. One way is to close your eyes and try to feel everything that is touching your skin. Feel the shoes on your feet, the clothes on your body, the air on your skin. At first, it is not easy to feel these things. You are too used to them! Most museums are just for looking. But today some museums have some things which you can touch. Their signs say, "Do touch!" There you can feel everything on show. If you want to see better, reach out and touch. Then you'11 really see! By touching things _ .

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