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Question: Focus on class SOME US parents are sad that their high school children score badly in math , science and reading compared to kids in other countries. There has been an endless series of mostly fruitless education reforms to address this gap ( ). Now comes an approach based on the insights of a group of US exchange students. They spent a year in some of the most successful high schools in the world -in Finland, Poland and South Korea. Author and journalist Amanda Ripley followed three exchange students for her new book, The Smartest Kids in the World - and How They Got That Way. She argues that to improve academics, US schools should de-emphasize sports. Instead, students should bring their passion and intensity to academics , she concludes. "High school in Finland, Korea and Poland had a purpose, just like high school football practice in America," she writes. "There was a big , important contest at the end, and the score counted." Sports are a distraction ,Ripley argues, and most countries require them to take place outside of school. Trading in US school sports culture would be a huge change for people in the US , who respect teamwork and sportsmanship as training for life. But playing down sports could pay off, as it has elsewhere, if we redirect money , focus and glory to learning. Ripley is critical of memorization in South Korean education, but she praises the system's high goals and the free-dom its students have to fail and recover through hard work. Too often , we don't ask teachers to give our kids harder assignments -and we're quick to complain about a failing grade. What's working elsewhere is to set ambitious goals for kids ,and then allow them to discover that they have it within themselves to reclaim success from failure. Each of the countries in Smartest Kids came to education reform after an economic crisis . Finland was losing jobs after graduating just 10 percent of its teens from high school in the 1950s. Today , the graduation rate is 95 percent . Poland's wakeup came in 1999, as students consistently tested below average in reading. We've tried so many "reforms" in education. Maybe what we need is a truly radical shift away from sports in favor of schooling. What is the author's attitude toward education reform in US high schools ? A. Indifferent. B. Puzzled C. Satisfied D. Supportive. Answer: D Question: Cats are creatures of habit. They like to go to sleep about the same time every day and for a certain length of time. They seem to have a natural clock inside them that tells them when to sleep. Cats increase their regular sleep with occasional cat naps . Some experts feel that humans could also benefit from this habit. Cat naps help to build up energy in the body. They are also a good way to get rid of trouble! Since cats have the same moods as humans, some experts believe that people can improve their moods. People might become happier. A number of famous people have copied cats by taking cat naps during the day. The naps would usually last from 15 to 30 minutes. Winston Churchill took cat naps. So did Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. These famous men were known for their energy. They were also able to work long hours, often into the night. Napping was their secret. Naps usually last _ . A. three hours B. less than half an hour C. forty-five minutes D. fifty-five minutes Answer: B Question: We all know that Taiwan is considered as Treasure Island 0f China. The scenery there is very beautiful. Recently we have been connected closely each other. Several months ago, a group of 19 Taiwanese children flew to Chengdu in order to begin a tour to study pandas. The middle school children were from Chiayi Country in southwest Taiwan and were chosen because of their excellent performance at school. During the visit, the children saw pandas up close. They were excited to see so many pandas at the same time. The children also traveled to the Mount E'mei scenic area and met local schoolchildren. At last, they said, "The pandas are very cute, and they are all happy." They also said the children in Chengdu are very friendly to them, and they all like there. They hope to visit Sichuan again. The children had a good chance to visit Chengdu because _ . A. they were interested in it B. they did well at school C. they were performing different roles D. they were not from the same country Answer: B Question: At Christmas,1871,Edison,the famous American scientist,got married to Mary. Lots of their friends came to their wedding ceremony . At about two in the afternoon,Edison suddenly thought out a good way to solve the problem on the automatic telegraph after the wedding. So he said to the bride ,"I'll have to go to the factory because I have something important to do. Then I'll come back to have dinner with you."The bride had no way but to agree. On the night of the festival, other families were full of joy while the bride stayed in the house alone,just looking out of the window. How lonely she was! A worker went into the lab and said as soon as he saw Edison, "My goodness! I have never seen a bride-groom like you. It's already twelve now!"Edison was greatly surprised. "Twelve? Too bad! I said I would have dinner with Mary." he said as he ran downstairs. That's how hard Edison worked.He gave all his life to the invention of lights, films and over two thousand other things. A new invention came into being every fifteen days. Edison _ at Christmas in 1871 in American. A. asked lots of his friends to come to his birthday party B. became a famous scientist C. got married to Mary D. Stayed at home with his bride most of the time Answer: C Question: Canadian short story writer Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Eighty-two-year-old Munro is only the 13th woman to win the 112-year-old prize. Munro didn't publish her first collection of short stories until she was 37 years old, but her stories have always been well-received. Lots of her stories share similar themes and characters, but each story has its own twists and turns. Even though she's won Canada's most famous literary award, the Giller Prize, twice, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature is the cherry on top of Munro's career. "It brings this incredible recognition, both of her and her career, and of the dedication to the short story," said one person. Along with the well-respected title comes 1.3 million dollars.Munro said everything was "so surprising and wonderful" and that she was "dazed by all the attention and affection that has been coming my way." Munro knew she was in the running-she was named the second-most likely person to win this year's prize, after Haruki Murakami of Japan-but she never thought that she would win. Munro's win also represents the long way Canadian writers have come."When I began writing there was a very small community of Canadian writers and little attention was paid by the world.Now Canadian writers are read, admired and respected around the globe," Munro said on Thursday. She is technically not the first Canadian to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, but many like to think that she is.In 1976 Saul Bellow, who was born in Quebec but moved to Chicago when he was still a child, won the prize.Even though he was born in Canada, he is mostly considered to be an American writer. "This is a win for us all.Canadians, by our very nature, are not very nationalistic," said Geoffrey Taylor."But things like this suddenly make you want to find a flag." She wasn't sure if she would keep writing if she won the prize, saying that it would be "nice to go out with a bang.But this may change my mind." For Munro, the Nobel Prize is an award for _ . A. her love for Canadian culture B. her devotion to the short story C. her special form of writing D. her career of editing short stories Answer: B
Authorities will continue to take a hard line on Internet-based rumors and punish those creating fake information, a senior official said on Thursday. Authorities have removed more than 210,000 online posts and shut down 42 websites since mid-March in their latest crackdown on online rumors, said Liu Zhengrong, a senior official with the State Internet Information Office. Fake information or rumors spread through the Internet, especially on micro blogs, have harmed social order and residents' daily lives, he said at a news briefing in Beijing. Before the crackdown, six people who allegedly fabricated rumors about "military vehicles entering Beijing" had been detained and 16 websites closed for fake online information, according to police authorities. "What we've done and will do is to make sure residents can know what they want to know, say what they think and supervise our management in a reliable and useful network environment," Liu said. Liu disagreed that the Internet can police itself against rumors, and told China Daily that some netizens can't distinguish truth from fiction, "requiring government departments and website companies to take measures". On Monday, the Internet Society of China posted a proposal calling on Internet companies and websites to strengthen self-discipline and prevent the spread of online rumors. In response, three main Internet companies in the country - Sina, Baidu and Tencent - said they will target fake information with advanced technology and invest in manpower to supervise online information. Zhao Zhiguo, deputy director of the Telecommunications Administration under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said stricter self-management of websites will help banish online rumors. "Internet companies should take legal responsibility when operating their websites. They should not become a hotbed for rumors and provide opportunities for fake information," Zhao said, adding they will launch similar crackdowns to close illegal website companies and punish those responsible. Currently, people who make or spread rumors related to terrorism and securities trading, or information affecting State security and companies' commercial reputations, will face criminal punishment. Liu Honghui, a Beijing lawyer specializing in online cases, said he welcomed the government's action to curb online rumors. "Residents used online banks to shop or book flights, which needs a safe platform without fake information," he said. Yu Guofu, another lawyer from Sheng Feng Law Firm, said the key to reducing rumors is netizens themselves. "If micro-bloggers think twice before forwarding information, rumors will decrease." How many websites were shut down before mid-March in the latest crackdown on online rumors? Answer: 16 Dust on furniture may be bad news for waistlines . But it's far too early to add dusting to a weight-loss plan. Dietary fats and other materials that make up indoor dust can send a signal to human fat cells, telling them to grow. That process, in turn, might slow the body's rate of burning energy. Such changes could add to any weight problems a person might have. "We don't know what that means to long-term health and certain diseases yet," says Heather Stapleton, one of the study's authors. But she notes that her team's findings also raise a question of whether pollutants in dust might play some role in the growing, global problem of obesity . Stapleton and her colleagues collected dust from homes and offices. Studies found that some materials in the dust could turn on a protein called PPAR-gamma 1. It's found in many human tissues. Turning this protein on can cause fat cells to grow. Researchers think this protein may be involved in obesity. But a second study now finds evidence that certain fats are mostly to blame. Cooking oils may send out some of these fats into the air, where they eventually find their way into house dust. Or, the authors say, the fats might enter house dust as part of the hair or skin cells shed by people or pets. "While the findings are amazing," says Mitchell Lazar, another study author, "these findings need to be taken as very limited." Indeed, he adds several cautions about how the findings should be understood. "For one thing, people eat these fats in foods all of the time. That is likely to be a lot more than would be consumed from indoor dust," he said. What do we know about PPAR-gamma 1? _ Answer: It leads to weight gain. Nutrition influences not only students' grades at school but their growth and development. Improper nutrition is one of the causes of childhood obesity. What can you do to help your child avoid childhood obesity? My first piece of advice is to look in your fridge. What are you buying at the grocery store? Think about it: if you don't buy junk food or snacks, your kids won't eat them at home. Now if you're like me -- both of your kids are at school, you'll know you can't police them every second of the day. This is the time when you'll need to talk to your children about their food choices. If you don't know the right food choices, there are so many free resources on-line to guide you. Try new things. I was very surprised to find out my 4-year-old daughter likes balsamic vinegar -- she calls it the "black sauce". She likes to have it with tomatoes and cucumbers. You just never know what your kids might like. Don't get stressed if you can't always prepare something healthy. You may sometimes leave the house and forget to take something out for dinner, or you are running late and there's no time to cook before you have to take one of the kids somewhere. However, you can still make healthy choices while dining out. Many of the fast food restaurants offer fruit and milk instead of soda. I like to buy organic frozen pizzas from the organic market -- for a quick dinner solution . All the ingredients are natural. What I do is to serve the pizza with something raw: lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, or fruit to try to give the kids something healthy with that meal. In closing, take baby steps. Don't try to change your family's eating habits in one go, or you'll go nuts. This passage is written mainly to _ Answer: give parents some healthy eating tips Tony and Anna are brother and sister. They are Americans. Tony likes sports very much. He can play soccer, basketball and volleyball. Anna likes music very much. She can't play ball games. But they both like playing on computers. They like eggs, bread and milk for breakfast. For lunch, Anna likes eating vegetables and fruit, but Tony likes chicken and fish. They both like hamburgers. But they don't like ice cream or dessert. Tony likes _ and he can play _ . Answer: sports; volleyball one's ability to hear their name being called across the room indicates the presence of Answer: atmosphere in the space
Burns can be caused by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minor problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help. First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portions of the body, it can be treated at home. Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin reddens intensely and blisters develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. Second-degree burns require medical treatment. Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles, and even bones may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear a dry white. If nerve damage is substantial, there may be no pain at all. These burns require emergency medical attention. Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home 1) If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes. 2) Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth. 3) Take aspirin to relieve any swelling or pain. Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Before an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps 1) Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.). 2) If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately. 3) Remove all clothing to stop further burning. If the clothing is stuck to the burn, do not attempt to remove it. 4) Cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile bandage or clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments or ice on the burned area or break blisters. 5) Monitor the patient for signs of shock, and treat accordingly. Burns are divided into different degrees according to _ . which layer of skin is burned Hiking can be a pleasant as well as a not so pleasant adventure. You will have to take a number of measures so that your hike is a pleasant experience. Hiking Tip 1 -- Start Early Most hiking experts hold the opinion that it is rather sensible to start hiking at 3 or 4 in the morning, even if it is a full-day hike. Since most hikes are conducted at high altitudes, starting off early will make sure that you are back down during the afternoon hours. Hiking Tip 2 -- Be Light Since we are anyway talking about the load you will carry, another important hiking tip is to carry fewer loads. If you are going on a hiking trail on a familiar path, you will need reduced survival items, as chance that you will get lost or hurt yourself on these hiking trails is little. Hiking Tip 3 -- Reduce the Number of Breaks Once you start your hike, you should make sure you do not take too many breaks. You will need to maintain a consistent speed and minimize the number of stops which you take. Speed and rest stops help distinguish an inexperienced hiker from an expert hiker. An inexperienced hiker will have bursts of speed and energy and it will be followed by rest stops. This results in slowing down the general speed. Hiking Tip 4 -- Tip for Children Do you plan to take your kids along with you on the hiking trail? Well, then you must be looking for hiking tips for kids! You will have to educate them about nature and also get them into an exercise routine before taking them on a hike. Kids have a tendency to run in the beginning. This exhausts them and they have to be carried, which is certainly not the best of ideas. What should you do if you are going hiking on an unfamiliar trail? Carry enough survival items. Teofilo Stevenson was born in 1952 and grew up in a small town in Cuba.He started boxing as a teenager and, when he was 13, went to Havana to train at the national sports complex."I lost 14 of my first 20 fights," said Stevenson."I hated getting hit.What happened was that I decided I hated losing even more." When he was just 20, Teofilo went to the Olympic Games in Germany and won a gold medal.He was tall and powerful with a long "reach".His long arms could hit opponents before they could hit him.At the Games in Canada in 1976 he won the gold again.In the ring, boxers were afraid of Teofilo, they tried to stay away from him and not get too close to his powerful punches .He won another gold medal in Moscow in 1980.Only two of the fights he had at the Olympic Games lasted for the full three rounds.That means he either knocked his opponents to the floor and they were counted out or the referee stopped the fight because it was dangerous for the other boxer. Stevenson was such a good boxer that people wanted him to turn professional.After he had won his first gold medal, managers and famous promoters started to offer him money to fight around the world.Teofilo turned them all down.He wanted to stay in Cuba and didn't want to fight for money or fame. Lots of people think that Teofilo Stevenson was as good as the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, but the two fighters never fought each other.They did meet outside the ring and the two men are now friends.Teofilo thinks "it would have been a draw" if they had fought. Teofilo now works for the Cuban Ministry of Sport and he is also the vice president of the Cuban Boxing Federation.He likes spending his time with his family and he is still regarded as a legend around the world. What can be a proper title for the text? Teofilo Stevenson--Olympic boxing legend Many more babies will be born before the Year of the Horse ends, because many couples in China try to avoid having babies in the Year of the Sheep, which starts on Feb 19, 2015. The reason: traditionally it is believed that "sheep babies" lead a difficult and suppressive life. The truth is, there is no evidence to prove that people born with the zodiac sign of sheep are destined for a difficult life. Apple co-founder, the late Steve Jobs, and movie stars Chow Yunfat and Zhang Ziyi were all born in the Year of the Sheep. Superstition, as its dictionary description says, is an unreasonable belief that an object, action or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome. Many people regard black cats as unlucky when they are unlucky only for mice. The number 13 is considered unlucky in the West, but it was quite an lucky number in ancient China. The "rich" number " 8 " is viewed as lucky in China, yet it doesn't look different from any other number in the West. But such is the influence of superstition on some people that they undergo cesarean section , even without going into labor, to give birth before the onset of a year they consider unlucky. Doctors warn that premature cesarean section is a violation of the laws of nature which could affect the baby's brains and health, but some people ignore their advice. On the social side, the sudden increase in the number of births in one year will make it even more difficult for children to get admission to schools and drastically raise the demand for jobs when they grow up. Ironically, children born in a baby boom year can become a liability because they will be locked in a tougher competition for educational, natural and material resources. In more sense than one, their competition begins even before they are born, because their mothers have to wait longer for their regular medical check-ups and to secure a bed in a hospital for childbirth. In China where more often than not parents guide (or even force) their children to choose the subjects to study and the vocations to compete for, zodiac signs are of least or no importance. The real important thing is to encourage children to let their imagination fly and develop their unique skills. The writer uses facts from the following fields EXCEPT _ to support his point of view. politics A survey shows that the number of fires in government buildings each year is small compared to home fires. This is probably because such buildings are taken good care of and managed. However, at home after work fire safety is your own duty. For most of us who live in high-rise buildings, the safety of you and your family depends on how much you know to do with an emergency . When a fire happens, there is usually little time to decide what to do or how to act. The best thing is to make your emergency plan as soon as possible. Sit down with the family and prepare a careful escape project. Do remember that every fire is _ . Fire and smoke can move very quickly and the situations in any part of the building may change very quickly. Smoke is usually more dangerous than fire. It can spread throughout the building and enter your house when the fire is many floors away. Some information says it is best to leave your house immediately when there is a fire. Others say it is safer to stay there. Which is correct? Usually the best thing to do is to leave the building as soon as possible. However, do not try to leave your house a long time after the fire alarm has sounded. There is a higher chance that heavy smoke has already spread into stairways and hallways. Never travel through smoke. You must stay inside your house and place wet towels at the bottom of the door to stop smoke from entering. Call the Fire Services Department by dialing "119", tell them where you are and then move to the most smoke-free room. Open the window there to let in fresh air if possible. Hang a sheet from the window to show fire fighters where you are. If it is a long time since the fire alarm sounded, the proper thing to do is _ . to stay inside the house
Question: Because of the stress and strains of modern life folks today would rather watch television than get together with neighbors. Their behavior doesn't mirror TV soaps like Coronation Street and East Enders. The Street's Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby know all their neighbors. But the Royal Mail survey shows that real-life under35s wouldn't dream of popping next door for a chat or to borrow a cup of sugar. Three out of ten say they wouldn't know their neighbors if they saw them in the street. The same proportion would only offer to help neighbors if absolutely necessary, while thirty-onepercent don't want to get to know them better. Twenty-six percent rarely or never speak to the person next door. Thirty-five percent only talk to neighbors occasionally, and six percent actively dislike them. The older generation are still sociable, with seventy percent of over55s taking time to chat to people next door. The report says: "In the past, the British tradition of village green gossip between neighbors was celebrated worldwide. But there's been a clear shift away from local links by the young generation." Londoners are least likely to be neighbors, with a third rarely or never chatting over the garden fence. People in the Midlands--where 65 percent often speak to their neighbors are most friendly. Sociologist Jane Blakeman said: "People are working longer hours than ever before, and are traveling further to work. It leaves them far less time at home." Gossip among neighbours is still common among _ . A. people under35s B. people between 35 and 55 C. people over55s D. people of different ages Answer: C. people over55s Question: In Google's vision of the future, people will be able to translate documents instantly into the world's main languages with machine logic, not expert linguists, leading the way. Google's approach, called statistical machine translation, differs from past efforts in which it does without language experts who program grammatical rules and dictionaries into computers. Instead, they feed documents humans have already translated into two languages and then rely on computers to decide patterns for future translations. Though the quality is not perfect, it is an improvement on previous efforts at machine translation, said Franz Och, 35, a German who heads Google's translation effort at its Mountain View headquarters south of San Francisco. "Some people who have been in machine translations for a long time see our Arabic-English output, and then they say, that's amazing; that's a breakthrough ." Said Och. "And then other people who have never seen what machine translation was read through the sentence and they say, the first mistake here in Line Five-it doesn't seem to work because there is a mistake there." But for some tasks, a mostly correct translation may be good enough. Speaking over lunch this week in a Google cafeteria famed for offering free, healthy food, Och showed a translation of an Arabic Web news site into easily digestible English. Two Google workers speaking Russian at a nearby table said, however, that a translation of a news site from English into their native tongue was understandable but a bit awkward. Och, who speaks German, English and some Italian, feeds hundreds of millions of words from parallel texts such as Arabic and English into the computer, using United Nations and European Union documents as key sources. Languages without considerable translated texts, such as some African languages, face greater obstacles. "The more data we feed into the system, the better it gets." said Och, who moved to the United States from Germany in 2002. The program applies statistical analysis, an approach he hopes will avoid diplomatic embarrassing mistakes in diplomatic situations, such as when Russian leader Putin's translator annoyed then German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder by calling him the German "Fuhrer ("leader" in English)," which is forbidden in that context because of its association with Adolf Hitler. "I would hope that the language model would say, well, Schroeder is...very rare but Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schroeder is probably 100 times more frequent than Fuhrer and then it would make the right decision." Och said. Statistical analysis in this passage is conducted by _ . A. hiring people who speak different languages B. counting how frequently a word is used in the language C. using the computer with its own grammatical rules D. reminding users of the likely embarrassing mistakes Answer: B. counting how frequently a word is used in the language Question: If you go to an American middle school on Wednesday morning, you will hear kids talking about the American idol show from the night before. Some have called it the most influential show in the history of television. American Idol has been extremely successful in the country since 2002. The show was number one for six years! The most popular episode had nearly 38 million _ . But why is the show so popular? The idea of the show is this: everyday people get a chance to show their singing talents to the world and become an "American Idol", a famous pop star. Anyone in the country(between the ages of 15 and 28) can have a try--a chance of becoming world famous. In fact, everyday people are the ones who are allowed on the show. If you are a professional singer--you cannot be an American Idol. The winners are regular people from small towns--people who sang in churches or bars but had bigger dreams. The winners of the contest don't get a prize of money. Instead, they get to record an album. Famous stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood gained fame from winning the show. So, it seems the contest really works. It is the idea that anyone can be a super star that draws people to this program. All those hours of practicing in front of the mirror could lead to fame and fortune .Even you could be the next "American Idol". ,. What does the story mainly tell us about? A. How US kids spend their spare time. B. Why the American Idol show is so popular. C. What America's most successful show is. D. How the American Idol show creates pop stars. Answer: B. Why the American Idol show is so popular. Question: EACH of us fails from time to time. If we are wise, we accept these failures as a necessary part of the learning process. But all too often we convey to our children either by words or by actions that failure is something to be ashamed of, that nothing but top performance meets our approval. Donnie was my youngest third-grader. His fear of failure kept him from classroom games that other children played excitedly. He seldom answered questions - he might be wrong. He seldom finished his work because he repeatedly checked with me to be sure he hadn't made a mistake. I tried my best to build his self-confidence. But nothing changed until midterm, when Mary Anne, a student teacher, was assigned to our classroom. She was young and pretty, and she loved children. My pupils, Donnie included, adored her. But even enthusiastic, loving Mary was _ by this little boy who feared he might make a mistake. Then one morning we were working math problems. Donnie had copied the problems with painstaking neatness and filled in answers for the first row. Pleased with his progress, I left the children with Mary. But when I returned, Donnie was in tears. He'd missed the third problem. Mary looked at me in despair. Suddenly her face brightened. From the desk we shared, she got a canister filled with pencils. "Look, Donnie," she said, "I've got something to show you." She removed the pencils and placed them on his desk. "See these pencils, Donnie?" she continued. "They belong to Mrs. Lindstrom and me. See how the erasers are worn? That's because we make mistakes too. Lots of them. But we erase the mistakes and try again. That's what you must learn to do, too." She kissed him and continued: "I'll leave one of these pencils on your desk so you'll remember that everybody makes mistakes, even teachers." Donnie looked up with love in his eyes and just a glimmer of a smile. The pencil became Donnie's prized possession. That, together with Mary Anne's frequent encouragement and praise for even Donnie's small successes, gradually persuaded him that it's all right to make mistakes - as long as you erase them and try again. Which of the following words best describe Mary Anne as she is shown in the article? A. Patient and inspiring. B. Creative and modest. C. Determined and strict. D. Considerate and proud. Answer: A. Patient and inspiring. Question: Not all think laughter is the best medicine, but it seems to help.So scientists carried on a new study of diabetes patients who were given a good dose of humor for a year to prove it. Researchers divide 20 high-risk diabetic patients into two groups.Both groups were given standard diabetes medicine.Group L viewed 30 minutes of humor of their choice, while Group C, the control group, did not.This went on for a year of treatments. By two months into the study, the patients in the laughter group had lower level of the hormones epinephrine , considered to cause stress, which is known to be deadly.After the 12 months, _ rises 26 percent in Group L but only 3 percent in Group C.In another measure, C-reactive proteins, a maker of heart disease, drop 66 percent in the laughter group but only 26 percent in the control group. "The best doctors believe that there is a physical good brought about by the positive emotion, happy laughter," said study leader Lee Berk of Loma Linda University.And other research has found that humor makes us more hopeful.Still, more study is needed, Berk said.The research by Berk found that humor can bring about similar changes in body chemistry, which was proved in the new study.The research result will be presented this month at the meeting in the US.Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine shows that laughter causes the inner lining of blood vessels to expand, increasing blood flow in a way thought to be healthy. "Lifestyle choices have an important effect on health and these are choices which we and patients should pay attention to, rather than prevention and treatment," Berk said in a statement this week. After 12 months into the study, _ . A. C-reactive proteins increase 66 percent in Group C B. the level of the hormones epinephrine stays the same in both groups C. the level of the hormones epinephrine has dropped D. C-reactive proteins reduced 66 percent in Group L Answer: D. C-reactive proteins reduced 66 percent in Group L
Chinese scientist Tu Youyou on October 5 won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine amongst a trio for discovering parasite therapies . 85-year-old Tu is awarded this world-renowned prize for her contribution to reducing the death rate of malaria, minimizing patients' suffering and promoting mankind's health. This is what science is all about. Tu's finding has saved millions' lives during the 40 years. This also proves the value of her research product. The reward is never too late in that aspect. The moment of joy and satisfaction came when she discovered the artemisinin( ) after all kinds of failures in experiments. As the first Chinese mainland Nobel Prize Winner of natural science award, Tu's winning completely surprised Chinese people, who have long been wondering when the first Chinese Nobel laureate in natural science would appear. Let's backtrack to 40 years ago. Tu accomplished the breakthrough findings without access to any advanced equipment, communication with outside world and papers to research. However, over the 40 years, improvements and innovations have transformed everything. Nowadays, Chinese scientists have the passion to invent. As Premiere Li Keqiang mentioned in his letter, "Tu's winning the prize signifies China's prosperity and progress in scientific and technological field". Tu's record-breaking winning serves as a reminder to those who are too eager for instant success. Science is never about instant success. There is no way to measure how much you spend on scientific research and compare it with how much reward you get. Which magazine this passage may be mostly selected from? Answer: What is the definition of "happiness?" Is it material wealth filled with fancy cars, a dream house or jewelry? Or does happiness simply mean having a roof over your head? Food in the fridge? Having a swimming pool? A designer Gucci bag? Love? Money? A perfect job? Do you recall a time----let's say when you were about 5 years old-----what defined happiness back then? Was it getting a puppy for Christmas? Or maybe, you were a child of divorce; and all you wanted was for Mom and Dad to get back together again? Then as you got older, you were hoping that someone would ask you to the party that would have made your day. During college, good grades made you happy, but it was short-lived. Because in the real world, you had to look for a job, and competition was fierce. But then, you got a perfect job, could you be happy? We like having and accumulating things. We work so we can pay our rents, credit card debts, school loans, car payments... The list goes on and on. And at some point, we realize that apart from having most of what we want, we still aren't happy. Now since we've learned to adapt to new standards which we've created for ourselves, we find that we have less time, less patience, less sleep, which leads to more stress and more anxiety. Therefore, don't stupidly make a conclusion that happiness is just based on "things". Sometimes, we trade our lives for not only basic necessities, but for excessive items and services as well. Certainly, you've heard of individuals trying to "find themselves", or to "rediscover themselves". But the point has been missed: happiness is already there. Disappointments and tragedies in life will come and go, but happiness never leaves you. We can lose our jobs, but be grateful for those who love us. We can lose our homes to nature, but be thankful to be alive. If we think we are happy, we are indeed happy. Happiness is merely a perception of each individual. Happiness is part of love, and love is an ocean. Go dive in and get some, and then share it with everyone, which can be an endless supply. But sharing happiness with people around demands skilful techniques. The author puts forward a lot of questions to _ . Answer: Chocolate was a box turtle. Lauren found her one day on the side of the road, hiding in her old, worn shell, frightened by the cars going by. Lauren picked Chocolate up to help her cross the street, because Lauren knew that turtles are very slow and cars are very fast. After Lauren got Chocolate to the other side of the road, Chocolate peeked her head out of her shell and looked at the little girl. Lauren saw that not only was Chocolate's shell worn, one of her eyes was shut. Lauren thought Chocolate needed more help from her, so Lauren took the turtle home. Lauren hid Chocolate in her bathtub, because she was worried that her mother would be mad. Lauren went to look up what turtles like to eat and left Chocolate alone in the bathtub. Lauren was still looking up turtle facts when she heard her mother call out, "Lauren, get in here now!" Lauren knew she was in trouble. But when Lauren came into the bathroom, her mother was smiling. Lauren's mom told her that she had a turtle when she was a little girl. Lauren and her mom took Chocolate to an animal doctor who treated sick turtles. The doctor gave them special drops to put in Chocolate's eyes. Lauren put the drops in Chocolate's eyes, like the doctor told her and soon the turtle's eyes were all better. Chocolate's shell was still old and worn looking, like an old shoe, but now her eyes were beautiful, like the golden jewels on Grandma's earrings. Lauren was glad that she helped Chocolate. Where did Lauren hide Chocolate? Answer: My Garden -----by Nelson Mandela In early 1977, the authorities announced the physical labour and arranged some kind of work for us to do in the courtyard. The free time also allowed me to hunt what became two of my favorite hobbies in Robben Island---gardening and tennis. To survive in prison, one must develop ways to take satisfaction in one's daily life. One can feel fulfilled by washing one's clothes so that they are particularly clean. Just as one takes pride in important tasks outside of prison, one can find the same pride in doing small things inside prison. Almost from the beginning of my sentence on Robben Island, I asked the authorities for permission to start a garden in the courtyard. For years, they refused without offering a reason. But finally they gave in, and we were able to cut out a small garden in the prison. The soil in the courtyard was dry and rocky. In order to start my garden, I had to remove a great many rocks to allow the plant room to grow. The authorities supplied me with seeds. At first, I planned tomatoes and onions, because these plants did not require rich earth or constant care. The early harvests were poor, but they soon improved. I began to order books on gardening. I studied different gardening techniques and types of fertilizers . For a time, I tried to grow peanuts, and used different soils and fertilizers, but finally I gave up. It was one of my few failures. A garden was one of the few things in prison that one could control. The processes of planting a seed, watching it grow, taking care of it and then harvesting it offered a simple but long-lasting satisfaction. The sense of being the owner of the small patch of earth offered a small taste of freedom. Why did Mandela wash his clothes especially clean although he was in prison? Answer: Big Ben is not the name of a man. It is the name of a huge clock in London, London is the capital of the UK. This clock has four faces, so no matter where you stand, you can read the time on the face of Big Ben. Each face is the size of a double-decker bus. The hands are about four meters long. It is about the size of two people standing on top of each other. If you go to London, you may want to visit the House of Parliament . You will find Big Ben sitting at the top of the clock tower in the House of Parliament. You will hear it as well as you see it. The big clock makes such a loud sound, "Ding dong, ding dong," it goes every quarter of an hour. A big man gave the clock the name. He was Sir Benjamin Hail. He did much building work in London many years ago, You can read the time of Big Ben _ . Answer:
One day an ant was drinking at a small stream and fell in. She made desperate efforts to reach the side, but made no progress at all. The poor ant almost exhausted was still bravely doing her best when a dove saw her. Moved with pity, the bird threw her a blade of grass, which supported her like a raft, and thus the ant reached the bank again. While she was resting and drying herself in the grass, she heard a man come near. He was walking along barefooted with a gun in his hand. As soon as he saw the dove, he wished to kill it. He would certainly have done so, but the ant bit him in the foot just as he raised his gun to fire. He stopped to see what had bit him, and the dove immediately flew away. It was an animal much weaker and smaller than herself that had saved her life. The ant succeeded in getting on the bank with the help of _ . A a leaf B a piece of wood C a blade of grass D a raft Answer: C Good afternoon! I'm Alice. My last name is Smith. I'm in a red jacket. I'm in Xingfu Middle School. My phone number is 569-2679. This is Cindy Brown. She is my good friend. She is in a yellow jacket. She is in Xingfu Middle School, too. What's her phone number? It's 865-2397. What color is Alice's jacket? A Green. B Blue. C Red. D Yellow. Answer: C Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Mount Everest, Mount Qomolangma's peak is no longer a lonely place and is turning into a trash heap. So far, more than 350 climbers have successfully reached the peak. And they have complained about waiting for hours in the bottlenecks on the way to the peak, a situation that isn't just uncomfortable -- it's cold and windy up there -- but downright dangerous. If bad weather strikes, climbers can and do die. As a matter of fact, the dangerous crowds aren't the only problem on Qomolangma. All those climbers need to bring a lot of _ --and much of them ends up being left on the mountain, sometimes even the peak itself. Mount Qomolangma is becoming the world's largest dump. Here's mountaineer Mark Jenkins writing in National Geographic about the state of Qomolangma: "The two standard routes, the Northeast Ridge and the Southeast Ridge, are disgustingly polluted with oxygen cans and torn tents everywhere." But the good news is that some mountaineers are taking it upon themselves to clean up Qomolangma. Mountianeer Paul Thelen and his friend Eberhard Schaaf are part of the annual Eco Everest Expedition, which has been cleaning up rubbish from base camps to the peak since 2008. So far they've collected over 13 tons of garbage. Some of that rubbish is even being used for a higher purpose. As part of the Mount Everest 8844 Art Project, a group of 15 artists from Nepal collected 1.5 tons of garbage brought down the mountain by climbers. They've transformed the cans and oxygen tanks--and in one case, part of the remains of a helicopter--into 74 pieces of art that have already gone on exhibition in Nepal's capital. Part of the profit from sales will go to the Everest Peakers Association, which has helped collect tons of rubbish on the slopes of the mountain. What can be the best title for the text? A Eco Everest Expedition Proves Successful B Qomolangma Has Become A Huge Mess C Test Yourself Against Qomolangma D Recycle Rubbish On Qomolangma Answer: B Do you suffer from cybersickness? The rise of mobile phones has been blamed for a number of social ills, but your smart phone may also be making you physically sick as well. Scientists have identified a condition called "cybersickness", which they say is the digital version of motion sickness. The phenomenon, which affects up to 80 percent of the population who own smart phones or tablets, leads to feelings of sickness and unsteadiness. It is caused by seeing fast motion on a screen, which covers anything from a car chase in a film to scrolling through web pages on your phone. The more realistic the visual content appears to you, the higher your chances of getting cybersickness are . The condition was identified in a piece in the New York Times in which British and US experts said that it needed solving. Motion sickness leaves sufferers feeling ill because they feel movement in your muscles and your inner ear but do not see it. The mismatch in digital sickness is the opposite--you see movement on the screen but do not feel it. The effect is the same and the symptoms include a headache, wanting to throw up, confusion and the need to sit down. Often cybersickness shows itself in a subtle way and sufferers put it down to stress or eyestrain. Steven Rauch, a professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School, said: "Your sense of balance is different from other senses in that it has lots of inputs. When those inputs don't agree, that's when you feel dizziness and sickness. " Some studies that have been carried out into cybersickness found that women are more _ than men, the New York Times reported. Those who have Type A' personalities--meaning they are confident and determined--are more likely to suffer from cybersickness as well. Among those who have reported experiencing the condition have been video gamers who spend hours playing fast paced games. Engineers at Oculus VR, the virtual headset manufacturer, have admitted that digital motion sickness is one of their biggest problems. This passage is most probably _ . A a science fiction B a newspaper ad C a book review D a science news report Answer: D Coupons to spend "How did you spend your coupons?" On their first day back to school, many students in Hangzhou greeted each other this way. The coupons referred to the 100 yuan coupons each student received form the city government before the Spring Festival holidays. Over 260,000 primary school and middle school students were given coupons. They could use them in local stores and supermarkets, or to see movies and buy books. The same coupons have also been given to low income families in Hangzhou. Other cities, including Chengdu and Nanjing, also gave coupons to their citizens. More cities are expected to follow their lead. Why are local governments doing this? These programmes are all part of a broader effort in China to increase domestic demand in the face of the global financial crisis. The crisis has seriously affected China's exports and investments . Many factories in southern cities have been closed down. Some companies are laying off workers or reducing their pay. The stock market and real estate market have been falling. In a time of financial crisis, people usually respond by saving money. They are uncertain about the future and are afraid that more difficult times may be ahead. Now many people are choosing not to spend money carelessly. Major chain stores have seen a sharp slowdown in sales, analysts say. But spending keeps an economy healthy. If people don't spend, there will be too many products in the market. Then shops will stop buying products from factories. When factories receive no orders, they close down. The workers there accordingly lose their jobs. Also, if people don't spend, the service industry suffers. The total result is that the whole economy breaks down. Issuing coupons is a practical and effective way to increase domestic demand in the current situation, said Jiang Zengwei, vice-minister of China's Ministry of Commerce. Hangzhou reported a rise in customers in local markets during Spring Festival holiday. However, issuing coupons is only a temporary measure. To increase consumers' confidence, the government needs to establish a sound secure social system in the long term. When people don't have to worry about education, health care and their pension, they will be more willing to spend instead of saving. Why are local governments issuing coupons? A To increase domestic demand in the face of the global financial crisis. B To enable students to use them in local stores and supermarkets, or to see movies and buy books independently. C To help those low income families in the global financial crisis. D To show the government's ability to solve economic problems Answer: A
A man punished his 5-year-old daughter for wasting some expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was little and he became more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box and put it under a Christmas tree. However, the little girl brought the gift box to her father the next morning and said, " This is for you, daddy." The father was embarrassed by his earlier anger, but he got angry again when he found the box empty. He spoke to her in a serious manner, "Don't you know young lady, when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh Daddy, it is not empty.I blew kisses into it until it was full." The father was moved. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his little girl and he begged her to forgive his unnecessary anger. An accident took the life of the child away only a short time later and it is told that the father kept the gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the child who had put it there. What was in the box in the daughter's opinion? A She put something into the box B She had no money to buy gifts C She didn't know how to send gifts D She forgot to put gifts in the box Answer: A 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 it was hard for Dave to find work, 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 meeting difficulty ."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 what the Hatches had done. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in others, it was more than $100,000. It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million--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 preferred comparison shopping and would go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase. Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camps when their parents couldn't afford it. "Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything," says their friend Sandy 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 gave away their farmland. 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--that was Ish and Arlene Hatch's story. Why would the Hatches go from store to store? A They decided to open a store. B They wanted to save money. C They couldn't afford expensive things. D They wanted to buy gifts for local kids. Answer: B Visit one of the most outstanding prehistoric sites in the United Kingdom, and enjoy amazing historic English attractions. Please notice that every tour starts and ends in London. Have a tour with Visiting Britain. Stonehenge Direct Tour Visit one of the most outstanding prehistoric sites in England and in the world: Stonehenge. Duration: 1 day Price: Adults PS29.99, Children PS28.99 Stonehenge and Bath Tour Enjoy a late breakfast before heading to the Stonehenge site and end your day with an original visit of the Roman Baths. Duration: 10 hours (departure 10:30 am return 8:30 pm). Price: Adults PS64, Children PS60 Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor Castle Tour Explore three of England's most popular sites to visit: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and the Roman Baths. Duration: 1 day (return 8:30 pm) Price: Adults PS64.80, Children PS61.20 Stonehenge, Lacock and Bath Tour Come and feel the warmth of Bath, see the pleasant village of Lacock, and solve the mystery of Stonehenge. Duration: 1 day (return 6 pm) Price: Adults PS85, Children PS78 Stonehenge, Windsor and Oxford Tour Choose Stonehenge, Windsor and Oxford Tour and enjoy ancient mysticism, royal history and illustrious knowledge. Duration: 1 day Price: Adults PS72, Children PS68 Stonehenge, Bath and Stratford Tour Take a tour to make the most of the English historic attractions: the Stonehenge site, Bath and Stratford, the birthplace of playwright William Shakespeare. Duration: 1 day (return 8 pm) Price: Adults PS79, Children PS68 When can you come back to London after visiting Stonehenge and the Roman Baths? A At 6 pm. B At 7 pm. C At 8 pm. D At 8:30 pm. Answer: D Dear Sir, Just over six months ago, I saw an advertisement in the Morning Mail for a set of the complete works of William Shakespeare.Your company, Cosmo books Ltd , offered this set ( eight books of plays and two books of poetry) at a "remarkable" price: fifteen pounds and fifty pence, including postage and packing. I had wanted a set of Shakespeare's plays and poems for some time, and these books looked particularly attractive, so I sent for them. Two weeks later, the books arrived, together with a set of works of Charles Dickens which I had not ordered.So I returned the Dickens books to you, with a cheque for fifteen pounds and fifty pence for the works of Shakespeare.Two more weeks passed.Then there arrived on my door step a second set of the works of Shakespeare, the same set of novels by Dickens and a six book set of the plays of Moliere, in French.Since I do not read French, these were of no use to me at all.However, I could not afford to post all these books back to you, so I wrote to you right away instructing you to come and collect all the books that I did not want, and asking you not to send any other books until further notice. You did not reply to that letter. Instead you sent me a bill for forty two pounds, and a set of the plays of Schiller, in German.Since then, a new set of books has arrived every two weeks, the works of Goethe, the poems of Milton, the plays of Strindberg; I hardly know what I have.The books are still all in their boxes, in the garage, and my car has to stand in the rain outside. Please send no more books, send no more bills, send no more angry letters demanding payment.Just send one large lorry and take all the books away, leaving me only with the one set of the complete works of Shakespeare for which I have paid. Yours faithfully, SIMON WALKER It can be inferred that_. A Mr. Walker took some action after receiving the books he did not order B several sets of books have been sent to Mr. Walker free of charge C Cosmo Books have sent bills for books that they have not sent D Mr. Walker hasn't received the books that he ordered Answer: A A few years ago, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, where I was employed. purchased Norand Corporation. Pioneer's sales representatives in the field used Norand hand-held terminals to upload daily sales information and download new price and sales incentive information. Pioneer bought so many of these hand-held-terminals, the economies made the purchase of Norand look interesting. Owning Norand also allowed Pioneer to explore high-technology markets outside agriculture. But after a few years, the emerging laptop PC technology made the hand-held units obsolete . Pioneer sold Norand at a loss. Pioneer always took a given percent of the annual profits to divide equally among all employees, so our profit-sharing checks were lower than if Pioneer had not purchased Norand. Additionally, my Pioneer stock was lower than it had been before the purchase of Norand. I was not pleased. The CEO of Pioneer, Tom Urban, made annual formal visits to each of the Pioneer divisions to talk about the state of the business and to listen to employees' concerns. When he walked into the meeting room for his first visit after the sale of Norand, he acknowledged the group, remove his jacket, and neatly folded it across the back of the chair. He loosened his tie, undid his collar and rolled up his sleeves. _ . He said, "I made a mistake buying Norand and I am sorry. I am sorry your profit-sharing was lower because of the purchase, and I am sorry your stock was hurt by the purchase. I will continue to take risks, but I am a bit smarter now, and I will work harder for you." A great man and leader stood before us that day. As I sat listening to him, I knew I could trust him, and that he deserved every bit of loyalty I could give to him and to Pioneer. I also knew I could take risks in my own job. In the brief moment of silence before the questions started, I recall thinking that follow him into any battle. What did the employees feel after Tom Urban apologized to them? A They felt he was a stupid CEO. B They felt he did not deserve their loyalty C They felt he was more trustworthy. D They didn't want to take risks with him. Answer: C
Ginny Ruffner is one of the best-known glass artists in the United States. Her one-of-a-kind pieces are colorful, detailed and often humorous. Over the years, she became famous for a method called lamp working, also known as flame working. It involves using a torch to melt and shape the glass instead of blowing on it. Ginny Ruffner almost died in a three-car accident in 1991. No one thought the Seattle-based artist would ever walk or talk again. An award-winning film documentary explores that period of her life. "It's scary when you can't talk, you can't do... all your life." said Ruffner. Ms. Ruffner was in a coma for five weeks and a wheelchair for five years. But she overcame her injuries. And although she still has difficulty walking and talking, she has willed herself back to work. Now, she has a team that helps bring her dream to life. Her team recently finished an eight point five meter-high flowerpot made of steel and aluminum. It is now in downtown Seattle. Ms. Ruffner was recently honored in Washington, DC. The Renwick Gallery presented a special showing of the film, "A Not So Still Life, the Ginny Ruffner Story." Ms. Ruffner says "it has been a long battle, but the hardest part has not been the physical problems. I hate being taken for granted, being ignored. The way I talk, people assume that I'm either really old, or kind of retarded , and that is so frustrating." But she is firm. She says "Fortunately I've done a lot of stuff in my life, so I know that the best thing is to be open to the mystery, who knows what great things will happen. I'm sure they're many more to come." Ginny Ruffner's art can be seen in more than forty museums around the world. Her work and her life continue to motivate people of all ages. From this passage we can learn _ . Answer: Every day from the time we wake up until the time we go to bed, we are bombarded with information from all sides, from TV, radio, newspapers and books; from family, friends, and colleagues. As a new cable television subscriber, I am ly amazed at the quantity and varying levels of information quality on cable television. Including the networks, there are eight TV "news" organizations vying to provide us with all the information we can possibly absorb. Newspaper, magazines, books, radio, the Internet, email, snail mail, and the telephone all compete for our attention and our minds. At the office conversations around the water cooler and coffee maker serve to spread even more items of information. There is valuable information out there about the world we live in, on topics as varied as health, safety, traffic, nutrition, business, finance, philosophy, nature, science, weather, history and the human condition. There is also a large amount of misleading and outright false information, not just on controversial subjects such as politics and religion but on any topic one can think of, including all of the topics mentioned above. With all this information coming at us from all directions, how does one sift through it all to sort out the facts from the fiction, the truth from the lies, the more important from the less important? Should we turn off the TV, cancel our newspaper subscriptions, disconnect our phones and modems to become information "hermits"? Probably not. A better method of sifting through the information wave without being overwhelmed and confused is to become a skeptical inquirer-or skeptic-with regard to the surrounding world. By "skeptic"-I do not mean a cynic-a person who rejects new ideas simply because they are new. A skeptic is one who questions the validity of a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it. Skepticism is a method, not a position. It is a provisional approach to all factual claims. In terms of processing information, a skeptic needs to be able to grasp reality and acquire knowledge about the environment that agrees with reason, logic, and evidence. In other words, as skeptics, when we hear a claim that may or may not be fantastic, we should say, "That's nice, prove it." What does the author say is the more reasonable approach to processing the information wave? Answer: Alice entered into a contract with Paul by the terms of which Paul was to paint Alice's office for $1,000 and was required to do all of the work over the following weekend so as to avoid disruption of Alice's business. For this question only, assume the following facts. Paul commenced work on Saturday morning, and had finished half the painting by the time he quit work for the day. That night, without the fault of either party, the office building was destroyed by fire. Which of the following is an accurate statement? Answer: Being an astronaut sounds cool, doesn't it?In space, they get to do some pretty amazing things, like floating in zero gravity. However,there are also plenty of things that astronauts can't do because of their weightless environment, and that's very sad. What's worse, they can't even let their sadness show--because it's impossible to cry in zero gravity. Of course, astronauts can still produce tears. But crying is much more difficult in space,reported The Atlantic in January. Without gravity, tears don't flow downward out of the eyes like they do here on Earth. This means that when you cry in space, your tears have nowhere to go--they just stick to your eyes. In May 2011, astronaut Andrew Feustel experienced this during one of his spacewalks."Tears," he said, "don't fall off your eye... They just kind of stay there." Besides making your vision unclear, this can also cause physical pain. Back on Earth, tears are supposed to bring comfort to the eyes.But that's not the case in space.The space environment dries out astronauts' eyes, and when tears suddenly wet the eyes, it can cause pain rather than comfort. "My right eye is painful like crazy." Feustel told his teammate during the walk. Since gravity doesn't work in space, astronauts need some extra help to get rid of the tears.Feustel chose to rub his eyes against his helmet to wipe the tears away. Another choice is to just wait--"When the tears get big enough they simply break free of the eye and float around,"astronaut Ron Parise told The Atlantic. There are lots of small things--things like crying--that we are so used to on Earth. We usually take them for granted, until they become a problem in a totally different environment,like space. There, astronauts can't talk to each other directly. They also can't eat or drink in normal ways. They can't even burp , because there is no gravity to hold the food down in their stomach. If they do burp, they just end up throwing up everything in their stomach,according to the UK National Space Center. Thus, perhaps it's only space explorers who can honestly say:"Gravity, you're the best." What effect do tears have on astronauts? Answer: It seems that women and beauty go together. I think so. Look around yourself. Fashion ads are almost everywhere. Whether they have realized or not, a sea of. fashion is all around women. They are made to think that without beautiful clothes they will look old and lose their charm . So who doesn't want to dress up to be beautiful and young? But I don't agree with the opinion that women have to show their beauty through their looks. Their mind can be more beautiful and attractive than their looks. A woman has experienced many troubles and may be called "aunt", but she can still be beautiful if she has excellent qualities like knowledge, a kind heart and great courage . What's more,old and young, beautiful and ugly are relative. People who keep a young mind will never feel old. Knowing about new things and wanting to learn more,they can keep up with fashion. Simply dressed women are also beautiful in their own way. Reading and learning is the best way to keep one young. Good books can feed the flower of one's heart and looks. According to the writer, in order to stay beautiful, women should Answer:
Hello! My name is Bob Smith. I am an English boy. Here are some school things . This is my school ID card. Its number is 201289767. This yellow bag is mine. A yellow eraser, a purple pencil, a red pen and a book are in it. Oh, that dictionary is mine, too. Is the green pencil box mine, too? No, it isn't. It is my good friend Lin Hui's. His school ID card number is 201287967. Green is his favorite color. He is in a green jacket, and that green bag is his, too. There are _ things in Bob's schoolbag. Mrs Green lives in a small village . Her husband is dead ,but she has one son .His name is Jack . He is twenty-one .He worked in the shop in the village and lived with his mother , but then he found a job in a faraway town named Green Sea .He went and lived there .Mrs Green was not happy about it . Last Sunday ,Mrs Green was angry .She got on a train and went to her son's house in Green Sea . Then she said to him,"Jack ,why do you never telephone me ?" Jack laughed , "But ,mother ,you don't have a telephone ." "No,"she answered, "I haven't , but you have one !" Last Sunday ,Mrs Green went to Green Sea _ . Dukuly Dogbah, a 14-year-old Liberian boy, grew up in a war. He was born in the same year the Liberian war started. Since then fighting between the government forces and the rebel armies has not stopped. Dukuly is one of around 10,000 child soldiers in Liberia. At 10, Dukuly lost contact with his family in the war and had to fight for the rebels. During the war he learnt to kill people with guns. He has killed many people and seen many of his friends die. "You have to," he said, "because it is war." Lots of children had to join the army. Some did it out of their own will. They thought they would be safe with a gun. The army leaders use child soldiers because they are easy to control and do not get paid much. Child soldiers do terrible things. Most of them take drugs. "I cannot control myself because it makes me brave," Dukuly said. There are 120,000 child soldiers in Africa and 300,000 around the world. Many child soldiers die and nobody cares for them. According to a United Nation's report, 23 armies in the world use children. Some African and Asian countries often use child soldiers. Myanmar has the highest number of child soldiers in their army: around 50,000. Most of the child soldiers are under 18 years of age and the youngest is only 7 years old. The UN has called for the protection of children in war. The UN Children's Fund wants African countries to ban child soldiers. Many UN organizations are trying to take child soldiers away from war and send them back to school. There are _ child soldiers all over the world. UGG boots have been a winterweather fashion for several years now, combining function, comfort, warmth and even some style. What many UGGenthusiasts don't know is that their boots are a breeding ground for bacteria and cause foot problems. Doctors believe the boots, which are particularly popular among young teenage girls, are leading to a rise in the number of people suffering pains in their feet and knees. Dr. Ian Drysdale, head of the British College of Osteopathic Medicine, believes because the foot does not get the proper support on the inside, it will lead to more ankle, knee, hip and back problems. "These boots are not designed for outside wear. Just because something becomes a trend or fashionable doesn't mean it's good or right," he said. "The particular problem with this type of footwear is that it is unsupported. It's a slipper. You wouldn't normally expect to be doing outdoor activities from something that's indoor. If you decide to wear your pajamas outside all the time, someone will come up and say it's not a good idea." Dr. Drysdale explained that the feet issues become a particular problem among young teenage girls, whose bones are "plastic" and developing when they are growing. "If that structure is developing in an inappropriate way," he said,"then the ultimate structure will be _ ." Mike O'Neill, a consultant surgeon, said,"As the foot slides around, you get wear and tear on the joints on the inside of the foot. The ankle is in the wrong position, the thigh bone also changes position, and you get an abnormal movement in the pelvis, which leads to back problems." UGG Australia, who makes the designer version of the boots, told The Daily Wirror that their boots are "comfort" rather than "performance" footwear and consumers should be aware of "knockoffs " which lack reinforced heels in their boots. Which of the following can be the best title for the text? 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. According to the text, baby sign language _ .
Question: As a society we might want to rethink the time and money spent on education,so that these resources can benefit a greater percentage of the population.Ideally,both high schools and colleges can prepare individuals for the ever-changing roles. High school degrees offer far less in the way of preparation for work than they might,or than many other nations currently offer,creating a growing skills gap in our economy.We encourage students to go on to college whether they are prepared or not,or have a clear sense of purpose or interest,and now have the highest college dropout rate in the world. We might look to other countries for models of how high schools can offer better training,as well as the development of a work ethic and the intellectual skills needed for continued learning and development. Meanwhile,the liberal arts become more important than ever.In a knowledge economy where professional roles change rapidly and many college students are preparing for positions that may not even exist yet,the skillneeded is one that prepares them for change and continued learning. Learning to express ideas well in both writing and speech,knowing how to find information,and knowing how to do research are all solid background skills for a wide variety of roles,and such training is more important than any particular major in a liberal arts college.We need to continue to value broad preparation in thinking skills that will serve for a lifetime. Students also need to learn to work independently and to make responsible decisions.The lengthening path to adulthood appears exacerbated by parental involvement in the college years.Given the rising investment in college education,parental concern is not surprising,but learning where and when to intervene willhelp students take more ownership of the outcomes of these increasingly costly educations. What is the feature of a knowledge economy? A. People have to receive higher education to qualify for a professional position. B. Students majoring in liberal arts usually have difficulty seeking a job. C. New positions are constantly created that require people to keep learning. D. Colleges find it hard to teach students how to cope with the changing economy. Answer: C. New positions are constantly created that require people to keep learning. Question: A woman was at the cinema, and she was enjoying the film very much. But there was a man in the next seat, and he began looking on the floor under him. The woman was angry and whispered, "What are you doing there? What are you looking for?" "A piece of hard chocolate ,"the man whispered to her, "I dropped it on the floor." "A piece of chocolate?" the woman said angrily, "It's dirty now! Take this and be quiet, please! I'm listening to the film!" She gave the man a big piece of chocolate."But," the man said, "my teeth are in the piece on the floor!" The woman was angry because _ . A. the man spoke loudly B. the man didn't talk to her C. she dropped a piece of chocolate D. she couldn't listen to the film clearly Answer: D. she couldn't listen to the film clearly Question: 2.26-meter-tall Yao Ming made his NBA debut on October 23, 2002 and got 6 points for the Houston Rockets in the game. The next day, he got 13 points in another game. Most people think that Yao Ming is a born basketball player. But Yao said, "When you watch it on TV, it looks very easy. But when you are playing in the NBA, it is really not so easy." He said that joining the Houston Rockets was a new start and a new challenge. "I hope that through very hard work I can make everyone happy and help the Rockets win more games," he said.Yao Ming speaks some English. Both he and his teammates can understand each other. They don't think there is a language problem. While Yao Ming faces this new challenge, the people of Houston have shown great interest in him and they hope Yao Ming will bring new energy to the Rockets. The team has started having lessons to learn more about China, and many people who work for the Rockets have learned to speak some Chinese. Yao Ming said that _ . A. playing in the NBA was difficult B. it was hard to watch NBA games on TV C. he was an NBA star D. it was boring to play basketball Answer: A. playing in the NBA was difficult Question: When was the last time someone unexpectedly did something nice for you ? Not someone you knew, but a total stranger? It's happened to me a few times, but two instances really stand out. A few years ago, I was dining in a restaurant with a friend who kept talking about himself, completely not aware of the fact that I was sitting there in misery. It wasn't my friend's talks that made me suffer. I was recovering from a broken heart, and just sitting down to dinner reminded me of my last relationship. I could have burst into tears right there at the table. When we picked up the check, the waitress said, " Your meal was already paid for ." My friend and I didn't have a clue how it happened. Then I remembered a man I saw out of the corner of my eye. He was dressed in mostly white, sat down at the bar, had a beer, and stayed for maybe ten minutes. The waitress said, "Yes, the gentleman in white paid for you ." It felt like an angel was saying "I see you, honey. It's going to be okay." Just last year, I was running a half-marathon. With just 1 mile to go, I was out of gas. Runners call it " _ ". I thought I couldn't move another inch. Out of nowhere, a stranger came up to me and said, "What's your name, sweetie? Jennifer? Okay, Jennifer, let's go! Come on! It's just around the corner! You can do it!" And he ran with me until I picked up my pace. I found him at the finish line to thank him for the encouragement only to learn he wasn't even supposed to be in the race that day. I still shake my head when I think of these momentary angels that came to me at my point of need. Do you have any experiences like these? Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. The kindness of strangers. B. Valuable friendship . C. Two special experiences . D. Helping others is worthwhile Answer: A. The kindness of strangers. Question: Monitoring global warming usually requires a Ph. D. and enough maths to glaze your eyes. But that Francisco Lopez and Ruby Nostrant track what climate change is doing to five different plants in Tucson, Arizona and they are only in the second grade. "We are collecting data because the weather is changing and the plants are blooming," Ruby explained. Scores of other students at Borton Primary Magnet School and Sunnyside High School in Tucson are heading outdoors to be part of a new scientific push to figure out how the biological timing of the earth is changing. It's a research project that the average person, even a kindergartner, can join in. The National Phenology Network is calling on volunteers to help track early spring blooms and eventually changes in animals caused by global warming. It's called Project Budburst. When it was first open to the public last year, thousands of people participated in 26 states. "All people can contribute to it by tracking the timing of flowering events or leaf-out events for plants and animals in their backyard," said Phenology Network director Jake Weltzin. He calls the volunteers "citizen-scientists." The idea is that tracking flowers blooming--especially lilacs ; which everyday people have helped track for decades--is fairly simple. The Website http://www.Windows.ucar.edu/ citizen _ science/budburst/index.html gives directions on what to look for in different parts of the country. University of Maryland professor David Inouye said it's so easy to figure out what's blooming that a lack of special knowledge isn't a problem. University of Arizona ecology graduate student Lisa Benton coordinated the Tucson high school students as they looked at plants five minutes from their high school. Each student has specific guidelines and she's been happy so far with the data she is getting. For his part, second-grader Francisco said he had fun helping out. "I like going out in the desert," he said. "I want to be an Einstein." Those who participate in Project Budburst are mostly _ . A. ecology college graduates B. high school students C. common people D. experts Answer: C. common people
If you go into the forest with friends, stay with them. If you don't, you may get lost. Sit down and stay where you are. Don't try to find your friends, but let them find you instead . You can help them find you by staying in one place. There is another way to help your friends or other people to find you. You can shout or whistle three times. Stop for a while. Then shout or whistle three times again. Any signal given three times is a help. Keep up shouting or whistling. Always three times together. When people hear you, they will know that you are not just making a noise for fun. They will let you know that they have heard your signal. They will give you two shouts or two whistles. When a signal is given twice, it is an answer to a call for help. If you don't think that you will get help before night comes, try to make a little house with branches . Make yourself a bed with leaves and grass. When you need some water, you have to leave your little branch house to look for it. Don't just walk away. _ When you are lost, the most important thing to do is stay in one place. If you get lost in the forest, you should _ A. try to find your friends B. stay in one place and make signals C. walk around the forest D. shout as loudly as possible Answer: B China's female swimmer Fu Yuanhui came third in Women's 100 meter backstroke on Monday morning (Beijing time) at Rio Olympics. China's online community has gone crazy about the 1996-born girl, not because of her performance in the semifinal or her achievement, but because of her cheerful answer to her performance during an interview by CCTV. Finishing the 100 meter backstroke with 58.95 seconds, Fu, who thought it was 59 seconds, was quite surprised with the result. This was the first moment when she impressed Chinese audience with her surprising look and body language in front of the camera. The second time that the young swimmer amazed the audience was her honest and direct answer to a question raised by the reporter." We know that your body condition was not that good in the past year and it's not easy to have such a result. Do you think you are now as good as before?" asked the reporter." It is my best score ever. I have worked for three months on the recovery. Only the ghost knows what I have come through," said Fu, "It was so painstaking that sometimes I felt like I was going to die." In the interview, Fu used a phrase" Hong Huang Zhi Li"to describe the great efforts she has made in preparing for the competition, which soon became a popular word on the internet. Fu Yuanhui felt _ first when she knew the result. A. surprised B. excited C. interested D. happy Answer: A Sometimes, kindness is a simple answer in a difficult and challenging world. When my granddaughter, Skylar, was young, one day we went out and had a contest called "Who can make the most people smile. " And we continue it today. When shopping, we were walking in the supermarket and noticed someone walking down the aisle with her head down. Skylar walked up to her and gave her a big smile. I watched her walk down the aisle, turned around and smiled at Skylar again or perhaps smiled at someone else. Kindness is a chain that pulls us all together. Every single act of kindness has a ripple effect . In 2002, my dad had a series of strokes and other illness. My dad had been doing nice things for all sorts of people for years, from the street crossing guard, to the waitress in a restaurant, to a friend's mother. That same day, I made cookies for the janitor at the post office. When I gave him the cookies he actually looked a little embarrassed. "Why, Linda?" he asked. "Because I appreciate you!" I answered. "When I get here at 6 am and it is still dark out and it is a little scary, I know you are inside and I feel safe. And when I first moved here and my post office box was always empty, you always cheered me on. And you always keep this place clean." That evening his wife called me and said that he was overwhelmed . "No one even knows his name, let alone bakes him cookies!" she said. (278 words) What does the passage mainly talk about? A. Kindness can always be passed on. B. An experience in a supermarket. C. The importance of having a kind dad. D. Smile makes your life meaningful. Answer: A My son. The phrase felt difficult and strange the first time I said it, and I had to practice it a thousand times. I started saying the words to myself the day when the ultrasound told me we were having a baby. Finally, my son was born. The nurse came out of the delivery room, holding a tiny, howling human being wrapped in a white sheet, his small hands and delicate fingers shaking nervously. "Baby Sanchez?" she asked, looking at the room full of expectant fathers. I stood up, holding my breath. She showed me my baby. "My son," I whispered. The little guy screamed, "waaaaaaaaaah." But in my heart I heard him cry out, "Daaaaaaad!" I don't care if everyone in the room will swear they didn't hear my baby say that. I called him, "My son," and he called me "Dad," and that's that. People ask me, "What did you feel at that moment?" I can't even begin to answer. I'm a writer yet I try hard to find the right words. Joyful isn't powerful enough. Bliss is not sweet enough. Peaceful isn't calm enough. Happy isn't tense enough. After my son was taken away to the nursery, I sat down and shut my eyes. But tears escaped them away. Then out of the blue, my 80-year-old father entered, and we embraced. "Dad," I whispered. "My son," my heart heard him saying. Suddenly the past 33 years folded into the present and I was now the baby bundled in white, with my father standing over me. "My son," I imagined him saying. "Daaaaaaaaaad!" I cried my little lungs out. At that point, I knew I was going to be a great father. The old man in front of me seemed to agree. He smiled and we walked out of the room in search of the tiny human being that would change our lives for ever. We can learn the following from the passage EXCEPT that _ . A. the author got his first baby B. he probably had a lung disease C. the author didn't really hear "Daaaaad" from his baby D. the baby would change the author's life Answer: B Two people sit down to play Go . One of the players is an old man. He is now 89 years old. He has spent all of his life playing this game. The other person is a young woman. She has been playing Go for only three years. Before this, the woman was an expert at playing computer games. Now she plays Go the same way she played computer games---by becoming a machine herself. They will play many games, until they know who the winner is. The woman shows no feelings but thinking about all the possible ways of placing her next stone. The old man, on the other hand, looks at the movements of her hands and of her face. This has always helped him to win. He wins the first three games. She wins the next game, and the man is surprised. He has never lost to a woman. The old man worries about the way the young woman is playing the game. He can't read her face, he does not understand her way of playing. "The way I think about the game", says the woman, "is that it is steps for getting what I want." Again, the old man is surprised. For him, the game is a way of life itself, and not a model of life. "There is no more beauty any longer. Everything is science and rules. Everything is about winning. Nothing is about playing," he says. They cannot agree with each other, but it is not necessary. "Change is a necessary part of life", thinks the man. "Playing is as important as winning", thinks the woman. They start to play their final game. According to the passage, the Go games are played by _ . A. Two Go beginners B. two Go lovers C. father and daughter D. husband and wife Answer: B
Apple a day may poison children Children who eat an apple or pear a day may be exceeding the pesticide safety limit because of remains on the fruit,according to research. Using data of the British Department of Environment on pesticides on fruit collected from supermarkets,scientists thought that each day some children would get a poisonous level of pesticides. The research,published on Sunday,says the government repeatedly claims that the levels of pesticide are safe because,instead of measuring individual apples, researchers buy 10,crush them and take an average reading to see if they are safe. This is the internationally agreed method of checking remains. But government figures show that the pesticide is not averagely spread across the batch ,and one or two apples could contain 90% or more of the pesticide in the batch. It used mathematical modeling to measure exposure to pesticides for children aged between 18 months and four years old. The pesticides involved can destroy children's hormones and some are suspected of causing cancer. The good news for British fruit growers is that samples grown in this country had lower _ level than imported fruit,so buying home-produced fruit will reduce the danger,said Emily Diamand,one of the Earth's senior food researchers and one of the authors of the report. Which of the following is NOT true? A. The remains of the pesticides can do harm to the children's health. B. The remains of the pesticides can do harm to the children's hormones. C. Some remains of the pesticides are suspected of causing cancer. D. For safety,we had better not import apples from Britain. Answer: D The survey was done among 29,760 students at 100 US high schools. The results suggest that in the past year, 30 percent of US high school students have stolen from a store. And 64 percent may have cheated on a test. However, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their honesty. And 77 percent said,"when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know." Some teachers were unhappy about the survey results. Some, however, defended (......) today's students. "The competition is greater and the pressures on kids have increased greatly,"said Mel Riddle, who was a high school teacher and headmaster for 40 years."It is the pressures that make it easy for students to be dishonest." "I think these students are better than other generations,"he said."I find them more active, better to work with and more thankful for support."" We have to create situations where it's easy for kids to do the right things, "he added."We need to create classrooms where learning is more important than having the right answer." According to the survey results, _ percent of the students are satisfied with their honesty. A. 30 B. 64 C. 77 D. 93 Answer: D If you watch the sky for about an hour after the sun goes down , you may see some " moving stars". But they're not really stars. They're man--made satellites . And the biggest of all is the International Space Station(ISS). From May to July is the best season to watch the ISS flying over the earth. And people can see it with their eyes. The ISS is the biggest satellite and scientists want to live on it. They think that the best way to learn more about space is to live there. When the space station is finished , it will be like a city in space. People will stay and study there with many of the things they have at home. Laboratories, living rooms and power stations are being built. The ISS is the most expensive space program. Billions of dollars are being spent on it every year. Scientists hope that the ISS will be _ for future space exploration . "The ISS will help us understand the human body better, explore space and study the earth. It can help us make life on the earth better, " said Kathryn Clark , an ISS scientist. Sixteen countries are part of the program: the US, Russia, Canada, Japan, Brazil and 11 European countries. China isn't an ISS country , but it has helped with some of the experiments. In 2003 , China sent some rice up to the ISS to find out what space would do to it. ,. What is true about the International Space Station? A. It is a big city in space. B. It is the biggest man-made satellite. C. It is a real moving star. D. People can't see it with their eyes. Answer: B Honesty is the best policy, as the English saying goes. Unfortunately, honesty often leaves us when no one is watching, British psychologists reported last week. Researchers at UK's Newcastle University set up an experiment in their psychology department's coffee room. They set a kettle, with tea, coffee and milk on the counter and hung up a sign listing the price for drinks. People helping themselves to a cup of tea were supposed to put a few cents in the box nearby. The scientists hung a poster above the money box, and changed each week between pictures of gazing eyes and pictures of flowers. The researchers found that staff paid 2.76 times more for their drinks when the image of the eyes was hung. "We were shocked by the size of the effect," said Gilbert Roberts, one of the researchers. Eyes are known to be a powerful perceptual signal for humans, scientists say. "Even though the eyes were not real, they still seemed to make people behave more honestly," said Melissa Bateson, a behavioral biologist and leader of the study. Researchers believe the effect throws light on our evolutionary past. It may arise from behavioral characteristics that developed when early humans formed social groups to strengthen their chances of survival. For social groups to work, individuals had to co-operate, rather than act selfishly. "There's an argument that if nobody is watching us, it is in our interests to behave selfishly. But when we're being watched we should behave better. So people see us as co-operative and behave the same way towards us," Bateson said. The new finding indicates that people have a striking response to eyes. That might be because eyes and faces send a strong biological signal we have evolved to respond to, Bateson said. The finding could be put to practical use. For example, images of eyes could ensure ticket sales on public transport and improve surveillance systems to deter anti-social behavior. What is the best title for the passage? A. You're being watched! B. Pay for your drink, please! C. Mind your behavior in public! D. Look out for electronic surveillance equipment! Answer: A Protecting Copyright Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs' copyright bursts onto the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing. "Baidu's defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying. Down loaders may face lawsuits or fines," said an official. Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in Guangdong Province, doesn't think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others' work without paying. However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a Senior 2 girl from Jinan, Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. "If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD," she said. "So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music, rather than file-sharers." What's the advantage of file sharing for recording companies? A. Getting more money from web companies. B. Making pop singers more popular. C. Helping to improve the music. D. Enabling people to download favorite songs. Answer: B
Question: I lived in a big city. It's noisy and dirty and I got very tried. At the weekends I like to leave the city and get some fresh air and a good rest. A few weekends ago I decided to see my parents. I was really looking forward to it. My parents live a long way away. I went to see them with James, a friend, and we drove down on Friday night. In the middle of the trip it began to rain. The roads became very wet and it was difficult to drive. We arrived home just after midnight, feeling tired. The next morning it was still raining. James took his car to the local garage which was very good. In the afternoon the weather became better. We wanted to go for a drive. My parents lent us their car. That was no good. Their car didn't work! We rang the garage. "Oh, no." they said, "your car won't be ready until tomorrow." So it wasn't possible to go for a drive. We decided to play a word game. When we didn't agree about a word we looked for a dictionary. It wasn't there. Suddenly my mother remembered. "I lent it to your sister. She took it with her when she left." The word game wasn't any good without a dictionary. On Sunday my mother dropped a suitcase on her foot and we had to hire a taxi to take her to hospital. When James and I drove back we got stuck in a traffic jam. Next time I want to have a rest. I'll stay in the city! My parents live _ . A. in a long street B. far from the city C. near where I live D. with me Answer: B Question: That warm day was the only day of the week without rain.I opened the door,took a seat and began to enjoy the wonderful sunshine.Suddenly,I noticed that the house near mine had been sold.An elderly lady was in front of the door,with some beautiful flowers beside her.I walked to her.She looked to be in her early eighties and had the prettiest white hair. "Hi!My name is Karmen,"I said smiling brightly at the old lady.She smiled back and said,"Hello,Karmen.I 'm Henrietta."Her voice was very strong for someone at her age.Later,I learned she was alone and had no family or relatives to help her.From that day on,I often visited her and helped her with her housework and sometimes she gave me some delicious food.A year passed,and I considered Henrietta to be one of my best friends. One day,I walked over for my morning visit and knocked on the door,but there was no answer.I knocked again,and she still didn't _ .So I let myself in,using the key she had given me.I checked her living room and then her kitchen.I finally went into her bedroom,and she was lying peacefully on her bed.Beside her there were two notes.One was her will ,which said all that she had would be given to me.The other was a thank-you note.I went to her bedside and cried sadly. Though several years have gone by,I still miss her deeply.Whenever I look at the beautiful flowers in front of her house,I remember the wonderful friendship we had. The writer came out of the house to _ . A. look at an old lady B. enjoy some flowers C. enjoy the sunshine D. clean the house nearby Answer: C Question: Winter is very cold in many countries. It's easy for you and me to keep warm. If we are cold, we can just buy a warm coat or use a heater and we will feel better. But what about animals? How do they keep warm in winter? Some animals migrate . This means they travel to places where the weather is warmer. Many birds leave before the winter starts. They fly in groups. If they fly together, the trip will be safer. They like to migrate to the same places every year. Do you know how they can find the same places? Scientists say that birds use the sun, moon and stars to help them. Other animals like moose also migrate. Fish and whales swim to warmer water. Some animals don't have leave their homes. They hibernate in winter. They fall into a very deep sleep. The animals' temperature drops and their breathing slows down. Before the winter, these animals must eat too much food that they get very fat. If they don't eat enough, they may die when they are hibernating. In winter, _ . A. Animals like to use warm coats and heater. B. The pets like dogs ad cats also migrate. C. Birds like to migrate to different places every year. D. Some animals migrate. Answer: D Question: Last week John went to his sister's house, and it's also the house he was born in. Sue, his sister felt excited and surprised. She said to John, "You haven't changed a lot, John .Let me see, now...When did we meet last time?" "Ten years ago." John answered. "You haven't changed a lot, either." John said. It was polite for John to say so, but it wasn't true. Sue seemed like an old lady. The next day John walked through the small town alone. The place have already changed a lot. There was a new bus stop, a new post office, a new car park and lots of traffic signs. He remembered suddenly that the bus used to stop anywhere. You just put up your hand and it stopped. Everything has changed. To John's surprise, he didn't recognize anybody at all. Maybe everybody seemed old. He went into a shop and bought some things. Then he asked the boss, "Where are all the children and young people?" "Children?" he said, "They're in school, of course. There are three or four young families here." At lunch, Sue said, "Do you think it is still a beautiful place, John?" "It's all different, Sue. It used to be an exciting place, but now it's full of old people. I don't understand." John said. ,A, B, C, D. According to the passage, which sentence is WRONG? A. John was a young man. B. Sue is John's sister. C. John bought some things in a shop. D. Many old people moved into the small town. Answer: D Question: A man walked to India from far away. When he got there, he saw a lot of fruit. Among them there was a big basket of very red, long fruit. And it was the cheapest in the shop. "I'd like a kilogram of this kind of fruit, please," he said to the shop keeper. After the keeper gave him the fruit, he began to eat some of it. "Oh, my God!" he shouted. His eyes watered, his mouth watered; his eyes were burning, his head was burning; and his face became red. As he coughed, he jumped up and down, saying, "Ah! Ah! Ah!" But he still kept eating the fruit! Some people looking at him and said, "You're crazy, man. Those are chilies ! You can't eat so many; they're not good for you! People use them as a _ , but only a little bit to put into food for taste. You can't just eat them like that; they're not fruit!" But the man said, "No, I can't stop! I paid money for them. It's my money!" Sometimes we do a lot of things like that. We still continue just because we've put money, time, effort and love into it. Just like the man who ate the chilies and felt so bad but couldn't stop because he didn't want to waste the money he had paid. What did the man think of the red, long fruit? A. It was very delicious. B. It was awful. C. It was cheap and tasted nice. D. It looked like a carrot. Answer: B
The tough economy is bringing new shoppers to the secondhand market. Plato's Closet in Chaelotte, NC is a private company, which mainly buys and sells used clothes. While Charlotte has outstanding secondhand stores offering high-end and graceful brands for women, most of their stock applies to adults. Plato's closet targets teens and those in their 20s. Plato's Closet , with stores in Matthews and the university area, sells clothes and accessories that are currently popular at about one third the retail prices . The two hottest brands, for buying and selling, are Hollister and Abercrombie &Fitch. Even though the offerings tend to be suitable for young people, there are a variety of shoppers at Plato's Closet of varying ages. Women in their 30s, 40s, and older could easily find a purse, jacket or piece of jewelry they like. If you are selling Unlike higher-end resale stores which usually work on consignment ,Plato's Closet buys on the spot. Items can be gently used, but must be in very good condition. Clothes should be less than two years old and styles should be the same as those still being sold at the shopping center. There is no negotiation; prices are set company-wide. If what you sell amounts to $30 or less, they'll give you cash. More than that, you'll get a Visa cash card. Secondhand success Don't get discouraged if you can't find something on your first trip. Resale shops are always getting new lists of goods and change their styles with each season. Be sure to check each piece carefully before buying. Price comparison Jackets: New York & Company black blazer, $12; retail: $37 Pants: Express Editor-style pants, $12; retail: $69.90. Shoes: Nine West black peep-toe pumps, $12; retail: $89. Jewelry: Necklaces, $3-$5; retail: $18-$30. What is the difference between Plato's Closet and other resale shops? Answer: Emotional eating is when people use food as a way to deal with feelings instead of to satisfy hunger. We've all been there, finishing a whole bag of chips out of boredom or eating cookie after cookie while _ for a big test. But when done a lot -- especially without realizing it -- emotional eating can affect weight, health, and overall well-being. Not many of us make the connection between eating and our feelings. But understanding what drives emotional eating can help people take steps to change it. One of the biggest myths about emotional eating is that it's prompted by negative feelings. Yes, people often turn to food when they're stressed out, lonely, sad, anxious, or bored. But emotional eating can be linked to positive feelings too, like the romance of sharing dessert on Valentine's Day or the celebration of a holiday feast. Sometimes emotional eating is tied to major life events, like a death or a divorce. More often, though, it's the countless little daily stresses that cause someone to seek comfort or distraction in food. Emotional eating patterns can be learned: A child who is given candy after a big achievement may grow up using candy as a reward for a job well done. A kid who is given cookies as a way to stop crying may learn to link cookies with comfort. We're all emotional eaters to some extent. But for some people, emotional eating can be a real problem, causing serious weight gain or cycles of binging and purging. The trouble with emotional eating (apart from the health issues) is that once the pleasure of eating is gone, the feelings that cause it remain. And you often may feel worse about eating the amount or type of food you did. That's why it helps to know the differences between physical hunger and emotional hunger. Next time you reach for a snack, check in and see which type of hunger is driving it. The author of the passage would agree that _ . Answer: running turns carbohydrates into Answer: When I was young,I liked to play jokes on people I knew, especially on my parents and friends. One day my mother was cooking and I was playing with my younger brother Tony. Suddenly I ran to my mother and said: "Tony fell from the open window!" She was very worried and ran out of the kitchen. Then I said: "Don't worry, I'm just joking." My mother shouted at me, "If you do it again, I'll hit you." Another day I went swimming with my friends in the sea. I wanted to play a joke on them. In the beginning I swam fast and I called out "Help!". All my friends came to help me. However, they found that I was joking. But half an hour later I wasn't joking. I was so fast, soon I got tired and couldn't swim on in water. I tried my best to call my friends for help, but this time nobody came to help me. In the end they found I was telling the truth. They came and saved my life. They took me to the hospital. This is the best lesson in my life. From then on I haven't joked on anyone. When he was young, the writer liked to _ . Answer: The early history of the city of Rome involves Romulus and Remus,two orphan boys who,legend says,were raised by a she-wolf.The boys' mother had been murdered by an evil king and the two babies tossed into the river Tiber.When the wolf found them they had washed up on the shore.She perhaps took pity on the crying of the babies and,gently picking them up in her teeth,she carried them back to her cave and fed them on her milk.The boys grew bigger and stronger and,eventually,were found by a herdsman who took them home.He and his wife raised the boys like their own children.When they reached manhood they sought revenge on the king who had killed their mother and driven them from their home. They decided to build a city.Unfortunately,they argued over the appropriate site and Romulus killed his brother Remus.Romulus ruled this city -- called Roma -- for thirty-seven years. The city of Rome is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.If you travel there you can see a statue of the two baby boys feeding from their mother - the wolf. ...they sought revenge on the king who had killed their mother... means... Answer:
Like the post-90s generation in China, today's teenagers in the UK have a problem with how they're represented. Most of them feel unfairly represented by the media and their lives are negatively influenced, says a recent survey. The survey was carried out by the UK Demos, in which more than 1000 14-17-year-old teens from England and Northern Ireland took part. The survey report shows that four-fifths of teens (81%) felt there was a false image of young people in the media and wider society. Most of them (85%) said that it is hurting both their self-esteem and chance of getting a job. By researching six UK newspapers over the past 10 years, Demos found that words most commonly connected with "teenagers" and "young people" were "binge-drinking", "yobs" and "crime". "The young people out there are doing good things for the community, but there are always bad things on the news. But we're not all like that, it's only a few," said Becky Brunskill, 18, member of Youth Parliament for Liverpool. The survey also found that 80% of UK teenagers believed they cared more about social issues than the older generation. This was a view shared by their teachers, 66% of whom agreed in a separate Demos survey of 500 teachers. The UK youth are also eager to make a difference. But rather than traditional politics, 87% of the teens believed social media was a good way to change society. Jonathan Birdwell, author of the Demos report, said "They could be the most active citizens we have seen in a generation." What can we tell from the passage? A Few young British people are doing good things for the community. B British teenagers care more about their parents than social issues. C Young Britons are inactive in trying to prove themselves. D Young Britons believe social media is a good way to change society. Answer: D. Young Britons believe social media is a good way to change society. Students who say they never or hardly ever used dictionaries may speak English well but usually write poorly, because they make many mistakes. The students who use dictionaries most do not learn especially well either. The ones who look up every new word do not read fast. Therefore they do not have time to read much. Those who use small two-language dictionaries have the worst problems. Their dictionaries often give only one or two words as translations of English. But one English word often has many translations in a foreign language and one foreign word has many translations in English. The most successful students are those who use large college edition dictionaries with about 100,000 words but do not use them too often. When they are reading, these students first try to get the general idea and understand new words from the context. Then they reread and use the dictionary to look up only key words that they still do not understand. They use dictionaries more for writing. If they are not sure how to spell a word, they always use a dictionary. Also, if they think a noun might have an unusual plural form, they check this in a dictionary. According to the passage, which of the following is WRONG? A Dictionaries have little effect on learning to speak English. B Whatever new words you meet while reading, never use dictionaries. C Small two-language dictionaries have serious shortcomings. D Reading something for the first time, you'd better not use dictionaries. Answer: B. Whatever new words you meet while reading, never use dictionaries. The age at which kids first fall victim to bullying could influence how strongly they are affected,suggests a new study. And,surprisingly,it is not the youngest kids who are hurt the most in the long term. Bullying can have long-lasting effects,but particularly when it begins in adolescence,the researchers say. People subjected to either verbal ( )or physical bullying are known to be at greater risk of developing depression,anxiety disorders or to behave violently. But not everyone reacts in this way. Children bullied for the first time before they hit adolescence seem to get over it, but those who are bullied for the first time later on in adolescence seem to become more aggressive or are more likely to turn to drink as a means of coping. These are the conclusions of psychologist Matthew Newman and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin,US. The team gave questionnaires to nearly 1,500 college students regarding their experience of physical and psychological bullying before adolescence--before high school--and in late adolescence--at high school. They assessed mood and mental state,judging by signs of anxiety or depression,such as sleeplessness. The group was also questioned about how they would react to certain challenges,such as humiliation. People who were bullied all revealed slightly higher levels of stress. But while those bullied earlier in life seemed to respond normally to provocation ,people bullied for the first time late in adolescence are more withdrawn and sensitive to violence. There are also sex differences between those bullied for the first time during adolescence, with females more likely to react aggressively when provoked and males are much more likely to turn to alcohol to escape bad situations. The best solution in all cases was strong social support,whether from friends,family or school. Those with no one to share their problems with suffered the most. So perhaps it is best not to shelter children completely from bullying early on,suggests Newman. "They may get stressed,but unhealthy coping really jumps out when they are bullied for the first time later on. " What determines the degree of bullying's effect on people according to the study? A The reason why they are bullied. B The place where they are first bullied. C The age at which they are first bullied. D The person who first bullies them. Answer: C. The age at which they are first bullied. House buyers have three main choices: building from the ground up, moving into an old house or buying a new one. All the three are very different and should be considered carefully. Your budget will probably have the biggest effect on your choice. Comparing the three will help you make a good decision. New houses are untouched and fresh, which means they can suit your personality and you know exactly where all of the materials come from. New houses won't hold many unpleasant surprises, such as weak foundations, or other damaged areas. Most of these modern houses are also far more eco-friendly, with future decoration being just as easy to make and do as you like. Buying new houses is also a great way to save money, and you may find its benefit with the price going up in the future. Some buildings, such as those that are rare or in certain areas, are of value over the years. Sometimes it is the history that draws more buyers into older houses. A famous person may have lived there, or an important event may have taken place in the house. This may not add any value to the house, but it can add to the attraction. There may be more repairs which will need to be done in the old houses,so before you think you've found a great bargain, be sure to get a careful inspection. There are those who prefer building from the ground up. Building your own house can be a very rewarding, tiring, and expensive experience. While people have many expectations of planning and building their own houses, one thing is sure: it will take a while. There are always difficulties during construction, so you always find the construction time will be longer than your plan, not to mention the budget. Time can add up as well as materials and costs. Building is a good choice for those who are able and qualified. The writer seems to believe that building a house of one's own is _ . A easy B costly C interesting D impossible Answer: B. costly Last Sunday, I waked into the house in the afternoon to find my brother rushing around in a hurry. As soon as I took my coat off, my little brother placed a bunch of papers in my hands and asked me to fold them up so they could fit into an envelope as quickly as possible. He said it needed to get done quickly before it turned dark. I was a little surprised that something could be so urgent on a Sunday. It wasn't until I was halfway through that I actually looked at what I was folding. After I read it, it put the biggest smile on my face. It was a lovely letter to all the residents in my neighborhood. My brother was asking everyone to let him know if anyone needed help. He left his contact information and said that anyone that needed help should get in touch with him and he would figure something out. He also asked people to get in touch if they were able to help out. London received an unusual amount of snow last week, and the city was completely under- prepared for it. So it was quite difficult to get anywhere. Only the major roads had been cleared, and smaller roads and pavements could be quite _ . There are a good number of old people in our little community. So my brother thought that the snow may have posed some difficulty for some of them, particularly because we live on a hill. A few elderly people got in touch with him asking for help for things they needed. One of them was especially grateful because his caregiver couldn't make it. To our surprise, he got more responses from people offering to help. Then he received help from people who wanted to help. Everyone was really touched and wrote to my brother wonderful email. One of our neighbors wrote email saying that although she wasn't able to help, she was "very proud of having a neighbor like him who puts other people's interests first." The author's brother wrote the letter to _ . A ask for help from his neighbors B give a hand to those in need of help C require his neighbors to clear the snow D raise money for the old people in his community Answer: B. give a hand to those in need of help
When Colonel Harland Sanders retired at the age of 65, he had little to show for himself, except an old Caddie roadster, a $105 monthly pension check ,and a recipe for chicken. Knowing he couldn't live on his pension, he took his chicken recipe in hand, got behind the wheel of hisvan ,and set out to make his fortune. His first plan was to sell his chicken recipe to restaurant owners, who would in turn give him aresidual for every piece of chicken they sold--5 cents per chicken. The first restaurateur he called on turned him down. So did the second. So did the third. In fact, the first 1,008 sales calls Colonel Sanders made ended in rejection. Still, he continued to call on owners as he traveled across the USA, sleeping in his car to save money. Prospect number 1,009 gave him first "yes". After two years of making daily sales he had signed up a total of five restaurants. Still the Colonel pressed on , knowing that he had a great chicken recipe and that someday the idea would _ . Of course, you know how the story ends. The idea did catch on. By 1963 the Colonel had 600 restaurants across the country selling his secret recipe of Kentucky Fried Chicken (with ll herbs and spices ). In 1964 he was bought out by future Kentucky governor John Brown.Even though the sale made him a multi-millionaire, he continued to represent and promote KFC until his death in 1990. The sentence "Of course, you know how the story ends" means _ . Dear Customers, I love slipping into a comfortable chair for a long read--as I relax into the chair, I also relax into the author's words, stories and ideas. The physical book is so elegant that it disappears into the background, and what remains is the author's world. Today, we at Amazon are excited to announce Mindle, a wireless, portable reading device with instant access to more than 90,000 books, magazines and newspapers. We've been working on Mindle for more than three years. Our top design objective was for Mindle to disappear in your hands--to get out of the way--so you can enjoy your reading. We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Mindle is wireless, so whether you're lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds. No computer is needed--you do your reading directly from the device. We chose the same wireless technology used in advanced mobile phones. But unlike mobile phones, there are no monthly wireless bills, no service or data plans, and no yearly contracts. There is no software to install (,). We want you to get lost in your reading and not in the technology. Mindle uses a new kind of display called electronic paper. Sharp and natural with no strong light, reading on Mindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Mindle weighs only 10.3 ounces--less than paperback--but can carry two hundred books. Enjoy learning about Mindle and many thanks! Jeff Bezos Founder & CEO This passage most probably is a(n) _ . Chinese car makers have narrowed the quality gap with their foreign rivals in the world's largest vehicle market to the smallest level in seven years, according to research. But the improvements have not been enough to see an obvious drop in the market share for local car companies this year, raising questions about their ability to be global competitors. The annual quality survey of China's car market by J.D. Power, a Californian market research company, tracks the number of mechanical and design problems reported per 100 vehicles by more than 21,000 Chinese drivers. It documented 131 problems per 100 domestic vehicles, compared with 95 per 100 foreign vehicles. The 36-point gap was the narrowest in the study's seven-year history. When China overtook the US as the world's largest car maker in the 2009, the gap between domestic and foreign cars was 145 points. "It's evidence to the improvements that domestic brands have been making," said Geoff Broderick, head of J.D. Power's operations. "By 2018 the domestic and the global brands will be equal in terms of quality." Despite the steady improvement in quality, local vehicle makers have been performing poorly this year. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, domestic brand's share of the market for cars--not including SUVs--has fallen from about 25 percent to 20 percent. "Chinese customers are very picky in the world because they have been trained to distrust products," said Mr Broderick, citing scandals affecting baby milk powder and toys. "They go into a situation expecting there could be quality issues, whereas in the West we trust the brands. What was the gap between Chinese vehicles and foreign vehicles in 2016? A "talking kitchen" teaches students how to cook French dishes and speak French. Researchers at New Castle University have developed the French Digital Kitchen. Professors Paul Seedhouse and Patrick Olivier led the project. Professor Seedhouse says that it works like a satellite navigation system in a car. The kitchen equipment and tools use motion sensor technology similar to the Nintendo Wii game system. The sensors help a computer guide the students through instructions in French. The system can tell whether you've done what you were asked to do or not. For example, the system tells you to take some butter and cut it with a knife. There's a sensor on the package containing the butter so it can tell where the butter's being moved. The sensor in the knife not only knows that the knife is moving, but it also knows what motion the knife is making. So it can tell whether the knife is being used. And so it doesn't go on to the next stage of the program unless you've done what it tells you to do. Students can ask the computer to repeat the instructions or translate them into English. There are vocabulary lessons before and after the cooking. Professor Seedhouse became interested in the idea after he visited a talking kitchen designed for a different purpose. "It was actually for communicating with people who suffer from dementia " .And so, for example, it can speak to those people and tell them that they've left the cooker on and they should turn it off." The original purpose of the talking kitchen is to _ . Store shelves are filling up with so-called "green" products promising to benefit the environment. A recent argument shows that it can be as difficult for buyers to confirm such statement as for producers to defend them. The argument concerns the GreenPlug Electricity Saver. The GreenPlug is supposed to prevent energy waste by electrical equipment whose constant -speed motors operate at less full load---as is especially true of older refrigerators. Research showed that such motors can be made to do the same work with less heat, noise, and power consumption just by lowering the voltage of the power supply. John and Wyck Hay, started Green Technologies to apply that finding to home appliances. In the USA, there are more than 140 million refrigerators in use, accounting for an average of 16% of the household electric bill. Two years of research resulted in the GreenPlug. Connecting between wall socket and refrigerator, the equipment contains a minicomputer that gives a motor full power (120 volts on average) for start-up, then reduces the power to 106 volts. Older refrigerators are the most overpowered and, thus, save the most energy with a GreenPlug. Refrigerators less than two years old are already energy-saving that a GreenPlug actually makes them waste electricity. The higher the voltage, the larger the difference a GreenPlug makes. Higher power costs shorten the payback time. The population-weighted national average is 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. But some residents in Washington State pay 1.5 cents. Some in Alaska pay 41.6 cents. Then come highly individual household differences like the number of children or refrigerator -opening age. All in all, the GreenPlug should save the average consumer $20 a year. Although the GreenPlug lowered the voltage as it was designed to do,Consumer Reports, an influential magazine, questioned how quickly---if ever---electricity savings due to the plug would repay its cost. People would be better off buying a new, high-efficiency refrigerator, the magazine advised. Consumer Reports also said that the GreenPlug didn't give a promised 25% savings worth $50 a year. The savings on the oldest model was the best at 8.6%, worth $20 a year. Green Technologies ordered tests of the GreenPlug on up to 2,800 refrigerators through next year. The company will not put that data in stores. Instead, potential buyers will call to learn how their model of refrigerator performed. Meanwhile, there is little evidence of consumer dissatisfaction. Sales topped 45,000 units last month. The return rate is less than 0.2%. We can infer from the passage that the author _ .
There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other forts of life, one bees happy and the other bees unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds. People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation . It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit. Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most mon politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one bees mixed up in their quarrels. If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should _ . Answer: "Your son is one of the sickest kids we've ever had in intensive care," was what the nurse said to me after we had arrived in an ambulance, 20 minutes from Kingston Hospital to the Evelina in Westminster. The journey was the longest of my life. I had been told that my six-month-old son, my friend, my whole heart, was going to die. And I spent the whole time in the blue-lit vehicle wondering how on earth I would lift my wife from the black hole she was about to be plunged into. The nurse who gave me that bad news was to become a great friend. She told me that the noise my son was making in the back of the ambulance was the sound that babies made before they died. There were many more horrible words and terms. But my son survived. It wasn't just George who endured. In the three weeks of his hospital stay, I slept 20 hours in total. My wife hardly slept. I lost over two stone in weight in the five days he was in intensive care. And we've been treating him for three years now. I have collapsed 20 times--the fear, the anxiety and exhaustion. Even now, we wake at least five times a night, often staying awake to treat him for as long as an hour. My son has Type 1 diabetes . It's a little known condition. George had a simple, everyday virus. It caused his immune system to attack his pancreas. Now he needs constant insulin to stay alive. I wanted to raise awareness for George's condition. I wondered how I could do it. I've run a couple of marathons. But a marathon was never really going to get people's attention the way I hoped. Two marathons, back to back? Maybe three? Could I do it? How much could I endure? I started running at the age of 19 when I thought my heart was broken. I couldn't cope with the pain and I went for a run. I kept on going for a run. Each time I came back, it would hurt a bit less. It wasn't so long before I had completely forgotten about my broken heart. But I couldn't stop running. I found that any stress, frustration, anxiety would reduce when I went out on the road. When we finally brought my son home from hospital, my wife told me I had to go for a run. She knew that I had not allowed myself to show the emotions I'd been feeling. I fought very hard not to break. It was my worst nightmare playing out, but it was also my wife's. I did not want them to see the fear that I was feeling. When I got back from that first run, my wife simply said "Better?" and it was. I'm often asked how I motivate myself for running such distances. They assume I think about my son. But I can't really. If I did, I would weep the whole way round. The hard part of endurance running is mental. It's strange to choose an event that you will never win. The race will always be larger than the individual. And if you don't respect the distance, you will pay for it. The biggest mistake any long distance runner makes is to think about the finish line. Each time you do, the body falls apart. Actually, the brain falls apart. I know I can run two marathons. I also know that the third marathon will break me. And I will be staring at another sort of black hole. It will be then that I think of my son, and all that he endured and continues to endure every day. I know that I will start to think of giving up, the pain will be so great. My brain will fall to bits and my body will too. So I will picture my son. And I'll remember that he didn't give up. He never gives up. Why should I? Having heard what the nurse said to him, the writer must have felt . Answer: American sign language has an interesting history. Although there have always been deaf individuals in America, the history really begins in 1817. Before 1817 deaf people communicated by using "home signs". Gestures were individually created and used within the home for simple communication. There were no schools or formal sign language training for the deaf. So, why was 1817 an important date? Well, the story begins with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Gallaudet met his neighbor's daughter Alice Cogswell. Alice was the young deaf daughter of Dr. Mason Cogswell from Hartford, Connecticut. Gallaudet began teaching Alice to read and write a few simple words. Excited by the success Dr. Cogswell encouraged Gallaudet to establish a school for the deaf. Cogswell raised the money and Gallaudet traveled to Britain to learn the methods used there. However, the schools refused to share their instructional techniques and methods. While in London, there happened to be a demonstration of the French method of deaf education. Britain was using an oral method of instruction; however, the French method used signs. Gallaudet was fascinated with the method and was able to meet with the instructor, Sicard, and his two deaf pupils, Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc. Sicard agreed to teach Gallaudet his method and Gallaudet went to Paris to learn French signs. After a while, Gallaudet wished to return home and convinced Clerc to go with him and help him establish the school. The trip home was a 52-day voyage during which Clerc taught Gallaudet French signs and Gallaudet taught Clerc English. On April 15, 1817, Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet established what is currently known as the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. The opening of the first school for the deaf can be viewed as one of the most important events in current deaf culture. Before 1817 deaf people in America _ . Answer: Precipitation is the amount of Answer: Today, one can trace Venice's rich past from its buildings. Most cities can claim at least a handful of outstanding churches, palaces or houses of historical interest, but in Venice very nearly everything is remarkable, from the magnificent Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square ) and the palaces that line the Grand Canal to the centuries-old homes of simple fishermen. It would be easy to say that the city itself is an enormous museum if it were not for the fact it is so obviously alive. At first sight, Venice looks unbelievably permanent, an apparently complete Renaissance city so untouched by time that there seems no reason why it should not go on forever. Now the city is slowly sinking, as the clay on which it is built loses its elasticity and the massive wooden piles rot away. Flooding, such a rare occurrence a hundred years ago now happens several times each winter. The damage caused by the flooding is immense, and the fabric of the ancient buildings is now being further damaged by pollution from the mainland town as well as by the wash produced by the constantly increasing number of motor boats that speed up and down the canals. A further threat to Venice comes from the Venetians themselves, some of whom are not particularly interested in preserving the city as one of the wonders of the world and would prefer to see it modernized. "What better place is there for the meeting of dear friends? See how it glows with the advancing summer; how the sky and the sea and the rosy air and the marble of the palaces all glimmer and melt together." Thus wrote the famous author Henry James, of Venice, which provided the setting for his story "The Aspern Papers", in the nineteenth century. The Splendor of Venice has captured the imagination of artists for centuries --- and not just of the great painters and novelists. How tragic now that she is faced with the double threat of man and nature. Venice indeed will be lucky to survive. The writer thinks that _ . Answer:
Never argue with one's own understanding. The whisper of intelligence is always there, whatever you do. If you create a time lag between the whisper of intelligence and understanding in you and your action, then you are preventing the brain from growing into a new size. When you argue with intelligence, when you postpone acting according to understanding then there is confusion, the brain gets confused. The voice of understanding, the voice of intelligence has insecurity about it. How do you know that it is the right thing? So we tend to ignore it. Instead we accept authority. We obey. But the brain cannot be orderly, competent, accurate and precise if you do not listen to it, if you have no respect. We are so busy with the outside world and its force that the world that is inside us does not command that respect and reverence , that care and concern from us. So one has to be a disciple of one's own understanding, and look upon that understanding as the master. Sometimes one may commit a mistake, it might be the whim of the ego and we might mistake the whim, the wish of the ego for the voice of silence and intelligence, but that we have to discover. Unless you commit mistakes, how do you learn to discriminate between the false and the true? In learning there is bound to be a little insecurity, a possibility of committing mistakes. Why should one be terribly afraid of committing mistakes? So instead of accepting the authority of habits and conditionings, while one is moving one watches, and when there is a suggestion, do not neglect, ignore, or insult the whisper from within and from one's own intelligence. The whole passage is developed by _ . Answer: reasoning and explaining Five-year-old Susie loved to listen to her older sister, Emma, play the piano. Susie wanted to play it, too. But every time Susie asked to play, her mother would tell her how much work it needed to learn to play the piano well. Susie was sure she could learn to play it. She decided to make her mother believe that she was ready to learn to play the piano, so Susie helped her mom do the dishes and clean the house. "Mom, can I start taking the piano lesson?" asked Susie. "Susie, if you take the piano lesson, you must practice every day," said her mom. Susie was so excited. She could not wait to learn how to play her favorite songs! Susie was excited for her first piano lesson. When she was finally in class, she was surprised: her teacher had flashcards and a book for her. Susie didn't know there were so many other things to know about the piano first. During that first lesson, the teacher didn't let Susie play the piano. The next day, after Susie got home from school, she ran outside. "Where are you going?" asked her mom. "Outside to play volleyball," said Susie. "Bye, Mom!" "You must study your piano flashcards," said her mom. "Susie, this is what you wanted, now you have to do it." The next day after her first piano lesson, Susie wanted to _ after school. Answer: play volleyball Going green is something that affects every single one of us. Whether by recycling those plastic water bottles, or by cutting down on electricity in your home, the importance of going green on a personal level is extremely important. But, when you're a millionaire NBA basketball star, how do you help out the environment? Yao Ming is a basketball player that plays for the Houston Rockets and has spoken out against hunting of sharks for fins, a delicious food in his native China. He is also the United Nations' Environmental champion. His goal is to raise awareness of climate change and energy-saving. "I will work with young people across the world and try to inspire them to plant trees, harvest rainwater and to become environmental champions in their own communities." The Philadelphia Eagles, a professional American football team, are really doing their part to give back to the community. The Eagles Go Green page has a "Green Energy Calculator" and according to the web site fans have saved $ 73,674.90 a year and saved 666,320 pounds of CO per year. Also, the Eagles have set up a "Stop global warming virtual march on Washington", a march across America for one year, through the Internet with a goal to bring fans together and to urge leaders to deal with the serious problem of global warming now. Bob Burnquist, a Brazilian skateboarder, is a member of Action Sports Environmental Coalition and founder of a program that gets organic foods and farming into schools for healthy lunch programs. Bob also has a huge homegrown organic farm where he hosted a gathering in celebration of Earth Day. Kelly Slater is a surfer and eight-time champion, but he also supports saving the coral reefs world wide. He has founded the Kelly Slater Invitational Competition which raises funds and awareness for Reef Check, which is able to get its message out to a large group of guests including professional surfers, film and music stars, and other famous people. What have the Philadelphia Eagles done to help out the environment? Answer: They have called on fans to do things to reduce global warming. Doctor Seuss was born in 1904. By the middle 1950s, he had become one of the best-loved and most successful children's book writers in the world. His books are very popular with young readers. They enjoy the invented words and the pictures of unusual funny animals and plants. In 1954, life magazine published a report about school children who could not read. The report said many children's books were not interesting. Doctor Seuss strongly hoped to help children and decided to write books that were interesting and easy to read. He used words with the same ending sound, like fish and wish. He did not receive training in art. Yet, he drew the pictures for most of his books. In 1957, Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat. He used less than 230 words to write the book and even a six-year-old should be able to read it. It was a fun story and easy to read. Children loved it. Their parents loved it, too. Today it is still one of the stories they like best. The success of The Cat in the Hat made him want to write more books for children. In 1960, he wrote a book using less than fifty words. The book is called Green Eggs and Ham. In 1984, Doctor Seuss won a Pulitzer Prize . He was honored for the education and enjoyment his books provided American children and their parents. He died at the age of 87, but his influence remains. Millions of his books have been sold worldwide. People say his books helped change the way American children learned to read. Yet, his books are loved by people of all ages. Doctor Seuss once said, "I do not write for children. I write for people." He wrote the book The Cat in the Hat at the age of _ . Answer: 53 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 _ Answer: enjoys the life there
Bringing Art into Hospitals The medical world is gradually realizing that the quality of the environment in hospitals may play an important role in helping patients to get better. As part of nationwide effort in Britain to bring art out of the museums and into public places, some of the country's best artists have been called in to change older hospitals and to soften the hard edges of modern buildings. Of the 2500 national health service hospitals in Britain, almost 100 now have very valuable collections of present art in passages, waiting areas and treatment rooms. These recent movements first started by one artist, Peter Senior, who set up his studio at a Manchester hospital in northeastern England during the early 1970s.He felt the artist had lost his place in modern society, and that art should be enjoyed by a wider audience . A common hospital waiting room might have as many as 5 000 visitors each week. What a better place to hold regular exhibitions of art! Senior held the first exhibition of his own paintings in the out--patient's waiting area of the Manchester Royal Hospital in 1975.Believed to be Britain's first hospital artist. Senior was so much in demand that he was soon joined by a team of six young art school graduates. The effect is striking. Now in the passages and waiting rooms the visitor experiences a full view of fresh colours, playful images and restful courtyards. The quality of the environment may reduce the need for expensive drugs when a patient is recovering from an illness. A study has shown that patients who had a view onto gardens needed half the number of strong pain killers compared with patients who had no view at all or only a brick wall to look at. After the improvement of the hospital environment, _ . A. patients no longer take drugs to kill their pains B. patients don't have to stay long in hospital C. patients need fewer pain killers when they suffer from an illness D. patients feel happy in hospital Answer: C Which characteristic is affected by interactions with the environment? A. weight B. eye color C. blood type D. handedness Answer: A Saving water is an important part of going _ . As water becomes less and polluted more, conservation becomes more and more important. The less water you use, the less wastewater will end up in our rivers and lakes. Wasting water means that more water needs to be treated and cleaned, a process that requires quite a lot of energy. As it is said above, cutting down on water usage is one of the most important things you can do for your local environment and the planet as a whole. That is why more green households are going blue: cutting down their water footprint by conserving and harvesting water. It may seem like a big concept, but going blue starts with small changes that everyone can make. Something as simple as turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save a lot of water. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a tap to save even more. Make sure that the taps are fully turned off every time you step away from the sink or the shower -- all those little drips can add up to a lot of water waste. Another way of reducing your water footprint is reducing your dependence on the main water supply. Rainwater harvesting can meet a lot of your home's water needs. Many of us already practice rainwater harvesting in a small way. Collecting water from your gutters is a great way to keep your garden green without running the sprinkler . From the passage, we can know that _ . A. we can get enough water by harvesting B. most people pay no attention to saving water C. we can practice rainwater harvesting in a small way D. harvesting water is more necessary than conserving it Answer: C The next generation telephone is called Superphone or personal Communication Network (PCN). Your superphone goes wherever you go, in your pocket. You can use it in the street, in an aeroplane, a boat, or a taxi; you can call from anywhere on the globe to anywhere else. Calls travel at the speed of light, via satellites using ultraviolet, high-frequency wave bands and each communication is automatically billed to your account. This new phone is the size and shape of a billfold . You unfold it to use it., making it long enough to reach from your ear to your mouth. There is a miniaturized touch pad, on which to enter the number you are calling. There is also a tiny liquid crystal screen on which you can read weather, news or financial reports. These news items are constantly updated by the company that sells the service. Letter keys on the touch pad also allow you to use this electronic marvel as a computer or word processor. You can plug it into your large home or office computer in order to transfer any data that you feed in during a business trip. The PCN also stores any useful information of your own that you might need as you travel, such as the names, addresses and phone numbers of several hundred people, important meetings, flight details and so on. When you need information, you simply call it up on the screen. You can even use your PCN to activate electronically controlled equipment at home. For example, you could switch your oven on or off, start the sprinkler system in your garden during a dry spell, get your video recorder to record a show on television, turn off the central heating, and so on. All of this from thousands of miles away, perhaps from the back of a camel in the desert. Prototypes are already being trialed. In spite of the complex technology, they will be cheap because of the enormous sales that will be made. The author's intention in mentioning "from the back...the desert" is to _ A. show the great impact of the new phone on the world B. emphasize the strong remote control function of the new phone C. demonstrate how to operate the new phone in such places D. show travelers' affection for the new phone Answer: B Seeing the Horse Eat Fish Once an old man was walking in a street with his horse. It was raining hard. The old man was cold because he was walking in the rain. He wanted to stay in a restaurant. It was a quarter past three in the afternoon. The old man got to a small restaurant. There were a lot of people in it. The old man couldn' t come near the fire. He thought and thought. At last he said to the waiters, "Take some fish to my horse." The waiter and the people were very surprised. The waiter said, "A horse doesn't eat fish." The old man told the waiter, "This horse is very interesting. It can sing, dance and does all kinds of things. It can eat fish, too," So the waiter brought the horse some fish. All the people in the restaurant ran out to see the horse eat fish except the old man. Now the old man sat beside the fire. After a while the waiter came back and said. "Your horse didn't eat any fish." The old man said, "All right, take the fish back and put it on the table. I'll eat it." Note: stove waiter The old man felt very cold because _ . A. it was a cloudy and windy day B. it snowed C. he had travelled in the heavy rain D. he was hungry Answer: C
Question: John Smith,an office worker,lives in Washington.He inherited a million dollars when he was 23,but he wasn't happy at all.When his college friends were looking for their jobs,he didn't have to.Jack decided to living a simple life like everyone else.He gave $l0,000 of his money to a charity to help poor children live a better life.Today he is 36.He still wears cheap shoes and clothes and drives a small car only,but he is very happy. Up to now John has helped some children from poor countries all over the world,by sending them each $200 a month.The money was used for the children's study, food, medicine and clothing.John receives a report each year on the children's progress.They can write to each other, but usually the children do not speak English. When John first heard about these children,he wanted to help them."It was nothing special," he said."Until I went to these countries and met the children I was helping,I didn't know anything about their life." Once John went to meet a little girl in Africa.He said that the meeting was very exciting."When I met her.I felt very ,very happy."he said."And I saw that the money was used for a good cause.It brought me happiness.I want to do everything I can to go on helping those children." John has sent them each $200 a month to help some poor children _ . A. near Washington B. in European countries C. only in Africa D. throughout the world Answer: D Question: The brown fur of the arctic hare turns white in winter. How does this color change most likely help the arctic hare? A. It helps the animal save water. B. It helps the animal hide from predators. C. It helps keep the animal cool. D. It helps protect the animal from disease. Answer: B Question: Blair: Blair was the first to appear in movies in history. In 1905, Blair appeared in the movie Rescued by Rover . It is a British film that a baby is kidnapped by an old woman, but the faithful family dog Rover saves the baby at last. Though Rover is a common name, it became popular because of the dog hero in the movie. Lassie: lassie used to be the most famous dog in the world. She is a character who has starred in many movies, TV shows and books over the years. Lassie was created by Eric Knight and made her way into a short story in a newspaper in 1913 and into a novel in 1940. Laika: Laika is the first animal that has orbited the earth. On November 3, 1957, Laika was sent to space in the Soviet Union's Sputnik 2.(2). The Soviets admitted soon after the launch that the spacecraft would not return. It meant that the poor animal would die. People argued a lot about Laika's death. Several countries issued stamps in memory of Laika. She became the first animal to give her life for the exploration of space. Rin Tin Tin: Rin Tin Tin is the first American dog movie star. He first appeared in WhereThe North Begins in 1925. Rin Tin Tin went on to make 25 movies, he even signed his own contracts with paw prints . During his best time, he earned about 5 million dollars for those people who worked for him. Snoopy: snoopy may be the most famous cartoon dog in the world. As a hunting beagle from Charles Schultz' popular newspaper comic strip , Peanuts, snoopy first appeared in 1950. Though snoopy was at first a minor figure, he grew to become the strip's best-known character. He is famous for always sleeping on top of his doghouse and sometimes dressing up and pretending himself as a World War I airplane pilot. Snoopy appeared in the Peanuts comic strips until Schultz's retirement ( and death ) in February of 2000. Two dogs created by artists are _ . A. Rin Tin Tin and Snoopy B. Blair and Lassie C. Rin Tin Tin and Lassie D. Snoopy and Lassie Answer: D Question: Hawking's Five Easy Steps for Making Yourself a Genius As we all know,Stephen Hawking writes the book A Brief History of Time that explains the origin of the universe. The book spent 147 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List and has sold 10 million copies. He is,most agree,very smart. In his recently published autobiography My Brief History,Hawking offers five life lessons on how to become a genius. 1)Don't miss opportunities by being too cool "We showed an air of complete boredom and the feeling that nothing was worth making an effort for. One result of my illness has been to change all that. When you are faced with the possibility of an early death, it makes you realize that life is worth living and that there are lots of things you want to do. "Seize the moment,as Oxford types would say. 2)Keep it simple When writing A Brief History of Time,he tried to make science understandable for the rest of us. "I was sure that nearly everyone is interested in how the universe operates,but most people cannot follow mathematical equations . "He has trouble with them,too. "This is partly because it is difficult for me to write them down,but mainly because I don't have an inborn feeling for equations. My aim in the book was to describe these mental images in words. It is such an easy book that everybody can understand it." The moral:You don't have to be a genius to know everything. 3)Have fun Hawking has a long history of being a joker,and he has placed lots of bets with other scientists on the nature of black holes. One was with Cal-Tech scientist John Preskill. After paying off his bet by giving Preskill a baseball encyclopedia,Hawking wrote,"but maybe I should have just given him the ashes. "So lighten up! Geniuses like bad jokes too. 4) Always look for a silver lining (even if you are seriously ill) Hawking's disease has slowly robbed him of the ability to walk,move his arms,even speak. But,Hawking says,"in some ways I guess my disability has been an assist:I haven't had to lecture or teach students, and I haven't had to sit in meetings. So I have been able to devote myself completely to research."In other words,Hawking was given lemons,and he made Champagne. 5)Don't work too hard at school ...... The passage tells us the facts about A Brief History of Time EXCEPT that _ . A. it included Hawking's five life lessons on how to become a genius B. it has sold 10 million copies up to now C. it spent 147 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List D. it explained the origin of the universe Answer: A Question: There's a small town in the central part of England called Gotham. Some say it's a town of fools. Others say all the villagers are wise. Let me tell you about the people of Gotham so you can decide for yourself. Long ago, England was ruled by a cruel king named John. One day, the people of Gotham heard that King John and his men would soon be riding through their town.This worried the villagers, for they knew the greedy king would demand food and accommodation for his men. What's more, if he saw anything to his liking, he would surely take it. A town meeting was called. After much discussion, the townspeople decided to cut down a number of huge trees to block the roads leading into Gotham. When King John and his men reached the outskirts of the village, they could not pass. Angry, King John ordered his men to go into the town and punish the villagers. When the king's officers finally made their way over the trees, they found a village of fools. Some say that was because the people of Gotham had a plan--they had decided to act like fools since they had never heard of anyone being punished for being a noodlehead. Others say that's just the way they were. In the village, the king's men encountered a man riding a donkey. The man was bent over because he carried a huge bag of grain on his own shoulders. He looked exhausted. One of the king's men approached him and asked, "Why, in heaven's name, are you carrying that bag? Why don't you just put it behind you on your donkey's back?" "You see," replied the man from Gotham, "my donkey is feeling poor today. It's bad enough that she has to carry me, so I decided to lighten her burden by carrying the bag myself." The king's men said, "But sir, don't you see that if you're riding on top of the donkey, she's still carrying the weight of the bag?" The man didn't reply. He just looked at the king's men as if they were crazy and went on his way. The king's officers giggled at the foolishness of the man. Before long, they passed a pond where they found a number of villagers in the midst of a great argument. Two of them were holding a big eel. "Quiet down," commanded one of the king's men. "What's the problem here?" One of the villagers stepped forward and said, "Last year we took all the extra fish we [caught and put them in this pond so they would multiply. But this year when we came back, all we caught was this one huge eel. Obviously it has eaten all of our fish! Since then, we have argued long and hard over how to punish this bad eel. But we have finally agreed on the perfect punishment. We are just about to drown the eel in this very pond!" The king's officers couldn't believe their ears. Drown an eel whose home is in the water? These men were sillier than the first man they met! Before long, they reached the center of the village, where they were in for another surprise. There they found the rest of the townspeople building a towering stone wall. When the soldiers inquired what was going on, one of the villagers replied, "Every spring a cuckoo comes to live in our village. It always brings warm weather. When it leaves, the cold weather returns. Last year we decided that if we could get the cuckoo to stay here all year, we would always have warm weather. We built this stone wall, but it obviously wasn't high enough because the bird flew away. This year we're determined to build it so high that the cuckoo can't escape." The king's officers had heard enough. They couldn't bring themselves to punish such stupid people. They returned to King John and told him all about the fools of Gotham. Whether it's fair or not, the people of Gotham have been known as fools ever since. What do you think? Were the villagers of Gotham wise or foolish? Based on the story, why might the townspeople be considered wise? A. They trick the king's men into thinking they are fools. B. They think ahead by putting their extra fish into a pond. C. They make sure their donkeys are healthy enough to work. D. They realize the importance of warm weather to their crops. Answer: A
Fast food advertisements greatly influence teens' eating habits and advertisers are increasingly targeting them with a wide range of promotions. Fast food advertisements significantly affect teens' eating habits, leading to consequences such as obesity. TV Advertising The television is the largest source of food ads to teens. It is worth noting that TV watching may not be the chief cause of obesity, but rather the fast food commercials. This implies that fast food commercials greatly influence teens' eating habits, since food is the most advertised item on television. Online Advertising The Internet has become part of a teen's daily life. Fast food manufacturers have taken advantage of this to target teenagers with food commercials. McDonald's corporation has created websites such as 365Black.com. which target minority groups. MeEncanta. com is a McDonald's website that targets Latino youth, who are four and a half times more likely than other youth to visit the site. Eating Habits There is a strong connection between teens' eating habits and fast food commercials. In a study of more than 12,000 teenagers to inquire into the effects of fast food advertising on teenagers, teens who spent more than two hours watching commercial TV were likely to allow themselves to eat more unhealthy foods like fast foods, sugary drinks and snacks than those who did not. Obesity Teens who view fast food ads are at a higher risk of becoming overweight than those who do not, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics. In a survey of 3,342 youths aged between 15 and 23 researchers found that a higher percentage of obese and overweight participants identified with fast food ads. It can be concluded from the passage that A. all the teenagers like to watch fast food advertisements B. parents must forbid their children to watch TV programs C. teachers must know what fast food advertisements are D. teenagers should be away from fast food advertisements Answer: D. teenagers should be away from fast food advertisements For families on vacation,a playground provides a welcome break from sightseeing.It can also provide a glimpse into the local culture,from the setup of the park to the ways families interact.Here are the designs that live up to that challenge. Fruit and Scent Park, Stockholm Is there a picky eater on a steady diet of chicken fingers and cheese? Perhaps a trip to Sweden's Fruit and Scent Park will change his or her culinary tune.This playground features a banana slide,an orange seesaw,pear huts,a watermelon jungle gym and a pair of cherry swings,all designed by public artist Johan Ferner Strom.Now,who can say you can't play with your food? Nishi Rokugo Park, Tokyo Located between central Tokyo and the city of Kawasaki,Nishi Rokugo combines recycled rubber tires with traditional playground equipment.In total,more than 3,000 tires of different sizes are used to create tunnels,bridges,tall sculptures for climbing and,of course,tire swings.There's little shade,so you can visit here in the early morning or late afternoon for the most comfortable weather, and be sure to wear your play clothes. $?Bicentennial Children's Park, Santiago,Chile Set a top San Cristobal Hill,the Bicentennial Children's playground in Metropolitan Park was built to celebrate 200 years of Chilean independence and improve the lives of Santiago citizens.Dozens of slides are built into the slope,creating a design completely complementary of the surrounding landscape.Fountains offer some relief from the sun,and ample seating gives parents a place to relax. When visiting Nishi Rokugo Park,it is better to _ . A. wear thick protective clothes B. avoid moments when it's hot C. take umbrellas and raincoats D. watch out for the equipment Answer: B. avoid moments when it's hot Jiang Nan, a full-time mother in Beijing, keeps a dozen or so cloth bags at home, carefully selecting one or two before heading out to get groceries. "Most of them were giveaways from advertising marketing campaigns, but others had been handed out in the street by various environmental protection organizations," she explained. Since June 2008 China has forbidden the production, sale and usage of plastic bags thinner than 0.025 millimeter , and retailers are not allowed to provide free plastic bags to their customers, no matter how thick they are. Many Chinese consumers like Jiang have learned to refuse plastic bags whenever possible in their shopping. "A plastic bag may only cost a few jiao, but it's more about how bad they are for the environment," Jiang said. The plastic ban is for the most part well carried out in big cities, and has been obviously effective in reducing white waste. On the first anniversary of the plastic ban Global Village of Beijing, an NGO environmental organization, shows that during the year of the ban the consumption of plastic bags fell by about 40 billion pieces in chain supermarkets alone, saving more than 1.2 million tons of petrol. However, enforcement shows rather less muscle in smaller cities, towns and countryside. In a remote town like Lichuan, the awareness of environmental protection is not as strong as that in big cities. Street vendors worry that they are likely to lose customers if they charge them for plastic bags. Seeing no significance in the issue, local government often turn a blind eye to banned bag trade in the market. There are still those who don't have an interest in living green. Cui Lin, another Beijinger, often forgets to bring a cloth bag when shopping, and has to buy plastic bags. "Anyway I think plastic bags are neater and cleaner, and I don't mind paying a couple more jiao," he shrugged. Mrs Yu, a vegetable vendor in Lichuan County, Jiangxi Province, recalled that before plastic bags became popular in the early 1990s, Chinese people always carried a bamboo basket when they visited the market. "Plastic bags are more convenient," she comments, and her view might be that of the tens of millions of people in the nation who still _ plastic bags, paid or free. This is suggested by her trade where piles of plastic bags are still passed out every day. Which is NOT the reason why some people still use plastic bags when shopping? A. Cloth bags are difficult to get and heavy to carry. B. People's awareness of environmental protection is not strong enough. C. People don't mind paying a couple more jiao for plastic bags. D. Street vendors worry that they are likely to lose customers if they charge them. Answer: A. Cloth bags are difficult to get and heavy to carry. Dear Michelle, Why can't my daughter manage her life better? She is 17 and an honor student, but she seems to be wasting her life away with a boyfriend who is holding her back. He consumes every waking minute of her precious time and smooth-talks her as well. His goal is to get her to agree to go to the college of his choice, not her choice, and because his grades are lower, his choice will be limited. I feel like I want to rescue her, but she pushes me away and shuts me out. She has only brought us pride and joy; and now this! Help! A worried mother Dear Mother of a 17-year-old Girl, Hmmmmm. What's the matter with kids today? Remember that song from "Bye Bye Birdie"? Well if you do not, let me fill you in about teenagers and their life-management skills. Do not expect too much too soon because at the ripe age of 17, life-management is not within their reach, nor should it be. Life experience creates both the conditions and the skills for management, and if management went before experience, there would be little of it. Your daughter is an honor student for good reasons. She is smart, studies with intelligence and you have given her good values. When the time comes for her to apply for college, and she visits the ones that are specifically designed for students at the top of their grade, she will most likely break away from her boyfriend's influence. It is rare for an honor student to change the path of their academic career for _ . That being said, there might be some adolescent wisdom in her behavior after all. Perhaps she is choosing to worry you, her parents, for unconscious reasons. Being such a good girl and being a steady source of joy might have become a bit too much for her. Let your daughter have her own private moment of 11th grade rebellion. She deserves a break from perfection. Michelle Michelle seems to believe that the daughter will finally _ A. come up with the right decision B. follow her boyfriend's advice C. worry her parents for unconscious reasons D. influence her boyfriend's behavior Answer: A. come up with the right decision Many people like animals such as dogs and cats and keep one or more of them as pets. If you keep a dog or a cat as a pet, you must know how to look after it. A grown-up dog needs two meals a day --not more. It can eat meat, fish, rice and some other things. Dogs like large bones , but you can't give them chicken bones. Remember to give them much clean water. A dog should have a clean, dry box for sleeping. Washing it once a week is good for its health. If it is ill, take it to a doctor. A healthy dog will bring you more pleasure. Be careful when you choose a cat. A cat has two meals a day with some meat or fish. It drinks a little milk every day. Sometimes you can give it vegetables to eat. Don't forget that it needs clean water to drink. Take good care of your pets, they will be your good friends. Maybe they can give you some help when you are in need. What do dogs like eating? A. All the bones. B. Big bones. C. Chicken bones. D. Small bones. Answer: B. Big bones.
I want to tell you some things about Tom's weekend. He is my good friend. At the weekend, Tom usually gets up late. He has breakfast. Then he reads an English book and listens to the radio for about one hour. After that he starts to do his homework. At about 11:30, he often cooks lunch for his family. In the afternoon, he usually plays volleyball with his friends. Sometimes he goes to the library in the afternoon. He loves his weekend very much. Tom must be a (an) _ . Answer: student The United States will introduce a new exam system for students who seek to study in the USA and other English-speaking countries, Xinhua News Agency reported from New York. The exam, which means a great change from the English level test, was introduced by Theresa Jen, associate director of the International Service of the USA College Board, America's leading educational organization. "The Advanced Placement International English Language (APIEL) will be offered for the first time all over the world on May 10, 2012," said Jen. However, the APIEL is a strange title to most Chinese students, and it is unlikely to soon gain the similarity of other already existing exams, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). "I have never heard of such a test and I would prefer the IELTS if I need another exam," said Xu Jingyan, a graduating student from Beijing University, who wants to study in England and has already taken the TOEFL. Most of Xu's classmates have never heard of the APIEL."The APIEL is made for international students who wish to get university studies in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia." Jen said. "The APIEL will be used," said Jen, "because the TOEFL can no longer perfectly show the students' abilities of using English." Xinhua reported that a large number of foreign students who had high scores in TOEFL exam turned out to be very ordinary educational performers after being admitted. "Compared with the TOEFL, the APIEL measures a student's ability to read, write, speak and understand 'English through testing his or her skills in listening comprehension, speaking with fluency, and writing in an organized way." Jen said. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: it will take quite a period of time for people to accept the APIEL Some researchers claim that people's personalities can be classified by their blood types If you have blood type O, you are a leader. When you see something you want , you strive to achieve your goal. You are passionate, loyal, and self-confident, and you are often a trendsetter . Your enthusiasm for projects and goals spreads to others who happily follow you. When you want something ,you may be ruthless about getting it or blind to how your actions affect others . Aother blood type A, is a social , "people" person . You like people and work well with them . Y ou are sensitive , patient , compassionate , and affectionate .You are a good peacekeeper because you want everyone to be happy .In a team situation , you resolve conflicts and keep things on a smooth course . Sometimes type As are stubborn and find it difficult to relax. They may also find it uncomfortable to do things alone. People with type B blood are usually individualist who like to do things on their own . You may be creative and adaptable, and you usually say exactly what you mean . Also you can adapt to situations , you may choose to do so because of your strong independent streak. You may prefer working on your own to being part of a team . The final blood is type AB . If you have AB blood , you are a natural entertainer. You draw people to you because of your charm and easy-going nature .ABs are usually calm and controlled , tactful fair. On the downside ,though , they may take too long to make decisions. And they may procrastinate, putting off tasks until the last minute. Which of the following is not the feature of type A? Answer: reserved While beach vacations may be a great way to take your mind off work,lakes surrounded by mountains make for an even grander experience.If you are looking for some peace on your vacation,we have some recommendations for you in the Caucasus . Lake Sevan Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of Armenia,in the Gegharkunik province.It is the largest lake in Armenia,located 6,200ft above sea level.Along the lake shore,there are various accommodations such as resorts and hotels with plenty of activities to partake in such as windsurfing,swimming and sunbathing.While there,do not forget to visit one of the famous cultural monuments,the Sevanavank Monastery,and it offers a great view of the lake as well. Lake Paravani Lake Paravani,located at 6,801ft above sea level,is in the south of Georgia,near the Javakheti plateau.At this level,altitude sickness can occur and it is a good idea to be prepared to adapt to it properly,or bring medication for altitude sickness.Being a volcanic lake makes for a more interesting experience.The lake is best known for fishing.Do not come home during the winter months when the lake freezes. Lake Cildir Lake Cildir is located in the Ardahan province,East Turkey,near the borders of Georgia and Armenia.It is the second largest freshwater lake of Eastern Turkey,and many tourists are not aware of this beautiful attraction.Lake Cildir is surrounded by mountains of the Caucasus.The lake freezes during late November.If the winter is not extremely cold,you can try some lake activities like ice skating and ice fishing. Lake Van Lake Van is the must visit of all lakes in this list.The largest lake in Turkey,Lake Van is located on the eastern shore of Turkey and is also the most accessible lake here.It's situated at 5,380ft above sea level,and unique to lakes around the world,the water is high in salt content. What is special about Lake Van? Answer: Its water is high in salt. A month went by in this manner , but a month was all I could bear . The memory of Marguerite accompanied me wherever I went . I had loved that woman --- still loved her --- too much for her suddenly to mean nothing to me . Whatever feelings I might have for her now , I had to see her again . At once . ... I knew Marguerite . Meeting me so unexpectedly must have thrown her into a state of great confusion . Probably , she had heard of my departure which had set her mind at rest as to the consequences of our sudden parting . But , seeing me back and coming face to face with me , pale as I was , she had sensed that my return had a purpose , and must have wondered what was going to happen . If , when I saw her again , Marguerite had been unhappy ; if , in taking my revenge , there had also been some way of helping her , then I might well have forgiven her , and would certainly never have dreamed of doing her any harm . But when I saw her again , she was happy , at least on the surface . Another man had ensured her the luxury in which I had been unable to keep her . She brought shame both to my pride and my love ; she was going to have to pay for what I had suffered . I could not remain indifferent to what she did now . It followed that the thing that would hurt her most would be exactly for me to show indifference . Indifference , therefore , was the feeling which I now needed to pretend , not only in her presence but in the eyes of others . I tried to put a smile on my face , and I went to call on Prudence with whom Marguerite was staying . Prudence saw me to the door , and I returned to my apartment with tears of anger in my eyes and thirst for revenge in my heart and thought only of finding a way to make the poor creature suffer . This passage is most probably _ of a love story . Answer: a chapter
Which of these soil changes is due only to natural causes? A. Loss of minerals due to farming. B. Deserts forming due to tree cutting. C. Flooding due to dam construction. D. Minerals washing out due to heavy rain. Answer: D. Minerals washing out due to heavy rain. New York is a very large city with 8 million people. How do so many people move on their way to work or school? In New York you can travel by subway, bus, taxi and private car. The subway runs on the railroad lines under the city. Travelling by subway is the fastest way to get around the city. The second way to travel around the city is by public bus. It is a slower way to travel. This is because the traffic is very heavy. You can also travel around the city by taxi. This is very expensive, but the taxi will take you to the very place you want to. If traffic is heavy, the taxi will be slow, too. During the mornings and afternoons, there is the "rush hour".This is the time when the traffic is very heavy with people going to and from work. The last way to get around New York is using your own private car. It is inconvenient because you will perhaps be driving during the "rush hour".The best time to travel around the city is from 9 am to 4 pm, because it isn't the "rush hour". How about travelling by taxi? A. It's cheap, and the taxi will take people to the very place they want to. B. It's expensive and slow. C. It's expensive, but the taxi will take people to the very place they want to. D. It's cheap and fast. Answer: C. It's expensive, but the taxi will take people to the very place they want to. This is the VOA Special English News Report. Single - handed Zhou Yang, 18, China Against three strong Republic of Korea competitors, Zhou single - handed took the 1,500 - meter short speed skating gold to become Chinas' youngest winter Olympics gold medallist. According to coach Li Yan, Zhou, who is usually a gentle girl, took some risks and skated fiercely to take the gold. This is the third gold the Chinese have won at the Vancouver Olympics. Unobtrusive Liu Xiang, 26, China The Olympic gold medallist said on Friday that he's not the same old him, after setting his worst record in years - 8.08 seconds for 60 - meter hurdles. Liu said he still had some way to go before he's back to his best. Many fans have been expecting his taking - off in the 2010 Doha, but Liu said unobtrusively "Robles is still the best in the 60 - meter and 110 - meter hurdles. I'm no match now". He added the performances of Terrence Trammell (US) and Robles would be the highlight of the Doha meet. Coveted Michael Jackson, 1958 - 2009, US Thanks to a whopping $ 350,000 bid, Michael Jackson's rhinestone - encrusted glove has gone to a Macao company. Jackson wore the sparking glove when he did his first "moonwalk" dance in 1983, so it was a really coveted piece of equipment. The pre - auction estimate put its value at $ 40, 000 - 60,000 , _ . The glove and nine other items from the auction will be on display in a Macao hotel. From the above news we can infer Liu Xiang _ A. is not popular any more with fans B. is still out of condition at present C. is feeling discouraged and depressed D. is sure of the highlight of the Doha meet Answer: C. is feeling discouraged and depressed Tales From Animal Hospital David Crant David Grant has become a familiar face to millions of fans of Animal Hospital. Here Dr Crant tells usthe very best of his personal stories about the animals he has treated, including familiar patients such as the dogs Snowy and Duchess, the delightful cat Marigold Serendipity Diamond. He also takes the reader behind the scenes at Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital as he describes his day, from ordinary medical checkups to surgery . Tales From Animal Hospital will delight all fans of the programme and anyone who has a lively interest in their pet, whetherit be cat, dog, or snake ! PS14.99 Hardback 272pp Simon Schuster ISBN 0751304417 Isaac Newton : The Last Sorcerer Michael White From the author of Stephen Hawking: A Life in, Science, comes this colourful description of the life of the world's first modern scientist. Interesting yet based on fact, Michael White's learned yet readable new book offers a true picture of Newton completely different from what people commonly know about him. Newton is shown as a gifted scientist with very human weaknesses who stood at the point in history where magic ended and science began. PS18.99 Hardback 320pp Fourth Estate ISBN 1857024168 Fermat's Last Theorem Simon Singh In 1963 a schoolboy called Andrew Wiles reading in his school library came across the world'sgreatest mathematical problem: Fermat's Last Theorem . First put forward by the Frenchmathematician Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century, the theorem had _ and beaten the finestmathematical minds, including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out theproblem, and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole Polytechnique.Through unbelievable determination Andrew Wiles finally worked out the problem in 1995. An unusual story of human effort over three centuries, Fermat's Last Theorem will delight specialists and generalreaders alike. PS12.99 Hardback 384pp Fourth Estate ISBN 1857025210 What is Animal Hospital? A. A news story. B. A popular book. C. A research report. D. A TV programme. Answer: D. A TV programme. "My dear dad, where are we going?" Have you ever heard of this question? It's from the song of Hunan TV station's show: Where Are We Going, Dad? The show is played on Fridays. In the show, five pairs of fathers and kids go to strange places and finish interesting tasks. The fathers learn to cook and look after their kids. The kids learn about being independent . Wang Lu, 13, from Hebei, says, "I like Kimi very much, though he finds it hard to finish the work alone. You know, he is so young." Zhao Jingjing, 14, from Jiangsu, says, "I like Guo Tao's son very much. He looks _ . He doesn't cry when he meets trouble, and he can often look after himself and even other kids." On the journey of life, kids learn to grow up, and adults learn to be better parents. Maybe we can plan a trip with our parents. Shall we go? Which of the following is True according to the paasage? A. This most popular show is played on Hubei TV station. B. To grow up, we need to be strong-minded and independent. C. In the show, kids learn to cook and look after their fathers. D. Zhao Jingjing is from Hebei and she likes Kimi very much. Answer: B. To grow up, we need to be strong-minded and independent.
Question: Barcodes aren't given much thought by the majority of consumers, but these codes were fairly recently applied in a working fashion in 1970. A small food store owner decided one day that keeping records of the inventory of his stock and the associated prices were an extremely laborious process, and so, in 1948, he contacted The Drexel Institute of Technology in a bid to work towards a solution. Bernard Sliver rose to the challenge and set out to study the problem and began working on a solution involving an automatic way of keeping track of items that had been sold. Sliver and a group of students from the institute realized their answer in the form of ultraviolet light , ink and a scanner. The system worked initially, but possessed some negatives. It was incredibly costly to carry out on a large scale and the system was also unstable. If the invention was to become commonplace in grocery stores, these two problems had to be solved. The patent for the bar code system was filed by Sliver and one of his students, Woodland. The patent was not granted immediately; in fact, it took three years for the patent agency to grant their invention patent for the barcode, occurring on 7thOctober, 1952. Despite the patent being issued, the system was still not welcomed by the majority of store owners. It was not until 1966 that the system began moving its way into more and more grocery stores. This system was soon criticized, as there was no central mechanism for controlling uniformly coded items. In 1970, Logicom developed the Universal Grocery Products Identification code( UGOIC), soon shortened to Universal Identification Number (UPC). It was Marsh's superstore, in Troy, which was the very first store to install this complex barcode reading system, and its popularity has soared ever since, and is obviously now commonplace in all types of stores worldwide. Which of the following was NOT a drawback of Sliver's system? A. It was expensive to be applied on a large scale. B. It was a laborious process. C. The system was not stable. D. It lacked a central mechanism. Answer: B Question: A young woman was at the cinema,and she was enjoying the film very much.In the next seat there was an old man,and he began looking on the floor under him.The woman was angry and whispered ,"What are you doing now? What are you looking for?" "A piece of chocolate ,"the man whispered to her,"I've dropped it on the floor." "A piece of chocolate? "the woman said angrily,"It s dirty now! Take this and be quiet, please! I'm listening to the film!"She gave the man a big piece of chocolate. "But."the man said,"my teeth are in the piece on the floor!" The woman gave the man a big piece of chocolate _ . A. so that he could listen to the film B. so that he could be quiet C. because his chocolate was dirty D. because she had too much chocolate Answer: B Question: When American soldiers return home from war with disabilities, they often suffer twice -- first from their combat injuries, next from the humiliation of government dependency. Wounded veterans learn they have two basic choices: They can receive almost $3,000 a month in disability benefits along with medical care and access to other various welfare programs, or they can try to find a job. Especially in this economy, it's no wonder that many find that first option hard to turn down. Mark Duggan, an economics professor at Stanford University, reports that enrollment in U.S.veterans' disability programs rose from 2.3 million in 2001 to 3.9 million in 2014. The percentage of veterans receiving benefits doubled, from 8.9% in 2001 to 18% in 2014. Disability services for veterans now consume $59 billion. In the 1980s and 1990s, male veterans were more likely to be in the labor force than nonveterans. But since 2000, that has changed dramatically. Now there is a 4% gap between veteran and nonveteran labor participation, with veteran participation lower. Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, founder of The Mission Continues, explains how soldiers who served their country are transformed into welfare receivers who live off their country. "When veterans come home from war they are going through a tremendous change in identity,"he says."Then the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and others, encourage them to view themselves as disabled."By the time they come to Greitens' non-profit organization,"We meet a number of veterans who see themselves as charity cases and are not sure anymore what they have to contribute." There are also more practical factors driving the disability boom. One is the expansion of qualification criteria. In 2000, for instance, type 2 diabetes was added as a disability because of evidence linking exposure to Agent Orange with the onset of the disease. Heart disease has also been added to the list. Another possible factor is that younger veterans seem less against welfare than their parents' generation. Veterans who have served since the 1990s are much more likely to sign up for disability than their older counterparts; 1 in 4 younger veterans is on disability versus just 1 in 7 of those over age 54. We shouldn't go back to the bad old days when veterans were afraid to admit weakness. But Lt.Col.Daniel Gade is one of many veterans who think our disability system is harmful, psychologically, to former soldiers. Gade lost his leg in combat in 2005 and now teaches at West Point. He recently gave a talk to disabled veterans at Ft. Carson, in which he urged them to rejoin the workforce. "People who stay home because they are getting paid enough to get by on disability are worse off,"he warned."They are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. They are more likely to live alone." What a waste of human potential, especially since most veterans on disability still have their prime working years ahead of them when they're discharged . We could solve this problem by changing the way we view -- and label -- veterans with disabilities. As Gade noted in a recent article,"Veterans should be viewed as resources, not as damaged goods."He recommended that"efforts to help veterans should begin by recognizing their abilities rather than focusing only on their disabilities, and should serve the ultimate aim of moving wounded soldiers to real self-sufficiency." On a more practical note, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs could reallocate resources to spend more on job training and less on disability. Current placement programs are sadly inadequate. We are good at sending soldiers off to war. Yet when these young men and women return home, they are essentially told,"We'll give you enough for a reasonably comfortable life, but we won't help you find a job." It is unreasonable that we are condemning thousands of young veterans who served their country to life on the dole rather than enabling them to reenter the workforce with the necessary accommodations. How does Mark Duggan prove his opinion in the passage? A. By listing figures. B. By giving examples. C. By performing experiments. D. By analyzing cause and effect. Answer: A Question: September can be a depressing month. The summer holidays are over, it's time to go back to work or school and Christmas is four months away. However, for some people it's the perfect time to get away. These days more and more people are taking their holidays late in the year and for good reasons. Holidays in autumn can be cheaper, the resorts are less crowded and the weather isn't as extreme as it is in the summer. So, where are the best places to go? Here are our top tips. Sardinia (in Italy) has an average temperature of 27degC in September. It also has "Autunno in Barbagia" (Autumn in Barbagia) a series of festivals that take place in 27 villages in Barbagia, a mountainous region of inland Sardinia. The festivals continue from September to December, so there's always something happening. There are street markets, craft workshops and there's lots of eating and drinking (This is Italy, after all). Dubrovnik Croatia has become very popular in summer but it's quieter and more pleasant once the crowds have left. The weather is still warm but less humid. You can take a ferry to the popular beaches on the islands of Sunj and enjoy it with locals. Dahab Egypt, is extremely hot in the summer with temperatures up to 38degC. However, the autumn is cooler while the sea is still warm. This makes Dahab the perfect place for snorkeling and windsurfing. There are also interesting historical sites to visit such as the Coloured Canyon, with its dramatic rock formations, and St Catherine's Monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai. Kas is a relaxed fishing village on the Lycian coast in southern Turkey. There are plenty of things to do and the temperature has dropped (so you can actually enjoy doing them!) Kas is a good place to stay if you want to walk part of the Lycian way: a long-distance footpath that stretches for 500km from Fethiye to Antalya through the ancient land of Lycia. There are also watersports, of course. The best time to go diving is supposed to be after the first rains of autumn (usually between late September and early October) when the fish become most active. Marrakech Morocco is another good destination. The city itself is a fascinating place to spend a few days. When you have had enough of that, go to Tigmi, a beautiful hill town about 20 kilometers away. There's a hammam (a Turkish bath) and a large heated pool, which makes it the perfect place to relax. Wherever you go this autumn - have fun! Here are the good reasons for people to take holidays in autumn except that _ . A. Holidays in autumn can be cheaper B. the scenery in autumn is more attractive C. the resorts in autumn are less crowded D. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold Answer: B Question: Standing in a canyon and yelling your name A. will cause the canyon to shake B. will cause your name to reverberate thru the canyon C. will cause complete silence D. will cause animals to run up to you Answer: B
In Britain, it's bottoms up from the week before Christmas till the last firework explodes in the sky announcing the new year. The last Friday before Christmas, popularly known as 'Mad Friday', is one of the busiest periods for the country's pubs and clubs. But it's not just the bars that get busy. Ambulances and A&E departments around Britain get packed out too. Head injuries, cuts, falls...it's easy to end up hurting yourself or others when self-control disappear and your head is spinning due to alcoho1 revelers have been warned by the health authorities about the dangers of deadly drinking but drinking crazily seems to be part of the festivities for some. The charity Alcohol Concern is running a campaign of restriction by encouraging people to have a dry January. Jackie Ballard, the charity's Chief Executive, believes the campaign has been successful in recent years. She says, "More than two-thirds of people even six months later are drinking at reduced levels having had a month off drink. But also a study has shown the impact it has on people's health reducing their blood pressure and blood sugar levels." The study by the University of Sussex followed up nearly 900 participants in Alcohol Concern's Dry January campaign and found out that 72%of them had kept harmful drinking sessions down and 4%were still not drinking. Moderation seems to be the key to everything. The official recommendation for women is not to regularly drink more than 2 to 3 units of alcohol a day. The limit for men is 3 to 4 units of alcohol -- no more than a pint of 5.2%ABV lager, beer or cider. What is the official suggestion of drinking alcohol? It is really a happy thing to look back on the days I spent with Jennie. We met in night school. After Jennie and I had completed the required courses, we started teaching in the same school. For a time we were just casual friends, but one day, when I was telling Jennie about my problem son, we discovered we were kindred spirits. "He's a difficult little character," I explained. Jennie looked thoughtful. "Maybe you're only seeing him with your eyes." She was silent for a moment and then added softly, "It is only with the heart that one sees rightly." I stared at her. "You're quoting that! It's from The Little Prince, Saint-Exupery's book for children, one of my favorites. You know it, too?" Jennie nodded. "I love it. I've read it so often. I've practically memorized it." Now, when I think of Jennie, I recall that book because Jennie --more than anyone I know --possessed the gift of seeing with the heart. From that moment of a treasured book shared, our friendship grew steadily. It wasn't that I didn't have an excellent relationship with my husband and son, but my mother had died shortly after my marriage, and I had neither sisters nor daughters. I realize, now, how I needed someone to share those little, seemingly unimportant things that add so much to life --things that must be shared to be fully appreciated. And it was Jennie who helped me with my fourth-grade problem child. One day I was at my wit's end. "What he needs is a good beating!" I exploded. "He's probably had plenty of those," Jennie said. "Maybe he just needs sincere praise for anything he does right, and a hug or two each day." I followed this suggestion, and eventually, because of Jennie, I discovered a lovable little boy. Looking back, I have to admit that she taught me so much. The days I spent with her has become one of my happiest memories. How does the author feel about her family? It can be dangerous to travel by sea. Ships sometimes sink far away from land. When this happens, the sailors have to get into small boats. If another ship does not come and help them and they do not have enough food or water, they will die. Most people believe we must not drink sea water. They believe that if we do, we shall be very ill because of all the salt in the water. A doctor called Alain Bombard did not believe this. He thought that people could stay alive by drinking sea water and eating small fish, animals and plants from the sea. On 19 October 1953, he set out in a small boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean . He did not take any food or water with him. Every day Dr. Bombard drank just a little sea water. He also caught fish and they had water in them. He drank this water. He could not cook the fish, so he ate them as they were. He took small plants from the sea, which gave him more food. Dr. Bombard became hot, tired and quite ill, but after 65days at sea he was still alive. He traveled 2,750 miles from one side of the Atlantic Ocean to the other, and on 24th,December 1953, he reached Barbados. He lost 20 kilos, but he showed that people could live on sea water, the animals and plants in the sea. He went across _ . Monty Robert's father was a horse trainer. As a child, Monty often went from one farm to another with his father. Sometimes they didn't have money to pay for food, but Monty still kept hoping to own a horse farm. When he was in school, his teacher asked him to write a paper about his dream. He wrote a seven-page paper. He wanted to have a horse farm one day. He even drew a picture of a horse farm in the paper. The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later, he got his paper back. On the front page was a large red "F" with the words "See me after class". So the boy did and asked his teacher, "Why did I get an F?" The teacher said, "This dream will not come true for a young boy like you. You need a lot of money to own a horse farm. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for a lot of things. There is no way you could ever do it." Then the teacher added, "If you write this paper again with a simpler dream, I will give you a good grade." After school he thought hard about it. At last, he decided to hand in the same paper, making no changes at all. He said to the teacher, "You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream." Many years later, Monty had his own large horse farm. His dream came true. So don't let anyone take away your dreams. Follow your dreams, no matter what they are. What does the story want to tell us? Cooking is an important skill with an interesting history. Every culture has their own types of foods and methods of cooking. Most cities and towns have local specialties and dishes. Families often have special recipes and meals that nobody else knows how to cook. Food comes in almost as many shapes, sizes, and varieties as people do. And behind every meal and every dish there is a cook. In many cultures, especially in the West, cooking has traditionally been a task more often performed by women than by men. Today, however, it would be foolish to say cooking is only for females. Even though people are becoming busier and busier with their jobs, more and more people are cooking, including men. People cook to relax, to save money, to eat healthier foods, or just to eat tastier foods. This activity has become so popular that in the United States there is a television channel that does nothing but teach you how to cook. The internet has made it easier and easier to get all kinds of recipes. Because of globalization more types of spices and ingredients are available to more people at cheaper prices. This has helped contribute to new types of foods, dishes, and styles of cooking. Simply put, cooking is on the rise. In most places you can survive without knowing how to cook. But in my opinion if you don't know how to cook, you had better know somebody else that can cook, or life just won't be as enjoyable. Globalization has encouraged more people to cook because:
Everyday we talk about and use the Internet, but how many of us know the history of the Internet? Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer network didn't work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part. In this way computer network system would keep on working on the time. At first the Internet was only used by the government, but in the early 1970s, universities, hospitals and banks were allowed to use it too. However, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers became cheaper and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made "surfing" in the Internet more convenient. Today it is easy to get on-line and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mail is more and more popular among students.The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people's life. Which of the following is TRUE? A. In the 1960s, computer network worked well. B. In the early 1970s, the Internet was easy to use. C. Today it's still not easy to get on-line. D. Sending e-mail is now more popular among students than before. Answer: D. Sending e-mail is now more popular among students than before. The nation's largest group of pediatricians on Monday urged its members to "firmly oppose boxing for any child or adolescent." In a statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said thousands of boys and girls take part in the sport in North America, despite risks of serious brain and facial injuries. The group's position was approved by some experts. "There is very little one can do in order to increase the chance of having a healthy brain when you get old," said Dr. Hans Forstl, who has studied boxing injuries. " One of the best things you can do is avoid boxing." He said. According to the new statement, published in the journal Pediatrics, information from Canada shows a rise in boxing injuries over the past decade. Pat Russo, a retired police officer who runs a boxing gym in Brooklyn, New York, said injuries are rare in amateur boxing. After 26 years and training thousands of kids, he has seen just one split lip among his students. " If the gym is run properly, injuries are at an absolute minimum," Russo said. "Football is ten times more dangerous. While tennis or football might also help kids gain confidence, boxing holds a special attraction for children in poor neighborhoods, because it allows them to act tough while in trouble." Dr. Robert Cantu, a surgeon at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, said AAP's attitude makes sense for upper-class and middle-class kids. " Clearly boxing is safer today than it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is still a very risky activity," he said. "For kids in poor areas, however, the situation is different," said Cantu. " The most dangerous thing for the majority of people in boxing is just where they live. They are far safer in the ring , even taking blows to the head, than they are out in the neighborhood." Pat Russo believes that boxing injuries are _ . A. still on the rise today B. not a serious problem in his gym C. not common in poor neighborhood D. more dangerous than football injuries Answer: B. not a serious problem in his gym You're rushing to work and a man ahead of you collapses on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people avert their gaze and keep on walking rather than stop and get involved. "There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed." says a psychologist. "The first thoughts that pop into your mind often keep you from offering help. In order to take action, you have to work against them." Here are some common thoughts that might prevent you from helping. * Why should I be the one? I'm probably not the most competent person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance. * What if he doesn't really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others. * No one else looks concerned- this must not be a problem. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public. "If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and evaluate the situation instead of walking on," says the psychologist. "Then retry to involve other people; you don't have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it's just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, 'It looks like we should do something.' Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you." The main purpose of the text is to tell readers _ . A. to give others a hand B. to be more competent C. not to risk looking foolish D. to stop and evaluate the situation Answer: A. to give others a hand When Elizabeth Kenny was a little girl, she fell off a horse and hurt her arm. Mrs. Kenny took her to a doctor in Toowoomba, Queensland. In the doctor's, Elizabeth saw many bottles of medicine standing in a row. Since then, she wanted to be a nurse. As soon as she was old enough, Elizabeth was trained in a hospital. After working for some time, she made a surprising discovery. Among her patients were some children who had lost the use of their legs because of polio ( ) . Kenny tried putting hot cloth on their legs and washing them in a special way. The results were great. The children were able to use their legs again. Most doctors would not believe that children could get well in such a simple way. Gradually, however, she became famous. From 1993 on people from many parts of the world brought their children to Australia to receive treatment by this wonderful nurse. She was invited to America where her methods were used in many hospitals. Money was collected to build Kenny foundations which were for polio patients. Kenny died in 1952, but she will long be remembered for her fight against polio. The best title of the text is most likely to be _ . A. Methods of Treating Polio B. Kenny Foundations for Children C. Elizabeth Kenny, the Wonderful Nurse D. Hospitals for Polio Patients Answer: C. Elizabeth Kenny, the Wonderful Nurse Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King dreamed of an America that would one day deliver on its promise of equality for all of its citizens, black as well as white. Today, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has a dream, too: he wants to provide Internet access to the world's five billion people who do not now have it. But the world currently faces a growing technological divide, with implications for equality, liberty, and the right to pursue happiness. Around the world, more than two billion people live in the Digital Age. They can access a vast universe of information, communicate at little or no cost with their friends and family, and connect with others with whom they can cooperate in new ways. The other five billion are still stuck in the Paper Age in which my generation grew up. Internet.org, a global partnership launched by Zuckerberg, plans to bring the two-thirds of the world's population without Internet access into the Digital Age. The partnership consists of seven major information-technology companies, as well as non-profit organizations and local communities. A friend working to provide family-planning advice to poor Kenyans recently told me that so many women were coming to the clinic that she could not spend more than five minutes with each. These women have only one source of advice, and one opportunity to get it, but if they had access to the Internet, the information could be there for them whenever they wanted it. Enlarging our vision still more, it is a hope that putting the world's poor online would result in connections between them and more affluent people, leading to more assistance. Research shows that people are more likely to donate to a charity helping the hungry if they are given a photo and told the name and age of a girl like those the charity is aiding. If a mere photo and a few identifying details can do that, what might _ with the person do? Providing universal Internet access can also raise new risks and sensitive ethical issues, the distinctiveness of local cultures may be eroded, which has both a good and a bad side, for such cultures can restrict freedom and deny equality of opportunity. On the whole, though, it is reasonable to expect that giving poor people access to knowledge and the possibility of connecting with people anywhere in the world will be socially transforming in a very positive way. Internet.org is made up of _ . A. Zuckerberg, several major information-technology companies and nonprofit organizations B. nonprofit organizations and a person working to provide family-planning advice to poor people C. seven major information-technology companies, nonprofit organization and national communities D. some information-technology companies, nonprofit organization and local communities Answer: D. some information-technology companies, nonprofit organization and local communities
Every year Chris Brogan posts his three words for a new year. Many others and I have followed his lead for the past three or four years. They helped me a lot. My words for last year were"passion", "focus"and"delegate"and I stayed true to them. This year, 2013, my goals are more personal and less professional. FOCUS Focus is making a repeat appearance on my list this year because I'm too much of a _ . The problem is that I have trouble finishing one thing with so many things calling me. When I was working as a writer, all my projects were handled via a schedule, I'm putting a fitness and housekeeping routine into my schedule. HEALTH I get so busy taking care of everyone else, and I forget to take care of myself and this has to change. My health suffers and my weight suffers. I have to get my health in check, not only for me but because I promised my 9-year-old son. I'll make good food and lifestyle choices. I miss being thin, and it's time to get it back. CELEBRATE What good is having it if I'm not taking time to enjoy it? I have a wonderful job, a happy family, and so much to be thankful for. So how come I spend all my time working? Last summer my family took our first vacation in four years, the best thing I've done for myself and my family in a long time. This year, I'm making sure to take time to enjoy life and celebrate its many blessings. Do you have any words for 2013? The best title for the passage might be _ . A. Three Words for 2013 B. Health Should Go First C. Keep Organized D. Goals for 2013 Answer: A. Three Words for 2013 My name is Peter. I study in Cambell Middle School. It has a very large building. There are big playgrounds on two sides and a beautiful garden in front. In the building, there is the headmaster's room, the teacher's rooms and thirty-four classrooms. We also have two labs and a library in the building. Our library is on the ground floor. It has books almost on all subjects. It opens after school from Monday to Friday. Our school has uniforms . Boys wear white shirts and blue trousers. Girls wear white blouses and blue skirts. We all wear black shoes and white socks. We study English, Maths, History, Biology, Music and PE at school. My favourite subject is Biology. I think it is fun. Our teachers are nice to us. They check our homework and help us when we need. I love my school and my teachers. How does the building look? A. It's very beautiful. B. It's very small. C. It's very large. D. It's very clean. Answer: C. It's very large. What is going to become dryer faster? A. A wet shoe outside B. A wet cloth in the fridge C. A wet cloth in the dirt D. A wet cloth under shade Answer: A. A wet shoe outside After many years on the endangered list of animals, Japan'sAmami Black rabbit can finally breathe a sigh of relief -- That's because this year, the rare animal is no longer in danger of dying out! The effort to save the dark-furred rabbit, often called "a living fossil", began in 1921, when the Japanese government promoted it to the status of "natural monument". This meant that it could not be hunted down for food. However, when that did not work, it got yet another promotion to "special natural monument", which meant that the rabbit could not be trapped or hunted. While that helped, it was not enough -- By 2004 with only 2,000-5,000 specimen left in the wild, the Amami rabbit was officially declared endangered! The reason for the serious population decrease was due to loss of habitat caused by forest clearing for home and agriculture use and the introduction of a new species not native to the island -- the Mongoose. Brought in to get rid of the snake population, the Mongoose instead seemed to prefer the black rabbit. In 2005, the government carried out a strict mongoose capture order and slowly but surely, the rabbit started to come back. This rabbit live in a rather unusual lifestyle. Its ideal habitat is a forest that features both trees and large grasses -- the former to find acorns to feed on and the latter, to hide its babies. That's because to protect them from being eaten by their enemies, the Amami rabbit buries them deep into the ground among the grasses and covers them up with dirt during the day. Then, in the middle of the night, still keeping a _ eye out for their enemies, it digs them out from their hiding place and feeds them. No wonder the animal is sometimes called "midnight rabbit". Though many measures have been taken to stop this furry animal from being wiped out from the world, there are many more that are still in danger. We surely hope that officials in other parts of the worldtry their best to save the endangered species. In Amami rabbit's ideal habitat, large grasses are used _ . A. to feed on B. to protect its babies C. to hide themselves D. to give birth to babies Answer: B. to protect its babies Maddie Messe, 13, has always loved Temple Run, a mobile game that sends her racing through swamps and forests to outrun a pack of crazed monkeys. What she didn't love was being forced to play as a boy -- unless she was willing to buy a female version. "I felt like l was being cheated or misrepresented," Maddie explains."Girls are just as capable of running away from monkeys as boys are." So last winter, Maddie researched 50 of the most popular iPhone games. What she found was infuriating:90 percent offered free male characters, but only 15 percent let you play as a female for free. Armed with those statistics, Maddie drafted a spirited article and fired it off to several major newspapers. The Washington Post agreed to run the piece, which attracted millions of readers around the globe -- including the makers of Temple Run! "We realized she had a point," says Natalia Luckyanova, the game's co-creator. "It was the kick in the pants we needed to say,'We should fix it.'So we did." Now you can play Temple Run with a female character for free, but Maddie hopes her campaign inspires something deeper."If you don't see characters that look like you on TV or in movies or games, speak up! Just do your research first,"says Maddie. "One well-supported argument is much more effective than a million angry complaints." To Natalia Luckyanova, Maddie's article sounded _ . A. amusing B. persuasive C. impractical D. unreasonable Answer: B. persuasive
Hummingbirds drink nectar from flowers, and when they leave the flower they bring special dust with them Scientists wonder how the Egyptian pyramids were built. They think that the huge blocks of stone may have been put into place by pushing them up a sloping pathway. The pathway is which type of simple machine? inclined plane Alice Brown lives in New York with her mum and dad and two brothers,Tony and Peter.It is Alice's fourteen birthday next week.The family has got two dogs,a cat and four rabbits.Alice likes cats and rabbits but her brothers like dogs.Alice's dad works in a hotel.He's a hotel manager.Her mum teaches English at a middle school. Alice and her brothers study at the same school,but they are in different grades.She's in Grade Seven, Her brother Tony is in Glade Ten and Peter is in Glade Six.They live in a house near the school.They walk to school together every day. Alice is interested in computers. At home she plays computer games in her free time. When she leaves school,she also wants to work with computers. What does her mother do? She is a teacher. Street art is very popular around the world. You can find it on buildings, street signs and trash cans from Tokyo to Paris, from Moscow to Cape Town. Street art has become a global culture and even art museums are collecting the works of street artists. People have different opinions about street art. Some think it is bad, but others think it is a very beautiful new culture. Street art began in New York in the 1960s. This style of drawing and writing became know as graffiti. Graffiti art showed that young people wanted to rebel against the rules. They traveled around cities to make paintings that everyone could see. One well-known New York street artist is Swoon. She cuts paper pictures of people and puts them on walls. Swoon didn't start as street artist. She studied art but, later, got bored with the works she saw in museums. Then she fell in love with graffiti. The people in New York enjoy Swoon's style. Some museums have already bought some of her works. Street artists do their work for some reasons. A number of them choose street art because it is closer to the everyday life. Nowadays the Internet has a big influence on street art. Artists can show their pictures to people around the world. Many people in the city, however, say that seeing a picture on the Internet is never as good as seeing it live . Where did street art begin? In New York. At Blossom End Railroad Station, 22-year-old Stanley Vine sat, waiting for his new employer. The surrounding green fields were so unlike the muddy landscape of war-torn France. After four horrible years as an army private fighting in Europe, Stanley had returned to England in February 1946. Armed now with some savings and with no prospects for a job in England, he answered a newspaper ad for farm help in Canada. Two months later he was on his way. When the old car rumbled toward the tiny station, Stanley rose to his feet, trying to make the most of his five foot and four inches frame. The farmer, Alphonse Lapine, shook his head and complained, "You're a skinny thing." On the way to his dairy farm, Alphonse explained that he had a wife and seven kids. "Money is tight. You'll get room and board. You'll get up at dawn for milking, and then help me around the farm until evening milking time again. Ten dollars a week. Sundays off." Stanley nodded. He had never been on a farm before, but he took the job. From the beginning Stanley was treated horribly by the whole family. They made fun of the way he dressed and talked. He could do nothing right. The humourless farmer frequently lost his temper, criticizing Stanley for the slightest mistake. The oldest son, 13-year-old Armand, constantly played tricks on him. But the kind-hearted Stanley never responded. Stanley never became part of the Lapine family. After work, they ignored him. He spend his nights alone in a tiny bedroom. However, each evening before retiring, he lovingly cared for the farmer's horses, eagerly awaiting him at the field gate. He called them his gentle giants. On Saturday nights he hitch-hiked into the nearest town and wandered the streets or enjoyed a restaurant meal before returning to the farm. Early one November morning Alphonse Lapine discovered that Stanley had disappeared, after only six months as his farmhand. The railway station master, when questioned later that week, said he had not seen him. In fact no one in the community ever heard of him again. That is, until one evening, almost 20 years later, when Armand, opened an American sports magazine and came across a shocking headline, "Millionaire jockey , Stanley Vine, ex-British soldier and 5-time horse riding champion, began life in North America as a farmhand in Canada." What did Stanley like doing after work each day? Caring for the farmer's horses.
Question: The Boy Made It! One Sunday, Nicholas, a teenager, went skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. In the early afternoon, when he was planning to go home, a fierce snowstorm swept into the area. Unable to see far, he accidentally turned off the path. Before he knew it, Nicholas was lost, all alone! He didn't have food, water, a phone, or other supplies. He was getting colder by the minute. Nicholas had no idea where he was. He tried not to panic. He thought about all the survival shows he had watched on TV. It was time to put the tips he had learned to use. He decided to stop skiing. There was a better chance of someone finding him if he stayed put. The first thing he did was to find shelter form the freezing wind and snow. If he didn't, his body temperature would get very low, which could quickly kill him. Using his skis, Nicholas built a snow cave. He gathered a huge mass of snow and dug out a hole in the middle. Then he piled branches on top of himself, like a blanket, to stay as warm as he could. By that evening, Nicholas was really hungry. He ate snow and drank water from a nearby stream so that his body wouldn't lose too much water. Not knowing how much longer he could last, Nicholas did the only thing he could- he huddled in his cave and slept. The next day, Nicholas went out to look for help, but he couldn't find anyone. He followed his tracks and returned to the snow cave, because without shelter, he could die that night. On Tuesday, Nicholas went out to find help. He had walked for about a mile when a volunteer searcher found him. After two days stuck in the snow, Nicholas was saved. Nicholas might not have survived this snowstorm had it not been for TV. He had often watched Grylls' survival show. Man vs. Wild. That's where he learned the tips that saved his life, In each episode of Man vs. Wild, Grylls is abandoned in a wild area and has to find his way out. When Grylls heard about Nicholas' amazing deeds, he was super impressed that Nicholas had made it since he knew better than anyone how hard Nicholas had to work to stay alive. How did Nicholas keep himself warm? A. He found a shelter. B. He lighted some branches. C. He kept on skiing. D. He built a snow cave. Answer: D Question: In Greek mythology , the gods punished Sisyphus by forcing him to roll a rock up a steep hill for eternity . But he was probably better off than if they'd forced him to sit and stare into space until the end of time, conclude the authors of a new study on keeping busy. They found that people who have something to do, even something pointless, are happier than people who sit around. "The general phenomenon I'm interested in is why people are too busy doing what they are doing in modern society," says Christopher K. Hsee, of the University of Chicago. "People are running around, working hard, the way beyond the basic level." Sure, there are reasons, like making a living, earning money, and so on. But, Hsee says, "I think there's something deeper: We have extra energy and we want to avoid idleness." In a study 98 students were asked to complete two surveys. After they had completed the first they were made to wait 15 minutes to receive the next one. They were given a choice of either handing in the first survey nearby or at a more distant location they had to walk to. Whichever option they chose, they received a chocolate bar. Not everyone chose to go to the faraway location. Two-thirds chose the lazy option. Yet those who chose to stay busy by going to the faraway location were found to be happier than those who had _ . But if the chocolate bars offered at the two locations were different, they were more likely to choose the far location--because they could make up a good and acceptable reason for the trip, Hsee and his colleagues say. Hsee thinks it may be possible to use this principle--people like being busy, and they like being able to show being busy right or reasonable--to benefit society. "If we can find a way for idle people to engage in activity that is at least not harmful, I think it is better than destructive business," he says. Hsee himself has been known to give a research assistant a useless task when he doesn't have anything to do, so he isn't sitting around the office getting bored and depressed. How does Hsee's assistant probably feel while performing a task? A. Blue. B. Empty. C. Contented. D. Trapped. Answer: C Question: Dear Mr. Plant, I am an enthusiastic camper and longtime X-Ports customer, but after being offended for the third time at your Sierra Vista location, I am writing to complain about your impolite employees. Several months ago ,I bought a tent that leaked the first time I used it and wanted it replaced . When I took it back, your employees accused me of tearing it myself. I left not only withm1, torn tent, but no refund and no satisfaction. A couple of weeks ago , I bought a sleeping bag that was supposed to sleep two people comfort-ably. It didn't. Your employees refused to give me my money back even though I had the receipt. I was asked to leave the store, again with no satisfaction. To my misfortune, my latest purchase , of a piece of camping equipment at your store proyed to be another disappointment. The propane camp stove I bought didn't work properly. When I returned to exchange it, the rude clerk refused to help me because I did not have my sales receipt. It was an even exchange! He said that I was a problem and even asked if I had seen what products I-could purchase at one of your competitor's stores at comparable prices. Was he accusing me of something? Why would I have brought a receipt for an even exchange? Why would I know the price at other stores? Furthermore, the clerk called security and forced me to leave your store-without my camp stove! How can I go camping now? The tent leaks, the sleeping bag is just wrong, and I don't have a stove to keep warm ! Who is going to refund my money for my stove? Who is going to help me get over the abuse I suffered in your store? You, as the area manager must clear these matters up for me immediately! I am sending copies of this letter to your main office and the Sierra Vista Store. Sincerely , Ima Kumpanee The letter is organized in order of _ . A. complexity B. importance C. space D. time Answer: D Question: There was once a man called Mr. Flowers, and flowers were his only joy in life. He spent all his spare time in one of his four glass-houses and grew flowers of every color, with long and difficult names, for competitions, he tried to grow a rose of a new color to win the silver cup for the Rose of the Year. Mr. Flowers' glass-houses were very close to a middle school. Boys of around thirteen years of age were often tempted to throw a stone or two at one of Mr. Flowers' glass-houses. So Mr. Flower did his best to be in or close by his glass-houses at the beginning and end of the school day. But it was not always possible to be on watch at those times. Mr. Flowers had tried in many ways to protect his glass, but nothing had been useful. He had been to report to the headmaster, but this bad not done any good. He had tried to drive away the boys when they threw stones. He had even picked up all the stones around his garden, so that the boys would have nothing to throw, but they soon found others. At last Mr. Flowers had a good idea. He put up a large notice. It was made of good, strong wood. It was some meters away from the glass-houses. On it he had written the words: DO NOT THROW STONES AT THIS NOTICE. After that, Mr Flowers had no further trouble: The boys were much more attempted to throw stoned at the notice than at the glass-houses. Boys were often tempted to _ A. throw stones at Mr. Flowers' glass-houses B. throw stones at Mr. Flowers from their school C. be in or close by Mr. Flowers' glass-houses D. play with Mr. Flowers near his glass-houses Answer: A Question: There was once a guy who suffered from cancer, a cancer that can't be cured. One day he was sick of staying home and wanted to go out. He passed a CD store and looked through the front door for a second. He saw a beautiful girl about his age and he knew it was love at first sight. He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her. He walked closer and closer until he was finally at the front desk where she sat. She looked up and asked, "Can I help you?" She smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen before. He said, "UH...Yeah...Umm... I would like to buy a CD." He picked one out and gave her money for it. "Would you like me to pack it for you?" she asked, smiling her cute smile again. He nodded and she went to the back. She came back with the packed CD and gave it to him. From then on, he went to that store every day and bought a CD. He took the CD home and put it in his closet. He was still too shy to ask her out. His mother found out about this and encouraged him. So the next day, he took all his courage and left his phone number on the desk before he ran out. Several weeks later the phone rang, and the mother picked it up. It was the girl!!! The mother started to cry and said, "You don't know? He passed away yesterday..." Later that day, the mother went into the boy's room and opened the closet. Inside were piles and piles of unopened CDs. She picked one up and opened it. Out fell a piece of paper, saying: "Do you want to go out with me? Love, Jocelyn." The mother was deeply moved and opened another CD... Again, there was a piece of paper with the same words. When the girl asked "Can I help you?", the boy felt _ . A. discouraged B. nervous C. stupid D. embarrassed Answer: B
Defendant became intoxicated at a bar. He got into his car and drove away. Within a few blocks, craving another drink, he stopped his car in the middle of the street, picked up a brick, and broke the display window of a liquor store. As he was reaching for a bottle, the night watchman arrived. Startled, Defendant turned and struck the watchman on the head with the bottle, killing him. Only vaguely aware of what was happening, Defendant returned to his car, consumed more liquor, and then drove off at a high speed. He ran a red light and struck and killed a pedestrian who was crossing the street. Relevant statutes define burglary to include "breaking and entering a building not used as a dwelling with the intent to commit a crime therein." Manslaughter is defined as the "killing of a human being in a criminally reckless manner." Criminal recklessness is "consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk resulting from the actor's conduct." Murder is defined as "the premeditated and intentional killing of another or the killing of another in the commission of committing rape, robbery, burglary, or arson." Another statute provides that intoxication is not a defense to crime unless it negates an element of the offense. Defendant was charged with the murder of the watchman and manslaughter in the death of the pedestrian. Assume that he is tried separately on each charge "At Defendant's trial on the charge of manslaughter in the death of the pedestrian, his best argument would be that he was too intoxicated to realize that he was creating a substantial and unjustifiable risk in the manner in which he was operating his car. A boy and a girl were a couple of lovers. The girl liked feeling rain, so the boy was always holding the umbrella when it rained and most part of the umbrella was over the girl. Rain showered the boy every time but he said nothing except looked at the gift's face, which was full of silent satisfaction. He felt very happy, so did the girl. One day they went out for a walk. They were walking hand in hand passing a building which was under construction. The girl jumped with excitement and said something. The boy seldom talked only feeling excited as she felt looking at her silently. When the girl was talking, a not big or small stone fell down from the building toward the girl's head! At that moment the boy took the girl in his arms so suddenly and so strongly that the girl let out a scream. He meant to protect the gift with his body. But the boy turned over to make his own body downward before they dropped on the ground. As a result, only the girl's hand was smashed by the stone and _ The girl came back to earth and cried with pain, tears weeping up. She thought the saying that "The husband and the wife are birds in the same forest essentially, but when serious tragedy comes, they will fly separately" was really not wrong! With this, she straggled and stood up from. the boy's body keeping from the pains and slowly ran away without glancing at the boy. At the time, the boy was calling the girl's name in a weak voice, his lips were already white. He took out his mobile phone and dialed the girl's number, but the girl didn't answer. He dialed again she didn't answer again. For several times, he gave up. But his fingers pressed something on the mobile. At that time, beside the boy, the blood spread slowly, his hand hung and the mobile phone lay in the blood, he had no strength to press the "SENT" key yet. The next day, when the girl heard of the news that the boy was being rescued, she ran to the hospital without considering her anger. When she hurried to the hospital, the doctor had already declared his death; the cause of his death was that his lung had lost too much blood. It was because, when the boy meant to protect the girl with his body he found that there was a steel stick under them, so he turned over to make it inset(="put" into) his own body. The boy's mother passed the boy's mobile phone on to the gift. The girl read the message that hadn't been sent: "Honey, I'm sorry, I still couldn't protect you and made you wound... "Upon this, the girl couldn't help crying... Please treasure the one you love and believe his or her LOVE! From this passage we can conclude that _ trust is important between lovers The apartments for sales,40 minutes' walk to the gold coast beach, on the ground floor is a private patio , fully fitted kitchen, resting room with feature fireplace and a second reception room which could be used as a dinning room or third downstairs bedroom. On the first floor are two double bedrooms, one of which leads onto a sunny terrace , fully tiled bathroom with bath and shower. The property is in excellent condition throughout and is ready to move straight into Sky TV, telephone and broadband are connected. Status: Available Price: EURC/115,000 Telephone: 00351-981888988 Location: Mollina Malaga Province Spain Apartment furnished for sale at an unbelievable price. The apartment is part of a small complex with swimming pool and a public resting-room with TV, relaxing area, changing areas, etc. The apartment is on the market fully furnished, air conditioning, with good environment to all divisions of the apartment. If you are thinking _ the rental market while the property is empty during the year, this property could be your best bet at the best possible price. Number of Bedrooms: 2 Status: Available Price: EURC/147,000 Telephone: 00331-961777017 Location: Sao Leiria Portugal Nice villa for sale. The villa has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Beach at walking distance. Outside there is a swimming pool. The villa is just outside inland coast in a small villa of 20 houses. Status: Available Price: EURC/340,000 Telephone: 04811-961999018 Location: Inland Costal Area The apartments in the first advertisement have the following advantages Except _ . it has a public resting-room with TV We spent a day in the country and picked a lot of flowers. Our car was full of flowers inside! On the way home we had to stop at traffic lights, and there my wife saw the bookshelf. It stood outside a furniture shop." Buy it," she said at once."We'll carry it home on the roof-rack . I've always wanted one like that." What should I do?Ten minutes later I was twenty dollars poorer,and the bookshelf was tied onto the roof-rack. It was tall and narrow, quite heavy too.As it was getting darker, I drove slowly.Other drivers seemed more polite than usual that evening. The police evenstopped teaffic to let us through. Carrying furniture was a good idea. After some time my wife said,"There's a long line of cars behind. Why don't they overtake " Just at that time a police car did overtake. The two officers inside looked at us seriously when they went past.But then, with a kind smile they asked us to follow their car through the busy traffic. The police car stopped at our village church .One of the officers came to me. "Right, sir!"he said,"Do you need any more help now?" I didn't quite understand. "Thanks, officer," I said. "You've been very kind. I live just down the road." He was looking at our things, first at the flowers, then at the bookshelf. "Well, well," he said and laughed. "It's a bookshelf you've got there! We thought it was... er ..., something else." My wife began to laugh. Suddenly i understood why the police drove here. I smiled at the officer. "Yes, it's a bookshelf, but thanks again." I drove home as fast as i could. From the story we know that _ . the writer was not very glad to buy the bookshelf for his wife From the moment that an animal is born it has to make decisions. It has to decide which of the things around it are for eating, and which are to be avoided; when to attack and when to run away. The animal is, in fact, playing a complicated and potentially dangerous game with its environment, discomfort or destruction. This is a difficult and unpleasant business and few animals would survive if they had to start from the beginning and learn about the world wholly by trial and error, for there are too many possible decisions which would prove fatal. So we find, in practice, that the game is always arranged in favor of the young animal in one way or another. Either the animal is protected during the early stages of its learning about the world around it, or the knowledge of which way to respond is built into its nervous system from the start. The fact that animals behave sensibly can be attributed partly to what we might call genetic learning, to distinguish it from individual learning that an animal does in the cause of its own life time. Genetic learning is learning by a species as a whole, and it is achieved by selection of those members of each generation that happen to behave in the right way. However, genetic learning depends upon a prediction that the future will more or less exactly resemble the past. The more variable individual experience is likely to be, the less efficient is genetic learning as a means of getting over the problems of the survival game. It is not surprising to find that very few species indeed depend wholly upon genetic learning. In the great majority of animals, behavior is a compound of individual experience added to the action patterns animals are born with.That is why animals can survive. Concerning the relationship between genetic learning and individual experience, which of the following is right? Genetic learning is likely to function more if the environments don't vary much.
Way back in 1662,John Evelyn,a brilliant Englishman known for his detailed diaries,wrote about disastrous effects of coal-burning on the city of London .In it,he described an _ scene of smog.air filled with "Columns and Clouds of Smoke''given out by small industries and residences that burned coal for fuel. I found the description in the 2003 book When Smoke Ran like Water,by epidemiologist and environmental advocator Devra Davis.In it,Davis looks back at several historic pollution events and their disastrous effect on human human health-and at how these phenomena were often Ignored or even actively covered up by then people in charge at that time. As Davis points out,John Evelyn was ahead of his time when writing about how London's polluted air affected the well-being of its residents.It wasn't until nearly 300 years later,after what became well-known as the Great Smog of 1952,that the government began to address the problem in a systematic way. For four days.Between December 5th"and 9th",due to all accident of the weather pattern,the city was buried in a heavy fog .People were still burning coal for fuel,and low-grade coal at that time, because 0f wartime condition.A temperature inversion trapped the smoke from the city's fires, creating a black cloud in which people could barely find their way down the most familiar streets Some tried to protect themselves,but most people simply went about their business. But l952's fog was far worse than any other in memory.In the same week of the previous year, 1852 people had died in London;inl952,that number was 4703 And the deaths didn't stop when the weather changed and the fog lifted.Davis and her colleagues analyzed data from the next several months and found that about 13000 more people died between December and March than one would have predicted from historical averages Many of them died of pneumonia .The government,she writes.Tried to blame a bad flu season.Her detailed analysis found that explanation simply did not pan out. Davis writes that even today in this country ,we still have not completely absorbed the lessons of similar events.Sixty years the killer fog lifted in London,people are dying preventable deaths and suffering life.changing illnesses,simply because they must breathe the air of the cities where they live The passage is written to _ Answer: It is difficult to imagine what life will be like without memory. The meanings of thousands of everyday perceptions(, ), the bases for the decisions we make, and the roots of our habits and skills are to be found in our past experiences, which are brought into the present by memory. Memory can be defined as the capacity to keep information available for later use. It includes not only "remembering" things like arithmetic or historical facts, but also involves any change in the way an animal typically behaves. Memory is involved when a rat gives up eating grain because he has sniffed something suspicious in the grain pile. Memory is also involved when a six-year-old child learns to swing a baseball bat. Memory exists not only in humans and animals but also in some physical objects and machines. Computers, for example, contain devices from storing data for later use. It is interesting to compare the memory-storage capacity of a computer with that of a human being. The instant-access memory of a large computer may hold up to 100,000 "words"--ready for instant use. An average prefix = st1 /U. S. teenager probably recognizes the meaning of about 100,000 words of English. However, this is but a fraction(, ) of the total amount of information which the teenager has stored. Consider, for example, the number of faces and places that the teenager can recognize on sight. The use of words is the advanced problem-solving intelligence of human beings. A large part of a person's memory is in terms of words and combinations of words. The phrase "in terms of" in the last sentence can best be replaced by _ Answer: Alejandra Pachecho:No. Why not?That is because in this world some people drive very crazily. So most people who use cell phones to talk in the car usually pay more attention to what they are talking about than to driving. One of the reasons that I feel this way is that my friend had a car accident while using a cell phone. He lost his life and his friends did, too. Rodrigo Cruz:That depends. The advantages of using a cell phone while driving are that you can call the police if there is a car accident, call for help when somebody's car breaks down, and call when somebody needs something before arriving home or at the office. The disadvantage is that people get distracted when they are driving at the same time they are talking on a cell phone. It can cause car accidents. Carl Khalid:No. I would recommend if you want to use a cell phone while you're driving, pull over and take your time. You will avoid a lot of trouble. There are many advantages of using cell phones in cars. In emergencies such as accidents, a flat tire or engine problem, the cell phone is useful for calling 911 for help. Using the cell phone while driving can save time, but using it while driving can also cause a lot of problems such as missing a red light or signs, not watching cars, or not paying attention to the speed limit. It causes a lot of problems. All these problems could cause loss of concentration. Mirna Hazim:Yes. A cell phone is helpful; it is one of the most important communication devices. For example, if you want to talk with somebody for an important reason, you can. One time when I was coming back from work at 10 o'clock at night, I had a problem in my car. It wouldn't move. I was scared to go into a store to call my brother because I didn't know the places there. I thought it could be dangerous. That night I found out that owning a cell phone is important. According to the passage, Rodrigo Cruz _ . Answer: Dear Reader, Today I'm going to ask you to support Wikipedia with a donation. Sounds unusual: Why does one of the world's five most popular websites ask for financial support from its users? Wikipedia is built differently from almost every other top 50.We have a small number of paid staff, just twentythree. Wikipedia content is free to use by anyone for any purpose. Wikipedia is run by the nonprofit Wikipedia Foundation, which I founded in 2003. Wikipedia's driven by a global community of more than 150,000 volunteers, all devoted to sharing knowledge freely. More than 275 million people come to our website every month to access information, free of charge and free of advertising. Your donation helps us in several ways. Most importantly, you will help us cover the increasing cost of managing global traffic to one of the most popular websites on the Internet. Funds also help us improve the software that runs Wikipedia, making it easier to search, easier to read, and easier to write for. We're bent on growing the free knowledge movement worldwide, by employing new volunteers, and building strategic partnerships with institutes of culture and learning. Wikipedia is different. It's the largest encyclopedia in history, all written by volunteers. Like a national park or a school, we don't believe advertising should have a place in Wikipedia. We want to keep it free and strong, but we need the support of thousands of people like you, for your donation will help keep Wikipedia free for the whole world. Thank you! Jimmy Wales It can be inferred from the letter that _ . Answer: If a biped which uses tools is in an ideal habitat, there will be within it Answer:
Question: A guitarist was pleasantly surprised to hear from New York City police that his valuable guitar had been found.It disappeared almost a year ago when he got out of a taxi and forgot to take the guitar with him.Laurence Lennon,44,said he was running late that day.He was talking to his manager on his cellphone when he rushed out of the taxi.He said that he gave the driver $60 and told him to keep the change.He walked through the front doors of the concert hall,still talking on the phone to his manager. Upon discovering his loss,Lennon used his cellphone to call the police.The policewoman asked him for the name of the taxi company,the number of the taxi,and the name of the driver.He said that she must have been joking. She told Lennon that he could apply for a missing item report online. Lennon asked for address. It was www.nypd.gov/toprotectandtoserve/haveaniceday.She told him that finding the guitar might take a couple of years for finding guitars was not as important as finding murderers and marijuana smokers.Then she told him to have a nice day. "This year has been depressing,"said Lennon."I had to put off the recording of two new CDs.I've been using borrowed guitars.And I was losing hope of ever recovering my guitar." Lennon was reunited with his $100,000 guitar yesterday.The guitar had been discovered in the corner of a coffeehouse only two blocks from where Lennon had lost it.Lennon had offered a $10,000 reward for its return.He said he would give the reward to the coffeehouse owner,who had informed the police. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. Careless guitarist surprised B. Valuable guitar found C. Coffeehouse owner rewarded D. Taxi driver still unknown Answer: B Question: I look in the mirror, and I'm not happy with what I see. I don't have a "perfect" face. I look in the magazines and all I see are girls with fair hair, blue eyes, and, of course, a pretty little nose. They're on the outside of the buses that I take home, the television programs I watch, and the billboards I walk under. Almost every advertisement I see shows this human physical "perfection". These billboards not only tell me what to drink, but also how to look. Our society place more importance on a person's physical beauty, rather than their ability, honesty and character. We have influenced women to go through painful surgeries and starve themselves to become this society built physical model. To be a beautiful woman in the 21st century doesn't mean that you are a brilliant doctor or caring mother. It means you have the perfect jaw, eyes and lips. It means that you can be six feet tall and weigh one hundred and ten pounds. But what about the women who are starting to leave their youth? Instead of looking at aging as a sign of wisdom, we try to prevent the aging process . It's a kind of funny thing to want to look eighteen when fifty. Fifty is a relaxed age, when you can step back and look at all you've achieved (successfully complete something). It is when your hard work pays off. Unfortunately, our society just sees you as "old". To stop the aging process, women buy wrinkle creams, do eye lifts and face lifts. They spend thousands of dollars to win the hopeless battle against age. I remember when I was about thirteen years old and going through teens, I had oily hair, and a half developed body. I hated the way I looked. I used to cry to my mother all the time, but she would just laugh and tell me that "you don't want anyone to like your appearance. It's your heart that is important, because beauty fades. " I knew that she was right. If you work on your heart enough, people will start to see the beauty in you, which lasts and remains on even after you die. What's the author's opinion about beauty? A. The author doesn't like the beauties our society values. B. It is not important whether a person looks beautiful or not. C. It is a person's heart and inner qualities that are important rather than the physical beauty. D. The author feels appearance is important to a person. Answer: C Question: A new Canada Prize for the Arts and Creativity could be in place by 2010, with large cash prizes for emerging artists in dance, music, theatre and visual arts. The prize is the idea of Tony Gagliano and David Pecaut, founders of the Luminato festival,who were able to convince the federal government to back it. The federal budget has allocated $25 million to support the awards open to emerging artists. The aim is to create a prize that has the prestige of a Nobel Prize. "When you think about the major prizes of the world ---- the Nobel Prize in Sweden,the Kyoto prizes in Japan or the Booker Prize in the U.K . --- they bring great honor and opportunity to the countries that award them," Pecaut said."The idea here is that every year,the Canada prizes will be awarded to the very best promising emerging artists around the world in those four fields. " A jury of international experts would judge the 12 finalists,who would come to Canada and perform or show their work in public to win the Canada prizes.The performances would be televised, allowing Canadians across the country to see it. The federal government liked the idea of such an international prize that would advance Canada's brand,draw tourists and arts professionals from around the world.For the Canadian arts community, one of the greatest challenges is connecting to that international arts world to come up with co-productions and foreign investment and touring chances. A group is working toward establishing the prize by 2010,with potential for semi-final rounds to take place about the same time as the Vancouver Olympic Games."Thirty or forty years from now,the future outstanding dancers and performers will look back and say, 'I broke out on the world scene in Toronto -- that's where I was discovered.' " Which of the following would be the best title for the text? A. the Capital of the World in Arts B. The Nobel Prize in Arts C. A Canada Prize for Arts D. The Emerging Artists Answer: C Question: When several different people look at the same person,it's not unusual for each of them to see different things;when you alone observe one behavior or one person at two different times,you may see different things.The following are but some of the factors that lead to these changing perceptions . (1)Each person's perceptions of others are formed by his or her own cultural conditioning education,and personal experiences. (2)Sometimes perceptions differ because of what we choose to observe and how we deal with what we've observed.It is not necessarily true that person's perception is based on observations of a particular person.Your observations may be totally controlled by what others have told you about this person;or you may focus primarily on the situation or role relationship.Most people do not use the same yardstick to measure their parents,their friends and strangers. (3)Sometimes we see only what we want to see or don't see what may be obvious to others because of our own needs,desires,or temporary emotional states.This is a process known as selective perception.Selective perception is obviously more difficult when contradictory information is particularly obvious,but it can be done.We can ignore the " _ ".He's basically a good boy so what I saw was not shoplifting. We can reduce the importance of the contradictory information--All kids get into mischief .Taking a book from the bookstore isn't such a big deal."We can change the meaning of the contradictory information." It wasn't shoplifting because he was going to pay for it later. While observing a particular person, _ . A. one is likely to take all aspects to consideration B. one pays more attention to his/her advantages C. children often differ from grownups in perception D. one tends to choose certain cues to look for Answer: D Question: Last month we reported about a study that showed eating even a little less salt could greatly help the heart. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists used a computer model to predict how just three grams less salt a day would affect heart disease in the United States. The scientists said the results would be thirteen percent fewer heart attacks, eight percent fewer strokes , four percent fewer deaths and eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings. Researchers said it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year. They and public health professionals in the United States are interested in a national campaign to persuade people to eat less salt. Such campaigns are already in place in Britain, Japan and Finland. Michael Alderman is among the critics. He is a high blood pressure expert and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Doctor Alderman says that eating less salt results in lower blood pressure. But he says studies have not clearly shown that lowering salt means fewer heart attacks or strokes. And he says salt has other biological effects. He says calling for reduction in the national diet could have good effects, but it could also have harmful results. He says there is not enough evidence _ . Another critic is David McCarron, a nutrition and kidney disease expert at the University of California, Davis. He and his team looked at large studies of diets in thirty-three countries. They found that most people around the world eat about the same amount of salt. Most of them eat more salt than American health officials advise. Doctor McCarron says the worldwide similarity suggests that a person's brain might decide how much salt to eat. Both Doctor McCarron and Doctor Alderman have connections to the Salt Institute, a trade group for the salt industry. Doctor Alderman is a member of an advisory committee. But he says he receives no money from the group. Doctor McCarron is paid for offering advice to the Salt Institute. Which of the following about Michael Alderman is NOT TRUE? A. He is a high blood pressure expert. B. He says eating less salt results in lower blood pressure. C. He agrees lowering salt means fewer heart attacks or strokes. D. He is a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Answer: C
Question: Different colours can affect us in many different ways; that's according to Verity Allen. In a new programme "Colour me Healthy", Verity looks at the ways that colours can influence how hard we work and the choices we make. They can even change our emotions and even influence how healthy we are. "Have you ever noticed how people always use the same colours for the same things?" says Verity. "Our toothpaste is always white or blue or maybe red. It's never green. Why not? For some reason we think that blue and white is clean, while we think of green products as being a bit unpleasant. It's the same for businesses. We respect a company which writes its name in blue or black, but we don't respect one that uses pink or orange. People who design new products can use these ideas to influence what we buy." During the programme, Verity studies eight different colours, two colours in each part. She meets people who work in the colour industry, from people who design food packages, to people who name the colours of lipsticks. Some of the people she meets clearly have very little scientific knowledge to prove their ideas, such as the American "Colour Doctor" who believes that serious diseases can be treated successfully by the use of coloured lights. However, she also interviews real scientists who are studying the effects of green and red lights on mice, with some surprising results. Overall, it's an interesting show, and anyone who watches it will probably find out something new. But because Verity _ to be polite to everyone she meets on the programme, it's up to you to make your own decisions about how much you should believe. What's Verity's opinion about colours? A. Colours help people choose products. B. Different people prefer different colours. C. Colours have influences on people in many ways. D. People working in colour industry know little about colours. Answer: C. Colours have influences on people in many ways. Question: The Vieira family moved to the United States in 1981. At that time, they decided to stop speaking Spanish at home and only communicate in English. This was because they were now living in an English-speaking country. Now the Vieira children are adults, and they sometimes travel to Spain to visit their family and friends. But they cannot communicate with them. Unfortunately this is common. When people move to new countries, they often leave their own customs and mother language behind. This is a mistake because there are many benefits to knowing more than one language. One advantage of speaking more than one language is that you can communicate directly with more people around the world. You do not have to depend on others to talk for you, so you're more independent. People who know only one language must use others to help them communicate Furthermore, speaking a second language also allows people to experience other cultures and customs more effectively. Local expressions, vocabulary, and even jokes can have a powerful effect on a person's understanding of another culture. So, knowing more than one language increases your knowledge of other cultures. Finally, having more _ improves relationships between countries. If people from different countries can communicate well, the world can become closer. Countries will then have more respect for each other and better understand each other's problems. The benefits of knowing more than one language are clear. In fact, there are no disadvantages. It is very sad that many people don't try to learn another language. It is even worse when people let themselves forget their mother language and become silent. What is the passage mainly about? A. The benefits of learning other languages. B. The reasons why people come toAmerica. C. The importance of learning English. D. How to learn another language. Answer: A. The benefits of learning other languages. Question: With the average home in the capital selling for 19,548 yuan a square meter in November, a tiny mobile home built by a 24-year-old office worker is creating a stir online. Dai Haifei built the 6-square-meter pad because he could not afford to buy or rent in the capital. Dai's new home costs him 6,400 yuan and he has been living in it for nearly two months in a courtyard at Chengfu Road, Haidian district. Dai, who is one of the millions of migrants who moved to the capital from other parts of China seeking a better life and better job, said he realized his financial burden had become too great. The Hunan native said he simply could not make ends meet when he became an intern at a Beijing-based construction design company in 2009. "I rented a home at the very beginning--a small room in an apartment that cost me about 900 yuan per month," said Dai in an interview with local media. "It was too expensive for me." Dai's father works on a construction site in his hometown and his mother is a cleaner. Dai, who ended up becoming a formal employee of the company, figured out his own way to solve the problem---with inspiration from a housing design project at his company's exhibition early this year. The project, named "An egg given birth to by the city", included a series of egg-like movable houses, with a karaoke house, chair house and trader's house in it. Dai, who borrowed 6,400 yuan from an older cousin and who got additional help from several friends, decided to make one of his own. He spent nearly two months building his "egg house" in his hometown, a village in southeast Hunan that is around 1, 700 kilometers from Beijing. Why did he build the pad? A. Because he will sell it for money. B. Because he has no house to get married in. C. Because he doesn't have enough money to buy or rent a house. D. Because he wants to get help from the society. Answer: C. Because he doesn't have enough money to buy or rent a house. Question: This is a tense time for students in America,with the exam season in full swing and the stress and anxiety being felt across the country.At some universities,students are reviewing their lessons,knowing that in a few weeks the stress will be over once they put pen to paper in that exam hall.For others,however,that stress and anxiety may well last a while longer as lecturers continue to refuse to set exams.No one knows when things will get back to normal. The reason behind this trouble is the ongoing argument in higher education between lecturers and employers over pay.The Association of University Teachers(AUT)are currently taking industrial action because of the fact that lecturers have been underpaid for years.Vice-presidents of the universities,who enjoy six-figure salaries,are not making any noises to suggest that this will change in the near future. The National Union of Students(NUS) ly believes that our lecturers should be better paid,and that the promises made to them during the top-up fees debate about extra income must be kept. It's shameful that 1ecturers have had to take industrial action to achieve better pay and conditions while vice-presidents'own salaries have risen 25%over the past three years.But the students who are suffering as a result of the argument must be put first.We do not agree with the attitude taken by the AUT,which is refusing to set exams.We admit that the decision to take this course of action was democratically reached.However,it is having the biggest effect on our members at this moment in time and we will continue to let the AUT know the results of this. We call on both sides to sort this mess out.Hopefully then our members can get the horrible exam season Out of the way and start planning,and enjoying,their upcoming summer holiday. We can infer that this article was written most probably in _ . A. January B. March C. June D. September Answer: C. June Question: Born in 1954 in Taiwan, Ang Lee has become one of today's greatest filmmakers. Ang graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts in 1975. Later on, he went to the USA. for further study on art. And he got a Master Degree in Film Production at New York University. During Ang's film career, he has made a lot of successful films and honored himself with many international awards. Early in 1993, Ang's film The Wedding Banquet won a Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, which drew the whole world's attention to this Chinese director. In the following years, Ang's talent got more brilliant. At the beginning of 2000, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(Wo Hu Cang Long), a kongfu film directed by Ang Lee, won Best Foreign Language Film at the 73rd Academy Awards . This surprised the world. However. what really takes Ang to the _ of the film world is the film Brokeback Mountain (2005). For this film, Ang Lee won the Best Director Academy Award. And he is the first Chinese director who's ever won the golden statuette . In 2012, Ang made a huge success again. His first 3D film Life of Pi came out. It was a story about the adventure of a brave Indian boy. This film helped him beat out Michael Haneke of "Amour", Benh Zeitlin of "Beasts of the Southern Wild", Steven Spielberg of "Lincoln" and David O. Russell of "Silver Linings Playbook". For the second time, Ang was honored as the Best Director at the 85th Academy Awards in 2013. Along Ang Lee's film road, we can say that he is really born for films and he is worth all the praise from the world, especially all the Chinese. How old was Ang Lee when he won the Best Director Academy Award for the second time? A. 59. B. 58 C. 51 D. 39 Answer: A. 59.
Like many other nations, China has been busy putting together evacuation plans for its citizens stuck in crisis-torn Libya.The real surprise has been just how many Chinese are living there.The foreign ministry does not know for sure but puts the figure at 30-40,000. The huge contingent in Libya, who work for at least 27 Chinese companies, has brought to light one of the new dilemmas facing China as its economic interests expand.For a mixture of reasons that are partly political, partly business, Chinese workers are now present in many of the most unrest and dangerous parts of the world, including places where anti-Chinese sentiment over jobs and working conditions is on the rise.One of the first wake-up calls was in 2007, when a group of Chinese women were kidnapped in Pakistan, an event which led to the siege of the Red Mosque in Lahore.In the same year, nine Chinese oil workers were killed in Ethiopia.In recent years, Chinese workers have been kidnapped in Cameroon, Congo and Afghanistan. Publicly, Chinese diplomats admit that the country needs better contingency plans to deal with this sort of situation.Privately, they worry about a different issue: that such incidents will force them to get much more involved in domestic political disputes in far-off lands, pulling the government away from its commitment to a policy of non-interference.The nightmare, a few diplomats and academics admit, would be a large, violent attack on a group of Chinese which then prompted an intense nationalist reaction at home, forcing the government to take the sort of interventionist actions it tries to _ . Beijing gave some indication of how it will respond in the future with the decision on Thursday to send the frigate Xuzhou, currently conducting anti-piracy tasks off the coast of Somalia, to Libya.Its mission will be to help the evacuation effort, but it is also a warning to any in Libya who might attack Chinese interests, as well as the latest indication of the growing global reach of China's navy.As Andrew Erickson, a China expert at the US Naval War College says: "This latest initiative is part of a larger ongoing increase in Chinese power, presence, and influence around the world, and should come as no surprise.China has global interests, cannot free ride forever, and requires a presence in critical areas and situations in order to have a voice." What is the main idea of the passage? A There are many Chinese workers in the most unrest and dangerous parts of the world. B China should protect workers in the foreign countries. C China are taking actions to bring its citizens back from Libya. D The international situation is terrible Answer: C As the new semester begins,millions of college students across the country are trying hard to remember how best to write a paper-or,more likely,how best to delay that paper. _ is the thief of time and a lot of students suffer from it.They can spend whole days in the library doing nothing but staring into space,eating snacks,surfing the Internet,watching videos and looking at their pretty peers sitting around them,who,most likely,are doing nothing either. Paralyzed by their habit to procrastinate,they write micro blogs about their fears,asking their online friends if they sometimes have the same issue.But this does nothing to solve their problems. According to a recent report by the BBC,95 percent of us procrastinate at some point and 20 percent of the world's population are procrastinators,complicating their lives with their continual delaying of tasks. Procrastinators like to find excuses to justify their behavior,but BBC columnist Rowan Pelling says they are all wrong.Many procrastinators tell themselves they are perfectionists who work best under pressure.Pelling says this is nonsense,as work done at the last minute is more likely to have mistakes than work done on time. She says the behavior of procrastinators often makes them feel flustered and ashamed,inconveniences others,and annoys loved ones. Fortunately,social seientists have made tireless efforts to understand this behavioral shortcoming and offer strategies to control it.Piers Steel,a Canadian social scientist and author of The Procrastination Equation,believes humankind is"designed"to procrastinate.Nevertheless,he suggests a couple of good ways to get through the task at hand. The first one is obvious:Break the task down into small pieces and work your way through them methodically. The second is clever:Give a trusted friend a sum of money and tell them that if you don't complete the task you have undertaken by a specific time,they can keep it or donate it to a cause you hate. What'she best title of the text? A Who steals my time? B The solutions to procrastination C I'll do it tomorrow,I swear! D Don't do nothing! Answer: C One day when I left a bookstore and walked on the street, I saw a woman standing outside the post office. She looked pale and worried. I stopped and asked if she needed help. She told me that her foot was hurting and she had to go to the hospital fight away, but there was no taxi. I wanted to make a trip to a food store later that day. I asked the woman where she was going. She told me the name of a hospital which was actually on the way to the food store. So I said, My car is parked nearby, How about my giving you a ride? It will save you some time and money. She agreed gratefully. When we got to the hospital, she thanked me again and again. Then I went to the food store and picked up what I went for. As I was waiting at the checkout, the man behind me said that he had a coupon for 20% off anything in the store. He gave it to me because he had an extra one and he wanted to do good things to others! I thanked him and let him go ahead of me in line to check out. Each action creates a ripple that finally comes back to us. Do you believe it? Why did the woman look worried? A She couldn't find anyone for help. B She thought it expensive to take a taxi. C She didn't know which hospital to go to. D There was something wrong with her foot. Answer: D Hot yoga is not terribly different from regular yoga. You will do the same poses. However, the catch is that the temperature will be at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and sometimes higher. The heat is what makes this type of yoga not for everyone. Regardless of your overall health, talk to your doctor before taking a hot yoga class and let your doctor know that you plan to take one. Due to a condition that is greatly worsened by temperature extremes, I'm an example of someone who can't do this form of exercise. I can do regular yoga, but the 100 degree Fahrenheit would be severely uncomfortable and possibly dangerous to me. The climate is said to help with muscle flexibility and you will sweat like there is no tomorrow -- which is believed to force out more toxins .It is important to keep in mind that even if you are in good health, the high temperature can take some getting used to. You may want to start a shorter class and work your way up. You will be sweating greatly in hot yoga temperature. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your class. It is also important to pay attention to your body. If you are feeling very tired, it is time to sit down and get some water. You should also remove yourself from the hot environment, but not into a very cold environment. For example, just go into hallway -- a place that has a normal temperature and start to drink some water. Things like heat stroke are possible with this type of yoga. These issues are most often seen in those over 60 years of age, but younger people with chronic health problems are also at risk. Anyone can fall victim to heat stroke. Children are also especially vulnerable to heat stroke, so leave the kids at home while you attend your yoga class. If you ever start to feel had during class, immediately stop and tell your instructor so that he or she can offer you help. Don't try to finish the class. People take up hot yoga because _ . A it is the most popular and effective exercise B it makes people's muscle work better and forces out toxins C it makes people get used to 100 degree Fahrenheit D it prevents people from heart stroke and chronic diseases. Answer: B Jack threw the papers on my desk. "Next time you want to change anything, ask me first," he said. I had changed a long sentence and corrected its grammar -- something I thought I was paid to do. Several days later, he made me angry again. I went to his office, prepared to lose my job if need be, but not before I let the man know how I felt. "What?" he said nervously. Suddenly I knew what I had to do. "Jack, the way you've been treating me is wrong. And it's wrong for me to allow it to continue," I said. "I want to make you a promise. I will be a friend." The next day I brought some cakes to Jack's office. Every time I saw Jack in the hall, I smiled at him. After all, that's what friends do. One year after our talk, I was told that I had breast cancer . When I was in hospital, my friends tried to find the right words to say, but no one could. The last day of my hospital stay, the door opened and Jack walked over to my bed. "Tulips ," he placed some bulbs beside me and said, "If you plant them when you get home, you'll be there to see them when they come up." Tears filled my eyes. In a moment when I prayed for just the right words, a man with few words said the right thing. After all, that's what friends do. Now, I have seen those tulips push through the soil every spring for over ten years. What promise did the author make to Jack? A She would work harder from then on. B She would treat him the same way. C She would bring him some cakes. D She would treat him like a friend. Answer: D
By the middle of the 19th century, newspapers were becoming the primary means of spreading and receiving information. The period between 1890 and 1920 is known as the "golden age" of print media. Broadcast radio came onto the media scene in the 1920's. Newspapers were forced to re-evaluate their role as society's primary information provider. Like the new media technologies of today, the development of a low-cost, convenient media source produced results that radio would greatly affect the newspaper industry. No sooner had newspapers adapted to radio than they were forced to re-evaluate themselves because of a new and more powerful medium: television. Between 1940 and 1990, newspaper sales in America dropped from one newspaper for every two adults to one for every three adults. Some newspapers, like USA Today, responded to the technological advancements by using color1 and the "short, quick and to the point" stories that are usually featured on television. The technological revolution of today is creating new challenges and opportunities for traditional media. Never before has so much information been so accessible to so many. By the end of the 1990s, about 700 traditional media had websites; today there are thousands. The amount and speed of information on the Internet is _ , but it has not signalled the end of the newspaper's existence . Newspapers in print remain a popular and powerful medium for the reporting and analysis of events that shape our lives. It is reported that one billion people in the world read a newspaper every day! We can infer from this passage that _ . Urban citizens can enjoy a more colorful life than rural citizens.Townspeople are wellinformed because they have the easier access to news,while country people are uniformed because these districts are hard to get to.Urban traffic is so welldeveloped that the residents there often visit exhibitions and parks which are only a short bus ride away. For country people this is a major operation which involves considerable planning.Shopping,a necessary activity in everyday life is more convenient in the city than in the countryside. Townspeople can buy what they want at any time of a day.But rural residents go to town at most once a week.So after shopping they always stagger home loaded with heavy purchases. As for as meals and clothes concerned,townspeople are wellfed and welldressed as there is an adequate supply of goods.But rural residents are too busy to pay particular attention to them.It is for these reasons that more and more people are moving into the city and looking for a rest there. On the contrary,some people are attracted by the rural area.Air pollution,noise and overcrowding which are the biggest problems confronting townspeople seem strange for rural residents.Medical studies have proved that rural residents can live longer than urban residents, because they are free from a polluted environment. In addition,the crime rate in the city is several times higher than in the countryside.As is known to all,the life in any city is much more expensive than in the countryside.So the safe, quiet and cheap life in the country appeals to(......)many city residents. Either an urban or a rural area gives pleasure and trouble.But,I believe,the suburban area has the excellencies of both and is superior to both.As the automobile industry develops,more and more people will make their homes in suburban areas. For rural residents,the problems the urban citizens facing are _ . 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D Swiss Tech UKCSB1 UtiliKey 6in1 KeyChain MultiTool Product Dimensions:6x5x1 inches ASIN:B0001EFSTI Item Model Number:UKCSB1 Discount Price:$7.88(you save 21%) Product Description:The lightest and multiuse tool ever developed.This durable tool has a straight knife sharp edge and a flat screwdriver,a Phillips screwdriver,and a bottle opener.The tool makes repairs and hundreds of jobs an easy undertaking.A good choice for indoor or outdoor activities and emergency situations,this tool comes in handy on the road and at home! Which tool has the lowest original price? Ammie was only 18 months old when she had an accident that scarred her for life. While her mother was away for a moment , the curious baby reached up to a hot kettle in the kitchen and poured boiling water all over her body. An ambulance was called and rushed the baby to nearby hospital . About 20 percent of Ammie's body had been burned and all of her burns were third degree. The doctors could tell immediately that Ammie's best chance of survival was specialized burns unit some miles away at Glasgow Royal hospital. There , using tissue taken from unburned areas of Ammie's body, surgeons performed complex skin grafts to close her wounds and control her injuries , an operation that took about six hours. Over the next 16 years, Ammie underwent 12 more operations to repair her body. When she started school at the age of 4 , other pupils made cruel comments or simply wouldn't play with her . "I was the only burned child in the street , the class and the school," she recalls, "Some children refused to become friends with me because of that." Today , age 17 , Ammie can only ever remember being a burned person with scars ; pain is a permanent part of her life, she is still awaiting two further operations. Yet she is a confident, outgoing teenager who offers inspiration and hope to other young burnt victims. Ammie's parents have been a great support to her. "They told me of people had a problem with my burns, the problem with my burns, the problem was theirs not mine," says Ammie. "They taught me to cope with other people's reactions and constantly reminded me I was valued and loved." Ammie's positive attitude to life means she is often contacted by burns charities , helping younger patients build their self-respect to live with permanent scars. Now she is a member the Scottish Burned Children's Club. "Ammie provides so much encouragement for the younger ones. She is optimistic and outgoing and a perfect role model for them , " say Donald Todd, chairman of the club. This month , Ammie will join some younger children on a summer camp. "I'll show them how to _ unkind stares from others , " she says. Ammie loves wearing fashionable sleeveless tops , and she plans to show the children at the summer camp that they can too. "I don't go to great lengths to hide my scars , " she says . "I gave up wondering how other people would react years ago." How many operations will Ammie have to receive altogether ? If a glacier going past a dock brushed up against some large boulders there, the stones would
Question: I liked most of my teachers in college. They were, for the most part, friendly and competent, willing to help students. I liked them--but I don't remember them very well, except for Mr. Jones, my senior English teacher. He was an enthusiastic, sensitive man, who knew his subject and was determined that we would learn it and love it, too. Mr. Jones was a tall, slim man in his midforties. Put precariously on his nose, his glasses gave him a serious look. But they didn't remain there long, for he was always taking them off and polishing them and putting them in his mouth when he thought over a response to a student's question. When he walked into class, he was always carrying two or three books with strips of paper sticking out of them, marking passages he planned to read. I remember, too, the cardigan sweaters--he must have had a dozen of them. On rainy days he substituted a blue raincoat for the sweater. But what I remember best was his smile. When he smiled, his whole face lit up. His smile made you feel good, at ease. Yet though he was friendly with people, he was a bit formal in class, and he could be firm on occasion. He never called us by our first names. He obviously loved his work and liked his students, but he kept his distance. He never deliberately embarrassed a student in front of the class with an ironic remark, but he could communicate his displeasure all right. He'd look steadily at the offending student for a few seconds. That was usually enough, but if it didn't work, he'd say something to the student in a lowered tone of voice. He didn't do this often, though. Mr. Jones' personality and passion made him popular, but what I liked most about him was that he was a fine teacher. Yes, he cared about students, but he cared more about teaching them his subject. And that meant homework, lots of it, and pop quizzes now and then to keep them reading. He lectured occasionally to provide background information whenever we moved on to a new literary period. After a brief glance at his notes, he'd begin to move around as he talked--to the blackboard, to the window, back to the platform. But he preferred discussions. He'd write several questions on the board for the next day's discussion, and he'd expect you to be prepared to discuss them. He directed the discussion, but he didn't control it; he was a good listener and made sure we all had a chance to respond, whether we wanted to or not. If he was pleased with a response, he'd nod his head and smile. Occasionally he'd read a student's essay, praising its good points. But he was toughminded, too, as I suggested before. He really nailed you for careless work or inattention. When you got an A from him, you really felt good, for he wasn't an easy grader. We used to complain about his grading standards, usually in vain, though he would change a grade if he thought the had been unfair. We had many interesting discussions about Twain, Crane, and Dreiser, as I recall, but his favorite period was the 1920's. He loved the expatriates : Anderson, Cummings, Hemingway, Fitzgerald. He was always bringing in books for us to read, but when he got to this period, he was a walking library, I think he'd read every book ever written by or about Hemingway and Fitzgerald in the twenties. Yes, Mr. Jones was a fine teacher all right: he knew his subject. But more than that, he made us want to continue to read it and study it on our own. Which of the following is TRUE about Mr. Jones' teaching style? A. He assigned limited homework and quizzed to reduce students' burden. B. He required students to get prepared for class discussions in advance. C. He played a leading role in class discussions to make it effective. D. He would regrade students' work if they thought it was unfair. Answer: B. He required students to get prepared for class discussions in advance. Question: (1) Liu Xiang got another gold medal in the 110m hurdles at the East Asian Games (EAG) in Macao last Wednesday. The 22-year-old Liu defended his EAG title in 13.21 seconds, beating Shi Dongpeng (13.36) and Japan's Kota Kumamoto (13.89). His winning time was 0.16 seconds behind his top time this year and a further 0.08 behind this season's best: 12.97 set by Frenchman Ladji Doucoure, who beat Liu into second place in the world championships. (2) Over 30,000 people were killed in the huge earthquake that took place in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan on October 8. Millions were left homeless after the quake destroyed houses, cutting off power and water. The international community has responded to the countries' call for help. China has sent a rescue team, along with money and relief materials . But because of bad weather, it is difficult for them to reach those in remote areas. The United Nations warned of a possible outbreak of infectious diseases . According to the United Nations, what will possibly happen? A. Another bigger earthquake. B. Flood. C. Infectious disease. D. Drought. Answer: C. Infectious disease. Question: Some people are pessimistic when they think about the future. They say that, a hundred years from now, we will have used up most of the earths resources. We will have made our seas so dirty that we will not be able to eat fish from them. There will be so many people in the world that we will have to use all the countryside for housing; there will be no farmland left. Other people have a different idea about the future. In their view, the city of the future will be a huge pyramid-shaped building, which will be floating on the surface of the sea. About 5,000 families will live there, and there will also be schools, shops in it. In a hundred years' time, people will not need to use oil. They will heat their homes with power from the sun. Think of space. Perhaps a station will be set up on the moon; people will be able to visit the moon as tourists. They may even spend their holidays in space, travelling from planet to planet. What an interesting picture! Many people don't think about the future. "I don't care. I'll be dead. "they say. But it is our duty to care because the world of a hundred years' time will be the world of our children's and their children after them. How many viewpoints are discussed here about the future? A. Two B. Three C. Four D. Five Answer: B. Three Question: Graffiti is a common feature of most Western cities. The word _ was from the Greek word, graphein, which only meant writing. These days, however, the word means drawing or writing on the walls of buildings, or the public transportation, such as trains or buses. Graffiti, as a form of expression, was born in New York during the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, a new modern culture about city life appeared. Graffiti was a written form of expression of that life. Later, it was mixed with a musical form called hip-hop that was another expression of the city life. At first, graffiti artists used pens. But then, with the development of graffiti, they became experienced. They turned to using spray paint . Spray paint allowed them to draw a greater area. And it also allowed them to work quickly. At present, different people have different ideas about graffiti. Some people say it makes the cities dirty. It isn't allowed by many local governments in America. The governments spend more than a million dollars a year cleaning graffiti. The money, they say, could be better spent on health or education. Other people think it is a form of art. In fact, the works of some famous graffiti artists can be found in museums, galleries, and art books. What's the article mainly about? A. The meaning of graffiti. B. Different expressions of graffiti. C. Different attitudes towards graffiti. D. The history and the development of graffiti. Answer: D. The history and the development of graffiti. Question: if a person has a scar on the face, at what point did they get it? A. after they were born B. at the time of delivery C. at the time of conception D. at the time of fetus development Answer: A. after they were born
Almost every person _ . Even if you love sugar really much it is now time to learn a very important but also very little known truth regarding sugar. Sugar really has no benefits for your health and the only actual benefits from it are that it sweetens your taste buds and satisfies your sweet tooth. Sugar is not a natural substance and is produced through a special industrial process called refining the sugar cane. Sugar cane has a lot of health benefits but in the refining process it loses all its vitamins, proteins, minerals and other nutrients which are essential. Therefore, you end up consuming empty calories only. Moreover, your body gets all the sugar it needs from the consumption of regular food such as bread, vegetables, fruits and so on. No added sugar is really needed. However, most people love sugar and simply feel like they need to eat food high in sugar. The latest researches show that the recommended intake of sugar which is healthy for your body on daily bases for children, men and women is as follows: children-- 12 grams, which equals 3 teaspoons; men-- 36 grams, which equals 9 teaspoons; *women-- 20 grams, which equals 5 teaspoons. The sugar intake when it comes to diabetics is a lot different based on the type of diabetes. It is best to consult your doctor in order to find out about your personal requirements for the intake of sugar before you follow the guidelines mentioned earlier. When we speak about the recommended daily intake of sugar, it does not mean only simple sugars that we consume in the form of desserts and sodas but also sugars that come from complex carbohydrates and also fruit. You should not exclude all of the sugar from your diet but you should make up for all the extra sugar you eat by exercising. It is not really simple to calculate your sugar intake but you can still control it if you try and you can also get a bigger amount of exercise in order to regulate the sugar amount that is being taken in and then digested by your body. Which of the following statements is true? Meat and vegetables are measured in grams and kilograms. Milk and other liquid foods are measured in liters or milliliters. These units only measure quantity: they do not measure the value of the food to the body. The unit which measures the quality or value of food is the calorie the amount of heat given off by food when it brurns. This measurement tells how much energy a certain food has when it is completely used by the body. Our bodies use varying amount of calories. The more exercise we take, the more calories we burn. If we eat food which contains more calories than we use up, then it is possible that we would increase in weight. In order to avoid becoming overweight, it is advisable to eat a balanced diet and not eat too many foods that have a high calorie rating. The table below gives you some idea of the number of calories in food. When do you need the most calories from your diet? I was at a dance club when I was nineteen. One day my new friend walked with me to my car. It was a very cold night. As we were walking to my car, a man walked up to us. Behind him was a woman pushing _ with a child inside who was about 2 years old. The child had only a jacket on and it wasn'tzipped . The man began to tell us he wanted to borrow some money for the night and that he had a job but no place to live and was waiting for his first paycheck. He confirmed he could get our mailing address and mail the money back to us. The guy I was with reached into his pocket to give this man a $20 bill. As the man was extending his hand out to take the money, I put my hand on my new friend's hand and said, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I told him some people earned money by begging and that they always cheated those with soft hearts. And if they were truly worried about their child being out in the cold, they would have at least zipped his jacket. My friend looked at me with disapproval and said, "Michael, I know there are some people out there that take advantage of others. I also know some people out there that are one paycheck away from being homeless. If I gave $20 to 10 people and only one of them really needed it and used it for the right thing, it was worth it." I am now thirty-seven years old and have never forgotten what he said to me. I don't even remember his name now. But I do remember that this experience changed my perspective . According to the author's new friend, some people _ . Since her husband died, Mrs. Jackson has lived alone in their big old suburban house, The house was bought by her husband almost fifty years ago. For the sake of safety , her son has tried hard to ask her to sell the house and buy a new and small one in the town , But Mrs. Jackson doesn't like the idea. She says that she has to look after her husband's old house. But recently she often hears stories about unknown people stealing things around here. That was a cold day before Christmas Eve. Around four o'clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Jackson was enjoying the Christmas music when someone knocked at the door. She heard the sound but didn't move. Another knock. Who could it be? Mrs. Jackson was a bit afraid. She decided not to answer the door but keep waiting. One minute another minute and yet another minute. Nothing happened and no more knocks , She walked quietly to the door, and listened. She heard nothing but the wind outside. She slowly unfastened the door and peeped through the crack . She then gave a surprised cry and threw the door wide open! At the door she saw a tall, beautiful Christmas tree! In the tree stood a Christmas card with these words: Merry Christmas! Your new neighbor When she found it was a Christmas tree, she _ . The substance that the respiratory system takes in from the air is released by
Johnny Smith was a good math student at a high school. He loved his computer. He came home early every day, then he worked with it till midnight. But Johnny was not a good English student, not good at all. He got an F in his English class. One day after school Johnny joined his computer to the computer in his high school office. The school office computer had the grades of all the students: the math grades, the science grades, the grades in arts and music, and the grades in English. He found his English grade. An F! Johnny changed his English grade from an F to A. Johnny' parents looked at his report card. They were very happy. "An A in English!" said Johnny's Dad. "You're a very clever boy, Johnny." Johnny is a hacker. Hackers know how to take information from other computers and put new information in. Using a modem, they join their computers to other computers secretly. School headmasters and teachers are worried about hackers. So are the police, for some people even take money from bank computer accounts and put it into their own ones. And they never have to leave home to do it! They are called hackers. Who are worried about hackers in the story? School headmasters, teachers and the police. If I ask you to shut your eyes and gave you a piece of apple to eat, would you be able to tell me what it is just by tasting it? Of course, you could. Your tongue is covered with tiny "taste buds" which help you know what different foods taste like. Do you know that foods would taste different if you did not have a nose? This experiment shows how important your nose is when you taste things. What You Need: * a friend to help * small pieces of any food like carrot, orange, banana * small pieces of apple, raw potato, and onion What You Do: There are actually three different experiments. You and your friend should take turns to try them on each other. Experiment 1: Have your friend close her eyes and open her mouth. Give her a piece of the food and ask her to taste it. Then, ask her what she thinks it is. She will probably guess correctly. Experiment 2: While your friend has her eyes closed, give her a piece of the raw potato. At the same time, hold a piece of apple right under her nose. Ask her to eat the potato (but don't call it by name) and tell you what she thinks it is. She will say it is a piece of apple! Experiment 3: (for the brave) Take a piece of raw onion. You don't have to close your eyes this time. Squeeze your nose closed with your other hand so that no smells can get into your nose. Now take a nibble of the onion. Surprise! As long as you hold your nose, you will not be able to taste the onion. The Science Secret You already know the science secret. Your nose and your tongue work together to make food taste the way it does. Your tongue, however, can taste only certain flavors like salty, bitter, sour, and sweet. All of the other "tastes" are actually "smells," and you need your nose to "taste" them. Oh, and you might use this science secret the next time you are told to eat something you don't like the taste of. If you hold your nose while you eat it, you won't "taste" it at all. What is the most likely reason Experiment 3 is called "for the brave"? You have to eat a raw onion. With golden sunshine and a gentle breeze , autumn is the most beautiful seasons in the year. This is a great time to go outside and have fun. Go to a valley to see red maple trees , go and pick fruit in an orchard or find an open field to fly your kite in. However, for many high school students, these great activities may be just a dream. With plenty of work to do, they spend all their hours indoors, struggling for a high mark in their exams. Of course, study is one of the most important things for teenagers. But life is definitely much more than that. Sometimes we spend so much time studying that we forget how to make life wonderful. In doing so, we lose the real purpose of life --to be a valuable and happy person. To enjoy just how great it is to be alive, we have to put down our books and pens and look around us. Students, take some exercise to improve your health, talk with your parents and friends for understanding and walk around outside to refresh your body and mind. Going out and enjoying the beautiful countryside often helps our creativity in our work. Chinese craftsman, Lu Ban created a saw to help woodworkers. But if he hadn't walked outside, he would not have been inspired by a kind of toothed grass. We could also suppose if Newton hadn't rested under that apple tree, then he wouldn't have been hit by an apple, and his classic theories would not have come out. Going out is not only a break from hard work, but a chance to add to life experience. So come on, give your brain a good rest. Step out of the books and get your bag ready for an autumn outing. We are sure you will get much more than knowledge from the exciting journey. Why is going out a dream for many high school students? They have too much work to do for getting high marks in the exams. What if you arrived home to find a delicious hot meal waiting for you,prepared by your very own kitchen robot? It might sound like science fiction,but professors at the university of Tokyo have taken the first steps toward making that scenario a reality.The team recently introduced a humanoid kitchen robot that can pour tea and other drinks into cups and serve them to guests.When teatime is over,the robot can also wash the dishes and put them away. In California,another interesting kitchen robot has been developed.Called the Readybot,it can pick up objects and either store them in cabinets or put them in the trash.It also carries a separate floor-cleaning robot that can operate by itself.Unlike the Japanese robot,Readybot is not humanoid.Instead,it looks more like a large box with arms and wheels. Readybot was created by engineers and designers who established a club called the Readybot Challenge.They believe that in the future millions of robots will be needed in homes to perform ordinary household tasks.Readybot is just the first step in their plan to create a robot that can tackle jobs not only in kitchens but in other rooms of homes and in offices as well. Clearly there are technological hurdles to overcome before robots can cook a complete dinner,and there are also many safety concerns.Not everyone(especially parents)would be comfortable with the idea of robots in their house,manipulating hot pans and sharp knives.The European Commission recently funded a project to study these concerns. What does the writer imply about parents? They might think that kitchen robots could be dangerous. Globalization means that people,ideas,technology,money,services and many other things are moving between countries and changing the way people think and act. Not everyone thinks the same way about globalization. Some people think it is bad,and some people think it is good. Some believe that globalization helps rich people get richer and makes poor people poorer. These people say that globalization helps big companies like Coca-Cola and McDonald's destroy local businesses. However,the people who think globalization is a good thing argue that globalization helps poorer people to become richer. They also think that it doesn't destroy local cultures. These people also believe globalization helps prevent wars. This is because countries with economic connections will try hard to keep good relationships so that their economies aren't destroyed. Whether you think globalization is good or bad,it affects the world in two areas:jobs and cultures. Globalization has had a very strong influence on jobs all over the world. For some workers,such as engineers,lawyers and bankers,globalization has been a good development. These workers are able to successfully compete globally and have seen an increase in their pay. But for those who work in factories or in the aervice industry(at hotels,shops and restaurants),it has not been good. Workers from poorer countries are trying to get these types of jobs. They will do the same job for less money. This decreases the pay for that job,so people get paid less to do it. Cultures have also been affected by globalization. Foods such as Japanese noodles,Inaian curry and French cheeses have spread around the world. We can also see an increase in the use of Chinese characters in tattoos . Some people get these tattoos but they don't really know what the characters mean. Globalization also affects the film industry. Most people have seen American movies. But because of globalization,Korean. Indian and Japanese movies have become more worldwide. No one knows the future of globalization. Most experts agree that it will continue to grow and have an increasingly greater influence on people's lives in the future. What can we infer from the passage? Globalization may change people's in the future.
Watercress is positively packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. The writings of both the Romans and the Ancient Greeks record the consumption of watercress by all classes. Hippocrates, "the father of medicine", was so convinced that watercress was a great healer that he built his first hospital next to a stream so that he could grow a plentiful supply of the shiny green leaves for his patients. The Romans chewed watercress in large quantities, believing that it would cure baldness. They, too, looked with favor on watercress as a salad. Watercress sandwiches were traditionally a breakfast item in nineteenth-century Europe. The most basic type of watercress sandwich has two pieces of white bread with a mixture of butter and watercress greens . A nickname for the vegetable, in fact, was "poor man's bread", because watercress was often eaten on its own for breakfast by families that could not afford the bread to go with _ . Watercress is a member of the mustard family. It contains vitamins C(66mg per 100g), K and A, and is also a valuable source of minerals such as iron, potassium, copper and calcium. The mustard oils in its silky leaves and stems contain an ingredient known as PEITC. Recent research has proved that PEITC can prevent the growth of cancer cells and, in some cases, actually destroy them. The best watercress has silky green leaves without any marks and has undamaged stems, The older the plant, the darker are its leaves and the thicker its stems. This means a higher concentration of oils and vitamins. Young watercress, on the other hand, may be harvested after only twenty-eight days growth and has a milder taste. It is best to eat watercress fresh and raw , to keep more of its valuable nutrients, but it can be lightly cooked and used as an alternative to spinach--another dark green vegetable--in various recipes. From soups to salads, watercress is now considered around the world as a natural and healthy super food. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: Watercress, the amazing food Family traditions were important in our house, and one was more appreciated than our annual trip to the woods for the perfect Christmas tree. "Dad, can we watch when you trim it?" my eldest son ,John ,asked on the way home. "I won't be cutting this year," my husband said." You and your brother Dan are old enough to measure things, fit the tree to the stand and do it by yourselves. Think you boys can handle it?" They seemed to _ in their chairs at the thought of such an amazing responsibility. "We can handle it," Dan promised. We won't let you down." A few days before Christmas, Dan and John rushed in after school. They gathered the tools they'd need and brought them out of yard, where the tree waited. I left the older boys to their work and brought David inside for his early supper. A moment later I heard the happy sounds as the boys carried the trees into the living room. Then I heard the sound become dead silence. I hurried out to them. The tree was too short. John crossed his arm tight across his chest. His eyes were filled with angry tears. The tree was central to our holiday, but it was not what I worried about. I didn't want the boys to feel ashamed every time they looked at it. We had a terrible problem on our hands. I couldn't lower the ceiling, and I couldn't raise the floor either. There was no way to repair the damage. If I couldn't fix the problem, maybe I could get creative with it. A thought came to my mind, which turned to the solution. I followed them back into the living room.. "We can't make the tree taller," I said. "But we can put it on a higher position." Dan turned his head sideways, measuring the distance with his eyes . "We can put it on the coffee table and put the lights and decorations on before we lift it up . Thus, we won't need a ladder. It just might work! Let's try it!" When my husband got home and looked at the big tree on top of the coffee table, Dan and John held their breath. "What a good idea!" he declared, as if the boys had gone beyond all his expectations. "Why didn't I ever think of such a thing ?" John broke into a grin. Dan's chest swelled with pride. David squealed. Who trimmed the Christmas trees this year? Answer: The children In prefix = st1 /America, drivers' education is part of regular high school curriculum. Every student in his or her second year of high school is required to take a class in driver's education. However, unlike other courses, it is not given during the regular school year. Instead, it is a summer course. The course is divided up into two parts: class time for learning laws and regulations and driving time to practise driving. Class time is not unlike any other class. The students have a text from which they study the basic laws they must know to pass the written driving test that is given to anyone wanting to get a driver's license. Driving time is a chance for the students to get behind the wheel (steering wheel) and practise starting steering, backing up, parking, switching lanes, turning corners, and all the other maneuvers required to drive a car. Each student is required to drive a total of six hours. The students are divided up into groups of four. The students and the instructor go out driving for two-hour blocks of time. Thus, each student gets half an hour driving time per outing. The instructor and "driver" sit in the front seats and the other three students sit in the back. Drivers Ed cars are unlike other cars in which they have two sets of brakes, one on the driver's side and one on the other side where the instructor sits. Thus, if the student driver should run into difficulties the instructor can take over. The car also has another special feature. On the top of the car is a sign that reads: STUDENT DRIVER. That lets nearby drivers know that they should use extra caution because the student driver is a beginning driver, not very experienced and prone to driving slowly. After the student has passed the driver's education course and reached the appropriate age to drive (this age differs in every state but in most cases the person must be 16 years old), they can go to a designated state office to take their driver's test, which is made up of an eye examination, a written test, and a road test. The person must pass all three tests in order to be given a driver's license. If the person did well in his or her driver's education class, he or she will pass the test _ and get a driver's license. In America, the driver's course mentioned above _ . Answer: is offered to all the students of Grade 2 in high schools Which human body system attacks viruses and bacteria once they have invaded the body? Answer: immune The baby elephant, Sheila, was moved out of Belfast Zoo because of fears she might be hit by bombers during the Belfast Blitz of 1941. She was one of the lucky ones. A lot of the animals were killed because of fears they might escape during the bombing and attack people. They included a tiger, a black bear, a wolf, a penguin, and two polar bears. But Sheila was walked down the road by zoo-keepers to a nearby house where a woman took her in and kept her in her backyard for several months until the bombing was over. The woman has never been identified and the zoo knows her only as "the elephant angel". As the zoo celebrates its 75thbirthday, people have decided to try to find the elephant's saver. Mark Challis is the manager of Belfast Zoo. He explained a bit more about Sheila's story. "Well, we know that Sheila, the elephant that was in the zoo at that time spent some time living with a lady relatively near to the zoo and we have one sweet photo, you can see it on our zoo website." "In the photo you can see the elephant with the lady in her back garden and that's almost all we know. So we're just trying to find a little bit more information and we are not even sure if the lady is alive today, but maybe her relatives or somebody will recognize the back of that house and we can fill in some detail on this story." Once the bombing was over, Sheila went back to the zoo and lived for another quarter of a century. She died of a skin disease in 1966. How many years has the zoo been open? Answer: For 75 years.
Using tablet computers like Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Note just before bed can lead to a poor night's sleep, according to research. More and more people are taking their tablets to bed with them to surf the web, check Facebook or email before switching off the light. But researchers are warning that the blueish light their screens emit can stop users getting a good night's sleep. That is because this type of light mimics daylight, convincing the brain that it is still daytime. Blue light suppresses production of a brain chemical called melatonin, which helps us fall sleep. This is because our brains have evolved to be wakeful during daylight hours. By contrast, light which is more orange or red in tone does not reduce melatonin production, perhaps because our brains recognize it as a cue that the day is ending. Neurologists have known for years that staring at screens late in the evening can disrupt sleep. Researchers at the Lighting Research Centre, at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, are warning that looking at tablet displays for more than two hours "leads to a suppression of our natural melatonin levels as the devices emit optical radiation at short wavelengths" - in other words, they emit bluer light. They say: "Although turning off devices at night is the ultimate solution, it is recommended that if these devices are used at night displays are dimmed as much as possible and that the time spent on them before bed should be limited." They drew their conclusions after measuring melatonin levels in 13 volunteers, after they had spent time viewing iPads at full brightness at a distance of 10 inches, for two hours. Melatonin levels were significantly lower after they had done this, than they were after the volunteers had viewed their iPads for the same time, but while wearing orange glass goggles, which cut out the blue light. They wrote in the journal Applied Ergonomics that tablet makers could "tune the spectral power distribution of self-luminous devices " so that they disrupted the sleep patterns of users less. It is not just a good night's sleep that could be jeopardized by too much late night screen time. Researchers know that persistent disruption to sleep patterns can lead to an increased risk of obesity, and even breast cancer. However, these studies tend to be comparisons of those with chronic sleep disruption, such as long term shift workers, with those who have normal sleep patterns. Based on their findings, researchers have made the following suggestions except that _ . A Devices like iPads should be turned off at night. B Tablet makers should make improvements in devices. C Users should view iPads at full brightness instead of wearing orange glass goggles. D The time spent on screen before bed should be controlled. Answer: C The blue eyes that looked at him from outside the door were like the light through a maginifying glass when it is at its brightest and smallest, when paper and leaves begin to smoke. "Hey . " said the man in the door. " Remember me? " " Yes. " the boy said. whispering. "Rick. " He felt so surprised to see Rick. All of Rick seemed to be shown in the eyes. With a strong feeling that ought to have hurt him. " You knew me." Rick said. " You hadn't forgotten. " " You're--just the same. " the boy said. and felt much thankful. He seemed even to be wearing the same clothes, the same blue shirt and grey trousers. He was thin, but he was built to be lean; and he was still, or again. sunburnt. After everything, the slow white smile still showed the slight feeling of happiness. " Let's look at you." Rick said, dropping into a chair. Then slowly he felt more at home, and he became once more just Rick as if nothing had happened. There were lines about his eyes. and deeper lines on his cheeks. but he looked like-just Rick, lined by sunfight and smiling. " When I look at you." he said, " You make me think about me, for we look like each other. " " Yes, " said the boy, eagerly, " they all think we both look like my grandfather. " You could describe Rick as _ . A old and friendly B old and nervous C thin and nervous D thin and friendly Answer: D Joe got a new bicycle as a gift from one of his friends. He wanted to ride it so he looked outside his window to check the weather. There was lots of daylight and it was bright and sunny. The sky was clear and there was only a little bit of wind. He was excited that the weather was good because it meant that he can go and ride his bicycle. He took his bicycle down the stairway and told his parents that he wanted to go ride his bicycle for a little bit. After his parents said OK, he put on his helmet and went outside with his bicycle to ride it around the block. It was very fun and Joe had a great time riding his bicycle. While he was riding, he saw many interesting things like some insects that would fly around and some pets that were in peoples' backyards. He also saw some flowers growing in peoples' yards. He got back home from riding his bicycle and told his parents he had a great time. What did Joe get as a gift from one of his friends? A A book about insects. B A helmet. C A pet. D A bicycle. Answer: D Last year, Jack Bleed cut through the bone of his ring finger while working. The 31-year-old resident of North Little Rock, Arkansas, waited for about six hours at a nearby medical center while the medical staff there called all over town -- even as far away as Dallas and Memphis -- to find a hand surgeon to reattach his finger. Finally, a willing doctor was located in Louisville, Kentucky. But even though Bleed had insurance , he would have to hire a private plane to get himself there, at a cost of $4,300. In the end, he charged the cost to two credit cards, and his finger was saved. His insurance company eventually covered the cost of the plane, but his experience makes people aware of the fact that trauma care in the United States is not only geographically limited, but in many places, non-existent. Only eight states -- New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, New Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington -- have local, fully functional trauma systems. The remaining states have partial systems, and 12 -- including Arkansas -- have no trauma system at all. Although the President has signed a bill of $12 million for the purpose of supporting trauma care systems nationwide, many in Congress are unwilling to spend government money for a service they think should be paid for by states, says Wayne Meredith, medical director for trauma programs at the American College of Surgeons. Meanwhile, many states have also failed to find the dollars to support trauma systems. To make matters worse, many people without insurance depend heavily on the emergency care services, placing a huge financial burden on the medical centers that serve them. For the same reason, doctors, too, often go unpaid. They are unwilling to perform emergency care, worsening critical shortages of neurosurgeons, orthopedists, and hand surgeons -- the very types of specialists Bleed needed at short notice. Supporting a trauma care system doesn't take much. A half-penny sales tax in Miami-Dade County makes its outstanding system work. In Arkansas alone, says Wayne Meredith, a well-funded trauma system would possibly prevent 200 to 600 deaths each year. If trauma care systems were to work well across the nation, experts say, many thousands of lives each year could be saved. "You don't get much better return on your investment than that," Meredith says. Many people in Congress argue that trauma care systems should be supported by _ . A the President B each state C insurance companies D the US government Answer: B "Hey, Dad," one of my kids asked the other day, "what was your favourite fast food when you were growing up?" "We didn't have fast food when I was growing up," I informed him."All the food was slow." "Where did you eat?" "It was a place called 'at home'." I explained."Grandma cooked every day and when Grandpa got home from work, we sat down together at the dining table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I liked it." Some parents never owned their own houses, set foot on a golf course, travelled out of the country or had a credit card. My parents have never driven me to soccer practice.This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer.I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed.We didn't have a television in our house until I was 11.I was 13 when I tasted my first pizza; it was called "pizza pie".When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too.It's still the best pizza I ever had. I delivered newspapers, six days a week .The paper cost 7 cents, of which I got to keep 2 cents.I had to get up at 4:00 a.m.every morning.On Saturday, I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers.My favourite customers were the ones who gave me 50 cents and told me to keep the change. If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it? When the writer didn't like the food his grandma cooked when he was growing up, _ . A his grandma would make something he liked B his grandma would buy him fast food C he would sit there waiting for his favourite pizza pie D he had to eat it or go without Answer: D
I was sitting in the room reading when I heard a loud noise. To defend my home from break-in, I picked up my defense weapon--- a broom and went out. There on the roof of my porch , I saw a grey fluffy squirrel. I drove her away with the broom, but the next day I heard her again. I searched squirrels on the net and found because their teeth keep growing, they have to constantly chew on things to shorten their teeth. This was disturbing so I asked my husband to call in some wildlife control people. On Monday morning two men showed up, with guns in their hands. I pointed uneasily to the hole in my porch roof. They held up their guns. Suddenly I saw in my mind the baby nursery inside. I stopped them and confirmed that they wouldn't harm her. They hesitated, but finally put down their guns. Then they brought out a bottle of deodorizer and sprayed it into the squirrel's home. They told me she would not like the smell and would leave. There was no sign of Mrs. Squirrel, so they blocked the hole, took my cheque for $250 and left. Shortly after they left, Mrs. Squirrel returned from her shopping trip. She was mad at being driven out and began feverishly clawing at the porch roof. In order to stop the destruction of my home, I drove her away with the broom again. Each day thereafter, Mrs. Squirrel continued her attack on my possession. I then called the company to report that "SHE'S BAAAAAACK..." The receptionist said that if Mrs. Squirrel had managed to find another way into my porch roof, it would be a new charge. I replied I couldn't continue contributing my husband's hard-earned income to their silly wildlife experts and hang up. I went to the porch and banged on the roof. Mrs. Squirrel came out and glared at me. We negotiated some terms, came to an agreeable arrangement and went back into our respective homes. All is quiet these days, although large quantities of materials have been removed from my garage wall and my daughter claims that some of her doll-house furniture has disappeared. I still hope that Mrs. Squirrel would leave, but I will wait until it is warmer and hopefully until after the birth of the little ones. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: The author has developed affection for the squirrel. Pepito the Brave By Scott Beck, Dutton, ISBN 0-525-46524-3, $12.99 Ah, the time in life when one has to leave home. No one seems to have as hard a time with it as Pepito. Pepito is a little bird who needs to leave the nest, but the problems is, he's afraid of heights. This makes flying away a bit of a problem, so like most people (or birds in this case) he avoids it, when he finds himself in a new situation, someone happens to give him some advice. A fox suggests he run to where he's going (I got nervous when he came across a fox, _ , a frog tells him to hop, a gopher to burrow . After his various attempts not to fly, he makes it to his brothers' and sister's new tree, and realizes that what he's done is much harder than actually trying to fly. It's a charming story with a good message--often facing up to our fears is much easier than running from them. The Stray Dog By Marc Simont, HarperCollins, ISBN 0-06-028933-3, $15.95 As someone who has taken in his share of stray animals, I can totally relate to the family in The Stray Dog. While picnicking one day, they befriend a dog that wanders by. Everyone immediately falls in love, but they leave him behind, figuring he belongs to someone else. But as the week goes by, none of them can get the dog, which they've named Willy, off their mind. So naturally the next Saturday they go back to that same place to see if Willy's still there. They find that not only does he not have an owner, but they've arrived just in time to prevent a catastrophe. Kids who love animals will definitely _ in the action, and even those who don't will appreciate the quick thinking children who save the day. Who are these two books written for? Answer: They are both for children. Last month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The enormous generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The coming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers disappear from the labor force. The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20 -29 will decrease by 20%. Given that most societies have a tendency to retirement at around 65, companies have a problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The tools they use to achieve are flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth. Some companies spend "a lot of time" on the ergonomics its factories, making jobs there less tiring. Likewise, for more than a decade, prefix = st1 /Toyota, has been unusually keen to employ older workers. IBM uses its alumni network to recruit retired people for particular projects. But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Young found that "although America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue . " Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Mostly they are not hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labor. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply--whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. The following are all the measures that companies have adopted to cope with the ageing workforce EXCEPT _ . Answer: encouraging former employees to work overseas Peter Qwen has been making wigs since the 1980s . He has made wigs for the stars of more than seventy movies ,including Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow and Nicole Kidman in The Others. One of his biggest jobs so far has designed the hair and makeup for the three Lord o f the Ring movies . He had just six weeks to design and make more than a hundred wigs, each one a different style, color, shape and length. The hair and makeup in a movie are just as important as the costumes or the sets. Over the years, Peter has made actors look older, younger, healthy and sick. For one movie he even made a female actor look like a man! "What people don't realize about wigs is that we are not always making people more beautiful," he says. "Often we are covering up beauty and making them look ordinary." All Peter's wigs are handmade using human hair, so they look as real as possible. This also makes them very expensive -between US $ 4,500 and US $12,500 each! He knows he's done a good job when people don't realize the star of the movie is wearing a wig. So he was pleased when one newspaper said that Nicole Kidman had dyed her hair dark brown for a movie. "It was a wig and no one knew that9" he said. Which statement is NOT true about Peter? Answer: lf people know the star is wearing a wig, Peter will be happy. Marry is eight years old now. This autumn she begins to go to school. She likes her teachers and has some friends. She studies hard and is good at her classes. So we think she's a good girl. It's Sunday today. It's fine and after breakfast the girl and her parents are going to the zoo. She likes to watch the animals very much. Now they're standing at the bus stop and waiting for the bus. She sees her friend Jim and his grandpa there. "Good morning, grandpa!" says the girl. "Are you going to the zoo, too?" "Yes, we are," says the old man. Then he says to Mary's father, "You have a polite daughter. How old is she?" "Eight, grandpa." answers the girl. "Eight?" the old man says with a smile. "But you're shorter than my stick!" "How old is your stick, then?" says the girl. Mary is a _ . Answer: student
Eat nuts, live longer. Researchers have found that those who eat a handful of peanuts every day significantly decrease their risk of dying from all causes compared to those who do not eat nuts. A new study concludes that all types of nuts seem to be protective. Researcher Ying Bao is with the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She and her colleagues looked at the impact of nut consumption by analyzing two huge studies that began in 1980 - the Nurses' Health Study, which tracks the of more than 76,000 women, and 42,000 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Among the questions asked at the beginning of the studies was, 'how frequently do you eat nuts?' The information was updated every two to four years. Bao says the participants were followed for three decades. "What we observed is that people who eat more nuts are less likely to die over the next 30 years," said Bao. "So, for example, if a person eat(s) nuts once per day, that person has a 20 percent lower risk of dying." Bao says eating a handful of nuts five or more times per week was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of dying from heart disease and an 11 percent lower risk of cancer death. A serving size is 28 grams. Nuts contain nutrients, including high quality proteins, vitamins and minerals, all of which have anti-cancer effects and may help protect the heart. Bao says researchers are planning studies to find out how nuts are beneficial to human health. The study on the health benefits of nuts was funded by the International Tree Nut Council Research and Education Foundation. Eating nuts may help us stay away from _ . Answer: My son has poliomyelitis and he suffered from it a lot. When he was young, my wife and I took him to see so many doctors and got different kinds of treatments. But still, he couldn't walk like a normal kid. So he was laughed at by his peers for his walking style. His tears burnt our eyes like sulphuric acid . Then, he became afraid of going to school. He wouldn't go anymore. One night, my wife had a breakdown and shouted at him, "I tell you, my kid, you might be like this forever. You are a freak in other people's eyes, and perhaps it would never change. But in my eyes, in your dad's eyes, you are not a freak! You are not! Even if you are, we love you and we will love you forever!" My son spoke nothing for two days. He didn't eat or sleep. We could read he was hurt. We hoped something wonderful would fall in our family. On the third morning, he struggled to walk to my car, with his school bag in his hand of course. He raised his head high and hugged me, saying "I want to go to school. Nothing will beat me." You know, from then on, he was never afraid of being mocked or despised anymore. If he couldn't avoid these looks, he chose to look at them in the eyes. Later, something nice really happened and my son went to MIT. When he was asked how he managed to bear the pressure, he said, "Because of my parents." My dear fellows, if you care too much about how other people look at you or what their opinions are, you will never become what you want to be. From the passage we can say the boy is _ . Answer: We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. Why do we go wrong about our friends? Sometimes people hide their real meanings when they say something. And if we don't really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, "You're a lucky dog." That's being friendly. But "lucky dog"? There's a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn't see himself. But "lucky dog" puts you down a little. He may mean you don't deserve your luck. How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Do his words agree with the tone of voice? His posture ? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. If you spend the minute thinking about the real meaning behind one's words, it may save another mistake. This passage is about _ . Answer: What do earthquakes tell scientists about the history of the planet? Answer: As you grow rapidly through your teenage years,you will experience a lot of changes.The changes may seem difficult and they may seem to happen quickly.Don't panic!You will deal successfully with them!You are a young adult now! With more responsibility,you will find more freedom to make your own choices.This is a time to be well informed about your choices so that you can make healthy balanced decisions that will help shape your future.You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do.Both situations are fine!Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you. Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices.You will probably want to be independent.But try not to shut your family out of your life.You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.Your family have been with you since you came into this world. It is also perfectly natural in this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family.Choose your friends wisely.A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens. This period is part of the life cycle.There are _ who will be with you throughout life's journey and there will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways.Leaving school can be hard.The reality is that you may not ever see all of your classmates again. You are a young adult.It is your life.No one can live it for you.The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.So making the right choices will be important to you.Life is for living.Enjoy your life wisely! Who is the passage mainly written for? Answer:
Question: Raising a baby takes a lot of work, especially when that baby is a king penguin. Now, it looks like climate change will make life even harder for these birds. A new study suggests that warmer waters could make their numbers _ Most king penguins live on the Crozet Archipelago, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles north of Antarctica. After the penguin chicks are born in November (which is summer in the Southern Hemisphere), both parents spend 4 months collecting fish to feed their children. When the fish move to deeper waters in March, the adults leave their chicks alone for months. They swim hundreds of miles south. There, near the Antarctic ice, they spend the winter eating seafood, such as squid, to add their own energy stores. In October, nearly a year after their chicks are born, the parents return to feed and finish raising them. Scientists from the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in prefix = st1 /Strasbourg,France, have been studying king penguins on the Crozet Archipelago for a decade. Starting in 1998, Yvon Le Maho and other researchers implanted electronic ID tags under the skin of hundreds of penguins. The tags have allowed Le Maho's team to know the details about them, such as how long they live, whether they return from their winter trips, and if their chicks manage to survive the winter. Ocean surface temperatures vary from year to year. And former research had shown that fewer squid, fish and other creatures grow when the water is warmer. Le Maho suspected that this drop in the food supply would make it harder for adult penguins to survive the tough times ahead. King penguins can live for up to 30 years. And for now, the population still appears healthy. But a warming trend could cause big trouble for a bird that depends on cold and ice. What's the main idea of this passage? A. Ocean warming may threaten king penguins B. The Crozet Archipelago is the world of king penguins C. Scientists support the protection of king penguins D. King penguins' habitat is in great danger Answer: A. Ocean warming may threaten king penguins Question: It is surprising that eating three meals a day -- breakfast, lunch and dinner -- has been a custom only since 1890. Before this time, they only had two meals a day -- breakfast and dinner. In the 16th century, breakfast was only to break one's fast . But 200 years later it had became a large meal, not just for family, but for numbers guests as well. It was a social event. It began at 10 a.m. and lasted until 1 p.m. Then breakfast began to be less popular. It became, instead, a lighter meal and was taken at a much earlier hour. By 1850 it had been pushed back to 8 a. m. and became a family meal. Dinner, however, went to the other way. In the 16th century it was eaten at 11p.m.Years later, it had moved to the early afternoon, then to 5 p. m. By 1850 dinner time had reached 7 p. m. Lunch is a recent idea. It first appeared as a snack to fill the gap between breakfast and dinner. The passage is mostly about _ . A. the history of breakfast B. what people eat for dinner C. what people eat for breakfast D. the history of lunch Answer: A. the history of breakfast Question: Every time an election rolls around, people want to know what each candidate's stance is on the issues that are important to them. In deciding which candidateIwant to vote for, there are two main issues for me:the economy and education. These issues are important to me because they affect me the most right now. The economy affects everyone,and education is important because I am about to enter college. When I looked at how each candidate views these issues, one man stood out to me,and that is Democratic candidate Barack Obama. I like a11 of Senator Obama's ideas for improving the economy. He wants to bring the troops home from Iraq,thereby saving the $12 billion we spend there every month. Another point that Obama makes is that the United States' current energy policy is hurting the economy. He believes that if new energy bills are passed, it will help the U. S. get out of its current economic slump,and I agree. With these ideas and strategies, I strongly believe that Obama can improve the current state of the economy. Obama also has a plan to improve education. He believes that we need to start educating children at a young age. He also hopes to close the gap of achievement between students, which means improving schools that need help. He wants to pay teachers more and treat them like professionals,but in exchange he calls for higher responsibility. Obama also has a plan to make college more affordable. He wants public colleges to be free for students who maintain a "B" average during high school. And he plans to give a $4,000 tax credit for college and university students who complete 100 hours of community service each year. I believe these ideas to improve education are good enough and will help many students. Therefore, there is no longer any doubt in my mind who will be receiving my vote: Barack Obama. We may learn from the passage that the author is a(n)_. A. college student B. economist C. senior high student D. candidate Answer: C. senior high student Question: Some problems are difficult to solve! But there are a lot of number expressions that can help.For example,if we put two and two together,we might come up with the right answer.We know that two heads are better than one. It is always better to work with another person to solve a problem. Sometimes we can kill two birds with one stone.That is, we can complete two goals with only one effort or action.But we must remember that two wrongs don't make a right.If someone does something bad to you,you should not do the same to him. If you are going out with your girlfriend,or boyfriend,you do not want another friend to go along on your date.You can just say to your friend:twos company, three's a crowd. A young child in school has to learn the three Rs.These important skills are reading, writing and arithmetic. These three words do not all start with the 1etter R,but they have the sound of R. Teachers will give three cheers when their pupils do a good job. Some of my friends were confused and did not understand their schoolwork.They were at sixes and sevens.In fact,they did not care whether they could finish high school. They saw 1ittle difference between the two choices.But they were really happy when they completed their studies and graduated from high school. They were in seventh heaven.They were on cloud nine. Last year,one of my friends applied for a better job at her office.I did not think she would get it.I thought she had a hundred to one shot at the job.Other people at her office thought her chances were a million to one. One reason was that she had been caught catching forty winks at the office.She slept at her desk for short periods during the day.But her supervisor appointed her to the new job at the eleventh hour--at the very last minute.I guess her lucky number came up. The writer thinks it is _ that makes her friend find the new job. A. her good luck B. her good fame C. her workmates help D. her supervisors neglect of duty Answer: A. her good luck Question: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous portrait in the world, but now some suspect that the woman with the mysterious smile may not be a woman after all. They are suggesting that the Mona Lisa may be a self- portrait, da Vinci in drag . Italy's National Committee for Cultural Heritage (INCCH) is carrying out the research. They think the artist, who died in 1519, was buried at a French castle and they plan to dig up his body. Using CSI-style technology, they want to rebuild da Vinci's face. Jason Rosenfeld, a member of INCCH, says, " It shows the reason why we preserved Einstein's brain or King Tut's mummy , which throws light on the problem we are working on." "Now we want to get the body of Leonardo. We want to see what he died of, we want to see his DNA, we want to see the size of his head, and what his facial feature were like, so we can know whether this was a self-portrait." The Mona Lisa was painted around 500 years ago. Beyond that, we know almost nothing about the painting that is now on display at the Louvre in Paris. But will the exhumation discover the truth behind the Mona Lisa? Not likely, according to Rosenfeld. "If the French government really wants to help find out what this is about, what they should do is allow us to clean the Mona Lisa. We will learn much more from it and understand it better if we are allowed to clean the painting than by digging up a body." Which of the following is TRUE about the Mona Lisa? A. It is now preserved in France. B. It is a self-portrait of da Vinci in drag. C. It has the same long history as King Tut's mummy. D. It was painted in 1519. Answer: A. It is now preserved in France.
Charlie was spending his summer holidays by the sea. One day he climbed over some rocks. He was looking for some crabs for supper. He took off his shorts and put them on a rock. The afternoon went quickly. Time was flying by. Look! The sea was coming in fast. It was over some of the rocks now. Charlie looked up. "It's getting late. Oh dear! Look at the sea. Where are my shorts now?" he thought. He saw them on a rock. Oh dear! The rock was an island! Now he must swim and got them. Charlie jumped into the sea and started swimming. He reached the rock and put his shorts on his head. Then he started swimming back. Oh no! The sea was too strong for Charlie. It was pulling him away from the beach. "Help!" he called. "I can't get back. " Luckily, a boat was coming by. The people in the boat saw Charlie and heard his call for help. "Are you all right?" asked the woman in the boat. "No! I can't swim back. The sea is too strong. " The woman stopped the boat and she and a girl pulled Charlie into the boat. He threw his shorts into the boat too. Then they turned the boat Bound and took Charlie back to the beach. "That was lucky," said the woman. "Thank you very much," said Charlie. "Be careful next time," said the woman. "The sea is usually very strong near these rocks. " "Next time, I'm going to keep my shorts in my bag," said Charlie. "Better safe than sorry!" Charlie cried for help because _ . A. the sea was carrying him away from the beach B. the sea was pulling Charlie onto the rocks C. the sea was getting lower D. the sea was going out Answer: A. the sea was carrying him away from the beach Watching a child struggle to breathe during as asthma attack is frightening for any parent. So it is only natural that most moms and dads will try just about anything, including spending a lot of money -to keep an attack at bay. Trouble is, more than half of parents are trying strategies that simply do not work and wasting hundreds of dollars in the process. According to Dr. Machael Cabana, a pediatrician at the prefix = st1 /UniversityofMichigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, who led the study, one of the most common mistakes was to buy mattress cover to protect against dust mites for a child whose asthma instead was made by plant pollen . Many of those parents then neglected to do what would have helped a lot more; shut the windows to keep pollen out. Another was using a humidifier for a child who was allergic to dust mites; a humidifier tends to be a place where dust mites like to breed. With those allergies, a dehumidifier works better. Worst of all was the number of smokers with asthmatic children who didn't even try to quit or at least limit themselves to smoking outdoors rather than just moving to another room or the garage. Many smoking parents purchased expensive air filters that have what Cabana called " questionable utility. " Part of the problem, Dr. Caban and his colleagues believe, is that parents are bombarded by television ads that encourage them to buy products such as air and carpet fresheners, ionizers and other remedies that are often expensive but medically unnecessary. And doctors may not always take the time, or have the time, to explain to parents what will and won't work in their child's particular case. For example, allergies are usually a problem for older children with asthma, while kids 5 and younger more frequently have trouble with viral repiratory infections. So make sure you understand what the cause of your child's asthma really is. The intended readers of the passage are _ . A. teenagers B. businessmen C. parents D. pediatricians Answer: C. parents A group that rescues wildlife has started to search for land and money to build a bird and wildlife hospital in San Francisco. "About 40 volunteers care for injured animals in their homes," founder Jamie Ray said. Ray presented her proposal to build a $2 million wildlife hospital and nature center to environment commissioners recently. "What we need is to be able to build a 100-foot-long flight aviary for hawks that are recovering and to have water pools for recovering water birds," Ray said. She hopes they will open by the end of 2010, and will be able to care for oiled birds after more than 50,000 gallons of fuel flowed into the Bay. "For any animal, whether it is oiled, injured or anything else, getting it immediate care is important to its survival," she said. Department employees drive as many as 350 injured animals every year to a wildlife hospital, according to Friedman. He said around 80 percent of those animals are birds. "It would be wonderful to have a wildlife rehabilitation center here in San Francisco," Friedman said. Ray's proposal includes aviaries as well as a nature education center and outdoor picnic area. She has suggested building the center at Lake Merced or in western Golden Gate Park. A parking lot, soccer field and storage area are presently being planned for construction at the Golden Gate Park site. Any changes to those plans would need to be _ by department commissioners. The Board of Supervisors is also in charge of those plans. What do we know about oiled birds? A. They are being cared for by volunteers. B. They are probably water birds. C. They are called oiled birds because they can produce oil. D. They are birds usually seen in San Francisco. Answer: B. They are probably water birds. Cindy, Jerry and Mary are giving their opinions about a good friend. Cindy: I think a good friend should be honest . That's more important than any other thing and is where a good friendship starts. _ Jerry: I think a good friend has to be generous. Here "generous" doesn't mean he has to give his friends his lunch money or his clothes. It means he should share his ideas and feelings with his friends. In fact, his friends can know him better in this way. Mary: In my opinion a good friend should understand his friends. When there's something wrong between him and his friends, he must put himself in his friends' place and think more for his friends. Mary thinks friends should _ . A. visit each other often B. go to more places to play C. understand each other D. help each other do more things Answer: C. understand each other Petroleum, consisting of crude oil and natural gas, seems to originate from organic matter in marine sediment .Tiny organisms settle to the seafloor and gather in marine mud. The organic matter may partially break down, using up the dissolved oxygen in the sediment. As soon as the oxygen is gone, decay stops and the remaining organic matter is preserved. Continued sedimentation buries the organic matter and subjects it to higher temperatures and pressures, which change the organic matter to oil and gas. As muddy sediments are pressed together, the gas and small drops of oil may be squeezed out of the mud and may move into sandy layers nearby. Over millions of years, accumulations of gas and oil can collect in the sandy layers. Both oil and gas are less dense than water, so they generally tend to rise upward through rock and sediment. Oil pools are valuable underground accumulations of oil, and oil fields are regions underlain by one or more oil pools. When an oil pool or field is discovered, wells are drilled into the ground. When the well reaches a pool, oil usually rises up the well because of its density difference with water beneath it or because of the pressure of expanding gas trapped above it. Although this rise of oil is almost always carefully controlled today, strong natural flows of oil were common in the past. Gas pressure gradually dies out, and oil is pumped from the well. Water or steam may be pumped down neighboring wells to help push the oil out. As oil becomes increasingly difficult to find, the search for it is extended into more unfriendly environments. The development of the oil field on the North Slope of Alaska and the construction of the Alaska pipeline are examples of the great expense and difficulty involved in new oil discoveries. Offshore drilling platforms extend the search for oil to the ocean's continental shelves. More than one-quarter of the world's oil and almost one-fifth of the world's natural gas come from offshore, even though offshore drilling is six to seven times more expensive than drilling on land. Of course, there is far more oil underground than can be recovered. Even given the best exploration techniques, only about 30 to 40 percent of the oil in a given pool can be brought to the surface. The rest is far too difficult to reach and has to remain underground. Which of the following is true about petroleum formation? A. Microscopic organisms that live in mud produce crude oil and natural gas. B. Large amounts of oxygen are needed for petroleum formation to begin. C. Petroleum is formed when organic material in sediments combines with decaying organisms. D. Petroleum formation appears to begin in marine sediments where organic matter exists. Answer: D. Petroleum formation appears to begin in marine sediments where organic matter exists.
Which of these groups animals are ALL mammals? Answer: mouse, monkey, bat During a winter storm in 1919, one dog managed to save the lives of the people on the ship Ethie. Today, people still tell the story of the dog. In December 1919, Ethie was travelling along the coast of northern Canada. Without warning, the ship ran into a bad storm. Because of high winds and heavy snow, the captain could not tell where he was going. Sailing too close to the shore , the ship could not move because of some rocks. Ethie was in danger. The captain decided to save the people on his ship. He thought it was too dangerous to try to reach the shore by lifeboat, so he sent up flares to call for help. People saw the flares and rushed to the beach. The crew tried to throw a rope to them, but there seemed to be no way to get a rope to the shore. In the early 1900s ships often carried a large kind of dog called a Newfoundland. Newfoundlands are excellent swimmers. During sea journeys, Newfoundlands would bring back things that had fallen off the ship or even save people from the sea. The Newfoundland on Ethie was named Tang. The captain decided that Tang offered their best hope of survival . He gave the dog a long rope. Holding the rope between his teeth, Tang jumped into the _ water. He fought his way through high waves and strong winds. Finally he reached the beach. The people on the shore took the rope. The rope became the ship's lifeline. Because of Tang, all the people on Ethie landed on the beach safely. He was given a special medal for being a hero. Tang wore the medal for the rest of his life. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? Answer: The hero on the ship Our world natural park is one of the most famous parks in the world. Millions of visitors from different countries visit this park every year. In order to protect it, please do as follows: Protect the natural and cultural heritage . Don't damage or deface any buildings, displays and other facilities. Take care of all plants. Put rubbish in the bins provided. Take care when you are going up and down steps or stairs and when you are walking nearby the waters. Please buy tickets before entering the scenic spot One ticket is only for one person. Adult: $60 per ticket .Children over6 and under 18,half price. People over 60 and children under 6 are free. If you are going into the wooded and hilly lands, for your own safety, please go with three people at least and don't take any tinder along with you. The hill is steep, so please take care of yourself. This scenic spot is the reserve of water source: No fishing, swimming, washing and any behaviors that are harmful to the water source. Meanwhile, please follow the management rules of the scenic spot conscientiously. Opening time: From Monday to Friday, 8:00 a. m.--18:00 p. m.; From Saturday to Sunday, 6:00 a. m:--24:00 p. m. *Small animals such as rabbits, peacocks, squirrels, frogs must be taken care of: None of them shall be killed. If you have any trouble in visiting our world natural park, please call 477-866-7044. Our staff will do our best to help you. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Small animals are under protection in the park. If you planning to study in the United States, you need to consider several factors . Everyone has different opinions about where is the best place to live in. Also, the best places to live in are not always home to the best schools. What's more, many schools specialize in different areas of study. They Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, is a great school for computer science. And if you want to study oceanography, your interests may be better served by attending school in a place which is near the ocean. Now I will tell you about which states I believe are the best to live in. California is a nice state. Northern California especially has very good weather. As for me, I enjoyed the time I spent in Massachusetts, Virginia and Mary land. These states have a lot of history and culture. The weather is not so perfect as that in California, but is still quite nice. My favourite of America is the Midwest. Middle America, I think, is home to the true American sense of values. Besides, there are many good universities, too. Also you need to think about your likes and dislikes and then research the different areas. You like sunshine and hate snow? Then you probably won't like the Midwest or even the Northeast. Open space, nature, peace and quiet? Then you'd better stay away from America's larger cities. Are you interested in government? Then Washington D.C. is the only place for you. Whatever you decide, put some thought into it. _ should be considered first if you want to study in the USA. Answer: The study condition A man stopped his car at the door of a flower shop. He planned to order flowers and asked the shopkeeper to deliver them to his mother, who was far away in the man's hometown. The man saw a little girl crying on the road when he was about to enter the shop. The man asked her: "Why are you crying?" "I want to buy a rose for my mother, but I haven't got enough money," said the girl. The man took the girl's hand and entered the flower shop. He first ordered the bouquet for his mother and bought a rose for the girl. Walking out of the shop, the man asked the girl if she would like a ride home. "Will you really drive me home?" she asked. "Of course," the man replied. "Then drive me to my mother. But the place where my mother lives is very far." The man drove along the mountain road and finally came to the cemetery . The little girl put the flower onto a new grave. In order to present a rose to her mother who had passed away a month before, she had gone on a very long journey. The man drove the girl to her home and then returned to the flower shop. He cancelled the bouquet and bought a big bunch of fresh flowers instead. He drove directly to his mother's home, a five-hour drive from where he was. He would present the flowers to his mother in person. Why was the little girl crying? Answer: She couldn't afford a rose.
Penguins live together, but each pair has a little piece of ground of their own. When a penguin wants to walk through its neighbor's ground, it must ask for permission . If it does not, it will have to fight. Penguins come and go all day. They fight for fish and look after their children. All penguins are good parents--the male penguins are perhaps the best parents in the world. They choose their wives in the dark They can only hear them--not see them. Then the female penguins lay their eggs and go away for about two months. The males look after the eggs. If the eggs get cold, there will be no chicks. There is no food. The snow falls and the wind blows--sometimes at 150 kilometers an hour. The penguins do not move. When the females return from the sea, they will not remember their husbands. It doesn't matter. Only one thing-- their eggs. Male penguins never fight--unless a penguin leaves a chick for a minute. Then they fight because they all want it. They are strange and wonderful birds. Which of the following is NOT true? A. Female penguins often have their new husbands. B. Penguins often fight for fishing. C. Female penguins take care of the eggs. D. Male penguins use their ears to choose wives Answer: C. Female penguins take care of the eggs. Tired of visiting places of historic interest around the world? Then how about a holiday in space? Recently, Russia has announced plans for a hotel in space. The dream of staying in space will soon come true. The space hotel will open in2016. Experienced guides will go with tourists together. The food will be prepared on Earth and sent up on the rocket. When tourists want to eat, the food can be heated again in microwave ovens .One can have tea, water and fruit juices in the space hotel, but alcohol will not be allowed. Toilets will use flowing air instead of water to move waste, and waste water will be recycled. The hotel will be"far more comfortable"than the International Space Station(ISS,)used by astronauts. It will house seven guests in four cabins. Tourists there can enjoy the views of the Earth through huge windows. They may also meet unexpected guests such as astronauts from the ISS, if those astronauts get in trouble. But it's not easy to get to the hotel. It will take two days to send tourists there and a five-day stay will cost you 100,000 dollars. How many cabins are there in the space hotel ? _ . A. seven B. eleven C. four D. one hundred Answer: C. four Some people enjoy reading and they like to go to the book show. There are many books in the show. If you can't find some books in libraries or bookshops, come to the book show. You must find them here. Readers like these books very much. In a book show, you can buy a lot of books with less money. The show also invites some writers. People can buy a lot of their favorite books and meet their favorite writers. The book show may be _ , but they still love to visit it. It is fun to go there. Today more and more people like reading including children and adults. They often go to many book shows to read and buy books. When they read, they can learn much more from books. It is important for children to learn to read. They can also know a lot about the writers after reading the books. Can you find the book you need in the book show? A. You can find them. B. Yes, many books are in the show. C. Yes, of course. D. There are many books in the show. Answer: C. Yes, of course. Steve took his family to the lake. There are a lot of things to do at the lake. Steve's favorite thing to do is ride in his red boat across the blue water. The boat is very loud and makes dark brown smoke. The boat can go very fast. Steve has a son named Bobby. Bobby doesn't like riding in the boat, he prefers to sit on the shore and make lunch. He makes sandwiches for the whole family. Bobby loves eating ham sandwiches, but Steve prefers turkey sandwiches. Bobby's mom also likes to eat ham sandwiches. Bobby also has a younger sister named Mary. Mary doesn't like eating sandwiches so she brings one cup of soup and some chips for her lunch. Mary enjoys fishing at the lake. She caught two yellow fish, five pink fish and three blue fish. Mary wants to cook the fish for dinner. Bobby's mom likes to wear her favorite orange hat. Her hat also has a big purple flower on top. She got the hat from Billy who works at the big store down the street. After Steve's family leaves the lake they all want to go home and eat dinner. Playing at the lake makes them all very hungry! How many cups of soup did Mary bring for lunch? A. Five B. Two C. Three D. One Answer: D. One It is a finding which is certain to be hotly discussed. According to the latest research, women are brighter than men. For the first time in IQ testing, psychologists have found that female scores have risen above those of men. Since IQ testing began a century ago, women have been as much as five points behind. But that gap has been narrowing in recent years and this year women have moved ahead, according to James Flynn, leader of the research. "In the last 100 years the IQ scores of both men and women have risen but women's have risen faster," said Mr. Flynn. "This is a result of modernity, which is making our brains adapt and raising our IQ." One possible explanation is that women's lives have become more demanding as they multitask between raising a family and doing a job. Another is that women have a slightly higher potential intelligence than men and are only now realizing it. Mr. Flynn, who will publish his findings in a book, said more data was needed to explain the trend. "The full effect of modernity on women is only just starting," he added. He compared IQ result from countries in western Europe and from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and Estonia. These showed that in westernized countries the gap in scores between men and women had become minimal . The data for making comparison was limited and could be carried out for only a few countries. It included Australia, where male and female IQs were found to be almost the same. In New Zealand, Estonia and Argentina, women scored slightly more than men. Mr. Flynn said, "As the world gets more complex, people are adapting." He added, "I suspect that the same trends are happening in Britain, although the data is too limited to be true." What do we know about the research mentioned in the text? A. It was led by James Flynn B. Its results have been published C. Its results represent the whole world D. It was started one hundred years ago Answer: A. It was led by James Flynn
As we know, many teen celebrities feel and think that having a slimmer figure can do great good to them. But, does size really matter? Are teenage fans trying hard to become like their celebrity idols ? Do celebrities really have the power to influence people, especially teenagers? For the longest time, many parents blame teen idols for influencing the way their kids act. Have you noticed how teens idolize the celebrities these days? Even, their personal affairs are being followed by kids these days. Take for example the case of Lindsay Lohan of Mary Kate Ashley. They are definitely famous teen stars. But, since they are trying to project an image to satisfy a lot of people in show business, their health and body suffer. Many kids are aware of this problem. But they are easily influenced by these celebrities to exercise and eat less. It is a fact that the media, and especially famous teen celebrities, can influence people powerfully. But teenagers are easily influenced because teenage years are the period when our personality and identity developments take place. Teens watching TV shows and reading magazines are easily pulled into the dieting and harmful eating habits because the media have some ways to pull these acts. They use thin models and celebrities to endorse products or to star in an up-and -coming shows or movies. With fierce competition, celebrities are forced to eat less and do extreme exercise routines to get the roles or offers that come their way. Living in today's time and generation is a bit disturbing to a lot of parents. Media, especially as well as the celebrities, have a very powerful influence to drive teenagers to good or bad. It's good that we can control ourselves to avoid bad things from happening. If not, parents should really be aware and guide their teens to determine what's in ad what's out. According to the writer, why are teenagers easily influenced by some TV shows? A. They are tired of school. B. Their celebrity idols appear in many TV shows. C. They're in their development period. D. They have nothing to do in their spare time Answer: C. They're in their development period. Which of the following is a property of CO2 gas? A. It feels like a rock. B. It smells like a lemon. C. It is colorless. D. It is hard. Answer: C. It is colorless. Nobody knows for certainty all the details of the life of Aesop. However, scholars have been working to established some facts and this is the brief story of Aesop as it is accepted today. Aesop was born a slave around the year 620 B.C. InAncient Greece, it was a privilege and tradition of freedmen to be interested in public affairs, so Aesop worked hard to raise himself from a servile slave's position to a high position of renown. He was a thinker and philosopher and eventually became widely admired. Aesop was a smart man and a good speaker. He liked to learn and to also teach people, so he traveled through many countries. He came to Sardis, the capital of the famous king Croesus of Lydia who was a patron of learning and learned men. Croesus was so impressed by Aesop that he invited Aesop to permanently reside at Sardis. The king hired Aesop to do diplomatic government work such as trying to establish peace between the various republics of Greece. Aesop reconciled the inhabitants of these cities by telling his wise fables. It was on one of these ambassadorial missions that Aesop was killed. Croesus had sent him to Delphi with lots of gold which was to be distributed among the citizens. After talking with the people of Delphi, Aesop got so mad at the citizens because of their covetousness. He refused to divide the money and instead sent it back to his master. The Delphians were so mad they executed Aesop as a public criminal. As it often happens in Greek history, the Delphians were visited by a series of calamities as a sort of retribution for Aesop's death. This is where the phrase "the blood of Aesop" originated. The saying means "wrongful deeds will not go unpunished". In memory of Aesop, a statue was erected in Athens. The statue was created by the famous Greek sculptor, Lysippus. Why did Aesop work so hard? A. Because he wanted to be an official. B. Because he desired to join in public affairs. C. Because he wanted to make more money. D. Because he wanted to write wise fables. Answer: B. Because he desired to join in public affairs. The Winter Palace was built between 1754 and 1762 for Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died before the palace was completed and only Catherine the Great and her successors were able to enjoy the great interior of Elizabeth's home. Many parts of the palace's impressive interior have been remodeled since then, particularly after 1837, when a huge fire destroyed most of the building. Today the Winter Palace, together with four more buildings arranged side by side along the river embankment, houses the extensive collections of the Hermitage. The Hermitage Museum is the largest art gallery in Russia and is among the largest and most respected art museums in the world. The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great bought a collection of 255 paintings from the German city of Berlin. Today, the Hermitage boasts over 2.7 million exhibits and displays, a diverse range of art and artifacts from all over the world and throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe). The Hermitage's collections include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a collection of Rembrandts and Rubens, many French Impressionist works by Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Pissarro, and several works by Rodin. The collection is really worth a stop for all those interested in art and history. The experts say that if you were to spend a minute looking at each exhibit on show in the Hermitage, you would need 11 years before you'd seen them all. However, we suggest you choose a guided tour instead! Location: Dvortsovaia Naberezhnaia, 32-38. www.ks5u.com Open: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday till 5 pm. Closed: Mondays. Ticket-office closes 1 hour before closing time. If you want to visit the museum, when can you go? A. At 10:30 am on Monday. B. At 10:00 am on Tuesday. C. At 11:00 am on Sunday. D. None of the above. Answer: C. At 11:00 am on Sunday. Canyoning The sports of canyoning explore the high-energy environment where water meets rock on the coast, or in river canyons. Protected by wetsuits and helmets , people jump from cliffs and waterfalls and explore caves and river canyons that would not normally be arrived at. It was pioneered in the U.K. by TYF Adventure (01437 721611, www.tyf.com) and several thousand people leap from the cliffs near St David's each year. A half day canyoning trip costs PS50 (PS30 for children under 16). Scuba diving Diving is not popular with British people. The challenges of wild waters are greater because the water is colder and not clear enough, but the coasts of Cornwall, Wales and Scotland have some of the best wreck diving in the world. The British Sub Aqua Club (0870 112 9133 www.bsac.com) and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (01580 819688 www.padi.com) run courses teaching the important skills right up and to instructor level. Surfing The best surfing places in the UK are on the southwest coast where it is warmer and the surf is relatively steady, particularly in Cornwall. The best time of year to surf in the UK is late summer and autumn when water temperatures are at their mildest. The British Surfing Association (01479 861256 www.britsurf.co.uk) has a list of famous surf schools around the country. Rock climbing The most popular natural rocks in Britain include the Peak District, the Lake District, coastal regions, while vast areas of Scotland are a climber's paradise . Climbing courses and climbing walls can be located on the website of the British Mountaineering Council (0870 010 4878, www.thebmc.co.uk) which offers a series of short films that take the new climber through a step-by-step guide to visiting a climbing wall for the first time. To go surfing, you may phone _ . A. 01479 861256 B. 0870 010 4878 C. 01437 721611 D. 0870 112 9133 Answer: A. 01479 861256
To Make Everybody Happy Peter's uncle lives in the country. Once in summer, Peter goes to stay with him for a few weeks. Whenever they go for a walk or for a drive in the car and pass somebody, his uncle waves to the passer-by. Peter is surprised and says, "Uncle Georage, you seem to know everybody here. Where did you meet them all?" "I don't know all these people." answers his uncle. "Then why do you wave to them?" "Well, Peter ," says his uncle "When I wave to someone who knows me, he is pleased. He goes on his journey with a happier heart. But when I wave to someone who doesn't know me , he is surprised and says to himself, ' Who is that man? Why did he wave to me?' So he has something to think about during the rest of his journey, and that makes his journey seem shorter.So.I.make.everybody.happy. Georage tells peter _ . Answer: What would we do without humour? How would we enjoy speaking with others if we did not use humour to invite a smile or a laugh? And how would we manage in times when we feel sad and lonely? Using humour we lighten up each day, and we find common ground with others. We build healthy relationships with others by knowing what to say and what to do. When our use of humour is successful, we build trust and cooperation. We discover that we are not alone, we learn to accept our mistakes, and we look for the good in others and in ourselves. Most importantly, we create common ground, as humour is an essential skill needed to communicate well with others. A few well-chosen words get the attention of others and make a serious point without their getting defensive . Whether we prefer to be the centre of attention or to be shy and quiet, humour can be adjusted to suit our personality. However, when we lose our sense of humour, we often get critical or defensive, and we blame others or ourselves for what was said, and how it was said. To ensure that our humour is welcomed by others, we need to combine our humour with speaking clearly and listening effectively. Have you ever noticed that successful individuals often use self-depreciating humour to humble themselves, without putting themselves down? These individuals understand that every person has strengths and weaknesses and that self-depreciating humour invites others to feel more confident and equal. In this way, humour is the shortest distance between two people. Humour is the spice of life, as it brings happiness, numbs pain and it makes us speak and listen well. From the passage we can learn that _ . Answer: Above 100 degrees Celsius a kind of water is what? Answer: China may be the world's largest market for e-bikes, but Europe is fast catching up. The EU's official statistics agency says the figure reached the one million e-bike mark two years ago, and sales have sharply increased since then. When working errands around Berlin, Lutz, who usually works with horses, uses the company's new e-bike that charges easily and has a range of 140 kilometers. "We found there was no parking spot problem or other worries. And on top of all this, we don't pollute the environment. Petrol is also saved," said Lutz Baddack, owner of Reitsport Baddack. Unlike many other parts of the world, the EU does not require registration for e-bikes. Nearly half a million are expected to be sold in Germany this year, in all shapes and sizes. It's not just bike fans buying them. People who usually drive cars also use them occasionally," said Stefan Gelbhaar. Dealers say the elderly are also big customers. Sales of ordinary bicycles fell in Germany last year, but sales of e-bikes rose by eight percent. Sales figures are expected to keep rising. "In five years we will have the market share of 20 percent, maybe more," said Marcus Kendler, owner of E-Motion. In the hillier parts, that figure has already been beyond it. The sales of e-bikes in Germany have been much larger than those in any other country in Europe. But other countries are fast catching up. In Europe, with the various brands at the market and falling prices, e-bikes are here to stay and not just a repeated trend. From the passage we know that e-bikes are preferred by those _ . Answer: For the British, the home is a private place in which he or she goes to hide away from the troubles of life. It is very seldom that one would be invited to a British person's home. It is rude to knock on a person's door if you are not invited. If you are invited, don't ask to see more than the downstairs that your British host invites you into. Never ask how much the house or any of the items in it cost. To the American, most of them want their home to be a place where they can entertain and share their lives with their friends. They may be delighted to give you a full tour of their houses. They may also be pleased when you show your interest and pleasure in their houses. Both British and American people will _ quite a bit of chat and a drink or two before the meal is served. After the first mouthful, you should say how delicious the food is and ask something about it. Remember, never eat with your mouth open and make very little noise while eating. It would be nice of you to help your host in any way. Maybe offer to pour some drinks or clear up after the meal. British people _ invite friends to their home. Answer:
About five years ago I started at a new school when my family moved to Iowa. I was just a little ex-cited, but I worried I would never fit in with the other sixth graders. Lucy, a girl in my class, who I thought was not ready for change, didn't like me from the start. In fact, I was pretty sure she hated me. I would ask her a question, and I could tell she thought I was a total fool. My teacher made us sit by each other for the last term. Lucy was horrified . I didn't wear make-up , and I didn't wear those terrible bell-bottom pants. I didn't exactly look like the coolest girl. But, I kept smiling at her, though she rolled her eyes, and I kept telling her she looked beautiful, even when she was angry. Finally, Lucy let me talk to her, even in sight of her "cool" friends. She started telling me how beautiful I looked. I still remember that first time when she smiled at me saying that, and I smiled right back, telling her thanks. Lucy invited me over to her house for a party, and talked to me all the time instead of her other friends. Lucy, the girl who hated me, called me her best friend. After that, we still were good friends a whole year later. I may have moved to Arizona after that, but I will never forget Lucy. It's funny -- I still remember her birthday. She was a great friend. And to think, she considered me her enemy at first. Though it was hard, and it felt like I was wasting my time, and losing my dignity , I still smiled at Lucy when she made fun of me. I'm not stupid, I didn't think she was right in doing those things, but I still put up with it. And we became great friends. About two weeks ago, I read a sentence by Abraham Lincoln: "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" Immediately, I smiled, thinking of Lucy. That sentence just reminded me how great it was for me to change Lucy into my friend in that state of Iowa five years ago. When the author started at a new school in Iowa, she worried _ . A. she looked stupid when asking questions B. she didn't look like the coolest girl in her class C. she was not ready for change at all D. she couldn't get along well with her classmates Answer: D Earlier in their lives many amphibians ate A. meat B. flies C. beetles D. algae Answer: D I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to sit above the top of it when mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world. Years later, during her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother. "But the desk," she said again " is for Elizabeth."[:Zxxk.Com] I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it action. But as a young girl. I wanted to have heart-to heart talks between mother and daughter. They never happened. And a _ opened between us. I was " too emotional ". But she lived "on the surface". As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me. My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace-it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn't be sure that the letter had even got to mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not. But the present of her desk told me, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside-a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded and refolded many times. It was my letter. " In any way you choose, mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words" The writer began to love her mother's desk _ . A. after Mother died B. when she was a child C. before she became a writer D. when mother gave it to her Answer: B The Earth has warmed by about half a degree(0.50degC)over the last 100 years. It could be getting warmer on its own, but many scientists think that people are making the Earth warmer by making a greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is important. Without it, the Earth would not be warm enough for us to live on. But just a little warmer than it is now could cause problems for humans, plants and animals. Many of the things we do every day can change the Earth's temperature by sending greenhouse gases into the air. We send greenhouse gases into the air when we watch TV, turn on lights, dry hair, play video games, wash or dry our clothes or drive cars. The rubbish from factories and homes also produces greenhouse gases. Even a small change in temperature can affect our weather. This can cause changes in the sea levels, the air, flooding, and our fresh water. The change in the temperature can also cause changes in the living places for animals and plants, endangering many animals. Global warming is a big problem, and every little bit we do can help. We can save electricity. We can save energy in other ways such as by taking buses or walking rather than driving cars. We can recycle to reduce the rubbish and save natural resources such as trees, oil and metals. We can buy products that don't do bad to the environment and we can turn to solar energy. Remember the little bit that you do will bring a better world. The writer gives us advice on how to save energy in _ . A. Paragraph 2 B. Paragraph 3 C. Paragraph 4 D. Paragraph 5 Answer: D Boys and girls,as we all know,most people,especially young people ,tend to care about their hair much because hair plays a very important role in our appearance.But can you imagine what other uses hair has?Do you have any idea that human hair may become a new solar energy soutce?Before we begin with the new content of our Physics ,let me tell you a new invention first. It's reported that a Nepali teenager has designed a $32 solar panel using human hair. Milan Karki,who is 18 years old and lives in a village in rural Nepal,used human hair to replace silicon ,which is a common but expensive componet of solar panels. By using hair as a replacement,Karki says that solar panels can be produced for around $32,a price that could be halved if they were mass-produced. The solar panel works,because melanin ,which gives hair its colour,is light sensitive and can act as an elecrtical conductor.Kaiki was inspired to think of the idea by a Stephen Hawking book ,which explained how to create elecrtic energy from hair. The device that Karki has invented is capable of producing 9V or 18V of energy--plenty to charge a mobile phone. "Half a kilo of hair can be bought for only 16p in Nepal and lasts a few months;whereas a pack of batteries would cost50p and lasts few nights,"according to The Daily Mail. The solar panel is claimed to be easy to service as the hair is easy to replace. Karki has now seng out several devices to other disrticts near his home for tetimg .He said,"First I wanted to provide elecricity for my home,then my village .Now I am thinking for the whole worle." So next time when you have a haircut,do remember to keep your hair cut down to use for energy.Perhaps you can also provide elecrticity for your home,even your village using your own hair. What's the advantage of using hair as a new solar energy source? A. It is a common but expensive component of solar panels. B. It can create electric energy. C. It can produce energy plenty to charge a mobile phone. D. It is cheap and easy to replace. Answer: D
It was Mother's Day morning last year and I was doing my shopping at our local supermarket with my five-year-old son, Tenyson. As we were leaving, we found that only minutes earlier an elderly woman had fallen over at the entrance and had hit her head on the concrete. Her husband was with her, but there was blood everywhere and the woman was embarrassed and clearly in shock. Walking towards the scene, Tenyson became very upset about what had happened to the couple. He said to me, "Mum, it's not much fun falling over in front of everyone." At the front of the supermarket a charity group had set up a stand selling cooked sausages and flowers to raise funds. Tenyson suggested that we should buy the lady a flower. "It will make her feel better," he said. I was amazed that he'd come up with such a sweet idea. So we went over to the flower seller and asked her if we could buy a flower for the lady to cheer her up. "Just take it," she replied. "I can't take your money for such a wonderful gesture." By now paramedics had arrived, and were attending the injured woman. As we walked up to her, my son became _ by all the blood and medical equipment. He said he was just too scared to go up to her. ZXXK Instead I gave the flower to the woman's husband and told him, " My son was very upset for your wife and wanted to give her this flower to make her feel better." At that, the old man started crying and said, "Thank you so much, you have a wonderful son. Happy Mother's Day to you." The man then bent down and gave his wife the flower, telling her who it was from. Though badly hurt and shaken, the old lady looked up at Tenyson with love in her eyes and gave him a little smile. What would be the best title for the passage? Flower Power In the early 1990s,the word" Internet" was strange to most people. But today, Internet has become a useful tool for people all over the world. Maybe Internet has been the greatest invention in the field of communication in the history of mankind . Communicating with others on the Internet is much faster. We can chat with a person who is sitting in the other part of the world. We can e-mail our friends and they can read the e-mails within a minute. Giving all kinds of information is probably the biggest advantage of the Internet. We can use search engines to find the information we need. Just type in a keyword or keywords and the search engine will give us a list of suitable websites to look at. We can enjoy a lot on the Internet by downloading games, visiting chat rooms or surfing websites. There are some games for free. We can meet new and interesting people in the chat now. We can also listen to music and see films. Now ,there is a lot of service on the Internet such as online banking ,job finding and ticket buying. We can also do shopping and find nearly all kinds of goods. Sometimes we can find something that is quite good but very cheap. Which title best gives the main idea of the passage? The Advantages of the Internet Since the pre-historic times, man has had an urge to satisfy his needs.Whether it is hunger, shelter or search for a mate, he has always controlled the situations to his advantage.Probably this might be the reason why we humans are the most developed of all living species on the earth.As we climbed the steps of development, we somehow left behind common sense and logical thinking --we forgot that we have stopped thinking ahead of time. If you are hungry, what do you do? Get a piece of your favorite meal and stay quiet.Just like your stomach, even your mind is hungry.But it never lets you know, because you keep it busy thinking about your dream lover, favorite star and many such things.So it silently began to care about your needs and never let itself grow.When mind looses its freedom to grow, creativity gets a full stop.This might be the reason why we all sometimes think "What happens next?", "Why can't I think?" "Why am I always given the difficult, problems?" Well, this is the result of using our brain for thinking of not-so-worthy things. Hunger of the mind can be actually satisfied through reading.Now why reading and not watching TV? Because reading has been the most educative tool used by us right from the childhood.Just like that to develop other aspects of our life, we have to turn to reading.You have innumerable number of books in this world which will answer all your "How to?" questions.The interesting part of the book is stored in your mind as a seed.Now this seed is unknowingly used by you in your future to develop new ideas. The same seed, if used many times, can help you link and relate a lot of things, of which you would have never thought in your wildest dreams! This is nothing but creativity.If you read more books, your mind will open up like never before. The author tends to tell us _ . reading can feed your mind There is a small village named Bugu in the mountains of Shanglin County, Guangxi. The place is so small that it can't be found in the map of the county of Shanglin. However, the place has strongly interested experts both at home and abroad. There are altogether 81 families in the village with more than 540 people. Among them as many as 156 villagers have a university education. Take this year's college entrance examination for example. Six out of nine students from the village who took the examination were taken into universities. Going to school has been a great thing for the whole village. To encourage children to study hard and become useful people, the village has set up a special group made up of four old villagers. Every day, the four villagers go round the village. If they find any child who is not going to school, the child's parents will be punished . When university students come back to the village for the Spring Festival,the old villagers of the special group always ask them to make up test papers and let the children take the special "Village Test". Those who are taken into university can receive money from the village's education fund. The whole village also helps the poor families send their children to school. The main idea of the news story is _ . how Bugu villagers pay attention to education. The northern hemisphere experiences winter the month after November
Question: Having a great collection of books at home doesn't really mean that you are a person who loves reading. It may be got from your father or your father's father, and it can just impress people around you with the fact that you are a person of culture. From my point of view, reading is very important in our daily life. For example, reading is a way of gaining knowledge in different areas. It can help us have a great imagination, and it makes things easier when it comes to making compositions on different themes. It gives you the possibility to speak about science, even if you don't work in this field. You can express your opinions about a political event because you have read something about that. Secondly, reading gives us the possibility to enter the world of imagination. We can imagine what life will be like in the future. Sometimes, we compare ourselves with the people in the stories we read and they can give us some clues to solve the problems and tell us what to do in certain situations. Books are based on real life. Even if writers are considered to be somehow different from common people, they often face the same problems as we all do. In short, I would like to say that literature is the perfect way of enriching our culture, expressing correctly, having a rich vocabulary, being able to understand different fields and really being considered to be a learned person. In the author's opinion, a person has many books at home only to _ . A. make his house look more beautiful B. show that his father is a learned person C. impress others with the fact that he loves reading D. show that he is rich enough to collect many books Answer: C Question: More and more people take part in marathons these days - over 30,000 people will run the London Marathon this weekend, for instance. But it's not just the 26 miles and 385 yards that could be a daunting prospect. "I have to admit to being completely frustrated by the blocking and for 18-19 miles was just keeping away from people and being held up," one participant grumbled after the 2012 London Marathon. "I had to overtake a lot of people and ended up with bruised forearms from all the elbows," said another. How do such crowding problems arise, and could they be reduced? Some researchers believe that we can find the answers through a more familiar system in which jams appear - road traffic flow. Martin Treiber, of the Technical University of Dresden in Germany, has previously developed models for traffic flow. One of the first attempts to model traffic flow was made in the 1950s by James Lighthill and his collaborator Gerard Whitham of Manchester University. They considered the traffic as a kind of liquid flowing down a pipe, and looked at how the flow changes as the fluid gets denser . At first the flow rate increases as the density increases, since you simply get more stuff through in the same period of time. But if the density becomes too high, there's a risk of jams, and the flow rate drops sharply. Treiber's model of a marathon uses this same principle that the flow rate first increases and then decreases as the density of runners increases, thanks to an sudden switch from free to crowded flow. He assumes that there is a range of different preferred speeds for different runners, which each maintains throughout the race. With just these factors, Treiber can calculate the flow rate of runners, knowing the "carrying capacity" at each point on the route. This allows Treiber to figure out how blocking might depend on the race conditions - for example, for different starting procedures. Some marathons start by letting all the runners set off at once (which means those at the back have to wait until those in front have moved forward). Others assign runners to various groups according to ability, and let them start in a series of waves. Treiber has applied the model to the annual Rennsteig half-marathon in central Germany, which attracts around 6,000 participants. The traditional route had to be changed in 2013, because the police were no longer willing to close a road to ensure that runners could cross safely. It could pass either over a 60m wooden bridge or through a tunnel. Treiber used his model to predict the likely blocking caused in the various options. The model predicted that a mass start would risk an overload of runners if the bridge were to be used. Only by moving the starting point further back from the bridge could the danger be avoided - and even then, if some of the numbers assumed in the model were only slightly inaccurate, there was still a risk of jams at the bridge. On the other hand, no dangerous blocking seemed likely for the tunnel route. The run organizers consulted Treiber's team, and eventually chose this option. What is NOT true about the Rennsteig? A. It has much less participants than the London Marathon in 2014. B. It has a shorter distance than the London Marathon. C. The route was changed because the traditional one is not safe any longer. D. The participants running this marathon will pass a tunnel because this choice is safer. Answer: C Question: Carl studied in our middle school three years ago. Last August his father found a job in another city and his family moved there. He began to study in the new school and we often write to each other. He often tells me something about the city where he lives now and his studies in the school. So I can know what happens to him. Last Friday Carl came to our city again. He hoped to accompany his old grandpa during the summer holiday. He was taller and stronger than before. We swam in the river outside the city together and had a picnic on the island. It surprised me that he had learnt to cook when we were traveling in the wild forest. He told me his parents were both busy and sometimes he stayed at home and he had to look after himself. "How do you like your school?" I asked. "Wonderful," said the young man." It has a tall building and there 're two chemistry labs, two biology labs and three physics ones. And its library is big and there're plenty of books in it." "I can see you are satisfied with it." "Yes," he answered. "But our geography teacher often says it himself in class." "So does our new history teacher." I said. "But he doesn't notice it. He often talks on and on in a flow of the eloquence , but none of us listens to him." I can know what happens to Carl because _ . A. he lives near to me. B. he often calls me C. I often visit him D. he often writes to me. Answer: D Question: if a driver drove by a corn field and tossed out his lit cigarette, what could happen? A. the corn will grow stouter B. the corn would experience conflagration C. the corn would grow bigger than normal D. the corn will be more tasty Answer: B Question: I am a writer. My job is to write something for the newspaper. I work very hard. Every morning I get up at seven. I take some exercise and then have a light breakfast. Then I drive to my office. It takes me thirty minutes, so I usually get there earlier than others. I am very busy. I think every minute counts, so I plan my work very carefully. I keep a diary to help me remember things. I meet and talk with many people. I make lots of telephone calls. I often go out and visit many people. I come back home at seven. I often watch TV at supper time. Then I begin to write down what I know. I like being busy. What is the best title of the passage? A. My Busy Day B. How Busy I am C. Do You Want to be a Writer D. My Job Answer: D
Hello! My name is Bill. I am twelve years old. I am from America. Now I am in a junior high school in Xiamen. We have 20 boys and 25 girls in our class. My favorite teacher is Miss White. She is from Canada. She is 27 years old. She is tall. She has long brown hair. Her face is round and she has big eyes. She is a good teacher. She can speak English and Chinese. I have a good friend here. His name is Mike. He is an English boy. We have the same age. My classmates are kind to me. We often help each other. ,A, B, C, D. (5) Miss White has _ . a round face with big eyes Seed dispersal benefits production of plant offspring It's such a happy-looking library, painted yellow, decorated with palm-tree stickers and sheltered from the Florida sun by its own roof. About the size of a microwave oven, it's pedestrian-friendly, too, waiting for book lovers next to a sidewalk in Palm Beach country Estates, along the northern boundary of Palm Beach Gardens. It's a library built with love. A year ago, shortly after Janey Henriksen saw a Brian Williams report about the Little Free Library organization, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that aims to promote literacy and build a sense of community in a neighborhood by making books freely available, she announced to her family of four, "That's what we're going to do for our spring break!" Son Austin, now a 10th-grader, didn't see the point of building a library that resembles a mailbox. But Janey insisted, and husband Peter unwillingly got to work. The 51-year-old owner of a ship supply company modified a small wooden house that he'd built years earlier for daughter Abbie's toy horses, and made a door of glass. After adding the library's final touches , the family hung a signboard on the front, instructing users to "take a book, return a book," and making the Henriksen library, now one of several hundred like it nationwide and among more than 2,500 in the world, the only Little Free Library in Palm Beach County. ks5u They stocked it with 20 or so books they'd already read, a mix of science fiction, reference titles, novels and kids' favorites. "I told them, keep in mind that you might not see it again," said Janey, a stay-at-home mom. Since then, the collection keeps replenishing itself, thanks to ongoing donations from borrowers. The library now gets an average of five visits a day. The project's best payoff, says Peter, are the thank-you notes left behind. "We had no idea in the beginning that it would be so popular." (317 words) What can we infer about the signboard? It aimed at making the library last long. On a cold January morning in a Washington, DC Metro Station, a man with a violin played six great pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time about two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After three minutes a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. Four minutes later, the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. After 6 minutes, a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. After ten minutes, a 3-year-old boy stopped but his mother dragged him along hurriedly. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly. In the end, only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. When he finished playing, no one applauded, nor was there any recognition. The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most elegant pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars, two days before Joshua Bell had sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. The performance was organized as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities. In a usual environment, at an inappropriate hour, do you perceive beauty? Do you stop to appreciate it? Do you recognize talent in an unexpected context? If you do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, how many other things might you be missing? In the writer's opinion, what should we do? Notice and appreciate what's going on in our daily life. Boys and girls, here I will tell you something about my first trip to the USA. When I get to Kennedy Airport, I begin my visit to the USA. First, I go to Roy Senior high School. I'm happy on the first night in America because I live with a kind family, the Edwards. It's a big family. They are very friendly to me. They help me do many things. When I want to write to my friends, they buy _ for me; when I lose my camera, they help me buy a new one. After some days, I go to another school in New Haven. I live in the Palumbos' house. There are three people in the family. I'm surprised that the parents are from two countries. It is a nice trip and I'm happy to be with the two families. They will be my friends for ever . Why is the writer surprised when he gets to the Palumbos' house? Because the parents of the family are from two countries.
He met her at a party. She was outstanding while he was so normal. After the party, he invited her for coffee. She was surprised but being polite, she agreed. As they sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything and she felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, he asked the waiter, "Could you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee. " Everyone stared at him. He turned red, but when the salt came, he put it in his coffee and drank. Curious, she asked, "Why salt with coffee? " He explained, " When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea. I liked playing on the sea. I could feel the taste of sea, just like this salty coffee. " That was a really nice talk, also a good beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who met all her demands. Then the story was just like every beautiful love story: they got married and lived a happy life. After 40 years, he passed away and left her a letter which said: My dearest, please forgive my life-long lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous that I asked for salt instead of sugar. It was hard for me to ask for a change, so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the start of our conversation. I tried to tell you the truth, but I was afraid that it would ruin everything. I don't like the salty coffee. But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life just because I love you! Her tears made the letter totally wet. Someday, someone asked her, "What's the taste of salty coffee?" She replied, "It's sweet." She accepted his invitation after the party because _ . Answer: My grandfather is a teacher. He is the head teacher of a school for boys between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. I know that he is a kind man, because he gives me presents , and let me sit on his knees , and tells me stories. But I believe the boys at his school are afraid of him. At school, when he walks into a room full of boys, they will be quiet at once . When he looks at a boy with a certain look in his eyes, that boy's face goes red, and looks down at his shoes. If a boy brings careless work, my grandfather will pick up the boy's book and throw it across the room, shouting , "Do it all again, and bring it back the first thing in the morning!" if the boy is late, or if he forgets to bring the work, he has to do it again, and again and yet again. I know my grandfather is kind because _ . Answer: New engine technology has helped cars get more mileage per gallon of gas. Since gasoline comes from oil, this technology will affect the world supply of oil by Answer: What is the color1 of the universe? Astronomers had not answered this question, until two months ago. That is when two American astronomers reported on their study of all the light in the universe. They said that the universe would appear to the human eye to be a light greenish color1, called turquoise . Karl Glazebrook and Ivan Baldry of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, reported their finding in January. They presented the research at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society. They said that finding the color1 of the universe was not part of their serious scientific research. They did it for fun. However, earlier this month, the scientists admitted to making a mistake. They said their finding was much more color1ful than it should have been. They now say the light from our universe is closer to white. It is more like a milky or creamy white color1. Their study attempted to show what people might see if they could observe the universe from far away. The scientists found the average color1 by combining light from about two-hundred-thousand star systems. Their information came from an observatory in New South Wales, Australia. These scientists and color1 engineers attempted to reproduce the result. Mark Fairchild of the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York was the first person to identify a mistake. He discovered a mistake in the computer software program used by the Johns Hopkins scientists. When the mistake was corrected, the results changed. The new color1 of the universe is much less color1ful. It is very close to white. The scientists have apologized for the mistake. They are now working with the Rochester Institute of Technology to produce more images of the color1 of the universe. They also asked for suggestions for a name for the new color1 of the universe. Which of the following was NOT true about the color1 of the universe? Answer: Space is where our future is -- trips to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Most people would think that aside from comets and stars, there is little else out there. But, since our space journey started we have left so much trash there that scientists are now concerned that if we don't clean it up, we may all be in mortal danger. The first piece of space junk was created in 1964, when the American satellite Vanguard I stopped operating and lost its connection with the ground center. However, since it kept orbiting around the Earth without any consequences, scientists became increasingly comfortable abandoning things that no longer served any useful purpose in space. It is estimated that there are now over 500,000 pieces of man-made trash orbiting the Earth at speeds of up to 17,500 miles per hour. The junk varies from tiny pieces of paint chipped off rockets to cameras, huge fuel tanks, and even odd items like the million-dollar tool kit that astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn Piper lost during a spacewalk. The major problem with the space trash is that it may hit working satellites and damage traveling spacecraft . Moreover, pieces of junk may collide with each other and break into pieces which fall back to the Earth. To avoid this, scientists have invented several ways for clearing the sky. Ground stations have been built to monitor larger pieces of space trash to prevent them from crashing into working satellites or space shuttles. Future plans include a cooperative effort among many nations to stop littering in space and to clean up the trash already there. Which of the following statements is true about space junk? Answer:
In a cold winter, a couple had to move out of their big house because fo bankruptcy . The husband worked day and night but with no care of his wife. SO she thought, " He doesn't love me any more , he just thinks about his work." One day, she wanted to take a shower , but her husband stopped her at the door. "Let me take it first, Ok?" "Why not let me take it first?" she asked. "I'm tired, dear. You take it later, OK?" She was very sad. On a rainy day, she found nothing to do and turned on his computer. After a few minutes, her eyes were full of tears....It was his diary: Today I was quite sad. She asked me why I was always taking the shower first, and I said I was tired. She was unhappy. I wasn't as rich as before! We moved to the small house and it was very cold. I found that if one person took the shower first, the bathroom could get a little warmer. So I always rushed to the bathroom first. When she took the shower, the bathroom could get warmer, at least 1degC. i can't give her more, but at least I can give her 1degC love. From the passage, we know that _ . A the man loved his wife very much B the woman didn't love her husband any more C the man was very poor before D the woman had no job Answer: A The China Daily newspaper group is hunting for English-language senior business editors, senior copy editors, copy editors and graphic designers to strengthen its international team. We offer a competitive salary package, free accommodation with utilities paid for, 90 per cent medical reimbursement, a seven-day paid leave, eleven day public holidays and a return ticket to the country of residence. Senior Business Editor You must: Assist the Business editor in setting goals and working on achieving them; Be an excellent team person who can generate ideas and think creatively and be able to rewrite totally if needed and mentor junior staff; Ideally have been working or have worked in a position of responsibility and understand what leadership entails; Have had at least five year's editing experience working on editing the Business Desk and be familiar with industry software. Senior Copy Editor You must: Work on shifts in the Business Desk and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; Edit or rewrite copy and give snappy headlines and captions; Have had at least two years' editing experience working on editing desks and be familiar with industry software. CopyEditor You must: Be good at editing or rewriting copy and writing snappy headlines and captions; Be able to work on shifts for different pages, and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; Have two years of editing experience working on copy desks, and be familiar with industry software. Graphic Designer You must: Have excellent skills in information graphics; Be good at illustrations and freehand drawings; Be experienced in newspaper or magazine layouts; Have a good sense of typography; Have good news judgment; Be wellversed with Macintosh software, including in Design, Illustrator and Photoshop; Be fluent in English. For enquiries or to apply, write tojob@chinadaily.com.cn. Which can be the title of the advertisement? A China Daily: Newspaper B China Daily: New Employees Wanted C China Daily: An International Team D China Daily: The Best Working Condition Answer: B A fawn's colors helps it blend in with the landscape in A Autumn B oceans C icy lakes D Winter Answer: A There are many cars over there. Five of them are brown. Twelve of them are red. Three of them are yellow. Four green cars, eight blue cars, two orange cars and one white car are there, too. They are new. They are nice. Look, these aren't cars, they are buses. They are in different colors: ten red, eleven green, seventy yellow and nine blue. They are all old. They are big. All the cars and buses belong to Mr. Smith. Whose are all the cars and buses? A Mr. Smith's B Mr. Smith C Mr. Smiths' D Mr. Smiths's Answer: A Whether you're flying off to distant beaches or piling into the car for a weekend vacation, nurture a love of new places in your child this travel season. There are some wonderful products and media available to help your kids get fired up about geography. For the youngest ones, don't miss the adorable Hugg-A- Planet, Earth (peacetoys.com, $19.95). It's a soft, stuffed globe that's covered with a color1ful map of Earth. Kids will eye it like a treasure, toss it like a ball and hug it like a friend. For toddlers, the nifty puzzle My Town A-B-C (Great American Puzzle Factory, ages 3 and up; $12) helps teach the concept of place as it illustrates the relationship of one location to another. Also worth looking at for younger kids is the very cool CD-ROM Tonka Town (Atari, ages 3-6; $19.99), which lets children steer their favorite giant trucks down some adventurous paths. For the older kids, probably nothing beats Handling the Actual Map (ages 8-15; $12.95) that your family's using to get to your vacation destination. Whether you are traveling by car, bus, train or plane, show the kids how to follow your route. Ask them to narrate the trip. During your journey, consider weaving in a history lesson or two. Discuss how the famous explorers used maps to chart their journeys. An excellent book is The Lewis & Clark Expedition (Williamson Publishing, ages 9-12; $12.95), which shows how the Corps of Discovery bravely pushed westward. Love music and want to work it into your vacation in a meaningful, catchy way? Sample the delightful video States and Capitals Songs (Educational Insights, ages 7 and up; $14.95). Or, if you want lots of laughs as you travel (and who wouldn't?), try Scrambled States of America (Gamewright, ages 8 and up; $11.99). It's a fun game of observation and fast reflexes that sets players scrambling to find. How many products and media mentioned in the passage are available to Tom (aged 10)? A 2. B 3. C 4. D 5. Answer: D
Below is a page adapted from About Wikipedia on how to take full advantage of Wikipedia. Wikipediais a web-based, free-content encyclopedia in many languages. SSExploring Wikipedia Many visitors come to Wikipedia to acquire knowledge, while others come to share knowledge. At this very instant, dozens of articles are being improved, and new articles are also being created. Over 3,500 articles have been listed by the Wikipedia community as featured articles. Another 15,000 articles are listed as good articles. Wikipedia is available in more than 280 languages including English. Its related projects include a dictionary, quotations, books, manuals, and scientific reference sources, and a news service. All of these are kept, updated, and managed by separate communities, and often include information and articles that can be hard to find through other common sources. SSBasic navigation in Wikipedia Wikipedia articles are all linked, or cross-referenced. In every article, there are links to some related articles or Wikipedia pages with further in-depth information. Holding the mouse over a certain link will often show to where the link will lead. There are other links towards the ends of most articles, for other articles of interest, related websites and pages and so on. Some articles may also have links to dictionary definitions, audio-book readings, quotations, the same article in other languages etc. SSUsing Wikipedia as a research tool Wiki articles are never considered complete and may be continually edited and improved. Over time, this generally results in an upward trend of quality and a growing agreement over a representation of information. Users should be aware that not all articles are of encyclopedic quality from the start. Indeed, many articles start their lives as displaying a single viewpoint; and, after a long process of discussion, debate, and argument, _ gradually take on a neutral point of view reached through agreement. Others may, for a while, become caught up in a heavily unbalanced viewpoint which can take some time--months perhaps--to achieve better balanced coverage of their subject. SSWikipedia vs. paper encyclopedias Wikipedia has advantages over traditional paper encyclopedias. Wikipedia has a very low "publishing" cost for adding or expanding entries and a low environmental impact in some respects, since it never needs to be printed. In addition, Wikipedia has wikilinks instead of in-line explanations and its articles provide not only summaries but also plenty of details. Additionally, the editorial cycle is short. A paper encyclopedia stays the same until the next edition, while editors can update Wikipedia at any instant, around the clock, to help ensure that articles keep up with the most recent events. We know from the passage that Wikipedia _ . A. provides very accurate information B. offers links to most leading media C. covers rich resources of knowledge D. comes available in any language Answer: C. covers rich resources of knowledge sunlight produces A. darkness B. wind C. solar radiation D. snow Answer: C. solar radiation If you enjoy reading, don't miss Shakespeare and Company when you visit the city of Paris. It is a famous English-language bookstore on the left bank of the river Seine. The first Shakespeare and Company in history was opened in 1919 by an American, Sylvia Beach. Ms. Beach did more than sell books. Her bookstore was also a library, and she even prepared beds for writers visiting there. Ms. Beach was not only kind to people but also good at choosing books, so her bookstore was often visited by writers like Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce. But in 1941, after the Germans took power in Paris, Ms. Beach was told to close her bookstore. In 1951, another American, George Whitman, opened in Paris another English-language bookstore, Librairie Mistral. Since then, just as Ms. Beach did, Mr. Whitman has also made his bookstore a library for people to borrow books, and a free hotel for writers to stay in. To remember Ms. Beach, Mr. Whitman changed the name of his bookstore to Shakespeare and Company in 1964, two years after Ms. Beach died. Next time when you are in Paris, don't forget to visit this friendly bookstore, and see if you can spend a night there! When was Shakespeare and Company first opened? A. In 1919. B. In 1941. C. In 1951. D. In 1964. Answer: A. In 1919. Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge in March 1952, educated at Brentwood School, Essex and St John's College, Cambridge where, in 1974 he gained a BA (and later an MA) in English literature. He was the creator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy(<<>> ), which started life as a BBC Radio 4 series in March 1978. Since then it has been transformed into a series of best-selling novels, a TV series, a record album, a computer game and several stage adaptations. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's success sent the book straight to Number One in the UK Bestseller List and in 1984 Douglas Adams became the youngest author to be awarded a Golden Pan. He won a further two (a rare feat), and was nominated--though not selected - for the first Best of Young British Novelists awards. He followed this success with The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980); Life, The Universe and Everything (1982); So Long and Thanks for all the Fish (1984); and Mostly Harmless (1992). The first two books in the Hitchhiker series were adapted into a 6-part television series, which was an immediate success when first showed in 1982. Other publications include Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987) and Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul (1988). In 1984 Douglas teamed up with John Lloyd and wrote The Meaning of Life and their second huge success, The Deeper Meaning of Life followed in 1990. One of Douglas's personal favorites was written in 1990 when he teamed up with zoologist Mark Carwardine and wrote Last Chance to See an account of a world-wide search for rare and endangered species of animals. Douglas sold over 15 million books in the UK, the US and Australia. He was also a best seller in German, Swedish and many other languages. Douglas Adams died on Friday, May 11, 2001, in Santa Barbara, CA. He will be greatly missed by fans worldwide. Which of the following statement is not true? A. Douglas Adams died at the age of 49 and he was memorized by his fans. B. Douglas Adams was the youngest author to be selected as one of the first Best of Young British Novelists. C. John Lloyd was one of the authors of the two books, The Meaning of Lifeand The Deeper Meaning of Life. D. Douglas graduated from Essex and St John's College and gained a Master's Degree. Answer: B. Douglas Adams was the youngest author to be selected as one of the first Best of Young British Novelists. Tree-planting is an important part of the ongoing Richmond renaissance that has been changing the city for the last few years. And you are invited to be a part of this transformation on Saturday, November 2, 2013, from 9 am to 1 pm. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate. Residents of the City of Richmond will be joined by community volunteers from Richmond Trees, Groundwork Richmond and The Watershed Project to celebrate the fall's Harvest Festival and Tree Planting event. 9:00 am Harvest festivities begin with a volunteer orientation about planting trees. 9:30 am Volunteers will divide into seven planting teams, each captained by an experienced Tree Steward, to plant 30 new street trees along Roosevelt, and on the 500 and 600 blocks of 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 35th & 36th streets in the surrounding neighborhood. Richmond Trees and the City of Richmond will provide shovels and vests. Those who would like to participate in planting trees are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes. 11 am La Rondalla del Sagrado Corazon, a local musical ensemble, will play traditional Mexican serenade music. 12 pm Speakers including Chris Magnus, Richmond's Chief of Police and Chris Chamberlain, Superintendent of Parks & Landscaping will speak about the many benefits of growing the urban forest. Healthy harvest refreshments, water and coffee will be available for a small donation that will support the work Richmond Trees is doing in the community to grow the urban forest. There will be art activities and games for children. For more information about the Harvest Festival and Tree Planting event, or planting trees in your own Richmond neighborhood, contact gro.seertdnomhcir@ofni, 510.843.8844. If you want to join the activity, you _ . A. should bring your own shovel B. must wear a special type of shoes C. needn't have experience in tree planting D. will be able to enjoy music while planting trees Answer: C. needn't have experience in tree planting
Leave a camera on a mountaintop, and chances are, you'll never see it again. But 24-year-old Paul Bellis, a university student from Wales, believed that most people were better than that, and set up a creative experiment to test out his theory. "I was speaking to a friend who said you can't trust anyone, anywhere these days," Bellis toldthe Daily Mail. "I didn't want to believe _ so I set up this experiment to find out what might happen and prove you can trust people." Billis decided to do an experiment by hiking up a mountain called Snowdonia, taking a photo, and leaving his camera behind. He also attached a note to the camera, asking other hikers to take photos of themselves and then leave the camera there until the roll of film was empty. He also included his address, in case someone would be nice enough to return the camera to his home after the roll of film was finished. Four days later, Bellis got a visit from a Snowdonia park manager, who came to return his camera. After Bellis got the film developed, he saw that his fellow hikers and followed his instructions. Thirty people had each taken photos of themselves at the mountain. From viewing the collection, it was clear that all the hikers had enjoyed the experiment. As for the park manager, Brian, "I found the camera and thought it had been lost until I saw the note," he said. "I was passing his home and just dropped it off. I' m glad that the photos came out very well." Brian returned the camera directly because _ . A he wanted to be trusted by others B Bellis' home was on his way C Bellis asked him to do so D he wanted to have a look at the photos Answer: B. Bellis' home was on his way Living in a foreign culture can be exciting, but it can also be confusing . A group of Americans who taught English in other countries recently discussed their experiences. They decided that miscommunications were always possible, even over something as simple as"yes"and"no". On her first day in Micronesia, an island in the Pacific, Lisa thought people weren't paying any attention to her. The day was hot. She went into a store and asked, "Do you have cold drinks? "The woman there didn't say anything. Lisa repeated the question. Still the woman said nothing. She later learned that the woman had answered her: She had raised her eyebrows , which in Micronesia means"yes". Jan remembered an experience she had in Bulgaria, a country in Europe. She went to a restaurant that was known for its cabbage. She asked the waiter, "Do you have cabbage today? "He nodded his head. Jan waited, but the cabbage never came. In that country, a nod means"no". Tom had a similar problem when he arrived in India. After explaining something in class, he asked his students if they understood. They answered with many different nods and shakes of the head. He thought some people had not understood, so he explained again. When he asked again, they did the same thing. He soon found out that his students did understand. In India, people nod and shake their heads in different ways depending on where they come from. You have to know where a person is from to understand whether they mean"yes"or"no". Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage? A In Bulgaria, nodding heads means no. B Jan taught English on a Pacific island. C Lisa was trying to buy some cabbage. D In India, only shaking heads means"yes". Answer: A. In Bulgaria, nodding heads means no. Success by failure I had failed again. It was the day of the big marathon. I had decided three years ago to train for the half-marathon event and take home a medal. There I sat, in front of my TV, while I watched others cross the finish line. It was just another in a long string of failures. I had never met a single weight loss or fitness goal and I was majoring in the art of failing. We are a family of exploration and often plan active vacations. It seemed that on every vacation I was the one who couldn't go the distance. Each time I urged my family, "Go on without me. Bring me lots of pictures and videos. I'll be fine just sitting here taking in the view. " I lied. Sick of being left behind, I decided that it would never happen again. Sure I was in my 50s, but surely there was still hope for me. I always spent weeks walking to prepare for our active vacations. I had lost weight many times. I just always seemed to fail to get where I needed to be. But this time I would do something different. I was going to walk a half marathon. Surely 1 would lose weight and get in shape if I could complete over 12 miles in four hours. Besides, this would be training. Training sounded cooler than diet and exercise. _ and ready to go. I bought the proper gear , checked out what type of drinks would be handed out at the marathon and prepared a lot. I had a plan! Now two years later, there I sat, watching thousands of people of all ages succeed where I had failed. I walked out, angry with myself, sat down and had myself a pity party. I was a master at the art of pity parties, having a great deal of experience in holding them. What was my problem? Where was I going wrong? I stopped and considered each failure, one by one. I made some very interesting discoveries. I had failed to climb to the top of that Mayan pyramid, but I did climb it and stood on those ancient stones. I had failed to meet a single weight loss goal and yet I had lost 43 pounds. I couldn't walk 12 miles in four hours, but I could walk 12 miles. All my failures were sounding like a success story. This time I was giving thanks. I was thankful that I had been given the spirit of failure because failure meant that I was trying, that I didn't give up. I decided that I would be crossing the finish line next year. Which words can best describe the writer in the passage? A Clever and friendly. B Interesting and proud. C Humorous and hopeful. D Kind and strong - willed. Answer: C. Humorous and hopeful. People use money to buy food, books and hundreds of other things they need. When they work, they usually get paid in money. Most of the money used today is made of metal or paper. But in the time long ago, people used to use all kinds of things as money. One of the first kinds of money was shells. In China, cloth and knives were used as money. Elephant tusks , monkey tail and salt were used in some parts of the world. Rice was also a kind of money used by the people in some islands. Some animals were used as money, too. The first copper coins were made in China. They were round and had a square hole in the center. Different countries have used different metals for their money. Later, some countries began to make coins of gold and silver . But gold and silver were heavy to carry when people needed a lot of coins to buy something expensive. The Chinese were the first to use paper money. The first paper money looked more like a note from one person to another than the paper money used today. Money has had an interesting story from the days of shell money till today. Long, long ago people all over the world used _ as money. A the same metal B the same paper C the different metals D all kinds of things Answer: D. all kinds of things When most of us hear the word chocolate, the verb that comes to mind is probably "eat", not "drink", and the most proper adjective would seem to be "sweet". But for about 90 percent of chocolate's long history, it was strictly a beverage , and sugar didn't have anything to do with it. The Origin of Chocolate Many modern historians have estimated that chocolate has been around for about 2000 years, but recent research suggests that it may be even older. In the book The True History of Chocolate, authors Sophie and Michael Coe prove that the earliest linguistic evidence of chocolate consumption dates back three or even four thousand years. Valuable and Fashionable Chocolate Beverage It's hard to discover exactly when chocolate was born, but it's clear that it was cherished from the start. For several centuries in pre-modern Latin America, cacao beans were considered valuable enough to use as currency. 100 beans could purchase a good turkey hen, according to a 16th-century Aztec document. Sweetened chocolate didn't appear until Europeans discovered the Americas and sampled the native cuisine. Chocolate didn't suit the foreigners' taste at first -- one described it in his writings as "a bitter drink for pigs" -- but once mixed with honey or cane sugar, it quickly became popular throughout Spain. By the 17th century, chocolate was a fashionable drink throughout Europe, believed to have nutritious, medicinal functions. But it remained largely a privilege of the rich until the invention of the steam engine made mass production possible in the late 1700s. The Birth of Solid Chocolate In 1828, a Dutch chemist found a way to make powdered chocolate. His product became known as "Dutch cocoa", and it soon led to the creation of solid chocolate. In 1847, Joseph Fry created the first modern chocolate bar. By 1868, a little company called Cadbury was marketing boxes of chocolate candies in England. Milk chocolate hit the market a few years later. Prosperous Chocolate Industry In America, chocolate was so valued during the Revolutionary War that it was used instead of wages. Even now, statistics show that the humble cacao bean is still a powerful economic force. Chocolate manufacturing is a more than 4-billion-dollar industry in the United States, and the average American eats at least half a pound of the stuff per month. Which one shows the correct order according to the time of their appearing? _ A chocolate beverage----chocolate bar----chocolate candies----milk chocolate B chocolate bar----chocolate beverage----chocolate candies----milk chocolate C chocolate bar ----chocolate candies ----milk chocolate ---- chocolate beverage D chocolate beverage ----chocolate candies----chocolate bar---- milk chocolate Answer: A. chocolate beverage----chocolate bar----chocolate candies----milk chocolate
A breathtaking trick potentially left over from our ancestors might be found in us -- the ability to sense oxygen through our skin. Amphibians, animals such as frogs that can live both on land and in water, have long been known to be capable of breathing through their skin. In fact, the first known lungless frog that breathes only through its skin was discovered recently in the rivers of Borneo. Now the same oxygen sensors found in frog skins and in the lungs of mammals have unexpectedly been discovered in the skin of mice. "No one had ever looked," explained Randall Johnson, a biologist researcher. Mice and frogs are quite distant relatives, so the fact they have these molecules in common in their skin suggests they might well be found in the skin of other mammals, such as humans. "We have no reason to think that they are not in the skin of people too," Johnson said. These molecules not only detect oxygen, but help increase levels of vital red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Normal mice breathing in air that is 10 percent oxygen--a dangerously low level similar to conditions at the top of Mount Everest, and about half that of air at sea level. However, mice that had the oxygen sensor HIF-1a genetically removed from their skin failed to produce this hormone even after hours of such low oxygen. These findings, if they hold true in humans, suggest one could raise the level of oxygen circulating inside the body. This could help treat lung diseases and disorders such as anemia without injecting drugs, which make up a multibillion-dollar market, Johnson said. Athletes also often try to get more oxygen delivered to their muscles in order to improve their performance. They often do this by training at high altitudes or in low-oxygen tents. The new study suggests they might want to expose their skin as well as breathing in low-oxygen air to improve their performance. "It's hard to say what exactly might be done, however--there's a lot we don't know yet," Johnson explained. The scientists detailed their findings in the April 18 issue of the journal Cell. What is Johnson's attitude to the application of the findings to the athletes' training? Answer: Positive There are over one million superstitions ,and most people believe at least one or two of them. Many people are superstitious about numbers. They think that there are lucky numbers and unlucky numbers. The number 13 is often considered unlucky. In some parts of the world, buildings have no 13th floor and streets have no houses with the number 13. In Japan,"4"is considered unlucky because in Japanese the word"four"is pronounced the same as the word"death". The Japanese never give gifts of four knives, four napkins, or four of anything. What are the lucky numbers? Seven is a lucky number in many places, and"8"is considered a lucky number in Japan and China. In China, businesses often open on August 8,and many couples register to get married at eight past eight on August 8. Superstitions about numbers are so widespread that some people--called numerologists--make a living giving advice about numbers. In 1937,when the Toyoda family of Japan wanted to form a car company, they asked a numerologist if"Toyoda"would be a good name for the company. The numerologist said it would not be. He explained that"Toyota"would be a better name for the company. The family took his advice. As a result, millions of people drive"Toyotas"and not"Toyodas. " There are many other kinds of superstitions. There are superstitions about eating, sleeping, sneezing and itching. There are superstitions about animals and holidays and horseshoes. There are even superstitions about superstitions. Those superstitions tell people how to _ bad luck. When the Japanese bump heads, they immediately bump heads again. According to a Japanese superstition, the first bump means their parents will die, but the second bump "erases" the first bump. To reverse bad luck in general, people turn around three times, turn their pockets inside out, or put their hats on backwards. From this passage we can find that _ . Answer: the Japanese have a strong belief in numerologists Mini Hoover Dam Tour ONLY $48 per person LIST PRICE $60 This tour begins with beautiful sights as you travel by coach through famous Las Vegas towards Boulder City, Nevada. As you leave Boulder City on your way to the famous Hoover Dam, you will see in the distance Lake Mead. Created by the Hoover Dam, it is one of the largest and most beautiful man-made lakes in America! When you arrive at Hoover Dam, you can visit the museum, watch a movie on the Dam's construction and see Oskar J.W. Hansen's famous sculptures on the Nevada side. Experience the excitement of this man-made wonder with great views that will create memories of a lifetime! Tour Highlights * Free hotel-to-hotel pick-up and drop-off * Coaches with windows for your viewing pleasure * Beautiful views of man-made Lake Mead * Experience the Hoover Dam from two states * Hoover Dam Discovery Tour * Time for souvenir shopping * Relax and enjoy our return journey by coach to Las Vegas What can we learn about Lake Mead from the text? Answer: It is formed by the Hoover Dam. Let me tell you my pen friend Ivan. He is 12 years old. He likes playing football. He usually plays football with his friends at weekends. Ivan lives with his father and mother in a city in France. They have a home with five rooms, a swimming pool and a garden. They often have a party in the garden at weekends. They like to help their neighbours. His home is not near his school, so Ivan takes a bus for an hour and then walks for 10 minutes to school. There is a Basketball Club near his school. He likes playing basketball in the club. Ivan's father is a worker. He is busy. Ivan's mother is a doctor. She is nice to the patients. Ivan wants to be a teacher when he grows up. I want to be a teacher, too. Every month Ivan writes two letters to me. He'll come to China next year. We'll meet then. What are Ivan's hobbies? Answer: Football and basketball. A California family drives a car that could help protect the environment. When Jon and Sandy go to the store or to their daughters' soccer games, they drive in high-tech style. They drive a $1 million, fuel-cell-powered car. It may be the world's most expensive car and one of the most environmentally friendly cars. The FCX is the first fuel-cell-powered car to be used by a family anywhere in the world. The FCX uses hydrogen and oxygen for fuel. Car makers have been working to develop vehicles that are better for the environment. They are developing cars that use fuel other than gasoline. And then what is fuel cell technology? Fuel cell technology works by changing the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water. This process produces electricity, and water vapor which comes out of the exhaust pipe. Most cars release dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Many scientists say these gases are major contributors to global warming. "The FCX is driven just like any other vehicle on the road, but without the gases which pollute the environment," scientists say. Fuel cell technology has been around since the 1800s, but scientists have yet been to perfect it. They say it may take years before the technology is ready for widespread use. Another earth-friendly car is already on the market. Hybrid cars use both gasoline and an electric motor. They are becoming more popular with customers because they cut pollution and improve fuel efficiency. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: future cars will be environmentally friendly
Question: People usually hate mice, but one mouse has won the hearts of the people all over the world---the famous Mickey Mouse. Fifty years ago most movies were silent. A man called Walt Disney made a cartoon mouse that could talk his movies. He named his mouse Mickey Mouse. People, both young and old, were very excited at the talking mouse. Children loved to see their friend, because he brought joy and laughter to them. Mickey was a clean mouse right from the beginning. Perhaps this is one reason why people hate real mice and love Mickey Mouse. In his early life Mickey made some mistakes. People were angry. They wrote to Disney and said that they did not want Mickey to do silly things. So Disney made a new animal named Donald Duck. He also made a dog called Pluto. This dog does stupid things and makes mistakes wherever he goes. Now our Mickey Mouse is not only clean but also important. He appears as a beautiful and clever star. He has his friends in almost every country. Mickey Mouse is a _ mouse. A. dirty B. cartoon C. hateful D. silent Answer: B Question: One important variable affecting communication across cultures is destiny and personal responsibility. This refers to the degree to which we feel ourselves the masters of our lives, contrary to the degree to which we see ourselves as _ to things outside our control. Another way to look at this is to ask how much we see ourselves able to change and act, to choose the course of our lives and relationships. Some have drawn a parallel between the personal responsibility in North American settings and the view itself. The North American view is vast, with large spaces of unpopulated land. The frontier attitude of "King" of the wilderness, and the expansiveness of the land reaching huge distances, may relate to generally high levels of confidence in the ability to shape and choose our destinies. In this expansive land, many children grow up with a heroic sense of life, where ideas are big, and hope springs forever. When they experience temporary failures, they are encouraged to redouble their efforts, to "Try, try again." Action, efficiency, and achievement are valued and expected. Free will is respected in laws and enforced by courts. Now consider places in the world with much smaller land, whose history reflects wars and tough struggles: Northern Ireland, Mexico, Israel, Palestine. In these places, destiny's role is more important in human life. In Mexico, there is a history of hard life, fighting over land, and loss of homes. Mexicans are more likely to see struggles as part of their life and unavoidable. Their passive attitude is expressed in their way of responding to failure or an accident by saying "ni modo" ("no way" or "tough lick"), meaning that the failure was destined. This variable is important to understanding cultural conflicts. If someone believing in free will crosses paths with someone more passive, miscommunication is likely. The first person may expect action and responsibility. Failing to see it, he may conclude that the second is lazy, not cooperative, or dishonest. The second person will expect respect for the natural order of things. Failing to see it, he may conclude that the first is forcible, rude, or big headed in his ideas of what can be accomplished or changed. The author thinks that one's character is partly determined by _ . A. physical senses B. general attitude C. financial background D. geographic characteristics Answer: D Question: Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall was built, beginning in 122 AD, to keep Roman Britain safe from attacks from the Picts. The wall, starting from the North Sea to the Irish Sea (from the Tyne to the Solway), is about 73 miles long, 10 feet wide, and 15 feet high. In addition to the wall, the Romans built a system of small forts housing up to 60 men every Roman mile along its whole length, with e towers very 1/3 Roman mile. 16 larger forts holding from 500 to 1000 soldiers were built into the wall, with large gates on the north face. Israeli West Bank barrier The Israeli West Bank barrier is a barrier under construction by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier's total length will be nearly 700 kilometers. The barrier is built mainly in the West Bank. The Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was the physical boundary between West Germany and East Germany. The Berlin Wall was built in the dead of night in 1961 and for 28 years kept East Germans from escaping to the West. Its destruction (in 1989) was celebrated around the world. Conwy's Town Walls Conwy's Town Walls are an ancient defensive project around the town of Conwy in North Wales. The walls were built between 1283 and 1287. They are 1.3 kilometers long and include 21 towers and three gate houses. The project was completed by large quantities of workers and cost around PS15,000. Today the walls form part of the UNESCO world heritage site . According to the passage, Conwy's Town Walls _ . A. have 21 gatehouses B. were built in the twelfth century C. were built for the purpose of defense D. will soon become a UNSCO world heritage site Answer: C Question: "OK,"I said to my daughter as she bent over her afternoon bowl of rice."What's going on with you and your friend J.?" J.is the leader of a group of third-graders at her camp-- a position Lucy herself occupied the previous summer. _ and every day at snack time, she tells me all about it, while I offer the unhelpful advice all summer long. "She's fond of giving orders, "Lucy complained."She's turning everyone against me.She's mean.And she's fat." "Excuse me," I said, struggling for calm."What did you just said?" "She's fat." Lucy mumbled ."We're going upstairs," I said, my voice cold."We're going to discuss this." And up we went.I'd spent the nine years since her birth getting ready for this day, the day we'd have the conversation about this horrible word.I knew exactly what to say to the girl on the receiving end of the teasing, but in all of my imaginings, it never once occurred to me that my daughter would be the one who used the F word-Fat. My daughter sat on her bed, and I sat beside her."How would you feel if someone made fun of you for something that wasn't your fault?" I began."She could stop eating so much," Lucy mumbled, mouthing the simple advice a thousand doctors have given overweight women for years. "It's not always that easy," I said ."Everyone's different in terms of how they treat food." Lucy looked at me, waiting for me to go on.I opened my mouth, then closed it.Should I tell her that, in teasing a woman's weight, she's joined the long tradition of critics? Should I tell her I didn't cry when someone posted my picture and commented , "I'm sorry, but aren't authors who write books marketed to young women supposed to be pretty?" Does she need to know, now, that life isn't fair ? I feel her eyes on me, waiting for an answer I don't have.Words are my tools.Stories are my job.It's possible she'll remember what I say forever, and I have no idea what to say. So I tell her the only thing I can come up with that is absolutely true.I say to my daughter, "I love you, and there is nothing you could ever do to make me not love you.But I'm disappointed in you right now.There are plenty of reasons for not liking someone.What she looks like isn't one of them." Lucy nods, tears on her cheeks."I won't say that again," she tells me, and I pull her close, pressing my nose against her hair.As we sit there together, I pray for her to be smart and strong.I pray for her to find friends, work she loves, a partner who loves her.And still, always, I pray that she will never struggle as I've struggled, that weight will never be her cross to bear.She may not be able to use the word in our home, but I can use in my head.I pray that she will never get fat. What does the author want to tell her daughter? A. It is not easy to take the doctors' advice to eat less. B. People shouldn't complain because life is unfair. C. She herself was once laughed at for her appearance. D. People shouldn't be blamed for their appearance. Answer: D Question: One day, our teacher talked about the stereotypes of different people. I learned the stereotypes of Mexicans: they are poor and lazy. I was ashamed of who I was because I am a Mexican and thought that it would be hard for me to be successful. One day in the eleventh grade, we had a discussion in history class. The kid next to me said, "You look like one of those Mexicans who sell food in the street." I told him that he was also a Mexican. He said, "I don't look as Mexican as you. I have light skin." That was the first time that I'd heard someone say, "I don't look as Mexican as you." Could it be that the people who succeed in this country are those who look like an American? Towards the end of the eleventh grade, I was asked to write a restaurant review. When I went to a restaurant, I saw the waiter talking to the chefs and thought they were judging me. I felt nervous but I couldn't leave because I had to write the review. Minutes later, the waiter stopped talking and took my order. He was happy to serve me. I started asking him questions about his restaurant and I guessed that he liked that because he gave me a free dish. After I left the restaurant, I thought, "That's wasn't bad at all." Not all people think of me as a failure. Now, I am running for the school president in my senior year. I am not sure if I can win, but I tell myself that if I want to be successful, I have to stop despising myself. I want to prove that Latinos can be successful. I do belong to the United States. An American is a person who overcomes struggles to become successful and that is what I'm doing. The author's experience of finishing his restaurant review helped him realize that _ A. he could succeed easily if he tried his best B. the waiters in America were all very friendly C. not everyone in American looked down on Mexicans D. he was actually popular with people around him Answer: C
Global warming and changing climatic conditions are triggering disease epidemics in wildlife around the world, reports a famous team of ecologists and epidemiologists in the Friday June 21st issue of Science. "What is most surprising is the fact that climate sensitive outbreaks are happening with so many different types of pathogens ----viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites----as well as in such a wide range of hosts including corals, oysters, terrestrial plants, birds, and humans, " says lead author Drew Harvell of Cornell University. "This isn't just a question of coral bleaching for a few marine ecologists, nor just a question of malaria for a few health officials---the number of similar increases in disease incidence is astonishing," says coauthor Richard Ostfeld from the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook prefix = st1 /New York. "We don't want to be alarmists, but we are alarmed." The team documented examples of viruses, bacteria, and fungi associated with diseases that develop more rapidly with slight rises in temperature. Many vectors of disease such as mosquitoes, flies, and rodents, as well as the viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens are highly temperature and moisture sensitive. As temperature increases, _ are likely to spread into new areas and may have potentially devastating effects on wildlife populations that have not been previously exposed. Reproduction, growth, and biting rates of insects all go up with increases of temperature. Winter is the limiting time for many pathogens, killing back populations each year. With milder winters, this population bottleneck may be removed for many species. Warmer, longer summers also mean that the period of time of disease transmission is longer. Warmer summers may increase host susceptibility to disease due to thermal stress, particularly in the oceans. Marine bacteria and fungal growth rates are positively correlated with increasing temperature. According to this passage, the outbreaks of disease epidemics tend to occur in _ . Answer: summer Today is July 20th.Mr Smith is going to have a trip.This is his travel plan. Dep.="depart;" leave arr.=arrive 21 July dep. New York 12:25 23 July dep. Ottawa 14:20 arr. Toronto 17:15 25 July dep. Toronto 09:45 arr. Tokyo 15:10 29 July dep. Tokyo 14:20 Arr. Sydney 20:05 2 August dep. Sydney 08:20 Arr. New York 16:25 Where will Mr Smith be on the morning of July 29th? Answer: Tokyo. My mother is a teacher. On weekdays, she gives lessons at school and on Saturdays she works in clubs. On Sundays, she is still busy. On Sunday morning, mum gets up at six. She cooks breakfast for us first. And then it's time for cleaning. After that, she has breakfast with father and me. At 9, she goes to buy food for lunch in the supermarket. She can have a short rest after lunch. In the afternoon, mum doesn't go out. She helps me with my lessons. She does some reading, too. Mother watches TV at about 7 when she finishes the housework. But at that time she is always tired and falls asleep in the sofa sometimes. Mother usually _ first after she gets up. Answer: cooks breakfast Your body works 24 hours a day. It's always building and repairing, feeding and cleansing itself. Its goal is to be ready for your every movement, breath, and thought. The quality of your life depends on how well your body works. And how well your body works depends on how much energy it gets. Energy comes from the food you eat. Food contains nutrients that your body needs for growth and energy. By eating a balanced diet, your body gets the six important nutrients it needs.Minerals are nutrients that build bones and teeth. Minerals also form red blood cells and other substances.Wateraids digestion and waste removal.Carbohydrates give your body its main source of energy. Two carbohydrates are sugars from foods such as fruits and vegetables and starches found in rice, potatoes, and bread.Fatshelp build cell membranes .Proteinsrepair and grow body tissues . Finally,vitaminshelp your body use carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) has created a nutritional food pyramid . It shows the daily number of servings you should eat from five food groups. The food pyramid has four levels. The base of the pyramid is the largest level. It contains the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group from which you need six to eleven servings. The next level has two food groups: vegetables and fruits. The USDA recommends three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruit. The third level also has two groups: the milk, yogurt, and cheese group and the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group. You need two to three servings from each of these groups. The top of the pyramid is the smallest level. It contains fats, oils, and sweets. These foods have few nutrients, so eat them sparingly . What is the main idea for this passage _ ? Answer: Eating a balanced diet gives your body the energy it needs. Films in Beijing Theater This Week HARRY POTTER (III) American film Director: Alfonso Cuaron Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson Time: From Monday to Wednesday, at 6:00 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=50 KUNGFU HUSTLE Chinese film Director: Zhou Xingchi Starring: Zhou Xingchi, Liang Xiaolong, Yuan Hua Time: From Wednesday to Friday, at 9:00 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=40 A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES Chinese film Director: Feng Xiaogang Starring: Liu Dehua, Liu Ruoying, Ge You, Li Bingbing Time: From Friday to Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=40 (Half on Sunday for children) TROY American film Director: Wolfgang Peterson Starring: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis Time: From Tuesday to Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. Ticket Price:Y=30 You can see three films on _ or _ . Answer: Wednesday; Friday
Corky was a brave young man and he dreamed of becoming the best fighter in the world. To become stronger and get better fighting skills, he went to many schools. One day, he went to the best school in the world. Before entering the gate, he was made to hand in all his weapons . "You won't need those any more. Here you'll get better ones," said the guard. Corky handed his weapons to him. A serious old teacher took Corky to his room. Before he left, he said to Corky, "In a hundred days the training will start." A hundred days! At first Corky thought that was a joke, but he soon realized the old teacher had been serious. Corky felt nervous during the first days and he tried many ways to try to get the teacher to start the training. However, it didn't work. At last Corky waited patiently and enjoyed each day in the school. "You've already learned how to use your main weapon - patience," said the old teacher. Corky could hardly believe it, but he really understood that the teacher was right. Finally, the lesson began. "Now it's time to learn how to win every fight," said the old teacher. That sounded good to Corky until he found himself tied hand and foot. Many villagers tried to hit him because they were told that Corky was a dangerous man. The same thing was repeated for days, and Corky knew he had to do something. He realized that the only way would be to deal with the villagers' anger . In the following days, Corky kept talking to them until he managed to make them believe that he was not an enemy. In the end, the villagers made friends with Corky. Finally, Corky knew what the most powerful weapon was. He said thanks to the teacher and left. According to the passage, what was the most powerful weapon? Answer: Patience. Dozens of dolphins swam out of the polluted waters of Haifa Harbor on Tuesday.This was the first time that dolphins had visited this crowded Mediterranean port,and researchers were surprised and delighted by the unexpected event. Between 40 and 50 of the dolphins appeared in the busy port on Tuesday morning,obviously drawn by the fishrich waters of Haifa Harbor. However,the bay is also full of harmful chemicals. Aviad Sheinin,professor of Haifa University's Maritime Studies Department,said he didn't think the dolphins were harmed by the pollution,but he hoped that they would swim back to the sea soon. "It seems that they are quite relaxed. They don't seem to be stressed," he said. Haifa Harbor is lined by chemical companies that have been pouring poisonous waste into the water for decades. While pollution levels have dropped in recent years,the water is still considered a health hazard. "There are lots of fish in Haifa Harbor. Unfortunately we couldn't tell the dolphins that the fish are not healthy;and I don't know what the result will be," he told Israel Army Radio.Hundreds of Haifa residents gathered around Haifa Harbor to see the interesting sight,and researchers said this provided a rare chance to film and study the roughtoothed dolphins. In addition to the dozens of dolphins which swam into the port on Tuesday,a similar number stayed outside the breakwater .Later Tuesday the dolphins left the port but remained near the entrance and Israel's coast guard was patrolling the area to try to make sure the dolphins didn't reenter the poisonous waters. Relatively little is known about roughtoothed dolphins,which are usually found in deep and warm tropical waters. Aviad Sheinin's words suggest that _ . Answer: he is uncertain about what will happen to the dolphins In America, people change jobs ten times during their lives. They change their homes eleven times. Americans like change because they think it _ their lives. In China, some people, of course, don't like change. They want life to be predictable . They want to do the same things every day and to see the same people every day. When something changes, it makes them feel uncomfortable, like a child who can't go to sleep unless all his toys are in their proper places. But can't you see there are many changes in China? People are healthier and they are living longer. People have more money, more food and they are better educated . Without change, our lives would be very boring. It would be like listening to the same song over and over again. Change is a big part of life and we all change in small ways every day --the young get stronger, the old get weaker; we meet new friends; we find new interests. Change is good for China and it will be good for you, too. How many times do people in American change their jobs during their lives? Answer: Ten. Home Alone is a very funny 1990 American film. It tells us a story about a boy who is accidentally left alone at home. One night before Christmas, the McAlister family meets at their house. They are planning to fly to Paris for the holiday and are busy getting ready. Eight-year-old Kevin is the youngest child and is fighting with his brothers, sisters and cousins. When he goes to bed, he is so angry that he wishes all his family would go away. In the morning, everyone wakes up very late. They are all in a hurry to get to the airport, so they forget Kevin and he is left alone at home by accident. Although Kevin is alone, he is very happy at first. His terrible family has gone--- his wish has come true. He watches TV, eats lots of fast food and plays games. He has a good time. But later on, he goes out and hears two bad men called Harry and Marv planning to steal from his house. He goes home and plans some very funny ways to catch Harry and Marv. Many things in the house gets broken as Kevin tries to stop them. Finally, the police come and the men are taken away. The house is now in a mess, so Kevin tidies it up and waits for his parents. They get back from Paris and are very happy to find that Kevin is safe. Why does Kevin think his family are "terrible" at first? Answer: Because he is angry with his brothers, sisters and cousins. "To educate a girl is to educate a thousand people," says Maimouna Samake, a mother of six children(including five girls). "If you put one seed in the ground and rain comes, it will grow to produce many seeds." Samake, one of 2,000 residents, lives in a small village, Sounkala, in one of the world's poorest countries. Now she has a chance to see this wish come true thanks to build On, an American non-profit organization that is building a school in her community. For 17 years, build On has been sending American high school students overseas to create schools in places where literacy and formal education are usually out of reach. The organization has built about 300 schools in Mali, Malawi, Nepal, Senegal, Nicaragua and Haiti. Its goal is to get young Americans in mostly urban areas to get involved in education. At the same time it can bring literacy to children and adults in poor villages in the developing world. Sounkala's school only has about 70 children; mud floors, poor lighting, few desks and an absence of books mean that the school is not the most ideal learning environment. Therefore they certainly could use build On's help. Samake hasn't been to school, but she wants a better future for her five daughters, including Ramatou, 12, and Mariam, 10. "When a woman attends school, she will teach what she learns to her children," said Ramatou, who wants to become a doctor. "She will also know how to take better care of her family." Build On tries to build schools for grades one to three. If things go well over those three years, they return to help build another school for grades four to six, and then set up evening adult literacy classes. Ramatou and Mariam will not learn inside the walls of build On school since they are already in the sixth grade, but Samake hopes that they will be able to attend evening classes to continue learning. Which of the following aspects of build On is NOT mentioned in the text? Answer: Its sources of money.
Question: America's love of cars and being on the open road has led to the creation of the modern travel orcamping trailer . Some trailers are so well equipped that people can comfortably live in them full time. Almost allcampers are considered as recreational vehicles (RV's). RV's include motor homes, trailers, house trailers and truck campers. The smaller trailers usually have just enough room for two people to sleep and store a few personal travel items. Some of the larger motor homes include a kitchen, a bathroom, an eating area and even a bedroom. While tent camping is always an adventure, campers are a fun way to take a long trip, or to spend some more comfortable time in a beautiful setting, like a lakeside campground. So many camper trailers have been designed for people to live in the trailer long term. Some people choose to park their trailers in trailer parks and live in their trailers full time. In America many retired adults choose to spend their time traveling across the country on the open road and bring their trailers with them. Full time use of trailers for these travelers is considered to be arecreational activity. Camper trailers can also be rented and used for a shorter period of time, such as a camping trip or a road trip. A camper trailer can be a comfortable _ to sleeping in a tent if you are camping. If you like traveling at your own pace, a camper trailer is a good choice. What can we know about camper trailers? A. They are suitable for both long and short trips. B. They have to be parked in a trailer park. C. They are widely used by young people. D. They are becoming more and more popular all over the world. Answer: A Question: A neighbor of mine, while visiting his mother in Boston, took her to a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes. While she was trying on different styles, my neighbor took the manager aside. "When she picks out a pair that she likes," he said, "Just tell her that the price is 12 dollars. I'll pay the regular price. I don't care how much it is." The following week, my neighbor was walking by the shoe store and the manager recognized him and called him in. "What's the problem?" asked my neighbor as he entered the store. "Wasn't my check any good?" "That's not it," answered the manager, "The problem is that your mother is bringing all her friends in for those 12-dollar shoes!" The regular price my neighbor had paid must be _ . A. 12 dollars B. lower than 12 dollars C. higher than 12 dollars D. unknown to himself at all Answer: C Question: Canada is a very large country.It is bigger than China.China is the third largest country in the world.Canada is the second largest.It has an area of nearly 10 million sq. km. Canada has a very long coastline.To the west is the Pacific Ocean.To the east is the Atlantic Ocean.The Arctic Ocean is in the north.There are very many islands off the Pacific coast and off the Arctic coast.The biggest one in the west is Vancouver Island.In the east there is New Foundland,and in the Arctic Ocean the biggest islands are Baffin Island and Victoria Island.(Greenland is not part of Canada.It is a part of Denmark,a country in northern Europe.) Canada has a long border with the U.S.A.in the south.In the northwest Canada borders on the American"State of Alaska".Canada is a northern country.The Arctic Circle is (Latitude 16degN) passes through the northern part.In the south,half of the border with the U.S.A. follows line of latitude 49degN. Which of the following statements is true? A. U.S.A is the second largest country in the world. B. Canada has nearly 10 million sq. km.So it is the second largest country on the earth. C. China is as large as Canada and the second largest in the world. D. Russia is the second largest country in the world. Answer: B Question: Colleges may try to do a lot to prepare students for study abroad -- telling about culture shock, warning about homesickness, and recommending books about the country. But when it comes to adjusting to campus life when they return, schools haven't done as much, even though the transition is sometimes almost as difficult. "They can feel disoriented and depressed. They find things are not exactly the way they were when they left," said Antonio Jimenez, director of the Center for International Affairs at California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, California, US. "They find that people don't care much about their experiences." Some colleges are now rethinking their approach to studying abroad, recognizing that students might need almost as much help adjusting to life back home as they did getting ready to leave: students experience a sort of reverse culture shock when they return to the US. They might be troubled by the wealth and waste they see back home or they might feel homesick for their new country and its customs. And when they try to talk about their experiences, people quickly lose interest, especially if they haven't lived abroad themselves. Down the road, they also might find it difficult to translate their time abroad into experience that an employer finds attractive. Some California universities have organized conferences to help students make the most of their time abroad. During a one-day event, students learn how to adjust after living abroad, talk about their experiences and incorporate (,) them into their lives and future careers. Blythe Cheney, 22, a senior who has studied in Thailand and Britain, found the workshops helpful. "Any experience abroad does have an effect on you," Cheney said. "When you come back, it's important to talk about it, especially with people who know what you've been through." Yet most universities focus more on preparation than reorientation . The writer is _ the help colleges offer for the students when they return from studying overseas. A. pleased with B. proud of C. dissatisfied with D. no interest in Answer: C Question: Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help. Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops. American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants - those that return year after year. Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good. He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year. The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity. The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight. Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature. The word"perennation"mentioned in this passage _ . A. is a farming method of planting food crops with trees B. is a new farming method C. can help African people produce more food than they need D. is gaining widespread use around the world Answer: A
Dublin City Hall Inside City Hall is an interesting exhibition about Dublin's history, with historical items from the old city and multimedia presentations. The building, which dates from 1779, once badly damaged, was recently _ . Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:15 p.m., Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~5:00 p.m. Admission is EUR6.50. Phone 672- 2204. Dublin Castle This is a joy for anyone interested in archaeology or history. Dublin Castle was built in the 13th century on top of the foundations of a Viking structure. The castle served as a military fortress, prison, court of law and the core of British administration in Ireland until 1922. It's now used for state functions and government conferences. Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m.~4:50 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~4:50 p.m. Closed during state functions. Admission is EUR4.50. Phone 677- 7129 or 677- 7270. Trinity College The sole college of the University of Dublin, Trinity was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. The reason most visitors venture to Trinity is to take a look at the Book of Kells, which is on display at the Old Library. The ticket price includes admission to the Long Room, a striking space that contains 200,000 of the college's oldest books. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am~5pm, Sunday noon~4:30 p.m. (from 9:30 a.m. June to September). College Green. Phone 608 -1177. Irish Museum of Modern Art Housed in the beautifully restored Royal Hospital Kilmainham (which was modelled on Les Invalides in Paris), the museum exhibits contemporary art and has an impressive permanent collection that includes pieces representing the cutting edge of Irish and international art. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:30 p.m., Sunday and holidays noon~5:30 p.m. The museum has no admission charge. Military Road, Kilmainham. Phone 612- 9900. James Joyce Centre James Joyce is one of Dublin's most famous 20th century writers. Author of such works as Dubliners, Ulysses and his autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Joyce's name is forever linked to the city of Dublin. The James Joyce Centre is dedicated to promoting the life and works of James Joyce to novices and scholars alike. Open Tues.~Sat. 10:00 a.m.~5:00 p.m., Sun. 1: p.m.~5:00 p.m., admission costs EUR5.00 for adults. North Great George's Street. Phone 878- 8547. According to the passage, we can know _ . Answer: Hailey stood in her kitchen. She was looking for ideas of what to make for dinner. She could make pasta, soup, chili, or steak. She opened the refrigerator and took out a cartoon of juice. She sat down at the table and tried to write a list of ingredients she would need. She finally thought she would make chili for dinner. She took a sip of her juice and she saw she had all the ingredients she needed except meat. Hailey saw she was losing daylight. This made her want to take her car to the store in order to buy the meat. It would be faster than walking. She quickly went to the back of the store where she knew the meat was stored and took her find to the cashier. When she made her way back into the lot she ran into her friend, Beth, and invited Beth to come to her house for dinner. When they both returned to her home they cooked dinner together and had a wonderful evening. Why did Hailey want to take her car to the store? Answer: Dear Malia and Sasha, I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail , going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that though you both are excited about that new puppy , it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey. When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't be so important unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation. I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential --schools that challenge them, inspire them, and teach them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college--even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity . I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and gender that keep us from seeing the best in each other. (An extract from Obama letter to his daughters) We have learned that as a young man, Obama was_. Answer: In England, some food companies across the whole country have been told to carry out urgent tests on all beef products. Do you know why? That's because some food companies used horsemeat to make beef products. There are some examples about the horsemeat matter. In January, 2013, in a number of UK supermarkets, frozen hamburgers were found to have _ of horsemeat in them. Some frozen beef products made by food company FINDUS were found to contain horsemeat. All of the beef products made by this company have been removed from sale. The government said that there's nothing to suggest any health risk from the products. Food minister David Heath said people should not throw away frozen meat products and carry on eating meat. The government will tell people not to eat meat if the meat is not safe. Food safety has been an important matter all over the world. More and more countries plan to take some useful measures to ensure the safety of food. ,. What else did some food companies use to make beef products in England according to the passage? Answer: I remember the first time that I was extremely happy. I was about 8 years old when for the first time, there was a computer in the classroom. I remember that my teacher allowed each student to take turns playing various educational games on the computer. One day, I found the source code for one of these games. Without knowing or being taught any programming language, I was able to figure out some _ of the BASIC code. Anyone who knows a bit of programming can tell you that I just give myself an infinite number of lives in the game, so I can continue playing forever. This was also my first introduction to algebra , and I didn't even know it at the time. This was a decisive moment in my life. For the first time that I can remember, I was quite happy because of what I was learning and what I was able to do. As a result, I became enthusiastic for the rest of my life about self-learning and computers, and I was quite happy doing them, too. I've noticed that people who are truly content with life are enthusiastic in what they do. This enthusiasm, along with good health, is the key to being happy. It also leads to self-confidence and fulfillment in life, too. It may also lead to success, wealth, and achievements. Yes, success, wealth, or achievements seem to bring some people happiness, too. Yet, I don't think they can indeed make people happy. I know plenty of people who are successful and wealthy. However, I also know several of the people with successful businesses are not happy with what they are doing. I know people who continuously buy themselves new toys, cars, computers, and televisions, yet they never seem content for too long. Please remember that happiness comes from enthusiasm, and happiness is the journey of life, not the destination. The author uses his own experience of being happy in order to tell us _ . Answer:
Hello,my friend.I'm Jack.Today I'd like to tell you a story about the language.People live together and they speak the same language.They are kind to each other . People want to build a tower.One of them says, "Let's build it high and it can reach the heaven !".And the name is the Tower of Babel.But God doesn't like it."I will stop them!" God says. People can work together because they can speak the same language.So God makes people speak different language.This is a big problem.Someone asks for water,people give him clothes.They can't understand each other.So people are not friendly.They don't like building the tower. People begin to speak different languages and live in different places.They never finish building the Tower of Babel. People want to build the tower high, then _ . A they can live in it B it can reach the heaven C it can take many things D they can see the world on it Answer: B. it can reach the heaven It is easier to float in the ocean than it is to float in a swimming pool. Do you know why? Ocean water is full of salt-- and salt water can hold up more weigh than fresh water. See for yourself! You Will Need: * 3 cups of warm water * Measuring cup * Wide-mouthed jar * Salt * Spoon * Raw potato You Will Do: Pour 1.5 cups of warm water into the jar.Add 1/3 cup of salt.Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.Add another 1.5 cups of water. Pour it slowly over the back of the spoon into the jar so that the two liquid will not mix together. Gently place the potato into the jar. Do not drop it. What Will Happen: The potato will sink-- but only halfway! Why? Salt water is heavier than fresh water, so it will stay on the bottom. The fresh water will remain on top. The potato is heavier than the fresh water, but it is lighter than the salt water. That is why the potato will sink halfway down. In the experiment, what should you do right after you pour the water over the spoon? A Add the salt to the water. B Stir the salt into the water. C Place the potato in the jar. D Pour warm water into thejar. Answer: C. Place the potato in the jar. If you travel in some areas of India, you'll be lucky enough to be waited on by special guides - monkeys. These monkeys are always ready to serve you. Hungry, you just need to point to your own stomach and they'll lead you to the nearest restaurant. Thirsty, the monkeys will lead you to a bar. Tired, you put both of your hands behind your head and the monkeys will take you to the nearest hotel. Don't feel surprised when they put out their hairy hands to you after the service is done. They are just asking for a little money as a tip. After that, they will wave their hands as if they are saying goodbye to you. Believe it or not, these monkeys are from the school for monkeys in India, where they were trained for one year. They are not the only monkey students in the world. Some are being trained as nurses in an American medical college. These monkeys are about to look after patients and help-them with their housework. A three-year-old monkey named Helen has learned to turn on TV, turn off lights, and open doors and windows when she is told to. Once the job is done, she will rush to her master, hoping to get some food as a reward. What is probably the best title for this passage?' A Funny Monkeys B Lovely Guides C Special Nurses D Good Helpers Answer: D. Good Helpers It doesn't matter if you have one friend or 20, because there are only a few people in this world that can make you truly happy. For me, my family and my three best girlfriends mean everything to me. Some days I didn't want to go to school because I felt so disappointed in myself but I don't regret a thing. It makes you stronger as a person, and if you are able to mend your friendships like I have done, then you can do anything. My mom always told me, "Stephanie, remember that a friend is a gift that you give to yourself. A friend will always be there for the good and the bad. A true friend will never make fun of you. If a friend is a piece of work, then he or she has never been a friend at all. A friend is the biggest gift to you." Everyone is going to make mistakes but please don't push them away, especially if it's someone you really care about. I know when I make mistake I beat myself up about it. I just wish someone would have reached out a hand to help me back up on my feet like my best friend did. If someone is new or doesn't have a friend, please reach out and befriend them because that small action could mean the world to them. Now that I'm older, I understand what my mom has been trying to tell me, and now I know that the friends that I choose will also be the kinds of friends that I would want to be surrounded by forever. The writer was unwilling to go to school because _ . A she was disappointed in herself B she regretted something he had done C she was busy trying to fix a friendship D she went to by a gift for her mother Answer: A. she was disappointed in herself In England a woman fell down a stair. Panic followed--178 persons lost their lives. In Michigan a woman fell ill. There was a call for water. Someone thought it meant fire---71 were killed. In Oklahoma an old man's hair caught fire---36 died. What should you do to be out of danger? 1. As you sit in any crowd, pick out an exit which is not the one where most persons enter and plan to use if necessary. 2. If a rush stairs, do not get into it . Stay still. Let it pass. Then go to the exit you have chosen. 3. Do not cry out. Speak quietly. Act calmly. 4.Do not stop for your hat and coat unless they are at hand. 5. If there is smoke, crouch. The best air is about three feet above the floor. 6. When you are outside the building, stay out. Many dead would be alive if they had not returned for something. 7. When you get out, move far from the door so that others can get out. When you are safe outside a burning building , stay away from the door so that _ . A the smoke can get out. B you will not get burned C others may leave. D others may enter. Answer: C. others may leave.
With a ruler I can measure A. feelings B. love C. air D. a phone Answer: D. a phone Want to travel as cheaply as possible while enjoying the great scenery as much as you like? Backpacking is the way. As the most popular traveling choice among young western people, backpacking allows you to travel at your own free will. Carrying a tent, sleeping bag and clothes, . It is a thrill to put our ability to test and challenge ourselves with sorts of difficulties we might come across. So, backpacking is something young people can hardly deny. Young people in Europe often travel around by train. Now, with plane tickets dropping in price, more are traveling to distant countries, such as Australia and China. And some just travel within their own countries. But no matter where a backpacker travels, planning in advance is important if he or she wants to enjoy the trip. Clothing In summer, light, clothes are best. Backpackers must remember to travel lightly and not pack too many clothes. Medicine There are many medicines, especially for summer, such as those for sunstroke, snake bites and mosquitoes. Others are useful in every season, such as those for common colds, poisoning and diarrhea. Cards Three types of cards are of great value for backpacks: student Identity Card, personal ID and a credit card. A student ID card can be helpful for saving money. It often gets train tickets and entrance tickets for cheaper prices in many Western countries. Personal ID card can, not only get you out of trouble with local police, but also prove useful in all sorts of other situations. Carrying a credit card can be a safe way of carrying money, as cash can easily get lost, stolen or wet. And of course, don't forget to enjoy your trip! What is of most advantage to backpackers? A. They can travel very easily. B. They won't worry about where to live. C. They can have the chance to take some adventures. D. They can take some physical exercise. Answer: C. They can have the chance to take some adventures. Able, who owned Blackacre, a residential lot improved with a dwelling, conveyed it for a valuable consideration to Baker. The dwelling had been constructed by a prior owner. Baker had inspected Blackacre prior to the purchase and discovered no defects. After moving in, Baker became aware that sewage seeped into the basement when the toilets were flushed. Able said that this defect had been present for years and that he had taken no steps to hide the facts from Baker. Baker paid for the necessary repairs and brought an appropriate action against Able to recover his cost of repair. If Baker wins, it will be because A. Able failed to disclose a latent defect. B. Baker made a proper inspection. C. the situation constitutes a health hazard. D. Able breached the implied warranty of habitability and fitness for purpose. Answer: A. Able failed to disclose a latent defect. It was graduation day at the university where I work and a beautiful day quite unlike the first graduation I attended as a young professor.On that cold day years ago, as we watched the students walking into the hall, one of my colleagues turned to me and said, "Graduation will be one of the happiest and one of the saddest time of your life." At my inquiry, he answered, "Because the students you have gotten to know have to leave." As years went by, my previous confusion about my colleague's words no longer existed.When I came across naughty students, I have had to rethink why I chose to be a teacher.It obviously isn't the money.Once a former computer science student of mine called me, asking me if I wanted to have a change.He was working at Nintendo Corporation.His salary was higher than my current one, though I have more education and have worked for over a decade.With my programming skills, he said he could get me hired.I thanked him, but declined his kind offer. A few days before this current graduation, while working on final grades, I found a note a student had slipped in with her homework.She thanked me for being her teacher and said the things she had learned in my class--not about math, but about life--would be things she would remember long after the math skills had faded away.As I finished reading, I remembered why I had become a teacher. Now, on this sunny graduation day, as I again observed the sea of _ , I did so with renewed dedication and a deeper sense of satisfaction--I will always be grateful that I am a teacher. The author wrote this passage to _ . A. express his devotion to being a teacher B. compare two different graduation ceremonies C. talk about the meaning of graduation D. give advice on how to be a good teacher Answer: A. express his devotion to being a teacher Nowadays, many children spend hours a day looking at computer screens or other digital products. Some eye care doctors say all the screen time has caused more children to have what they call computer vision syndrome . Nathan Warford is an optometrist in the US. He says he has seen more children having eye problems. "More children come into my office because their parents have noticed that they have headaches or red eyes, or because their degree of short-sightedness appears to be increasing very fast and they're worried," he said. Dr. Warford says part of the problem is that even if their eyes start to feel uncomfortable or they start to get a headache, some children don't tell their parents, because they don't want their games or the computer to be taken away. Another part of the problem is that people blink less often when they look at the screen.A person who uses a computer or a digital product blinks about a third as much as we normally do in everyday life. If eyes can't stay wet or are too tired, they will not be protected like normal. People blink about _ as they normally do when they use computers. A. a third as much B. two thirds as much C. half as much D. as much Answer: A. a third as much
Camilla Chomp was a strange little girl. She liked to spend her time alone eating chocolate. Her parents were worried, so they took all the chocolate away. Camilla left her house to look for some chocolate. She found a small house full of bottles. Among the bottles, a blue bottle caught Camilla's eyes. It was full of chocolate. In the bottle there was also a card with the words "Change tears into chocolate." Camilla was very excited. She ran out of the house with the bottle to look for someone crying. First, she met a little boy crying hard and collected his tears. The tears were quickly changed into chocolate. While Camilla was collecting the tears, she comforted the boy. Finally, the boy stopped crying and they had a good time together. Later, Camilla met a woman and an old man crying. The woman had broken some bowls. And the old man's dog had just died. Camilla collected their tears and made them happy again. Soon, Camilla knew that making people happy was much more important than finding chocolate. So she stopped collecting tears and began to help sad people. As a result, she had many friends and had a happy life. Camilla liked to _ . A eat chocolate B read books C collect coins D eat fruit Answer: A Frank needs to move a box by sliding it across the floor. Which two factors will most strongly affect how hard Frank needs to push the box? A The density of the box material and the hardness of the floor B The thickness of the box material and the hardness of the floor C The total mass of the box and the friction between the box and the floor D The total height of the box and the distance between his hands and the floor Answer: C Dear Alfred, I want to tell you how important your help is to my life. Growing up, I had people telling me I was too slow, though, with an IQ of 150 at 17, I'm anything but stupid. The fact was that I was found to have ADIID . Anxious all the time, I was unable to keep focused for more than an hour at a time. However, when something did interest me, I could become absorbed. In high school, I became curious about the computer, and built my first website. Moreover, I completed the senior course of Computer Basics, plus five relevant pre-college courses. While I was exploring my curiosity, my disease got worse. I wanted to go to college after high school, but couldn't . So, I was killing my time at home until June 2012 when I discovered the online computer courses of your training center. Since then, I have taken courses like Data Science and Advanced Mathematics. Currently, I'm learning your Probability course. I have hundreds of printer paper, covered in self-written notes from your video. This has given me a purpose. Last year, I spent all my time looking for a job where, without dealing with the public , I could work alone, but still have a team to talk to. Luckily, I discovered the job--Data Analyst--this month and have been going full steam ahead. I want to prove that I can teach myself a respectful profession, without going to college, and be just as good as, if not better than, my competitors. Thank you. You've given me hope that I can follow my heart. For the first time, I feel good about myself because I'm doing something, not because someone told me I was doing good. I feel whole. This is why you're saving my life. Yours, Tanis why did't Tanis go to college after high school? A She had learned enough about computer science B She had more difficulty keeping foucesed C She preferred taking online courses D She was too slow to learn Answer: B Passage 1 Captain Good fellow Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Good fellow will be ready to teach all these things to children at the City Theater on Saturday morning at 10:00, free. Films at the Museum Two American films will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theater. See Broken Window at 1:30. The Workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898. International Picnic Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 p. m. Take me out to the Ball game It's October, and Saturday night (7:00-9:00) is your last chance to see the Red Birds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold. Don't forget sweaters and jackets. Do you want to hear "The Zoo" "The Zoo", a popular music group from Australia, will give their first U.S. concert this Saturday night, at 8:00 in Rose Hall, City College. ,. Mr. Turner wants to have a nice Saturday. Which is impossible for him to do? A Watching a ball game and having a picnic. B Having a picnic and watching a movie. C Going to the Museum theater and watching a ball game. D Watching a movie and listening to a concert. Answer: B Marketing Professionals A major US corporation in the health and nutritional industry has announced the opening of its direct selling division in Taiwan. The company offers the most lucrative compensation plan in the industry and has paid over NTD 3.5 billion in commissions in just 6 years in the US. We are a group of top earners. Applicants should meet the requirements: (1) Taiwan citizen (2) Have experience in marketing (3) Aggressive, energetic, and willing to learn If you believe you have what it takes to develop this business, please dial 2742-6996. Job B An international company requires a Service Technician To service and maintain electronic medical equipment,applicants should have degree in electronics. The selected candidate will have a training program to be conducted by our manufacturer's trained technical personnel. Interested candidates please apply immediately with a resume and mail to P.O. Box 594. Or telephone Ms Chang at 2945-0027 for an immediate interview. Job C Wanted: Reporters & Editors Qualifications: * Strong command of English language * Chinese speaking and reading ability a must * A university degree * Journalism education and/or experience preferred * Flexible working hours (30 hours per week) * Good work environment and medical insurance, etc. Fax resume and work samples, if any, to The China Post at(03) 2595-7952. Job D Southeastern Travel Services Tour Guides Duties: To conduct escorted tours for foreign visitors;to assist with travel and transportation arrangements. Qualifications: Good appearance. High school diploma. Good knowledge of English. Outgoing personality. Dial 2703-2172 after 3 p.m.. Ask for Gary. Which of the following is required for marketing professionals? A A university degree. B Good appearance. C Good computer knowledge. D Some marketing experience. Answer: D
which one of these could eventually facilitate an intoxicating drink? Answer: a cob of corn A recent study on parents who beat their children indicated that physical punishment still occurs far more frequently than previously thought but that physical punishment was ineffective. Given that 73 percent of the children who were hit waited less than 10 minutes before acting out again. So, what is? Many parents deal with their children's mistakes by taking away toys and separating them from their playmates. But for strong-willed kids like I was, none of these methods were effective. Like many kids, I wasn't bad; I was bored. Fortunately, my father realized this fairly early on and developed a new form of "discipline" that produced immediate results and long-term positive effects. Looking back as an adult, my father's method of making me read the encyclopedia whenever I did something wrong was the best thing he could have done. He would tell me a topic and say, "Learn about the aardvark and I'm going to quiz you shortly after." It was punishment in the sense that I was forced to stop whatever I was doing, but it also had a purpose in that it kept my mind occupied and presented the type of mental challenge I clearly lacked. Although unwillingly, I went to learn ly everything there was to know about aardvarks because I was going to figure out every question he could throw at me. If it weren't for my driving need to prove him wrong, it may not have worked as well as it did. So that's just it: It was effective. It helped me change my behavior in that moment and it conditioned me to seek out books when I was bored. Obviously, that happened frequently and apparently and it worked. I grew up to become a successful lawyer and a famous writer as well. To this day, Dad's the only one who can beat me. What was the author's father method of punishing him for his mistakes? Answer: His father forced him to do some reading and tested him later. A federal agency on Tuesday called for a ban on all cellphone use by drivers -- the most far-reaching recommendation up to now -- saying its decision was based on a decade of investigations into distraction-related accidents, as well as growing concerns that powerful mobile devices are giving drivers even more reasons to look away from the road. As part of its recommendation, the National Transportation Safety Board is urging states to ban drivers from using hands-free devices, including wireless headsets. No state now has made laws to ban such activity, but the Board said that drivers faced serious risks from talking on wireless headsets, just as they do by taking a hand off the wheel to hold a phone to their ears. However, the concern was heightened by increasingly powerful phones that people can use to send e-mails, watch movies and play games. "Every year, new devices are being on sale." she said. "People are attracted to update their Facebook page, to play music with cellphone, as if sitting at a desk. But they are driving a car." The agency based its recommendation on evidence from its investigation of numerous crashes in which electronic distraction was a major contributing factor. Ms. Hersman said she understood that this recommendation would be unwelcome in some circles, given the number of drivers who talk and text. But she compared distracted driving to drunken driving and even smoking, which required wholesale cultural shifts to change behavior. "It's going to be very unpopular with some people." she said. "We're not here to win a popularity contest. We're here to do the right thing. This is a difficult recommendation, but it's the right recommendation and it is time." The agency's recommendation is not required for states to adopt such a ban. And it won't likely be agreed upon by state lawmakers who are unwillingly to anger those who have grown accustomed to using their device behind the wheel. The ban also deserves attention because it is the first call by a federal agency to end the practice completely, rather than the partial ban that some lawmakers have put in place by allowing hands-free talking. The ban on all cellphone use by drivers was put forward _ . Answer: after about ten years' investigation in it Aris was the owner in fee simple of adjoining lots known as Lot 1 and Lot 2. He built a house in which he took up residence on Lot 1. Thereafter, he built a house on Lot 2, which he sold, house and lot, to Baker. Consistent with the contract of sale and purchase, the deed conveying Lot 2 from Aris to Baker contained the following clause: In the event Baker, his heirs or assigns, decide to sell the property hereby conveyed and obtain a purchaser ready, willing, and able to purchase Lot 2 and the improvements thereon on terms and conditions acceptable to Baker, said Lot 2 and improvements shall be offered to Aris, his heirs or assigns, on the same terms and conditions. Aris, his heirs or assigns, as the case may be, shall have ten days from said offer to accept said offer and thereby to exercise said option. Three years after delivery and recording of the deed and payment of the purchase price, Baker became ill and moved to a climate more compatible with his health. Baker's daughter orally offered to purchase the premises from Baker at its then fair market value. Baker declined his daughter's offer but instead deeded Lot 2 to his daughter as a gift. Immediately thereafter, Baker's daughter sold Lot 2 to Charles at the then fair market value of Lot 2. The sale was completed by the delivery of deed and payment of the purchase price. At no time did Baker or his daughter offer to sell Lot 2 to Aris. Aris learned of the conveyance to Baker's daughter and the sale by Baker's daughter to Charles one week after the conveyance of Lot 2 from Baker's daughter to Charles. Aris promptly brought an appropriate action against Charles to enforce rights created in him by the deed of Aris to Baker. Aris tendered the amount paid by Charles into the court for whatever disposition the court deemed proper. The common-law Rule Against Perpetuities is unmodified by statute. Which of the following will determine whether Aris will prevail? I. The parol evidence rule. II. The Statute of Frauds. III. The type of recording statute of the jurisdiction in question. IV. The Rule Against Perpetuities. Answer: IV only. which of these would help a person walk through a dark basement? Answer: a candle and a matchstick
Zambia is a country in southern Africa. More than half of the population is very poor, and companies pay people very little money for their work. One woman named Sylvia Banda had a dream to become a successful businesswoman and build her own brand . So, after finishing high school, Banda went to college to learn how to start a food company. She studied hard and spent her free time coming up with ways to make money, including making food and selling it to friends. In 1987, when Banda was 24 years old, she decided to start her own restaurant. She borrowed a room and used food, and pans from her own kitchen. The first day, her restaurant did not have any chairs or tables, but she was able to sell all of the food that she had made. After counting the money, she was surprised that she had made more in one day than most people make in one month. From that small restaurant, Banda built a large company called the Sylva Group. It now has hundreds of people working for it and is worth over a million dollars. Besides restaurants, the company has now built hotels and a college in Zambia, and it also sells many kinds of packaged foods. After reaching her goal of starting her own business and becoming rich, Banda decided to work to improve the lives of other Zambians. She does this in a number of ways. For one, her restaurants use vegetables and other products made in Zambia, and by doing so, Banda can support the farmers. Her college also teaches farmers ways to make their farms better, which helps them make more money. The college also helps young Zambians get skills to start their own businesses. Through hard work, Banda has been able to improve both her life and her country. How does Banda help Zambian farmers? A. She helps them get jobs that pay more money than farming. B. She sells their vegetables at her stores for a high price. C. She buys and uses their products in her restaurants. D. She gives them money to make their farms better. Answer: C. She buys and uses their products in her restaurants. Robert Todd Duncan was born in 1903 in the southern city of Danville,Kentucky. His mother was his first music teacher. As a young man,he continued his music study in Indianapolis,Indiana. In 1930,he completed more musical education at Columbia University in New York City. Then he moved to Washington. For fifteen years, he taught music at Howard University in Washington. At that time, not many black musicians were known for writing or performing classical music. Teaching at Howard gave Duncan the chance to share his knowledge of classical European music with a mainly black student population. He taught special ways to present the music.These special ways became known as the Duncan Technique. Besides teaching,Duncan sang in several operas with performers who were all black. But it seemed that he always would be known mainly as a concert artist. However,his life took a different turn in the middle 1930s. At that time, the famous American music writer George Gershwin was looking for someone to play a leading part in his new work Porgy and Bess. The music critic of the New York Times newspaper suggested Todd Duncan. Duncan had almost decided not to try for the part as he knew it would not be easy to get it. But he changed his mind. He sang a piece from an Italian opera for Gershwin. He had sung only a few minutes when Gershwin offered him the part. He became famous because of the part in Porgy and Bess. Todd Duncan gained fame as an opera singer and concert artist. But his greatest love in music was teaching. When he stopped teaching at Howard,he continued giving singing lessons in his Washington home until the week before his death. What happened to Duncan in the middle 1930s? A. He gave up teaching at Howard University. B. He was introduced by the New York Times in detail. C. He was asked to be in charge of the opera Porgy and Bess. D. He was given a big opportunity to become an opera singer. Answer: D. He was given a big opportunity to become an opera singer. Life on-line can be a much richer experience when you aren't restricted to just written words and still pictures.Even if you're new to the Net,you've probably heard about multimedia on-line--listening to audio,watching animations and videos,even playing in three-dimensional space.Sound and movement make information come alive. To experience it,you'll need special pieces of software called plug-ins.The term "plug-in" refers to a small,add-on piece of software which extends the capabilities of your web browser,like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer,turning your computer into a radio or TV. When you arrive at a web page which contains a file requiring a plug-in which you don't have,you will usually receive a message asking if you want to get it by downloading it and installing it into your computer.Most of the time,the installation will be automatic. Occasionally,you'll run into a downloaded file which needs to be decompressed or un-zipped before installation.Once installed,plug-ins run automatically,without you having to do anything. Many multimedia controls still need to be obtained from the developer but are installed automatically. Shockwave is a good example of this.All you need to do is go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the ActiveX control.The rest happens automatically.The next time you go to a "Shocked" website,the Shockwave control loads and plays the movie. Most plug-ins and controls can be downloaded for free on the Internet,although not all will work with every system.Some of them,for instance,only work with Windows 95. When we go to a "shocked" website a second time, _ . A. we should go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the Active X control B. the shockwave control loads itself and plays the movie for us C. we will be asked whether to download the shockwave control or not D. we have to buy the shockwave control and load it Answer: B. the shockwave control loads itself and plays the movie for us Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people,but I also explain that there's a big difference between "being a writer" and writing.In most cases these people are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter. "You've got to want to write, "I say to them, "not want to be a writer". The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the U.S. Coat Guard to become a freelance writer, I had no hope at all.What I did have was a friend who found me a room in a New York apartment building.It didn't even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom.I immediately bought a used typewriter and felt like a real writer. After a year or so.However, I still hadn't gotten a break and began to doubt myself.It was so hard to sell a story that I hardly made enough to eat.But I knew I wanted to write,l had dreamed about it for years.I wasn't going to be one _ I would keep putting my dream to the test--even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure.This is the _ of hope,and anyone with a dream must learn to live there. Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career? A. He wasn't able to produce a single book. B. He hadn't seen a change for the better. C. He wasn't able to have a rest for a whole year. D. He found his dream would never come true. Answer: B. He hadn't seen a change for the better. People without homes have always been present in America. In the past,they were called hobos,bums,or drifters. It was not until the early 1980s that these people received a new name,when activists named them the homeless. The types of people who were homeless also changed in the 1980s. No longer were they primarily older men. They were younger,with an average age of 35. Their numbers consisted of women,children,adolescents and entire families. They were of many races and cultures. No longer were they only in the inner city. They lived in rural areas and in large and small cities. No longer were they invisible to the people with homes and jobs. The homeless of the 1980s lived in packing crates and doorways. They slept on sidewalks and in public parks. They begged money from passersby. Counting the numbers of homeless people is difficult. However,in 1984 the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated the homeless population at between 250,000 and 350,000. In 1990 the Census Bureau counted about 459,000 people in shelters,in cheap hotels,and on the streets. In 1995 the National Alliance to End Homelessness estimated that there were 750,000 homeless Americans. The homeless of the 1980s also began to speak out for themselves. Some spoke to Congress and to government committees controlling funding for social programs. Street newspapers,such as Chicago's Streetwise and Boston's Spare Change,had stories,poems,and essays that expressed the homeless viewpoint. The visible and vocal presence of the homeless prompted help from volunteers and government agencies. But what is still needed is a solution to the _ of America's homeless population. Who is responsible to get the number of the homeless population according to the passage? A. Government agencies. B. Street newspapers. C. The homeless themselves. D. The volunteers. Answer: A. Government agencies.
Question: IMAGINE if there was a device that could do everything for you - wake you up every morning, chat with you and type your e-mails. The piece of technology in question would be smart, able to tell you about the weather and where the nearest restaurants are. The good thing is you no longer need to wonder, because something like this already exists. And its name is Siri. Siri is a voice recognition application designed for Apple products and the concept has been around for almost a year. When Siri first came out it could only speak English, but now it has "learned" lots of new languages, including Chinese, Cantonese and Taiwanese, reported The Wall Street Journal. So, you can give it orders in your mother tongue. But how could a cell phone or a computer "hear" what you are saying and understand it? This is all because of voice recognition technology. When you speak, your voice creates vibrations in the air - a bit like waves in the water when you throw a rock into the lake. The microphone receives the vibrations and the computer changes them into digital data that is then divided into many parts. They are analyzed one by one to see what pronunciations each part stands for. The computer then puts these pronunciations together into possible words according to its built-in dictionary. But figuring out the words is far from enough; building words into meaningful sentences is the most difficult part. The computer has to compare what it hears to a large library of known phrases and sentences to determine what the user is saying. However, people don't always talk in the most standard way and sometimes make grammatical mistakes. This is why traditional voice recognition software always requires you to remember keywords and to speak in a certain way. Fortunately, Siri isn't like that. It's not just "voice recognition"; it's "natural language understanding (NLU)". You can ask it things like "Do I need an umbrella today?" and it will know that you are asking about the weather, according to ABC News. "The key thing is NLU - understanding what you mean and what you want," Neil Grant from Nuance, a software company in the US, told The Guardian. "Historically, you had to learn a huge long list of commands . As NLU progresses, you can say what you want in a way that's natural to you." What can be concluded from the article? A. Siri can record and save what you say frequently into a computer dictionary. B. Siri will fail to understand what you say if you make grammatical mistakes. C. The biggest advantage of Siri is that it's NLU is rather than just voice recognition. D. Since first applied to Apple products a year ago, Siri has made great improvements. Answer: C Question: If there is any single factor that makes for success in living, it is the ability to profit by defeat. Every success I know have achieved because the person was able to analyze defeat and actually profit by it in his next undertaking. Confuse defeat with failure, and you are doomed indeed to failure. For it isn't defeat that makes you fail: it is your own refusal to see in defeat the guide and encouragement to success. Defeats are nothing to be ashamed of. They are routine incidents in the life of every man who achieves success. But defeat is a dead loss unless you face it without _ , analyze it and leave why you have failed. Defeat, in other words, can help to cure its own cause. Not only does defeat prepare us for success, but nothing can arouse within us such a compelling desire to succeed. If you let a baby grasp a rod and try to pull it away, he will hold more and more tightly until his whole weight is suspended. It is the same reaction as should give you new and greater strength every time you are defeated. If you exploit the power which defeats give, you can accomplish with it far more than you are capable of. It is implied in the passage that _ . A. the author thinks there is only one factor which makes for success in living B. defeat necessarily leads to success C. people often confuse defeat with failure D. we must face defeat courageously Answer: D Question: My grandson, Daniel, and I have always been very close. When Daniel's father remarried after a divorce, Daniel, who was eleven, and his little sister, Kristie, came to live with us. My husband and I were more than happy to have kids in the house again. Things were going along just fine until the diabetes I've lived with most of my adult life started affecting my eyes, and then more seriously, my kidneys . Then everything seemed to fall apart. Three times a week, I had to go to the hospital to be hooked up to a dialysis machine . I was living, but I couldn't really call it a life -- it was an existence. I had no energy. I dragged myself through daily chores and slept as much as I could. My sense of humor seemed to disappear. Daniel, seventeen by then, was really affected by the change in me. He tried as hard as he could to make me laugh, to bring back the grandma who loved to clown around with him. Even in my sorry state, Daniel could still bring a smile to my face. But things were not improving. After a year on dialysis, my condition was deteriorating and the doctors felt that if I didn't receive a kidney transplant within six months, I would surely die. No one told Daniel this, but he knew -- he said all he had to do was look after me. To top it off, as my condition worsened, there was a chance that I would become too weak to have the transplant surgery at all, and then there would be nothing they could do for me. So we started the tense and desperate wait for a kidney. I was adamant that I didn't want a kidney from anyone I knew. I would wait until an appropriate kidney became available, or I would literally die waiting. But Daniel had other plans. The time that he took me to my dialysis appointments, he did a little secret research on his own. Then he announced his intention to me. "Grandma, I'm giving you one of my kidneys. I'm young and I'm healthy ..." He paused. He could see I wasn't at all happy with his offer. He continued, almost in whisper, "And most of all, I couldn't stand it if you weren't around." His face wore an expression of appeal mixed with determination. He can be as stubborn as a mule once he decides on something -- but I've been told many times that I can out-stubborn any mule! We argued. I couldn't let him do it. We both knew that if he gave up his kidney, he would also give up his life's dream; to play football. It was all he ever talked about. And he was good, too. Daniel was co-captain and star defensive tackle of his high school team; he expected to apply for a football scholarship and was looking forward to playing college football. He just loved the sport. "How can I let you throw away the thing that means the most to you?" I pleaded with him. "Grandma," he said softly, "compared to your life, football means nothing to me." After that, I couldn't argue anymore. So we agreed to see if he was a good donor match, and then we'd discuss it further. When the tests came back, they showed Daniel was a perfect match. That was it. I knew I wasn't going to win that argument, so we scheduled the transplant. Both surgeries went smoothly. As soon as I came out of the anesthesia , I could tell things were different. I felt great! The nurses in the intensive care unit had to keep telling me to lie back and be quiet -- I wasn't supposed to be that lively! I was afraid to go to sleep, for fear I would break the spell and wake up the way I had been before. But the good feeling didn't go away, and I spent the evening joking and laughing with anyone who would listen. It was so wonderful to feel alive again. The next day they moved me out of ICU and onto the floor where Daniel was recuperating three doors away. His grandfather helped him walk down to see me as soon as I was moved into my room. When we saw each other, we did not know what to say. Holding hands, we just sat there and looked at each other for a long time, overwhelmed by the deep feeling of love that connected us. Finally, he spoke, "Was it worthwhile, grandma?" I laughed a little ruefully . "It was for me! But was it for you?" I asked him. He nodded and smiled at me. "I've got my grandma back." And I have my life back. It still amazes me. Every morning, when I wake up, I thank God --and Daniel -- for this miracle. A miracle born of the purest love. Grandma's diabetes brought about all the following EXCEPT that _ . A. her eyes and her kidneys were affected B. grandma became quite a different person C. Daniel had to be sent back to his father D. everything was thrown into confusion Answer: C Question: The freezing and thawing action of water affects a rock by A. transforming the rock into igneous rock. B. chemically changing the rock. C. gradually breaking down the rock into smaller pieces. D. leaving behind sedimentary particles from evaporated solutions. Answer: C Question: I'd had the piggy bank for a long time. So long, in fact, that I don't really remember getting it. My aunt once told me a whole story about it, in which it was passed down through the family for many, many years, only to come to me. I was pretty little at the time, so I believed her with no question. It made me think that the bank was important. It became some sort of sign of family and togetherness. I would imagine my mom and my grandmother and even my great grandmother before that, putting coins in the little white pig and waiting for them to fill it up, to be spent on some sort of treasure. And then, when I was fifteen, I broke it. I didn't mean to. I was cleaning my room in a hurry, so I could finish quickly and go to a friend's house. I swung the vacuum hose around too quickly, knocking the pig's shelf, and down it went. About a thousand pieces, and way fewer coins than I would have believed, flew everywhere. I started to cry. My mother came in at the sound of the crash. "I'm so, so sorry!" I cried. "I broke the bank! I broke the family bank!" "What, Sarah?" my mother asked, kneeling next to me on the floor. "The what?" "The bank! Aunt Tracy said it was in the family for years!" "What, this? We got it for you at a garage sale when you were two. It was fifty cents." Where did the bank come from? A. her grandmother B. Aunt Tracy C. a garage sale D. the mall Answer: C
Smoggy weather has become common in China. But these days, air pollution levels in the north eastern city of Harbin surpassed the previous record levels. The city was essentially shut down after PM2. 5, fine Particulate pollution that is considered hazardous . reached levels of 1000 micrograms per cubic meter-40 times the safety level remended by the World Health Organization. Schools, motorways and an airport were closed on Tuesday as visibility in some areas of the city dropped to less than 10 meters. Photos from Harbin showed residents covering their mouths with masks and scarves, and moving like ghostly shadows through the fog. Cars and motorcycles are moving slowly as traffic came to a standstill with traffic lights barely visible. . Just days previously , the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified air pollution as a carcinogen . It stated that there is " sufficient evidence" that exposure to outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer and also linked it with an increased risk of bladder cancer. It's said that exposure has increased significantly particularly in " rapidly industrial countries with large populations". "The air we breathe has become polluted with a mixture of cancer-causing substances" , Dr Kurt Straif , head of the IARC said in a press released. "We now know that outdoor air pollution is not only a major risk to health in general, but also a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths. " On the Chinese social media site Weibo , many users complained about the pollution and shared their concerns. References to "feed people with smog "have become popular on Weibo and there is a sarcastic play on the expression "serve the people" , as the two have a similar pronunciation. "The impact of air pollution on people will be gradual. There won't be a sudden outbreak of symptoms, but normally three to five days after the smoggy weather occurs, there is a peak in the number of people seeing doctors, " Deng Ying, a doctor at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University was quoted as saying. When exposed to outdoor air pollution, what kind of disease can be caused? Answer: Glynis I piled on the pounds and I couldn't lose them. Then I joined a slimming club. My target weight was 140 pounds and I lost 30 pounds in six months. I felt great and people kept saying how good I looked. But Christmas came and I started to slip back into my old eating habits. I told myself I'd lose the weight at slimming classes in the next year, but it didn't happen. Instead of losing the pounds, I put them on. I'd lost will power and tried to believe the saying that fish and chips didn't make any difference but the scales don't lie. Roz To be honest, I never weigh myself any more. I've leant to be happy with myself. It seemed to me that I would feel sorry about every spoonful of tasty food that passed my lips. My idea is simple. You shouldn't think too much about food and dieting. Instead, you should get on with life and stop dreaming of a super-thin body. This is obviously the size I'm meant to be and, most of all I'm happy with it. Lesley I was very happy about winning Young Slimmer of the Year. I'd look in the mirror, unable to believe this slim lady was me! That might have been my problem-perhaps from then on I didn't pay any attention to myself. Winning a national competition makes everything worse, though because you feel the eyes of the world are fixed upon you. I feel a complete failure because I've put on weight again. Ros Before moving in with my husband Gavin, I'd always been about 110 pounds, but the pleasant environment went straight to my waist and I put on 15 pounds in a year. Every so often I try to go on a diet. I always do well in the first few days, then end up having the children's leftovers or eating chocolate happily-my weakness. I'd like to be slim. I decided to take more exercise when my kids are older. Who doesn't seem to care about her weight? Answer: Jean Driscoll can go faster in her wheelchair than the world's best marathoners can run! In April, Jean finished the Boston Marathon in 1 hour 34 minutes 22 seconds. That's about 33 minutes faster than the winning male runner! She competed on the track, too. She was second in the 800 meter wheelchair race at the 1992 Olympics. Jean doesn't like to be told she's brave. "I'm in sports because I'm a competitive person!" Jean was born with spina befida , a birth illness that damages the spine . She began to use a wheelchair to get around in high school. Then she tried wheelchair race and was amazed." Players crashed into each other and fell out of their chairs," she says, "It was fun." Jean tried other wheelchair sports. At the University of Illinois, her wheelchair basketball team won two national titles. Now Jean _ and teaches. She tries to get people to set goals. "When I sign my autograph , says Jean, "I write, dream big and work hard." What is Jean's advice on how to succeed? Answer: World Future Society People People may live for up to 120 years and use new technology to help when people go blind, deaf and have other problems. The number of people over a hundred years old could go from 135,000 today to 2.2 million people by 2050. By 2015 people think that 100 million workers will be able to work from home for a company in a different country by using the Internet. Money Worldwide e-business will become even more successful with online shops that sell special products for each person, which will be brought to their house the next day. Environment The technology for making energy from wind and the Sun is growing very quickly. In the future wind and Sun energy could become much cheaper and many more countries could use it. This would be very useful in poor countries. The air in big cities would also become much cleaner and healthier as a result. Society and culture The Internet will help to create more worldwide friendships. Families may spend more time together as people will be able to do 24-hour online banking and shopping. Technology The new science of "nanotechnology" (very small robots or machines) will make all sorts of products smaller and lighter. Very, very small machines could take away rubbish, make things in factories, and help inside the human body by taking away fat. By 2012 people will be able to wear these small machines that look like watches, which will give them lots of information about their body and keep them healthy. How will people go shopping? Answer: 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/. If a tourist is interested in Chinese food, which place will impress him/her most? Answer:
Dropping butter into a boiling water would cause it to Answer: a typical rabbit diet includes Answer: Hello, Chicago. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy ,tonight is your answer. ...... I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $ 5 and $ 10 and $ 20 to the cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy , who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep. It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth. This is your victory. And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime--two wars, a planet in peril , the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. ...... The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there. We can see from the passage that the speaker is a (an) _ person. Answer: Are Sports Important? Sports are all around us. We watch and read sports news. There are also sports clubs, and even sports-only channels on TV. In many countries, players make millions of dollars every year. But why are sports so important? They're only games, right? Our readers answer: Vlad (Ukraine) Sports bring people together. In 2006, our team was able to play in the 2006 World Cup for the first time. Everyone was happy. Rich and poor, old and young, men and women--everyone was in the streets together! Mike (U.S.A.) Sports bring people together, but they divide them too. Fans of different teams fight all the Time -they shout and hit each other. And here's another example: My brother plays high school baseball.Last week, his team played an important game. At the game, two parents fought about a call . Come on ... baseball is only a game! Sports are so competitive these days. It's all about winning. Then the game isn't fun. Oba (South Africa) Right now, some of the world's best soccer players are from African countries, and the 2010 World Cup games will be held in South Africa. Yes, some players make a lot of money--maybe too much, but sporting events (like the World Cup) bring tourists and money to countries and people. And that is good for Africa. What's the idea of Vlad to the sports? Answer: In today's world, we rely on computers as never before.They are used for everything from ordering a pizza to running hospitals and military defense systems.Banking and credit card information is stored and accessed by computers.So what happens when a computer gets infected with a virus? One effect is that people's access to their e-mail accounts is cut off.A more serious possible consequence is that billions of dollars could be lost. A virus is a computer program that copies itself onto other programs and infects them. Similar to an easily spread disease, a computer virus goes from computer to computer, either adding to or changing the tasks a program is designed to do. The first computer viruses were created in the mid '80s and had varying effects.Some caused files to be deleted, or made the letters on the screen appear to fall off.Others displayed a specific message once the computer was turned on. Viruses today are much more widespread and dangerous than ever before.Perhaps the most damaging to date has been the "I Love You" virus."I Love You" appeared in May 2000 and has possibly been the most destructive virus in terms of monetary loss. The virus is released when an attachment to a fake e-mail message is opened.By changing the names of files on computers, "I Love You" makes them difficult to access.It also searches for important personal information, including passwords, which it sends to a web site for others to see. It is estimated that more than 45 million people in 20 countries have had their computers infected by the "I Love You" virus.Some say the cost of repair and lost business has been more than US$10 billion. If you own a computer, it is important to keep it in good health by installing an anti-virus program.If updated frequently, it will protect your e-mail access-not to mention your wallet. What is the purpose of the article? Answer:
Gold Coast theme parks come in all shapes and sizes and whether you like roller coasters or patting furry animals, you're sure to find something. Movie World Movie World is the only movie-related theme park in Australia. With one of the best coasts and a good handful of movie-related rides, you'll experience a fun-filled adventure with the glamour of Hollywood. Get "behind the scenes" movie information and stunt shows to keep the whole family entertained for the best part of a day. Contact Information: Phone: 07--5573--8485 Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford, Queensland 4210 Website: www. movieworld.com.au Sea World With an obvious emphasis on things that live in the water, Sea World has a fantastic range of fish, sharks, dolphins, seals, polar bears and other assorted animals in the water. Throw in a bunch of great rides, water slides and roller coasters, and Sea World emerges as perhaps the best all-round theme park on the Gold Coast. Contact information: Phone: 07--5588--2222 Address: Sea World Drive, Main Beach, Queensland 42 Website: www. seaworld. com.au Tropical Fruit World Home of the world's largest varieties of bizarre, and wonderful fruits, or you can pay to check out the plantation safaris , mini-train rides, jungle cruises and fruit tasting shows. Admission is about $32 for adults and %15 for kids and free for kids under 5.anbah Road, Duran Contact Information: Phone: 02--6677--7222 Address: Duranbah Road, Duranbah, NSW 2487 Website: www. tropicalfruitworld. com. au Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Crocodiles, kangaroos, koala and almost all of the other famous Australian native animals are living in Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. You can look at them, feel and pat some of them or just experience the fantastic 27 hectare bush land setting--an oasis of wildlife amidst the Gold Coast bustle. Contact Information: Phone: 07--5534--1266 Address: 28 Tomewin Street Currumbin, Queensland 4223 Website: www. currumbin. sanctuary. org. au If you go to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, you can _ . People in the United States honor their parents with two special days:Mother's Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father's Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child care. These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother's Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery .On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father's Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories. Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is "the thought that counts". Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays. On Mother's Day and Father's Day, _ . The US government has started a website, Admongo, to help children think critically about the advertising aimed at them. It claims to provide visitors with an "education" through games and other amusement. A cartoon man dressed in old time pilot clothing greets visitors to Admongo. "Call me Haiz", he says upon arrival in a rocket ship that opens up with a crazy world inside it. Spacey dance music plays in the background as Haiz tells visitors that they need to learn about advertising. Its inventors say eight to twelve years old is the age kids develop their critical thinking abilities. Kids that age are also a big market for advertisers. The idea behind Admongo is to teach children three things: To _ the advertiser. To know what the advertiser is really saying. And to know what the advertisement is trying to get the child to do. Children learn these things through a video game. They create their own game character. They can choose different skin colors, hair styles, eye and mouth shapes. Then they begin a trip through ad-land, where there are ads on buses and billboards. The players have to find all the marketing in the neighborhood before they can move on to the next level. The Admongo game takes players inside a home, to the advertising studio and everywhere else ads can be found. It is a complete exploration of the world of marketing. One such area is food marketing. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says it is a big business. The FTC estimates that food, drink and fast-food restaurants spent more than one and a half billion dollars on advertising to young people in 2010. The FTC says children are important for three reasons. They buy products. They influence parents and caregivers to buy. And they are the future adult buyers of the products. A recent study says most advertising aimed at children is for foods of the lowest nutritional value. First Lady Michelle Obama has said she would like to see advertisers marketing healthy foods for children. Why did the government start the website? Forests have always been useful and important to man who makes use of them in many ways. Every day trees are serving man everywhere. Trees supply man with fruits and building materials in the form of wood. Without trees it would be impossible to build houses, boats, bridges and so on. Furniture such as desks, chairs and beds is made of wood. Trees can stop man from terrible heat. They're also useful in preventing good and rich top soil from being washed away during heavy rains. If there were no trees, heavy rains would wash away the rich top soil that is so important to plants. The result is that the land will become a desert. There are plenty of desert areas in the world. A long time ago these desert areas used to be very rich areas, but man in the past had no enough knowledge about science of nature, they cut down too many trees in the area where they lived and never planted new ones. By and by the rich top soil was blown and washed away by strong winds and heavy rains. In the end the rich land changed into useless deserts where nothing could grow. From the passage, we know that man must _ . No matter how well you understand a foreign language, misunderstanding still exists between native speakers and you. Here is such an example. Three young Frenchmen were travelling in Britain. Though they had taken a few English lessons before their holiday, they were often in trouble because of their misunderstanding of English. One day they talked about their misfortunes together. The first Frenchman said, "I once heard someone shout 'Look out', I put my head out of a window and a bucket of water fell on me." The second Frenchman said, "I was once in a ship and heard the captain shouted, 'All hands on decks ' I put my hands on the deck and someone walked on them." The third Frenchman said, "I once called early on an English friend and the maid who came to the door said, 'He's not up yet' When I went again for him, she said, 'He's not down yet'. I said, 'If he's not up and he's not down, where is he?' She said, 'He's still upstairs now. When I told you he was not up I meant he had not got up yet, so he has not come downstairs by now' " The sentence "All hands on decks" may mean _ .
If a bird is avoiding detection by a cat simply by sitting still, it probably is also utilizing A eruptions B merging with background C flames D blending paint Answer: B Jack White's house is near the river. Every morning, Mr White goes to work, and the children go to school. Their father takes them to school in his car every day. Mrs White stays at home. Every day, she does the housework. She often has lunch at 12:00. In the afternoon she often sees her friends. They often drink tea together . In the evening, the children come home from school. They get home early. But Mr White comes from work late. At night, the children often do their homework. Then they go to bed. Mr White often reads books and sometimes he watches TV with Mrs White. Mr White often _ in the evening. A reads books B does housework C drinks tea D watches TV Answer: A The red phone box in Britain is a perfect example of the British traditional culture. However, with the fast development of mobile phones, it has lost its place in people's everyday life. In order to save their loved red phone boxes, people have come up with many ideas, for example, to turn them into toilets or art houses. In a village in Somerset, a place in South West England, villagers have found a new way to save their red phone box. They turned it into a mini library to deal with the shortage of libraries in their area. The idea was given by a local villager, Janet Fisher, who lives opposite the phone box. Villagers got together to set up the book box. Over 100 books and a lot of movies and music CDs are available at this mini library. The books are of different kinds, including from cooking books to the classics and children's books. People can put the books that they have read inside the phone box, and take away the books that they'd like to read. The books are always changing. There is a regular check on the books to keep the phone box collection fresh. Anyone is free to come to read books there. The phone box library is open every day around the clock and is lit (the past form of "light") at night. " It's very pleasing that the red phone box has been saved. More importantly, it can continue providing a service for us," said one of the villagers. People in Somerset turned the red phone box into a mini library to _ . A make it like the new one B help solve the shortage of library service C provide a place to exchange ideas D make the collection of the local library larger Answer: B What do you think the future will be like? Here are some answers from some students. Mary: If we don't take good care of the earth now, our children and grandchildren will be born into a world with much pollution . There will be fewer trees and more buildings, because there will be more people. Jack: I agree with Mary. Things will be worse . The weather in the future will be much hotter. Humans won't be able to live on the earth. They will have to look for another planet to live on. Linda: I think the life in the future will be better. Most people in the world will use "green cars" by 2020, so there will be less pollution and people will live to be 200 years old. As for space travel, I would say, we will visit Mars in about fifty years. They are talking about _ . A pollution B weather in the future C life in the future D Mars in about fifty years Answer: C Long long ago, a God called Ratu lived in the sky. Ratu liked to play games and make people angry. The game he liked best was to fly down into the sea and frighten all the fishes. The fishes became very tired of his game. They asked Hemi, the God of the sea, to help them. So Hemi tried to catch Ratu the next time he flew into the sea, but he was too slow. Ratu laughed at Hemi as he flew past him. This made Hemi angry and he had an idea. He asked the fishes to bring him a lot of seaweed. Hemi tied it all together and made a large net from it. Soon Ratu flew down and Hemi threw the net over him. Ratu fought and fought but could not get free. He was caught. Ratu promised never to frighten fishes again if Hemi would set him free. But Hemi did not believe him. Instead, he changed Ratu into a mountain in the sea. Ratu was so angry that when he opened his mouth to shout at Hemi, fire and smoke broke out. And that is why the Island of Ratu is a volcano . The key meaning of this story is _ . A how volcanoes are born B why the Island of Ratu is a volcano C how Ratu was beaten D why some gods are good and some are bad Answer: B
Are you looking for a summer reading list for your child or teen? Keep your child reading all summer with this selection of 2012 summer reading lists. Books for primary school students Kenneth Cadow: Alfie Runs Away When his mother wants to give away his favorite shoes just because they're too small, Alfie decides he's had enough. Kate Feiffer: My Side of the Car It might be raining on Dad's side of the car, but imaginative Sadie argues that it is not raining on her side, so their trip to the zoo doesn't need to be put off. Books for high school students Flinn: Beastly A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the Beast, a proud Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return. Lord: A Night to Remember A description of the sinking of the " Titanic". a reputedly unsinkable ship that went down in the Atlantic on April 10, 1912 after hitting an iceberg, resulting in the deaths of over l, 500 people. Books for high school students Mark Twain: Huckleberry Finn It's Mark Twain's classic story about a young man and his slave Jim. They travel upriver to escape slavery and in the process Huck discovers what it J11cans to be a man. It teaches us about the value of friendship and sacrifice. Charles Dickens: Great Expectations It is about a young man named Pip who inherits ( ) a great deal of wealth from an unknown source.The money quickly moves him up the scale in London.however, at the same time it also teaches him about the dangers of ambition. Which of the following books is about a terrible disaster? A. My Side of the Car. B. Huckleberry Finn. C. Great Expectations. D. A Night to Remember. Answer: D With a PS4 million ITV contract in her pocket and an engagement to her England footballer boyfriend, it's been a good year for Christine Bleakley.Perhaps it's no wonder, as the TV presenter is 31, the age at which women are the most attractive, according to a survey. While the average British woman of 31 may be married with a child, the survey noted they are at a wonderful age because they have not only youthful beauty but also more confidence and a better sense of style than flesh-faced teenagers. Some 70 percent of more than 2,000 men and women surveyed considered confidence as a key factor in making a woman attractive, ahead of the 67 percent who included physical beauty and 47 percent who looked for a sense of style.Almost two thirds of the women agreed with the opinion "With age, comes beauty", and over half said that as they age they do away with their insecurities and feel more beautiful, while 55 percent felt they knew the best make-up to wear. Self-confidence varied widely across the country in the survey: London women emerged as the most confident about their looks, with 37 percent describing themselves as beautiful, compared with just 28 percent of Welsh women.Meanwhile, East Midlands women spend the most on beauty programs --PS129.69 monthly--compared with a national average of PS105.50. The research was carried on for TV shopping channel QVC to mark the launch of its "Beauty Month".QVC marketing director Sue Leeson said: "This research shows what many have always suspected -- real beauty is about more than just good looks but a combination of confidence, style and personality, too." Which of the following doesn't have much to do with a woman's beauty? A. Being famous and independent. B. Having self-confidence. C. Looking young and stylish. D. Wearing proper make-up. Answer: A I have an American friend.Her name is Lily.This is a picture of her new school.Look! There are six floors in the teaching building.There are fifteen classrooms on every floor.In the school,there are 3,200 students and 300 teachers.The teachers' offices are behind the classrooms.The dining hall is next to the teaching building.Lily often has lunch there.After lunch she often has a talk with her friends.In front of the dining hall is a library.It's a good place to read books. Lily gets to school at 7:40 a.m.The first class begins at 8:00 a.m.She has four lessons in the morning and two in the afternoon.There is a big gym behind the dining hall.After school,Lily likes going swimming there. The school is big and nice,and Lily likes it very much. Where is the school library? A. It's behind the classrooms. B. It's next to the offices. C. It's in front of the dining hall. D. It's behind the dining hall. Answer: C More students than ever before are taking a gap-year before going to university. It used to be called the "year off" between school and university. The gap-year phenomenon originated with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year. This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. "Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible," he said. But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students(NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship -young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. "New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university with up to PS15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacation periods," he said. What do we learn about the gap year from the text? A. It is flexible in length. B. It is a time for relaxation. C. It is increasingly popular. D. It is required by universities. Answer: C Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and one of the richest people in the world, is now making efforts to reinvent the toilet. Gates has donated a big part of his wealth to charity. Now his charitable organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is looking for future toilets that can improve the living conditions of millions of people. The flush toilet we use today was invented in 1775. While it works well in getting rid of our waste, it also uses a lot of water and needs a costly sewage system . Besides, it's not necessarily practical for the developing world. In some developing countries, lack of toilets leads to poor hygiene ,and _ could kill people. According to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million children under the age of five die each year because of hygiene problems. Last year, the Gates Foundation gave money to eight universities around the world and asked them to start inventing the toilet of tomorrow: a toilet that uses little or no water is cheap and easy to fix, and is safe and hygienic. At the " Reinvent the Toilet Fair " competition recently held in Seattle, twenty-eight designs were displayed. The winners, from the California Institute of Technology , were awarded a $ 100,000 prize by the Gates Foundation. "We couldn't be happier with the response that we've gotten," Bill Gates said at the event. Many of the new designs would not only greatly improve hygiene in the developing world, but also help change the dependence on traditional flush toilets in developed nations, he said. How many designs were displayed at the "Reinvent the Toilet Fair"? A. Eight. B. Eighty. C. Eighteen. D. Twenty-eight. Answer: D
Question: We know music is very important in our daily life. Today most stores, stations, restaurants and other places play music. Do you notice music playing at any of these places when you go somewhere? You might even hear music in an office or on a farm. Scientists believe that music influences the way people behave. They think that the sound of western classical music makes people feel richer. When a restaurant plays classical music, people spend more money on food and drinks. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend less money. Without music, people spend even less. Scientists also believe that loud, fast music makes people eat faster. Some restaurants play fast music during meal time. This makes people eat faster and leave quickly. Restaurants can make more money in this way. Some scientists think that music makes you think and learn better. They say that music helps students to be more active. It is true that people learn better when they are relaxed. And listening to music can help you relax. Next time you hear music somewhere, be careful. It might influence the way you do things. Which type of music below can make people work faster? A. Light music. B. Rock music. C. Sweet music. D. Soft music. Answer: B Question: Old Cremona Violins Most musicians agree that the best violins were first made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any others. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the Italian violins. But they aren't the same. Musicians still prefer the old ones. Some people think it is the age of the violins. But not all old violins sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special . So age cannot be the answer. Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood must be from certain kinds of trees. But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape . The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians. Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood. Size and shape may not be the answer, either. Scientists can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish. Varnish is what covers the wood of the violin. It makes the wood look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish. Other people think the Italian violin makers _ . A. did not know much about violins B. were lucky C. used many kinds of wood D. knew something special Answer: D Question: According to a world heritage education programme jointly launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and China's Ministry of Education, the course will first be offered at several school in Beijing before being included as a mandatory course for high school students nationwide. The new course covers photos, slide shows and documentaries on the magnificence of the world heritage sites. The class aims to tell children what world heritage is and why and how it should be protected. A total of 177 nations, including China, have signed the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Listed are 754 sites all over the world, of which 29 are in China--the third most after Spain and Italy. Currently, protection of the country's cultural and natural resources leaves much to be desired. Education is undoubtedly the best way to _ people's sense for protecting cultural and natural resources. The introduction of such a programme in Chinese classrooms will certainly help our young people realize the significance of common heritage, learning about world heritage sites, the history and traditions of different cultures, ecology, and the importance of protecting biological and cultural diversity. More importantly, it will help cultivate a sense of responsibility in the minds of young participants. This is critical in protecting these cultural and natural legacies, as well as our living environment and the limited resources for sustainable development. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage? A. The world heritage education programme was jointly launched by the United States and China's Ministry of Education. B. The course will first be offered at all the schools in Beijing. C. Protection of the country's cultural and natural resources has been perfect thanks to people's efforts. D. China ranks high among the countries with 29 sites listed on the list. Answer: D Question: Bedfordshire had its fair share of royal visits from the early stages of the 10th Century onwards and the importance that the county placed on this is evident in the monuments, country houses, churches and any number of other structures that are still present there to this day. Bedford Castle is one of those structures and, although it is nowhere near its former glory today, it is an essential attraction to visit if you really want to grasp what its heritage means to the county! Bedford Castle was built _ as a fortress to help protect Bedfordshire on the south of the River Ouse after the people in the local towns and villages had already been subdued. It was erected in 919 on the orders of King Edward the Elder, although it was destroyed by a Danish invasion years later. This was when it was rebuilt as the castle, of which the ruins exist today! There is a long history behind the castle that involves several kings as a result of the Duke of Bedford being an ardent royalist. Bedford Castle repeatedly offered the kings of England refuge against various storms in the form of onslaughts from abroad and various domestic threats against them, and this is where much of its fame lies, even though the castle itself is no longer there. There are various tours of the ruins that you can take when you visit though and all of the guides are extremely knowledgeable. They will happily tell you tales of the mound and the castle that preceded it. The mound is open to the public all year round and is a proud part of the area's heritage. It is recommended by the majority of people that visit Bedfordshire because it tells you much about why the county is currently how it is. You can view the river from the mound and the surrounding settlements as well as the remains of the castle, and every moment spent there is worth it so enjoy the history and the very nature of the county itself! Why are visitors recommended to visit Bedfordshire? A. It is the major heritage in that region B. It reflects the history of Bedfordshire C. The ancient castle is well worth visiting D. The castle is still in good condition Answer: B Question: People joke that the so-called travel is to leave one's familiar places and visit others' familiar places, which refers to the phenomenon of taking travel as sightseeing in different places. In fact, going travel does not simply mean pursuing fashion or widening vision. It is a kind of social experience and dynamic learning. Furthermore, it is a process of expanding cognition and understanding society and life, and especially has advantages and charm in increasing knowledge and widening vision. The ancient people not only mentioned "traveling a thousand miles" and "reading a thousand books" together but also regarded them as the necessary course of perfecting personality and making progress. Going travel can widen the life path and give it new social meanings and spirits of the time, making it socialized, popular, industrialized and fashionable. Under these circumstances, special efforts should be made to bring culture back to tourism and have culture conveyed in tourism. By doing so, the soul of tourism will be helpful for people to learn and think. In this way, tourists can combine relaxations and joys with learning and thinking, and improve their minds while visiting historic relics. Once tourism departs from culture, it will be stuck in vulgarity and shallowness, and make it difficult to develop tourism. Some tourist cities and spots are so commercialized that people are put in no mood for the enjoyment of cultural and historic flavors of ancient buildings. Furthermore, in some places, historic and natural relics are decreasing, while more and more artificial scenes and antiques block the view of real scenes and mislead people with false information and historic relics. Culture is the core of tourism. Taking back the culture as the soul provides the right way for the development of tourism, and the build-up of spiritual home and social civilization. The ancient people mentioned "traveling a thousand miles" and "reading a thousand books" together meaning that _ . A. travel means more than going sightseeing B. travel is as important as reading C. reading books is helpful for travel D. reading books can take the place of travel Answer: A
Question: We often talk about the weather. If we want to know about the weather. We can turn on the radio and listen to the weather report . We can also turn on the TV and watch the Weather Show. And we can ask other people in two different ways, "What's the weather like today?" or "How is the weather today?" Sometimes you can call at 121 for the weather. When it's cold, we _ and need to wear warm clothes and scarves. When it's raining, we need raincoats or umbrellas. When it's hot, we need a cool place and want a cold drink. Telephone 121 is for _ . A. seeing a doctor B. fire C. weather D. food Answer: C Question: In most parts of the world there are four seasons. They are spring, summer, fall and winter. In different seasons people wear different clothes and do different things. For example, in summer the weather is hot, so people usually wear cool clothes and do things like swimming, boating or surfing . But near the polar regions , there are only two seasons: winter and summer. In winter, nights are long. For more than two months you can't see the sun. In summer, days are long and the sun is always in the sky. There are no nights. The people living near the North Pole are called Inuit . In summer they live in tents and catch deer for food. In winter they live in small round snow houses. They can build a snow house. They make holes in the ice and catch fish and seals . They eat much meat but not many vegetables. How many seasons are there in most parts of the world? A. Two. B. Three. C. One. D. Four. Answer: D Question: Do you dream of changing the world with your words? Or maybe you just want to be able to express your thoughts and ideas more clearly. Anyway, it's more important for us to write correctly and properly. Then how to improve your English writing skills? www.ks5u.com Get the most out of your dictionary by understanding how to use it correctly. You can use a good English dictionary to find words, for meaning, for pronunciation, to check your spelling and to understand explanations. If you are using a computer, use an English spell checker (but don't rely on it). Copy short passages of English text from newspapers, magazines or books. Try dictation exercises. You can do this online or get friends to read out text for you to write. Then check your writing-pay more attention to spelling. There are many forums on the Internet. Find one about your interests or hobbies. Observe the niceties of forum use, and make an apology if you think you have made any mistakes. Be careful about using abbreviations when writing on forums. They are fun and quick but can also make you pick some bad habits. Use a blog to create a diary about your life. Write it in English and if you have a thick skin, ask for feedback . Remember blogs are not private, so do not write anything there that you do not want the whole world to read. I advise http://www.blogger.com, which is free and very easy to use. Check what you've written. Even better, get someone else to read what you've written ahead of time. Try to find pen friends who are native English speakers. Write to them, use a messenger service like MSN, Yahoo, Google or find a chat-room. If you can't get in touch with native speakers then contact other learners. Which of the following does the author agree with? A. You can do dictation exercises online. B. You mustn't make mistakes in the forums. C. You should show your real life words on blogs. D. Your friends should show your real life words on blogs. Answer: A Question: One day Tom was playing with his younger brother Paul beside the well near their home. Suddenly Tom fell down the well. Paul was frightened. Their parents were not at home. Their father was working in the factory and their mother was helping a neighbor. Tom called his younger brother, Paul. Paul looked at the bottom of the well and saw his brother standing in the water of the well. Tom was five feet tall and the water was only three feet deep. Paul was glad to see his brother safe in the well. Then he ran home and brought a long rope. He was only six and not very strong, so he could not pull Tom out. He was thinking hard and finally had a good idea. He tied one end of the rope to a tree and threw the other end to his brother in the well. Then Tom climbed up the rope and got out of the well. He thanked his brother first and went home to exchange his wet clothes. Tom fell down _ . A. a well near his home B. a well in the factory C. a river beside a neighbor D. a river near the factory Answer: A Question: You can't hide a natural disaster from children, so how do we prepare them for it? First of all, you should explain to them that acts of nature aren't necessarily disasters but can become one. These may include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, wild fires, and earthquakes. The way to prepare children for these disasters is to educate them about what each type is and then make it fun by making them "Disaster Masters" or whatever title you can think of. Making them a Disaster Master won't be easy. They must know what's in a disaster emergency kit and why it's included. You can get your friends involved, too. If your friends have children, they may want to be involved in your emergency preparations. Make it a group project. This is the opportunity for everyone to become familiar with the equipment. We have to be aware of our conduct and the way we react to stress. The children will be easily influenced by your attitude and _ . The calmness, steady manner, and good humor of your spouse and you will go a long way toward the easing or the reduction of stress. Explain to them what they're likely to encounter or see and describe how people may react. Disasters can come and go very quickly and generally don't last long. If you must stay away from home, try to get into a routine quickly and encourage them to make new friends. Let them know they can look to their parents and other adults if they become scared or confused. And it's important to let them know it's OK to cry during a disaster. It's sometimes helpful to let the children draw pictures of what they've experienced. Encourage them to write what they learned and what could have been done better. Save the story. Make it part of a documented family history! When they meet with a natural disaster, children _ . A. must write down what they see and how they feel B. should believe that the disaster will never last long C. can cry if they are frightened D. should help other children despite the danger Answer: C
Sitting for more than three hours a day can decrease a person's life expectancy by two years, even if her or she is physically active and gets rid of dangerous habit like smoking ,according to a study. Watching TV for more than two hours a day can worsen that problem, decreasing life expectancy by another 1.4 years. The analysis comes just two years after Australian researchers found that people who said they watched TV for more than four hours a day were 46% more likely to die of any cause than people who said they spent less than two hours a day watching TV. Those watching TV more than four hours a day were also 80% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease. "Long-sitting behavior is something we need to take note of beyond telling people to get 30 minutes of activity a day ," said Peter T. Katzmarzyk, one of the lead researchers. But while the evidence of illnesses is increasing, it remains difficult for many people to find time to get on their feet, especially if they do desk jobs. "Try to stand as much as you can," Dr Katzmarzyk said. "Typically when you are on the telephone you can stand and use the speakerphone. Instead of e-mailing someone in the office, just get up and so to talk to them." However , Dr Katzmarzyk added, standing shouldn't be alternative to exercising, but an alternative to sitting . "Several studies show that when you're sitting , your leg muscles are completely inactive," he said . "When you're sitting and completely inactive, this is when you run into trouble managing blood sugar." The researchers draw the conclusion of the effect of long-sitting behavior by _ . Answer: making comparisons Countless people long to make a difference this holiday season, yet they don't realize that opportunities to make a difference are everywhere .Here are some ideas to get you started. Organize a blank drive It is cold outside, but imagine how thousands of homeless people may feel without a home of their own, or even a blanket to keep them from the cold. Organize a blank drive for your local homeless, and ask around for donations! Practice random acts of kindness I'll never forget the time when I went to pay for my Dr. Pepper, but the sever resisted, saying my bill was paid by an anonymous guest. It's this random act of kindness that restores my faith in humanity. Bless someone by paying for their drink at Starbucks, or praising them! If you live somewhere where it snows, shovel your neighbour's snow out of their driveway for them! Whether it is as simple as praise or as complex as paying the bill, you'll never know how far your impact will reach. Say thank you Just a simple thank-you can _ , especially if they feel like their work is never noticed. Cultivate a smile on their face by being sincere and grateful for all that they do. Use your talents to help the community The best way to show your appreciation for people is by using the talents and skills you have to bless others. For me, I love to coordinate events and write , and so my way of reaching out to the community is through writing articles and creating awareness about problems we face today. If you can bake, make some delicious cookies for people to enjoy! If you can knit, put your talents to use by making clothes for children in foster care. Any talent can be used to help the community in meaningful ways. Wish you a happy, healthy and helpful holiday season. How did the author restore his faith in humanity? Answer: He got help from others India is an ancient civilization with rich cultural heritage , and its cultural heritage has something to do with all major religions of the world. Here we take a look at some of the top heritage destinations in India. Sun Temple, Konark As the name suggests this temple is all about the power of the sun God. A huge chariot drawn by seven horses and twelve pairs of wheels reflect the importance which ancient people placed on the power of the sun. The pictures of animals and humans give this place a special look. Churches Goa Goa is the only Indian state which was under the Portuguese , so the scene in Goa is dotted with Portuguese style churches. Some of the famous churches include the church of Saint Catherine, church of Saint Augustine and church of saint Francis of Assisi. These churches exhibit beautiful paintings and flower designs which make them a must visit. Ajanta and Ellora Caves These caves contain well designed paintings which are widely regarded as the most outstanding works of Buddhist religious art. Taj Mahal, Agra Built on the bank of the Yamuna River, it is an excellent building. The writing and paintings on the outside structure provide the finest examples of the outstanding style of buildings. Sanchi Sanchi is a UNESCO world heritage site with numerous Buddhist temples dating back to the seventh and eighth centuries. On your visit to India, be sure to visit some of these heritage destinations. An Indian journey is not wonderful without experiencing the beauty of these heritage destinations. The ancient people in India attached importance to _ . Answer: the sun's power If you have ever been rock climbing, you will know that it is not a very easy sport. In fact, you probably felt quite defeated when you first tried to do any serious climbing. Indoor and outdoor rock climbing are both extremely demanding and require practice to get good at. It is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports. There are three basic types of rock climbing. Top roping is the most common type and the climber need to climb with a partner. The second type, which is very similar to top roping, is called lead climbing. In both of the types, the climber can sit off the wall and rest on the rope. The third type is called bouldering. Bouldering is a type of free climbing without any ropes. This is the most demanding of all climbing types. The climber must be able to complete the climbing without taking a rest on the rope. Believe it or not, climbing is said to be about 75% legs and only 25% arms. To climb efficiently and successfully, a person needs to have a wonderful technique. One of the major rules of rock climbing is to always have three points touching the wall, whether it is both feet and one hand, or one foot and both hands, as it is much easier to have your weight cases will not do the climbing; they only hold you into the wall so that your legs are actually pushing you upward. Also, the closer you are to the wall, the easier it is to climb. Rock climbing may sound a bit too extreme for the everyday person, but it is really an amazing workout. Once you get into the sport, and learn how to position your body and rest your weight, then you can begin to deal with some difficult problems. The great thing about rock climbing is that it is mentally challenging as well. You are constantly analyzing the way your body moves and how to do certain moves on the wall. For anyone who wants to get into shape, rock climbing is a fun and effective way to exercise muscles. What does the author think of rock climbing? Answer: It is challenging. A staycation is a vacation when you do not travel at all. Some people use a staycation to just stay at home, and others prefer to experience the attractions around them without traveling very far. There are many choices for staycations. Any town or city has plenty of choices for things to do if you know where to look. If the weather is nice, you can visit the local gardens or forests for a hike. You can look online for several historic places and create your own history tours. Of course, you can also visit other attractions in the areas like museums, restaurants, bars, parks, beaches, and so on. Often, if you drive just a few hours, you can find a city that you can walk around and see. Then by driving home you can save the cost of a hotel and a plane ride. Others take the term "staycation" word for word and do not leave their houses at all. Some choices for this can include taking time off to cook a great meal and enjoy it together or spending all day at a pool. Just as a coin has two sides, staycation has its advantages as well as disadvantages. Since you are not traveling or staying in a hotel, a staycation can be unbelievably costeffective . You don't have to pay for a hotel, so that cost has been completely _ . You are also saving by not driving very far and by not taking an airplane anywhere. Travel costs have become really high, and the farther you go, the higher they are. By staying close to home, you cut that cost by quite a bit. You are also pushing money back into your local economy by spending your money at local businesses rather than in cities that are far away from home. Finally, any stress that you feel with travel, whether that is from driving long distances or looking for an airport, will completely disappear. What is one of the advantages of a staycation? Answer: There is no stress from traveling.
Miller is tried for armed robbery of the First Bank of City.On cross-examination of Miller, the prosecutor asks Miller whether he was convicted the previous year of tax fraud. This question is A. proper to show that Miller is inclined to lie. B. proper to show that Miller is inclined to steal money. C. improper, because the conviction has insufficient similarity to the crime charged. D. improper, because the probative value of the evidence is outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice Answer: A Once upon a time, there was a cowgirl named Clementine. Orange was her favorite color. Her favorite food was the strawberry. She really liked her Blackberry phone, which allowed her to call her friends and family when out on the range. One day Clementine thought she needed a new pair of boots, so she went to the mall. Before Clementine went inside the mall, she smoked a cigarette. Then she got a new pair of boots. She couldn't choose between brown and red. Finally she chose red, which the seller really liked. Once she got home, she found that her red boots didn't match her blue cowgirl clothes, so she knew she needed to return them. She traded them for a brown pair. While she was there, she also bought a pretzel from Auntie Anne's. What did the cowgirl do before buying new boots? A. She ate an orange B. She ate a strawberry C. She called her friend D. She smoked a cigarette Answer: D An explosion( ) from a factory in Kunshan killed at least 69 people and more than 120 people got hurt. China had its worst accident in industry on a Saturday in 2014. The accident happened in Kunshan city, Jiangsu Province in China. And the explosion was from Zhongrong Metal Products Company, who makes car wheels for the U.S. The Kunshan government told us 264 workers were there when the explosion happened and 44 died at once. "We heard a really loud explosion at about 7 a.m. this morning, so we rushed out of our rooms, " said Zhou Xu, a 26-year-old worker at that company. Another worker said, "First the ambulance came and then many wives rushed to the factory to see if their husbands were okay." Now, Shanghai government is sending doctors to Kunshan to save the wounded. And the doctor said the number of the dead may increase. Chinese government is looking into the cause of the disaster. And President Xi also paid special attention to it. He said, " Those who are found responsible must be punished." Where did this accident happen? A. Kunshan city in Jiangsu province. B. Kunshan city in Hunan province. C. Shanghai city in China. D. Kunshan in Shanghai city. Answer: A According to the recent survey , only forty percent of children in our school feel happy, Why? Do you know what "happiness" means? A lot of money? No homework every day? High marks or anything else? In fact , happiness is always around you put your heart into it. When you are in trouble at school, you r friends will help you; When you study hard at your lessons, your parents are always taking good care of your life and your health; When you get success, your friends will say congratulations to you; When you do something wrong, people around you will help you to collect it; When you do something good to others, you will feel happy ,too. All these are happiness. If you notice a bit of them, you can see that happiness is always around you. All these can't be bought with money. It's a feeling of your heart. When you come across difficulties, you can say loudly you are very happy, because you have more chances to challenge yourself. As the saying goes , lift is a revolving door. When it closes, it also opens. If you take every chance you get, you can be a happy and lucky person. When you fail in the exam, both your teacher and your classmates will _ to make you happy. A. laugh at you B. play jokes on you C. help you D. quarrel with you Answer: C Your genetic makeup plays a big part in determining your size and weight. If both your parents are tall, there is a good chance you'll be tall. But if your parents are smaller than average, you may want to rethink that professional basketball career! The same goes for your body type. Have you ever heard someone say a person is "big boned?" It's a way of saying the person has a large frame, or skeleton . Big bones usually weigh more than small bones. That's why it's possible for two kids with the same height, but different weight, to both the right weight. Being overweight can run in someone's family, but it may not be because of their genes. Poor eating and exercise habits also run in families and these may be the reasons the members of a family are overweight. And even though some kids gain weight more easily than others, when they eat right and exercise, most kids can have a healthy weight that's right for them. It's true- the way you live can change the way you look. How much your weight is a balance between the calories you eat and the calories you use. If you eat more calories than your body needs to use, you will gain too much weight. If you spend you free time watching TV, your body won't use as many calories as it would if you played basketball, skated, or went for a walk. But if you eat more and exercise less, you may become overweight. On the other hand, if you eat less and exercise more, you may lose weight. If two kids are of the same height _ . A. they must have large frames. B. they must be of the same size C. they must be of the same weight D. their weight might be different Answer: D
The Man of Many Secrets Harry Houdini was one of the greatest American entertainers in the theater this century.He was a man famous for his escapes--from prison cells,from wooden boxes floating in rivers,from locked tanks full of water.He appeared in theaters all over Europe and America.Crowds came to see the great Houdini and his "magic"tricks. 0f course,his secret was not magic,or supernatural powers.It was simply strength.He had ability to move his toes as well as to move his fingers.He could move his body into almost any position he wanted. Houdini started working in the entertainment world when he was 17,in 1891.He and his brother Theo performed card tricks in a New York club.They called themselves the Houdini brothers.When Harry married in 1894,he and his wife Bess worked together as magician and assistant,but for a long time they were not successful.Then Harty performed his first prison escape,in Chicago in 1898.Harry persuaded a detective to let him try to escape from the prison,and he invited the local newspaperman to watch.It was the publicity that came from this that started Harry Houdini's success. Harry had fingers trained to escape from handcuffs and toes trained to escape from ankle chains,but his biggest secret was how he unlocked the prison doors.Every time he went into the prison cell,Bess gave him a kiss for good luck--and a small skeleton key,which is a key that fits many locks passed quickly from her mouth to his. Harry used these prison escapes to build his fame.He arranged to escape from the local jail of every town he visited.In the afternoon the people of the town would read about it in their local newspapers.and in the evening every seat in the local theater would be full.What was the result? Worldwide fame,and a name remembered today. It can be inferred from the passage that Houdini became famous _ . A. when he was about 24 B. when he was about 17 C. after the year 1894 D. before the year 1898 Answer: A. when he was about 24 Are we getting more stupid? According to Gerald Crabtree, a scientist at Stanford University in the US, we are. You may not want to hear this, but Crabtree believes that human intelligence reached its peak more than 2,000 years ago and ever since then has been going downhill. "If an average Greek from 1,000 BC were transported to modern times, he or she would be one of the brightest among us," Crabtree told The Guardian. At the heart of Crabtree's thinking is a simple idea. In the past, intelligence was critical for survival when our ancestors had to avoid dangerous animals and hunt for food. The difference of being smart or stupid is often life or death. However, after the spread of agriculture, when our ancestors began to live in dense farming communities, the need to keep their intelligence in peak condition gradually reduced. This is not hard to understand. Most of the time, pressure is what keeps us going - you need the pressure from your teachers to finish your homework; the pressure of looking pretty prompts you to lose weight when summer comes. And the same is also true of our intelligence - if we think less, we become less smart. These mutations are harmful to our intelligence and they were all developed in the past 3,000 years. The other evidence that Crabtree holds is in our genes. He found that among the 2,000 to 5,000 genes that we have that determine human intelligence , there are two or more mutations in each of us. However, Crabtree's theory has been criticized by some who say that early humans may have better hunting and surviving abilities, but people today have developed a more diverse intelligence. For example, spearing a tiger doesn't necessarily require more brainpower than playing chess or writing a poem. Moreover, the power of modern education means a lot more people have the opportunity to learn nowadays. "You wouldn't get Stephen Hawking 2,000 years ago. He just wouldn't exist," Thomas Hills of the University of Warwick, UK, told Live Science. "But now we have people of his intellectual capacity doing things and making insights that we would never have achieved in our environment of evolutionary adaptation." What is Crabtree's recent finding according to the article? A. The Greeks from 1,000 BC could have been the smartest in human history. B. Our ancient ancestors had no better surviving abilities than we do nowadays. C. Humans have been getting steadily more intelligent since the invention of farming. D. Mutations in genes that decide human intelligence have affected the development of intelligence. Answer: D. Mutations in genes that decide human intelligence have affected the development of intelligence. Personal computers and the Internet give people new choices about how to spend their time. Some may use this freedom to share less time with certain friends or family members, but new technology will also let them stay in closer touch with those they care most about. I know this from personal experience. E-mail makes it easy to work at home, which is where I now spend most weekends and evenings. My working hours aren't necessarily much shorter than they once were but I spend fewer of them at the office. This lets me share more time with my young daughter than I might have if she'd been born before electronic mail became such a practical tool. The Internet also makes it easy to share thoughts with a group of friends. Say you do something fun see a great movie perhaps-and there are four or five friends who might want to hear about it. If you call each one, you may tire of telling the story. With E-mail, you just write one note about your experience, at your convenience, and address it to all the friends you think might be interested. They can read your message when they have time, and read only as much as they want to. They can reply at their convenience, and you can read what they have to say at your convenience. E-mail is also an inexpensive way stay in close touch with people who live far away. More than a few parents use E-mail to keep in touch, even daily touch, with their children off at college. We just have to keep in mind that computers and the Internet offer another way of staying in touch. They don't take the place of any of the old ways. The use of E-mail has made it possible for the writer to _ . A. spend less time working B. have more free time with his child C. work at home on weekends D. work at a speed comfortable to him Answer: B. have more free time with his child Planets remain in orbit around the Sun because of A. gravity. B. friction. C. solar energy. D. centrifugal force. Answer: A. gravity. When you are about to do something brave, a cheerful wish of "Good luck!" from a friend can be helpful. But if you think you need lots of luck, what else might you do? In the UK and US there are some strange traditions for bringing yourself a little more good luck. Some are hundreds of years old and some are much newer. Have you heard the saying "When you wish upon a star"? If you are looking up at the sky on a clear night and you see a sudden flash of light, it is probably a shooting star! Seeing one doesn't happen very often. The saying goes that if you see one you have been very lucky, and so if you make a wish, it will come true. Maybe you have heard of the lucky rabbit's foot. Some people believe that rabbits are lucky animals, so they carry a part of the rabbit, its foot, for good luck. There are all kinds of strange, unclear rules about which of the rabbit's feet is the luckiest. It is said that this good luck tradition is the oldest one of all. However, as the funny saying goes, "Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit!" People in Britain love trees. If it is autumn and leaves are falling from the trees, some people try to catch the leaves as they fall because they think each leaf they catch will bring _ a lucky month in the following year--they will need to catch 12 falling leaves to have a whole of good luck! British people try to catch 12 falling leaves because _ . A. the leaves fall in autumn B. there are so many leaves to catch C. the leaves can bring them a lucky month D. they want to have a whole year of good luck Answer: D. they want to have a whole year of good luck
Spring is a good time for kite flying -- a popular activity in China. On a sunny day with a good breeze , you'll see hundreds of colorful kites flying in the sky. They have all kinds of shapes like swallows and peaches. Some of the shapes have special meanings. For example, swallows mean good luck and peaches bring you a long life. The city of Weifang in Shandong is the home of the kite. The city holds an international kite festival in April every year. There are competitions for kite-flying skills and new styles of kites. The most famous is the competition for the "Kite King ". Thousands of kite fans from more than 30 countries visit the city to take part in the competitions, or to just enjoy this colorful event . The largest kite in the world is a big "octopus ". It's about 1,100 square meters, twice as big as a basketball court. Li Jingyang, a kite fanin Jilin, spent eight months making it in 2008. The kite was invented by Chinese people over 2,000 years ago. According to historical record, kites were first used by soldiers to send news to their friends. In the Tang Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone. As it was introduced to the West in the ll00s, the kite brought a great influence on Western life. In 1782, the lightning rod was invented with the help of a kite. Modern aircraft came from kites, too. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, a board reads: "The earliest man-made aircrafts were the kites and missiles of ancient China." Why do thousands of people visit the city of Weifang in April every year? Answer: You don't need to get in a time-traveling machine to see how technology will reshape our lives, such as the way we shop.Several new technologies that are to change your buying habits already exist.Let's see what's in store for your future shopping. Try it on, virtually .Want to shop online for a new pair of eyeglasses? You don't need to guess which pair looks best on you. Go and see the eBay Fashion iPhone app to try a pair of eyewear you're checking out on a picture of your face.But what if you want to buy something bigger? Thanks to Microsoft Kinect's motion tracking camera, you can cover clothes on your screen body.You can even choose the background of your virtual fitting room to enrich your shopping experience. Get a perfect, custom fit.Everyone's body is shaped differently.To get a perfect fit, you sometimes have to get your clothes changed.But by using 3D scanning technology, all the clothes you buy will fit your body perfectly.Some companies scan your body using High-tech to get the most accurate measurements, so they can make special clothes just for you. High-tech shopping carts and checkout counters.High-tech shopping carts could, in time, be a common sight in malls and supermarkets.Microsoft Kinect-enabled carts are currently under test.The cart can follow you along the aisles , controlled merely by your movement and your voice.In China, a supermarket chain introduced tablet-equipped carts that guide shoppers around the stores' aisles. In the United States, several supermarkets use a device called Scan It that gives buyers the freedom to scan purchases on their own while they shop.While it's great not having to line up at a checkout counter, we wouldn't mind it if the store used Toshiba's new Object Recognition Scanner.The machine identifies a product as soon as it's placed in front of a camera just by its shape and color, even if it has no bar code. Which of the following can get the most accurate shape of our body? Answer: Andrew wanted to make some extra money to buy a toy truck that he really wanted but didn't get for his birthday. The truck cost thirty dollars and it made four different noises. The truck also had a ladder that was three feet long. Andrew had asked for it for his birthday but didn't get it. He did get a camera from his uncle and a puzzle from his friend. In order to make the money his mom told him that he needed to do chores around the house. His mom told him that he could make five dollars by mowing the lawn. He chose to do this chore and it took him three hours. She then gave him the money. He also chose to walk the dog every day for a week which made him one dollar a day. His grandpa gave him a late birthday present for his birthday. His grandpa's gift was twelve dollars. He spent the afternoon counting his money and found that he was still short of his goal. What was the second way Andrew made money? Answer: On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln went to Gettysburg to speak at the National Soldiers Cemetery . The Civil War was still going on. There was much criticism of President Lincoln at the time. He had been invited to speak at Gettysburg only out of politeness. The other speaker was to be Edward Everett, a famous statesman and speaker of the day. Everett was a handsome man and very popular everywhere. It is said that Lincoln prepared his speech on the train while going to Gettysburg. Later that night, alone in his hotel room and tired out, he again worked briefly on the speech. The next day Everett spoke first. His speech lasted an hour and 57 minutes and it was a perfect example of the day. Then Lincoln rose. The crowd of 15,000 people at first paid little attention to him. He spoke for only nine minutes. At the end there was little applause . Lincoln turned to a friend and said, "I have failed again." Some newspapers at first criticized the speech. But little by little, as people read the speech, they began to like its simplicity and its deep meaning. It was a speech which only Abraham Lincoln could have made. Now everyone thinks of it as one of the greatest speeches ever given in American history. It can be inferred from the text that _ . Answer: A gadget which makes water out of air could become the greatest household invention since the microwave.http://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ Using the same technology as a dehumidifier ,the Water Mill is able to create a ready supply of drinking water because it can always get from an unlimited source--the air.http://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ The company behind the machine says not only does it offer an alternative to bottled water inhttp://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ developed countries, but it is a solution for the millions who face a daily water shortage.http://www.ks5u.com/gaokao/beijing/ The machine works by drawing in wet air through a filter and over a cooling instrument which changes it into water droplets.It can produce up to 12 liters a day.The Water Mill will also produce more water when storms pass over, as the amount of water which is contained in the air increases. In keeping with its eco-development, the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three lights. Inventor Jonathan Ritchey said, "The demand for water is off the chart. So people are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and unreliable." The machine, which is about 3 feet wide, is likely to cost PS800 when it goes on sale here in the spring. Its maker, Canadian Firm Element Four, roughly calculates that a liter of water costs around 20 pence to produce. Environmentalists state that half the world's population will face water shortage because of climate change by 2080. One in five is said to lack access to safe drinking. The Water Mill is not effective in areas where the amount of water contained in the air is below about 30 percent, but in Britain that won't be much of a problem. What do we learn about the machine? Answer:
Last Friday a storm tore through two villages and destroyed fourteen homes. Seven others were so badly damaged that their owners had to leave them, and fifteen others had broken windows or torn roofs. One person was killed, seven were badly injured and taken to hospital, and a number of other people received smaller injuries. Altogether over two hundred people were homeless as a result of the storm. A farmer, Mr. C.Y. Tan said that the storm began early in the morning and lasted for over an hour. " I was in the kitchen with my wife and children ,"he said, "when we heard a loud noise. A few minutes later our house fell down on top of us. We managed to climb out but then I saw that one of my children was missing. I went back inside and found him, safe but very frightened." Mrs. Fong said that her husband had just left for work when she noticed that her house was shaking. She rushed outside immediately with her children. " There was no time to take anything, " she said. " A few minutes later, the roof came down. " Soldiers helped to bring people out of the flooded area and the Welfare Department provided food, clothes and _ How many houses could no longer be lived in after the storm? Twenty-one Birds live in the trees. Squirrels live in the trees. But do you know that some frogs live in the trees, too? The tree frog is hard to find. It can change colors. On green leaves, it stays green. On a brown branch ,it turns brown. Some tree frogs can change from green to gold or blue. Tree frogs have legs and wide feet. They have sticky pads at the end of their toes. These sticky toe pads keep the tree frogs from falling off the trees. Tree frogs have different colors and markings on their skins. Their eyes are different, too. Some have green eyes, and others have bright red ones. The sounds they make are different, too. One frog makes a sound like a dog barking .Another frog makes a loud noise like a snore .There is even a frog that whistles ! What sounds can the frogs make? A,B and 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. According to the writer, which of the following best describes Ray's success? He enjoys a successful job and a happy family. Mary likes to invent things. She creates a new language and teaches it to her friend, Jean. Mary and Jean like to talk to each other in their own language because they think no one understands them and it is funny. When they go shopping, they say things like: "Look! He is fat." "This CD is awful." "I want to eat free hamburgers." A clerk comes but he can't understand what they say. He asked them: "May I help you?" Mary and Jean just laugh. What fun it is to create something new. The clerk may think that _ , so he comes to help them. maybe they need help At the World Expo Shanghai 2010, you will be able to see the world in just one day. The World Expo (short for "exposition") is the third largest world event after the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. Countries build pavilions at the Expo, showing off technologies and cultures with colorful exhibitions and performances. People can experience the most advanced technologies at the World Expo. Throughout history, many new inventions have made their debuts at the World Expo, including the TV, telephone and even the ice cream cone. But the Expo is not just a trade fair . It's a platform for cultural exchange, bringing people closer to the rest of the world. For example, at the Shanghai Expo, couples may be able to marry in French-style weddings at the France Pavilion. Thailand will let visitors walk into its emperor's palace. Visitors to the Austria Pavilion will have the chance to experience the snow-capped mountains of the country. Many countries have also decided to bring their national treasures to the event. Since the 1993 Expo in Chicago, the World Expo began to focus on one theme. It changed from a show into a community event. Visitors are invited to help solve global issues, such as environmental problems. The theme of the Shanghai Expo is "Better city, better life". It will call on the world to solve the problems human beings face as a result of urbanization . In the future, more and more people may care about protecting the places they live in. Countries build pavilions to show us _ with colorful exhibitions and performances. technologies and cultures
Question: An increasing number of people are being allowed to finish the working week early during the summer months. Does your boss trust you to spend an afternoon in the sun? Each year the number of companies which offer employees the choice of an early finish to the working week grows. Or, perhaps, each year,more people who work on ordinary Fridays hear about people playing on summer Fridays. When the sun is shining,it makes sense that you should be given Friday afternoons off,right? Sadly,not all managers agree with the policy. Companies that offer employees Friday afternoons off usually expect the hours to be made up. UK publishers Pan Macmillan and Penguin Random House (PRH) are among those offering summer hours. At PRH, those who wish to take off Friday afternoons are expected to work an extra 45 minutes a day from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, a rota ensures each team has been covered. "Most of us don't leave at exactly lpm,"Editor Anderson says. Depending on your workload,you might just leave an hour or so early,but it's still nice to do. " Simon Hayward, CEO of Cirrus, says that the "Summer Fridays" policy requires trust, and that managers need to be seen to take advantage of the offer too. "If a manager offers summer Fridays and then obviously expects employees to work on Friday afternoons, there is a risk associated with it that reduces the sense of well-being .I think there's a genuine fear in some organizations about flexible working hours. Do you trust your employees to do their best for the buti- ness as well as for themselves and their families,or do you fundamentally mistrust them?" Managers in the former camp tend to be comfortable with summer hours. Those in the latter worry that summer Fridays will lead to late Mondays and long-lunch Tuesdays. What is Editor Anderson's attitude towards the policy at PRH? A. Opposed. B. Supportive. C. Neutral. D. Indiffer-ent. Answer: B Question: Dear World, My son starts school today. It's going to be strange and new to him for some time. And I wish you would treat him gently. You see, up to now, he has been king of his own room. He has been boss of the backyard. I have always been around to treat his wounds, and to comfort his feelings. But now things are going to be different. This morning, he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start his life. So, World, I wish you would take him by the little hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him there are heroes, leaders and friends in this world. Give him quiet time to think over the mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hill. Teach him to believe in his own ideas, even if everyone else tells him he is wrong. Teach him to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Teach him never to put a price on his heart and spirit. Teach him gently, World, but don't love him too much, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. This is a big order, World, and see what you can do. He's such a little fellow. The writer wishes her son _ . A. to treat others gently B. not to feel strange at school C. to develop some good habits D. to be better than other children at school Answer: C Question: The environmental group 350.org has launched a new campaign called Climate Name Change that proposes to revise to how hurricanes are named: call them after policymakers who say that humans are not to blame for global warming. This will save the Katrinas and Sandys of the world from the injustice of having their names attached to major disaster, the group says. And, as a bonus, it will produce some peculiar weather reports. "Rick Perry leaves trail of death," appears under a broadcast titled "Rick Perry: The Tragedy." "Michelle Bachman is incredibly dangerous. If you value your life, please seek shelter from Michelle Bachman," says an official while addressing a news conference. The campaign is unlikely to influence the World Meteorological Organization, which has since 1954 named Atlantic tropical storms from an official list. But the campaign's goal seems less to actually name a hurricane after the speaker of the house, and more to call attention to an issue that this month has reached an alarming level of seriousness. The campaign comes just a month before the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will release its most recent report on the state of global warming and a week after a draft of the report was given away to Reuters. In the draft, scientists concluded with near certainty - about 95 percent sure - that humans are to blame for the worldwide temperature hikes over the last few decades. That was a revision from the 2007 report, which put scientific certainty that human activities were driving global climate change at about 90 percent. And global warming, the report said, is not slowing down - it, actually, is accelerating. That means that sea levels could balloon upward as much as three feet by the end of the century, if emissions continue at their current pace. Still, as the Washington Post Climate notes, hurricanes are not the best sign of global warming. Though current data suggests that global warming will in the future stir up terrible super storms, there is still not enough evidence to support the idea that climate change strengthens the recent hurricanes that have torn at the US's eastern coastline. It can be inferred that _ is one of the policymakers who believe that humans are not to blame for global warming. A. Katrina B. Rick Perry C. Flossie D. Sandy Answer: B Question: Experts say it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. " Culture shock" is the term these experts use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. There are three stages of culture shock, say the experts. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and, as a result, enjoy their life more. There are some obvious factors in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems---the telephone, post office ,or transportation --may be difficult to work out. The simplest things seem to be big problems. The language may be difficult. Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their home countries and were successful in their community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity. They have to build a new self-image. Culture shock causes a feeling of disorientation . This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create an escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience--these are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock. According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, _ . A. the fewer difficulties you may have abroad B. the more difficulties you may have abroad C. the more money you will earn abroad D. the less homesick you will feel abroad Answer: B Question: Do you have any friends? What do you think of friendship ? Here are some opinions from Ann,Pedro,Crystal and Roy. Ann comes from Japan!She likes to have friends who really care about her. She thinks a true friend won't leave her alone when she is in trouble. Besides,she hopes they can teach her English. Pedro is from Canada. He thinks that friendship means giving. If you want others to care about you,you must care about them first. Crystal was born in China. She has the same opinion with Pedro. The real meaning of friendship is giving others something instead of thinking about taking anything back. What about Roy from Japan? He doesn't care about the looks of his friends. In his opinion,a sincere heart is more important than looks. If you are in the same country with Roy,you can write emails to him. _ are in the same country. A. Roy and Ann B. Pedro and Crystal C. Roy and Pedro D. Crystal and Ann Answer: A
Computers are very popular with students now. It's very easy for them to surf the Internet .Most of them go to the Internet bar and spend more than two hours there. They can do their homework,get some information for their study,download music,and send emails on the computer. But some of them spend too much time playing computer games,and it is bad for their study. What can the students do on the computer? Answer: All of the above My son ,Izzy, was a nine-year-old boy and had been begging me to please let him find his way home by subway, by himself. After all, we live in New York City, and getting around by public transportation is a basic part of life. It is also the first step toward feeling grown-up. So on that sunny Sunday,I gave him a subway map, a transportation card,$20 for emergencies, and a couple of coins so that he could call me if necessary. I didn't give him a cell phone because nine-year-olds lose things. A few days later, I wrote about his adventure,or non-adventure for a newspaper. Little did I realize the idea that a kid could tour the city on his own, and that a mom would let him, was big news. It turned out that many TV shows called me and asked for an interview. Bloggers were going crazy, so I started a blog, too, and letters came pouring in. Finally I found out why this was such a big story: we have become fearful for our children. Fear is hardly a new thing for parents, of course. But the fear of letting our children out of sight for even a second-that's new. How did this happen? How did it become too scary to let kids be kids? I asked the question when the reporter Trevor Butterworth interviewed me. "News reports," he answered. "News reports scare the pants off you. What is scarier than a kidnapped kid no matter how far away?Because there are so many such stories, it starts to feel as if kidnappings are happening all the time. That's why the kid-on-the-subway story surprises the whole world." Izzy probably did a good job. He simply proved that kids could leave home alone and return home safely! But he didn't think it was a big deal. "It was fun," he said. "But I missed some classes because of the interviews." Sometimes it really pays to be brave. The author didn't expect that after she wrote her son's story for a newspaper, _ . Answer: many TV shows would want to interview her As bacterial resistance to antibiotics rises, the ability of medical professionals to Answer: treat bacterial-related conditions in humans will decrease My elder brother Steve, in the absence of my father who died when I was six, gave me important lessons in values that helped me grow into an adult. Steve taught me to face the results of my behavior. Once when I returned in tears from a Saturday baseball game, it was Steve who asked me what happened. When I explained that my baseball had soared through Mrs. Holt's basement window, breaking the glass with a crash, Steve encouraged me to admit to her. Although my knees knocked as I explained to Mrs. Holt, I offered to pay for the window from my pocket money if she would return my ball. I also learned from Steve that personal property is a sacred thing. After I found a shiny silver pen in my fifth-grade classroom, I wanted to keep it, but Steve explained that it might be important to someone else in spite of the fact that it had little value. He reminded me of how much I'd hate to lose to someone else the small dog my father made with a piece of cheap wood. I returned the pen to my teacher, Mrs. David, and still remembered the smell of her perfume as she patted me on the shoulder. Yet of all the instructions Steve gave me, his respect for life is the most unforgetful in my mind. When I was twelve I killed an old brown sparrow in the yard with a BB gun. Excited, I screamed at Steve to come and take a look. I shall never forget the way he stood for a long moment and stared at the bird on the ground. Then in a dead, quiet voice, he asked, "Did it hurt you first, Mark?" I didn't know what to answer. He continued with his eyes firm, "The only time you should even think of hurting a living thing is when it hurts you first, and then you think a long, long time." I really felt terrible then, but that moment stands out as the most important lesson my brother taught me. When Mark admitted his mistakes to Mrs. Holt, he _ . Answer: felt frightened Dear Mr. Plant, I am an enthusiastic camper and longtime X-Ports customer, but after being offended for the third time at your Sierra Vista location, I am writing to complain about your impolite employees. Several months ago ,I bought a tent that leaked the first time I used it and wanted it replaced . When I took it back, your employees accused me of tearing it myself. I left not only withm1, torn tent, but no refund and no satisfaction. A couple of weeks ago , I bought a sleeping bag that was supposed to sleep two people comfort-ably. It didn't. Your employees refused to give me my money back even though I had the receipt. I was asked to leave the store, again with no satisfaction. To my misfortune, my latest purchase , of a piece of camping equipment at your store proyed to be another disappointment. The propane camp stove I bought didn't work properly. When I returned to exchange it, the rude clerk refused to help me because I did not have my sales receipt. It was an even exchange! He said that I was a problem and even asked if I had seen what products I-could purchase at one of your competitor's stores at comparable prices. Was he accusing me of something? Why would I have brought a receipt for an even exchange? Why would I know the price at other stores? Furthermore, the clerk called security and forced me to leave your store-without my camp stove! How can I go camping now? The tent leaks, the sleeping bag is just wrong, and I don't have a stove to keep warm ! Who is going to refund my money for my stove? Who is going to help me get over the abuse I suffered in your store? You, as the area manager must clear these matters up for me immediately! I am sending copies of this letter to your main office and the Sierra Vista Store. Sincerely , Ima Kumpanee What was Ima' s attitude towards the purchase? Answer: Dissatisfied.
Is been a dream for 30 years but now the world's first flying car is set to hit the roads this year. Ever since the"Back to the Future"movies lit up our screens in the 1980s,designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button. And now pilots can order their own "roadable"plane for just PS 127,000. The plane,which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 ft,has a range of flying distance of 460 miles and can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land,it can also travel at"highway speeds" in car mode . Fuelling the 19 ft long plane couldn't be simpler--you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up. A spokeswoman said,"You can keep you 'light-sport airplane'in your garage. But because _ needs a short runway to take to the air,you will have to drive to your local airport,fly up to 460 miles,land,and drive directly to your destination. You will always be ready to drive or fly. " The spokeswoman added,"Never let bad weather change your trip. You call simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather clears. " There's no risk to you--This is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future. If you meet with a thunderstorm in your"roadable"plane in the skies,you can_. 1and and drive on the ground Who is your role model? Normally the answer to this question would be anyone around you who you find truly inspiring. It could also be someone like J. K. Rowling or Martin Luther King Jr. who have proven to be strong and intelligent people. However, in today's world, stars are regarded as role models along with the heroes listed above, despite their intentions or actions. Teens attempt to imitate their actions for two major reasons. First, to be fashionable and accepted by popular culture, and second>>because stars' actions are so well documented by the media that it seems to grab our attention and turns it to following stars' lives. Much of the reports about stars is shocking and exhibits bad morals or lifestyles that aren't right for teenagers. In addition, almost everything stars do is described beyond truth to make a shocking story by taking it to the next level. However, teens must take responsibility for their actions. We can't always blame stars for influencing us. Only you have control over yourself and only you choose to do something. Our bodies and actions are in the hands of no one else. Now, who ever said stars are role models? Whether they choose to be or not, stars set examples as soon as they step into the spotlight. With reporters following and recording every move they make, it is impossible not to be watched and then be imitated. These people influence, teens whether or not they want to. Why should someone who doesn't want to be setting an example set one? So,should we look up to them or to people who are true and good role models? It's our responsibility as teens to know right from wrong, and it's time for us to take responsibility for our actions. In doing so,we will lean toward those inspiring people that want to be setting an example, and follow in their steps to be like them. The author writes the passage mainly to advise the teenagers to _ . be responsible for their own choices and behaviors When raising children, the small things make big differences in development . Because children are people, not machines, different children need different things, and buying band name clothing and having the perfect haircut or the biggest collection of expensive toys are not the kind of attention that they need. These kinds of things will make children feel rejected and teach them that material things and appearance are more important than love. Children need the attention from their parents. The areas of their lives and the abilities that get the most attention will develop the most. If the majority of parental attention is given to the way they stand or to finishing tasks, these areas will become more developed. When parents focus on finding faults, children will eventually take in all of that criticism. These methods often lead to unmotivated children with low self-esteem . Children need attention to be given to the details of their lives. They need encouragement from their parents. Statements like,"It makes me happy when you play nicely with your brother" will make a child feel good . Identify the specific talent, how it is used, and your reaction to it. Train the young minds to search for their talents with the same kind of attention to the details that may have previously been devoted to fault-finding. It also helps to identify personal qualities to praise rather than external ones based on appearance. Focusing on the details when children do good things is important. They need to know exactly what they did was good and how it made you feel .Parents often spend too much time looking for faults. When parents focus on good things, it results in motivated children with high self-esteem. _ ) are also. Which of the following is the author's opinion? Parents should pay more attention to children's good deeds. The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held 46 days before Easter, especially famous for the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to regret and prepare for Christ's death and coming back to life. Modern Brazilian Carnival dates back to Rio de Janeiro in 1641. It originally copied the European form of the festival, later taking in elements of Native American and African cultures. In the late 19th century, the strings were introduced in Rio de Janeiro. These were pageant groups that paraded through city avenues performing on instruments and dancing. Today they are known as blocks, consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos. Blocks are generally connected with particular neighborhoods; they include both a music group and a lot of revelers. Block parades have become an expressive feature of Rio's Carnival. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. Blocks can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a clear title. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach. Carnival time in Rio is very interesting, but is also the most expensive time to visit Rio. Hotel rooms and other lodgings can be up to four times more expensive than the regular rates. There are big crowds at some locations and life is far from ordinary in many parts of town. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the blocks in Rio de Janeiro? They are always wearing costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos. Which of the following best explains why the Sun appears to move across the sky every day? Earth rotates on its axis.
After battling hard times and danger for over nine months, British teenager Mike Perham made history last month as the youngest person to sail solo around the world. The 17-year-old made the record after he cleared the Panama Canal and then sailed through the Caribbean and got home across the Atlantic. Mike is only three months younger than Zac Sunderland, the 17-year-old American boy who had taken the crown as the youngest solo around-the-world sailor in July. The two youngsters met in Cape Town in South Africa as they crossed the globe in different directions. Mike insisted they were not rivals . "No. It's two teenagers going out there, living their dream and having the adventure of a lifetime," he said. Mike may be young, but he is no stranger to sailing adventures. He picked up the hobby at the age of 6 when his father took him out in a small boat on a local lake. Father and son sailed separate boats across the Atlantic when Mike was 14, making him the youngest person to cross that ocean solo. That record gave him the taste for this even greater challenge. On the recent journey, the scariest moment for Mike came when his sailboat was hit by storms in the southern Indian Ocean. "We were picked up by what felt like a 60-foot wave and threw down on our side at 90 degrees," he said. "It felt like I was going right over. Stuff was flying around and I just thought 'Oh no'." At other times, he had to dive into the Pacific and fix problems. He tied himself to the boat, jumped into the water and went to work with a knife in 30-second dives underneath the boat to cut a rope away. Mike said he felt proud that he made his dream come true. "You've got to have confidence in yourself that you will make it," he said. What did Mike believe in? A Having confidence in yourself will make you successful. B Braveness is important in sailing. C One should pick up a hobby as a child. D Pride goes before a fall. Answer: A Which of these renewable resources results in an increase in pollution when used to produce energy? A water B wind C biomass D geothermal Answer: C If you live in the United States, the law says you can't have a full-time job until you are 16 years old. At 14 or 15, you can work part-time after school or on weekends, and during summer holidays you can work 40 hours each week. Does all that mean that if you are younger than 14, you can't earn your own money? Of course not ! Kids who are between the ages of 10 and 13 can earn money by doing lots of things. Valerie, 11, told us that she made money by cleaning up other people's yards. Susan, 12, said she had started taking art classes and showing her work to people. People ask her to draw pictures for them and they pay her for them. Jasmine, 13, writes articles for different magazines! Earning is learning. By working to earn your own money, you are learning the skills you will need to succeed in life. When you make your own money ,you don't have to depend on someone else. The five dollars that you earn will probably make you feel a lot better in your hand than the twenty dollars you ask for. If you are 15 years old, you can't have part-time jobs _ . A after school B on weekends C during summer holidays D on weekdays Answer: D The ocean bottom, a region nearly 2.5 times greater than the total land area of the earth, is even today largely unexplored. Until about a century ago, the deep ocean floor was completely inaccessible and hidden beneath waters averaging over 3,600 meters deep. Totally without light and in the case of intense pressures hundreds of times greater than at the earth's surface, the deep-ocean bottom is a strange environment to humans, in some way as frightening and remote as the outer space. Although researchers have taken samples of deep-ocean rocks for over a century, the first detailed global study of the ocean bottom did not actually start until 1969, with the beginning of the National Science Foundation's Deep Sea Drilling Project(DSDP). Using techniques first developed for the offshore oil and gas industry, the DSDP's drill ship, the Glomar Challenger, was able to maintain a steady position on the ocean's surface and drill very deep waters, taking samples of rocks from the ocean floor. The Glomar Challenger completed 96 voyages in a 15-year research program that ended in November 1983. During this time, it sailed 600,000 kilometers and took almost 20,000 samples of rocks around the world. Those samples have allowed geologists to reconstruct what the planet looked like hundreds of millions of years ago and to make out what it will probably look like millions of years in the future. Today, largely on the strength of evidence gathered during the Glomar Challenger's voyages, nearly all earth scientists agree on the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift that explain many of the geological processes. The sample of rocks drilled by the Glomar Challenger have also provided a climatic record stretching back hundreds of millions of years. The information of past climatic change can be used to predict the future climate. Which of the following is TRUE about the Glomar Challenger? A It is a military submarine. B It is used to develop tourism. C It has gone on over 100 voyages. D It made its first DSDP voyage in 1969. Answer: D Welcome to the National Museum of Mathematics(MoMath).it is in New York City.It is America's first math museum.It's also a fun place for both children and their parents. Open the door ,you will open a new world of numbers,shapes and colours,and you will find math is interesting.You can take part in many games and activities.They help you better understand math." We want to give people fun ways to learn math,"MoMath founder Glen Whitney said."Here you can try riding a tricycle with square wheels .You can hop from one point to another and join lines to get pictures." The museum is at 11 East 26th Street in Manhattan and is open from 1 0:00 a.m.to 5:00 P.m.,seven days a week,364 days a year(It is closed on Thanksgiving Day).MoMath closes early on the first Wednesday of every month,at 2:30 p.m.The ticket prices are$1 5 per adult and$9 per child,student,or the old people. MoMath also has a traveling museum-Math Midway.It runs around the country to schools and community centres .So you still can enjoy the fun of math even you live far from New York City. When does the museum close on the first Wednesday in January? A At 1 0:00 a.m. B At 2:30 p.m. C At 5:00 p.m. D At 1 0:00 p.m. Answer: B
Someday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the website you've visited or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phone bills to find out your shopping calling habits In fact, it's likely that some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen. Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it's important to reveal yourself partly to friends, family and lovers at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. The digital bread crumbs you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to know who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret. The key question is: Does that matter? For many Americans, the answer apparently is "no". When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. 60 percent of respondents say they feel their privacy is "slipping away, and that bothers me". But people say one thing and do another. Only a small number of Americans change any behavior in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. Privacy economist Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will give up personal information like social security numbers just to get their hands on a 50-cents-off coupon. But privacy does matter-at least sometimes. It's like health: when you have it, you don't notice it. Only when it's gone do you wish you'd done more to protect it. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that _ . Answer: Nineteenth-century writers in the United States, whether they wrote novels, short stories, poems or plays, were powerfully drawn to the railroad in its golden years. In fact, writers responded to the railroads as soon as the first were built in the 1830's. By the 1850's, the railroad was a major presence in the life of the nation. Writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David saw the railroad both as a boon to democracy and as an object of suspicion. The railroad could be and was a despoiler of nature, furthermore, in its manifestation of speed and noise. _ might be a despoiler of human nature as well. By the 1850's and 1860's, there was a great distrust among writer and intellectuals of the rapid industrialization of which the railroad was a leading force. Deeply philosophical historians such as Henry Adams lamented the role that the new frenzy for business was playing in eroding traditional values. A distrust of industry and business continued among writers throughout the rest of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth. For the most part, the literature in which the railroad plays and important role belong to popular culture rather than to the realm of serious art. One thinks of melodramas, boys' books, thrillers, romances, and the like rather than novels of the _ . In the railroads' prime years, between 1890 and 1920, there were a few individuals in the United States, most of them with solid railroading experience behind them, who made a profession of writing about railroading--works offering the ambience of stations, yards, and locomotive cabs. These writers, who can genuinely be said to have created a genre, the "railroad novel", are now mostly forgotten, their names having faded from memory. But anyone who takes the time to consult their fertile writings will still find a treasure trove of information about the place of the railroad in the life of the United States. According to the passage, the railroad played a significant role in literature in all of the following kinds of books except _ . Answer: Lily has a black dress. She thinks it's very nice. Black is Lily's favorite color. She doesn't like colorful dresses at all. Lily also has a pair of sunglasses. She bought the sunglasses with all her pocket money Y=20.She thinks they are really cool. She really loves them. Linda is Lily's friend. She has a colorful scarf it's red, white and blue. She likes it a lot. This is Linda's watch. It's brown. Linda thinks it's lovely. Today is Monday, June 14th. Wednesday is Linda's birthday. Lily wants to give her a red and green wallet. _ is Lily's favorite color. Answer: The length of daylight changes as the seasons change during the year. What causes these changes in daylight? Answer: Multitasking People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests. The findings, based on performances and self-evaluation by about 275 college students, indicate that many people multitask not out of a desire to increase productivity, but because they are easily distracted and can't focus on one activity. And "those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things," said David Sanbonmatsu, a psychologist at the University of Utah. Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues gave the students a set of tests and asked them to report how often they multitasked, how good they thought they were at it, and how sensation-seeking or imperative they were. They then evaluated the participants' multitasking ability with a tricky mental task that required the students to do simple mathematical calculations while remembering a set of letters. Not surprisingly, the scientists said, most people thought they were better than average at multitasking, and those who thought they were better at it were more likely to report using a cellphone while driving or viewing multiple kinds of media at once. But those who frequently deal with many things at the same time were found to perform the worst at the actual multitasking test. They also were more likely to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior, which connects with how easily people get bored and distracted. "People multitask not because it's going to lead to greater productivity, but because they're distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important." Sanbonmatsu said. Adam Gazzaley, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not a member of the research group, said one limitation of the study was that it couldn't find out whether people who start out less focused toward multitasking or whether people's recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking. The findings do suggest, however, why the sensation-seeker who multitask the most may enjoy risky distracted driving. "People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations." said Paul Atchley, another researcher not in the group. "This may partly explain why people go in for these situations even though they're dangerous." When Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues conducted their research, they _ Answer:
An African farmer had heard tales about other farmers who had made millions of dollars by discovering diamond mines. These tales so excited the farmer that he could hardly wait to sell his farm and go prospecting for diamonds himself. So he sold the farm and spent the rest of his life wandering the African continent, searching unsuccessfully for the shining stone that brought such high prices on the markets of the world. Finally, broke and worn out, he threw himself into a river and drowned. Meanwhile, back at the farm, the man who had bought his farm happened to be crossing a small river on the property one day when he saw something shining at the bottom of the river. He picked it up. It was a sparkling stone - a good size stone - and, admiring it, he later put it on his fireplace mantel as an interesting curiosity. Several weeks later, a visitor admired the stone, looked closely at it, lifted it in his hand and nearly fainted. He asked the farmer if he knew what he'd found. When the farmer said no, that he thought it was just a piece of crystal, the visitor told him he had found one of the largest diamonds ever discovered. The farmer was astonished. He told the man that his small river was full of these brilliant stones, and his farmland was covered with them. Not all were as large, perhaps, as the one on his mantel, but they were sprinkled generously throughout his property. Needless to say, the farm the first farmer had sold, so that he could search for a diamond mine, turned out to be the most productive diamond mine on the entire African continent. When the second farmer first found a shining stone, he _ . A. felt sorry for what he had done to the first farmer B. was excited to see he would soon be very rich C. found it special and brought it home D. couldn't wait to share his joy with his friends Answer: C As soon as the woman got into the house, her eight-year-old daughter told her that her younger brother drew so many pictures on the clean wall of his bedroom and left the white wall in a mess. When the woman heard this, she was angry. "Where's your brother now?" "He's hiding himself in the cupboard in his bedroom." The little girl answered. The woman got even angrier. She complained about her son when she went towards her son's bedroom. The six-year-old boy was staying with fear in the cupboard when he heard what his mother said. He knew she got really angry this time. The woman pushed the door open with a loud noise. But when she saw the words and pictures on the wall, her anger soon disappeared. "I love you, mum!" covered the whole wall, with so many hearts around them, and so many stars in the sky. The mother's eyes were full of happy tears. She opened the door of the cupboard, and hugged her son tightly. The boy said "I love you, Mum!" to her mother in a low voice when he was in his mother's arms. It's the most expensive present from her son -- "Love on the wall". Eight years later, the boy suddenly died of heart disease. The mother had kept the wall tidy with great care for nearly fifty years until she was dead. In the mother's heart, it seemed that her son was alive, and always looking at her in the sky with many shining stars around him. Why was the woman angry at first after she heard what her daughter said? A. Her children fought with each other at home. B. Her daughter didn't look after her son well. C. Her son drew pictures on the white clean wall. D. Her husband left her children at home alone. Answer: C It's hard not to feel cheated and over-charged when you receive unexpected roaming charges while traveling abroad--whether they come from making phone calls or checking e-mails. Jeff Gardner received an $ 11,000 bill from Verizon after spending four days in Jamaica. Before the trip, Mr. Gardner, who runs a fly-fishing business in Grayling, Michigan, said he called Verizon to find out what it would cost to use his cellphone for calls and his wireless card to check e-mails while in Jamaica. He said he was told that calls would be about $ 2 a minute and that there would be no extra charges for data as he was on an unlimited plan. _ . "I don't mind paying a fair amount for fair service, but $11,000 for four days is ridiculous," said Mr. Gardner, who used his phone carefully and economically on the trip. He also tried to check and send e-mails using his wireless card, but quickly gave up after the e-mails didn't go through. Still, his Verizon bill said more than 500,000 kilobytes of data was delivered while he was in Jamaica, an amount Mr. Gardner said is 100 times what he normally uses in a month. As travelers increasingly use smart phones abroad in the same way they do at home--to check e-mails, update Facebook and Twitter and pull up online maps--many are facing costly roaming fees, which providers charge when customers use their phones outside their service area. In fact, roaming charges have gotten so out of hand that the Federal Communications Commission has proposed a plan that would require wireless companies to send their customers a voice or text message when they are approaching their plan's limit, when they have reached that limit and when they are starting to result in roaming fees. Why did Jeff Gardner call Verizon before his trip to Jamaica? A. To hand over his business. B. To check his cellphone bill C. To find out information about Jamaica. D. To find out information about roaming charges. Answer: D British men are couch potatoes. They spend nearly half their freetime watching TV. They watch more TV than women, do less housework, less charity work and less childcare--but spend more time shopping, a poll suggests. Analysts from Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, interviewed working men and women in 10 countries. Britain, where men devoted 49% of their freetime to the box, came a narrow second to the Hungarians with 51%.German and Norwegian men watched the least TV--just over one third of their spare time. The analysts took the average of the figures for the whole year including holidays and weekends. They broke down the "average day" into five categories --free-time, sleep, meals and personal care, travel, domestic chores and work or study. It shows that British men have four hours and 41 minutes free time each day--20 minutes more than women. But women spend nearly double the amount of time on domestic chores than men. Almost three-and-a-half hours of a woman's day is taken up with domestic work, compared to less than two hours for men. Food preparation makes up the bulk of the chores, with leaning and shopping the next most time-consuming. They further broke down the free-time and domestic categories to show that men spend 137 minutes each day in front of the TV, compared to women's 114 minutes. Women spend slightly more time socializing resting and reading than men, but slightly less time on hobbies, sport and exercise. Universally unpopular with both sexes is culture--accounting for just 2% of both men and women's leisure time. What both men and women don't like in their spare time is _ . A. taking part in cultural activities B. shopping C. enjoying their hobbies D. doing domestic chores Answer: A Miss Popular I was awkward in middle school: bony and athletic, with a high grade in science and a low one in self-esteem. Though I had a few friends, I wasn't popular. I was picked last in football and I sometimes ate lunch by myself. I remember the day Brittany came to our school. Her teeth were crooked , and she was a little overweight. Not that this mattered though, because she walked around like she was better than all of us. She was outspoken and incredibly frightening, making people lose confidence. Around Brittany, I tried my best to go unnoticed. Standing out or stealing her spotlight could only result in one thing: conflict. Brittany was always the first girl picked for teams; I was lucky if I was picked at all. I was thrown the ball while she stood with the quarterback, chatting about the last party she'd gone to. I had never been to a party before or kissed a boy. One day, a classmate asked me to the school dance. I was flattered. Then Brittany told me during science class that she had persuaded him to invite me. She asked in front of everyone, "Why would anyone even want you?" I went home and cried. Although she was seemingly perfect in everyone's eyes, I wanted to be everything that she wasn't and yet a million times more perfect. Brittany was so frightening and violent, but I wanted to be calm and not at all aggressive. I found Brittany's online profile a few weeks ago. She still had the same chubby face and mocking simile, and had posted half-naked pictures of herself. But as I read on, I realized that Brittany had died in a drunken driving accident a year ago. She had been 16 and pregnant at the time. Suddenly my view of Brittany changed from a bad influence into a struggling little girl whose life was taken before she could understand right from wrong. My experience with Brittany taught me that though we are all innocent in our youth, the choices we make will have great effects on us forever. I will always remember Brittany as that loud, overconfident girl. As part of that shy insecure person I used to be will always keep me modest. The last passage is meant to _ . A. tell us the reason for Brittany's death B. present the changed attitude to Brittany C. show the influences of the youth D. stress the importance of behaviors Answer: B
The expression "a thirst for knowledge" may soon have a new meaning for millions of people who have no way to get clean water. Researchers have developed a book with specially treated pages that can turn dirty water into clean and drinkable water. They say their invention could improve the lives of many in the developing world. About 700 million people around the world are at risk of disease or even death because their drinking water is not clean. The water is polluted by harmful bacteria. The book contains 25 pages. Each page is about one millimeter thick. The pages contain very small particles of silver. The pages can be used as filters to remove harmful microorganisms that can pollute drinking water. The filter kills the organisms that pass through it. Pictures on the pages show the dangers of dirty water and how to use the book for those unable to read. The pages are made of filter paper. They are designed to be torn from the book. Water can be poured through the paper to be cleaned. Ms. Dankovich, the inventor, says each page can treat up to 100 liters of water. She recently presented her invention at the meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, Massachusetts. She was asked whether she had considered adding classic literature on the book's pages. "The idea of classic texts--that's of interest maybe later. We have discussed a little bit more exciting text. But we really haven't had the time to go through _ " she says. Teri Dankovich and another researcher tested the drinkable book in Bangladesh, Ghana and South Africa. The tests proved to be successful. Water for Life, a non-governmental organization, has provided financial support for the project. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Researchers have found a way to save those being ill. B. Millions of people are in great need of drinkable water. C. Book pages could provide safe drinking water. D. Knowledge is as important as drinkable water. Answer: C Suppose you work in a big firm and find English important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen. Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English, especially your spoken English. Here are some advertisements about English language training from newspapers. You may find the information you need. Global English Centre General English in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. 3-month (700 yuan), 6-month (1,200 yuan) and one year (2000 yuan) courses. Choice fo morning or evening classes, 3 hours per day, Mon. ~Fri. Experienced college English teachers. Close to city centre and bus stops. Tel:67605270 Add:105 Zhongshan Road,100082 Modern Language School Special courses in English for business, travel, banking, hotel management and office skills. Small classes (12~16 students) on Sat.&Sum.from2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Native English teachers from Canada and USA. Language lab and computers supplied. 3-month course: (1050 yuan), 6-month course: (1850 yuan) Write or phone: Modern Language School, 675 Park Road, 100056 Tel: 67353019 The 21 sty Century English Training Centre We specialize in effective teaching at all levels. We offer morning or afternoon classes, both of which last three months and a half at a cost of 800 yuan. Entrance exams:1 June and 1 Dec. We also have a six-week TOEFL preparation class during winter and summer holidays. Only 15-minute walk from city centre. Call 67801642 for more information. The International House of English 3/6-month English courses for students of all levels at very low cost: 60 yuan for 12 hours per week; convenient class hours:9~12 a.m. and2~5 p.m. A 4-month evening classes for developing speaking skills (same cost as day classes). Well-trained Chinese and foreign teachers experienced in teaching English as a 2nd foreign language. Free sightseeing and social activities. Very close to the Central Park. For further information call 67432308. The 21st Century English Training Center is different from the other three schools in that. A. its teaching quality is better B. it is nearest to the city centre C. its courses are more advanced D. it requires an entrance examination Answer: D The day my husband fell to his death,it started to snow,just like any November day.His body,when I found it,was lightly covered with snow.It snowed almost every day for the next four months,while I sat on the couch and watched it pile up.One morning,I _ downstairs and was surprised to see a snow remover clearing my driveway and the bent back of a woman shoveling my walk.I dropped to my knees,crawled through the living room.And back up stairs so those good people would not see me.I was embarrassed.My first thought was,how would I ever repay them? I didn't have the strength to brush my hair let alone shovel someone's walk. Before John's death,I took pride in the fact that I rarely asked for help or favors,I defined myself by my competence and independence.So who was I if I was no longer capable and busy? How could I respect myself if all I did was sit on the couch every day and watch the snowfall? Learning how to receive the love and support that came my way wasn't easy.Friends cooked forme and l cried because I couldn't even help them set the table."I'm not usually this lazy,"I wept.Finally,my friend Kathy sat down with me and said,"Mary,cooking for you is not a burden. I love you and I want to do it.It makes me feel good to be able to do something for you." Over and over,I heard similar emotions from the people who supported me during those dark days.One very wise man told me,"You are not doing nothing.Being fully open to your sorrow may be the hardest work you will everdo." I am not the person I once was,but in many ways I have changed for the better.My heart is now filled with thanks for people around me.I have been surprised to learn that there is incredible freedom that comes from facing one's worst fear and walking away whole.I believe there is strength,for sure,in accepting a dark period of our life. We can describe the writer before her husband died as the following except _ . A. hard-working B. independent C. smart D. capable Answer: C Mo Yan, the winner of this year's Nobel Prize for Literature, said he is not sure about whether he is happy after winning the prize. In an interview with China Central Television broadcast on Sunday night, Mo said "I don't know," when a reporter asked if he was happy."Happiness means a healthy body and a total absence of mental burdens, but now I'm under high pressure and bothered by worries. Can I say that I'm happy?" he said. "But if I say I'm not happy, people will consider that I'm striking a pose. How could you be unhappy after winning the Nobel Prize?" Mo, born into a farmer's family in East China's Shandong province, As a 12-year-old during the Cultural Revolution he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory. In 1976 he joined the People's Liberation Army and during this time began to study literature and write. His first short story was published in a literary journal in 1981. "In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth. This is apparent in his novel Hong gaoliang jiazu (1987, in English Red Sorghum 1993)," said the academy in a statement of Mo's biography. Red Sorghum was successfully filmed in 1987, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. Mo won the Nobel Prize for Literature, which is worth $1.2 million, on Oct 11 for his "hallucinatory realism" which merges "folk tales, history and the contemporary". Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French and Japanese and many other languages. He is the first Chinese citizen to win the prize.The award sparked strong interest about contemporary Chinese literature among the public, and his books have been flying off the shelves in many bookstores across the country. What can we infer from the passage? A. Mo Yan is very happy to win the Nobel Prize. B. More and more readers are buying Mo's books to read in China. C. Winning the Nobel Prize is not easy. D. Mo Yan won the prize with the help of Zhang Yimou. Answer: B The end of the World Cup does not mean the end of international competition, in Brazil this year. A major football event will happen in the South American country later this month, but with teams of robots playing the game, which is known as soccer in the United States. The robot teams are guided by teams of humans from around the world. The event is known as RoboCup. Technology students at the University of Pennsylvania are trying for their fourth victory at the competition, which is held this year in the coastal city Joao Pessoa. The students have won the last three RoboCup competitions. Watching robots play football is similar to watching children play the game. The kicks are not good, there's a lot of falling down, and people are there to guide and support the team members. Jian Qiao Li is one of the leaders of the University of Pennsylvania team. He says one goal he has for the robot team is to make sure the machines can find the goal and the ball. He also wants the robots to be able to know where they are on the playing field. And he wants the team to be able to better control the walking and kicking abilities of the robots. Qin He is another leader of the robot team. She says the abilities of the robots increase every year. Ms. He says the US team is meeting its goals. The robots know the differences between the colors green and red, and they can decide where to go and where the ball is on the playing field. She says if there are three robot players on the field at the same time, they will communicate with each other to decide the different responsibilities for each robot. U. S. Team member Christopher Akatusuka hopes for another victory in Brazil. The team has won the RoboCup the past three years in the Netherlands, Mexico and Turkey. "They have every good team player right now. As long as their detection is good, I think they'll be very competitive; we just hope to compete against the real good German teams eventually, because the Germans always do very well, " says Akatsuka. Mr Akatsuka says RoboCup is an exciting technology competition. "Each team develops their own software; basically it's a competition of who has the best software, who has the best decision--making at a given point... it's really exciting, " says Akatsuka. The event begins July 19th and ends July 25th. Some RoboCup participants hope to develop a team of robots that can play against humans by 2050. The same goal for the robots that Jian Qiao Li and Qin He mention is _ . A. to locate the ball B. to communicate with each other C. to play at will D. to distinguish colors Answer: A
The mixing of cold Arctic Ocean water with warm surface Atlantic currents off the northwestern coast of Europe causes which effect? A. sinking of water as it circulates southwest B. reversal of current direction back toward the European coast C. rise in water salinity and upwelling of affected currents D. rapid evaporation and acceleration of currents toward the pole Answer: A The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki-matsuri) is a festival being held every year in Sapporo, Japan for over seven days in February. Presently, Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome are the main places of the festival. The 2013 Yuki-matsuri dates are February 5 to 11. The festival is one of Japan's largest and most typical winter events. In 2007 (58th Festival), about two million people visited Sapporo to see the hundreds of floating statues and ice sculptures at the Odori Park and Susukino sites, in central Sapporo, and at the Satoland site. The festival is thought to be a chance for promoting international relations. International Snow Sculpture Contest has been held at the Odori Park site since 1974, and 14 teams from various areas of the world participated in 2008. The subject of the statues differs and often shows an event, famous building or person from the previous year. For example, in 2004, there were statues of Hideki Matsui, the famous baseball player who at that time played for the New York Yankees. A number of stages made out of snow are also constructed and some events including musical performances are held. At the Satoland site, visitors can enjoy long snow and ice slides as well as a huge maze made of snow. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of local foods from all over Hokkaido at the Odori Park and Satoland sites, such as fresh seafood, potatoes and corn, and fresh dairy products. Every year the number of Statues displayed is around 400 in total. In 2007, ther were 307 statues created in the Odori Park site, 32 in the Satoland site and 100 in the Susukino site. The best place to view the creations is from the TV Tower at the Odori Park site. Most of the statues are lighted in the evening. The Sapporo Snow Festival Museum is placed in the Hitsujigaoka observation hill in Toyohira-ku, and displays historical materials and media of the festival. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage? A. There are long snow and ice slides made of snow at the Satoland site. B. The best place to view the creations is from the TV Tower at the Satoland site. C. The Sapporo Snow Festival Museum is placed in Toyohira-ku. D. There are many local foods sold at the Odori Park and Satoland sites. Answer: B Reading for pleasure is the easiest way to become a better reader in English. It is also the most important way. Some students say they don't want to read for pleasure. They say they want to use their time to learn the rules of the language and new words. They say that pleasure reading is too busy. Many experts say pleasure reading is very important for learning English. Dr Stephen Krashen, a famous expert on learning languages, says that pleasure reading helps you learn many important things about English. Students learn more grammar and more words when they read for pleasure. They also learn more about good writing. Dr Krashen tells us that pleasure reading helps each student in a different way. Each student needs to learn something different. Pleasure reading makes it possible for each student to learn what he or she needs. Reading for pleasure is not the same as studying. When you read for pleasure, you choose your own books, and you don't have to remember everything. There are no tests on your pleasure reading books. Pleasure reading will help you: learn how English speakers use English read faster in English find examples of good writing in English learn new words *learn about the culture of English speakers From the passage, we know pleasure reading makes it the most impossible for each student to _ . A. find examples of good writing in English B. learn new words C. learn how English writers use English D. read faster in English Answer: C When I was walking down the street one day, I found a small bag on the ground. I picked it up and opened it to see if I could find out the owner's name.There was nothing inside it except some dollars and an old photo--- a picture of a woman and a young girl about twelve years old. I put the photo back and took the bag to the police station.Before I left, the policeman wrote down my name and address.He thought the owner might want to thank me. That evening I went to have dinner with my aunt and uncle.They had also asked a young woman to have dinner with us.Her face was familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen her.During our talk, the young woman happened to say that she had lost her bag that afternoon.At once I remembered where I had seen her.She was the young girl in the photo, though she was now much older.She was very surprised, of course, when I told her about the bag. After dinner we went to the police station and she got back her bag.The policeman said to me, "It's a wonderful thing.You not only found the bag, but also the owner of the bag." The writer opened the bag because he wanted to _ . A. find some money B. find some letters C. find the owne r's photo D. find out whose bag it was Answer: D Riding School: You can start horse - riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9:00 a.m.and 8: 30 p.m.(3: 30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone: (412) 396 -6754 Fax: (412) 396 -6752 . Sailing Club: Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage I Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members, afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two - hour lessons ( Tuesdays 6 p.m.-- 8 p.m.). Opening Hours: Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m. Phone: (412) 396 -6644 Fax: (412) 396 -6644 Diving Centre: Our experienced instructors offer one - month courses in deep - sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples. Opening Hours: Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone: (412) 396 -6312 Fax: (412) 396 -6706 Medical Center: The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores. Opening Hours: 24 hour from Monday to Sunday Phone: (412) 396 -6649 Fax:(412)396 -6648 Watersports Club: We use a two - kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water - skiing, a beginners course consists of ten 20 - minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m., with lessons all through the day. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. Phone:(412)396 -6899 Fax:(412)396 -6890 If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax _ . A. (412)396 - 6648 B. (412)396 - 6706 C. (412)396 - 6752 D. (412)396 - 6876 Answer: C
In 1985, a lionfish was caught off the coast of Florida. Now they can be found not only in the Atlantic Ocean but also in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. And they are continuing to move south. Lionfish are native to the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. So how did they end up in the Atlantic? Scientists believe some pet owners abandoned their unwanted lionfish and poured them into the sea. Little did they know the trouble their actions would cause. The Atlantic Ocean turned out to be a comfortable home for lionfish. Their venomous spines protect them from sharks and other fish. Female lionfish can spawn every few days, producing as many as 2 million eggs per year. Other big fish would have competed with lionfish for food. Bet overfishing has removed many of these large fish. As a result, the fish have eaten so much that they have grown to be more then three times the size of their cousins in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. "They eat mostly fish," says Stephanie Green, a scientist at Oregon State University. All that eating has caused great changes. Scientists have found that when lionfish are present somewhere, many other fish, which are small enough for them to eat, disappear. Some of the fish they eat are greatly missed in their habitats. For example, parrotfish eat certain plants off corals , which allows corals to grow better. But they are now disappearing due to lionfish. Scientists say lionfish are here to stay. But there are ways to deal with the problem. The key, says Green, is to keep lionfish numbers in check. In Florida, drivers can now go though a special training program and get certified to catch lionfish in areas where fishing is not usually allowed. And a number of restaurants have added the fish to the menu. "It's going to be a long-term battle, but the missing sea species will come back someday," says Green. What is Stephanie Green's attitude to the battle against lionfish? A. She doubts it. B. She is hopeful of it. C. She is worried about it. D. She thinks it is against the law. Answer: B A crow is sitting in a big tree. She has a big piece of meat in her mouth, "My babies will have a nice breakfast," she thinks. An old fox is looking for his breakfast. He sees the crow and the meat, " How can I get that piece of meat? " he thinks. "Good morning, Mrs. Crow," says the fox. " How are you? " But the crow doesn't say a word. "You have very nice babies, Mrs. Crow," says the fox. " How are they? May I see them? " Still the crow doesn't say a word. "You are very beautiful, Mrs. Crow. And you have a beautiful voice, too," says the fox. " Would you like to sing a song for me? " Mrs. Crow thinks, "How nice Mr. Fox is! I must sing a song for him. " So she opens her mouth, at that time, Mrs. Crow drops the meat into the fox's mouth. Who has a nice breakfast? A. The crow. B. The fox and his friends. C. The baby crows. D. The old fox. Answer: D Which of these is a source of heat? A. ice cubes B. coffee C. Popsicles D. ice cream Answer: B Winter is coming, and some parts of the world are already covered with deep snow. The best way to warm those cold hands is a cup of hot sweet chocolate. Hot chocolate has been used for many years to treat diseases and fight bad moods. It's known as a special healthy drink from the 16thto 19thcenturies, and sometimes was taken as a medicine. Nowadays people don't consider hot chocolate as a medicine, but drink even more than ever! There are plenty of tasty and healthy hot chocolate recipes you can try to enjoy the following health benefits of drinking hot chocolate. It improves your brain power The study shows that drinking hot chocolate can help improve your brain power and your brain health. The flavonoids in hot chocolate increase the blood flow and oxygen to your brain, helping you think better. If you want to improve your memory, try drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day. Not only will you improve your memory, but your mood as well. Just make sure you don't use too much sugar in your hot chocolate.[:Zxxk.Com] It improves your mood Chocolate, including hot chocolate, is well-known mood booster. This tasty drink helps fight stress, anxiety, and depression. But the problem is, hot chocolate may contain high amounts of sugar. Consider making sugar-free hot chocolate to get all its mood-improving properties . It can help you lose weight If you are trying to drop a few pounds, drinking hot chocolate can help you achieve your weight loss goal. When made correctly, hot chocolate is a delicious and low calorie drink that you can enjoy every time you have chocolate desire. Besides, drinking a cup of low calorie hot chocolate helps prevent the intake of high-calorie and sugar foods like cakes. Now that you're aware of some of the best health benefits of drinking chocolate, what are you waiting for? Rush into your kitchen and make this fantastic winter drink. In the passage the author mainly talks about _ . A. different hot chocolate recipes B. materials used to make hot chocolate C. side effects from drinking chocolate D. benefits of drinking hot chocolate Answer: D We live on the Earth. It's our home. But how much do you know about it? The Earth is like a huge ball. Like the other seven planets, the Earth is running around the Sun. It's the third nearest planet to the Sun. It takes the Earth about 365 days to run around the Sun. At the same time, the Earth is going around itself. If you are in space, you can see lots of white clouds over the surface of the Earth. Through the clouds, you can see the blue color of the oceans and the brown color of the land. About 70% of the Earth is covered with water. Why do we have day and night? When the half of the Earth is facing the Sun, it's daytime. As the Earth turns and this half is away from the Sun, night is coming. And it's daytime for the other half. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The Earth only runs around the Sun. B. The Earth is the nearest planet to the Sun. C. All the planets and stars run around the Sun. D. It takes the Earth about 365 days to run around the Sun. Answer: D
Mary is from the U.S.A. She has two brothers. Now her family are in China. Her father, Mr. Peterson teaches English in Xihu Middle School. And her mother works in the same school. She teaches English, too. Mary likes red clothes very much. Her mother likes red clothes a lot, too. Mary is a nice girl student. She is in Xihu Middle School .She can speak Chinese. She has many Chinese friends. She teaches them English, and they teach her Chinese. Her two brothers are twins. One is Bob, the other is Bill. They look the same. They are only three. So their grandparents look after them at home. Mrs. Peterson has many toys for the twins. Bob likes toy cars, but Bill likes toy bears. They are happy every day. How many people are there in Mary's family? A four B five C six D seven Answer: D. seven Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October as a day to make someone happy. It is an occasion which offers all of us an opportunity to remember not only the sick, the aged, and children who have lost their parents, but also friends, workmates, s and neighbors whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed. Over 60 years ago, when a Cleveland man noticed that some people, such as children who lost their parents and patients who lay in bed, too often felt forgotten and _ , he developed in his mind the idea of showing them that they were remembered. He did this by giving them small gifts. With the help of his friends and neighbors, he gave those people small gifts on a Saturday in October. During the years that followed, other Clevelanders began to take part in the celebration, which came to be called "Sweetest Day". Over time, the Sweetest Day idea of spreading cheer to the poor, the sick and children who had lost their parents was broadened to include everyone, and became an occasion for remembering others with a kind act or a small gift. Soon the idea spread to other cities all over the USA. Sweetest Day is not based on any single group's religious beliefs or on a family relationship. It is a reminder that a thoughtful word or deed enriches life and gives it meaning. Because for many people remembering takes the form of gift giving, Sweetest Day offers us the opportunity to show others that we care, in a positive way. Which of the following has little relationship to Sweetest Day? A Visiting sick people of the hospital. B Visiting children who have lost their parents. C Giving friends small gifts. D Giving flowers to sweethearts. Answer: D. Giving flowers to sweethearts. Maybelle said she wouldn't be coming with me to the library. I asked why, and she said she could get all the short stories she wanted off the Internet. Saved walking all the way to the library, and putting up with my long chat on the way there, and on the way back. Maybelle is very direct like that, always has been. "But, Maybelle, we've been walking to the library every' Monday for the last fifty years!" She said," Why don't you get Internet'? We can send each other emails." So I had to get Internet. I called the local high school. They said they'd send me a good student to tell me all about computers and such. Evil thing, this Internet. Makes you lose old friends, forces you to learn new complex ideas, even if you're too old. But Maybelle said you have to be modern; otherwise, you're dead. The kid came the next day. Tall skinny black kid, by tile name of Arsenius, said his work would cost me. I said, "All right. As long as I get Internet." "You need a computer, then you need to get hooked up," he said. "Let's buy a computer and get hooked up, then." "How much you want to spend?" "Whatever it takes." "How many rams you want?" I wasn't going to show him my ignorance, so I said, "Whatever it takes." "Let's go to the mall. You got a car?" "In the garage." When I opened the garage door, he gasped. Daddy's car is still there, a'57 Chevy. I never drive it. Walk everywhere. I said," Let's walk. It's only a mile or so." He said," Let's drive, or you will faint on me in this heat." "Young man, I don't faint, never have. We're walking." "I get paid by the hour," he said. "Walking will cost you a lot more. Also, you feel like carrying a computer a mile or so?" What kind of person is Maybelle? A She always says what she means in an honest way. B She no longer likes reading in her old age. C She doesn't want to be friends with the writer any mort. D She doesn't want to keep up with the time. Answer: A. She always says what she means in an honest way. Scientists in Israel have discovered a new way to test for water pollution by "listening" to what the plants growing in water have to say. By shining a laser beam on the tiny pieces of _ floating in the water,the researchers said they hear sound waves that tell them the type and amount of contamination in the water. "It is a red light,telling us that something is beginning to go wrong with the quality of water," said Zvy Dubinsky,an aquatic biologist at Israel's Bar Ilan University."Algae is the first thing to be affected by a change in water quality.""The secret," he said,"is to measure the rate of photosynthesis in the algae,meaning the plant's ability to transform light into energy." During photosynthesis,plants also release oxygen into the air. Dubinsky's technique is easy to perform because of the overabundance of algae in the planet's water.Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from algae.A prototype tester that occupies about one square meter of a laboratory desktop,shoots a laser beam at water samples to stimulate photosynthesis in the algae.But not all of the laser's heat is used.Depending on the condition of the algae and the rate of photosynthesis,some of the heat is shot back into the water,creating sound waves,Dubinsky said.With a special underwater microphone,researchers are able to analyze the strength of the sound waves and determine the health of the algae and the condition of the surrounding water. "Algae suffering from lead poisoning,like waste discharged from battery and paint manufacturing plants,will produce a different sound than those suffering from lack of iron or exposure to other toxins," said researcher Yulia Pinchasov.She said that testing algae photosynthesis can determine water quality more accurately and easily than laborintensive methods now used like chemical and radioactive carbon testing. We can infer from the passage that _ . A algae can produce a loud sound when polluted B algae can die easily from pollution C photosynthesis of the algae can only be caused by sunlight D photosynthesis of the algae is related to water quality Answer: D. photosynthesis of the algae is related to water quality Certainly, a well-rounded education is the foundation from which all of us spring forth. I am grateful to the many incredible teachers who have inspired me to do greater things, and have fired my enthusiasm for everlasting learning! I have also been honored to have the most amazing teachers in all of my children's lives. These are extraordinary people who not only teach our children, but love them, challenge them, and provide an environment where a child learns how to learn. But, sometimes I wonder if the outline of our educational plan is lacking something. I watched the movie Easy A with my older daughter. The main character's parents were loving, supportive, and built great confidence in their daughter and developed her ability to handle her own problems. There was a scene where the mother was speaking to the younger child and he announced that he received an "A" on his spelling test. She replied, "That' s great, honey, but everything has spell check these days. " It was funny --- but TRUE ! I don't mean that we shouldn't teach our children how to spell, but maybe some of our time should be spent educating them about the dangers of posting things on Facebook. Maybe we might want to spend time showing them how real life works - the credit card isn't free money - you will have to pay it back at sometime. Oh, and get this - they charge you for borrowing that money. Perhaps, we should spend some time on interpersonal relationships. I worry that our kids do not know how to relate to one another. Choosing a career is a daunting task. My daughter is in her second year in college and has changed her major twice. It' s not that she didn't know what she wanted to do. What she "wanted to do" and the degree she chose did not match. I have learned many college students do not know what they want to do because they haven' t seen what it looks like in the real world. Being a journalist in the real world looks very different from writing stories. Maybe if we spent some time exposing them to real life experience - maybe two or three courses m areas of interest in high school that give them a "feel" for what that particular field would look like, they might be better prepared. I do not know the solution, but it seems that it should at least be a topic of discussion. What is mainly discussed in the passage? A Schools should prepare students for the real life. B What students learn in school should be practiced in life. C Life experience is of greater importance than school education. D Students should spend more time discussing practical problems. Answer: A. Schools should prepare students for the real life.
It was 1:30 a.m. Monday at London's Savoy Hotel and, with autograph books and cameras, a group of brighteyed tennis fans of all ages were waiting for just a glimpse of Maria Sharapova . The 17-year-old girl defeated champion Serena Williams 6-1 6-4 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday in London to become the first Russian to win a single title at the championships. A silver lining to a depressing, rain-hit Wimbledon, she has raised heated passion. Nobody was complaining, though, for the 1.83-metre Sharapova has created a welcome wave of interest in tennis, something missing in recent years. Not even Anna Kournikova evoked such passion when she broke on to the scene. To look good on court is one thing, but Sharapova can actually play the game too. Extremely well. She proved it over 13 days at the world's most prestigious tournament. Playing tennis of the highest quality throughout, the Russian's triumph not only lifted the tournament from fits of rain-induced depression but also salvaged(;) the season for the woman's tour. Sharapova was given no easy ride in the tournament, having to beat 1999 champion Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals and twice-champion Serena Williams for the title. Neither caused her much concern. "I don't remember too much about the final," Sharapova giggled. "I was in my own place." She will find it increasingly hard to find any place to call her own from now on after advertisers identified her as the most marketable woman in sport. In Russia she is sensational news. She headlined the news bulletins and was telephoned by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin after her triumph. Sharapova will return to her adoptive Florida home knowing life will never be the same again. But the girl who arrived in the US aged seven with her father and just US$700 is determined not to let fame and riches detract from her number one love, tennis. "I know things will start coming up and that many more things will want to get involved, but I want to keep my head cool and play tennis," she said. Why is Savoy Hotel mentioned in the passage? Answer: Because Sharapova was expected to appear there. Once upon a time, an old woman had two large water pots. Each hung on the end of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect, From the river to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. And the other pot was always full. The perfect pot took pride in its talent. But the poor cracked pot felt sad for its own disadvantage. One day by the river the cracked pot said to the woman, "I feel bad about myself, because the crack in me causes water to come out all the way back to your house." The old woman smiled and said, "Why are there flowers on your side of the road, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your crack. So I planted flowers on your side of the road, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my house, There would not be this beauty without you. Each of us has our own cracks. But the cracks make our lives so interesting and beautiful." So, to all the cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the road! If each of the two pots could be filled with 20 kilos of water, the woman would probably get _ kilos of water from the river to the house. Answer: 30 The old man woke up before sunrise, as he often did, to walk by the beach and greet the new day. As he moved through the early morning, he saw a young man , bending and reaching and throwing, in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin As he came near, he realized that the young man was not dancing to the day, , but rather bending to check the debris (, ) left by the night's tide , stopping now and then to take starfish and then standing, to throw it back into the sea. He asked the young man the purpose of the effort."The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves ," the young man repied."when the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back into the sea." As the young man explained, the old man looked at the beach ."But there are more starflish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference." The young man listened politely. Then he bent down to take another starfish, threw it into the sea and said,"It made a difference for that one." There is something very special in each and every one of us. _ brought the debris on the beach. Answer: The night's tide When you have a cold, you must be unhappy because your body becomes hot, and there are pains all over. You don't want to work, you stay in bed, feeling terrible. What makes you ill? It's _ . Germs are everywhere. They are very small and you can't find them with your eyes but you can see them with a microscope . They are very small and there could be hundreds of them in or on a very small thing. Germs are always found in dirty water. When you look at dirty water under the microscope, you can see them in it. Germs are found not only in water. They are also found in air and dust . If you cut your finger , and if some of the dust goes into the finger, it will become big and red, and you will have much pain in it. Sometimes germs will go into your body and you will have pain everywhere. Your parents won't allow you to drink dirty water because _ . Answer: there are many germs in it and germs can make you ill WASHINGTON--Two-thirds of the world's polar bear population could be gone by 2050 if predictions of melting sea ice hold true, the US Geological Survey reported on Friday. The fate of polar bears could be even worse than that estimate, because sea ice in the Arctic might be disappearing faster than the available computer models predict, the geological survey said in a report aimed at determining whether the big white bear should be listed as a threatened species. "There is a definite link between changes in the sea ice and the welfare of polar bears," said Steve Amstrup, who led the research team. He says Arctic sea ice is already at the lowest this year and is expected to retreat farther this month. That means that polar bears--some 16,000 of them -- will disappear by 2050 from parts of the Arctic where sea ice is melting most rapidly, along the north coasts of Alaska and Russia, researchers said in a telephone briefing . Other polar bears could survive beyond that date but many of those could be gone by 2100, Amstrup said. By this century's end, the only polar bears left might live in the Canadian Arctic islands and along the west coast of Greenland. "It is likely to result in loss of approximately two-thirds of the world's current polar bear population by the mid 21st century," the report's executive summary said. "Because the observed trajectory of Arctic sea ice decline appears to be underestimated by currently available models, this assessment of future polar bear status may be conservative ." In January, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the polar bear as a threatened species, noting polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform to hunt seals, their main food. Without enough sea ice, polar bears would be forced onto land, but they are poor hunters once they get out of the water and ice, the researchers said. The bears' disappearance would probably take place as young cubs failed to survive to adulthood and females were unable to reproduce successfully. What was the US Geological Survey intended to do? Answer: To determine whether the polar bear was in danger.
Nearly everyone is shy in some ways.If shyness is making you uncomfortable,it may be time for a few lessons in self-confidence.You can build your confidence by following some suggestions from doctors and psychologists. Make a decision not to hold back in conversations,What you have to say is just as important as what other people say.And don't turn down party invitations just because of your shyness. Prepare yourself for being with others in groups.Make a list of the good qualities you have.Then make a list of ideas,experiences,and skills you would like to share with other people. Think about what you would like to say in advance.Then say it. If you start feeling self-conscious in a group,take a deep breath and focus your attention on other people.Remember, you are not alone.Other people are concerned about the impression they are making,too. No one ever gets over being shy completely, but most people do learn to live with their shyness. Even entertainers admit that they often feel shy.They work at fighting their shy feelings so that they can face the cameras and the public.Just making the effort to control shyness can have many rewards.But perhaps the best reason to fight shyness is to give other people a chance to know more about you. Which of these can you conclude from reading the article? Answer: I'm seventeen. I had worked as a box boy at a supermarket in Los Angeles. People came to the counter and you put things in their bags for them and carried things to their cars. It was hard work. While working, you wear a plate with your name on it. I once met someone I knew years ago. I remembered his name and said, "Mr Castle, how are you?" We talked about this and that. As he left, he said, "It was nice talking to you, Brett." I felt great, he remembered me. Then I looked down at my name plate. Oh, no. He didn't remember me at all, he just read the name plate. I wish I had put "Irving" down on my name plate. If he'd have said, "Oh yes, Irving, how could I forget you?" I'd have been ready for him. There's nothing personal here. The manager and everyone else who were a step above the box boys often shouted orders. One of these was: you couldn't accept tips. Okay, I'm outside and I put the bags in the car. For a lot of people, the natural reaction is to take a quarter and give it to me. I'd say, "I'm sorry, I can't." They'd get angry. When you give someone a tip, you're sort of being polite. You take a quarter and you put it in their hand and you expect them to say, "Oh, thanks a lot." When you say, "I'm sorry, I can't." They feel a little _ . They say, "No one will know." And they put it in your pocket. You say, "I really can't." It gets to a point where you almost have to hurt a person physically to prevent him from tipping you. It was not in agreement with the store's belief in being friendly. Accepting tips was a friendlything and made the customer feel good. I just couldn't understand the strangeness of some people's ideas. One lady actually put it in my pocket, got in the car, and drove away. I would have had to throw the quarter at her or eaten it or something. I had decided that one year was enough. Some people needed the job to stay alive and fed. I guess I had the means and could afford to hate it and give it up. The box boy refused to accept tips because _ . Answer: a retailer gets an order of aluminum delivered weekly. Where is the aluminum likely coming from? Answer: Every electronic gadget needs good memory. A music player stores songs, albums and playlists. A computer holds schoolwork and programs and remembers how far a player has advanced in his or her favorite game. Mobile phones store names, numbers and hundreds of texts. Now, scientists in California say they have come up with a way to turn a living cell into a memory device. It can store only one tiny bit of information, but it's a start. In the future, a cell-based gadget might travel through the body and record measurements. The benefit to human health could be big: the right tool, for example, might record the earliest signs of disease. Doctors, scientists and other curious people want to know what is happening inside the body, even at levels that can't be seen by the naked eye. So far, there is no device small enough to travel through the bloodstream. If normal machines won't do the trick, perhaps biology will. Scientists who work in the field of synthetic biology are trying to find ways to turn living things into human tools. In the case of the new memory device, bioengineers from Stanford University used the genetic material inside living cells to record information. This genetic material consists of DNA. Found in nearly every cell, DNA carries all of the information that keeps a living thing alive. In the new experiment, the researchers turned DNA from bacteria into a switch. They "flip " a small section of DNA. Then, using the same procedure , the scientists flip the section again--returning it into its normal structure. Using these DNA switches, "We can write and erase DNA in a living cell," bioengineer, Jerome Bonnet, explained to Science News. It might take years before his team or others identity whether a DNA-based memory device might be practical. Right now, it takes one hour to complete a flip. That is far too long to be useful. Plus, a flipped section has a very small little memory--less than what a computer uses to remember a single letter. "This was an important proof that it was doable," Bonnet told Science News. "Now we want to build a more complex system, something that other people can use." What is possible future benefit of the cell-based gadget for people? Answer: Recently, the TV show Where Are We Going, Dad? has become one of China's most popular TV shows, attracting more than 600 million viewers each week. In this program, five celebrity fathers traveled to six countryside locations across China, including some villages in Beijing, Yunnan, Shandong, Hunan, Heilongjiang and a desert in Ningxia. They took care of their kids without the help of the kid's mothers. At the same time, they also took part in different kinds of activities with their kids together, such as cooking, fishing and selling goods. Why is the show so popular? "It reflects social reality. In big cities, fathers are always busy earning money and making achievements in their career. They don't spare more time with their kids." said Xie Dikui, general director of the show. As the father of a 3-year-old daughter, Xie said that he found his own heart being touched as he made it. "Although these fathers are busy, they are able to spare time for their kids. We can do better than them." _ also happens in some rural areas in China. More and more men from rural areas are now working in big cities, leaving their kids at home under the Grandparents' care. "I have a son and a daughter in my hometown." said Xu Canyong, a 33-year-old man working in Shantou, Guangdong Province. "They come to live with me only during summer and winter vacations. I miss them very much. I want to have them live with us in Shantou, but the cost of living here is too high." said Xu. Five celebrity fathers have ever traveled to _ with their kids. Answer:
Jeri Solomon is a morning person but Jim, her husband of 11 years, is not. Early in their life, it caused a problem. "When we were planning our wedding, I wanted to have these big discussions at 8 a. m.,when I had been up for two hours and was fresh, but Jim would just be getting out of bed," says the 46-year-old designer from Melrose, Mass. "We ended up getting into many arguments because I thought he had no interest, when really he was just still half-asleep." The couple learned to work around their differences over the years, but their situation isn't uncommon, says Katherine Sharkey, professor at BrownUniversity. "More women tend to be larks, while men are like night owls ," she says. The question is:Why? The answer lies in each person's body clock. "The body clock is about 24 hours, thanks to Earth's 24-hour light-dark cycle," Sharkey says. "But some people have a longer natural cycle, and some are shorter." If yours is on the long side, you're more likely to be a night owl. If it runs short, you're probably an early riser. But your body clock can change over your lifetime. There's a developmental piece-school-age children are generally early birds, while teenagers tend to be night owls, and then as they age, adults gradually turn back into morning people," Sharkey says. Besides the clear problems with being a night owl if you have fl day job, "night owls tend to be more low-spirited, and have a higher dependence on coffee," Sharkey says. But the news isn't all bad. A recent study in Belgium found that night owls can stay more focused as the day goes on, compared with early risers. Morning people, however, also have advantages. "Larks generally sleep better, have more regular sleep, and have more flexible characters," Sharkey says. They also tend to be happier and feel healthier than night owls, according to a recent study from the University of Toronto. What is the purpose of the text? A. To explain why we get up early or late. B. To advise every one of us to get up early. C. To tell us how to change our body clock. D. To point out morning people's advantages. Answer: A. To explain why we get up early or late. GU Zhaodi, 60, had taken water for granted for years. In fact, no one in the beautiful lake city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province had bothered to spare a thought on water. But all that changed dramatically overnight last month when taps in the city ran dry. Due to a blue-green algae outbreak in Taihu Lake, China's third largest freshwater lake and the source of drinking water for 4 million Wuxi residents ,water from the city's taps became dark and smelly. "I can't believe there is no water for drinking, let alone cooking and washing,"said Gu. The lake was blanketed with the algae, giving off a strong smell of rotting meat. A stone thrown into it took a long time to sink. Experts said that algae usually boom because of hot water and rich chemicals like phosphor in the water. "High temperature and a lack of rain in the past few months helped the growth of algae,"said Zhang Lijun, an official from the State Environment Protection Administration. "However, pollution from human activity should be most blamed for the disaster." Taihu Lake is surrounded by many small factories, which _ in the 1980s.Inthe 1990s,many foreign-funded companies joined in. The industries prospered ,Wuxi has grown into one of the wealthiest cities in East China. But that came at the price of pollution. The lake was treated like a waste dump ,with factories emptying industrial waste and untreated sewage into it. Although, after the government's effort, life in the city has gone back to normal, the one-week crisis rang a bell for the government and local people."It's time to rebuild the beauty of nature, or our lives will be at risk,"said Gu. "A safe environment comes first. Economic growth will be nothing without fresh water to drink and clean air to breathe." said China Daily. What can we learn from the passage? A. The one-week disaster has made the local people realize the importance of building a beautiful city. B. It is human activity rather than the algae that is to blame for the water pollution. C. Only when the environment is safe and friendly can man live a better and healthier life. D. Environment should be taken into consideration first if a city plans to develop its economic. Answer: D. Environment should be taken into consideration first if a city plans to develop its economic. In north America people are always in a hurry.Children have special lessons or sports activities after school.Parents often work late and don't get home until 7 or 8 o'clock at night.More than 50% of women work at full-time jobs,and many people do part-time work.Most North American families don't have time to eat many meals together. When a family takes the time to eat a meal together,often there isn't enough time to prepare the food That is why "fast food "is so popular in North America.People spend about 40% of their dollars on fast food. Fast food is food such as pizza, sandwiches or fried chicken.People usually buy the food from a restaurant chain such as Pizza Hut,McDonald's,or Kentucky Fried Chicken.Fast food saves time,but it is not very nutritious . Fast food is popular in many countries.American fast-food companies now have restaurants all over the world.But not everyone is happy about the spread( of North American fast food.A group of people in Italy want to fight against it.They do not want any more fast-food chains to open restaurants in their country.They also want to fight against the spread of fast food everywhere in the world. The passage is mainly about _ . A. fast food B. history of fast food C. fast food in Italy D. fast food restaurants Answer: A. fast food Dear Dongdong I have been in Hong Kong for a whole week. I will stay here for another week. Hong Kong is really a great place to visit. There's so much to see and do here. And I've done so many wonderful things. I've taken the cable car to the Peak Galleria . I've been to Hong Kong Racing Museum. I've known a lot about horse racing. I've also visited Ladies' Street. In the street I bought some beautiful clothes for my mother. Last night I went to a concert. Chinese traditional music has always been my favourite. This morning I went to Ocean Park and watched the dolphins perform. Dolphins are so clever. They can jump from the water to touch a ball, sway their bodies to music, kiss people and even do math. Mr Host is going to take me to an Italian film festival in Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow. I'm so excited because I have never seen an Italian film before. But some people say they're boring. That's all. Best wishes! Dolphins can't _ . A. ride bicycles B. kiss people C. do math D. dance Answer: A. ride bicycles A young man returns to his hometown of Aractataca, Colombia. He visits the house where he lived as a child. Here, he remembers the most important memories of his childhood. Standing in front of his old house, the young man makes an important decision. He says to himself, "I will start my life over again. I will become a writer." This man is the world famous writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born on March 6, 1928. During his early life, Garcia Marquez's grandmother and grandfather told him many stories. His grandmother would tell him legends as if they were real. Garcia Marquez says that his grandmother's way of storytelling later influenced his own methods. When Garcia Marquez was about 20 years old, he left Aractataca and attended university in Bogota. He began studying law because this was what his father wanted him to study. However, Garcia Marquez was not happy. During this time Garcia Marquez returned to Aractataca. It was on this visit that he realized he must stop studying law. And he recognized that he must return to the dream of his childhood-writing. For the next few years, Garcia Marquez wrote for many different newspapers. And in 1955, he published his first book called "Leaf Storm". For many years, Garcia Marquez knew he wanted to write about his grandfather's house in Aractataca. To write this book, Garcia Marquez and his wife had to sell almost all of their possessions to survive. But their act was worth it. The book, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" was immediately successful. And this book created a path for Garcia Marquez's future success. In 1982, Gabriel Garcia Marquez was given the Nobel Prize in Literature for his book "One Hundred Years of Solitude", making him the first Colombian and the fourth Latin American to win a Nobel Prize in Literature. Who influenced Garcia Marquez's writing style? A. His grandfather. B. His father. C. His grandmother. D. His wife. Answer: C. His grandmother.
If you're like most students, you may find it challenging to learn a foreign language. However, there are a few tips you can use in order to earn a top grade ---- as well as actually use the skills you've learned. One of the most important and basic lessons in dealing with a foreign language is to learn and understand each concept and lesson before moving on to the next one. If you don't understand one concept but move on to the next chapter anyway, you're less likely to understand the new material. Learning a new language is not only an academic tool, but can help you in your everyday life as well. Being good at another language can help you communicate with other people, and help you when traveling to foreign countries, and even make your resume look better. And it is important to learn correct pronunciation as soon as possible for poor pronunciation can be hard to break. Native speakers of the language as well as others fluent in the language you are learning will appreciate your efforts to learn correct pronunciation. Gather outside materials such as books, study guides, books on tape, and travel books to aid you in learning the language. Your textbooks can't possibly teach you everything you need to know, so seeking outside sources is generally a good rule of thumb to keep in mind. A significant motivator in learning a foreign language is traveling to the country where the language is spoken. That way, you can see firsthand how the language is used, learn the culture, and meet native speakers of the language. Native speakers appreciate sincere attempts of others who take the time to learn their language. Seek out native speakers of your new language in your school or neighborhood. They can help you with many skills, including pronunciation, and they can provide immediate feedback on your progress. This passage is written to _ . Answer: Akuapem is in the eastern part of Ghana. The sun there shines all the time. The local people are very friendly and hospitable . Now let's have a look at how Akuapem people receive a visitor. A visitor is often welcomed warmly in a family of Akuapem. After the visitor is welcomed into the house, he is offered a seat and water at the very beginning, because the host _ that the visitor must have come from a very long journey and need water. If there is a group of visitors, the host will greet the visitors from right to left. And the host shakes only with his right hand, because Akuapem people think the left hand is not clean. Next, the visitor is asked how his journey was and why he has come. While the conversation is going on, the wife and the children, especially girls, are preparing food for the visitor. The visitor can choose his favorite food. After the visitor finishes eating, the host and the visitor go on with their conversation. Usually this is short one because the visitor is getting ready to say goodbye. When the visitor is leaving, he is often given some food. He is also accompanied by one of the children to the nearest station. The child who accompanies the visitor will not come back home until the visitor leaves safely. Whether he is a close friend or just a stranger, this is always how friendly Akuapem people receive a visitor. Which of the following is TRUE to the passage? Answer: Once I invited a group of friends round to my house, telling them that I was going to record their speech. I said I was interested in their regional accents, and that it would take only a few minutes. Thus, on one evening, three people turned up at my house and were shown into my front room. When they saw the room they were a bit alarmed, for it was laid out as a studio. In front of each easy chair there was a microphone at head height, with wires leading to a tape-recorder in the middle of the floor. I explained that all I wanted was for them to count from one to twenty. Then we could relax and have a drink. I turned on the tape-recorder and each in turn seriously counted from one to twenty in their best accent. When it was over, I turned the tape-recorder off and brought round the drinks, and for the rest of the evening there was general cheerful conversation--interrupted only by the fact that I had to take a telephone call in another room, which unfortunately lasted some time. Or at least that was how it would appear. For, of course, the microphones were not connected to the tape-recorder in the middle of the room at all but to another one, which was turning happily away in the kitchen. The participants, having seen the visible tape-recorder turned off, paid no more attention to the microphones which stayed in front of their chairs, only a few inches from their mouths, thus giving excellent sound quality. And my lengthy absence meant that I was able to obtain as natural a piece of conversation as it would be possible to find. I should add, perhaps, that I did tell my friends what had happened to them, after the event was over, and gave them the choice of destroying the tape. None of them wanted to--though for some years afterwards it always seemed to be my round when it came to the buying of drinks. Linguistic research can be a very expensive business. Which one is true according to the passage? Answer: matter is made of what? Answer: Of all the components of a good night's sleep, dreams seem to be last within our control. In dreams, a window opens into a world where there is zero logic and dead people can speak. A century ago, Freud formulated his revolutionary theory that dreams were the hidden shadows of our unconscious desires and fears; by the late 1970s, neurologists had switched to thinking of them as just "mental noise"--the random byproducts of the neural repair work that goes on during sleep. Now researchers suspect that dreams are regulating moods while the brain is "offline". And one leading authority says that these intensely powerful mental events actually can be bought under conscious control, to help us sleep and feel better. "It's your dream," says Rosalind Cartwright, chair of psychology at Chicago's Medical Center. "If you don't like it, change it." Evidence from brain imaging supports this view. The brain is as active during rapid eye movement sleep when most vivid dreams occur as it is when fully awake, says Dr. Eric Nofzinger at the University of Pittsburgh. But not all parts of the brain are equally involved: the limbic system or the emotional brain is especially active, while the prefrontal cortex--the center of intellect and reasoning, is relatively quiet. "We wake up from dreams happy or depressed, and those feelings can stay with us all day," says Stanford sleep researcher Dr. William Dement. This link is shown among the patients in Cartwright's clinic. Most people seem to have more bad dreams early in the night, progressing toward happier ones before awakening, suggesting that they are working through negative feelings generated during the day. Because our conscious mind is occupied with daily life we don't always think about the emotional significance of the day's events--until, it appears, we begin to dream. There is probably little reason to pay attention to our dreams at all unless they keep us from sleeping or "We wake up in a panic," Cartwright says. Those suffering from persistent nightmares should seek help from a therapist. For the rest of us, the brain has its ways of working through bad feelings. Sleep or rather dream on it and you'll feel better in the morning. Casual nightmare sufferers are advised to _ . Answer:
White was the owner of a private school in a town. Last year, he married one of his classmates.The beautiful woman spent much time in learning nothing during middle school. But she wasn't worried about anything in the future, because her parents were very rich and could provide her with everything.So he could make poor Mr White listen to her. Mr White was busy in dealing with school affairs and his wife had to stay at home alone.But she hated the lonely and boring life.Her father introduced her to some businessmen who wanted to employ her .But she wanted to stay with children.So her husband was asked to allow her to work in his school.At first her husband didn't agree with her. She didn't supply money to him any more, so the poor man had to give in.Otherwise , his school would shut down for lack of her money. The woman could not teach students, because she knew neither maths nor physics.She thought she often played in the zoo,so she decided to teach biology.But she didn't know how to teach the subject at all.She thought hard, and finally she decided to bring the students to the zoo. Pointing to a crocodile, she shouted ,"Look at it carefully! It's a whale!" "Excuse me ,madam," said a student. "It's a crocodile!" "Shut up!" Mr White said angrily. "It's a whale!" Which of the following is not true about Mrs White? The Cuckoo In April, Come he will. In May, Sing all day. In June, Change his tune . In July, Prepare to fly. In August, Go he must! When must the cuckoo go? A few years ago, my younger sister and I were the first to board our flight for Norfolk, Virginia. Just as we were about to board the plane, a mechanic came out of the aircraft and blocked the door with his arms. He turned to the flight attendant and hurriedly stated, "We got problems!" I thought to myself, "Why did I have to be the one to hear that? Why couldn't I have been at the back of the line? I didn't need to know that!" Very soon we were back in the terminal, waiting, and then finally back on the plane. I waited for the pilot to give an explanation. Pilots take courses to ease passengers' mind, right? They know what to say to calm nerves. Unfortunately, I didn't think this pilot took that course. Soon his voice thundered throughout the plane, "Sorry for the delay, ladies and gentlemen. We had no power on the plane. We have a generator on the ground right now, and we're going to jump-start the engines. Once we get them going, we'll get up in the air and head to Norfolk, and see what happens." See what happens? We were going to get up in the air, and see what happens? Couldn't we have another plan, one that's been worked out just a little better? At this point, all I could do was to laugh nervously. One woman started yelling, "Oh no! We're going to crash!" There were sighs of desperation and anxiety spreading throughout the cabin. Finally, we got up in the air thirty minutes later, and what happened? Nothing ---other than thrust and lift. We arrived in Norfolk, and no sooner had the wheels touched the ground than a round of applause burst out, as everyone throughout the airplane simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Although, I did sincerely like to have a plan better than "see what happens" worked out when flying --- it really isn't such a bad life strategy. Success will never be guaranteed. The best thing you can do is just get up in the air, and see what happens. Sometimes adjustments would be made in the air, or shall we say, in the middle of the process. The purpose of the text is to _ . If you are really interested in music festivals, then you have probably heard of the Bestival Music Festival. It takes place every September on the Isle of Wight, the UK. As it is at the end of summer, people think it's their last chance to go to a festival and have fun before going back to boring work. The dream begins as soon as you start traveling to the island. In order to get to the campsite of the Bestival, you have to take the ferry . The ferry is full of happy festival lovers who are ready to take part in the fantastic music party. After you arrive at the campsite, you can put your tent up. There people talk with each other openly. They are not that cold like those you meet in your everyday life. The festival lasts for four days. During that time you forget all your worries and problems, just like living in a dream. And it is really hard for you to come back to "reality" after that. It seems that it is this kind of music event that makes people gather together. It gives people a real sense of unity. I took part in the Bestival with my friends the year before last. It was so exciting and we all lost ourselves in the beautiful music. We are family sung by Sister Sledge was my favorite. I'm really looking forward to joining in it for a second time. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? There are two deaf men in the small village.One is Mr. Brown and the other is Mr. Green.They live near to each other.They are good friends. They often talk together.They talk about all kinds of things.Sometimes they are worried about their hearing.But one thinks the other is deafer. One day,Mr. Brown comes to Mr. Green's house.Mr. Green is sitting in a chair.He is having a rest.Mr. Brown stops at the door and asks,"Can you hear me?" There is no answer.Mr. Brown goes near and asks again,"Can you hear me?" Again he doesn't hear any answer.Mr. Brown is quite pleased.Still he goes nearer and asks for the third time,still there is no answer.At last,Mr. Brown goes up to Mr. Green and says,"Now I know you are much deafer than me.You don't hear my questions.""I am much deafer?" says Mr. Green,"No,I answered you three times,but you didn't hear my answer." The two deaf men live in _
There are four people in Jim 's family. They are Kate, Jim, their father and mother. Jim is Kate's brother. He is fourteen. Kate is Jim's sister. She is twelve. They are in the same middle school. Jim is in Class One, Grade Three. Kate is in Class Two, Grade One. They are good students. Their father Mr. Green is a teacher. He is thirty-nine. He teaches English in a school near his home. Their mother is a teacher, too. But she teaches Chinese in a different school. Now they are all at home. Now Jim is _ . Answer: Why would explorers use a compass when traveling to unknown lands? Answer: There once was a boy named Kevin. He met Jessica one afternoon at a park on a hot summer day. They both started talking and became great friends. They spent the whole day together and ate their lunches together next to the pond. Kevin sure enjoyed the park more than he liked going to the beach or store. There were many ducks, frogs, birds and chipmunks playing around the pond. In fact, one of the chipmunks even came up and stole Kevin's car keys when he was eating! Kevin knew that he needed to go have his keys, but the chipmunk ran with an evil smile on its face. Eventually, the chipmunk ran into its hole that he called home. Kevin tried everything he could to have the chipmunk come out with his keys, but he couldn't find out how to make the little guy give up. Finally, Jessica came over and placed a potato chip at the opening to the hole. In seconds, the chipmunk came out with the keys and dropped them in front of Kevin right before grabbing the chip and running back into the hole. The chipmunk then went in to have his snack and left Kevin and Jessica alone. Kevin thought that maybe next time he could go to the park in the early spring or winter so that the chipmunks would be busy sleeping during the cold weather months. Kevin then said goodbye to Jessica and went home. What did the chipmunk do after giving the keys back? Answer: Wei Hua had a busy day yesterday. She got up before 7 o'clock in the morning, and quickly washed her hands and face. She got to school early. She had a little rest after lunch, but worked hard in class all day. She played basketball after school, and then she walked home. Wei Hua's pen was broken, so she needed a new one. On her way home she bought a new pen at a shop. When she reached home, she had a short rest and a glass of water. After that she helped her parents. She quickly cooked the supper, and cleaned the house. She watched TV for half an hour after supper. Then she started her homework. She finished it at half past nine. She went to bed before a quarter to ten. She finished her homework _ . Answer: Animals seem to have the sense to eat when they are hungry and they do not eat more than their bodies need. It has been demonstrated that rats will, when given a choice over a period of time, prefer water with vitamins to water without vitamins even though there is no difference in taste or smell between the two water bottles. When a fragrant flavor was added to the vitamin-enriched water, the rats did seem to prefer it and kept drinking it ,even after the vitamins were switched to the clear water. In time, however, they broke _ and went back to where the necessary vitamins were. In a classic experiment, babies of 6 to 12 months old were placed in a cafeteria feeding arrangement, with a wide selection of baby food before them. They were given whatever food they pointed to or appeared interested in. We are told that at first they showed some unusual eating patterns, but that over a period of time they managed to select well-balanced diet. So, in selecting food, rats and babies do seem to know and act on what's best for them. Apparently, there is a kind of "body wisdom", which humans soon lose. Most of us do not eat as wisely as we could. Many of our food preferences are culturally determined and influenced by long-established habits. Some people eat fox, dog and blackbirds, while we eat cows and pigs. So what people eat and how much they eat seems to be greatly influenced by what is going on around them. According to the passage ,adults eating habits differ from those of babies because _ . Answer:
The Museum of Childhood is spread over 4 floors, with the first floor acting like a balcony around the edge of the building, so you can look down over the ground floor central hall with the shop, Information Desk, and Benugo Cafe. The museum of Childhood is housed in a large Victorian building in east London. It has been on this site since 1872. It has undergone refurbishment and reopened in 2006 and an elevator now makes all floors accessible. This is not a quiet place and children are allowed to have fun here. Child safety is extremely important and a member of staff remains by the front door at all times. Also, note the "Code of Behavior" notices, which include: children under 12 must be supervised by an adult; no eating in the galleries, and no running. Toy exhibits are in glass cases and there are plenty of low-level exhibits for younger children to see. The glass cases have lots of thought-inspiring questions on them to encourage discussion between adults and children. When you or the children need some quiet time, there are sofas at either end of the second floor with reading books available. Pros: Many free activities for kids Cons: Can be too warm inside Visit Duration: 1.5 hours Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Last admission is 5:30 p.m. The Museum is closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January every year. Admission: Admission to the Museum is free. There is a small charge for some activities. What is the disadvantage of the museum? A Low-level exhibits are too boring. B Children may feel slightly hot in it. C Parents have to stay with their kids. D No staff members attend to the kids. Answer: B. Children may feel slightly hot in it. Good morning. I'm Chen Hua. Here's my culture report for today, Monday. A new film starts tonight at the student cinema at eight o'clock. The film is Pirates of the Carribean.It's a fantastic adventure film. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are the stars. They are both very popular and famous, and they both act well in this film, and make their characters believable. The story is about an old ship. It sails around the Carribean islands. Depp and Bloom try to find some lost gold. Then they come face to face with some terrible men, and have to fight them. There's lots of action, and the fighting looks really dangerous. They also saves Keira Knightly. She plays Elisabeth, the daughter of a rich man. The scenes with Knightly and Bloom are beautiful and romantic. The film isn't true to life, but it' s very exciting, and some of it is very funny. It' s an enjoyable film, although in my opinion there's too much fighting. But except for that, it's an excellent film. You didn't see it when it first came out, I advise you to go and see it now. I' m sure you' 11 enjoy it. It' s showing all week. There's lots of action in the film because they have to _ . A fight the frightening people B fight the terrible women C make the film interesting D make the film exciting Answer: A. fight the frightening people Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour. The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science. Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebra fish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebra fish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes . The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour. It appears that, like the golden zebra fish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation in the gene for melanosome 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 zebra fish 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 colours, said Cheng. The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment done on Michael Jackson. Which of the following is NOT mentioned according to the passage? A The version of the pigment gene of Asians and that of Africans are the same. B Scientists have succeeded in turning the colour of a dark-striped zebra fish into uniform gold. C Dark skin can protect bodies from utral-violet rays of the sun. D People like pop king Michael Jackson. Answer: D. People like pop king Michael Jackson. Which best describes the speed of a ball as it is thrown straight up into the air and comes back down? A The ball goes up at a constant speed, stops, then comes down at a constant speed. B The ball goes up at a constant speed, stops, and increases speed as it comes down. C The ball goes slower and slower as it goes up, stops, and then goes faster and faster as it comes down. D The ball goes slower and slower as it goes up, stops, and then comes down at a constant speed. Answer: C. The ball goes slower and slower as it goes up, stops, and then goes faster and faster as it comes down. Emily made a chart that included physical changes and chemical changes. Which change should be categorized as a chemical change? A iron becomes rusty B a gold bar is melted C lake water evaporates D a granite rock is polished Answer: A. iron becomes rusty
Question: Even plants can run a fever, especially when they're under attack by insects or disease. But unlike human, plants can have their temperature taken from 3,000 feet away--straight up. A decade ago, adopting the infrared scanning technology developed for military purposes and other satellites, physicist Stephen Paley came up with a quick way to take the temperature of crops to determine which ones are under stress. The goal was to let farmers precisely target pesticide spraying rather than rain poison on a whole field, which invariably includes plants that don't have pest problems. Even better, Paley's Remote Scanning Services Company could detect crop problems before they became visible to the eye. Mounted on a plane flown at 3,000 feet at night, an infrared scanner measured the heat emitted by crops. The data were transformed into a colourcoded map showing where plants were running "fevers". Farmers could then spotspray, using 50 to 70 percent less pesticide than they otherwise would. The bad news is that Paley's company closed down in 1984, after only three years. Farmers resisted the new technology and longterm backers were hard to find. But with the renewed concern about pesticides on produce, and refinements in infrared scanning, Paley hopes to get back into operation. Agriculture experts have no doubt the technology works. "This technique can be used on 75 percent of agricultural land in the United States, " says George Oerther of Texas A & M. Ray Jackson, who recently retired from the Department of Agriculture, thinks remote infrared crop scanning could be adopted by the end of the decade. But only if Paley finds the financial backing which he failed to obtain 10 years ago. Plants will send out an increased amount of heat when they are _ . A. facing an infrared scanner B. sprayed with pesticides C. in poor physical condition D. exposed to excessive sun rays Answer: C Question: The sea is very big. When you look at the map of the world, you will find there is more water than land. The sea covers three quarters of the world. It looks very pretty when the sun is shining on it. It can be very rough when there is a big wind. The sea is also very deep in some places. Some parts of the sea are very shallow. But in some places the depth of the sea is very great. There is one spot, near Japan, where the sea is nearly 11 kilometers deep! The highest mountain in the world is about 9 kilometers high. If that mountain were put into the sea at that place, there would be 2 kilometers of water above it! The sea is salty. Rivers, which flow into the sea, carry salt from the land into the sea. Some parts of the sea are more salty than other parts. There is one sea, called the Dead Sea, which is very salty. It is so salty that swimmers can't sink! Fish can't live in the Dead Sea! The sea can be very cold. Divers, who go deep down in the sea, know this. On the top the water may be warm. When the diver goes downwards, the sea becomes colder and colder. Another thing happens. When the diver goes deeper, the water above presses down on him. It squeezes him. Then the diver has to wear clothes made of metal. But he cannot go very deep. Some people who wanted to go very deep used a very strong diving ship! They went down to a depth of eleven kilometers. Why can't people go very deep into the sea? A. Because of the coldness of the water. B. Because of the living things in the sea. C. Because of the pressure of the water. D. Because of the salt in the sea. Answer: C Question: Qi Haoran, a Junior 1 student at High School Attached to Harbin Institute of Technology, was quite busy over the past winter vacation--and not just with homework. Qi, together with 10 other classmates made a volunteer group to call on people to join the Clean Your Plate Campaign . The 11 students went to many restaurants and told people the importance of saving food."Excuse me, do you know that 950 million people around the world still haven't got enough to eat? Could you please not waste food?"They would say this kind of thing hundreds of times every day. China in recent years has experienced serious problems with wasted food. CCTV reported in January that the food Chinese people waste every year is enough to feed 200 million people for a year. It's a tradition that Chinese people offer lots of food when they invite others to dinner. Many even feel that they will lose face if their guests have eaten all their food. Luckily the campaign has got the support of many. In a restaurant in Xinjiang, the owner gives the guests who have eaten up all that they ordered a sticker. People can enjoy a free meal when they have 10 stickers. More than 750 restaurants in Beijing have begun to offer smaller dishes and encourage their guests to take leftovers home. Wasting food is a serious problem around the world, not only in China. It's said that 2 billion tons of food ends up as waste every year in our country. This is as much as half of all the food in the world. The UN Environment Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization held a"Think, Eat, Save" program on January 24 to help reduce food waste. To reduce food waste is a big task, and it needs time. It's important that everyone does their bit, just like Qi. Did you finish your meals today? What did the restaurant in Xinjiang do to support the campaign? A. The owner would have dinner with those who had eaten up their food. B. It offered a free meal to the guests who had finished all their food ten times. C. It gave stickers to the guests who ordered small dishes. D. It encouraged customers to take leftovers home. Answer: B Question: Soda water is a liquid that has bubbles of carbon dioxide in it. Which term best describes soda water? A. a mixture B. a molecule C. an element D. a compound Answer: A Question: In bringing up children, every parent watches eagerly the child's acquisition of each new skill -- the first spoken words, the first independent steps, or the beginning of reading and writing. It is often tempting to hurry the child beyond his natural learning rate, but this can set up dangerous feelings of failure and states of worry in the child. This might happen at any stage. A baby might be forced to use a toilet too early, a young child might be encouraged to learn to read before he knows the meaning of the words he reads. On the other hand, though, if a child is left alone too much, or without any learning opportunities, he loses his natural enthusiasm for life and his desire to find out new things for himself. Parents vary greatly in their degree of strictness towards their children. Some may be especially strict in money matters. Others are severe over time of coming home at night or punctuality for meals. In general, the controls represent the needs of the parents and the values of the community as much as the child's own happiness. As regards the development of moral standards in the growing child, consistency is very important in parental teaching. To forbid a thing one day and excuse it the next is no foundation for morality . Also, parents should realize that "example is better than _ ". If they are not sincere and do not practice what they preach , their children may grow confused when they grow old enough to think for themselves, and realize they have been to some extent fooled. A sudden awareness of a marked difference between their parents' principles and their morals can be a dangerous disappointment. In terms of moral matters, parents should _ . A. follow the rules themselves B. be aware of the huge difference between adults and children C. forbid things which have no foundation in morality D. always ensure the security of their children Answer: A
Question: Mrs. White comes from America. She is an English teacher in No. 12 High School of Guangzhou. She speaks Chinese a little and often has Chinese classes. She likes here very much. She often says the Chinese people are very nice. She is Lucy and Lily's mom. Lucy and Lily live in America with their dad, Mr. White. They are students. They have some Chinese pen pals. ,. Who do Lily and Lucy live with? A. Their dad. B. Their mom. C. Their teacher. D. Their Chinese friends. Answer: A. Their dad. Question: Ancient humans were afraid of the sight of comets . Many cultures believed that comets were messages sent by gods, and people thought these messages were warning signs for bad behavior. But today science and technology give us a better understanding of comets. Last week, comet Ison ended its million-year-long journey as it flew straight toward the sun, melting most of the comet. It was hoped that comet Ison would survive this trip around the sun. Because once it got near Earth, it would have produced a great show of lights for us. In ancient times, the coming of comet Ison might have scared people. However, now we can track a comet's journey in our solar system. We can also study what they're made of. There is even a project to launch a spacecraft onto a comet to study them further. Although from the sky they look like great giant fireballs, comets are a collection of gas, ice, dust and small rocks. As a comet goes into our solar system, the sun's solar winds blow some of the dust and gas away, giving the comet a tail. The average size of comets is about 10 kilometers in diameter . But amazingly, their tails can be 150 kilometers long! Comet Ison's diameter was about 5 kilometers. Today, people don't fear comets as much as they did before. Western countries have even developed and old tradition. When people see a comet or meteoroid shooting across the sky, they call it a shooting star, People who get the chance to see one get to make a wish. It is a tradition that lives on today. In ancient times, people thought comets were _ . A. warning signs sent by gods B. lucky signs for good behavior C. great shows of lights D. flying suns Answer: A. warning signs sent by gods Question: Scientists added a record of 715 more planets to the list known to the world beyond the solar system, astronomers said on Wednesday, in February 2014. The additions include four planets about 0.5-2 times as big as Earth that are the right distance from their parent stars for liquid surface water, which is believed to be fit for life. The discoveries were made with the NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope. The telescope, launched in 2009, spent four productive years observing 160,000 target stars for signs of planets passing by, within the telescope's sight. The numbers of planets announced at a NASA press conference on Wednesday increased Kepler's confirmed planets from 246 to 961. Combined with other telescopes' results, the total number of planets beyond the solar system now is nearly 1,700. "We almost doubled, just today, the number of planets known to humans," astronomer Douglas Hudgins, head of planet exploration at NASA Headquarters in Washington, told reporters on a conference call. Many planets' discovery is due to a new technique that analyzes potential planets in _ rather than one at a time. The method was developed after scientists realized that most planets, like those in the solar system, have similar worlds orbiting a common parent star. The newly found planets strengthen the evidence that small planets, two to three times the size of Earth, are common throughout the galaxy . "Generally, wherever (Kepler) can see them, it finds them," said astronomer Sara Seager, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "That's why we have confidence that there will be planets like Earth in outer space." Like the solar system, which has eight planets plus Pluto and other so-called "dwarf planets," the newly found planets belong to families. But unlike the solar system's planets, which are about 150 times farther from the sun than Earth. Most of the planets fly nearer to their parent stars than Venus orbits the sun, a distance of about 67 million miles (108 million km.) NASA and other space agencies are designing new telescopes to discover planets in so-called "habitable zones" around their parent stars where temperatures would be suitable for liquid surface water. Two papers on the new Kepler research will appear in an upcoming issue of 'The Astrophysical Journal'. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage? A. US space telescope discovers more planets B. Kepler observes many new target stars C. Scientists believe 715 planets fit for life D. NASA finds liquid surface water on the planets Answer: A. US space telescope discovers more planets Question: The ocean water near the equator absorbs more heat throughout the year than ocean water near the North Pole. Which of the following best explains this difference? A. The equator is closer to the Sun. B. The equator has higher sea levels. C. The equator receives more direct sunlight. D. The equator rotates more quickly on Earth's axis. Answer: C. The equator receives more direct sunlight. Question: A team led by Professor Theoder Berger, from the University of Southern California, can now manipulate brain cells in rats so that memories stored in the hippocampus, a brain area crucial for memory formation, are activated or suppressed . It's said that _ could one day have medical applications. In the study, researcher first trained rats to remember which of two levers they pressed first, then to press the other lever. As the rats performed the task, the scientists carefully monitored the electrical activity in each creature's hippocampus to find the pattern of nerve-cell activity involved in making a solid memory. Using the same glass needles they had used to record the nerve activity, they stimulated nerves in the same pattern and found that the animals' performance in the task got even better. The rats made fewer errors and were able to remember which lever was the"correct"one for a longer period of time. The scientists went a step further and suppressed the rats' memories with a drug called Mk801, which caused them to forget their task. When the animals' brain cells were later stimulated with the"correct"pattern, they remembered again which lever to press. "What's really exciting about this study is that when they played back the'good' patterns--the patterns when the animal got the task right--it did appear to improve memory,"said Dean Buonomano, an associate professor at the University of California. The final goal, Berger said, is to help people with stroke and epilepsy and the like strengthen memories and to help doctors treat them. The technology might even help sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder. But first, researchers would have to show that they can stimulate or suppress far more complex memories than the ones in the rat experiment. "Here ,it's a simple task,"Buonomano said. In contrast, humans' memories are very rich and specific... "We have very many steps to go before this can be achieved,"he said. What can we infer from the article? A. MK801 is a drug that can be used to stimulate nerves. B. The study is expected to be used to help stroke and epilepsy patients recover completely. C. Using the study to improve humans' memories still face many challenges. D. Researchers have studied far more complex memories than the ones in the rat experiment. Answer: C. Using the study to improve humans' memories still face many challenges.
Which item would a magnet attract? Answer: Sometimes Karen likes to go to the library. Her friend Michael also likes the library, but her other friend James does not like the library. Karen and Michael like to read about different things. They can learn about things that they don't know much about. They also like to read fun and exciting stories. The librarian, Mr. Hernandez, knows Michael and Karen, because they are in the library a lot. He knows what kind of books they like. When the library gets new books, he tells Karen and Michael about any books that he thinks they would like. James only goes to the library when he has to read a book for class. Mr. Hernandez does not know very much about James, because James does not go to the library often. Karen's favorite books are about airplanes, cars, and trains. She like reading about how fast they can go, and about the workers who build them. When she grows up, she is going to buy a fast car and travel to different states. Michael likes books about dinosaurs, cowboys, and fireworks. When he grows up, he is going to buy a costume and dress up like a cowboy. What type of books are Karen's favorites? Answer: A chemical reaction may occur when _____ is added to an object. Answer: What will you do if you get five million ? Different people give different answers. Sally If I get five million, I want to do business. I will do a lot of things for my family. For me nothing is more important than my family. I will buy a new house for them and travel around the world. Joe If I have five million, I will use the money to do everything I like. First, I will use two million to open my own shop. And I will use another two million to buy some new houses. In the future, the houses which I buy will become more expensive, and I will sell them to other people. Finally, I will use one million to buy some presents for my family and my best friends. Anna If I have five million, I will put three million in the bank and spend two million. I will visit Paris, London and New York. I will eat delicious food, play games, and build a house with a swimming pool. Jack I will buy an island if I have five million. Then I will be the king of the island. I will invite my friends to my island. ,. What does the passage talk about? Answer: When a lake is exposed to enough heat over time Answer:

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